Well, this time I wont be late. Its only the 3rd of Jan and I am writing the 2025 summary.
The survival garden is moving along as MiSale mentioned in her 2025 summary. We have tested more than 20 plants that grow naturally in this area and will take no real work to cultivate them if the SHTF. We are looking for food that is easy to grow AND is easy to eat. I know there are things that will keep you alive, but I want High Cuisine. I don't want to just survive, I want to thrive and enjoy my survival.. Whats the point of survival if you are miserable? We have eaten Cassava from our garden. It is a substitute for potato. It is very good, but I don't like the texture. We are working on that by trying different cooking methods. It shows promise. The Watermelon were very good, but it takes too much water. In a wet year it might do, but in dry years it wont perform.if there is no supplemental water and in a SHTF scenario the municipal water system wont be working. The corn was a dismal disappointment. Maybe water, maybe wrong kind of corn. We will try other kinds of non GMO corn. Cant use GMO because it wont breed true. The Sweet potatoes were awesome. Tasted great. Wild grapes were another great success. Jam, and drinks and very prolific. I am beginning to like the Moringa. It makes acceptable salads and if you like greens (I don't) they are probably excellent. But my kind of greens are Pistachio Ice Cream, Margaritas, Guacamole, Key Lime Pie, and the list goes on, but you see my point. However we have discovered edible cactus and they are green.
The Aloe Vera makes a great drink from the juiced leaves and the Prickly Pear (mopalitos) are awesome fried in olive oil with scrambled eggs. Both of them are packed full of vitamins and minerals and VERY tasty. When I was a kid we had Aloe Vera in the yard and if you got any of the juice in your mouth it was terrible, very bitter, but now we know how to prepare it and it is sweet and is VERY good for your stomach. It will take the place of all those dangerous drugs the Dr prescribes for GERD and you will look forward to it at breakfast and in the evenings if you are eating spicy food and want to sleep. But don't overdo it as too much can cause intestinal upset. Aloe is also great for medicinal purposes. About 30 years ago I got 3rd degree burns over my entire face when a radiator exploded in my face. An hour after the incident we were putting Aloe sap all over the burn and a week later it was hard to see that I had been burned. To this day I have NO scaring.
Two weeks ago we sold the last of the pre 2000 cars in my collection. The Jaguar E Type and the 1956 Continental MKII went to the Beverly Hills Car Club in LA. Now the collection is down to just 5 cars and they are all 2001 or newer.
We are healthy. We have love and blessings. Praise God.