Comments on: The Great Depression, the Credit Crisis and the Future of your Food http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:58:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lynn http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9344 Lynn Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:39:49 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9344 In reading about the Great Depression, it was interesting for me to read about the Portuguese fishermen in the northeast who were among the few "successful" businesses in the U.S. as there was always lots of seafood if nothing else. I live in Florida, a few blocks from the water. Growing in Florida is also easy as it is warm year round. Makes me want to stay put. Now, if the seas just don't rise.......... In reading about the Great Depression, it was interesting for me to read about the Portuguese fishermen in the northeast who were among the few “successful” businesses in the U.S. as there was always lots of seafood if nothing else. I live in Florida, a few blocks from the water. Growing in Florida is also easy as it is warm year round. Makes me want to stay put. Now, if the seas just don’t rise……….

]]> By: Worrisome Times « Herbert’s Kitchen http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9343 Worrisome Times « Herbert’s Kitchen Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:48:24 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9343 [...] blogosphere has been particularly depressing as of late. Sharon over at Casaubon’s Book has a sobering description of depression-era food woes, and fears that it might repeat [...] [...] blogosphere has been particularly depressing as of late. Sharon over at Casaubon’s Book has a sobering description of depression-era food woes, and fears that it might repeat [...]

]]> By: John Petty http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9342 John Petty Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:17:31 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9342 Marriner S. Eccles, was the Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1934 1948 In his 1951 memoir Beckoning Frontiers, Eccles detailed what he believed caused the Great Depression. Our current situation is eerily similar. Eccles wrote: "As mass production has to be accompanied by mass consumption, mass consumption, in turn, implies a distribution of wealth — not of existing wealth, but of wealth as it is currently produced — to provide men with buying power equal to the amount of goods and services offered by the nations economic machinery. Instead of achieving that kind of distribution, a giant suction pump had by 1929-30 drawn into a few hands an increasing portion of currently produced wealth. This served them as capital accumulations. But by taking purchasing power out of the hands of mass consumers, the savers denied to themselves the kind of effective demand for their products that would justify a reinvestment of their capital accumulations in new plants. In consequence, as in a poker game where the chips were concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, the other fellows could stay in the game only by borrowing. When their credit ran out, the game stopped. Marriner S. Eccles, was the Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1934 1948

In his 1951 memoir Beckoning Frontiers, Eccles detailed what he believed caused the Great Depression.
Our current situation is eerily similar.

Eccles wrote:

“As mass production has to be accompanied by mass consumption, mass consumption, in turn, implies a distribution of wealth — not of existing wealth, but of wealth as it is currently produced — to provide men with buying power equal to the amount of goods and services offered by the nations economic machinery.

Instead of achieving that kind of distribution, a giant suction pump had by 1929-30 drawn into a few hands an increasing portion of currently produced wealth. This served them as capital accumulations. But by taking purchasing power out of the hands of mass consumers, the savers denied to themselves the kind of effective demand for their products that would justify a reinvestment of their capital accumulations in new plants. In consequence, as in a poker game where the chips were concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, the other fellows could stay in the game only by borrowing. When their credit ran out, the game stopped.

]]> By: Carl C http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9341 Carl C Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:51:45 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9341 You have provided some great information in your blog. Everyday I feel like complaining I just go to work in Center City Philadelphia and see the homeless and starving and shut my mouth and give thanks for what I have. You have provided some great information in your blog. Everyday I feel like complaining I just go to work in Center City Philadelphia and see the homeless and starving and shut my mouth and give thanks for what I have.

]]> By: Homesteadgal http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9340 Homesteadgal Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:28:57 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9340 There is a series of books on self-sufficiency that teaches how to make cheese, grow a garden, butcher a chicken, and make soap, among other things. It's a great set for anyone who wants to be more self-sufficient in these uncertain times. It's called Today's Homestead. You can find it on www.amazon.com or on www.booksbydona.com There is a series of books on self-sufficiency that teaches how to make cheese, grow a garden, butcher a chicken, and make soap, among other things. It’s
a great set for anyone who wants to be more self-sufficient in these uncertain times. It’s called Today’s Homestead. You can find it on http://www.amazon.com or on http://www.booksbydona.com

]]> By: clew http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9339 clew Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:50:11 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9339 (Sorry about the missing spaces. The text box is getting very narrow on my screen.) (Sorry about the missing spaces. The text box is getting very narrow on my screen.)

