Jobless and hopeless in America

[tobee43]

ahhhhh rich i got it now!! (i'm a bit slow today??? oh and yesterday and most likely tomorrow!) LOL!!!!!!

there's more in this terrible water than the chlorine...it's other terrible poisons as well...... which i don't want touching my lovely plants. we have a irrigation system here...and now we have to PAY for our water since we dont' have a well.....we are having a seperate system put onto the irrigation system.

the price of the house we just brought was excellent, but we found in florida...in at least the places we looked from tampa to here....water was an issue. NYC water was rated one of the best when we lived in nj....and i get we are just spoiled and took good water for granted...just as i personally took "other" things for granted...no more that's for certain!

[RichM]

yes rich the barrel would be wondrous if we just had "rain".....in all the time we have lived here...it's rained only a handful of times...i'm not use to this...we were in northern nj...in the mountains...ample rain and snow to fill the barrels and we had large water holding tanks...made of poly......but held each 1k gallons...we had three...but that was so we didn't burn out the pump or stress our well......although we had a separate well for our plants.

true sorry...my dh prostate got in larged....within 3 months of using this water....so now that we just closed on this house the first money is going into this extensive water filtering systems....that's systems...because that's what we need 4 of them...

i still buy drinking water at H20 a store with purest water around...and i will NOT store in plastic either...but, i'm a freak and i know it..

I meant fill the barrel using the hose.

[tobee43]

For the plants, you can just get a barrel, place it in a sunny spot, and fill it with water. The chlorine will evaporate over a few days (usually within a few hours, actually).

I hate the taste and smell of chlorine, and some people claim it's incredibly harmful. (Others disagree.) I filter the water I drink and use to cook using ordinary PUR filters on the faucet, which do a good enough job and aren't that expensive. But maintaining a filter big enough to filter all the water used in the house (for showering, flushing the toilet, etc.) can get pretty pricey.

New York City has an excellent water supply, however; so other than the chlorine and a little silt, the water's pretty pure, and the faucet filters are more than adequate. Where my parents used to live on Long Island, the water would turn the inline filters into muck in a matter of weeks.

-Rich

yes rich the barrel would be wondrous if we just had "rain".....in all the time we have lived here...it's rained only a handful of times...i'm not use to this...we were in northern nj...in the mountains...ample rain and snow to fill the barrels and we had large water holding tanks...made of poly......but held each 1k gallons...we had three...but that was so we didn't burn out the pump or stress our well......although we had a separate well for our plants.

true sorry...my dh prostate got in larged....within 3 months of using this water....so now that we just closed on this house the first money is going into this extensive water filtering systems....that's systems...because that's what we need 4 of them...

i still buy drinking water at H20 a store with purest water around...and i will NOT store in plastic either...but, i'm a freak and i know it..

[RichM]

For the plants, you can just get a barrel, place it in a sunny spot, and fill it with water. The chlorine will evaporate over a few days (usually within a few hours, actually).

I hate the taste and smell of chlorine, and some people claim it's incredibly harmful. (Others disagree.) I filter the water I drink and use to cook using ordinary PUR filters on the faucet, which do a good enough job and aren't that expensive. But maintaining a filter big enough to filter all the water used in the house (for showering, flushing the toilet, etc.) can get pretty pricey.

New York City has an excellent water supply, however; so other than the chlorine and a little silt, the water's pretty pure, and the faucet filters are more than adequate. Where my parents used to live on Long Island, the water would turn the inline filters into muck in a matter of weeks.

-Rich

[tobee43]

Pandora - My Dr said, only the whites of eggs, no butter or margarine (benecol to substitute), no 1/2 & 1/2 for my coffee - skim milk instead, lean meats, no gravies and on and on.

I would build that greenhouse if I could get through the 4 feet of snow, LOL.

LOL!!! yeah we did have greenhouses in snow ...and they were up a hill....sometimes we couldn't even get up the hill to water because of the ice!!

i had a hard time at first with the skim milk but i drink about 1/2 gallon every two days....for a good source of protein and to fill my tummy so i don't eat so much

[tobee43]

discouraged: Eggs arent THAT bad for ya ;) although admittedly, I havent eaten an actual egg in about 9 months now - for some reason eggs and chicken make my stomach turn and i'm not quite sure why. I lived on chicken and eggs prior to this weird aversion and no..its not because we have chickens , since we've had them for 3 years now. *sighs* Do you take fish oil by chance? if not, start taking it and your cholesterol levels will drop a bit, also oatmeal helps too. Been where you are but mine is hereditary and when I hit 40, my levels just jumped for no reason as diet didnt change prior to. Very scary to say the least, but it's managed now with fish oil and a very low dose of Pravastatin, so I'm good.

you can still grow your own veggies in MN Do them in a green house situation! its very easy to build one, simply build a small frame using wood or pvc *whatever works for you - and can be recycled wood* and thick plastic sheeting to cover. An 8X10 / 10x10 Green house can be built for less than $100. A patio version is even less, especially if you have old windows / old storm door laying about or know someone who does.

