My Apartment Building
Yesterday marked one year of living on my own in my apartment in a city. I learned a lot in that year. One of the most important things is that all people, men and women, need to be self-reliant. Of course, in my previous home I was able to grow a garden and can a lot of food. Now I cannot do that. I have been debating the canning issue. I could do that, but I have no room here to store it unless I put it in my storage area. To be honest, I don't feel like doing it any longer. Being self-reliant living in a city is a whole different issue than being self-reliant living on a homestead in the country.
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| "Jazzy" |
The first thing I must address is that I eat low-carbs, following the Ketogenic diet and Intermitten Fasting. One thing that Dr. Jason Fung, (who is the person to learn about Intermitten Fasting from) said in one of his YouTube videos is that in Asian countries, the people shop for fresh produce daily. Buying just enough meat and produce to last about three days. Not a week. Not two weeks. Not a month. Three days or less. For me that is what would be ideal........once I work out my transportation issue. I choose not to own a car. Where I live though, public transportation is available. I am in the process of learning how it all works.
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| Walking to Post Office |
I have been waiting for a nice dry day to teach myself to use my "Jazzy" (mobile chair) to go to the post office and Tops, the grocery store. It is about three blocks away so I have not attempted to go as far as Tops with my rolling walker. I have gone to the post office though. It is nice to be able to do things on your own without asking someone for a ride or to help you. A few people in my building use their chairs to go places and some of them really take off. Faster than a bicycle! One lady is 92 and she is always on the move!
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| Dehydrated Foods on Bottom Shelf |
Minimalists tell of having only enough food for one day in their refrigerators. That is a bit much for me. I need to have some food stored to fall back on. Am I afraid "something will happen" and I won't be able to get any food? No, I am beyond worrying about things like that. I believe things are put out in the media to scare us all. Every now and then I purchase dehydrated foods from Emergency Essentials. It takes up less space and the large cans last a long time. Instead of having potatoes (which I do not eat anymore, but I used to), onions, berries or peppers going bad because you stored them too long, I have plenty in dehydrated form in the cupboard. They last for a long time. Just keep them dry.
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| My Storage Locker |
I live in a building that was built in 1888, as a school. You know these buildings are very well insulated. I have a very small, 338 sq. ft. studio apartment. So not any extra space for storing foods. I do have a storage area on the lower level, and even though it is very small, it can store a lot. Right now I am getting rid of the stuff in there so I can make better use of it. Using Rubber Maid containers, I can stack extra supplies or even food. It being a cellar, I like my stuff to be inside something due to mice or whatever finds it way into the building. It is very clean though, so I am not too concerned. Just want to keep dampness and whatever does get in there out of my things.
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| Norwich Senior Living |
As I figure out how to prepare better in this situation I will write more about it. It is my idea that the storing of a lot of canned foods that you do not eat all the time is a big space waster. I mostly eat fresh meat and produce. Some frozen and some canned also that are all low carbs. I grow greens in my apartment using an Aero Garden. That is the freshest I can do. As soon as I pick any Rabbit and I eat it right then. Fresh produce in the stores and the produce markets is questionable. You have to do what you can do. Or are willing to do.
Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole
