The great depression cooking

[Just AnotherPerson]

Some days back a friend shared a YouTube channel with me which I absolutely love. The channel features Clara a grandmother who shares her stories and recipes from the Great Depression. She has since passed away, but leaves behind a wonderful archive. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRK...qU-uK2csT6FOKw I really like her humor.

I guess in a way our elders were the ultimate preppers. Here is another cool link, that discusses survival during the great depression.
https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farmin...ral%20America.

[Peter1469]

People had much more survival knowledge back then.

The reason that the EMP Commission concluded that up to 90% of the US population would die within a year after a major EMP event (natural or manmade)- modern Americans are almost completely depended on our modern infrastructure.

[Just AnotherPerson]

People had much more survival knowledge back then.

The reason that the EMP Commission concluded that up to 90% of the US population would die within a year after a major EMP event (natural or manmade)- modern Americans are almost completely depended on our modern infrastructure.

It's a good thing Bill Gates didn't know about this.... Lol. All joking aside, it's true, people are so dependent on technology, and being able to buy what they need at the store. Most would probably die of starvation even if they had an entire seed vault at their disposal.

I am dependent too, and I know it. But I think if it came down to it, I could go into survival mode. Gosh I love my hot water kettle and warm cozy house. But, luckily I grew up in a family that grew gardens every summer, and made a lot of food from scratch. I think that helps, some of that knowledge from the past has been instilled in me.

[Dr. Who]

It's a good thing Bill Gates didn't know about this.... Lol. All joking aside, it's true, people are so dependent on technology, and being able to buy what they need at the store. Most would probably die of starvation even if they had an entire seed vault at their disposal.

I am dependent too, and I know it. But I think if it came down to it, I could go into survival mode. Gosh I love my hot water kettle and warm cozy house. But, luckily I grew up in a family that grew gardens every summer, and made a lot of food from scratch. I think that helps, some of that knowledge from the past has been instilled in me.

If I didn't freeze to death (I live in the north), then I am familiar with a number of edible wild plants, as well as wild fruit, know how to make a fire without a lighter or matches, and I'm pretty sure that hunger would get me over my aversion to hunting. I certainly can grow plants from seed - I've grown some vegetables over the years and we always had a garden when I was growing up. I'm learning to bake bread of late. I never bothered before, but I'm determined to develop that skill. You never know when it might be necessary. If I move out to the country, I intend to get a book on edible mushrooms and other edible plants.

[Peter1469]

If I didn't freeze to death (I live in the north), then I am familiar with a number of edible wild plants, as well as wild fruit, know how to make a fire without a lighter or matches, and I'm pretty sure that hunger would get me over my aversion to hunting. I certainly can grow plants from seed - I've grown some vegetables over the years and we always had a garden when I was growing up. I'm learning to bake bread of late. I never bothered before, but I'm determined to develop that skill. You never know when it might be necessary. If I move out to the country, I intend to get a book on edible mushrooms and other edible plants.

It is always good to learn new skills!

[countryboy]

No thanks, lol.

[Just AnotherPerson]

If I didn't freeze to death (I live in the north), then I am familiar with a number of edible wild plants, as well as wild fruit, know how to make a fire without a lighter or matches, and I'm pretty sure that hunger would get me over my aversion to hunting. I certainly can grow plants from seed - I've grown some vegetables over the years and we always had a garden when I was growing up. I'm learning to bake bread of late. I never bothered before, but I'm determined to develop that skill. You never know when it might be necessary. If I move out to the country, I intend to get a book on edible mushrooms and other edible plants.

That's wonderful and smart too. I feel the same way about hunting, even if I was starving to death, I wouldn't kill an animal, at least I hope not. It is for this reason I have a strong prepper stash of pinto beans. : ) if anything happens to that, I'm in some trouble.

