Bluebirds on the Ground, Vicky in Ohio.

 Hello Bluebirds,

I first started preparing and pantry building because the nudges became a calling so to speak and when we feel called to do something we really should even if it doesn't make sense at the time. And even if it doesn't make sense to others. I have found out over and over it's to our benefit. Since they say history repeats itself I decided I wanted to be prepared for as many things as I possibly could be for any situation including illness, job loss, recession, another depression, to help others and even war. 

I started stocking the pantry. I follow the rule of store what you eat and eat what you store with a few exceptions. I do store some things we don't eat to give to others who do like those foods and I never turn down something offered or something I can get free because again someone else may like it or I like to just keep some of the ingredients in some boxed dinner mixes that have pasta or potatoes in them. Pasta is pasta and the potatoes are already dehydrated saving me the process of doing it. I toss the seasoning pouches. We also garden every year and so I do a lot of canning, freezing and dehydrating. Frozen vegetables or fruits on sale at a good price are great for dehydrating. My favorite things to dehydrate though are broccoli and cabbage. I don't meal plan and then shop, but I do think about what I have on hand as I shop. 

My goal was to have at least a year's worth of food and supplies to last us should anything happen and when I hit that goal I now just keep things topped up. And things did happen. My husband got injured and was off work for 6 months a few years later he lost his job and the pantry got us through. 

We have chickens and do some hunting. We have tanks we collect rainwater in and we have back ups and back ups for the back ups. 

We do a lot of bartering and trading. Everything has value even junk! We ask about the wood if trees are being cut and are happy to trade something for it so we amass a huge pile to burn in the wood burner for our home heat. Having a side hustle is good for the home economy. Trading, bartering or selling, it all helps and now that prices keep going up and up we have people approaching us to trade. 

Where I'm at we are in the middle when it comes to prices. Not as expensive as some states, but not as cheap as others. Butter is $6 and higher. Eggs went up as high as $8 a dozen, turkeys and hams well the prices just ridiculous, even around the holidays when they are usually so cheap in price they weren't. Gasoline is rarely below $4 a gallon and home heating oil is the same. Cold cuts or luncheon meat are $12-$13 a pound, beef and canned goods have went way up. 6 cans of soup were on sale for $16. Canned veggies are $2 with store brands only being 2 cents cheaper. From bread to toilet paper everything is dramatically higher. We have had shortages, but they are off and on. Pasta is one and carrots, onions and potatoes often have empty bins, actual ingredients like flour and sugar are getting smaller shelf spaces or single bags lined up to look like there's more than what there is. There seems to be no shortage of junk foods though. The chips and cookies always seem to be well stocked still. 

Some won't say it or don't believe it, but my personal belief is that we are experiencing a war of some kind. It's not just this event or that event, but a slew of events one after another.  I'm only 80 miles from the train derailment in East Palestine for example. We have the important task of being good stewards of our resources and it doesn't matter what stage of preparedness we are in. Little things add up and count just as well as big things. So keep at it as much as your able. 

XOXO

Vicky

Thank you so much Vicky!  You have taught me so much about trading.  Things we don't want or need we can sell or trade.  Once we get going on this it becomes easier and easier!   I also am agreeing with everything you say.  We need to be wise and watchful and busy! xxx