Friday, July 6, 2007

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Picking a Ukraine Village Wife

Picking a Ukraine Village Wife & her family for the Peak Oil Age.

Village girls are the best but still need to pick them

For starters you want a nice looking woman that will compliment your Gene Pool

Your not looking big husky girls they are hard to find anyway but more athletic since she will need to work in food production

The other Point to remember a small Ukraine village every one know everything. If you are unfaithful she will hear about it worst of all her family will.

Her family is an anchor point to your Survival they must love you too. Since you are communal in helping each other, it there knowledge that will ensure you & your wife & Children will eat when others wont

Far as you like the girl now see the family are they master of their Domain in food production. First you will notice a garden a bountiful garden is important alot Jars in the Pantry. From canning to Pickling. A good stock Potatoes they figure a 100KG per person per year.

If the family is really self-reliant they may have work horse, small food animals Turkeys chickens ducks Rabbit. Even bees for honey & wax.

You will be set with no Oil Horse to Plow garden haul loads & transport excessive to market to trade for goods

Of Course a Pig for winter meat supply

This is a complete sustainable living All the Animal food is grown in Village as well

Before you fall in love with girl be sure she a worker not a princess they will be useless later on. I mean does she plant & hoe Harvest Potatoes, feed animals Butcher animals for cooking.

Her father being strong Alpha type male a leader is good. You may be strong Alpha yourself, father would not like you otherwise, but can work together easily since he is you father in-law. It for the Family. It being smart thinking about survival not all the brawn you may think.

The tables are turned as it where from your Future wife family viewpoint, Will be do you have enough smarts & resources to take care of her & raise a family. In short term this applies to life but in post petrol age all her family skills at razing food year after year will be value greater then any wealth that can be measured.

There two words I hate when refereeing to Ukraine villagers the first 1 is Peasant it been around a long time. They are all just people that live closer to earth then a western.

Poverty Invented my the west access value & quality of life to a dollar. If you are eating not Hungary you are not living in Poverty is my Standards for this. The family I described above is food wealthy not a lot of cash but great food sources. Will be eating well when Americans are starving no food in Supermarkets. American way of life is fragile you loose the Bountiful supply of oil food will sky rocket is available then later money will have no value of food to trade will be currency





English-Ukrainian Shopping Grocery List
Grocery List to Stock Household
· Sausage: Ковбаса:
· Stick Sausage Палиця ковбаси
· Rope Sausage Мисливські ковбаски
· Hot Dog Сосиски
· Grill Sausage Грилеві ковбаски
· Raw Sausage Сирі ковбаски
·
· Meat: М’ясо:
· Ground Beef Мелена телятина
· Ground Pork Мелена свинина
· Pork (shashlik) Свиня (шашлик)
· Beef (steak) / (Roast) Телятина смажена
· Chicken Курка
· Fish Риба
· Bacon Бочок свинячий
· Ham Шинка
· Staples: Продукти:
· Flour Мука
· Sugar Цукор
· Oil Олія
· Butter Масло
· Bread Хліб
· Dried Goods: Сухі продукти:
· Spaghetti Спагеті
· Macaroni Макарони
· Egg Noodles Яєчна лапша
· Beans Фасоля
· Nuts Горіхи
· Coffee Кава
· Tea Чай
· Bullion Мівіна (бульйон)
· Spreads & Syrups: Джеми і сиропи:
· Strawberry Jam Клубнічний джем
· Hazelnut Spread Масло горіхове
· Syrup Сироп
· Baking Goods: Продукти для випікання:
· Baking Soda Сода
· Baking Powder Порошок для печива
· Corn Starch Кукурудзяний крохмаль
· Corn Meal Кукурудзяне борошно
· Yeast Дріжджі
· Nuts Горіхи
· Raisins Ізюм
· Dates
· Cinnamon Кориця
· Cocoa Powder Какао порошок
· Drinks: Напитки:
· Coke Кока-кола
· Sprite Спрайт
· Icy cola
· Monk Water Мінеральна вода
· Vodka Горілка
· Beer Пиво
· Dairy & eggs: Молочні продукти і яйця:
· Cheese Сир
· Milk (bystiv) Молоко (Буців)
· Sour Cream (bystiv) Сметана (Буців)
· Eggs (Bystiv) Яйця (Буців)
· Canned goods Pickle: Закрутки:
· Pickles (bystiv) Огірки (Буців)
· Tomatoes (bystiv) Помідори (Буців)
· Peppers (bystiv) Перець (Буців)
· Beets (bystiv) Буряки (Буців)
· Olives Оливки
· Tomato Paste Томатна паста
· Vegetables: Овочі:
· Cabbage Капуста
· Peppers Перець
· Chili’s Паприка Чілі
· Tomatoes Помідори
· Cucumber Огірки
· Mushrooms Гриби
· Potato Картопля
· Peas (frozen) Горошок (морожений)
· Cauliflower Цвітна капуста
· Carrots Морква
· Broccoli Броколі
· Leaf Lettuce (garden) Салат (город)
· Corn Кукурудза
· Garlic Часник
· Onions Цибуля
· Green Onions Зелена цибуля
· Horse Radish Хрін
· Radish Редиска
· Turnip Ріпка
· Beet Буряки
· Spices: Приправи:
· Petrushka Петрушка
· Dill Кріп
· Salt Сіль
· Pepper Перець
· Condiments: Приправи:
· Ketchup Кетчуп
· Mustard Гірчиця
· Mayonnaise Майонез
· Horse Radish Хрін
· Relish Приправа
· Utility Products: Необхідне для кухні:
· Plastic wrap Клейонка для обгортання їжі
· Small plastic food bag Мішечки для їжі
· Foil Фольга
· Paper Towels Папір для витирання рук
· 60 Liter Garbage bags Смітникові мішечки (60 л.)
· Toilet Paper Туалетний папір
· Gala Dish Liquid Рідина для миття посуду (Gala)
· Laundry Detergent Пральний порошок
· Bleach Відбілювач
· Metal Toughy (Scrub Pots) Металева шкрабачка для посуду
· Scotch bright (dish scrubber) Щітка для миття посуду
· Sponge Губка
· Dish Towel Рушники для посуду




