Economy and Housing

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
[quote author="Oscar" date=1235459325][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235458120][quote author="Oscar" date=1235455514][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235455236]I got $250/ton for alfalfa last summer. This year I'll be lucky if I can get $80.</blockquote>


True story, I spent last week looking at alfalfa farms in Oregon. too bad I know nothing about farming, much less farming alfalfa.</blockquote>


Serious? What the hell for? You need any help?</blockquote>


End of days and all that. The wife and I were looking at possible scram sites and found a little place in Oregon with 75+ acres of flat land, full water/mineral rights, no leases/contracts/liens on the farm or buildings, and a stated 900gpm well with a couple of wheelines; all for $240K. I'm not so much afraid of farming, but I am concerned that I don't know how much I don't know... you know?</blockquote>


If we get end of days, 75 acres won't be enough, and your title won't mean squat. Guns will.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235460151]If we get end of days, 75 acres won't be enough, and your title won't mean squat. Guns will.</blockquote>


There is a limit to the amount one couple, or even a collective, can defend and manage. But just for my own education, why isn't 75-80 acres enough? And, how many acres to support 10-12 people? What kind of livestock mix and would you focus on barter for other produce or try to raise a variety on your own?
 
[quote author="Oscar" date=1235460773][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235460151]If we get end of days, 75 acres won't be enough, and your title won't mean squat. Guns will.</blockquote>


There is a limit to the amount one couple, or even a collective, can defend and manage. But just for my own education, why isn't 75-80 acres enough? And, how many acres to support 10-12 people? What kind of livestock mix and would you focus on barter for other produce or try to raise a variety on your own?</blockquote>


The farming operation I'm involved with has 4 to 6 employees for around 1400 acres - with the aid of petrochemicals. I think to support 10 people I'd need 160 acres (80 to farm, 80 in rotation) but that might not be enough.



I wouldn't have a livestock basis, outside of chickens (for the eggs), and cows (for the milk), maybe goats. Meat is a highly inefficient use of calories. We currently grow enough calories in grain alone to give every mouth on this rock a diet of 2000 calories a day. People starve because you lose 2/3 of them when to take grains and use them as animal feed. Get good at bow hunting.



I would not barter for anything. If I can?t grow it, I don?t need it.



The cows you want are the Jerseys (the brown ones). They make higher butterfat milk. I'm not sure you'll be able to get the current batch of dairy livestock to make it under "end of days" conditions. They've been inbred for maximum production, not to be hearty. But, as you research what I'm writing, you'll find that if we do get to the end of days, it probably won't matter. It's insanely difficult to farm your own food and requires a ridiculous amount of time and energy. Modern farms are/were the beginning of outsourcing and made modern cities possible. Petrochemicals made the yields possible. I don?t know what the hell you?d do without gas.
 
I was thinking chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, and milk cows... and my wife swears she's going to buy an alpaca. The goats and sheep would be more for the shearings than for food. However, I simple refuse to live without bacon! My original thought was to grow and barter the alfalfa to others in exchange for milk, butter, etc. since I'd only have to learn one crop. But you make good points about rotation and one bad crop could mean worse things for my family.



I agree this is all moot if things go seriously south and society collapses. But, if we avoid that and merely fall into a prolonged depression, I'd like to know I had a place with it's own water supply and fertile fields. I'm under no illusion about the amount of work involved, either. Biodiesel might help to fill some of the gas gap, but I don't think the chickens could fell the fertilizer gap... even with a sizable operation. Either way, stock piling would be required.



Maybe I'll just invest in a small island in the South Pacific and live off fruit and fish.
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235455314][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235450636]

It is so NOT.



<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=milk+prices+&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7TSHB">A sample Google search for milk prices.</a>

</blockquote>
1985



Cost of a new home: $100,800.00

Cost of a new car: $

Median Household Income: $23,618.00

Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.20 ($0.22 as of 4/3/88)

Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.20

Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.80

<strong>Cost of a gallon of Milk: $2.26</strong>



Check your Ralph's flier...they are selling 4 Quarts for $5.......



