It cost $122 to fill my husband's truck this morning....

[renie408]

at $3.50 a gallon for diesel. It makes me want to cry. I remember when we were amazed that it cost ALMOST $50 to fill that same truck up. That was MAYBE fours years ago. The problem is that our income has not more than doubled in the ensuing four years.

What are we going to do? Gas prices are KILLING us. My hay has gone up, my shavings have gone up, the farrier's are all charging more...every expense we have is going up and up, but the money coming in isn't.

This might very well put us out of business if it doesn't back off soon.

[MuseRider]

1. About that for me too.

Yes, farrier went up the last time for me too, almost double what it was 5 years ago.

My little horse business went belly up 4 years ago a year after it started because of the economy.

Do you all have a Co-op? Ours has been gone for 5 or 6 years now so all of us are banding together ourselves to handle the big costs so that we do not have to sell off livestock or land to McMansions.

Good luck.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I thought farm subsidies were there to help small farms

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[MuseRider]

7. HeeHee

Well, I do not know anyone who has ever even considered using subsidies so to tell you the truth, I have no idea how they even work. It is hard out there for the people who live off their farm business, thankfully I do not. Hopefully we will all be able to get through this by working together. That is the way we have always done it out here.

[amandabeech]

87. Subsidies only cover a small number of crops: corn, wheat, rice

cotton and sugar, I think.

Anything else, like my friend who grows asparagus and cherries, and my uncle with a small pastured beef operation are on their own.

[SpiralHawk]

51. The Era of McMansions is Terminated

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

[MuseRider]

54. Just filled mine for $110.00.

Filled my propane tank today too, somewhere between $400 and $500. Gods what a day!

[LiberalEsto]

2. Is America better off today than 5 years ago?

HELL, NO.

That should be the Democratic Party's rallying cry.

[acmejack]

3. Have you investigated making your own bio-diesel?

I have seen enough to make me interested in it. Fuelmeister makes a system that makes 40 gal a week, that is affordable.

[renie408]

13. The idea has intimidated us, but I think we are going to

have to look into it. That $122 worth of diesel will only last about three days if he has to work north of the city. The thing is, he is a construction worker who has to pull a fairly large piece of equipment around. He pretty much HAS to drive a 350 4x4. We also use the truck for the horse trailer, which is a four horse slant and weighs 12,000 lbs unloaded. I have stopped taking horses to any shows that are not necessary or anything like that. I used to haul the green horses to places to get them seen and to put miles on them. Not doing that any more. I try to drive exactly to the kid's school and back home. I go to the grocery store only when I am stopping there to or from the school. I am starting to feel like a gas hostage.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Sadly, you aren't the only one

Any business that relies on trucks is being hit hard. The pest control company where I work is really having a hard time. We have been trying to route customers for over a year now, but with prices hovering near $3 now (this is Arkansas), even routing is not economizing enough. We can try and raise rates, but that means a lot of folks will quit our service (we've had a few do that anyway, because they can't afford pest control and gasoline). If gas goes up too high, I think that the economy will collapse as small businesses give up.

[holboz]

11. Friend's trucking company went out of business due to gasoline

Small business a few years old here in Arkansas. They had to close their doors last month because they couldn't afford the increased gasoline cost in addition to a few other unforseen expenses. It was the straw that broke the camel's back.

We're feeling the pinch,too. My husband's company closed their satellite office which was 2 miles from our home and consolidated him into their main office 30 miles away. Fortunately he has a small car (Volkswagen VR6), but our fuel bill has shot through the roof. Whereas he used to fill his tank every 2 weeks he's now filling it twice a week. Since I'm a stay at home mom, we're starting to switch out our cars since most of my driving is in-town. he runs his car down to a quarter of a tank and then he takes my Toytoa Matrix until it's out of fuel.

[renie408]

14. It genuinely scares the shit out of me

I felt my throat close when my husband called this morning. We BOTH run small businesses. He talked to one of the contractor's he works for and mentioned possibly going up on his prices because of gas and this guy said, "Do what you have to, but I am losing money every day now. I don't want to, but I will have to check around if you go up." We have worked for this guy since we started this business five years ago. On top of all of that, we had to give the guy that works for us a small raise because HE wasn't making ends meet.

This just sucks.