Bystiv Food Sources




The list of Foods Below are Grown or produced in Bystiv

The Animals Food is also Grown here in Bystiv

it is a fully self contained system of food production a Village ecosystem

Dairy:

Eggs
Milk
Cheese
Sour Cream
Cottage Cheese
Cream

BeeKeeper:

Raw Honey
Honey Combs


Vegetable:

Cucumber (Pickles)
Cabbage (kraut
Potatos
Onion
Garlic
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Egg Plant
Navy Beans
Sting Beans
Peas
Carrots
Beets
Horse Radish
Cauliflower
Radish
Turnip
Parsnip
Corn (meal)
Water Melon
Honey Dew Melon
Rubard
Whaet (Flour)
Barley
Pumpkins
Zuchini
Sugar Beets

Herbs:

Cilantro
Dill
Poppies


Meat:

Rabbit
Pig
Duck
Goose
Turkey
Chicken
Fish (Nearby Lake)

Animal Food:

Whaet
Barley
Pumpkins
Zuchini
Sugar Beets

Fruit:

Cherry
Pears
Apples
Berries


Mushrooms:

Wild Mushrooms Dryed

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Monday, June 11, 2007

English-Ukrainian Shopping Grocery List

Grocery List to Stock Household

  • Sausage: Ковбаса:
  • Stick Sausage Палиця ковбаси
  • Rope Sausage Мисливські ковбаски
  • Hot Dog Сосиски
  • Grill Sausage Грилеві ковбаски
  • Raw Sausage Сирі ковбаски

  • Meat: Мясо:
  • Ground Beef Мелена телятина
  • Ground Pork Мелена свинина
  • Pork (shashlik) Свиня (шашлик)
  • Beef (steak) / (Roast) Телятина смажена
  • Chicken Курка
  • Fish Риба
  • Bacon Бочок свинячий
  • Ham Шинка


  • Staples: Продукти:
  • Flour Мука
  • Sugar Цукор
  • Oil Олія
  • Butter Масло
  • Bread Хліб

  • Dried Goods: Сухі продукти:
  • Spaghetti Спагеті
  • Macaroni Макарони
  • Egg Noodles Яєчна лапша
  • Beans Фасоля
  • Nuts Горіхи
  • Coffee Кава
  • Tea Чай
  • Bullion Мівіна (бульйон)

  • Spreads & Syrups: Джеми і сиропи:
  • Strawberry Jam Клубнічний джем
  • Hazelnut Spread Масло горіхове
  • Syrup Сироп

  • Baking Goods: Продукти для випікання:
  • Baking Soda Сода
  • Baking Powder Порошок для печива
  • Corn Starch Кукурудзяний крохмаль
  • Corn Meal Кукурудзяне борошно
  • Yeast Дріжджі
  • Nuts Горіхи
  • Raisins Ізюм
  • Dates
  • Cinnamon Кориця
  • Cocoa Powder Какао порошок

  • Drinks: Напитки:
  • Coke Кока-кола
  • Sprite Спрайт
  • Icy cola
  • Monk Water Мінеральна вода
  • Vodka Горілка
  • Beer Пиво

  • Dairy & eggs: Молочні продукти і яйця:
  • Cheese Сир
  • Milk (bystiv) Молоко (Буців)
  • Sour Cream (bystiv) Сметана (Буців)
  • Eggs (Bystiv) Яйця (Буців)

  • Canned goods Pickle: Закрутки:
  • Pickles (bystiv) Огірки (Буців)
  • Tomatoes (bystiv) Помідори (Буців)
  • Peppers (bystiv) Перець (Буців)
  • Beets (bystiv) Буряки (Буців)
  • Olives Оливки
  • Tomato Paste Томатна паста

  • Vegetables: Овочі:
  • Cabbage Капуста
  • Peppers Перець
  • Chili’s Паприка Чілі
  • Tomatoes Помідори
  • Cucumber Огірки
  • Mushrooms Гриби
  • Potato Картопля
  • Peas (frozen) Горошок (морожений)
  • Cauliflower Цвітна капуста
  • Carrots Морква
  • Broccoli Броколі
  • Leaf Lettuce (garden) Салат (город)
  • Corn Кукурудза
  • Garlic Часник
  • Onions Цибуля
  • Green Onions Зелена цибуля
  • Horse Radish Хрін
  • Radish Редиска
  • Turnip Ріпка
  • Beet Буряки

  • Spices: Приправи:
  • Petrushka Петрушка
  • Dill Кріп
  • Salt Сіль
  • Pepper Перець

  • Condiments: Приправи:
  • Ketchup Кетчуп
  • Mustard Гірчиця
  • Mayonnaise Майонез
  • Horse Radish Хрін
  • Relish Приправа

  • Utility Products: Необхідне для кухні:
  • Plastic wrap Клейонка для обгортання їжі
  • Small plastic food bag Мішечки для їжі
  • Foil Фольга
  • Paper Towels Папір для витирання рук
  • 60 Liter Garbage bags Смітникові мішечки (60 л.)
  • Toilet Paper Туалетний папір
  • Gala Dish Liquid Рідина для миття посуду (Gala)
  • Laundry Detergent Пральний порошок
  • Bleach Відбілювач
  • Metal Toughy (Scrub Pots) Металева шкрабачка для посуду
  • Scotch bright (dish scrubber) Щітка для миття посуду
  • Sponge Губка
  • Dish Towel Рушники для посуду