I remember when I was a child my parents were always telling me which plants were edible in the wild. I'm afraid, I didn't pay attention properly. This is definitely something I need to study. I do think you are right it's an important knowledge to have. I remember once when I was in University, I had a professor who was Native American, he told of a story of how he had to go on a spirit journey and survive in the wild. He said he survived by watching what the animals ate, and eating what they ate. I thought that was good information.

I feel like I learned a lot during the Covid lockdown last year. It was like a small prepper course. I was able to see where I was lacking. I do have a very small book, I think it is an SAS survival handbook, something like that, it has a section on plant identification. But honestly even looking at the pics, I am still confused. One thing I know I will be able to identify is dandelions. Lol.

[Peter1469]

That's wonderful and smart too. I feel the same way about hunting, even if I was starving to death, I wouldn't kill an animal, at least I hope not. It is for this reason I have a strong prepper stash of pinto beans. : ) if anything happens to that, I'm in some trouble.

I remember when I was a child my parents were always telling me which plants were edible in the wild. I'm afraid, I didn't pay attention properly. This is definitely something I need to study. I do think you are right it's an important knowledge to have. I remember once when I was in University, I had a professor who was Native American, he told of a story of how he had to go on a spirit journey and survive in the wild. He said he survived by watching what the animals ate, and eating what they ate. I thought that was good information.

I feel like I learned a lot during the Covid lockdown last year. It was like a small prepper course. I was able to see where I was lacking. I do have a very small book, I think it is an SAS survival handbook, something like that, it has a section on plant identification. But honestly even looking at the pics, I am still confused. One thing I know I will be able to identify is dandelions. Lol.

Dandelions are really good for you. Unless you have a bleeding disorder- they thin the blood. They grow all over in the northern hemisphere and although there are dandelions look-alikes, none are toxic.

But your professor was right. Watch what the animals eat.

[Dr. Who]

That's wonderful and smart too. I feel the same way about hunting, even if I was starving to death, I wouldn't kill an animal, at least I hope not. It is for this reason I have a strong prepper stash of pinto beans. : ) if anything happens to that, I'm in some trouble.

I remember when I was a child my parents were always telling me which plants were edible in the wild. I'm afraid, I didn't pay attention properly. This is definitely something I need to study. I do think you are right it's an important knowledge to have. I remember once when I was in University, I had a professor who was Native American, he told of a story of how he had to go on a spirit journey and survive in the wild. He said he survived by watching what the animals ate, and eating what they ate. I thought that was good information.

I feel like I learned a lot during the Covid lockdown last year. It was like a small prepper course. I was able to see where I was lacking. I do have a very small book, I think it is an SAS survival handbook, something like that, it has a section on plant identification. But honestly even looking at the pics, I am still confused. One thing I know I will be able to identify is dandelions. Lol.

Dandelions are an excellent source of vitamins, so is chicory - it's in the dandelion family, but it grows tall with the leaves forming on either side of the stalk and has little blue flowers that look like daisies. It's also less bitter than dandelion. The roots can also be dried and used to make fake coffee. You can also eat thistle - cooked, as well as nettles, cooked - you'll need gloves to pick either of them. Another edible that is ubiquitous is wild sorrel. The variety that I am used to seeing looks like smallish clover with heart shaped leaves. It's a brighter green than clover. If you taste it, it has a lemony flavor. There is also wild onion, and wild garlic, which you can use as flavoring - eating too much is poisonous. Wild asparagus is great in the spring. Also in the spring, you can pick fiddle heads, which are just baby ferns - as they come out of the ground they are coiled like the head of a fiddle. Then there are wild raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, mulberries and other berries indigenous to various regions. Here we also have chokecherries, horrible if you just eat them raw, but you can make them into jam or wine if you have a source of sugar or honey. There are crab apples, which are edible if you stew them and hawthorn berries, which again are edible if you cook them.

[midcan5]

Our mother always brought up their experience in the great depression when we had little to eat. Kinda funny when you think of it. But think about that time for a moment. They elected one of our greatest presidents whose policies and work is still with us and still helps all.

PS We had a neighbor who made dandelion wine.