No matter how bad the economy gets. We still know how to feed our families. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day. He works in the auto industry. His hours have been cut back dramatically. He was very discouraged. He said, "I'm not sure if I can get food on the table." I told him that that's one thing he didn't have to worry about. He's a hunter. No matter how hard it gets. We can put food on the table. I'm thankful for lessons that my parents & grandparents taught me on how to survive in tuff times.
And isn't that the truth! My grandmother has told me several times how glad she is that I know how to hunt and process deer on my own, and for that very reason.
I remember when I was a kid...my grandma stood on the back porch a couple of hours before supper & shot some rabbits for supper that night LOL. It made a lasting impression in my mind. Of course, I just figured all grandma's did that :P
I agree completely.... The other day I was having lunch at my parents house (both in their 80's and my dad a real life War Hero cool guy)..any way, A squirrell was messing with his birdfeeder in the back yard and he looked at it and said "son, see that squirrel out there ?" I said yep, he said they're gunna get rare here soon....." Indeed they will SB crock pot squirrel mixed with rice and black eyed peas and cornbread....ooohhhh baby, make ya slap yer momma. ...
I once met a "hunter" who didn't know that an animal's muscle was the meat!! This just proves the stupidity of some people.
There are more then one set of survival skills. While I treasure my ability to put food on the table if need be.........I think I value my ability to make sure I never end up in that position even more........and honestly, neither has anything to do with luck.
I'm blessed to own a few acres and a tractor. I've got a 1/4 acre garden that could be much larger if needed. I also have a very marketable trade and a good work ethic instilled in me by hardworking parents. My land has a pond with a good population of fish, there are lots of rabbits around and I don't have far to travel to find hogs. I'm not just lucky, I'm blessed.
Amen! It's funny that there are all these threads talking about this. Over the last six months or so, my wife and I have been talking a lot about becoming more self reliant. Our new goal is to set up a homestead off the grid somewhere in the sticks. Hunt, forage and grow what we can. We've started to casually look at property. We'll do as much of the building and infrastructure work that we can ourselves. I'm hoping for a 15 year, or so time line. Might even make a couple extra cabins and make it a mini resort where you could come and learn some of the "old ways". We've already started gardening where we're at, and we haven't bought store bought meat in over two months. Fish, veni, grouse... its so much better for you that all that hormone and chemically raised stuff anyway. We've all been blessed with a passion for the hunt, and I'm afraid that it may become more handy in the coming year than any of us would hope.
My dad took a buy out (better incentives then getting laid off) from Chrysler back in November so he has been looking for work feverishly since then. Michigan's economy is the dumps so we may have to move elsewhere. But I am thankful that I will always be able to harvest game to put on the table. We are leaning on God for direction, knowing He will take care of us.
Sounds like a really cool way to grow up Gri22ly. Sorry to hear about your dad's health. I hope he gets his lung transplant.
Amazing way to grow up. You should write a book. I think people would be truly interested in your story / skills learned. Prayers sent for your Dad.
gri22ly, that was an amazing childhood you had. I'm sure you appreciate the very rare education you recieved from your parents. Hope & pray your dad finds the relief he seeks. Last yr I offered to hunt for needy families in our church and have given venison to some families. this fall I will try to set something up the other hunters to help provide. we eat about 2-3 deer every yr. My kids love the stuff. We just pounded down several pounds of jerky this week. I also grow a garden and can a lot to be self sufficient. I make my kids get out to help plant/harvest so that they might have an idea when they're adults how to garden. I make my own spaghetti sc & salsa completely from scratch and can it. Usually get about 20gt per season.
Believe it or not, that's one of the things my wife likes most about my new-found passion of trapping... along with hunting and fishing, we should be able to survive some pretty tough times if it ever came to that. I posted before reading the responses... VERY cool upbringing, Grizz. We'll definitely keep your Dad in our prayers!
You and I, sir, are living relics of a dying breed. I raise my glass. Every gun in my cabinet and every bow I've ever bought - were all paid for by mother nature herself. Something sentimental about that.