Food freedom

[Why Syzygy]

this thread about food freedom needs some love. The skeps hate this source and will divert conversation to
their silly little spite. Don't bite unless you're just up for a battle of wills at the time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=607022&mesg_id=607022

[OneGrassRoot]

1. I'm not up for another battle this morning...

I have enough with a teabagger uncle on FB and his son...lol...but I just wanted to say that there are so many encouraging things going on in the real of food freedom and local sustainability that I am very encouraged in that regard. It's a start. And it's the most basic of our survival needs, other than water, of course. That's the huge battle: water.

:hi:

Edit to add that since you're like an online librarian, Why Szygzy (which is about the highest compliment I can pay anyone ;)), do you know if any efforts or products to retrieve and reuse water on an individual basis?

I'm not asking that very well....

For example, I saw a show about a guy near Seattle, I believe, who in renovating his home not only rigged elaborate rain catches that became part of the indoor plumbing source, but it recycled gray water for use in his toilets also as part of the indoor plumbing.

But he got into the fight with the local municipality about paying for water that he wasn't even using, since he was using his own.

I'm wondering if there are growing DIY kits to make one's home more self-sufficient from paying for water, and if there are movements to counter local municipalities in this regard?

[Sanity Claws]

2. water barrels

Hi OGR.

Groups that are doing community gardens, urban agriculture, and permaculture in the NYC area are definitely using rain barrels. The water they gather is limited to irrigation use in their gardens/farms.
Is that the kind of stuff you're looking for?

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Yes, but more elaborate systems for homes...

and really all buildings...making the homes/buildings self-sufficient as far as water needs, as much as possible.

The problem with this is that local municipalities are often discouraging this and charging people MORE for NOT using city/county water.

I guess I'm asking if there are movements anyone knows of to get off the "water grid," so to speak, and how they're doing it.

Hi, Sanity Claws.

:hi:

[Celebration]

5. the water issue is pretty interesting

At one time someone was using condensation methods to get water from the air. At this point I think it is probably pretty inefficient and only for drinking water, but wouldn't THAT be cool.

Yes, most places any kind of alteration in the water system is against the law..........technically rain barrels would fit into this, though they are sold all over the place here. Putting up your own private water tower is where TPTB would probably draw the line.

Thank God here we have a municipally owned power and water system. Our insane previous mayor wanted to privatize it, even though nominally a "liberal" Democrat. Since then we have had a public referendum that will make it necessary to have a public referendum to privatize it in the future.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. That's very cool. :)

:hi:

[Why Syzygy]

9. Condensation

This is the answer to water shortages. It works and is efficient.


atmospheric water generator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys4kRjY4Qdk
1,000 liters / day

I've also seen a youtube demonstrating how to make one of these in the desert. You have to dig a hole, etc.
I can't find the video yet.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Cool. Thank you. :) n/t

[WhiteTara]

4. I'm grateful I have access to real food.

I live in the country and yesterday I separated cream and made clarified butter, fresh yoghurt and cream cheese from 2 gallons of milk for a total of $6.00! My hormone, antibiotic free eggs are 3 days old and I paid $2.00 for a dozen! I also bought a half pig for $150 and will have meat for the next 6 months or so...I watched it grow and know what it ate. My garden is producing (in its 2nd year) and I'll have my drip system completed soon and my garden will then produce most of our food. I hope to have my chicken coop in this fall and will then have our own eggs and chicken meat (along with great compost builder and bug eliminators).

For these things and more, I'm grateful.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. That is so wonderful. I want to show you something I posted at FB....

First I'm so with you about all the blessings you listed. I'm so grateful that I can walk out onto my deck and get tomatoes, hot peppers, and most especially fresh salad greens (you know how they usually don't do well in the heat? Well, Mark accidentally discovered that leaving them in small pots is the way to go, rather than planting them into the ground. They are still thriving, even in 100 degree heat).

We also had a conversation here a few weeks ago about dehydrated food. Since then, Mark built me a solar dehydrator which is awesome. :) (see third image below)

I would LOVE to have a little farm, where nothing is killed but I would appreciate eggs and dairy from the inhabitants, and where all types of strays could find a home.

Here are a few pics I uploaded to Facebook earlier, but what I wanted you to see, WhiteTara, are your creations hanging from my one tree, even though you can't see them well.

Here is my beloved sycamore tree, adorned by your creations:







Here are heirloom hot peppers, tomatoes, and romaine lettuce; the garden was wild-growing bee balm which has attracted a TON of bumblebees this year (the petals have fallen off of the bee balm but it was a brilliant red for a long time):





That white boxy thing is the solar dehydrator, and more salad greens along the deck rail. :)

[get the red out]

8. Very lovely!

I love your little paradise!

My sister and brother in law have a little farm and they now raise chickens, as well as their gardens and have raised pigs for meat as well. Their 8 year old earns her spending money gathering the eggs. They like to know where a lot of their food comes from too, and were both Agriculture majors in college.

Being someone who needs to feel the press of civilization around me in order to feel free, I really appreciate the wonderful local farmer's market we have here. I need to decide whether to make the corn and greens with dinner or just the greens, nice predicament.