Thursday Open Thread 3-23-2017
The violets and crocuses have started to bloom. Only 2 weeks until the first irrigation water will start filling the canals. A little early this year, there is a good snow pack in the mountains.
This winter was a good test of my emergency readiness. There was snow on the ground for over 70 days, multiple storms dropping new snow, 4 foot wind drifts up to 4 feet and subzero temperature. Normally the area has a few storms with 2 to 8 inches snow melting within a week, a little challenge and back to normalcy.
My focus for weeks was on shoveling walkways, feeding and watering livestock, not freezing pipes in the pump house, keeping the house comfortable and not injuring myself. Fortunately I had enough supplies there was no need to drive off the place more than once a week for mail. The main challenge was driving the 1000 feet back and forth from the hay barn every two to three days. Definitely got tired of 4 wheeling and dealing with chains on every wheel.
The difference between an exiting adventure and crisis is the degree it threatens you and your family’s chosen life course. My winter adventure would have become a life altering crisis if I lost a job because of not being able to use the driveway regularly for weeks or it forced a choice between food, mortgage, heat or medicine.
The question becomes, how resilient one’s family is to a disruption of normal day to day life. Resilience is often discussed as to how one will respond to a major change in society. The more likely challenge will be events with shorter time line such as adverse weather, change in health, income disruption or loss of a family member.
The ease that one can bounce back from an event or shift to address a challenge life throws is what I would call your Resilience Capacity. The length of time an adventure becomes a crisis. How long do have before you need to make a lifestyle change - 3, 7, 14 days, a month, 6 months, a year or longer?
Resilience Capacity is highly dependent on ones outlook, habit of preparedness and flexibility. Take a look at stored food and water, replacing food and water, paying bills, medicine on hand for treatment or prevent withdrawal, treatment for medical emergencies, energy for heat and household appliances and communicating with family, friends and emergency personnel. How long can you not use your electronic devices or the Internet? How much information on resilience and sustainability is printed and does not require electricity?
Individuals who are economically challenged (awful phrase), in poor health or disabled are more likely to have faced events that have tested their resilience.
I found this article interesting on the divide between rural and urban America.
1. Poverty is higher in rural areas
Discussions of poverty in the United States often mistakenly focus on urban areas. While urban poverty is a unique challenge, rates of poverty have historically been higher in rural than urban areas. In fact, levels of rural poverty were often double those in urban areas throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
While these rural-urban gaps have diminished markedly, substantial differences persist. In 2015, 16.7 percent of the rural population was poor, compared with 13.0 percent of the urban population overall – and 10.8 percent among those living in suburban areas outside of principal cities.
It was my fear of poverty by observing it within my extended family and friends that created the drive for college and a career.
Rural properties are less likely than subdivisions and urban area to have restrictions on growing vegetables, berries and fruit. When living in apartments during college there was no easy option of growing food. It was more of a hunter-gather mind set of collecting food.
2. Most new jobs aren’t in rural areas
…Rural communities still haven’t recovered the jobs they lost in the recession. Census data show that the rural job market is smaller now – 4.26 percent smaller, to be exact – than it was in 2008. In these data are shuttered coal mines on the edges of rural towns and boarded-up gas stations on rural main streets. In these data are the angers, fears and frustrations of much of rural America.
… The identity of rural communities used to be rooted in work. The signs at the entrances of their towns welcomed visitors to coal country or timber country. Towns named their high school mascots after the work that sustained them, like the Jordan Beetpickers in Utah or the Camas Papermakers in Washington. It used to be that, when someone first arrived at these towns, they knew what people did and that they were proud to do it.
That’s not so clear anymore. How do you communicate your communal identity when the work once at the center of that identity is gone, and calling the local high school football team the “Walmart Greeters” simply doesn’t have the same ring to it?
The jobs that due come in often pay less than urban areas. Central Oregon historically had been called poverty with a view. Same job less pay for many employment opportunities.
3. Disabilities are more common in rural areas
The rate of disability increases from 11.8 percent in the most urban metropolitan counties to 15.6 percent in smaller micropolitan areas and 17.7 percent in the most rural, or noncore, counties.
Wonder if it is because of the lower cost of living or higher number of work related injuries.
