Box 1 is “better if used by” the 28th of Jan 2003 and the date on Box 2 was 9th July 2003.  One of the boxes even had a coupon on it that expired in 2003.  The cans of tuna we selected were the “Chicken of the Sea” in oil, with a best by date of 8th Sep 2010, and “StarKist” in vegetable oil with a best by date of 7th of July 2010.

The powder in both seasoning packages was still loose and flowed freely.  After cooking both batches, we tasted from each.  They seemed to have the same taste and texture of a fresh box of the same Creamy Pasta Tuna Helper that we cooked recently (an Expiration of 2009).  Also the seasoning package included some dried peas as part of the ingredients — and the texture and taste of the peas was as good as fresh. 

It has been over 2 days since we first ate this meal, and as of yet, have not noticed any adverse side effects. (Please note there are very real dangers of eating expired food, and doing so should only be done at your own risk!)

In a test garden, with two people who had some experience gardening (mostly as children, and tomatoes in pots as adults) the results were very different.  In the first year, a raised bed was created with recycled wood (gathered for free), and about $10 worth of seeds, and an hour of labor each day through the entire growing season.  The results were horrible:  A handful of green beans, a couple of cucumbers, and a single tomato was all that survived.   The following year, more seeds and some organic fertilizers were purchased, and composting of leaves and other organic matter in the yard was started.  The results were a little better, but it took almost 5 years of trying to grow a back yard garden and composting to get the soil into a good state that organic gardening was actually working.  Even though, in that small 30ft x 30ft garden there was not enough food grown to feed a single person year round.  Had food not been able to be purchased: Starvation would have occurred.

As it was once said, growing a garden is part science and part art.  The science can be learned from books, but the art must be learned by experience.  There are several magazines that can educate and even offer a glimpse into the real world experience of other gardeners.  One of the magazines that offer advice on gardening is “Hobby Farms”.  The magazine is both in print form, and has online resources.  Using information like this on gardening will help with the science half of learning to garden, but the key to gardening is still: Practice, practice, practice.

Time Eats Money, should be considered the first and more important rule of investing / financial survivalism.  The concept is that cash in hand or in the bank is a rapidly depreciating asset. Often inflation is thought of in longer time frames, but the effect is the same on short periods of time — it just goes less noticed.   Consider this in all the financial planning, and consider converting fiat currency into tangible goods.  

“A 1% per month inflation rate means the purchasing power of $100 in the bank or currency is reduced to $88 in one year. But at 10% per month inflation, $100 goes down to $31 in 12 months! At 20%, just 11 cents of purchasing power left.”

This information is based on a posting to the blog SurvivalBlog.com  (Tuesday, 12th of May 2009) in reference to an update to The Hyperinflation Survival Guide, by OSOM.