Why Gullible Gulls?

I am embarking on a new (and a bit scary I might add) journey. I am from a generation where everything has been handed to us on the proverbial silver platter.

• Our clothing comes from a store - brand new with tags on and not even a hole to mend or a button to replace. We have multiple sizes to pick from so if we happen to grow (or shrink) a size, we can just go purchase a new one.
• Our food is packaged nicely in the freezer section so that all we have to do is warm and serve. I am amazed at how many people of my generations don't truly cook or bake.
• We have learned that the little plastic card in our wallet can purchase anything we need or want and all that we are responsible for are the minimum payments.
• Even our entertainment comes in the form of passive television shows and video games or involves the use of expensive toys - things from outside of ourselves that someone else has prepared for us.

I am reminded of a story in the October 1950 Reader's Digest. In St. Augustine there were great flocks of Sea Gulls that were starving even though the water was full of plenty of food. For many generations, the Gulls had depended on the shrimp fleets to toss them the scraps from their catch. When the fleet moved, the gulls who had never learned how to fish for generations, never taught their children how to fish. They now starve just because they lack those skills. They had depended too long on someone else to do the work for them.

I am not professing to be "better" than my generation in creating this blog - but instead, someone who wants to learn how to... well alot of stuff. I want to learn how to grow and store the food that my family eats, I want to learn how to make and alter clothing for my family, I want to learn how to prepare easy nutritious meals despite my crazy schedule, I want to learn how to be selective with what I purchase and be able to save money for emergencies or large expenses. I want to develop skills that are being lost from generation to generation and teach them to my children. I do not know if I will ever HAVE to utilize these skills, but I hate the thought of the shrimp fleet moving on and leaving me and my children without the skills and resources to even survive.

Now - the purpose of this blog. I want to learn. I want to collect information from those who do have these skill sets. I want to share what I learn and experience with anyone and everyone who wants to learn. I want to try and succeed (although I know that I will most likely fail a good number of times).

So, I plan to post recipes, gardenning tips, sewing tips, family preparedness tips, preserving tips, and of course - my experiences with all of these. I hope to be of some service - if only to my own little circle of influence. I also hope that others will feel free to comment and add to the knowledge pool so that we can all benefit from those that still "know how to fish."