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Ukraine Shashlik Mostiska Bar



Traditional Ukraine BBQ cooked over wood coals. I just had lunch today 6-6-07 at favorite Bar in Mostiska. Once you taste wood cooked Shahslik it put gas to shame. a very messy with smoke but tastes great

Monday, June 4, 2007

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Bystiv Food Sources

 
 
 
The list of Foods Below are Grown or produced in Bystiv
 
The Animals Food is also Grown here in Bystiv
 
it is a fully self contained system of food production a Village ecosystem
 
Dairy:
 
Eggs
Milk
Cheese
Sour Cream
Cottage Cheese
Cream
 
BeeKeeper:
 
Raw Honey
Honey Combs
 
 
Vegetable:
 
Cucumber (Pickles)
Cabbage (kraut
Potatos
Onion
Garlic
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Egg Plant
Navy Beans
Sting Beans
Peas
Carrots
Beets
Horse Radish
Cauliflower
Radish
Turnip
Parsnip
Corn (meal)
Water Melon
Honey Dew Melon
Rubard
Whaet (Flour)
Barley
Pumpkins
Zuchini
Sugar Beets
 
Herbs:
 
Cilantro
Dill
Poppies
 
 
Meat:
 
Rabbit
Pig
Duck
Goose
Turkey
Chicken
Fish (Nearby Lake)
 
Animal Food:
 
Whaet
Barley
Pumpkins
Zuchini
Sugar Beets
 
Fruit:
 
Cherry
Pears
Apples
Berries
 
 
Mushrooms:
 
Wild Mushrooms Dryed
 
 
 
 

Monday, December 25, 2006

Summer Harvest Bystiv Ukraine

The Gardens are bountiful in Western Ukraine. The Fertile Black Top Soil 3'+ 4' of it the Water Close to Surface with in 6'-18' . That why thru out History every one wanted Ukraine & fought wars over it.

Ukraine is known as the Bread Baske & Sugar Bowl Of Europe

The Growing season where there are T- storm in about every week - 10 days in summer & no need to water Garden it produces without irrigation.

If you look at why a Village Like Bystiv formed some 755 years ago in 1251 AD it is far from any major city easy water access fertile soil that yields crops with no Irrigation.


Ukraine Expat Video Interview

On Post Below is my friend Si I met online that also lives in Ukraine. He came for a Visit last summer in Bystiv had a great time. Since he lived full time in Ukraine with out a trip out of Country I took the time to Do Interview Comparing Cultures of America VS Ukraine. Si is the most fluent Russian speaker I know. although most Ukrainians know Russian in Western Ukraine they prefer to speak Ukrainian. I watched Si communicate friends and Villagers in Russian I know only Ukrainian myself, it has improved dramticly in last few months.

Ukraine Bystiv Fall Harvest

Cousin Natalya Digging Potatoes in Bystiv. In Ukraine Potatoes are a staple in village figure 100 KG of Potatoes per person in a family.

Making Pizza with Ira

Teaching Ira how to make Pizza in my home in Bystiv this summer. Hosting Oksana 1 Oksana 2 Oksana 3 Lesia & Ira.
Ukraine People are more Communal even more so in Villages, that a big difference Socializing is a big part of Ukraine lifestyle.
By comparison Americans are individualistic build a wall around themselves stay in there homes. The scene have so many young woman in my home would not have happened in USA part of our society.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Ukraine Pig Slaughter High Res

Eastern Europe. There a chill in the Air In December of 2004 I was in Bystiv My Ancestral Village.What you are about to view is the Natural Cycle Of Life repeated 10,000+ time in Eastern Europe each season. Since Animals where Domesticated by Man the scene has repeated itself for several 1000 years. In Ukraine they are using Old Soviet Blow Torches. In ancient time after bleeding it out burn in pile of straw repeatedly to burn hair off. The technique is still done in some areas. Ukrainian respect meat more then any westerner since they know the work it take to produce it first hand. Butcher it. The dont eat meat very often of course they have chickens Rabbits ect. Large Animal meat like Pork & Beef is rare unless they grow it or trade for it.In Village the Standard per person for 1 year is 100Kg of Potatoes. Very little meat in Normal Diet. The pig in Documentary is about 6 months old It is Organically Grown Pork if foods comes from vegetable & grains grown in the rich black soils of western Ukraine. It is truly sustainable living. All the animal food stuffs are grown in the village. They eat a very healthy diet in Fall & winter they feed pumpkins squash & sugar beets to Pigs & Milk Cows Potatoes peeling. In summer they eat mash of cracked grains with milk.I tasted Bystiv grown pork it is excellent hormone free chemical free. The pig is my cousins friend the meat is to feed the family at end of Pig slaughter. It moves on to Kelminitksy Meat Bazaar 5 hours east of LVIV unlike your American grocery store


600 lb Hog Slaughter December 2005





I will tell you the meat was great! All the screaming & sqeuling never changed flavor. The reason they just dont cut head off they bleed animal out. They practice very high sanitataion by burn the hair & scraping & washing dead anaimal before every cutting into animal.

You may had heard the joke in Movies Ukraine Mafia is more brutal then Russian Mafia. Perhaps it could be true if they where from Villages

I cooked shashlik (Ukraine BBQ Kabobobs) that night at my place & we had Vodka. It was snowing. During the killing it droppd to -12 below zero. Hands where getting cold holding camera

Online Photo Album Pig Slaughter

Friday, December 22, 2006

Anastasia Getting Coal making lunch



My last great Visit with Cousin in following trips to Ukraine she lost her hearing. In 1999 when I first met her she was spry Milking Cow walking it to Pasture 3 times a day. She passed away summer 2006. She was set free of the her wore out body. It bothered me to see her struggle with simple chores but she was proud. She used bucket as cane.

It was not till later years in sunset of her life health declined she always had great spirit about her, she loved me & I loved very much. She passed away summer of 2006 from Asthma after being very ill for 6 months.

Last experience I had with Anastasia was an Old World Ukraine Village Funeral. Something that again changed me, it was a moving experience that I cant compare to the west at any level.

All I can say it gave me a feeling for great love of family, that cares for passed away loved one preparing body washing & dressing the loved one. Setting it on display in her Home. It was a sense of the order of things like what god intended. Not the cold business of death we have in west

Anastasia changed my life meeting her, she was first Relative from Ukraine I had contact with. Thru her I met rest of family. I now live in Bystiv leaving American consumer driven life behind for simpler quieter & happier life of Living in Old world Ukraine Village

Ukraine Mostiska



Mostiska, Is about 8 miles from Bystiv you can get morning Mashutka (Mini Bus Van) to Mistake from Bystiv if you can manage to squeeze on. I shop in this town for Groceries the chicken & Hamburger i have to go to LVIV. Cheese is cheaper in LVIV.If you cant find it here that means a trip to LVIV that is 6 hour Travel Day 2.5 hours by Train in Morning then another 2.5 at night + a 1 hour walk to village carrying what veering you bought.

I like the Village life best if I have to go to town prefer Mostiska over LVIV. If I cant find it in Mostiska then Plan a day trip to LVIV.

I see more Beautiful woman in Mostiska in 15 minutes then I see where I am from in Oregon in 3 months. Grant it there many more hot woman in LVIV too. Like the smllaer town & village girls

You can sit in park on summer day & watch pretty girls all day long. Of COurse yo are wating for afternoon Mashutak back to Village so there is time to kill

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Ukraine Trip 1999 Kiev LVIV Bystiv 1 hr 30 min Disc 1



The Opening scene is in Svetlana home in Kiev, her mother is cooking. It first time in Ukraine Home I been in Ukraine for less than 2 hours. It all new & exciting begining of a grand Adventure. Culture shock. Loved it hated it loved it!!!

Ukraine First Trip 1999 Here it is my first Ukraine Old world Experience. It is a Journey of discovery. The story is one that change my life in so many ways. I own a home in Ukraine & now live there you cant get much bigger change then leaving your birth country to your ancestral home It all started off meeting Russian woman in Washington DC that was Traveling we hung out a few hours together. . That inspired me to place a Classified ad in 1998 in Russian & Ukraine papers thru service in Canada. In 2 weeks I started receiving Hundreds of letters form all over the former USSR. At this time INTL dating was not in Vogue. Thru the 250+ letters I received I found one girl that was translator in Kiev. We will call her Sveta #1. |(Not to be confused with Sveta #2 or Alla OR Olya.........that another story in itself) Inspired by our communication my Dad found an address given to him 20 years ago by relative in Canada. Since then this relative passed away many years ago. |It was to relatives in Village his father came from in 1900. So my Ukraine Girlfriend Sveta#1 in fall of 1998 did some research & got post code then sent a letter to the address not knowing if it would be answered . About 2 weeks later Sveta heard back from Anastasia she Translated & forward letter to me. Made plans in coming months to Visit Ukraine I flew into Kiev met Sveta then a week later headed to LVIV. Then took Electricka to Mostiska II station from there we hired a Taxi that came out form Mostiska. Without language skills and sufficient experience in Ukraine it seems almost unthinkable for foreigners to go traveling by themselves—something that would be perfectly normal across most of Europe. The Soviet infrastructure is just too baffling, the culture too unlike the West. Foreign tourists need some sort of buffer to have a good (and safe) experience in Ukraine. Unless you have Ukrainian friends who take you around everywhere, you will need tour leaders and organizers who speak your language and take care of your day-to-day needs. If you have Relatives form Ukraine or want to take a trip there let me know I can help you with arrangement www.bystiv.com belozer@bctonline.com

Ukraine Trip 1999 LVIV Odessa Yalta 1 hr 50 min Disc 2




The Footage is Raw unedited as it happens

My First Ukraine trip with Sveta#1 & Yes I had more then 1 Sveta over years that why there are numbered! We Travel from LVIV to Odessa to Simperopil to Yalta It Starts off with Train ride from Shegynin to LVIV. We Just left Mostiska II station after visiting my Relatives in Bystiv for first time. Just let it play will get to LVIV & show some life there Architecture then onto Odessa then Yalta a Boat Tour with Visit to 2 castles swallows nest then the Crimean Mountains a tram ride from the sea top of mountain Then a Ice cave used by ancient people to store meat for summer back to Kiev for Museum tour

Ukraine Life Natural Gas Install



Getting Natural Gas in Ukraine is a Project of epic proportions. The amount of Documents is insane It been 17 Months & still don't have it turned on. Gas just was turned on November 22 of 2005 that was 2 years in works to lay pipeline since village is so remote.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Hana & Ivan Picking Cherries then Gardens


Digging Hole -20 Below Zero Bystiv Ukraine




Call me a tough boss but when there work to be done I don't care the conditions I have a schedule to keep. I Have my workers breaking the frozen ground for toilet holding tank & bath drywell. The ground is like digging solid rock for first couple feet. Even the fence post driver & steel bar can barely can penetrate. Yes those are my American Shovels I imported to Ukraine cost me $26.99 each touted the toughest shovel in world they worked great never broke handle. A Ukraine spade looks like a spade on card the shovels they have & break often & not to mention you have to fashion your own handle from stick. The dirt in Ukraine is very easy to dig when it is not frozen

Ukraine Rabbit Dinner



Fresh Rabbit Oh so Tasty!

