Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

This paragraph was on a prepper sub on Reddit. I thought of you, FJ. How would you be able to stock up a bit in your home, incase something in America went sideways?

"Alpha gal is a mammalian sugar molecule allergy caused by a tick bite. It isn't as simple as avoiding just mammal meat - it's in most foods unless vegan such as: "natural flavors", gelatin, glycerin, eggs from chickens fed non vegetarian/bug diet, brines/broths with natural flavors added or injected into meat, sugar filtered through bone char, Carrageenan, dairy and so much more. Many with alpha gal also will get MCAS; a histamine issue which means meats that are aged can potentially cause anaphalaxis so typically you'll need fresh or frozen meat.

How are you to prep for this? Is it possible for someone to survive with such a severe allergy? What would be your main protein source if fish aren't available in a SHTF situation? Would having a stocked fish pond be a good idea or just a lot of canned protein like beans? Also, epi pens only last for so long but I imagine you could use past the experation date if there's anaphalaxis (common with AG).

My husband has had alpha gal for 9 months now and I'm well prepped for the rest of our family but have been wondering what I can do for him. Thanks in advance."

Every person has different reactions and tolerances. I do not find the eggs to be a problem from chickens that are fed conventional feed so far... By the time the feed is ingested and then processed through the chicken, into the eggs, the percentage of the population that could/would react to that is miniscule. BUT, that is where elimination is a big thing... You have to just add one thing to your diet at a time to see if it is going to cause a problem. Like my trying to figure out what it was with eating a couple of things that I was not thinking about... all in the same day and getting a reaction... then having to go through and cut them all then start over. And still am not sure what it was, or if it was a combination of them as singularly they do not seem to be a problem so far.... Or even conventional chicken.... I have been getting/eating the rotisserie chicken... commercially raised chicken.... from Walmart and it is not bothering me... but someone else might have a full blown effect from it...

Have you and he looked into the SAAT treatment... The acupuncture? And find someone that specailizes in treating it and see if he can start to do the tinctures under the tongue that will "reset" the immune responses... because it is likely he has some other allergies to things.
SAAT stands for Soliman Aricular Allergy Treatment... it is approved by the NIH simply because there is not any other treatment that comes close to working.... and much as the NIH hates to admit that "voodoo" medicine... IE acupuncture... works, it does in many/most cases. If I was not allergic to the adhesive in the "bandages" that cover the acupuncture needles... I would have had it already. MOST people get very good results and can go back to eating some/most all red meat and dairy products.

You need to find someone that is into naturopathic medicine...many that are certified in this treatment are chiropractors, and there are some specializing in this acupuncture treatment; and there are all sorts of clinics that now recognize and treat it here in the east. It is becoming a real problem... and more and more people are getting it..
Yes the list of possible reactive substances is HUGE... I seem to have a problem with the xantham and guar gums used as emulsifiers, for one thing... Used in SOOOO many products. I have not had any reactions to any chicken, any seafood or tuna fish or milder white fish like cod or sole, or peanut butter or things like that. No vegetables bother me.... I am not a big bean eater so protein has been a challenge.... and I do not do soy for some of the mimicking of estrogen and such that it does.
One of the tinctures is for milk allergies... did not do that in the first go round, but adding that this time. Also adding tinctures for grass allergies... have reset the ones for mold and a few other things... and these can be repeated if something causes them to react again.

Look up starkvilleacupuncture.com...she is in Mississippi... and the clinic I am going to knows this lady... they have a good list and very easy to read and understand... and more comprehensive than so many sites that seem to be vague...
The tinctures, and all the things that they test for are based on the Royal Rife system developed in the 1930's? (50's?). It is electromagnetic frequencies that every cell has... and can be used to disrupt the ones causing cancer or other types of "malfunction" like allergies, in the body.
Pooh Hoohed by "modern medicine"... but more and more there are things that people are finding some credibility in it. It is to reset the body's response to these triggers... and acupuncture is just one way... This SAAT has been in practice for over 20-25 years now and has THOUSANDS of successes....