[progressive_realist]

73. Wait. Let me get this straight.

So your husband must raise his prices (for services) because of higher fuel prices (& wages), his customers are trying to cut costs to offset higher prices elsewhere (fuel & wages, probably), and his employee needs higher wages because of higher costs (fuel & services)?

Hmm...

Seems like a self-reinforcing pattern. Isn't this a textbook example of runaway inflation? Naw, it couldn't be, because the Fed says inflation is well under control. :sarcasm:

Unfortunately, the way inflation corrects itself is by reducing economic activity. Eventually, either customers will no longer be able to afford to buy the services or businesses will no longer be able to afford to sell them.

It does suck. I see rough times ahead for all of us.:-(

[Ezlivin]

4. Hey, at least you've got a horse to fall back on for transportation

Me? I just got this wheelchair.

:)

Having horses makes you (and others) much better situated to survive the energy shortage.

It's just a pity that our country has this terrible oil addiction....

[MuseRider]

8. That is what

I am counting on, my horses. We will be able to get around and maybe then I can sell the ones I bred to sell. Knowing me though, if it gets that bad I will just give them to my friends. No business sense anyway and this pesky bleeding heart so why not?

[renie408]

10. Yeah, I keep telling my husband we can always eat them

if it gets really bad.

[ixion]

5. You're not alone, renie...

People who are commuting are seeing the cost of the commute really start to eat into their earnings...and just about everyone is commuting.

For the record, it should be noted that telecommuting, which was really starting to take off, has been summarily curtailed since the dot com bubble burst. The 'old school' concept of you sitting in a cube has come back in style.


One great way to conserve would be to allow telecommuting. Think we'll be seeing anything like that soon? I doubt it.

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. Hope you're able to hang in there. :-(

[Dem Agog]

70. Hubby & I are buying a Prius and are now carpooling & only going in 4 days

We work from home one day. We carpool the other four days. I work 8 miles north of where he does. It's halved our bill.

Plus we're first in line at our local Toyota for the next Prius that comes in. We'll be taking that in from then on...

Heck $50 to fill up my car's insane... And we each make good money. We just can't see paying so much to fill terrorists pockets (in our own country and overseas)... I'd rather outlay a few extra grand to Toyota, knowing that extra money is going to a car company than to terrorists.

[mtnsnake]

9. Same for my truck & business, but I'm sure the bushites will blame it

all on the hurricanes, even though prices had skyrocketed BEFORE Hurricane Katrina hit....because of Bush's failed Iraq war.

[neoteric lefty]

12. Don't get me started,

I am starting to ration my trips to the gas station. I only spend a certain amount and make sure it lasts for a specified time, like a week. No more "fill 'er up" and drive away. Thank god the city I live in has a good public transit system.

[Jamison]

15. It only gets worse from now on out.

I agree that $3 is terrible, but what's gonna happen when the next storm, or other disaster hits, which will justify the oil companies in raising gas to $5/gal.?:mad:

[renie408]

16. I just wrote both my Senators and my Representative

Not that I know what they can do, but I wanted to tell SOMEBODY that gas prices are killing us.

[kitten29]

83. yes it will get worse

"quote"
but what's gonna happen when the next storm, or other disaster hits
"end quote"

it's not the storm it's India & China... supply v. demand...
more demand on a limited commodity and the price rises...

what get's my goat is that almost 30 years ago Carter stressed the need to be free of fossil fuels... funny we let 30 years of development go to waste...

i mean we went through the gas crisis of the early 70's and what did we do in the ensuing years, built bigger piece of shit cars... i mean what is the function of a car, point A to B... i detest hitler but he was right about the "volkswagen"... a car is just a car, nothing more... it shouldn't be the largest or second largest slice of your budget, that's insane...

i'm afraid gas is no where near where it will level off... i'm banking on at least $4 gal... could be alot more if an all out war breaks out in the middle east... then i haven't a clue as to price... :shrug:

[renie408]

17. How's about the oil companies sharing the wealth...LITERALLY??

How can oil companies justify charging these prices for gas when they are reaping HUGE profits every quarter? Is there a way to do something about that??

[Apollo11]

18. Get used to expensive gasoline

Demand for oil is going up. Supply is running out. Refineries have been hit hard by hurricanes. Neither the major oil producing countries nor the oil companies is really interested in selling oil more cheaply than they have to.