It is Sunday November 6th 2005 , just bought a rabbit from my Cousin Roman. I arrived back in Ukraine November 2. Plan to have a party tonight with friends. Vassily stops by coming home from church to say hi. Told him I have a rabbit for tonight. He proceeds to slaughter the Rabbit in his church clothes, Turning the once living breathing creature into food. Before your eyes. Rabbits are so cute but also taste great BBQ. It is a very lean meat has a courser texture then chicken breast & similar taste. There is very lttle waste unlike chicken the bones are very small on Rabbit

The video concludes with drinking Vodka & feasting on the Rabbit.

My Ukraine Neighbor Hanna

A Visit with my Neighbor Hanna

My Ukraine Neighbor Ivan Making Lumber

In Ukraine they do not sell 2x4 or any other standard Dimensional lumber. You can buy misc boards of all sizes rough saw mill cut. Often you will get slab wood that is just a log sliced up that you will need to trim sides square. With no reference point this is time consuming I know from experience with chalk line & skill saw. Any tiem you need wood for Building it is a project finding it can spend days looking.

Christmas Day Ukraine Village Janaury 2005


Ukraine Train Ride from shegynin to LVIV March 2



A beautiful Spring Train ride from Shegynin to LVIV it is 85 KM & takes 2.5

Ukraine Craftsman


Monday, December 18, 2006

Ukraine Train RIde Kelminitsky to LVIV



A winter train ride the video starts on the way from Kelminitksy to LVIV it a grey winter day. about -8 outside. For the most part it is just outside LVIV I start filming. I have Traveled all over Ukraine on both Plane & Train.

In right condition with girlfriend trains are a pleasant way to go. 12-19 hours are most over night routes. The cars are sleeper but I buy out compartment for privacy. It is to small of room to be locked in with strangers. By right conditions I mean heated or not been in Below zero weather on trains with no heat or they had heaters so hot had to strip down yes in winter is Extreme either too little or too much heat it seems. I wont cover the short track segments that bump along with a ryhtym of there own. It not the mile high club but can say I had some memorable times on trian in Ukraine with girlfriends.

Chritsmas Singing Bystiv Ukraine


Filmed in Bystiv around Janury 7th 2004 Old Calender Ukraine Christmas. The Music true Ukrainian a whole group of relatives came to see Baba & who was vey ill with flu. It filmed under a 60 watt light bulb so video is dark but music sharp & clean a real treat.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Lviv Lvov Ukraine Downtown Winter 2005

 LVIV has become a Cosmopolitan European City you can buy most any consumer type goods there. I shop in LVIV when I need to it is 2.5 hours by train from shegynin or 85 KM. I like LVIV for shopping only &  High Speed Internet.  I shop METRO a German owned version of Costco / Sams Club that just opened recently. I buy Hamburger, Chicken & Cheese. You cant get ground beef in Mostiska or Chicken Cheese is expensive in Mostiska.  Other then that there nothing there for me. I prefer slow quiet village pace of life. 

With Groceries in Backpack it is another 2.5 hours evening train ride to Shegynin departing LVIV at 5:30 pm. Then  a 1 hour walk to my house in Bystiv with back pack loaded  of meat & cheese. So that is a 6 hour day of travel to run for Groceries.
Once you get settled into this pace of life it is easy at first is can be Culture shock

Ukraine Christmas Singing Complied mp3

Ukraine Christmas Bystiv Ukraine January 7th 2006


Ukraine - Bystiv Village Store & Bar

 Walking to Village Bar & Store on Sunday afternoon with my friends Mykolia & Vasily, it is a day for church in afternoon men enjoy companionship a walk to Village Store that sells Vodka & cold Draft Beer (Pivo). Hang out on a hot summer afternoon. Ukrainians drink for companionship. The view of store is interesting as well as store girl Marusa very cute & puts up with all the men. I am accepted by the Villagers not as an outsider. Perhaps since it is my Ancestral home Relatives still live there & Belozer (Bilozir) have been there for Centuries & a way I belong there.. I do own home in Bystiv too some of the friends I have worked for me on renovation. Overall people in Ukraine are friendly once you break the ice.

Ukraine Funeral Music 10 Day Wake mp3

Bystiv Ukraine Summer 2006

Ukraine Train Folk Songs mp3

My most memorable night Train ride from LVIV to Shegynin. It was -30 out these guys have great voices It's an old "UPA" song, from the underground ukrainian movement fighting for independence around 1930-1950. The words are very sad

Train Singing Folk Music Ukrainian Independence


Saturday, December 16, 2006

Bystiv Ukraine Short Movie

Short Movie My first old world experience great music

Before & After Renovation - Ukraine Bystiv

This Old World Home

Ukraine Belozer Dacha Retreat

Renovation Complete

 

Thursday, December 14, 2006

My Kitchen Renovation in Ancient Village Home Bystiv Ukraine

Kitchen After

Kitchen During

Kitchen Before





You will see an Ancient Village Home taken from 18th century technology & comfort to 21st century comfort Belozer Dacha Retreat Located in Village of Bystiv (Ukraine) On Polish Border 650 KM West of Kyiv. New Bed & Breakfast Inn with all American Amenities. In a Historic Old world Setting. Hot & cold Running water Luxury Bath & Indoor Western Toilet comfortable suites Hydronic Radiant Heated floors. In Winter at –30 outside you will be stepping onto Bedroom & Bathroom Tile Floors that are warmed to a comfortable 82 Degrees you feel warmth & comfort from head to toe. Air Conditioning in Summer Months. A very comfortable climate controlled Environment