I am not going to just sit by and "woe is me".... I have been trying to learn as much as I can and what I can do to counteract it...... and figuring out the triggers....sure I have days when I get really "mad and depressed" over this... but there are things you can do... so "suck it up" and find ways, things to help....
If the SHTF I have no intention to just barely survive... I will find ways to deal with it... it might pi$$ me off and make me really aggravated... but this is not going to stop me...
This is much more survivable than some other things...

 

[farmerjan]

Thursday night... hit 85 today and very light breeze.. But then there were more clouds, the high up kind... so not HOT, just warm and mostly comfortable.

OF COURSE, did not get to all the things I had on the list... I did get the mower out, batteries in, and the grass was really thick... mowed slow and tried to not get it clogged up.... used all 6 batteries, plus the smaller "spare"... it is not holding a charge very long... recharged 2 and "used them up too"... but I got alot done... I did not do any weed eating and did not go to do the blankets etc at the laundromat. It was partly cloudy, with intermittent sun... made it very comfortable.... not too hot... but now there is a 20% chance of some scattered showers... so decided it was not life to death to go to town. So I actually mowed more than I planned... did around the edge of the posts they put in for the fence on half the yard/field... did a bunch around the chicken pens. I took up one "section" of the electric netting... 165 ft I think it is... that took some time as the grass was grown up in it from last year and then this year... so took some care to not tear it up... I hope to get the other 2 sections pulled up tomorrow if it is not too hot... then can mow all around the garden and get ready for it to get tilled. Get out the wheeled weed eater and do some serious stuff...

I added another bag of clippings from the winter dried grass I mowed and bagged a few months ago... in the NH pen.... added some fresh dried grass to the langshan nest and got her resettled... she is sooo cute, all puffy and clucking...
There was only 1 leghorn egg again today, and she was clucking some... don't know who's egg it is as there are 3 hens in there... I will keep saving them and if she is serious about it... will set her on a clutch of eggs in a week or so...

The NH rooster I moved in with the cornish hens has settled in. He was treading one this afternoon... maybe that will kickstart them to start laying again a little bit??? So that is good, the other one is not bothering the langshan rooster as much.... since he doesn't have as much competition, he is paying more attention to the NH pullets and not trying to be the "BIG BOSS" .

In the morning, I am going to fill the buckets with water then cut off the water at the spigot and cut the hose where it is leaking so I can put a new end on it. Can't leave it on now, cuz', I will not waste water; so I fill 3-4 buckets full at a time. The cornish are going through 5 gal a day at least. Have to water all the plants because they are dry and even the irises and all look parched. Need to get everything soaked good... even if we get some rain. Have a 20 gal tub here and will fill that so I can go on and soak all the plants.

I made a couple small piles of sticks and stuff that came out of the trees over the winter, around where all I was mowing... so need to take the mower and cart and get them picked up tomorrow. Move the vehicles around so I can mow more.... and have some mint growing in the lawn rooted from pots I had, that I want to put in pots again.... before I mow it off... so need to get some potting soil in the pots and dig it up... then I can mow across there...

I also screwed up... accidentally hit the lever and the mower deck dropped and cut the nearly new heavy duty extension cord that went to the heater in the "crawl space/cellar" under the house... I am really P.O.ed... but it was a total accident... just hit the lever wrong as I turned after I backed out of the carport, flipped the little button forward, had pulled the knob to engage the mower, and the mower deck dropped all the way down...... and zing... cut it right up. So will have to see about getting new ends put on it... have one piece that will be 8 ft long at least, I guess... the other will be that much shorter now..... I think it was 100 ft long??? It was a long one. Guess it is good that I don't need the heater on down there now...