Here in Europe, Ford will sell me a mini-MPV called a Fusion that does 50 miles per gallon (note: not the same Ford Fusion sedan they are launching on the US market). This is the diesel version, also runs on bio-diesel. Diesel costs more than $5 per gallon. But if it takes you 50 miles - that ain't so bad.

The fact is that fuel is still too cheap. We will know when the price is really hurting because folks will start to give up their cars, or trade down to more fuel-efficient vehicles. Our current transport habits are unsustainable and our planet is hurting!

- best wishes from your European environmental extremist ...

[1932]

19. OPEC members, including Venezuela have said that 30-40 pbl is their

target price where they see a balance of profit, demand, and economic development unhindered by oil costs.

[Apollo11]

20. OPEC ... schmopec

But "economic development unhindered by oil costs" is unsustainable.

We are burning 5 barrels of oil for every 1 we discover. That's what the oil companies are saying. And every year the Chinese economy is growing and they are buying millions of new vehicles. Not just China - India also! Millions of people buying cars, refrigerators, air conditioning, washing machines.

To believe that the price of oil will fall below $60 is just wishful thinking from the drivers perspective. Some experts are saying that oil will hit $100 per barrel within the next few months - but I am not one of those experts.

[1932]

21. Nonetheless,

You said, " Neither the major oil producing countries nor the oil companies is really interested in selling oil more cheaply than they have to."

[ProudDad]

68. Except Hugo Chavez

in Venezuela

Viva Chavez! Viva Socialismo!

[On the Road]

82. Really? I am Impressed at OPEC

I thought they were greedier than that. Venezuela initiated increases in oil prices back when oil was under $20 a barrel. I didn't know the expectations were so reasonable.

So, who are the culprits? US oil companies? Commodities traders? Or is OPEC not being straight? I don't have a good handle on the price-setting mechanism.

I'm sure oil will come back down, but it will be two or three years before refining, drilling, and exploration increase the available supply.

[renie408]

23. Well, here in America, if you have to tow a 3500 lb piece of ...

equipment for your job, you need a TRUCK. And if you work new construction where there are rarely driveways, you have to have a 4x4 TRUCK. And here in America where one state is about as big as most whole countries in Europe, we tend to drive more. Today my husband has to drive about 100 miles one way to get to the house he is working on. Your mini-MPV will not tow our 3500-lbs-when-loaded spray machine up the Appalachian mountains, for any gas mileage.

I guess we could get rid of the business and take up telecommuting, but since my husband has pretty much been in construction his whole life, I am not sure it is a transition he will easily make.

[melissinha]

40. call me ignorant

but can he commute himself in a fuel efficient car and leave his equipment at the site?

I wish you the best of luck, I am so sorry that it has gotten this bad..... remember when Chimpo was touting his friendliness to small business in the income tax argument (small businesses are taxed on the individuals, so increasin taxes someone who makes more than $100K personal income isn't fair, yet this is a BS excuse to cover the people who aren't small business and make millions).

[renie408]

41. Well, in this case, you are ignorant.

He sprays ceilings and does the texturing on walls. He is at a different house every day. The machine, when loaded with spray, weighs 3500 pounds. The only thing he can do is wait to add the water at the jobsite, but sometimes that is not feasible either.

I am looking into biodiesel. That might help out a lot. Thanks for the sympathy, I am sure we'll figure it out. We always have. It just really knocked me for a loop when he called and said that it had cost that much to fill the truck.

[melissinha]

44. ah its not a multiple day type of business

makes total sense. Thats brutal. :shrug:

Best of luck.:hug:

[renie408]

55. Right

It's a different-house-every-day-of-the-week kind of job. He covers a lot of ground.

[Extend a Hand]

61. I don't think that is a very good option in most cases...

Construction sites are generally bad places to leave expensive equipment unattended. They often have little lighting after dark and not many people around.

[renie408]

64. Especially $20,000 pieces of equipment on wheels. n/t

[Contrary1]

22. Perhaps he should become "uniquely American"

by taking on a second or third job. Oh wait, that was before
the hurricanes blew in.

It will probably take four jobs now to put "food on your family".

Sleep would be optional if your husband really cared about you. :sarcasm:

[maxsolomon]

24. i'm sorry it might put you out of business

but things are not going to get better. this is the way it is now. unless it gets more expensive, which it inevitably will.

everyone must change.