lovemybugs: i hear ya! Wish we were off the grid but its very hard to do and you have to be extremely dedicated. I like technology too much LOL! Then again, you can supplement by doing little things like making your own solar heater to supplement your housing heat / garage heat / basement, etc. Very minimal cost (tubing/cans, black heat paint, wood for framing, old storm door or plexiglass) and TA-DA - you now have a passive Solar heater, no electricity required for it to work! We will be making one this spring to supplement this winter for our garage and basement; on average it will cost about $50 for each one. We will also be doing the same thing with our swimming pool so it stays warm longer, all w/out using electricity to heat it. Google homemade solar heaters and you will find a ton of plans and step by step how to build them.

Tobee: you're too funny . Nah, will pass on the book - too much effort LOL! Yep - we used to have a woodstove in our 1st house many moons ago and I agree, too much work for me, and smoke triggers migraines for me, so they're out. Living in FL, you can do a solar water heater, its perfect for down there - just need another tank for the water to sit in, then transfer to the other tank that heats it up. If you have the water sitting in the collection tank and it comes in at say..80-85 degrees before it transfers over, its less heat-up time for hot water, which works great if you have all electric vs. gas or a combo of the two.

Farmers markets are great, unfortunately many here actually purchase their produce from, of all places..the grocery stores - then resell it. Terrible and so deceptive, unfortunately many people arent aware of it. There is absolutely nothing like a homegrown tomato, sliced thick for a sandwhich with mayo, salt & pepper! YUM! Ack - now I want a tomato sandwhich LOL! C'mon SPRING!!

and no..no rooster required

the first thing we did with this house....the water is terrible...and it will kill you...so we are putting in 4 water filter systems next week to run off of solar...no electric...we are use to pure well water and having a terrible time adjusting to city water full of poisons. it smells like bleach and i have been using a water tank hook to our shower because i don't even want it touching my body!!!

we looked into a solar system for the electric...the water heater and cooling...but it's about 10k...not worth it...since our bills run between 79 dollars to our all time worse which was 300...(that was because we had my mom here and my dh put the pool heater up to 90 for a week....)...ahhhhhhhh...i just keep most everything off...when it's too hot...less clothes...too cold more clothes.......shower....5 minutes...LOL!!! wash that body and get the heck out!

me toooooooooo...love tomato sandwiches...but i love a nice ripe avacado with it and some cilantro on rye or whole wheat!!

and your so correct...most of the "farmers" markets you have to be prepared to use the produce the same day...but the cool thing where we are in the farm lands, is on the week ends and on monday there is or are huge farmers markets in different areas.... with goods that the stores didn't buy! so we can still get some fresh as well as some that we can store for a week or so.

i also looked into pottable water tanks...i can't get one here!!!!!!!!! (the one for our shower is special and in the shower itself...temporary)... i had FOUR HUGE ones in nj to water my greenhouses....here i can't find anyone that has the huge tanks to collect rain water...and the problem is at this point absoltely NO fruits or veggies in our garden only to be watered with the BLEACHED will kill ya water.....we have a system being put in for outside watering as well...my poor plants...getting bleached!

come on with the book!!! really it would be great...have a book cover made out of re cycled paper....and chapters on how to survive life in the USA on no money ....and how to eat a 5 course meal on a dime!! i would even buy it..

[tobee43]

RICH!! that was a great article!!!!!!!!!!

i wonder what's going to happen...and interesting story to follow!

[MSbklawyer]

Funny, we were talking about tobacco taxes, and here's this article in the NY Times about home-grown, tax-free Brooklyn tobacco.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/nyregion/25tobacco.html?hp

-Rich

You go girl!!! That is the kind of spirit that makes America great. That made my day.

[RichM]

Funny, we were talking about tobacco taxes, and here's this article in the NY Times about home-grown, tax-free Brooklyn tobacco.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/nyregion/25tobacco.html?hp

-Rich

[discouraged]

Pandora - My Dr said, only the whites of eggs, no butter or margarine (benecol to substitute), no 1/2 & 1/2 for my coffee - skim milk instead, lean meats, no gravies and on and on.

I would build that greenhouse if I could get through the 4 feet of snow, LOL.