Went and fed at snyder's... he also took one young cow up there that he weaned her calf off and sold it...when he took the 4 bwf heifers back up there... she will get bred back with the heifers up there... she got bred too young, OOPS.... and did a decent job of raising her calf... held her back... she was originally supposed to be sold... but couldn't sell preg that small/young. Rather flighty disposition but .... she did her job while still a "baby herself"... so she will get bred now... If she settles then she will stick around...

Went and checked the cows, for calves; no new ones, but it was getting darker . I had wanted to pound some staples in the next stretch of fence that is up... but got up there too late and too dark after checking the cows. The ones that haven't calved yet look like beached whales... Maybe tomorrow evening I can work on that stretch of fence... shouldn't take about 1 1/2 hrs with not "pushing myself".... weather ought to be comfortable to do it too... There will be no question down the road, of me "doing my part"..... plus I like to do things like this, with no one to bother me... until my back starts to ache too much.
Picked up another 40 lb pail of staples to use for whenever they get the fence up here.... GRRRR. The next order they get in will be higher cost so I just decided to go on and get them now, and have them. Nothing gets cheaper anymore...

Cancelled the trip to the hoof trimmer at the dairy tomorrow..., and got the name/number of the guy that does the hoof trimming for future reference.

Cows/heifers at snyder's, look good; they like the grass, and are not touching the hay in the hay ring. But they were glad to come for the grain. It won't be a problem to get Maggie in to take to the barn for the vet to look at her foot.

Does anyone know that margarine has milk products in it...???? Land o Lakes has buttermilk in it, another (Blue Bonnet I think) has whey ? in it... I heated (broiler) some of the garlic bread today at lunch when I heated up the chicken leg and thigh for "lunch"... then I finished it up tonight... and have had to make several trips to the bathroom.... not bad like it was when I ate meat... but.. gotta go, so gotta go right now... The chicken has not bothered me for multiple days of eating it.. so I think it is the garlic bread. Even though it is made with margarine, not butter... who knows which margarine brand... most have some sort of milk product in them.


Lots of things on the list so I am heading to bed and get up and get some of them done tomorrow. Looks to be another decent day.... partly sun and clouds so not too hot...

 

[farmerjan]

Got up to 55 as the low overnight. Sun is out, some high clouds/hazy so hopefully won't be too hot. It really is too early for this warm weather. But it is nice out already.

Already turned the eggs... they have been in since Monday, so can candle them this weekend and see how fertile they are...

Heading out to do chickens, fill all water buckets and such. Then give all the plants a good soaking Trying to find the "sheet rock" knife so I can cut the hose and then put new ends on it, get rid of the hole/leak. GRRRR.

Eating eggs again, this morning... thank goodness the chickens are laying..
What I would give for the option to just have a bowl of cereal with some good raw cow milk..... Oh well, could be worse... But no margarine even... so just some apple butter on the english muffin with the eggs.

Might work on getting that other pen for the chickens together... can't do the top yet as I have to get those boards from Deb's that she was making the replacements for the ones that were rotten... but get the sides done so all I have to do is put the top panels on...

Batteries all charged again, but I am thinking I may need to get a couple more as backup so I can use this mower/tractor all day and just switch out batteries to keep going when I want to do some "marathon days". Definitely want to get the mower out, take the cart and get the rest of the sticks picked up and on the pile... Might even try to burn that pile if it rains Sat aft/eve.... got a bunch of papers to burn but thought I would use them in the pile rather than just do them in the burn barrel. Would be good if it starts to rain/shower.... take the hose out there for precaution....

Gotta move the vehicles to get the rest of the grass along the driveway and inbetween....

Get the rest of the electric netting taken down and moved... would be good to get done, so I can mow/weed eat. Then be able to keep it weed "eated" .

Lots on the list...

 

[Ridgetop]

me too!

Sounds interesting, what do you snack on?

Blue Bell of course!