4. Rural areas are surprisingly entrepreneurial
…Yet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is in fact nonmetropolitan counties that have higher rates of self-employed business proprietors than their metropolitan counterparts.
Furthermore, the more rural the county, the higher its level of entrepreneurship. Some of these counties have a farming legacy – perhaps the most entrepreneurial of occupations – but farmers represent less than one-sixth of business owners in nonmetro areas. Even for nonfarm enterprises, rural entrepreneurship rates are higher.
I know a number of people, myself included, who have farm businesses that do not create a livable income. The Internet has provided useful business opportunities to generate income and employment. Not every rural community has good Internet access.
Comments
crisis in rural areas
Good morning SoE and all. Hope all is well on the farm.
Seems to me when we have an emergency - like the blizzard of '93, tornadoes, floods or the like, that's when people act their best and come out to help their neighbors. At least in this little corner of the universe.
Politics are difficult in this bright red state, but in crisis people act like the Christians they claim to be...funny how it takes a crisis though. Unsure how things are in your rural community, but I would bet it is the same.
All the best to all of you...
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I enjoy the spring wake-up, trees budding, plants poking out
out from the soil and knowing you made it safely through another winter (dark time). Struggling against the urge to move too plant the garden to soon and watch the plants get annihilated with frost. I am busy planting fence posts - frost doesn't bother them.
Crisis do bring out the best in people. I am lower on the priority list for assistance than in years past. When my Dad required weekly oxygen deliveries the close neighbors with snow moving equipment were quick to keep the driveway open. It is a balance, offering assistance without being meddlesome. I am lucky I have good neighbors. We never discuss politics of religion.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Being currently disabled and living alone poses great challenges
I demanded son-in-law to shovel my walk and dig out my car. Thank god I bought an automatic transmission. And it's my left foot. I knew, and was ordered, to do no weight-bearing on that foot. Impossible in a 1980's house with 5 levels, Food level has no toilet. I have been warned to carry my cell phone at all times on my person. So far, I have avoided that, but understand why that is a good plan. I still tumble (nice word) daily. I have learned good falling methods. My butt is sore, as is my back. Last major fall resulted in this foot sacrifice. Better than head.
Once I am done with casts, back to PT. Annie is good, I still do some exercises to allay yet more balance problems. If I were poverty-poor: I cannot imagine what shape I would be in. 6 weeks between "broken" foot and a surgical fix. That is with good insurance and bad doctoring.
My plan here is to woodlot steward. I have two trees hanging out, awaiting planting. Hard to do with broken foot. My neighborhood (upland of the subdivisions) is larger acreage (mine is 21A) and mostly owners over 50, meaning some physical disability at many addresses.
Me: I hate to ask for help. Part of me believes that I should be able to fix anything, save plumbing and heating. I take that from my mother, who lived subdivision but entirely indoors for 20 years. With an undiagnosed dementia until close to the end. She was totally reliant on my sister for bill pay and daily meals. Dementia meant she never acknowledged that. Burnt my sister to a crisp.
It's tough out there. Trying real hard to not feel sorry for myself
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
This short term disability is certainly highlighting
the changes you will need to make to create an age-in-place home.
My maternal Grandmother and Great-grandmother were able to live in their own home until they passed away. They had children and grandchildren to provide assistance and I don't. Made most of the changes to the inside of the house when I moved my parents in several years ago. I am now working on efficiency outside so I can run the place as long as possible. My 80 year old neighbor has permanent set pipes in the field and goes out on his scooter to turn them on and off. If he needs to move one, he drags it.
Falls are one of the major events forcing individual to move out of their home. I often use a walking stick in the winter. I have trained a couple of dogs to assist me in getting up off the ground and standing up for the days I am a little stiff. I think you have mentioned your dog is a lab, maybe you could train her.
We just have to be creative.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Well, I waited until above freezing and walked out to open
boxes that were delivered this week. Piled in my car. Plants (OMG, plants have been freezing all week) and snack items. Anyway, I fell in the semi-frost mud and could not stand. I spent 20 min trying to stand holding car parts, covered with mud. If I could make tears (I cannot now?) I was screaming silently in frustration. Tired out my legs, getting colder, I scooted on butt 15 feet to my porch where I could use the steps and post to stand (but shaky). Brought in plants plus mixed nuts. Priorities. Have a big bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs plus a bag of Jelly Bellies still outside. Plants are all bare root loose in bags, they may survive.
