This is a quick, unplanned post... I read just this morning some statistics about the increasing prices of food in the last year. The data is from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price List for March 2010, and the data (by month) spans a whole year. Here's a break-down:
Fresh and dry vegetables, up 56.1%
Fresh Fruits and melons, up 28.8%
Eggs for fresh use, up 33.6%
Pork, up 19.1%
Beef and veal, up 10.7%
Dairy products, up 9.7%
There are now 39.4 million Americans on Food Stamps, up 22.4% from one year ago. The US Government is now paying out more to Americans in benefits that it collects in taxes.
(Rising food and gasoline prices accounted to 58% of February's year-over-year increase in retail sales. Maybe the economy is recovering less than posted due to just price increases??)
I am glad I have a garden started, and plenty of seeds. Sure wish I already had the chickens I plan, and a milking goat or two.
BTW, The UAE (United Arab Emirates) cabinet on Sunday approved a plan to build up three-month stocks of rice, flour and other staples to boost food security following the European travel chaos that disrupted supplies. It is always good to be prepared because you never know when something unforeseen will strike.
This country is headed for some rocky times soon concerning food. I came back to OR a couple years ago when the economy turned, as I have daughter w/ 8 yr old granddaughter here... My entire focus has been to provide them with as much as I can in the way of help as I drop slowly out of rat race. Have been biologist and env. engineer... now building chicken coops... what fun! I have black copper marans for eggs, and light brahmas for meat mostly though they lay good eggs too. Found 5 acres of plantable fields and fruit trees, surrounded by lots of forest service forests, 8 acres of pasture I could possibly use for a steer. The darling calf is not here yet... but that's my biggest summer project time-wise. Very remote, beautiful where I am at. Cougar problems though... 2 goats killed last summer. Found cougar poop 20 feet from house. This year I am mixing up all of my flowers with the veggies... its going to be interesting thats for sure.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a good plan, and the willingness to follow it! We do live in interesting times, don't we?
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