Food preservation

Is Living Off the Grid Possible?

cbaker11 Food preservation, Healthy Living, Living off the grid, Organic farming June 26, 2019July 3, 2019living off the grid, zombie apocalypse 0 Comment

Our family jokes about the zombie apocalypse quite often.

Perhaps Chrissy should stop watching Zombieland so much. However, we actually talk about what we would do if a natural disaster happened. If you had to survive through a natural disaster, how well would you hold up without modern conveniences? I think most people wouldn’t fare so well. Even in Maine, once word of a snowstorm hits, people are running to the store for milk and bread, as if they couldn’t sustain themselves for a day or two.

Our homesteading practices would help reduce the impact that certain disasters might present. We have a wood stove for heating and cooking purposes. The family works together to preserve our own produce for food storage. Our chickens lay eggs throughout the year.

How much further would it take to live off the grid?

These thoughts make me ponder if living totally off the grid, without reliance on any outside sources, could be possible. Imagine growing, storing, and preparing your own food. It would be a lot healthier than depending on the grocery store. Could you utilize a renewable energy source? It would be a huge amount of work-but would it be a fair trade to not run the typical “rat race” most Americans are running?

For the next few days, I’m in Montreal, Canada.

So far, it looks a lot like a larger version of Portland, Maine, with taller buildings. I’ve been eating poutine and crepes. You would never think that a short distance away, people are living “off the grid”. As I Google search “live off the grid” in my hotel room, numerous articles pop up regarding how to live off the grid in Canada, why it isn’t possible for most Canadian citizens, and how to choose an alternate energy source if you’re really serious.

There are critics, but we may be forced to partially live off the grid anyway.

Many people are skeptical about the concept. Adam Ozimek, a Forbes contributor, argues that those that choose to live off the grid are hypocrites. He states that most benefited from society and have the economic means to now make a lifestyle change. He might be right. However, if society doesn’t find a way to make our population sustainable, we might have to live without the “necessities” as our resources are being depleted. Ed Essex, a contributor to Mother Earth News, talks about how living off the grid could achieve a happy medium.

What are your thoughts? Could you live off the grid?

Do you think this method of living could help combat climate change? Or is it just a pipe dream? I’d love to see what you think; please post below.

The Ultimate Burger Recipe

cbaker11 Food preservation, Healthy Living, Hunting June 5, 2019June 26, 2019#burger, jalapenos, moose meat, venison 0 Comment

The struggle is real-deciding what to make for dinner is a pain.

Although our kids have grown up eating a variety of foods, they have inevitably become pickier with their selections over time. It is a herculean effort to pinpoint meals that we can all agree upon. Luckily, we have an automatic standby-moose burgers. Yep, even Cara loves them, and that’s saying something!

Moose burgers with pickled jalapenos from our garden.

Why moose meat, you ask? Why not grass-fed beef instead? There are a few reasons:

Our family hunts wild game in the fall to supplement our diet. Usually by November we are lucky enough to have a full freezer to last us throughout the year. We apply for the moose lottery every June and have been fortunate to have some of our family members selected over the past decade. In addition, my husband and daughter hunt deer in the Saco countryside. Deer are overabundant in the outskirts of our town, and bow hunters are encouraged to obtain additional permits to hunt on one side of the Maine turnpike.

To our family, hunting is an ethical and humane choice.

Although I respect others who may not make the same decision, our family’s opinion is that consuming wild venison and moose is a healthier alternative to purchasing store bought beef. During their lifetime, deer and moose have not been injected with hormones or fed processed grains. They roam freely versus sitting around waiting to be transported to the slaughterhouse.

For any recipe that calls for beef, we use either venison or moose meat. Venison is slightly more gamey, so I use it in dishes that require more spice, such as chili or spaghetti sauce. Venison is also leaner, so I avoid making meatloaf and burgers with it-they’ll fall apart! Moose meat is closer to beef in taste and texture. It is the perfect beef replacement for other dishes.

Venison steaks cooking in the iron skillet.

Here’s my moose burger recipe (don’t use venison, it’s too lean)

1 1/2 lbs. moose meat

1 large egg

1 Tbsp. Montreal seasoning

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Fresh ground pepper

2/3 cup crushed french fried onions

6 strips of nitrate free bacon

Cooled bacon grease (see explanation below)

Cook the strips of bacon on a griddle until crispy; blot with a paper towel. Once the strips have cooled, dice them. Set aside. Combine the moose meat, egg, spices, french fried onions, bacon bits, and cooled bacon grease* thoroughly with your hands. Form the patties with your hand and set on the warm griddle. Tamp down with a spatula. Let the burgers cook for about 5 minutes. Since they are so lean, you want to only flip them once. After they have been flipped, let them cook for another 3-5 minutes. Add sliced cheese to melt on top if desired.

*Bacon grease is needed for a binder as the moose meat is so lean.

Don’t forget your favorite toppings and the pickled jalapenos!

Want to learn more? Try these additional sources:

https://rethinkrural.raydientplaces.com/blog/5-cooking-tips-for-wild-game

https://www.wideopeneats.com/27-reasons-venison-is-better-than-beef/

Candace Baker