Cell phone was inside, plus who would I call to haul me off the ground? Need to work on leg strength. R leg thigh is getting there as the compensating work leg. It did not work outside in the mud. Still wearing wet pants and muddy wet cast with toes sticking out. Holy Hell. I do not want to get trained to be afraid of outside.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Oh, my dog is a Cairn terrier(ist)
No assistance there. And wrong side of the house, open all the way to the road. Verboten for her.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Tough day
(edited to correct thread)I figured if I fell and could not get up, I would call my closest neighbors first. He is often home and we coordinate irrigation issues. Neighbor 2, I have put their cattle away often enough we are on first name basis. Then 911, it is better than laying in a ditch.
Our local emergency services will provide physical assistance without charging when someone falls, such as a care-giving situation. I actually used them in them in the past when I needed to take my sister to the hospital and she was unable to climb into the van. I was able to take her to the hospital I preferred vs the closest one they were required to transport patients.
I like Cairns, good companions, no help with physical assistance. When I got really frustrated with my Dad about not using a cane or walking stick, we compromised on a shovel. He had a third item to help him balance, drive in the ground to help him up and in his words "I wont look like a tottering old fool". It worked no more black eyes. arm bruises and broken bones, plus he started going feeding the donkeys again.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
I may invest in one, or two, walking sticks
I met a woman at the car repair place decorating a stick wit colored sharpies, vines IIRC. Too bad I did not get her mane, but she sells them at big local garage sales(we do not call them swap meets here, no idea what they are called). I see older (than me) people walking with two sticks. Makes sense. I kinda fucked up my other knee, trying aspirin. Taking one adult pill a day already to discourage clots.
I already had balance problems; this extra weight of a cast on one side exacerbates the issue. And outside the ground is not level. A cast with a flat overshoe makes every dip or hump in the ground a potential hazard. I find slight inclines a huge barrier. Anyway, I walk like an old lady, unacceptable for a newly-sprouted 64 y/o.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
riverlover I hear you ... I will pity you so you don't have to
do it, if that helps a little. Heh, pity yourself, darn it, your situation is not easy. Question (because you said who would you call to haul you off the ground): Is there no emergency ambulance service you can call if you fall? Is that out of the question as to be too expensive?
My sister (starting a little with "forgetting everything" and "not admitting any of it" and not wanting to do anything anymore, being a little very heavy, fell once inside the house. She couldn't crawl to the phone. Thank God her garden helping guy was due to come and found her shouting for help. When he wanted to enter the house, he couldn't, because my sister always leaves the keys of her entrance doors in the door locks from the inside. He had to smash windows to get in and pull her up.
We have here services from the "Samaritans" and from the police, which provide a little necklace or watch with a button to touch to connect to them for help, when an elderly persons falls and can't move anymore.
My mother had it in her last years too. It took several months til finally a neighbor friend got my sister to accept to sign up with that service. Does something exist in the US near you? Or are you too far out and isolated on your land?
Hopefully the snow melts, your bones heal and you will be "over the hill" soon. Courage.
https://www.euronews.com/live
White mortality
deaths of dispair
I have noted here in the obituaries that deaths among
the young are now attributed to heroin OD. This is new, and very sad.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
When my dad talked about the Great Depression on a
farm in rural northern Iowa, he always said they were OK because they had food. The story goes that they only had one pair of shoes, and sewed clothes from feed sacks. Mom's situation was the same in rural South Dakota.
I tell my husband that we need to prepare to be poor and be able to help others do the same. Meaning we need to have water collection systems, energy, food production and storage, the ability to sew or build. He supports my gardening efforts, but I don't know if he really gets it yet.
Planted my hay bale garden 11 days ago. Here are some pics. My son took them so they are not close up enough to see very well.
Also included is a raised bed with onions and a raised bed with corn. I had sprouted my seeds in advance, so they were mostly up the first week. I put mulch soil on the top of the bales, laid out the seeds, and put a layer of mulch soil on top. The plants I put in mostly around the edges, opening a hole in the bale, and putting mulch soil in the hole. This mostly seems successful, except for my tomatoes.
