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So every strawberry you see in a pint is always fresh. Okay. Cool. Your tax bracket is probably a lot higher than mine.
I don't dine on garbage as you do. My tax bracket may or may not be higher than yours, but I'm not as likely as you to die from tainted foods. However, I urge you to continue: lets see which of us disappears from the forum first.
I don't dine on garbage as you do. My tax bracket may or may not be higher than yours, but I'm not as likely as you to die from tainted foods. However, I urge you to continue: lets see which of us disappears from the forum first.
My oldest cousin is in his 60s (he was/is a hippy) and he's been doing it for probably 40 years. So...
I don't dumpster dive for food personally, but I wouldn't judge someone who did. They probably do throw away some pretty decent stuff. Expiration dates are only suggestions to give it the eye and smell test to me.
However, I do love "dumpster diving" for other stuff. In Alaska where I live, there are rural transfer stations where people can dump their trash to later be picked up and taken to the landfill. There are designated seperate salvage areas (not in the dumpsters) where people can leave decent or even new and nice stuff. Due to the very transient nature of the state and the expense to ship things out, you can seriously score at the transfer station if your timing is right. I've found literally thousands of dollars worth of useful and like new items, gear and equipment that I've needed over the years, all for free. I'm not a hoarder and I promise it's all legit useful things for the homestead or SHTF scenarios and not junk . I'm talking primo stuff.
Even the most adamant anti dumpster diver would be impressed with what ends up at the transfer stations up here and be tempted to look for themselves.
"In Alaska where I live, there are rural transfer stations where people can dump their trash to later be picked up and taken to the landfill."
We have the same in Hawaii. I was dumping some scrap metal and noticed a military issue ammo can that looked nearly brand new. That would have been a score all on it's own but inside was full of brand new pens and unsharpened pencils. Double-score.
As far as the dumpster diving for produce goes, one might just ask the manager of the produce department if you can have it before they put it in the dumpster. We did that once and not only did they set it aside for us sometimes the employees would deliver it to us. We were feeding it to animals but all of it was still good and we were puzzled why they were throwing it out.
Another way to get free produce is to host a CSA pickup location (community supported agriculture). For anybody unfamiliar with the concept it's basically where people in the neighborhood subscribe to an outfit to buy a box of locally produced farm stuff, usually weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. They have pickup locations scattered around so you don't have to go far to pick up your box. We hosted a pickup location where people would come and get their boxes from us. I don't remember what the perk for us was, like 50% off our box or maybe it was free or something. Anyways every time there were people who never picked up their boxes and the CSA place said we could either have it, give it away, or they would send somebody over to pick it up and compost it or whatever.
"In Alaska where I live, there are rural transfer stations where people can dump their trash to later be picked up and taken to the landfill."
We have the same in Hawaii. I was dumping some scrap metal and noticed a military issue ammo can that looked nearly brand new. That would have been a score all on it's own but inside was full of brand new pens and unsharpened pencils. Double-score.
As far as the dumpster diving for produce goes, one might just ask the manager of the produce department if you can have it before they put it in the dumpster. We did that once and not only did they set it aside for us sometimes the employees would deliver it to us. We were feeding it to animals but all of it was still good and we were puzzled why they were throwing it out.
Another way to get free produce is to host a CSA pickup location (community supported agriculture). For anybody unfamiliar with the concept it's basically where people in the neighborhood subscribe to an outfit to buy a box of locally produced farm stuff, usually weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. They have pickup locations scattered around so you don't have to go far to pick up your box. We hosted a pickup location where people would come and get their boxes from us. I don't remember what the perk for us was, like 50% off our box or maybe it was free or something. Anyways every time there were people who never picked up their boxes and the CSA place said we could either have it, give it away, or they would send somebody over to pick it up and compost it or whatever.
I general just use common sense when salvaging any of this stuff.
Most of the things have a natural outer layer "protectant" to begin with - watermelon, bananas, oranges, and so forth have an outer layer that isn't edible and gets tossed anyway. Of course I still wash the outer layer of said products before I start handling them. It's not rocket science.
There is only one chain I am aware of that has accessible dumpsters anyways - all the other have enclosed/compactor trashes. And I don't foresee this lasting so...
A little topic drift won't kill us,
but to get back on the subject...
Quote:
My assessment of the odds of a recession starting next year is about 40% chance.
My assessment of the odds of a total collapse in the next year is less than 5%.
(and most of that chance would be subsequent to a nuclear detonation.)
Again, my opinion only.
Just a note that I base my opinion of the likelihood of a recession on the bond interest rate curve. Someone said earlier, that it is inverted. That means that shorter term government bonds, that means those that mature in weeks or months pay I higher interest rate than longer term.
This is partially true today. Specifically, 5 year treasuries are paying less interest than just about any other. The started several months ago, and the only reason anyone could come up with (one that is likely to be true) is that Chinese and European (and maybe other foreign) investors are buying up huge quantities, since their own economies are gone to Hades. Ours is doing fine, but if the situation continues as is, we may see a lessening of investments in our capital markets next year. But maybe not.
In the next year, the only way I can see our economy completely collapsing in the near future would be a nuclear strike (or an EMP) on any one of a dozen or so possible countries. It wouldn't matter who launched the strike. The worn out idea that China could dump our bonds never would have worked and it is further from working now than ever. (The reason is some kinda steep mathematics.)
You only own land if the government says you do. If society breaks down- no one owns their land anymore. What would you do with ammo? Sell it? to whom? For what? why wouldn't they just take it from you?
Want security? Build relationships. That is what will keep you alive and help you succeed if a breakdown occurs. Stockpile friends. Stockpile respect. That is your safety net.
Also chickens. Stockpile chickens. They might or might not help you survive, but chickens are just plain cool.
BTW people have been saying the final breakdown is almost here for decades. They have all sort of evidence and proof that it is just around the corner. Accept that you have no idea whether or when it will occur. It will always seem like it is inevitably right around the corner. You are not the first to think this, nor even the millionth. People are always claiming they can see the end of our society coming. Many even give specific dates, or approximate dates. When those dates come and go, they do not even seem embarrassed, they just pick a new date and keep doomsaying.
You only own land if the government says you do. If society breaks down- no one owns their land anymore. What would you do with ammo? Sell it? to whom? For what? why wouldn't they just take it from you?
Want security? Build relationships. That is what will keep you alive and help you succeed if a breakdown occurs. Stockpile friends. Stockpile respect. That is your safety net.
Also chickens. Stockpile chickens. They might or might not help you survive, but chickens are just plain cool.
BTW people have been saying the final breakdown is almost here for decades. They have all sort of evidence and proof that it is just around the corner. Accept that you have no idea whether or when it will occur. It will always seem like it is inevitably right around the corner. You are not the first to think this, nor even the millionth. People are always claiming they can see the end of our society coming. Many even give specific dates, or approximate dates. When those dates come and go, they do not even seem embarrassed, they just pick a new date and keep doomsaying.
If the govt. Breaks down...then they don't own the land...because govt. doesn't exist anymore, or exists in a more impotent way.
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. I'm talking primo stuff.