 

[Ridgetop]

Guess the garlic bread was a mistake this time... although it is made with margarine... about 2 hrs after,,, started coughing, nose running, congested, trouble wheezing... so I will give the garlic bread to DS... cannot deal with this....cannot see whatever else it is... although I did eat tuna fish on rye bread with just lettuce......at lunch today..... read all the labels ... WHO THE HE// knows what triggered this....

How abot naan bread. It is supposed to be unleavened.

I get it.. but 60 is going to be one he// of a LOOONG session in the barn... GF was not going to be available... for just one group.....she has a followup on the finger that got broken when the cow got her down a couple weeks ago.... BUT... she said that she would get it changed from Monday if he can do both groups ....so I guess he will hear back tomorrow from the vet....

OTH, at least he is getting on the ball about getting stuff done instead of letting things slide for weeks and then complaining about the results. Sounds like GF is trying tobe more helpful so that s better too. Gotta look on the bright side and not stress.

Guess I cannot be trusted to take care of things... but when he went to VT he "trusted her" to check on things at the farm, even though I was not included in that bit of info either..

Actually, sounds like maybe he is realizing that he has been dumping on you for too long and now is trying to make things easier. As long as he is getting more done in a timely fashion, and easing your burden, I would take it. Nothing wrong with sucking up to your mother occasionally! If GF continues to be an asset and not send him into a tailspin by dumping him every few months, he'll be easier and more pleasant to work with.

 

[Ridgetop]

Does anyone know that margarine has milk products in it...???? Land o Lakes has buttermilk in it, another (Blue Bonnet I think) has whey ? in it... I heated (broiler) some of the garlic bread today at lunch when I heated up the chicken leg and thigh for "lunch"... then I finished it up tonight... and have had to make several trips to the bathroom.... not bad like it was when I ate meat... but.. gotta go, so gotta go right now... The chicken has not bothered me for multiple days of eating it.. so I think it is the garlic bread. Even though it is made with margarine, not butter... who knows which margarine brand... most have some sort of milk product in them.

Probsbly add mil, products so it tstes mre like butter - you know the slogan "I can't believe it's not butter!"

 

[fuzzi]

What I would give for the option to just have a bowl of cereal with some good raw cow milk..... Oh well, could be worse... But no margarine even... so just some apple butter on the english muffin with the eggs.

I use honey on my English muffins, and bread.

 

[fuzzi]

Probsbly add mil, products so it tstes mre like butter - you know the slogan "I can't believe it's not butter!"

I found out that "non dairy" products can and DO contain dairy...just not a lot. I had to give up non dairy coffee creamers and whipped topping.

 

[farmerjan]

In for a sandwich... it got hot out in the sun.

Carried water and filled feeders and moved a panel over so the cornish got a little more shade in their pen since there are only 2 roof panels that are solid in there. They were feeling the heat.
Took down part of a piece of plastic that was around the NH pen because it is too hot... next year will have vinyl for that pen where I want it protected... this was last minute and it worked so did not worry with trying to get grommets in and do more vinyl this past fall/winter.
Moved some things so I can get in and mow a little closer to the pens.

Langshan hen is happily setting on her eggs. NH pullets have gone into another corner of the pen to lay so that is fine.

The smaller 4 amp battery is not holding a charge... I put it in the mower to just move it to hook up the cart, after being on charge last night, and showed 00% on the "gauge" .... so guess it will have to be replaced.. I still have 1 or 2 more smaller ones from the lawn mower and the wheeled weed eater... well, 1 more. Plus the 6 that go in the mower... They are all charged and ready to go...

Soaked all the plants and filled the tub and the 4 buckets of water then shut off the spigot again. Moved some so I can mow.

I cannot dig up any of the mint without a pry bar, the ground is so dry and hard. Maybe if we get some of this called for rain tomorrow... I am going to mow around that patch.

Back was starting to really ache so came in, ate and took some tylenol... going back out in a minute. Cart is hooked to mower so I am going out to pick up those couple small piles of branches next. Then mow around some and I will take the sweeper and collect some of the clippings just to put in the pens with the birds.
Still cannot find the "cutter" to slice the hose to put the new ends on it... Might just go buy another one so I have it.. OOOHHH.. Just thought.. I can take the lopping shears and cut it, I bet.... Got some small walnut saplings coming up that I need to cut off while I am out there.

