First, there were periodic shortages of toilet paper, and a few random foodstuffs. The Officially Smart People (OSPs) blamed the shipping crisis – which was TOTES Trump’s fault, and not, in any way, related to anything that had happened since the Biden administration had taken over.
Especially, it was NOT the New Gay Father (of TWINS) – in charge of the Dept. of Transportation – who had ANY responsibility for it.
Well, OK. Things do, apparently, just happen.
But, then there was a shortages that affected other things – heavy machinery parts, electronics (which hit every part of the economy), more segments of the food industry (including some fires and other incidents at food processing facilities that MAY have been arson).
Speaking of food, SURPRISINGLY, much of the pork processing in America was shut down by “COVID”. The owners had to completely de-contaminate/sterilize the plants, adding to the time involved. AMAZINGLY, the chicken industry also suffered the same problems. So, a lot of food in America came from foreign sources. Apparently, China has little problem keeping their meat processing going, despite having been Ground Zero for the disease.
COVID forms kept mutating. Despite the normal trend of ‘killer’ viruses to become less lethal, COVID, we are told the OSPs, is still going to kill us all, in any form. Pay no attention to the actual causes of death, or the age distribution of those who were hospitalized/died.
We’ve continued to see shortages. When food is plentiful, it’s expensive. The recent formula shortages are making people nervous. I regularly check the shelves when I’m out, on the off chance that I’ll be able to pick up the formula my grandson and his wife use as a supplement for their latest child (fortunately, she has been able to keep breastfeeding, although she fills in with formula).
Now, Jif has recalled a protein-rich food – peanut butter. The recall affected only a few batches initially (reportedly, salmonella was the culprit). But the recall has expanded widely. Please check this linked list, and make sure that you haven’t stocked up on them.
Wheat supplies are down. You would think the OSPs would have been able to realize this earlier, but no. Well, at least families won’t need as much bread, what with the peanut butter shortages. I hope Smuckers is prepared for a drop in one of their OTHER products – jams and jellies.
What’s next?
I’m guessing corn and rice. Probably followed by beans of many types, after which I’d expect the meat industry to be slaughtering their herds, for lack of feed.
Now’s the time to buy a new freezer and stock up as you can (I’d plan on some meat purchases when the price does drop). It’s going to be a long couple of years of scarcity. Read your Bible for what happens then.
On a related note, have you planted your garden yet?
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Am planting garden plot as we speak. The summer is short and planting time is much later than it is in most other climates. Potatoes (two types), squash (three types), corn (two types), beans (four types), peas (two types), and marigolds for pest management. Tomatoes and cucumbers will come later in the season. Everything is “heritage”, meaning they will have viable seeds. Did you know that fifty pounds of pinto beans costs only $90 and can grow enough beans to provide protein to a small town?
The deck container garden has teas, spices, millet for the parakeets, and flowers for the soul. The fruit trees are finally relatively mature and can each produce more than a year’s worth of plums, peaches, pears, cherries, and apples. An attempt will be forged to build a greenhouse this summer. Some things just won’t grow up here outside, and I like my peppers.
All I can say is that anybody who starves must live in a city or something.
Last year’s garden – such as it is, horrible soil, really a few inches over sand and gravel landfill – was a bust aside from herbs. So that’s what I’m focusing on this year, with an experimental two squash plants.
As soon as the next paycheck hits – get paid once a month and it gets TIGHT at the end of the month – will be planting three 5 gallon buckets of potatoes. More tomato plants. Going to try to “get away” with planting grapes on one side of the property chain link fence – wife vetoed the idea last year but this year I’ll just do it.
The thing I’m looking for now is Jerusalem artichokes. I think they might succeed in our yard. I just have no idea where to buy them.
Unless I got lots of topsoil delivered and did a few other things, like getting rid of the rabbit warren under the gazebo, I can’t raise enough. But I can still start trying to get the kids interested in gardening.
One last thing: pray that the beets I planted yesterday take and thrive. The wife loves beets. Maybe, if they work out, I can interest her in at least adding to the 4 x 8 bed by having a couple more.
Author
Here’s where to buy Jerusalem Artichokes (also called Sunchokes) – https://www.gurneys.com/product/jerusalem_artichoke
Author
Try growing the sunchokes in containers, like the potatoes – they are both tuberous plants, so it should work.
Mr. Poretto, your linked list is for the Jif products sold in Canada which are under the recall, but there is an expanded list for Jif peanut butter sold in the USA…I found one of several links below for your reference if you deem it worthy to be included….best, redclay7 5/23/22
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/05/21/full-list-of-jif-peanut-butter-products-recalled-over-possible-salmonella-contamination/
And of course Bidiots’ puppeteers have decided that at a time of increasing food and grain shortages that it would be good to raise the amount of corn wasted in making fuel alcohol by 50%. (10% ethanol gas to 15% ethanol gas).
What might be good news for Europe is that Ukraine has gotten 70% to 90% of its’ farming acerage planted (depending on which crop), though without the Black Sea ports (especially Odessa) the MidEast and N Africa will be hammered.
John in Indy
Thanks for the sunchoke source tip, Linda.