Monday, August 16, 2010
The power of bacon
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a front page feature article on Sunday, describing an exurban family practicing "21st-Century homesteading." The Fraser family "raises bees, chickens, ducks, and pigs, for honey, eggs, and meat."
As to the pig part of that farming, the details are fairly far down in the article, which is worth reading in its entirety.
One day not long after Firefly and Daisy were butchered, Carolina - who, like her sister, had been thinking of becoming a vegetarian - asked what Mom was cooking.It might be one of the most powerful substances on this planet. I would much rather that the Russians supply the Iranians with as much applewood-smoked bacon as the country could consume (but for it being haram), and not uranium.
"Bacon and sausage from our pigs," Megan explained.
"Ewwww!" Carolina protested.
"I felt really sad about the pigs," Eliza recalls earnestly, "but the bacon smelled really good."
So it went for Scott, whose coworkers asked how he could possibly kill those cute little pigs. One day he gave away samples of fresh bacon, and in the time it took to fry it up, the questions stopped.
"Never underestimate the power of bacon," he says.
3 Comments:
By 
, at
Mon Aug 16, 09:28:00 AM:
Interesting post E-81.
Curious to see how this fad is doing in 5 years.
From an economic standpoint, you are ahead to purchase your meat, eggs and veggies in the supermarket.
Livestock tends to tie you down. Who will tend your chickens and pigs if you want to go on vacation?
Tending gardens is backbreaking work and canning, a process that involves running your stove and boiling water all day is not a pleasant task in the summer heat.
OTOH, if that is your thing, more power to you, and good luck.
By , at
Mon Aug 16, 07:50:00 PM:
"What if somebody turned off the food?"
I read a book review by an expert of the effects of Electro Magnetic Pulse of a fiction book about EMPs destroying the electrical systems in the USA. Not only no electrical power from power stations, which means no refrigeration for food and medicines, but also no modern transportation. The food system would break down in a few days.
The reviewer agreed with the author that the population of the USA would drop by 70 percent in less than 12 months.
Better get started now.
Mind you, the butchered pigs will have to be dried, pickled, or stored in a cool room built of ice from the previous winter.
By 
Bomber Girl, at
Tue Aug 17, 08:36:00 PM:
I'm still planning on buying that T-shirt I saw advertised on a TH sidebar ad once: "You had me at bacon".
Just sayin'.