Hopefully, the remaining tomatoes will survive, but I killed a few initially by planting them too deep and close to the hot part of the bale. The big round bales get much hotter than the square bales. The two I chose for tomatoes were the hottest bales, getting higher than 185 degrees, which is as high as my thermometer would go.
The other bales had already cooled off in the top 6 inches to not hurt plants. The big question is . . . will the bales continue to compost on down yet be cool enough on the top? We'll just have to see.
Also, did I get them planted early enough to beat the summer heat?
If this works, I see it as a very sustainable method of growing food in my part of Texas.
P.S. I really enjoy reading everyone's comments and stories! Thank you!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
my mom told us about her "fleeing from the Russians"
at the end of wwII, walking on foot with my sister and brother as baby and toddler in a baby stroller from Liegnitz (Legnica in Poland today) to Landshut in Bavaria (distance of almost 600 km), where my father's brother had a relationship to the Americans in their Army facilities there. During World War II the U.S. Army maintained facilities in Landshut, the Pinder Kaserne and a housing complex for the American soldier's dependents there. My mother and aunt/uncle with seven children lived in the basements of those facilities for a while and it saved their lives. (My mother met Wernher von Braun there and they had some talks with him at the kitchen table).
Anyhow, my mother during her refugee trip slept on many peasant's farms, in barns and also in their doghouses. She told us that those peasants had in their livingrooms stacks of very valuable Persian carpets laying on top of each other. That was the "currency" of exchange from refugees buying eggs and food with Persian rugs on their journey fleeing from the Eastern border cities to the Americans in the West.
In any case that's just a litte anecdote to say, even though farmers and peasants were often 'poor', they got very 'rich' in times of crisis, as disgusting that "profiteering" of farmers of the misery of refugees had been.
Just to encourage anyone to plant items that feed them and build facilities in a way you can survive in without electricity. My son wants to do that on a small piece of land in the US and the lot of my parents (an acre) here in Germany had a house with its own well that sustained many wounded German soldiers after wwII with the food the previous owner planted in that garden back then. Unfortunately the old heating system that worked on coal has been replaced with oil-based and then with gas-based systems today.
If I would own that house, I would immediately put back a system that could heat the whole house with wood and/or coal. There are huge trees nowadays on the lot that provide enough wood to get you through a tough winter. heh, chickens would be nice and a little sheep and goat may be...
https://www.euronews.com/live
Thanks for sharing your WWII story
Most of us don't have family members who needed to escape. Wow.
Definitely have a few chickens for eggs. We keep a few roosters too. 3 baby chicks hatched last week.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Hugelkultur raised garden beds
More than politics, I really like permaculture. Make dirt not war. Felt like sharing this guy's page, this is him talking: "It's a german word and some people can say it all german-ish. I'm an american doofus, so I say "hoogle culture". hugelkultur: the ultimate raised garden beds
I am just trying to not lose my mind in fear, so battling that with levity. Fear is the mind killer, Jimmy Dore is my cure. Last weekend's show, every clip making me LMAO unitl I'm crying. I think we must be related somehow, maybe our Irish roots or something? https://www.youtube.com/user/TYTComedy/videos
He's already had a couple of martinis by this clip: MSNBC Host & Top Democrats Turn On Hillary Clinton. Oh man I remember transcribing it over at the other place and some front pager took a plotz when I said she "speaks for me". Just say if anyone wants me to post my transcribed words of hers. This is her original rant for the show: MSNBC's Krystal Ball Urges Hillary Clinton NOT To Run For President. Goes around comes around? Huh.
Thanks studentofearth. Thanks all. Abundant harvests all around, make it so.
Peace & Love
Part of the problem overwork, exhaustion and chronic pain
I worked as a community pharmacist in the 80's and 90's in timber towns. When timber jobs became scarce forced overtime became common practice. The men and women who worked in the mills aged before you eyes.
This is the generation of workers year after year created increased productivity as they kept up with automation. The farms increased their use of pesticides and fertilizers. Today for many of those tasks require specialized training to avoid self poisoning. The FDA also allowed ibuprofen, a non-steroidal pain medication (NSAID), to be bought without a prescription. One could self treat pain without being monitored for side effects. The widespread use of prescription opiods occurred after many popular NSAIDS had generic alternatives.
Thanks for sharing the study. It certainly shows it is not simply a local problem and as systemic as the depressed economic zones in urban areas.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.