Oranges In The Snow? Well Not Really...

Summary

In this video, the host discusses homesteading in challenging climates, particularly the northern latitudes and extreme environments like deserts and swamps. They critique the concept of growing things like oranges in the snow, highlighting the high costs and failure risks involved with greenhouse systems. The speaker emphasizes practical, sustainable solutions, such as growing your own probiotics through fermentation at home, using the Perfect Pickler kit. The video encourages viewers to embrace temperate climates for homesteading success and to take control of their gut health with affordable, home-based fermentation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Some locations are not ideal for homesteading, particularly areas with harsh climates like deserts, swamps, and northern latitudes.
• 🌱 Growing things in the desert or very cold climates can be very challenging, as shorter seasons or lack of water limit agricultural success.
• 💰 Homesteading solutions, like greenhouses for cold climates, require significant investments—around $25,000 for a greenhouse that can grow oranges in the snow.
• 🔧 A successful greenhouse in the snow also requires considerable infrastructure, such as fans, blowers, and electronic systems, all of which present failure points.
• ⚡ Greenhouses in cold climates need electricity (around 7 amps) and a reliable internet connection to monitor and adjust conditions remotely.
• 💡 Throwing enough money and time at a problem, like growing oranges in snow, can provide a solution but is not practical for most people without considerable resources.
• 💬 Comments from viewers highlighted a case of someone growing oranges in snow, but the cost and risk involved are significant, and the setup is not foolproof.
• ❄️ A greenhouse in heavy snow risks collapsing if not properly built, as demonstrated by a greenhouse that failed due to an unusually high snow load.
• 🏡 It’s often more practical to choose a homestead location with a milder climate, where gardening and farming are naturally easier without excessive reliance on costly infrastructure.
• 🥬 Growing your own probiotics through fermentation is a healthier, more cost-effective alternative to expensive probiotic supplements, and it’s easy to get started at home with a fermentation kit.

Q & A

Why does the creator believe some locations are not ideal for homesteading?

The creator emphasizes that certain locations, such as deserts, swamps, or very northern latitudes, are not ideal for homesteading due to the difficulty of growing things in these areas. Factors like limited growing seasons, harsh climates, and challenges like limited rainfall or extreme snow make these locations less suitable for self-sufficient living.

What is the issue with growing oranges in the snow, as discussed in the video?

While a man in Nebraska has managed to grow oranges in the snow using greenhouses, the process requires significant investment (around $25,000), complex infrastructure, and constant maintenance. The creator points out that the systems used, like fans and blowers, are failure points, and there are risks like greenhouse collapse due to snow load. Additionally, it relies heavily on technology, which could fail.

What is the main critique of the $25,000 greenhouse setup for growing oranges?

The main critique is the high cost of setting up the greenhouse, which is $25,000, as well as the need for constant monitoring and maintenance of the system, which involves fans, blowers, and other machinery. The greenhouse setup also has the potential to fail, such as collapsing under snow load, which has happened with some greenhouses.

What is the creator’s perspective on throwing money and time at problems?

The creator acknowledges that if enough time and money are invested, almost any problem can be solved. However, he argues that this approach is not always practical or sustainable for most people, especially when it comes to homesteading solutions that are overly expensive and prone to failure.

Why does the creator caution against living in extreme climates for homesteading?

The creator suggests that living in extreme climates (e.g., deserts, very cold northern latitudes, or swamps) poses significant challenges for growing food and maintaining a sustainable homestead. In these climates, growing things like fruit trees, vegetables, or animals becomes much harder, and the climate itself often presents additional risks.

What does the creator recommend for people looking to homestead effectively?

The creator recommends finding a more temperate and milder climate where growing food, raising animals, and sustaining a homestead is easier. He suggests avoiding locations with extreme weather conditions or environments that make basic farming and gardening difficult.

What example does the creator provide of another expensive homesteading solution that failed?

The creator mentions a popular YouTube channel where someone built an expensive rainwater collection system to overcome the water scarcity in the Arizona desert. Despite spending a lot of money on this system, it ultimately did not solve the problem of water availability, highlighting the risks of relying on expensive, complex solutions in harsh environments.

What is the role of probiotics in the creator’s discussion?

The creator introduces probiotics as a solution for improving gut health, contrasting them with expensive, ineffective probiotic pills. He promotes the Perfect Pickler kit, which allows people to ferment their own foods at home, providing a more cost-effective and healthier alternative to store-bought probiotics.

Why does the creator promote the Perfect Pickler kit?

The creator promotes the Perfect Pickler kit because it provides an easy, cost-effective way to make probiotic-rich fermented foods at home. He emphasizes the health benefits of fermented foods over store-bought probiotics, which often contain fewer strains of beneficial bacteria and may not be effective.

What’s the significance of fermented foods in the creator’s discussion about diet and health?

The creator argues that fermented foods, like sauerkraut, sourdough, and other traditionally made products, were a major part of historical diets and were rich in probiotics. He contrasts this with the modern trend of consuming processed, pasteurized foods that lack beneficial bacteria, which he believes contributes to poor health and an over-reliance on pharmaceuticals.