It’s all about community

Suzanne’s CORNER

In today’s uncertain times, a family has to think about the future, how to survive and live as comfortably as possible if a large disaster should happen.

Think about hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the devastation it caused. Those people never anticipated a disaster that would misplace so many and cause such problems. What if our power grid was hit and disabled the United States? What if you were without electricity for, let’s say, 3 months? What would you do? No cell phone, no computer, no TV, no AC, in fact, not much of anything. Could YOU and your family make it? The gas station pumps wouldn’t work, the ATM machines wouldn’t work, large trucks wouldn’t be able to transport goods to the stores, nothing would work. What would you do without your cell phone and heaven forbid, social media? You would be in the same boat with your neighbors, no electricity anywhere and no supplies, no food if you weren’t prepared.

This is where your community comes in. Do you know your immediate neighbors? Could you band together and help one another through a catastrophe? Could you make it? Could you live?

My personal goal was to become self-sufficient and be able to live in a peaceful community with my neighbors. The second goal was to help one another survive if we ever faced a major catastrophe.

After much studying, researching and attending a Lynette Zang⁽¹⁾ seminar in Phoenix, my first solution was to plant a “community” garden for family and immediate neighbors. Not really knowing where to start with an anticipated monumental task, I literally stumbled into the extension office of Texas A&M located here in East Texas.

These folks offer all types of public informative programs (mostly free) to help our community. We’ve learned about gardening, chickens, goats, composting, ponds and water wells to name just a few. We have been able to test our drinking water, wells and ponds.

One of the Cass County Extension Agents, Jessica Rymel⁽²⁾ , (a true jewel) suggested two chicken breeds that co-exist together beautifully and are the best egg layers. We purchased 6 of each type; 12 in total; and are currently raising them from week old chicks to now chickens laying brown eggs. What a pleasure it has been to watch these little unique personalities grow up, not to mention how delicious and nutritious fresh eggs are for your health. Amazingly we still have all 12 of the hens!

Jessica also helped layout a garden on paper. With help from two neighbors we planted a large 85’ x 55’ garden (21 rows) to almost the exact specifications of the TX A&M drawing. For a first-time attempt at gardening, we have been truly pleasantly surprised. We are still harvesting tomatoes, peppers, watermelons and cantaloupes. The beans were phenomenal as were the cucumbers which made incredible pickles. We learned from this first garden and will make changes to our next spring garden.

From attending a TX A&M “Pond” seminar, we learned how to balance a pond and what fish can thrive and survive. Even though fish aren’t my favorite, in a survival mode a bass might be a good meal! From their suggestions we stocked our small pond with tilapia and now must decide between bass or catfish to be added in the next several weeks.

In the meantime, various occasions have allowed us to get together and start to know and appreciate our wonderful neighbors and all our combined talents.

I want to thank the Texas A&M Extension Office here in East Texas and especially Jessica Rymel for her expertise, caring and knowledge to get us up and running in a more self-sufficient mode.

And to the general public, please don’t overlook the resources right here at your fingertips. Take advantage of any program posted. You will learn from these knowledgeable folks and potentially we will all become a better friendlier surviving community.

Important Contacts:

(1) Lynette Zang – ITMTrading.com

She’s all about community, urbanfarming and metals

Follow her on Youtube

(2) Jessica Rymel can be reached at Jessica.Rymel@ag.tamu.edu

Please contact her via email to be added to her program and mailout lists. If she doesn’t know, she knows where to send you!