[renie408]

25. We are going to re-evaluate.

I don't think it necessarily means we will be put out of business. It means we are going to have to get smarter about how we drive and where we cut back in other places.

I expected gas prices to rise over time. I just never expected them to double in a year.

[MuseRider]

26. Looks like it is time

to long rein the horses and build a wagon! Perhaps he can build wagons. I am not poking fun since I am in the same boat but at the feed store today we had a lengthy discussion about this and I was amused to hear the "good old boys" talking about putting up tie posts outside their business.

[renie408]

32. We do have a hackney pony on the farm

Other than that, most of them are Thoroughbred's and TBX's that we use for hunter showing. They are really pretty impractical animals. Most of them eat a ton, have to wear shoes and would faint if they had to go down the road. My daughter does show an ArabX pony that is tough as nails and twice as calm. Maybe we could ride him to the grocery store.

[MuseRider]

33. Let me know

if you need cow horses. My Quarters are perfect for this although they are spoiled rotten and have never learned how to pull anything but a dead bull behind them. Put them on a live one and they catch fire though.

I think it would be fun to teach them to pull a little wagon. The closest store to me is about 4 miles and while they do not carry a lot they do carry the things I can't grow. I fear we are headed in that direction and I am thinking it is going to be very nice to be a horse owner.

[renie408]

35. My daughter keeps BEGGING me to...

allow her to ride George (her pony) to school. I have kept her backed off by telling her that there wouldn't be anything for George to do all day.

[MuseRider]

37. Poor bored George!

She would end up giving every kid in her class a ride. Sounds pretty cool though.

I guess this means we will be able to go to town and not have to take our spurs off to keep from getting stared at.

Ok, I am trying to be positive but I have to go fill my truck up this afternoon and if the prices have gone up that much over night it will kill me.

Anyone know of a good way to convert manure into fuel? Now that I could get behind, make my small fortune and go on about my business.

[NMDemDist2]

57. i used to ride my pony to school in Nevada. I brought him a nose bag

of grain and tied him behind the cafeteria by the "janitor's shed" where he'd have some protection from the wind

he didn't seem to be any more "bored" there than in his stall all day (esp at lunch when the kids all fed him apples and carrots LOL)

[renie408]

62. Naw, George wouldn't be bored

but that's my story and I am sticking to it. It is the only thing that has made her shut up riding the pony to school so far.

[TayTay]

27. This is going to be a horrendous winter for so many Americans

I am very scared for so many people. Family budgets were already stretched with people having to deal with increases in the cost of health care and housing and such. The rapid rise in the price of gas and home heating fuel is just going to wipe some families this winter. What Katrina did in a few days to the Gulf Coast is what this winter and the rise in bills is going to do to a lot of American families: just wipe them out.

I wonder if Skinner and the Admins here on DU might be agreeable to putting up a group whose purpose is to allow people to share tips on conserving fuel and; for some, tips on where to get some emergency grants in order to pay fuel costs. I think there is a need for it.

You and everyone like you are in my prayers. We talk about a lot of inside baseball stuff on DU, but what you are going through is the real motivating factor for me being a DEm. It shouldn't be like this America, the people should not be abandonded by an unfeeling and uncaring government. That's what has to change.

[Extend a Hand]

65. I'm scared too

When the government is ADMITTING that things are this bad,
it might get really ugly.

From an interview with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in USAtoday on 10/03/05...


<snip>
"How long before we return to normal? It's hard to know, because we have not yet got an assessment" of damage from Rita, Bodman said in an interview with USA TODAY on Friday. He said it will be two to three weeks before the assessment is done.

"We're going to go through a very challenging time the next six months, is my guess," Bodman said. "Most of us have viewed energy availability as a kind of right of citizenship," he said, and might have to rethink that as refineries are restarted, pipelines repaired and natural gas processing resumed. "Both in terms of gasoline availability and (prices of) natural gas and heating oil, we're going to have some problems."

http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/10/3/12927/6582#more

[renie408]

71. My mom is flipping about natural gas prices

She is on a fixed income and is really worried about this winter.

[Extend a Hand]

74. These creeps just don't get it

they've never had to make hard choices. I'm really afraid that there will be more than a few people freezing this winter.


I saw that PG&E has already published that there customers will have a 71% increase in natural gas.

