I think the whole 'food stamp' program should be scrapped.

 

Well, yeah, I am not going to argue with you. You are probably right there...

 

I just looked at some states...if they use SNAP quidelines, they can. Quest and other EBT programs in 90% of states can use them to buy seeds or plants, including edible item producing trees.

 

Dare I say it, I believe that most people on Food Stamps won't buy seeds----too much work!

 

That's one (valid) reason. Another might be that it takes months to grow food and their family is hungry now.

 

yea, but jest think ... in addition to feeding all her kids on food stamps like her granny did, she can actually feed them fruit off the tree granny bought with the food stamps!

 

Just lately the whole food stamp thing has been bothering me. I am going to bust my butt to have a garden this summer. One, because I really want to learn about it, two, to save money. Why aren't people on assistance encouraged to grow some of their own food? In my area we all have yards, even in towns everyone except apartment dwellers have the opportunity to have a garden. I would feel somewhat bad if I didn't have a job and didn't have a garden if I had all the time in the world to watch tv and collect a check from the tax payers.

 

I'm not sure it would do any good. I knew a family years back online that were very poor and on food stamps. They lived on a big piece of rich land and the wife was a stay at home. I used to talk to her about saving money by simplifying the diet and cooking from scratch instead of buying entirely prepared foods. Nope, nothin' doin', takes too much work. I used to talk to her about planting a garden and raising chickens. Nope, don't know how, don't wanna learn, too much work.

From what she told me, they could have eaten well with what they earned if she would have put the money to better use. Especially if she would have been willing to spend a little time gardening and raising chickens instead of sitting in front of the computer all day chatting in IRC channels.

 

In Detroit they have a program where people get free seeds, fertilzer, assistance to make a garden. I dont think its related to the food stamp program. I would love if they gave away free seeds and fertilizer in my neighborhood.

 

I've heard similar stories about the IL and WI food stamp programs. Can't say for sure it's true.... but I've heard the rumors/gossip.

 

i know in alaska they can buy fishing equipment and even hunting rifles and ammo for said guns but then alot of alaska is subsistance living to begin with. also i just wonder how many of the people here could be put into a urban enviroment with no job no money no skills and survive? because thats what you are talking about with a lot of these people who are on goverment programs sure some are just plain lazy and i agree they don't deserve to be on the programs but the mentality of the baby boomers generation was don't spank your kids don't tell them they are being a$$holes when they are or you better get a good education so you can get that job thats going to pay your way in this world instead they said you can be anything you want but did not back that up with the disapline (sp) they needed to accomplish that. and so like some of you said now they sit on thier a$$ just like thier mommy daddy did.

 

Where do you live that the yards are paved? And even if they are just pick up free 5 gallon buckets and reuse ice cream buckets, yogurt tubs, etc for pots. They sit on concrete quite nicely.

Actually most urban section 8 housing doesn't have yards at all.

 

Really? You're mad about something people said over a year ago?

Continue to be proud of your food stamps and your free education, quite an accomplishment. I'd guess it's that fantastic attitude you have that got you "laid off" hence you're learning to be a nurse to guarantee someone will take you when shtf.:thumb:

 

It ain't easy farming for at least a bit of what you consume.

But it ain't impossible either.

I have a friend growing 9 varieties of a 15 patio seed collection I gave him on his balcony.

I think the hardest part for some might be gumption...

 

Speaking of food stamps...

The wife and I whipped into Wal-Mart for a few small items the other night. We did the whole "self checkout" thing and was behind a woman and her daughter. Both had newly highlighted hair, American Eagle jeans, new cell phones, etc, etc. They were buying cilantro, tomatoes, and name brand tortilla chips. Yep, they were making salsa and buying chips.

The kicker, the paid with their EBT card (food stamp card).

Of course, why wouldn't they, the University of Tennessee was playing Florida today...they had to have their party food.

BS! It ****es me off on soooo many levels. Name brand foods? Fresh veggies? How about generic only??? I'm tired of paying for everyone else's $hit. It's getting real old.

 

How DARE they buy fresh veggies! There should be a separate section in the back for degenerate welfare freaks to pick up their rotten slop in the buckets. They'll have to get there at a specified hour.... before the farmers come to get the buckets for the pigs. But hey... at least they aren't eating the fresh stuff...

Then again, the other option is premade stuff. Oh, wait.... they aren't supposed to get convenience foods either. Well, heck, hand them all some rice and beans... oh, wait.... those are imported goods.... Give them grass dangit!... um er... wait, that's for the animals to wipe their butts on...

Maybe they should grow their own... hmm, they'd have to steal the seeds and plants because they shouldn't be getting whole plants from the ebt either....

How much time do you spend looking at the tags on girls butts, contents of their pocket books, and ingredients in their cart anyway?

 

I have a little victory garden in my front yard. I also have some broccolli in containers on my back porch. Bought my broccoli from seed (using my SNAP card). Have peach jelly I made myself from peaches I bought at the farmer's market with WIC vouchers. I also fish and have several pounds of sand trout in my freezer. My family hunts and my son and I have been eating on wild hog the past three days. Not everyone on food stamps is worthless.

PS
I wear American Eagle jeans too! I have a swell pair of Birkenstocks. I pay .99 cents for my jeans at Goodwill, and found the Birkenstocks at Salvation Army for 5 bucks. *However my cell phone is four years old and the antenna is held on with duct tape. Just sayin.

 

I wish these welfare recipients here, who fight so hard to defend their 'right' to parasite would take a smidgen of that vigor and go out and look for a job.