Ready for Anything! #1: Famine

One day I made a list of possible disasters to prepare for, not just the usual 'fire,' 'tornado,' 'car accident.'  Close to the top was 'Famine.'  This is a possibility that never occurs to us in the land of plenty, the land of so much we have to diet.  Nevertheless, I started thinking: "What if I had to depend on myself for food?"

I'm not exactly Fanny Farmer!  Over the years I raised strawberries, lots of tomatoes, squash, green peppers, lots of flowers, and a few herbs.  Hardly enough to survive on.  Yet, it's been good training.

During the Second World War, the home folks raised "Victory Gardens."  I was too young to remember seeing any, but it seems like a good idea to have really fresh vegetables. 

Also, I helped my mom 'can.'  She 'put up' lots of vegetables and fruits.  Every summer we would peel and peel - apples, peaches, you name it.  We would 'break' green beans.  She would sterilize glass jars and cut up apples and peaches, cook them then put them in the jars.  She canned corn kernels and tomatoes, whole and catsup.  Mom canned green beans.  She made applesauce and even grape jelly.  It was quite interesting but a lot of work.  But the food tasted wonderful!

As an adult, I never did much food preservation, no canning but limited freezing.  The years I raised strawberries, we ate as much as we grew.  They were delectable!  I had one squash plant which produced so much I was able to freeze some and we positively got tired of eating yellow squash.

But then we lived in a small Kentucky county for 25 years.  Many of my friends had gardens (read 'vegetable gardens,' and did a lot of freezing.

Next year would be a good time for me to expand my gardening to try more things.  I'd like to try growing pole beans and lots more tomatoes.   I wonder if I could grow enough leaf lettuce that after the bunnies took their share there would be some left for me?

Just something to think about. . .

Lord, I thank You for never having to worry about food.  Help me be aware of those in our world who are in need and help them!