Small weed eater at the porch with an extra battery ready. Will run that and then I probably will have to take a break.

I cannot work in any of the gardens because the ground is so dry and hard.

I wanted to start running some electric fence across a section at snyder's ... to give it a chance to grow a bit... sorta rotational grazing... and I cannot get the smaller electric fence post in the ground. Need to get some rain to soften the ground so I can take a hammer and pound them in a bit. Normally could just knock them in in a minute...

I also have a hedge trimmer that was part of a package deal of DeWalt "hand tools" I got...before I got the Greenworks stuff... am going to take and mow off as much of the forsythia bush that blocks the line of sight as I can.... I told DS that I really want them gone from there... need to go down along the road as a "hedge" to block some of the nosy people from seeing...some privacy.....along a curve that is opposite where the new fence is going on Grants property across the dirt road... but not in the line of sight. Curves away from the road not blocks anyone trying to see... There are alot of rocks and stuff along there.. they would make a good way to just "cover" the ledges and such...

Okay, back out to see what I can do now...

 

[farmerjan]

In for the night... We got 10 drops two different times... but were not really calling for more than a passing shower so not surprised... Tomorrow is supposed to be the rain/showers...

Got the branches picked up and on the pile. Mowed some more then took the sweeper and got up the majority of the clippings... not alot... and put some in the cornish pen because they are just messy chickens... put some in the leghorn pen inside and outside in the run area... It was getting sparse. Got 1 / 50 lb feed bag full that I will put out in a couple days as they will be getting hot since there is some green grass in there...didn't want it to get rained on since I had already gotten it up in the sweeper.... Then, I got the electric cord rolled up and the piece I chopped off, in the car... Will take it and see about getting the right plugs to put on the 2 pieces I have to make them usable.

Did not get any of the electric netting taken down to move...Will take the small weed eater and get some of the grass closer to the netting than the mower was getting... don't want to damage it...and pulling too hard will tear it.

Got the sweeper and the mower put away, and covered, in the carport in case it does rain...blows in there some.
Went by Deb's house to just check on things... and went to doug's... DS had been back sometime as he fed hay to the calving cows in the peterbilt field... no new calves. Was thinking about doing the other stretch of fence in there, but someone had done it... and I think I remember DS saying that the kids were helping one day and he gave them a job to put in staples... So, that one is done... there is one more that is up at the barn between lot 2 and 3 that needs doing I am pretty sure... and he has GOT TO get the rest of them up and stretched... GRRRR... but no, you have to "go away" for a few days cuz she needs a break....

Talked to him a bit ago because the gate to the farm was open... I thought he might still be there... No, he forgot to shut it... asked what I need to do tomorrow... just feed the "escapee calves" that are coming out the creep gate, into a smaller sectioned off pen...and getting some grain that the momma's can't get to...This is the group that is getting preg checked Monday... guess we are only doing 1 bunch... he never said if he heard back from the vet.

Stopped at Sam and Doris's house,,, they were outside... because Deb has wanted someone to mow and I was not able to catch up with him. It is only 3 driveways down the road from him... he will go look at it tomorrow he said...I told him every other week and maybe every 3 weeks if we do not get much more rain than we are getting...

Texted Deb and she is maybe coming out next weekend... I texted her back to let her know I would not be here on Saturday... It's the Poultry swap/Flea market at Gilman's.... @Mini Horses and @fuzzi are coming I am pretty sure... Don't think that @canesisters can come, she is working?... Plus her dad's being there... MAYBE the house is done and he can move back to his own place...???

Got the sample bottles in the racks and in the car... ready to go in the morning.

Time for me to get a shower and go to bed so I can get up to leave by 4:15 a.m.