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1. While we may just be planting and seeing the first tender shoots here on the Latimer homestead, reader Ken is already harvesting.”

   Here in South Texas, the heat has burnt most gardens to the ground. Most people plant in Feb-March.

2. Make sure you do your research before investing in a freeze drier. We were shopping for one when I discovered the other costs involved over time that can really add up. If you have the time to invest then it is definitely one way to go, and I agree that many of the pre-prepared freeze dried are high in Sodium, but there are some out there that are more nutrient dense, low sodium, and clean label than what you would get from GMO foods from places like Wally World. [Wal-mart.] What we found is that for the $3-4k you would spend on a Freeze drier, and then add in the oil you have to replace, electricity to run it for 24 hours per run, and other incidentals, we could buy a 2 year supply of high quality freeze dried foods for 4 people. Not a lot of carbs and pasta or soups either, actual components that we can cook with. So as I said, do your research and find out the pro’s and cons before taking the plunge.

3. I grow all year around here in SE texas. It’s barely busted 90 a day or two so far. My summer garden is doing great. I got green and hot peppers, Roma and slicing tomatoes ripening, three different crops of potatoes just harvested and replanted. Great onions harvested too. I’ll replant in another bed in the fall as well as garlic. WIth my winter crops of kale, lettuce, and broccoli dying out in are going the beets, turnips, and peanuts. That doesn’t include my permanent crops, like four kinds of citrus, two apple trees, peaches, no figs. Here on my corner suburban lot at gardenforyourlife.com. We do a lot, even bees, rabbits and chickens

4. Regarding the economy. If you are able, have cash on hand in small denominations. If we have a Cypress situation and there is still accepted value to our fiat money, you will be able to shop, and perhaps at deflated prices.

   More importantly, invest in hard tangible assets now. Go to garage sales and check craigslist etc. for items folk will need, and if you shop wisely you can purchase great stuff at great prices for later use or resale.

   Even more importantly, make sure you have your preps in order. A deep larder as a friend of our community often suggests.

   Most importantly, get right with God. Ruminate on Mark 12: 30-31.

5. I’ve been canning meats, including meatloaf for the last 5 years and it works out just fine. I just mix up the meatloaf as if I were going to bake it, stuff it, uncooked, in the jars, and poke it with a chop stick to make sure I have most of the air pockets empty, then pressure can it. For a quick, easy meal when we’re strapped for time it is great. There are just the two of us, so a single qt. jar is more then enough meat for us. Add some smashed taters, some greens and fresh baked bisquits and it’s a meal fit for a king.

6. In Florida I use 50% shade cloth to extend my season.

   1. I have that over my rabbits to replace a storm that took our my big mesquite tree. That, fans, and ice water bottles kept my rabbits going in the summer heat.

7. RE: Dairy Breeds, I grew up on a farm that raised purebred Jersey cattle from the late 1890’s until I sold the herd in 2004. For a family cow the Jersey is your best bet, Here in WI the milk is sought after by the cheese plants for it’s high concentration of butterfat and protein. The cows are like puppies, they love attention, very inquisitive and just like your attention.
   Jersey steers produce a meat which is marbled just like Angus, although it takes a bit more grain to achieve this than Angus, keep in mind the article said the bulls are “muscular”.
   Now to the Jersey bull, these “animals” are evil, I think the article said “common breeds”, well having dealt most of my life with Jersey bulls these are the meanest of “ALL” breeds of cattle. We could not keep a Jersey bull beyond 18-24 mos. of age, never keep a Jersey bull

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