Ukraine Horse & Wagon / Bystiv Cemetary

Horse & Wagons are the Primary load haulers in Village of Bystiv. This site is more common then Cars.
The lead in photo a load of loose hay put on with pitch fork is another example of how work with horse & wagon they haul everything you can imagine. A normal site in Western Ukraine.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Ukraine Trip 1999 Meeting Anastasia & Family in Bystiv Ukraine First Time

High Res. Version Ukraine First Trip 1999 Here it is my first Ukraine Old world Experience. It is a Journey of discovery. The story is one that change my life in so many ways. I own a home in Ukraine & now live there you cant get much bigger change then leaving your birth country to your ancestral home It all started off meeting Russian woman in Washington DC that was Traveling we hung out a few hours together. . That inspired me to place a Classified ad in 1998 in Russian & Ukraine papers thru service in Canada. In 2 weeks I started receiving Hundreds of letters form all over the former USSR. At this time INTL dating was not in Vogue. Thru the 250+ letters I received I found one girl that was translator in Kiev. We will call her Sveta #1. |(Not to be confused with Sveta #2 or Alla OR Olya.........that another story in itself) Inspired by our communication my Dad found an address given to him 20 years ago by relative in Canada. Since then this relative passed away many years ago. |It was to relatives in Village his father came from in 1900. So my Ukraine Girlfriend Sveta#1 in fall of 1998 did some research & got post code then sent a letter to the address not knowing if it would be answered . About 2 weeks later Sveta heard back from Anastasia she Translated & forward letter to me. Made plans in coming months to Visit Ukraine I flew into Kiev met Sveta then a week later headed to LVIV. Then took Electricka to Mostiska II station from there we hired a Taxi that came out form Mostiska. Without language skills and sufficient experience in Ukraine it seems almost unthinkable for foreigners to go traveling by themselves?something that would be perfectly normal across most of Europe. The Soviet infrastructure is just too baffling, the culture too unlike the West. Foreign tourists need some sort of buffer to have a good (and safe) experience in Ukraine. Unless you have Ukrainian friends who take you around everywhere, you will need tour leaders and organizers who speak your language and take care of your day-to-day needs. If you have Relatives form Ukraine or want to take a trip there let me know I can help you with arrangement www.bystiv.com belozer@bctonline.com

Ukraine Turkey Slaughter Summer 2005

The Turkey I picked out alive for a celebration I just paid off house in Bystiv & received documents on this day.

I have many Ukraine friends that love to Kill Animals for Parties & Butcher  them. 

 For all you PETA Members & Animal Right groups. I agree Animals have rights too.

 The right to be Eaten by the top predator on food chain Man

The Right to be  BBQ Roasted or Grilled

Chicken are more common in Village then Turkeys.

 Turkeys require allot food compared to chickens that for most scratch a living out of ground with some feed. They also produce allot of droppings. Somewhat undesirable.

Ukraine Eating Turkey Summer 2005

We consume the Turkey with no guilt my Cousins (right to left) Natalya#1 Natalaya#2 & Bogdonna & I. One thing I like about Ukraine is people have time to get together in USA no one has time they are always chasing $ not living life. In the years I been going to Ukraine I spent more time with Cousins there then I had with all my American ones combined in my life time.
Ukraine is Communal society unlike USA that Indisvualitic. It easy to get together for meals & friends just stop by for visit. In USA make appointment a week in advance for Coffee 
3 Hours ago it was gobbling living breathing creature now it is food the cycle of life complete. Ukraine Turkey is nothing like what we have here in USA the Tom Turkey was 6 months old.
It was raised Organically. It more of wild turkey no genetic engineering here. It seemed greasier then American Turkey. Also had allayer of fat that would not melt with cooking the fat was a tan color after cooking rubber texture but tasted just like Turkey Meat.
The breast is not broad like American Turkey a Razor Breast. The last one I cooked did it butterflyed that works best. Cooking it whole it wont sit in pan on breast. it lays over to either  side. It best to slow cook  these are naturally grown range turkeys they are tough if you cook them fast since they lead an athletic life running free. 

Ukraine Train trip to LVIV summer 2005

The ride is on Electika that the short run  day trains are called in Ukraine. The trip starts in Shegynin just 3 KM south of Bystiv then proceeds on to LVIV with summer scenery of Ukraine. This is ride I  have taken often in winter or summer. The acutla trip takes 2.5 hours the clip is just a portion of the trip

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Bystiv Ukraine Starting Russian Truck at -25

Mykolia uses Soviet Era Blow Torch on Trucks Oil Pan & LNG gas Vaporizer.  The Truck  is a conversion to run Natural Gas very Common In Ukraine & Russia. First time I see this I jump back with Awe & Fear. It is a 3-4 Hour ordeal to start truck the Hot water is poured into Engine  then Ending is hand crank with much effort once the oil has been heated in Oil pan with Blow Torch for Several Minutes. The hot water warms the block Antifreeze forget it they use water & drain after every . The above step is repeated 4 times then you are ready to try to start engine. You have some one on hand crank while you try the start eventually the starter will turn faster then you can hand crank then engine will be ready to start. Upon getting truck started all is good I think then after driving 50' the front tires blows out splitting in cold there was plenty of tread it was just so cold. The next project is a tire change that takes another Hour to find one then the process of hot water is repeated again but more quickly. The truck starts we are off in a winter wonderland on snow covered roads to Mostiska where I purchase 4 concrete rings that are used for wells casing. I will adapt & seal bottom for holding tank for flushing toilet in future. Then the Frozen road & drive back towards Bystiv 