Not real sure about this....but I think $5 is more than $2.26......correct me please.</blockquote>


I just bought a gallon of milk at Albertson's for $2.99 last week, not much change considering you are comparing twenty four years ago. Granted, a few months ago it was close to $5, but we were also paying $4.69 a gallon for gas last summer, now it's half that. Commodities have tanked, stocks have tanked, houses have tanked. Not too much of an end in sight yet.
 
[quote author="Oscar" date=1235466337]I was thinking chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, and milk cows... and my wife swears she's going to buy an alpaca. The goats and sheep would be more for the shearings than for food. However, I simple refuse to live without bacon! My original thought was to grow and barter the alfalfa to others in exchange for milk, butter, etc. since I'd only have to learn one crop. But you make good points about rotation and one bad crop could mean worse things for my family.



I agree this is all moot if things go seriously south and society collapses. But, if we avoid that and merely fall into a prolonged depression, I'd like to know I had a place with it's own water supply and fertile fields. I'm under no illusion about the amount of work involved, either. Biodiesel might help to fill some of the gas gap, but I don't think the chickens could fell the fertilizer gap... even with a sizable operation. Either way, stock piling would be required.



Maybe I'll just invest in a small island in the South Pacific and live off fruit and fish.</blockquote>


Alpacas are agricultures version of a ponzi scheme. Seriously. They are useless animals that make poor coats and don?t eat very well.



As long as it had fresh water, you'd be fine if you could just get there.



A Karen Armstrong sourced piece of useless trivia:



The base of Conservatism is in agriculture. You had to keep a community smaller than the ability to provide food or shelter, else the community would fail. The "Conservative" route was the successful route, because one bad year of overexpansion and BUSTO!



Mother Natures version of bankruptcy is death, and it's permanent.
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235473773]



I buy 4-6 Gallons of Milk per week.....not ONE last week. They are $5.36 if you purchase two at the same time. </blockquote>


Either you really are a moron, or you're allergic to money. Either way you?re getting screwed. Here is the Stater Bros. ad from 2/11/2009.



<a href="http://www.staterbros.com/Images/WeeklyAd/1326/1326_7_MILKAd.aspx">http://www.staterbros.com/Images/WeeklyAd/1326/1326_7_MILKAd.aspx</a>



<img src="http://www.staterbros.com/Images/WeeklyAd/1326/1326_7_MILKAd.aspx" alt="" />



$1.95 a gallon if you buy two.



Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. My God you are a good source of entertainment.
 
<strong>I buy 4-6 Gallons of Milk per week.....not ONE last week.

</strong>







Did you just have octuplets?



A little problem with calcium deficiency?



What the hell?
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235473850]



Mother Natures version of bankruptcy is death, and it's permanent.</blockquote>


Nice... sig material there....
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1235474645]<strong>I buy 4-6 Gallons of Milk per week.....not ONE last week.

</strong>







Did you just have octuplets?</blockquote>


I was gonna ask..........there's 2400 calories per gallon. WTF!
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235475250]while you guys post lost leader ads for milk.......how about some of the other things that are "not" going down.



<blockquote>Edison?s basic residential rate would immediately jump by 33%, from 11.45 cents per kilowatt-hour to 15.27 cents per kilowatt-hour. Right now, the highest rates in the United States are in Hawaii, where utilities charge an average of 14.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.</blockquote></blockquote>


FYI:



You have ceased to be amusing. I will no longer be responding to your posts. Other than to ridicule you for paying more than five bucks a gallon for milk you can buy for $2.
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235475547][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1235474293]Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. My God you are a good source of entertainment.</blockquote>
You seem to be having a bad week at the office



http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/02/news/economy/milk_prices/index.htm?postversion=2008050211



<blockquote>Milk prices have eased in recent months after skyrocketing last year. <strong>The national average price of a gallon of whole milk was $3.72</strong> <strong>in April</strong>, after peaking at $3.87 last September, according to a USDA survey.



