Long Term Food Storage in Beaukiss

For most homes, storage seems to be a huge hurdle.   As more and more Americans are preparing for the worst, which isn't a bad thing to do.   Now with modern technology, we have food items that can be preserved and stored for up to 25 and 30 years if stored correctly.  Living in the Beaukiss community, I find we live in a very hot and humid area, and storage of these food items will cost money for air conditioners and energy, but what if the power goes out... all your food storage is a loss. 

After thinking this problem through for several years,  I found that subterranean structures would be the way to go.  Our sandy loam soil is great for digging, and if you could create a large enough hole for a storage container, you could back container in, and finish the walls around it with cinder blocks or shotcrete.  Building a "cellar" as our grandparents would have called it, isn't such a big deal if we put the time and thought into the issues.   This cellar would be a consistent temperature, and the deeper you go, let's say 15 - 20 feet, that would also allow you to build concrete roof structure above your storage container.  Remember storage containers are very stable on the four corners, but not on the walls,  direct contact with dirt can cause damage from pressure and from rust on the container causing it to collapse.   The roof can be built using I-beams above your  walls, and covered with steel, then covered with 4" - 6" of concrete, then dirt.

 This is a future project for me, but here is my shopping list of items I would like to buy:

1. Steel Container Supplier - a local source of steel containers for this project.
2. Emergency Survival Food - Survival food is freeze dried and packaged to last for up to 25 years in optimal storage environment
3.  Supply Room Shelving - This shelving is designed to take up the least amount of space possible to reduce waste.  With shelving that moves back and forth, all items on the shelving are accessible.
4. Dehumidifier - Remove the moisture from inside the container.   This will prevent mold from growing in this perfect environment.
5. Lighting - Solar lighting is essential if there is no power you will need something to see down there in the dark hole.   Solar lighting systems that run off 5V are perfect for this issue.
6. Sump pump - Don't forget those Texas gully washers, we get a lot of rain, and some it will get into your hole.  If you have electricity a normal sump pump will work otherwise this hand pump is a good item to have on hand for those times. 

I'm sure there are a lot of other things I can put into this hole in the ground.   If you've got some ideas, please leave a comment below.

Shiloh Baptist Church Movie Night

There isn't a lot of Free stuff in this area, but each Wednesday Evening First Baptist Church of Shiloh has a free dinner and a movie for the whole family.  Movies are selected to be family friendly, and a free dinner is provided, a great time for families to gather together and meet.  Come each and every Wednesday night for this free event.

Let’s Ban Cars While We’re At It | Wretched

Here is a great article about the entire gun ban discussion now in the media.

Let’s Ban Cars While We’re At It | Wretched

Why County Politics Should Matter, and Why they don't!

Many people know that I'm activly involved with the Lee County Texas Republican Party, a small organization of like minded citizens looking to change the power structure of our rural county.  When I talk to people about involved, the first response is usually: what can I do, secondly they make a statement like "I don't get involved in county politics".  I guess the reason is people don't see what county politicians do as being worthy of time or effort, or they don't see that county politics actually impact us far more than state and national politics. 
County politics can be pretty dry, but when you think that a large portion of your annual taxes are paid to the county, this might actually make you change your mind.  So what happens to the tax money that is collected from your property taxes?  A portion of that tax goes to run the public school, and a portion is used for roads, bridges, and county works.  Recently Lee County built a new jail, and now they are borrowing money from next years budget to fix the court house again, which was repaired several years ago. 
The problem is people see a disconnect between the hard earned money they spend in taxes, and spending of our public officials.   I wouldn't call Lee County's roads world class, actually I've seen better roads in some second world countries.  We need some good men to stand up and lead, make tough decisions in our tough times.   Most of all, we need to move forward, and see our county be a shining gem for Texas and the United States.

Planning the garden - in the fall!

One of my goals will be to plant a garden this spring, but the best time to start is actually in the fall.  Knowing what to plant, when to start planting is the first step to good planning.  I was able to find the Lee County Vegetable Planting Guidelines and the recommended varieties provided by the Texas AgriLife Extension Services, a valuable resource for getting started with a productive garden.   In Texas we tend to grow better gardens in the spring and fall due to the super hot summers.  Here are some great links I've found helpful in planning the garden:

AgriLife Extension for Lee County

Bloomers in Elgin

Square foot Gardening

Composting

Special Elections on November 8th, 2011

A special election will be held on November 8th, 2011, voting on amendments to the Texas Constitution.  The voting will adopt or reject the 10 Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 10 joint resolutions as submitted by the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session of the State of Texas.   Beaukiss and surrounding areas of Lee county will be voting at the Wilson Boyd Building, 8871 US 77 N Lexington, Texas 78947 (Building on the corner next to Peterson's Groceries).  The hours of the election are between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Proposed Amendments:

1. The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation for all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran. 
2. The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.
3. The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.
4. The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area.  The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
5. The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to allow cities or counties to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund.
6. The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.
7. The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.
8. The constitutional amendment providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of open-space land devoted to water-stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.
9. The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.
10. The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district officeholders if they become candidates for another office. 

Huge Wildfire at Camp Swift has Hwy 290 Closed

A huge fire at Camp swift has both directions of Highway 290 adjacent to camp swift closed.  Fire has been reported to be at one point over 800 acres.  Smoke can be seen from as far away as Taylor and Hutto Texas.