]]> By: clew http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9338 clew Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:48:43 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9338 What is the 'Craigslist solution' with no middleman? If we drop back to FidoNetor something, we can probably run a national internet on sustainable power; so inagine that anyone who needsto sell or buy food knows, withindays, where the nearest counterparty is. What do the cities have that the rural areasneed?(Comes to mind:medical specialties; educationalditto*; metalmined from abandoned industries, ow; and the truly long-term trade... sewage. Cycle that NPK!) What is the ‘Craigslist solution’ with no middleman? If we drop back to FidoNetor something, we can probably run a national internet on sustainable power; so inagine that anyone who needsto sell or buy food knows, withindays, where the nearest counterparty is. What do the cities have that the rural areasneed?(Comes to mind:medical specialties; educationalditto*; metalmined from abandoned industries, ow; and the truly long-term trade… sewage.

Cycle that NPK!)

]]> By: Rosa http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9337 Rosa Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:22:15 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9337 I'm in a city - not a very big one, but what we in the American Midwest like to call a city ;) - and we're getting a lot of parents from small towns/far away suburbs moving in with adult kids because this is where the jobs are. It really, really, really depends on the individual situation. If the farm needs labor, you're wanted there - if everybody has to have an off-the-farm job, then it's better not to move unless you have a job lined up. Went back to my home town this weekend for the first time in a couple years, and it's looking pretty sorry - as much as I'd like to have a bigger garden and a cistern, I'm really glad not to be in that job market right now. I’m in a city – not a very big one, but what we in the American Midwest like to call a city ;) – and we’re getting a lot of parents from small towns/far away suburbs moving in with adult kids because this is where the jobs are.

It really, really, really depends on the individual situation. If the farm needs labor, you’re wanted there – if everybody has to have an off-the-farm job, then it’s better not to move unless you have a job lined up.

Went back to my home town this weekend for the first time in a couple years, and it’s looking pretty sorry – as much as I’d like to have a bigger garden and a cistern, I’m really glad not to be in that job market right now.

]]> By: Shira http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9336 Shira Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:41:43 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9336 Marnie, Go home to the farm. That's my advice. We are actually seeing it happen here, as adult children, often with their own children, trickle back to the area, an area that lost population on every census from 1920 to 1990 and then still continued to lose the vital 25-35 year olds to big city jobs. As they trickle in, they are reinventing themselves, which is an effort. I haven't heard anyone regret leaving the big city. So go home, where they need you, and make a life there. Shira in Bellingham Marnie,
Go home to the farm. That’s my advice. We are actually seeing it happen here, as adult children, often with their own children, trickle back to the area, an area that lost population on every census from 1920 to 1990 and then still continued to lose the vital 25-35 year olds to big city jobs. As they trickle in, they are reinventing themselves, which is an effort. I haven’t heard anyone regret leaving the big city.

So go home, where they need you, and make a life there.

Shira in Bellingham

]]> By: Marnie http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/comment-page-1/#comment-9335 Marnie Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:58:42 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/05/the-great-depression-the-credit-crisis-and-the-future-of-your-food/#comment-9335 and now my question is: do i stay in the middle of the largest metropolis in Canada in a mortgaged house where we are invested in the community and try to help people here, or move 125 km away to my family, to the farm, where undoubtedly they will also need help? right now i can only hold my daughter's hand and look at clouds on a beautiful fall day... we're starting a little bit with urban food security here in Toronto, though. some days it seems like a lot, and sometimes it seems like so very little: http://www.notfarfromthetree.org and now my question is: do i stay in the middle of the largest metropolis in Canada in a mortgaged house where we are invested in the community and try to help people here, or move 125 km away to my family, to the farm, where undoubtedly they will also need help?

right now i can only hold my daughter’s hand and look at clouds on a beautiful fall day…

we’re starting a little bit with urban food security here in Toronto, though. some days it seems like a lot, and sometimes it seems like so very little:

http://www.notfarfromthetree.org

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