[wellstone_democrat]

72. how about a "tightwad" group

in personal interests area of DU? I'm sure that most of us would be interested in tips from fuel to food storage/bargains/whatever

[salin]

79. Tuesday news - admin say No Relief for home heating fuel

even for those in greatest need.

But as we speak they are still trying sell completely killing off the estate tax - poor super wealthy - they can only pass on a few million to heirs before the heirs having to pay taxes upon the additional millions. They Need Relief!

But for those who will have to choose between heat/energy and food this winter - "S*cks for You!"

Callous Crony Conservatism at its ugliest.

[MadHound]

28. Bio diesel friend, make it yourself and save

Your diesel vehicles can run on biodiesel with few or no modifications. And making biodiesel is really quite simple, and cheap to boot, costing somewhere between .70 cents and $1.00/gallon.

For a great book on how to make your own biodiesel, read "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel"<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0970722702/103-4135234-3111012?v=glance>

And if you don't want to go to the bother, or intimidated by having to find/make your own biodiesel refinery, you can purchase easy to do kits for a reasonable price here<http://www.biodieselsolutions.com/home/home.asp>

This is one sure way for farmers to knock down their fuel prices. I expect biodiesel to become more and more of a staple on the family farm, for with fuel going up the way it is, there is no other way for the small farmer to stay in business, much less compete.

[TheFarseer]

29. Thank you for that link

that seems affordable to the typical farmer. I'll have to tell my dad about that although I can't see him actually doing it until alot of other people are. Low grain prices and high fuel prices - I expect alot of farmers to fold in the next couple years. It will be like the early 80's all over again.

[MadHound]

30. I don't know, your dad might suprise you!

I see a lot of farmers turning to biodiesel here in Mid Mo, if nothing else out of sheer desperation. In fact it has become so popular here that the big boys have taken notice and are building a biodiesel refinery in Mexico Mo.

Hard cash makes believers out of a lot of people, and that is what is happening with biodiesel. The only modifications you have to make to a diesel vehicle is switch your neopryne fuel lines to metal fuel lines, that's it. And with one of these kits, it makes the work much, much easier. And if you're worried about the "french fry" smell that comes from biodiesel made from waste cooking oil, just run your biodiesel through activated charcoal before your final wash and you'll be fine.

Hope you and your dad go for this, for not only does it save money, but biodiesel is ninety percent less polluting than dino diesel, and it prolongs the life of your diesel engine too.

[Book Lover]

77. It's akin to homebrewing

Not sure what Speed Channel/Spike car show it was on, but that was the tack the presenter took and it made a lot of sense. And it's something a lot of folks can wrap their heads around.

[renie408]

31. I just ordered

a book on making your own biodiesel. I am hoping we can figure it out, it would be a lifesaver.

[afdip]

34. $3.59 a gallon for diesel this morning in

south carolina, one of the many suthin' bushco states where the morons still love him and defend him. amke that fucking morons.

[renie408]

36. That's where we are and its $3.49 here...

I haven't checked the NC prices, but typically SC is a lot cheaper.

I need to find out what the prices were on inauguration day in 2000. I want to make a sign that has the price then and the price now.

[Contrary1]

42. Estimated 2000 Gasoline Price of $1.35 in California on January 17, 2000

http://www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline/margins/2000.html

[renie408]

47. Holy Smokes!

I am sure it was cheaper here. I have friends in CA and EVERYTHING is cheaper here.

God, it makes me want to be sick thinking about it. I am just hoping the biodiesel works out.

[Contrary1]

49. self delete

[Contrary1]

50. I'll see what I can dig up on your area. n/t

[renie408]

52. Thanks! We are in South Carolina...I know...I know.......

The funny thing is that if you leave politics and religion out of it, I really like it here.

It is just so hard to leave politics and religion out of it.

[Contrary1]

59. Still digging around. Here's something interesting...

Since Aug. 13, 2001, the cost of diesel fuel in SC has
gone up almost 265% It was $1.322 then. Regular gas
averaged $1.232; 41 cents cheaper than in California.

http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/db00/14/141700.pdf

[renie408]

60. We usually run well below the national average, partially due

to the fact that SC doesn't believe in tax. Our fuel prices have a lot less tax built into them. You don't have to have an inspection sticker in SC or a tag for your trailer. They have a hands off approach to government. Sadly this includes education and decent roads.

