By: Clint Richardson
I've driven the almost 400 mile stretch of Interstate 5 from L.A. to Sacramento dozens of times. Quite honestly, it's as boring as it gets. with only the usual gas stations, mini-marts, fast-food, home-cookin' restaurants, and strangely a newer batch of Starbuck's Coffee shops sprouting up everywhere. In between... farms, orchards, cattle, and dirt.
On July 15th, as I began my trip to Utah, I came off the Grapevine decline and hit the flat 250 or so mile stretch of interstate which begins the farming belt in the valley. Almost immediately I noticed what I had only heard about on the radio and in the papers. Where once there were vast fields of green, now there where empty, barely recognizable rows of unplanted dirt and growing weeds. Only sporadically at first, but once I passed Bakersfield and for about a 200 mile stretch, I could not believe my eyes. Field after field laid fallow. And not really fallow, but unattended... as if it was not going to be planted in the near future either.
Signs were staked in the ground on almost every patch of barren farmland. The most common one, which was yellow and obviously a group effort to wake up the sleeping travelers of their future plight, read:
"CONGRESS CREATED DUST BOWL"
Others, which looked more homemade were posted on non-operational farm equipment parked as close to the freeway as possible, stated things like:
"FOOD ONLY GROWS WHERE WATER FLOWS" -and-
"NO WATER = NO JOBS = NO FUTURE"
At one point, after 150 miles or so of seeing this horror, I broke down in tears and had to pull over to the side of the road. I saw the aqueduct, which followed Interstate 5 most of the way, and large fields of dead trees which were planted just a few feet from the flowing cement river. I imagined how those trees would feel, imprisoned in the dying dirt by their own roots, if they could indeed comprehend that their source of life was just a stones throw away.
It was like some horrific story-book come to life; science fiction in real time. I was thinking of the farmers and their families and wondering what would become of them and their land. I was thinking about the consequences of hundreds of miles of food no longer being grown, and adding together the other states like Campo, Colorado which have the same situation... only planting 60% of their crops this year.
This deadness went on until the brink of civilization once again began to show. When I approached the Stockton/Modesto highway interchange area the carnage seemed to stop, and the fields appeared to be healthy and bountiful. I can only guess that this is because more people drive on that stretch of the freeway, and so the powers that be are trying to keep up appearances. No other explaination came to mind.
To the readers of this, I can only say that living in the city has literally blinded me to the truth, even though I knew it was happening. I wonder how many other things I ignore? Many economists and trends predictors have called for food shortages and food riots in the fall, and with what I saw last week, I have new reason to believe them.
But then, that's the real problem isn't it? Belief...
If you believe that the food will continue to flow (magically appearing on store shelves in a grocery store near you) and just dismiss the very real claims of shortages worldwide, including a severe wheat shortage in this country due to a harmfull fungus, then I might boldy say that you deserve whatever fate befalls you.
I challenge you all to take a drive up the 5 and see this for yourself. Please! Don't let this go unseen. If you are camera or video savy, I think it would be a really great photo exibit or website showing the true nature of our common problem. And you better believe, as you take your daily shower, flush your toilet, and water your fertilized-non-edible grassy yards, that this is indeed a Congress created crisis. So please tell as many people about it as possible.
Lastly, if you haven't already... buy storable food! Go to the dollar store and buy rice and beans. Buy pasta, canned and jar foods, or anything with a shelf-life of more than 6 months.
What's the worse that can happen? You'll have food for 6 months.
What's the best that can happen? You'll have food for 6 months.
Take care. Spread this information. Get mad. Fight tyranny. And...
Don't be a sheep.
Clint Richardson
Proof: Water is Turned off by CONGRESS:
4 Minute Video
The Coming
ReplyDeleteStarvation In America
By James P. Wickstrom
Antechamber.net
10-3-5
The government of the United States, by Law was to always maintain a three year mixed- grain survival storage for every man, woman, and child in the United States.