[Pandora]

discouraged: Eggs arent THAT bad for ya ;) although admittedly, I havent eaten an actual egg in about 9 months now - for some reason eggs and chicken make my stomach turn and i'm not quite sure why. I lived on chicken and eggs prior to this weird aversion and no..its not because we have chickens , since we've had them for 3 years now. *sighs* Do you take fish oil by chance? if not, start taking it and your cholesterol levels will drop a bit, also oatmeal helps too. Been where you are but mine is hereditary and when I hit 40, my levels just jumped for no reason as diet didnt change prior to. Very scary to say the least, but it's managed now with fish oil and a very low dose of Pravastatin, so I'm good.

you can still grow your own veggies in MN Do them in a green house situation! its very easy to build one, simply build a small frame using wood or pvc *whatever works for you - and can be recycled wood* and thick plastic sheeting to cover. An 8X10 / 10x10 Green house can be built for less than $100. A patio version is even less, especially if you have old windows / old storm door laying about or know someone who does.

lovemybugs: i hear ya! Wish we were off the grid but its very hard to do and you have to be extremely dedicated. I like technology too much LOL! Then again, you can supplement by doing little things like making your own solar heater to supplement your housing heat / garage heat / basement, etc. Very minimal cost (tubing/cans, black heat paint, wood for framing, old storm door or plexiglass) and TA-DA - you now have a passive Solar heater, no electricity required for it to work! We will be making one this spring to supplement this winter for our garage and basement; on average it will cost about $50 for each one. We will also be doing the same thing with our swimming pool so it stays warm longer, all w/out using electricity to heat it. Google homemade solar heaters and you will find a ton of plans and step by step how to build them.

Tobee: you're too funny . Nah, will pass on the book - too much effort LOL! Yep - we used to have a woodstove in our 1st house many moons ago and I agree, too much work for me, and smoke triggers migraines for me, so they're out. Living in FL, you can do a solar water heater, its perfect for down there - just need another tank for the water to sit in, then transfer to the other tank that heats it up. If you have the water sitting in the collection tank and it comes in at say..80-85 degrees before it transfers over, its less heat-up time for hot water, which works great if you have all electric vs. gas or a combo of the two.

Farmers markets are great, unfortunately many here actually purchase their produce from, of all places..the grocery stores - then resell it. Terrible and so deceptive, unfortunately many people arent aware of it. There is absolutely nothing like a homegrown tomato, sliced thick for a sandwhich with mayo, salt & pepper! YUM! Ack - now I want a tomato sandwhich LOL! C'mon SPRING!!

and no..no rooster required

[tobee43]

Pandora, you are speaking my language. I cannot wait to get out of this apartment and back into a house. I would love not to buy my strawberries from the grocery store anymore.

I'm trying to convince my husband to go off grid, but he is having none of that. I would love to be totally self sufficient. Hopefully we can compromise and I can get a hen or two.

hehehe...you'll need a rooster too...

[tobee43]

PANDORA

you are so brilliant!!!!!! really you need to write a book...i have decided...you would have been proud of us when we lived up north..we had a special wood burner made like 25 years ago with a water tank built in....the wood would heat the water and circulated through out the house and also giving us 10 minutes of hot water per hour....so we were oil and gas free for many years...until we were too old to haul the wood!! and the smell was getting to me, and i was getting lazy!

we go to the local farmers market and just buy what's on special...this week was mango for 59 cents...so i'm making white fish tonight with mango salsa.....soaked my red beans last night....got my rice ready...some sliced avacado...on special for 69 cents this week....and we are eating for 3 days!! i got the whole fresh flounder and had it fillet and it was only $3.98 a pound...only problem with that was the smallest fish was 3 lbs...LOL!! so i'll be cooking a ton today..my second day up and i NEED REAL FOOD!!
cuz like i mentioned my dh thinks olive oil is a main food group......yuck....

discouraged......eggs...i always hated them, but only because of the yoke...so now i just eat egg whites...i love them....low low low....cholestrol. .i make omelets with tons of veggies...ohso's are out now......cheap and the sweetest onion anyone can get..(i'm even making stuffed onions to freeze) since the ohso's have such a short season. i'm on the cooking animal speed zone today since it's been so long that i have eaten a meal....i mean it's not like i don't like olive oil or anything...LOL!!! he's going for cooking classes asap...that's all i can say after this experience..i mean i have been with him 40 years and all he can do is make toast and eggs and olive oil???

[discouraged]

Ah Pandora - you had to mention eggs! I just had a wake-up call from my Dr about my cholestrol and eggs (which I love) are now a no-no. As are so many other things. Thankfully I have always tried to eat healthy but, being unemployed for 2 years with just temp jobs, I found myself going for 'cheaper' things that I wouldn't have touched when I was working. And, being in MN, we cannot grow our vegetables year round, nor do we have fruit trees, outside of apples.

But, I am re-learning how to eat and buy good food. It kills me though that I am going to have to give away so many things that I can no longer eat! At least until my cholestrol goes down, and even then I suppose I'll always have to watch it. Now...if I could only find a job that would pay for the extra food expense, that would be great.

[lovemybugs10]

Pandora, you are speaking my language. I cannot wait to get out of this apartment and back into a house. I would love not to buy my strawberries from the grocery store anymore.

I'm trying to convince my husband to go off grid, but he is having none of that. I would love to be totally self sufficient. Hopefully we can compromise and I can get a hen or two.