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Lonna
Lonna
15 years ago

Another excellent podcast, Jack!
I believe you have stated it better than anyone has before.
Thank you!

Darlene
Darlene
15 years ago

Great show! This was the reason why government and corporate influence pushed to erradicate the family or subsistance farms many years ago.

Brad
Brad
15 years ago

In the show you mentioned that it is very difficult to produce all your food from a home garden. This seems contrary to what I heard previously. I know very little about gardening and home food production. I am hopeful to be food independent some day, but I want to have realistic expectations. How much land would you need in order to produce enough food to sustain a family of 3 or 4?

Two Blues Mama
Two Blues Mama
15 years ago

Hi – my answer is for Brad (please -jumping up and down – please, let me answer Brad!) First let me say you definitely need to join the forum since this question can be answered by participating there. Lots of info! And second I can assure you, you can grow a ton of food on small acreage (Episode 287 – Small Land Tracts). We live on a little more than 1/3 acre and of that 1/3 is garden area (maybe 60 ft. by 75-80 ft). This past summer we grew nearly 900 lbs. of food when everything was finally harvested. We grew green beans, 2 kinds of corn, carrots, beets, 5 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, 5 kinds of winter squash, zucchini, summer squash, peppers (bell, japalenos and anaheims), potatoes and probably a bunch of stuff I’ve forgotten. We also have strawberry beds, raspberry bushes, peach and apple trees. All of this food was either dehydrated, frozen, canned or eaten. We also have chickens for eggs. You should check out the book “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholemew. It doesn’t take a lot of land just planning, sweat and a desire to provide for yourself (if I could highlight this sentence I would). Involve your family – teach your children to garden – they love to eat what they grow. But last most people cannot grow everything they eat (we come darn close – if I could only have a goat I would totally have it made!)unless you truly live on a farm ie – meat, milk, cheese, etc. And unless I missed something I think Jack’s point was you need to be prepared by planning for the things you cannot grow or will not grow as a time is coming when we will see shortages of food. All it takes are the trucks not getting through. I live where we have the potential for blizzards and I have seen the grocery store shelves empty and people fighting over items. Hope this inspires you – TwoBluesMama

Brad
Brad
15 years ago

I think I understand now – the garden can provide enough fruits, veggies, and grains (I hope), but you still must consider protein and dairy items. That makes sense. Thank you for the reply.

Rebecca
Rebecca
15 years ago

One of the best shows ever, Jack. I really enjoyed this one!

Jason
Jason
15 years ago

Jack

Great show! Thanks.

Do you mean bifurcate? You’ve said it a few times and my wife the grammar teacher is getting to me.

Sorry!

Doc
Doc
15 years ago

These are some of my favorite shows, your passion is so apparent, and these shows are when we can tell that you truly do care about your fellow man and really want to help him succeed in living a better life.

You are a true inspiration Jack.

Thank you so much for what you do.

Ragzilla
Ragzilla
15 years ago

This was a great show. Very sobering for me. Freedom isn’t always what you think it is.

I am going to have to set a note to listen to it yearly.

Thanks Jack.