Like most Laws of the land, the politicians never took heed as to why our wise ancestors had this reserve requirement established. It was to make sure, that, in the time of a National Emergency, the people had the most important mainstay needed for survival individually and as a Nation.
Remember, the people make the Nation, the Nation does not make the people.
In the 1960's and 1970's the different political administrations of Washington, D.C. walked away from sanity and started to give the surplus grains which where in elevator storage all over the country, to other nations, such as the Soviet Union, India, etc.. This continued over two decades, until the elevators were empty and the reserve of grains that were in reserve as per a national crisis....were gone. Of course this was done as to inhance international "friendship" with other nations, even if those other nations were self-admitted enemies of the United States.
Remember, there was enough grain in storage, paid for by the American tax-payer, to last the masses inside the United States for three full years, if need be. But now it all is but gone!
Continue reading here
http://pencildicksvstheworld.blogspot.com/
I live in So Cal and drove up to San Francisco up the 5 two weeks ago. I was shocked to say the least, I had no idea it was this bad. We stopped at a rest area and of course right around the rest stop was green grass and that was it. I was amazed though that there were still a lot of what I think was almond trees planted and growing but I also saw a lot of dead ones.
ReplyDeleteI've been stocking up on canned goods and protein-enriched pasta for the past six months. Would also like to go the "dried" route and am having trouble finding 50 lb. bags of rice and/or beans. Not in warehouse stores. Anyone know where you can get it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think we're going to need more than six months' worth of food stored up.
costco has up to 25 pounders of rice.....pasta you have to be careful, because of spores....I throw mine into the freezer for two weeks since that is supposed to kill any spores or critters....I worry about fresh veggies and fruits..but I'll tell ya...dried cranberries are awfully good....I don't know what their shelf life is.......dried apples are good if you can get good tasty apples ....
ReplyDeletewhat a nightmare for us all.....
BitterClinger - the SAMs clubs around me are full to the brim with 50lb bags of rice... just picked up a smaller bag of basmati today...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ 9:28 and 9:34, you can bake the rice ahead of time as long as you don't plan to plant it. Then store it in glass canning jars while it's hot. Or, you can put the rice in a bucket and throw a piece of dry ice in there to replace the oxygen with carbon dioxide. I've seen instructions on the internet on how to do it.
ReplyDeleteWe maintain a survival thread on FreeRepublic.com with tips like these. The address is here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2299939/posts?page=59
FreeRepublic is housed in Fresno, California, in Fresno County where this disaster is happening.
I should have said, a FOOD-SAFE bucket with a lid. The white five-gallon buckets at Home Depot will work. The buckets also discourage pests like mice and mealy bugs.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you all.
I AM HERE TO SAVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteI AM MIGHTY MOUSE!
YAY!
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI should have said, a FOOD-SAFE bucket with a lid. The white five-gallon buckets at Home Depot will work. The buckets also discourage pests like mice and mealy bugs.
Good luck to you all.
--------------
THEY are orange, and I got mine filled with alot of "PROVISIONS" but, did you know that the "GUBMINT" purposely shut down the water supply to literally hundreds of thousands of "humans" in order to protect a stupid fish species that has absolutely NO VALUE WHAT-SO-EVER to the continuity of the human race, let alone the animal species?
Honeyville Grain (online) will ship grains and dried products to you. Their prices are very fair and shipping is only $4.95 no matter how much you buy.
ReplyDeleteM I C
ReplyDeleteK E Y
M O U S E!
Mickey Mouse!
Mickey Mouse!
:P
I drove from SF to LA yesterday, and saw those farmer propaganda signs.
ReplyDeleteThey have plenty of water. I have been making that drive for over 20 years and it doesn't look much different.
They CAN'T plant a field every year, so they try and make the off year look as dramatic as possible.
The fields stretch for miles east and west of the 5, that you don't see.
The farmers are complaining about changes to antiquated water rights rules.
I think there will be a hunger coming, but not because there isn't enough water (or food).
