Mr. Rawles–please accept my apologies for replying so delinquently. I just found your “blog” and have to say it is quite good. Thanks for all your work.
Though I will admit to being an organic gardener for 20 odd years now I would like to reply to a few things L.D.M. said against organic gardening and in “praise” of commercial/chemical agriculture. My reply is from a “survivalist” perspective.
First..yes, American[-origin] natural gas is the basis for fertilizer not Middle Eastern oil. However…in a catastrophe of any type when you can’t get food how exactly are you planning on getting Inorganic fertilizers and bug sprays to continue to grow what you need to eat? If your soil is not built up with organic matter (humus) you are and will be completely dependent on having that “stuff”. Disregarding my aversion to poisons. Chemical agriculture used by a survivalist is like assuming you can buy cartridges in a store after everything goes down hill. Just not possible, and leaves you in a very poor position to actually survive.
Secondly, I would have thought that survivalist would be as updated on how Monsanto, chemical companies and the Bill Gates foundation spend millions (and millions) of dollars each year trying to convince people and countries that chemical fertilizers, bug poisons, and GMO products work. GMOs (as one example) which in turn require extensive inorganic fertilizers and chemical bug sprays, have many “lone wilderness voices” declaring they do not work—however they are drowned out by the advertising dollars spent by these large companies who try and encourage those who do not fully comprehend the problems to believe in or to buy their products again or instead of their open pollinated/organic seeds and supplies. It sounds like L.D.M. has bought their lies lock stock and barrel.
There are many farmers and farming organizations now coming out telling the stories of how organic is actually giving them a better yield for less work too. But of course they aren’t heard as much because as individuals they can’t compete with Bill Gates ability to yell louder. Yes, they have to be able to spend about three years to improve their soil but each one that does says it is worth it and finds that he/she is able to produce as well or more —especially under adverse weather conditions compared to plants and soil dependent on chemicals. That is because soil microbes and structure are destroyed by chemical over use leaving the plants like addicts and unable to grow healthy and well without their “fix”.
Lastly…commercial farming is a scam. I have to admit I was surprised to see that he felt it wasn’t [a scam]. To believe otherwise is silly. The only reason that most commercial farming works is because of large government subsidies—in the U.S and foreign countries. Also…they are allowed to get away with things we as individuals would have government knocking on our door and suing us over: polluted rivers/lakes and streams, feces left in huge open pits (better to use it to make power through methane digestion), animals that are sickly are sent through without thought as to whether they carry disease transferable to humans (through various vectors/paths) which makes our food supply suspect, in my opinion. It doesn’t take much to read up on some of these things to realize that we, as individuals, don’t actually get to buy cheap corn when we go to the store. We subsidize cheap corn —it cost us much more than we realize. Unless your not paying taxes of course. Otherwise you are supporting the commercial farms and not a local person who you can develop a relationship with and who may someday help you out.
So, to sum up my points. I do raise my own meat, milk and veggies and I know how to do it without spending a dime on anyone’s products. Yes, I do occasionally buy some organic soil amendments to resupply my soil—personal choice though and I don’t absolutely need them. This is mostly because my property was badly cared for by the previous owner. As each year passes I buy less and less amendments as my soil improves through the common sense care I give it—just as nature meant for it to be. Some of my property has never had any amendments accept lime and managed intensive grazing of livestock and looks 100 times better than when I first purchased it (check out stockman grassfarmer—every survivalist should understand how to raise quality livestock with grass
only because not every crummy situation may be unacceptable to raising livestock).
If the SHTF, I can keep on growing better and better, with guaranteed vitamin and mineral content, each year because I know how to do it, without being reliant on any companies claims or inputs. Even without manure from my livestock. No reliance on others products—isn’t that self sufficiency? And isn’t that what this is all about? – Monica D.
. As I’ve mentioned in the blog before, I recommend standardizing with 
for all of the small (low current) 12 volt DC devices at your retreat and in your vehicles. These genderless connectors are vastly superior to cigarette lighter-type plugs and jacks.
— currently around #300 in the Amazon ranks.) Here is a quote from the print article: “For the record, I don’t think the grid is buckling under the weight of consumer debt or the mistakes of AIG. But we’re in a strange moment in American history when a mouse-eating barefoot survivalist in the mountains of Arizona makes more sense than the chief investment strategist of Merrill Lynch.” The article also quotes conservative economist and investor Bill Gross.