[BootinUp]

38. Don't worry

I watched Tom Delay on tv yesterday, said he was gonna do something about high gas prices.

:sarcasm:

I shouldn't be making jokes though. We need to stick together and sooner or later things will start to turn around.

[renie408]

39. You think you are being funny

But I am telling you that if the Repukes can get gas back under $2, they can pretty much be as corrupt as they want and get re-elected. When the shit hits the fan, it really IS all about the economy. Personal economy at this point.

[sarcasmo]

43. BUY A SMALLER CAR.

[BronxBoy]

45. Did you even bother.....

to read the entire thread. The OP has laid out on several occasions why her husband needs her to drive the vehicle he does. Don't you think that, especially given her obvious concern and desperation that she would drive a smaller car if she could?

Thanks for your enlightened contribution !

:sarcasm:

[renie408]

46. LEARN TO READ

[Tsiyu]

48. Hard for some....

I was mentioning this to someone at the (Citgo!) pumps today. If I still had the Suburban we used to haul horses, old John Deere horsedrawn wagon, hay, lumber, it would cost $120 to fill that puppy up at $3 a gallon, as it had a 40 gallon tank. I have no clue how I would manage.

When Idiot Son tells people to "drive less" he is forgetting that so many of us MUST drive. We have jobs, school, businesses that depend on our ability to get around. Staying home is not an option. Gas is running me over $100 a week, and I drive a fuel-efficient Honda.

My horses are decent on the trail, but I doubt I'd want to ride them 20 miles and back to work! A few miles to town I could handle. Maybe.

[renie408]

53. We have an Isuzu Rodeo for day to day running around

and we are thinking of trading it for something that does better. But we have to figure it out. We have two kids, multiple dogs and we camp for vacations, etc. The Rodeo has a small hitch on it for pulling a little trailer and I can use it like a truck if my husband has the big truck with him. Like I said, I have to factor all this stuff in when I decide.

Plus, the Rodeo is PAID FOR, which is a big point.

[Tsiyu]

81. PAID FOR is a great thing

My Honda is paid for, as is my daughter's vehicle. So is my home and land. So I can understand.


You'd be smart to hold on to The Rodeo if it runs well and will for some time. Another car may cost you $$$$ in repairs that would offset any gas savings - and none of us needs to take on another car payment right now, huh?

But I'd definitely check out the biodiesel option for the truck. Those prices will kill your hub's business over time. Doesn't this situtation suck?

[Ilsa]

56. I'm sorry, Renie. My autistic son's hippotherapy was cancelled today

because the volunteers are starting to complain about (and no-show)the cost of gas driving out of town to the riding therpy center, and i can't fault them for that. The therapy center works on donations, volunteers' time, and very small fees for the services. It doesn't surprise me that a working farm/ranch of any kind would be having problems with this mess W has us in.

I don't think the price of gasoline and diesel are going to drop enough for you, but hell, what do I know?

Big hug to you.

[renie408]

58. Aw, I am so sorry.

I know how important that therapy is. One of my boarder's volunteer's at our local therpeutic riding center. She has told me how big a deal the horses are for so many kids.

We will be OK, we always are. It just hit me hard today that we are going to have to do something differently. Things probably aren't going to change enough for us to keep going the way we are.

[PDittie]

63. This guy wants to DO something:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x21496

[renie408]

66. Sounds good to me!! n/t

[dcfirefighter]

67. You've got land

grow your own vegetables and feed, or at least some of it. (book recommendation}
you've already got the manure

family of four fed on well less than an acre.
I'd guess that such methods would allow feed for a 1000# horse on less than 3/4 of an acre.

[renie408]

69. Thanks, I will check into it

We usually do a vegetable and herb garden. And pasture management is my life, trust me. I am always trying to find ways to squeak more forage out of my fields. We spread our manure and add lime and seed as we go. That and a good mowing schedule really help with weeds and trash growing up in the fields.

[midnight armadillo]

75. do waste veggie oil directly

www.greasecar.com

You can safely run that truck on filtered waste veggie oil directly with no biodiesel conversion necessary. Even cheaper!