As milk prices climbed 17% last year, as measured by the USDA survey, farmers responded by increasing production while consumers reduced consumption. That rise in supply and drop in demand resulted in the recent price drop.</blockquote>


I'll phone the USDA in the morning and let them all know that they are no longer needed......"no_vaselene" on the Irvine Housing Blog is going to replace them.....



"Got Facts?"</blockquote>


In April? Last I check that was almost a year ago. no_vas posted the CURRENT price.
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235475250]while you guys post lost leader ads for milk.......how about some of the other things that are "not" going down.



<blockquote>Edison?s basic residential rate would immediately jump by 33%, from 11.45 cents per kilowatt-hour to 15.27 cents per kilowatt-hour. Right now, the highest rates in the United States are in Hawaii, where utilities charge an average of 14.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.</blockquote></blockquote>


Yep, I invested in a fund that supports nuclear energy. Supposedly rightnow they are making energy at about 9-11c pKwH. Which is MUCH cheaper than the oil/coal/etc. power produces. It has not done unwell....



good luck

-bix
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235475910]<blockquote>Thursday, February 19

WEST BRATTLEBORO -- When Charlie Robb was in the supermarket the other day, the first thing he thought when <strong>he saw that milk was selling for more than $4 a gallon</strong> was the $1.10 or so his family was receiving for the milk they were producing.



It didn't seem right that as the price farmers are paid plummets, the retail cost stays about the same. </blockquote></blockquote>


What is it about the fact that milk was nearing $5.00 a gallon in California last year and is now $2-$3 that you aren't getting? Enough of the milk stories.
 
[quote author="Oscar" date=1235466337]I was thinking chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, and milk cows... and my wife swears she's going to buy an alpaca. The goats and sheep would be more for the shearings than for food. However, I simple refuse to live without bacon! My original thought was to grow and barter the alfalfa to others in exchange for milk, butter, etc. since I'd only have to learn one crop. But you make good points about rotation and one bad crop could mean worse things for my family.



I agree this is all moot if things go seriously south and society collapses. But, if we avoid that and merely fall into a prolonged depression, I'd like to know I had a place with it's own water supply and fertile fields. I'm under no illusion about the amount of work involved, either. Biodiesel might help to fill some of the gas gap, but I don't think the chickens could fell the fertilizer gap... even with a sizable operation. Either way, stock piling would be required.



Maybe I'll just invest in a small island in the South Pacific and live off fruit and fish.</blockquote>


Oscar....what you desribed sounded like my life back in my country before I came here. When I go back to visit, that is still the way people live. There is something relaxing about it though...people sitting around, eating a fantastic meal, playing cards, singing, laughing etc. Nobody is worrying about various toys, cars, homes etc. and they sure as hell aren't worried about medi-care blowing up, global econimic crisis, financial collapses or bailouts.
 
[quote author="jhammons01" date=1235480450]<blockquote>What is it about the fact that milk was nearing $5.00 a gallon in California last year and is now $2-$3 that you aren't getting? Enough of the milk stories.</blockquote>Since when is Last Thursday considered last year??



Let's not mention the fact that it is YOU who attempts to draw focus to the Milk issue all the while ignoring the numerous other cost issues I listed.



The milk thing not going the way you want??? No you'd like to change the subject?



I gottsa idea....how about you fade away and stop trying to discredit me in every thread. Your discomfort may subside once you start showing people respect.</blockquote>


More milk? How much did you pay for your 4-6 gallons last week? I paid $2.99 for my ONE gallon and obviously others paid $1.99, which is actually .27 LESS than the cost you posted for 1985. Please, no more milk talk. You've had enough.
 
[quote author="FutureIrvineResident" date=1235489566]my god.. i was so surprised on the number of responses to this thread.... but it looks like after 3 posts this thread was highjacked</blockquote>
Sorry about that. However, it only took three posts to reach a concensus. After that was just silly time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top