LegatoGelato
Smooth
Taste…Island Pace
The Dichotomy
of being a Survivalist and starting a Business.
It is a bit strange how I am certain
that the present economy and way of life is going to change radically soon but
I still continue to work at and invest in starting our gelato business. My
“doomsday” belief should really have me investing all my time and energy and
money in preparation for a total collapse, but it doesn’t & I don’t.
I really do believe that the present
economy based on continual growth and cheap imports from overseas nations
cannot continue. I think a major correction is coming and it will drastically
affect us. Food will not be cheap anymore and we will struggle to find
replacements for all the offshore products that most people have come to depend
on.
To get an idea of what the future
holds – try not buying anything made in China for a month, and only buy food
from Canada, preferably local & organic if you can afford to. I check the
label of almost every single item I purchase and do my damnedest to not buy
from China – it greatly limits my spending, as most times I put the item back.
I feel the only way I can affect change in the horrible, slave-like existence
of Chinese workers is to boycott Chinese products – it worked in S. Africa.
Ever since the Y2K scare, we have been
preparing for this change. We live on a farm and practice growing food for
ourselves. We practice raising animals for meat. I can slaughter chickens and
process them adeptly now. I can butcher a goat but rely on my neighbor to
slaughter them (we barter). We do a lot on the farm with using low-tech tools
and equipment. We have also figured out our alternatives – what if the power
goes out. In our part of the world, no electricity means no pump, so no water
from the well. With 45 goats (and counting), we have developed strategies to
get them water. We have plans in place and - more importantly – have practiced,
practiced, practiced. It’s good to have a strategy but you must practice the
skills required or you will have a tough time.
All the while, we continue to develop
our Gelato business, make plans for the future, develope marketing strategies
and timelines. The Gelato business is dependent on electricity, water,
available fuel, available ingredients etc… If I can’t purchase vanilla then I
can’t make our luscious Honey Vanilla Gelato. Vanilla comes from Mexico and
from Madagascar – it’s a long, long way from Vancouver Island. We have made
serious efforts to locally source our ingredients and have done well. We have
also considered alternatives. Lemon juice provides a bright acid taste –
vinegar is an acid but taste – maybe not. Many local plants, such as Oregon
grape is very acidic so it is a possibility, experimentation would be
necessary.
I think I continue on with my “split”
version of life, as I am not willing to give up until something happens. I have
done my preparations and feel confident in my abilities to cope. So my slate is
clean to follow a great idea and share it with people.
And
I know that my own goat milk gelato is really great – I think everyone needs an
opportunity to taste it and enjoy the benefits of goat milk. Our gelato has
much less fat than ice cream, more calcium, less lactose and is a REAL food.
Locally grown, locally made with local milk. Can’t get much more yummy than
that!
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