Post by Shalali on Dec 4, 2008 12:02:27 GMT -5
I listen to Planet Money, a financial podcast put out by NPR. I wrote this in response to one of their podcasts, and they just published it on their blog, Planet Money, as well. www.npr.org/blogs/money/
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I think this is the new link... www.npr.org/blogs/money/2008/12/whats_on_the_table.html
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After listening to your podcast, "Where Did all the Money Go?," when you interviewed Niall Ferguson, I started thinking of how I define value and wealth in my life. My wealth comes from feeding my family. I raise food for our family on my small farm. We have three milk cows, three milking goats, 70+ chickens, two hogs (a breeding pair), some ducks and turkeys. Our cows will each produce a calf a year, the value of which will purchase feed (hay) for the cows, goats, and pigs for a year and one will provide beef for our family for a year. Between the three cows and the goats, we have year round milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, ice-cream, and buttermilk for our household; and skim milk to feed the pigs and chickens. The chickens produce eggs that we eat and sell to pay for the chicken feed. The chickens also produce chicks that grow up and are put in the freezer for meat for our family. The hogs produce several litters a year; out of each litter, several are raised for the freezer, giving us bacon, ham, and all other pork products, and lard for the year. The others are sold to pay for the feed for the pigs. Our garden produces vegetables that add to the feasts of our table.
I am wealthy beyond measure. I have the value to keep us well-fed come what may from the economy. The measure of value that comes from a gallon of milk, a steak, an egg, a roast turkey, a pound of tomatoes, a bunch of carrots, a head lettuce, or an acre of sunny pasture with happy healthy livestock is almost immeasurable -- nutritional, health, gastronomical satisfaction, and security. What I cannot produce, I have the ability to purchase from the value of what we do produce. All of this is one on one and a half acres. Regardless of how the economy changes, we are steady and secure in our wealth.
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I think this is the new link... www.npr.org/blogs/money/2008/12/whats_on_the_table.html
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Value & Wealth
After listening to your podcast, "Where Did all the Money Go?," when you interviewed Niall Ferguson, I started thinking of how I define value and wealth in my life. My wealth comes from feeding my family. I raise food for our family on my small farm. We have three milk cows, three milking goats, 70+ chickens, two hogs (a breeding pair), some ducks and turkeys. Our cows will each produce a calf a year, the value of which will purchase feed (hay) for the cows, goats, and pigs for a year and one will provide beef for our family for a year. Between the three cows and the goats, we have year round milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, ice-cream, and buttermilk for our household; and skim milk to feed the pigs and chickens. The chickens produce eggs that we eat and sell to pay for the chicken feed. The chickens also produce chicks that grow up and are put in the freezer for meat for our family. The hogs produce several litters a year; out of each litter, several are raised for the freezer, giving us bacon, ham, and all other pork products, and lard for the year. The others are sold to pay for the feed for the pigs. Our garden produces vegetables that add to the feasts of our table.
I am wealthy beyond measure. I have the value to keep us well-fed come what may from the economy. The measure of value that comes from a gallon of milk, a steak, an egg, a roast turkey, a pound of tomatoes, a bunch of carrots, a head lettuce, or an acre of sunny pasture with happy healthy livestock is almost immeasurable -- nutritional, health, gastronomical satisfaction, and security. What I cannot produce, I have the ability to purchase from the value of what we do produce. All of this is one on one and a half acres. Regardless of how the economy changes, we are steady and secure in our wealth.