Hunting the Wild Yam
I have a number of readers who are "preppers", but not of the "quick ma, let's hide in the bomb shelter, the revenooers are coming!", that is a mistaken public perception. Rather, they are people who simply have the sense to learn ways they can conduct their lives with a minimum of assistance from the taxpayers, as stewards of their land and law abiding members of their community.
My prepping is limited, a bit of grain, sugar and salt stored in nitrogen that will last 20 years, canned goods and water for a few months, a way to clean water, medical supplies, the skills to hunt game, not just for fine eating, but for necessity, if it ever came to that. Those are small skills compared to many folks, just enough for any famine, tornado or a Bridal Days Sale at Macy's that can wreck pandemonium on a community.
You ate the LAST roll of toilet paper
On my blogroll are a number of women who sustain their households, some with family, some all on their own, growing their own food, canning, and much more. One who I have learned a lot from reading is Kat M. at Self Sustained Living.
She does it all, cheese making, soap making, growing food and tobacco and raising goats, living a self sustained life. She even kills and preps her own game. I was introduced to Kat and her blog by my good friend Kymber at Framboise Manor. The two of them were involved together in the early days of the American Preppers Network and the Canadian Preppers Network.
She's put in a lot of time helping those that take self sufficiency seriously, encouraging people from all over the world to try it, offering advice, and support. For someone like her, asking for help can not be easy but she needs it. She is in danger of losing her farm due to a domestic violence situation with her spouse, (which you can read about here.)
Reading this struck a chord with me for reasons many of you will understand. I try and limit my "help this person" posts on my blog as there are so MANY that need it, but this one, this lady, doesn't deserve to go through this without support, something that is measured in more than dollars.
For rather than cry, or throw a pity party while sitting, waiting for someone to "save the day" she's come up with a sound business plan (which you can read here) while working to get the farm based business going (her bread sold out in 45 minutes at the market Friday). It will take some seriously hard work, and another job on the side, in addition to the commercial kitchen, but it's a sensible plan, from someone who is no stranger to backbreaking work. From what I hear, her artisan cheeses and breads alone would draw in a good business.
So let's help how we can. Drop a word of encouragement. Donate to the business fund for the commercial kitchen that's underway to sell her goods on a larger scale. She's got a Paypal tip jar on the blog, and for those that don't like Paypal, there's an Indiegogo donate link on the business plan page linked in the paragraph above. Even a dollar will help, and if you don't have a dollar, simply share her story on your blog or other social media site, that's worth more than gold.
Thank You- Brigid
Twenty years ago when people were hurting, battered and abused, they often remained silent. If they were sick and alone, or simply dealing with the damages of mother nature and time, there was not this blog community to rally around them, to let them know their talents are important, their willingness to share, a gift. Let's show Kat why this community works best together.
