PEARL89

If your power goes out you can spend some time canning the butter (NOT talking Ghee here) and saving it for use as a shelf stable item. I buy butter whenever it is on sale. These days like during Christmas Baking sales at the grocery 2-3 pounds for $5. Usually get 20 plus pounds and take 10 or so packages out of the freezer and can them up for use in my Preps. Or do a heavy baking spree with most of it going back into the freezer for future baking pies, cookie dough, bread, .... unfortunately these items will either need immediate cooking or they will spoil Much faster that the butter in a blackout. Another thing to remember is that storing things in Ice chests then wrapping the chests in sleeping bags will extend the time the food will stay well frozen be 2-4 days. IF left undisturbed.

Really cool idea! Have you looked on Instructables.com I know they have several hidden doorways and closets . Great directions on PDF; as well as fabulous ideas for just about anything from fencing to "fencing" (like in the Olympics) from Halloween to electronic wonders. I consider it a Go-To site for Preppers.

I found a potato tower for limited space gardens . It utilizes 4- 8 ft. 4x4's which are used as the corner posts for the tower. Sink them about 2 feet into the ground for stability, evenly space them about 4'4" apart in the shape of a square. Next you will need: 20 - 6"x8' tounge and groove boards cut them into 4' lengths; These can be re-used Many times. Mount the first 2 sets on the posts at soil level using screws for easy removal later. (t & g is used to keep the soil from leaking out between layers as it would with regular boards.) Fill the space with soil and plant your seed potatoes about 8 inches apart , attach another set of t & g boards and cover with more soil. wait, water-frugally, wait some more, Harvest after frost kills the plant tops. As the plants grow (12" tall) add another set of the 6" t & g boards. Add soil to cover all but the top 6" of the plants. Keep attaching new t & g every time the plant gets tall enough. The plants will be ready for more soil when they flower, as that is when they are setting tubers. Do this until you have attached all the t&g, should be 5 ft. tall. As the season progresses near Harvest you can get an early taste of those "New Potatoes" by removing the BOTTOM boards (this is why the screws) reach in and remove enough soil to get to the 'spuds'. Remove careful to not damage the next layer up . Replace the soil and the bottom boards, marking how high you removed the boards. This way next time you will know which boards to start with. According to the author you should be able to harvest 100 pounds of potatoes from this 4'w x4'l x 5'h planter. Pretty good use of a small space IF you will be able to stay through Harvest. If you can't stay through Harvest I would use tubs to plant in over a barrel just to be sure the plants get enough sunlight.

Hi y'all ! No I'm not Southern I've just always wanted to fine a group like this and give you a great big Group Hug !! I've always envisioned someone saying " Hi Y'all" having their arms spread wide, welcoming one and all to join in the laughter, the good eats, the 'arguments'/differences of opinion. And yes, there would be tea and lemonade and cookies by the Front Porch Swing just waiting for every one to get settled in for a good old "SHARING" session. Since I was little I've weeded and gardened and Canned/dried/pickled/smoked/fermented the harvests from the many gardens I've tended. Even got Very good at picking off the varmits that went after my leafy greens........ I was an ER nurse for +/- 18 years and saw the generations and attitudes change up close and personal. Nothing like a broken jaw or a sucking chest wound to show you the a person's core. I've raised and loved many kinds of animals and don't know what shape we would be in without them. (yep, even the ones that end up on the Sunday table or the freezer.) I deeply hope I fit here and that we get to the point that when the time comes we can all watch each other's backs or remember just that one thread that will keep us from panic or ruin. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Night now this is going to be a short night and tomorrow will be tough.zzzzzzzzzz