The Importance of Shopping Around- for Advice....
Beginning any new adventure such as prepping takes a lot of research. Research and advice.
When my wife and I moved to a more rural area from California we had absolutely no experience with caring for not only a house but a good amount land. We have plans and hopes but like a lot of people we have a lot of obstacles in the way. I'm a disabled Veteran and she works over 40 hours to help support us and our many rescues. We have to maximize time, physical exertion and space to accomplish our mutual goal of complete self-sufficiency.
When we first started down this path we decided we would start with gardening. Specifically growing as much of our own food, herbs and spices as possible. Seemed easy at the time.......until we realized that when you leave California for the East Coast you'll get a harsh lesson in the reality of.......SEASONS!!!!! That's right. We had to learn about Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter weather.
When we finally had that under our belts we decided it was time to start a little experimental garden in the front yard. We had a professional landscaper for a few months whom I asked about how to get the grass out of the area I wanted to plant in without tearing it out and fighting it every week when it would grow back. I was told to saturate the area with Round-Up weed killer.
I pointed out that the area was for edibles but he insisted the area should be saturated and then only shrubs planted because it is easier to buy anything I would plant.
By now I'm sure you can tell I didn't follow his advice.
Years later, forums later, books later, advice later and experience later we are starting our front garden with a mixture of it all. We found that flattened cardboard boxes laid over the area will kill the grass and weeds and instead of digging we are growing upwards with the help of straw bales.
The straw will nurture, insulate and support anything from seedlings to fist sized root balls. The cardboard keeps us from having to fight the grass. By the time the cardboard biodegrades the plants on top will be able to dig deep with roots and help keep the grass at bay.
Did we get to start our garden when we wanted? No. Did we finally do it the way we wanted without compromising with things like dangerous chemicals? Yes. For us, self sufficiency is the ultimate prep and being able to grow what we eat and use takes us that much closer to that goal.
If we had gone with the first advice we were given we would have had to give up a piece of our dream. For some it might not be a big deal but for us it is.
When seeking advice don't think not taking the first, second, third suggestion is rude or ungrateful. The more advice the merrier for most topics.
Shopping around works great for prices and advice!!!
-Bones