To the poster at 8:01 pm. I AM ONE OF THOSE FARMERS AND YOU ARE A MORON. We do not have the water we need. We raise close to half of this countries veggies and some other fruits as well. I hope I never run into you at a food shelter crying becuase you can't find food to eat. We are not looking for a hand out, but we are sick of the tree huggers and others that are so worried about the smelt, that serves no purpose whatsoever. We have tried to reason with these people, even offered to spec different pumps that would be less harmful to these "precious" fish, but it falls on deaf ears.
ReplyDeleteHey Farmer:
ReplyDeleteIf there isn't enough water, then why does the California central valley produce 2 million tons of rice each year? Because "Our ideal climate, ample water supply..."
http://www.calrice.org/e7b_cas_rice_growing_region.htm
Rice is the most water intensive crop there is, and we have enormous surpluses of it. They grow it to continue their claim on the water (use it, or lose it).
I truly believe there will be starvation, food shelters, and long food lines. But because of a lack of money, and oil, and gas. Not because of water.
Stop the propaganda, and focus on the real threats.
Heh heh, we are a small farm. Self sustainable, with horses to work the land, rich soil and good climate. And no debt. Why? Because its been VERY clear for a few years that the McUSA is on a non-sustainable course. Whether it ends up being economic, energy, water or some combination. Our consumption patterns simply have not fitted reality.
ReplyDeleteStockpiling food, and guns n' ammo isn't a bad secondary backup - but your primary one better be GROWING food long term. If its you against the world? The world WILL win. Meet your neighbors, grow gardens, stockpile SEEDS.
And, though its going to be freaking scary. We really, really collectively deserve whats coming!
Yes, the farmers. Masters of propaganda. The banksters have control of every newpaper, news site, TV channel and important politician.
ReplyDeleteThe farmers have cardboard signs. Scary! Look out for the farmers. They are dangerous to your freedom of thought.
In the Great Depression the country was one giant farm and millions still starved. I can't imagine how bad it will be this time.
The bankster's modus operandi is too create false scarcity. Scarcity = dependence = control/slavery
That is why they will never allow free energy tech to make it to the masses. Why most are convinced that we really need oil and an overpriced power grid. (Watch Zeitgeist Addendum)
Not to offend the gold bugs but there is really nothing more important right now than storing up food and water.
Get yourself a bunch of food grade buckets or small FG barrels and store up WATER. Easy to do. Hose water already has chlorine in it and will store for a 1-2 years without doing anything special.
Or take it up a notch and put a $20 carbon filter at the end of that hose and add Purodene to the water which will stop any baddies for 4-5 years. Longer term storage. Put away and forget. I prefer something like Purodene over unscented bleach because of the smell/taste. An additive like Purodene kills everything just like chlorine but actually improves the taste.
It will mess with your mind storing water though. Something you have had an abundance of since birth. Adjust your thinking.
There is of course a balance between quality of life and the will to survive. If it gets too bad for too long it will be time to check out. No use in living in misery. No point.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to watch McMansions and suburbs become the new slums.
ReplyDeleteWe deserve it. The history of empire is clear, and ruthless. Hopefully we'll have the courage to buck up and accept our fate, and now throw a spoiled obese-angry-idiot temper tantrum and nuke the planet!
"If . . . if . . . (sob) WE can't be Number ONE! NOBODY CAN (cry -- moan)"
I meant and *NOT* throw a spoiled temper tantrum!
ReplyDeleteAs Peter Schiff correctly states, we are not the world's economic engine, we are the caboose. We are the slackers, the parasites. The non-productive. The world will go on very nicely without us. They can continue without our printing press.
ReplyDeleteEven though this clandestine Empire has been corrupted from day one, the American people have been resilent about digging themselves out of the worst situations.
The problem is our owners want us to be reduced to a debt-ridden third world country permanently this time. They can't have their world economy and Bank of the World without the USA brought to its knees. The corporation aka the United States of America must be completely looted and left for dead by the banksters this time.