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Ukraine VS America Peak oil



Ukraine VS America Peak oil

With the Peak Oil Coming true Believe it or not there is no debate on fuel increases we all see. American life as we Know it will cease to exist, I talked with friend tonight he said between all his bills he was just getting by last year. Now with Fuel cost rising he falling behind in bills he makes upwards of $30 an hour as Heavy Equipment Operators
Call it the Canary but there will be fall of Consumer driven World of USA there is no Denying it . Our Stores will be empty property bubble will burst, American have no Back up. Ukraine most have Country Relatives that plant Gardens & Pad Voles.
If the US Government can't handle a few 10.000 of Displaced by Hurricane with food & water. American will die off with no stores to buy food in. Ukraine has lived for Centuries close to Land & villages of Ukraine are Example of Sustainable living. They Existed before the Industrial Revolutions that fueled the growth in World. The Village I bought Home in is where grandfather came from in 1901. The big Improvements to outside world came in 1963 they got electricity. Even though hardly no one has pump for well they still use a trusty bucket on crank or pole. Now Gas line is coming to village has been underway for 2 years they say they should have Gas Flowing by end of November. I know Zaftra Zaftra that is Ukraine very well, will be surprised if it is working this year. The gas may cease to flow with Energy shortage.
I found a Blog that explains much of what will happen with Peak Oil
http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/
The link below is to Culture change it also deal with Peak Oil the Article written by American that Moved to Ukraine
http://culturechange.org/oldcountry.html
Bystiv my Ancestral Village there is no place like this I have seen in USA or
other parts of world I have visited like it. The Fertile Black Top Soil 3'+ 4' of it
the Water Close to Surface with in 6'-18' . That why thru out History every
one wanted Ukraine & fought wars over it. Ukraine is where all the Wheat
seed stock Originated we have in USA before they Genetically altered it.
The Growing season where there are T- storm in about every week - 10 days in summer & no need to water Garden it produces. It just started raining a couple weeks ago
her in Oregon since I got home till then it was dry & brown. But when I
left Bystiv in August it was green & Lush full of life Gardens where about ready to Harvest many Crops
Where I live in USA the wells are 150'-300; to get water so a bucket will not work