Edit: Workers have been royally screwed by Detroit. They've completely owned the truck market for decades and have been delivering ancient technology in trucks and vans while lining their pockets. If just one had had any decency and initiative and doubled the fuel economy of their vehicles, saving workers a TON of money in operating costs, they would have killed their competition. But no - they kept on with 2 valve/cylinder designs, 100 year old suspension designs, the aerodynamics of brick walls, and on and on. Now working people are paying the price.

There was a compressed air/gas hybrid demoed once (forget who). Not as efficient as a battery-electric hybrid, but there's no batteries to where out. Wait, here's a link:
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=25712

[NJCher]

76. thanks for the links, everyone

This page has quite a number of interesting links to check out. I've looked them all over and definitely intend to pursue some, especially the biodiesel! Solar, too. My home faces south!

Is there anyone here knowledgeable about diesel cars in America? What would be a good diesel car to purchase (used)?

I recently heard Dr. Kenneth Deffeyes (author of several books on the oil shortage) speak on peak oil. He said that we are in for a hard landing because our political leaders have failed to come up with an energy program. Someone in the audience asked him when we could have acted to have a "soft landing." His response was that if we'd done what Jimmy Carter recommended, we might have had a soft landing.

Well, we all know how the repukes made fun of Jimmy, don't we? His walking for the inaugural parade, wearing sweaters and turning down the thermostat. Jimmy Carter is going to look a whole lot wiser as we move on down the road.

$120 to fill up a truck is the first bump on a hard landing.

I've no doubt that the people here who have written about how they use their trucks need them but it disgusts me how many people there are running around suburban NJ in trucks. There seems to be great appeal to a big pickup truck in certain circles. They are always spotless and never have anything in the pickup bed. The drivers love to gun them, leaving drivers in cars (like me) in the dust. These trucks are big and intimidating. It's idiots like this who make those who genuinely need a truck in the quandary they're in.




Cher

[kineneb]

78. ouch

I understand that trucks are needed for lots of large applications in construction, etc. -Hey I live in rural Cal. For those of us who live in "village" type areas may I suggest a bicycle for short errands. Or a horse if that works. A lot of fuel expenses can be cut by skipping short drives and finding other means to get around. I have noticed that several people here have street-legal electric or gas golf carts for in-town driving... worth a thought. I have considered getting a vespa-like motor scooter (100 mpg sounds good to me). I think we all need to start thinking "outside the box" and we can come up with some creative ideas to deal with the impending energy problems.

In the meantime, if you see someone like me, riding on their cute little folding bicycle with groceries in the panniers, just wave!:hi:

[Stockholm]

80. GOP and GWB hates farmers. n/t

[caligirl]

84. Someone recently overheard motorcyclists complaining about the cost too.

:shrug:

[pro_blue_guy]

85. Forgive me....

Forgive me, but the first thing I said to myself when I read your topic's headline was:

"Jesus Christ"

[renie408]

86. Hey, man, you should have heard my first reaction when he told me

Yours looks pretty tame. :)

[amandabeech]

88. Could he learn how to weatherize houses and businesses?

Maybe you remember that this was a very busy business back in the '70s. It might be something that he could do on the side closer to home. One thing that it could entail is pulling out old sheetrock in order to put more insulation in older homes' north and west walls and putting in new stuff leaving more space between outside walls and inside walls.

Just a thought, and good luck!

[renie408]

92. That is a good thought

He has worked in drywall in one capacity or another for the past twenty years, so that might be something he would be comfortable with. Also, even though we are in the South, with astronomical heating bills coming up it might be something people are more interested in here.

[amandabeech]

93. In areas where electricity is generated with natural gas,

cooling costs may be quite high, even next summer. Many places that generate with coal also use inefficient "peaker" plants powered by natural gas or diesel to put out enough juice to run the A/Cs at 3:30 on August 1 of each year.

Weatherizing can cut both heating AND cooling costs. As can landscape plantings, by the way, advice on which might be another sideline.

[lildreamer316]

89. I had to borrow money to put gas in car for SO's trip to work today.

Most embarrassing thing I've had to do in quite awhile.(Husband works an hour away; no; there are no comprable jobs here).
It was only $40 but that only got us a little over half a tank and some diapers.

[texpatriot2004]

90. Go to give em hell Harry and put your two cents in w/the oil & gas

companies.

www.giveemhellharry.com

[ladylibertee]

91. OMG. You poor thing.I share you frustration.