If the US has a 1% chance of recovery, imo they will not pull the trigger on our collapse. This time around they want us to have no chance. No way to produce, no way to dig ourselves out.
That is essentially the reason the total collapse has not happened yet. The banksters want more and more assurances that their efforts to enslave the US will be a complete success.
The basic scam is simple. Impose total debt, currency devaluation, predatory banksters buy everything up for nothing. US fire sale.
If you do not think there will be a food shortage, coming very soon, then do NOT buy any extra food. Just keep watching CNN or Faux and beleive everything they tell you.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are living in reality, I recommend buying storable food here: www.efoodsdirect.com, and also I reccomend getting a good water filter, and lots of ammo.
"There is of course a balance between quality of life and the will to survive. If it gets too bad for too long it will be time to check out. No use in living in misery. No point."
ReplyDeleteThat is the most asinine thing I have ever heard. Our ancestors didn't have indoor plumbing or electric lights or supermarkets or tractors yet they prospered. No doubt we're out of practice and many will die but that's no reason to give up.
The US is very large in monoculture, the system where geographical areas produce mostly the same product. That and cheap fuel have led us to the situation where our oranges come from florida, our potatoes from Idaho, etc. Even tho almost every crop has some varieties that do well in all geographies. One such are is central Texas - where a latge percentage of the US beef comes from. The last 2 years the zone from San Antonio to Austin has been in extreme drought. This past summer it has spread to cover nearly all of south Texas as well. I drive through there on i10 or on 71 or any of the roads going through the areas and see the same thing described above. field after field of yellow dead fallow fields. Auctions are selling tens of thousands of cattle because farmers are unable to water them - and the grass is dead. This will show up as well as hunger. go google for "drought" take the first link.
ReplyDeleteWith respects to all your opinions. I am from Ecuador and writing from there, interesting blog and commentaries. The basic idea that has fallen on deaf ears I think is the basics of ecology I learned long time ago(53 now). I went to live in Galapagos on a sailboat (3 years) and lived 7 years with my family with only rain water roof catching simple system later in our Galapagos house. As you should know Galapagos has low precipitations. ANyway, my point here is that ecology teaches you simply that a certain amount of organism can live sustainably in certain amunt of SPACE/RESOURCES. The more density in population the more deseases and unsustainability for many reasons even worse if ecosystem is not proper for that amount of population.
ReplyDeleteSo, my best advice. MOVE somewhere else. Spread population accoding to resources. Take your family to other countries if you have the $ and will, etc. South America has lots of REAL RESOURCES and food still cheap and abundant for populations etc.
Is no point in thinking about bullets, and amo, and guns dudes, you are going to just end up killing each other as usual!like there is no solution...very sad but tru: WE ALL GOT TO FACE REALITY OR REALITY WILL FACE YOU SOONER OR LATER.
My best luck to you all. DEfinietly North America must meet in different terms with south. a reflexion: South America always have been a friend to North A. we just do all we can to survive even though the north never really has taken us seriously and have preffer to pay attention to far away supposed to be friends like Israel, CHina, The House of Saud, and other countries far from our own continent.We dont want any other country to be leader in the world, we want to be USA/CANADA but taking South A. finally how we deserve to be taken as REAL FRIENDS WILLINGLY TO STRENGHTEN OUR COMMON CONTINENT AND ECONOMIC/RESOURCES /NEEDS!..for christ sake S.A. never have done anything to north a. please write your congress about this. Lets change for the better. Dont see us like just plain lazy bumms in a banana republic.
DOnt want to hurt anybody. DOn want to be hurt. B Dylan. Long train coming Album (must listen):=)
Cheers from Ecuador
The real hunger you all have is for God's Love and God's Grace , which He has withdrawn from so many of you by your own choice.
ReplyDelete"A full heart is eternal life, a full belly not so much" - Me
I'll pray for you.