If you look at why a Village Like Bystiv formed some 755 years ago in 1251 AD it is far from any major city easy water access fertile soil that yields crops with no Irrigation.
First off I am not a tree hugging hippy earth first guy, Vegetarian , Old world living methods are what will make Ukraine a Paradise while most of Industrialized world will fail both Fiscally as well as starve to death & die. Money will have little meaning & barter for goods will be back in fashion. Dried & preserved food will be the currency.
The Wallmart Super centers will be empty of Food & Junk from China. How much do you need for life after basic living some luxuries, American life it is never enough. We work 50+ hours a week have stranger raise our children to buy more junk we don't need bigger house SUV ………Mass Consumerism will die along with all who worship at the altar of it.
American life is not sustainable the cheap oil Is an Artificial bounty that we built a way of life around. Suburbia squandered the farm land that will be needed to feed the people. The Mom & pop stores where wiped out by Wal-Mart. Will need to be reestablished for small communities. In USA food travels an Average of 1500 Miles before it reaches your grocery store in Canada it is 5000 Miles. It will need to be produced locally with little or no fuel for transport. Even then most all Modern Agricultures rely on Petrol Chemicals from Nitrogen Fertilizer made fro Natural gas to sprays.
The old Methods are almost forgotten by American Farmers of cover crops ect. green manure. Ukraine has a wealth of Knowledge in small villages passed down thru generations on growing foods with Natural methods
Living will be more localized & with out cars the community Infrastructure will need to be rewoven in America. Firs there will be the ones with guns fighting & killing for resources. The Survivors will have to join together as community or small village to survive. In Ukraine Village neighbors help Neighbors it is fascinating to see. In USA we are raised as Individuals most don’t know our neighbors very well & rarely will lend hand. I know most people in Ukraine Village mostly the young want to escape to City & embrace consumerism.( Look at all those cell Phones ) All the City People want Dachas in Country.. I am not Romanticizing village life. Simply analyzing the obvious Ukraine will do well in a world with limited Oil
There is no real point to American life but make more money to buy stuff trying to find fulfillment from material wealth as if it will nourish there soul. In the end the People you love & relationship you have with them are the most Important things in life. Not that Big House SUV. As a rule the Richer the Family is in USA the further are apart from Children. The one thing I have seen in Ukraine the Closeness of families. My dad said it was like that here in 1920 in the USA. They all rely on each other for survival. In General European families are closer then American ones.
We all believe in thing in life, I believe in god but not the End Time Predictions. That none of mans business to try to guess this. I did not believe in Y2K, to let you know I am not a survival nut.
Peak Oil is Tangible & you can see it every day in life. We don’t have to run out to loose the American Economy I read just a long term 4% shortage will break the economy. My Impression is also formed from Ukraine friend that lived here 16 years. He says America going down reference in fuel prices & Hurricanes
I can go on if you read this far & have interest in Ukraine as a place to Visit. Don't laugh at the villager getting water from well with Bucket they are the Survivors of Tomorrow.
When the world I grew up in USA falls apart the Economy collapses from weight of Debt & Fuel Prices. It is teetering on the edge of tomorrow now. When President tells you to conserve oil when he is an Oil Man there is something very wrong. When he is spending billions on War Hurricane Relief with no concern of Tomorrow. Then having Dick Cheney say American way of life is not negotiable. They will do all they can to secure there comfort like the leaders in USSR during break up. American People will be left as Soviet Citizens when USSR broke up. With Current American Generation dumb as dirt raising gardens preserving foods. Those are Skills that every Ukraine has in their Family
I absorb a lot of info to come to my own conclusion on Peak Oil & Ukraine life. I always say time has no meaning living in village only Sunday is Important & of course holidays on old calendar.
World of Tomorrow:
I could see 5-8 years from now sitting around a small table in winter time with the peachka or Cookneya in background burning coal since it fuel resource that is native to Ukraine now gas is not available. We share 1 shot of Doma Vodka , made from a mash of Corn, I grow a couple hectares for pig food & fuel. I have a reflux still that will Distill 180 Proof fuel Alcohol then Feed the used Mash to pigs. I only use a little fuel now & then for planed trips on a scooter when I want to nearby town 15 km to barter goods.
Since gas Benzin is no longer Available & there is no mashutka service to Village. The Train is a 40 Minute walk from Village thankful it is electric Powered of the Nuclear plants in Ukraine & Hydro dam. The cities are void of cars now only Trolley busses running on Overhead electric lines. The tram where rebuilt in Kiev. They took them out wanting to be like America. They had to rebuild all the infrastructure they paved over & tore down
The table has Kleb Bread that of course is made form local wheat crop & pickled Tomatoes & Cucumbers. Now news moves very slowly from USA I can remember CNN. Now news is in form of a letter from relative of villager that moved to America in 2003 & had the American Dream of Consumer life. Big House with 40 Year Mortgage Big Suv all on credit. The letter is a quite a change from life they led in mid 2005. Bragging in at all the Martial Procession they have. They never said they don't see there kids at all now. Since all they do is work & pay payments while kids are in day care. In 2010 we lost everything the Energy crisis hit we could not heat home with high fuel prices. There jobs at the WalMart super center disappeared overnight since there is no economics with $8 a Gallon Diesel fuel for ships to bring in junk from China now to fill Walmart shelves. The grocery store shelves are bare what few items there are over priced by 25 x what they once where since goods do not travel as they once did by truck. They use some trains to move goods but it is so poor of infrastructure compared to Europe.
They say thy have been camping out in woods ad edge o housing Development. It Is a Power line right away owned by government. No EMF from Power lines to worry about since the Power Plants in this area are shut down since the Natural gas imports from Canada stopped. They said screw Nafta Agreement we need or own Natural gas to Survive. At first there had been some bungled relief efforts by government now there supply has been hoarded by Government big wigs in secret Bunkers that where built for Nuclear war with Russians.
We wasted out life here in USA we have nothing at all except plastic tarp to sleep under. I dig roots in forest to make soup & get water from Polluted storm drain collect rain water there is no water since it all ran on Gas Powered steam Turbines to make Electricity. There Is no way to get water from wells her since water is 200' deep here not 10'-20' where you can hand dig well as in village. There is 5" of top soil & cant grow anything in it with out water & chemical fertilizer. Once they had lush green lawns & pumped this on them. With no Natural Gas it can't be made now. Outhouse are in style again & there is some fertilizer.
Some times we get lucky & find bird fallen from Sky the Avian Bird Flu H5N1 avian influenza. It had mutated & now is in Humans. There are very few birds now the Poultry industry was wiped out before the Oil crash, beef Industry went down with Mad Cow
At Least in Ukraine we had the family Home that had been with us for Generations a garden to grow food in & love of our Relatives that would take care of each other. A full Pad Vole ( Cellar? We are Homeless & Hungary, we do at time sleep in vacant home in Suburbia the Property bubble burst & these homes have no value with out cheap oil to run a life style of yesterday. Or we sleep in abandoned cars they are everywhere. Only trouble is the Lexus Model have electric seats & you cant recline with no Battery power. The older ones are best to sleep in. Since there is no heat we have Sleeping bags rated for -20 can sleep anywhere. America food is the problem. what I have done by coming here for riches now look at me I am not sure we will make it much longer. If I stayed home in Rodina my mother land there would be another Generation raised off the land as it had for Centuries now I fear there will be no more of my line. There times I want to call it a day & just eat a
I came to the world OF USA that is built off artificial bounty of fossil fuels now that has ended…………………..Money has no meaning now. Only items you can trade are food & that is scarce. It is so much misery here all the none whites are like dogs it chaos. They burn houses & whole Neighborhoods for what reason I don't know. Rather then using Pieces of them for fuel to cook with. Just need food to cook
They gather up Big screen TV like a prize ? what for there is no food no power It reminds me back in 2005 Hurricane Katrina they where looting Big Screen TV's the white people where looking for food blacks liquor & big screens
Now there is only steam ship service between Europe & USA takes 5 days. It is a Converted Cruise ship. The Nuclear reactor came out of scraped soviet sub from cold war. It was a Joint venture with Defunct Carnival Cruise Lines & Russian Mafia & Russian Nuclear Engineers they have on payroll. It is amazing when you think about it US Cruise ships used for transportation not leisure.
The Russian still have some oil for there elites that drive around like kings in there Imported ford SUV Excursion the biggest most powerful SUV on Planet it was advertise as when Introduced in 2001……………
Since there is no Conventional fuels. & Jet service is a memory to Europe the only option to travel between Continents is ship The ship runs on a steam turbine powered by Nuclear reactors & yes they added a lot of led shielding so you don’t glow in Dark when you get there.
The conversation moves ahead still disbelieving we all share how sad it is for the Americans there starving over there like the Soviet imposed Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine that killed millions……………………………………….
Mykoli pass the Salo & Onions any one want another shot of Vodka………………………………Dva Misha……..Dva Misha!