Doom and gloom? Unlikely.

COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoy my COUNTRYSIDE more than any other publication I receive. I learn many things and revisit old tried-and-true ideas. I grew up with parents who were always prepared. We lived through major floods, blizzards, earthquakes and fires. My mom always had extra supplies in the pantry and though we were considered wealthy by my friends in school, they could not figure out why my mom made us glean fields, wear garage sale clothes, and play with used toys. She raised us to be self-sufficient without even trying, she was just using common sense.

I learned from her never to have a fully electric home, for when we bought in an area that had no propane or gas service and the electricity would go off every time it rained, she had to cook in the fireplace. She always put on stew or beans when she heard the weather was going to be bad so we would not be caught without some type of warm fresh food. Because of her I own a duel fuel gas/wood 1923 Beach cast iron stove in my home.

I just read my misplaced Jan/Feb issue and had a good laugh at the doom and gloom predicted to "What Does the Future Hold?" These same things were written since the 1840s, 1930s, the 1970s, etc. We won't be driving horse buggies anytime soon (unless there is a nuclear incident), but we will have changes coming. Necessity makes it happen. Man is a creature of comfort and he will do anything to be comfortable. Scientists will improve on using alternative fuels, counties will get tired of McMansions that strip their resources, and more people will get tired of trying to keep up with the Trumps and will choose alternative life-styles.

The gap between the haves and the have-nots will get further apart, but people will keep trying and come up with better ideas. Everyone thought the world was ending in the Great Depression and it was horrific. But we came back and so did the rest of the world.

I'm a transplanted farm girl living in a semi rural area of southern California. But that property is definitely an example of be careful what you buy. We thought you could have rabbits--clean animal, no mess, right?--no. The county says our piece of land is not large enough for rabbits, but a goat or chickens is okay. Yeah, my neighbor from Los Angeles (whom I found in the middle of the night one winter weekend trying to chop his way through a three-foot deep by four-foot tall ice berm with an axe in the dark) would love that.

We are looking for land out of the country due to the laws being enacted in the U.S. against small farmers. Once the government decides to get as far as they have with the NIAS, they will not change, especially since big agribusiness is funding their state and federal campaigns. Look how they are getting the states to enact laws faster than the federal laws. I will participate in the response system against this and encourage everyone to talk to not only their farm and homestead friends but anyone they know who has a bird, rabbit, or any kind of pet because it won't be long before any creature will have to be dually licensed--not only locally but state and federal. Just more fees and taxes to fill the big guys' coffers.

Where do these people think their food is going to come from? Small farmers would be on the land producing in a major catastrophy, and usually having a diversified crop. Large corporate farms with maybe one overseer for 1,000s of acres won't be sending food very soon if the system breaks down, but your farmer would be home, maybe within a short horse ride if need be. But if they just keep building those McMansions and paving the farm fields, they'll all learn to love Brazilian beef and MREs.

I have a quick note on the storage of kerosene. Several people have written to say they store it in plastic containers. While this is good for short-term storage, any sort of long term storage beyond six months is not acceptable. Plastic containers will allow air molecules to .seep in, contaminating the kerosene and causing an oxidation process, thereby degrading the fuel. Plastic storage also allows moisture contamination as the 02 molecules in the air cross over, especially in highly humid periods. Kerosene stored in metal drums-thus blocking water molecules with nitrogen used to remove the air and sealed--can be stored indefinitely. Nitrogen is a non-reactive product, heavier than air and forces the molecules to move up and out of the container.

If you stored large enough quantities of kerosene for Y2K in plastic the only thing you can do is contact a waste oil hauler/recycler, and if it is a large enough volume, they may take it off your hands for free. Then they sell it and the contaminated K-1 will be blended for off-shore diesel tanker fuel where there are no emissions controls. Currently the guy here has to have a minimum of 150 gallons to pick it up for free.

Getting back to plastic storage, ever wonder why paint in a five-gallon pail, if stored for a period of time and having never been opened, becomes dried and solidified? This is because vapors and air molecules pass through the plastic. This is also true for solid food storage. That is why you are not supposed to store your water in plastic near any plastic fuel storage containers or near your car in the garage. Exhaust or fuel vapors seeping through the plastic will taint it. All plastic is for short-term storage of liquids and even dry foods as water molecules again pass through the plastic. Having to dump the item because it is too old or tainted is not good stewardship.

I know a lot of people will say "but I've used plastic for years"--maybe you got used to the flavor, have exceptional storage space, or rotate more than you realize.

A good #10 canning system, Mylar bags for dry goods, and glass jars with good seals are a must for the true survivalist who wants to make it through any major disaster.

Metal cans keep things dry, withstand flood damage and earthquakes (if they are stored low), and even tornadoes if they blow out into the field (but not if they hit the side of the barn). Mylar bags are great for dry products, float in water, and they don't withstand crushing but can be put in solid forms such as trunks etc. to prevent damage. Glass jars do break in earthquakes unless stored low, but they keep things dry in flooding and are reusable. (Ed. note: Make sure any can or jar that was flooded is clean on the outside, to avoid tainting food on the inside.)

I better go renew my subscription so I can see what all my fellow homestead friends are doing. By the way, the Internet is the most valuable tool I have found for my homesteading dreams. I can search for land, get agribusiness information, check any website that sounds good without waiting for the mailman, and be a fully informed citizen.--Diane & Eric