I'm a farmer in Northern Calif. I know a lot of acreage has been idled, but I'm suprised that there is still a glut of a lot of commodities. Corn and wheat are both down in price, alfalfa hay from a year ago is unsold with no demand, dairy farmers are dumping milk, enduring steep loses and are rapidly killing cows and decreasing herd size. Beef cattle producers are losing a lot of money, I think the beef herd is the smallest in 60 years while good rangeland goes unused. The only thing I can say is that we must have a temendous capacity to grow food.
ReplyDeleteDo you realise that those apricot and almond and avocado trees that are dying aren't going to perk up and be fine even if the water comes now? You won't have those fruits and nuts for at least seven to ten years after this kill-off. It takes years to plant grow and finally begin to harvest. STUPID policy, STUPID people who don't actually understand the dynamics of food production.
ReplyDeleteThe cows that are being culled? Think in terms of two to three years to bring production back on line - get the cows pregnant, birth, milk production is the same, no new production until the heifers are old enough to get pregnant, have their calves and NOW you've got a first fresh cow on line. That's a LOT of time to wait for more milk.
Screw with production and it will come back to bite you in ways you never imagined. You thought five dollar gas was bad? How about five dollar gas AND seven dollar a gallon milk - how will you and your family stay alive?
So the farmers where relying on a governmade water system to grow their crops in an enviroment that does not naturally sustain them? Hmmm....who were really the stupid ones? No wonder this country is in the shitter, stop trying to break the rules of nature!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't surprise me. Most crops raised in the USA go to feed cattle. I think there is a BILLION HEAD OF CATTLE in the US. They drink a lot of water and eat lots of food.
ReplyDeleteAmericans demand their quarter pounders with cheese, and pork and tons of meat.
Thankfully I'm a vegetarian. Just realize these crops dont go to feed people anyway, just wasteful cows and other farm animals that suck up valuable resources. Maybe you meat eaters need to cut back and lower your cancer rates, and heart disease.
This country doesn't need to support billions of livestock.
It certainly would help if we would eat A LOT OF meat LESS. It takes 10 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of beef. It takes 7 pounds of grain to produce one pound of pork. So, if we would reduce our meatconsumption by say 20, 30 or 40% then there would be a whole lot of grain more available for humans. The government is complaining the population is suffering from obesitas, is getting obese. Well, here's the opportunity to get rid of all those pounds of overweight.
ReplyDeleteBut on the topic of water: Yes, it's truly horrible that one small fish can disrupt the entire supply of water to an entire region. Protection of the environment: Yes, because we live in that same environment as well but this is truly outrageous, this is off the deep end.
Dear God,
ReplyDeletePlease ignore the above 'religious' poster, who is probably guilty of the very sins they accuse the nation as a whole of. Rather, please return the nation to the wholesome warmth of your loving bosom. Amen.
- Me
Hey anonymous 6/29 at 11:09: The rice is grown IN the delta in the Sacramento Valley. This is Fresno County, about 300 miles south of the Delta in the San Joaquin Valley.
ReplyDeleteThe water pumps were turned off to save the "Delta" smelt, a non-native fish, and to keep the water in the channel. Sacramento and Stockton dump raw sewage into the river, and they are facing fines by the EPA plus a mandate to build water treatment plants. To save themselves the money, they instead want the pumps shut off to dilute their sewage. It won't work, and in the meantime hundreds of farmers and farm workers will be thrown into bankruptcy and destitution.
There are rational solutions: a peripheral canal and a gate to keep these fish out. Turning off the pumps is a disaster in the making. And it will get worse: the enviro-whackos are demanding that the San Joaquin River be allowed to flow to the ocean, taking the water from even more farmers in this Valley. It's a disaster made by humans.
COMING Depression? Like it isn't already here?
ReplyDeletenice blog and have lots of stuff here.......
ReplyDeletehttp://envrionment.blogspot.com
All I know is the rich control the USA and
ReplyDeleteonly care about getting richer.
The only solution is to take back our COUNTRY !
How this could be done, is not clear to me.
Probaly be started as a underground movement.
All media is now controlled by the rich and
you'll never hear anything they don't want
you too.