International Rewilding Discussion Forum

Moving from one region to another--hell, even migrating to a different area within the same region--sure leads to interesting things. At the job I just quit, two new guys both moved here from Texas and Florida, respectively, and the second cold weather hit, not even COLD cold by Plains standards, both of 'em were fending off nasty infections, one bronchial, the other more sinus related. The seasoned Midwesterners amongst us have been doing okay so far.

I moved to Kansas from Nebraska, which isn't exactly a huge move, but I definatly acquired some new allergies--or at least became aware of new ones--when I made the move.

Different bugs are common to different areas. When I went back home for a visit, I'd heard both Whooping Cough (2nd year in a row) and the Flu were going around pretty bad. Here, where I am now, it's just the Flu and mostly bronchial infections. When I mention Whooping Cough, most people look at me like I have 5 heads, but yes, Whooping Cough is alive and strong in that part of the country 

These are some herbs native/can be found to the Plains that make good remedies, though it's a bit too late for foraging them now, you can probably find some at a local herb dealer (or your local witch doctor!):

Elderberries, good for keeping the Flu away and treating existing ailments. Make a tonic by pouring boiling water over some in a jar, screwing on the lid and letting set for 8 hours or overnight. I usually fill the jar 1/5th of the way with the berries and fill with water.

Echinacea root in tincture form, take at first sight of sickness, but for no more than 2 weeks straight since your body can develop an immunity to it. It boosts the immune system. I take lots of garlic along with it, as many have mentioned on here.

There are tons and I do mean tons of herbs good for bronchial issues.  A few to consider are Coltsfoot, Slippery Elm, Mullein and Licorice. If you aren't repulsed to smoking, try smoking coltsfoot and mullein, if you are having a hard time with unproductive coughs. Otherwise, make an infusion or tonic.

And of course, eat tons of veggies!

edited to add: this isn't native to the midwest by any means, but a Japanese remedy to ward off the Flu has been to gargle with back tea. I drink black tea almost obsessively, and I haven't gotten the flu since I was a child, but if you like tea, it's an added benefit!

I've been hearing about bank runs, work was eerily dead for a Friday(I wait tables), and my dad told me with grave concern when I spoke to him on the phone that this is going to be worse than anything he's lived through in his 60 years (and he was drafted in the 'Nam). The Dow went down, despite all thoughts that it would prosper (relatively speaking, of course)

I have anticipation, mild excitement and extreme uncertainty. I have been expecting this, but have been hoping it could hold off for a couple more years, until I have $8,000-$12,000 in hard currency so I can finally buy some land in rural Nebraska and live free with my closest friends and my parents.

Shall we take bets on how long the economy's stilts will hold up from here on now?

I used to absolutely dread the dead of summer here in the smack dab middle of the United States, but aside from the mosquitoes I've noticed I can tolerate the heat decently if I don't have to be in air-conditioning at any point. The minute the A/C hits me I can't stand to go back out.

Our winters can be sorta brutal (nothin' compared to Minnesota though), especially last winter--though the ice is the only thing that's exceptionally loathsome.

I don't think I could live anywhere that doesn't get a full sample of all four seasons, though. I also appreciate how the wind is always blowing. In fact, still air sorta creeps me out. In the winter it can be dangerous, wind chills way below zero and all, but again with the appropriate coverings, it ain't nothin' i can't deal with. In the summer, tornadoes can be a force to be reckoned with, but if you're on the Plains, you can see 'em from 90 miles away. I would be sorely depressed if I had to spend a full spring and summer away from a thunderstorm prone area.

That being said, I'm a prairie gal through 'n through. My skin (mostly) reacts positively to the sun, too, which helps, since as previously mentioned, we sure get plenty of that.

My dad's family/ancestors have lived in Nebraska for roughly 140 years, so perhaps it is genetic by now, too--I've never strayed far from that state myself. They're all full-blooded Bavarian Germans, too, since the entire area he's from migrated from the same place. He even speaks a dialect he grew up with. I don't know much about the Bavarian climate though. Mom's family is Slavic, though we're not entirely sure which part, since they came from Poland but were reputed to originate elsewhere in East Europe (makes sense, she & my grandmother often were mistaken for an Italian or Jew instead).

EDIT: I just looked up the climates of both Bavaria and Poland and they both are quite similar to my region, albeit slightly less extreme.

One of my roommates worked for a local paper and thus got a huge discount on an internet/landline/cable package. I was flipping through the stations and discovered the Green Channel or whatever it's called. They had a show about the rebuilding of Greensburg, Kansas so I was watching it (local sort of interest there). The advertisements reflect this very same thing.

The cheapness of not only the advertisements for products but also a grip of the shows themselves turned my stomach.

The show itself features the town of Greensburg being rebuilt as a "green" town. However noble the idea (as if it would really make a difference), the way they sold it to the town full of evangelical Good-ol-Boys was by telling them that as an agricultural town they therefore knew the environment better than anyone. Of course it worked, and of course my face paled. This is the land of Monocropping, after all.

The last episode I watched ended with a hint of corporate interest in the town for its decision to "go green." The mayor made clear he wanted Main Street to look different than it had pre-tornado; you bet it will. So long, mom n pop shops.

Can't say I was surprised, sadly.

Meanwhile, the Wakarusa Wetlands are slated for destruction.

<<Ouch, that is horrible!!  I can't believe that legislation allowing shit like that still passes, in this day and age of urban planning.

What strategies are being employed to counter the decision?>>

The creepiest part, to me, is how difficult it was to actually find articles covering the decision. When I first moved back here my roommate told me gravely that it'd been decided. I tried to find concrete evidence that this indeed had been ruled, and it took me DAYS to find anything. It's pretty damn hush-hush as far as I can tell--of course, it's an extremely small minority who's for it.

As for strategies to make it stop, I've had even less luck finding anything, although now that I'm finally settled into my house I'm going to be actively searching for people planning to take action. I'm almost positive Haskell University is planning for lawsuits up the wazoo.

The problem of this, of course, is how heavily the FBI is trying to infiltrate dissident groups, but surely that can be overcome somehow.

the rock trick sounds interesting, i'll have to try it. thanks!

I worked at a coffeehouse briefly in mid to late '07 and when we had to up our prices (by as much as 50 cents!), even our regular customers flipped out and swore to never return.

Of course they did, though, when they noticed all the other coffeehouses were upping their prices, too.

My friends who still work there told me they've raised the prices again (especially on pasteries) and have started making things smaller as well.

I have a theory that, like bars, coffeehouses might be the last ones standing.