The benefits of Specialization

[makattak]

I'm one who tries to be something of a jack of all trades- capable to do most things necessary for life.

I don't, however, try to do them all, just have the skills for it.

This nicely illustrates why:

http://consumerist.com/2015/09/16/guy-spends-6-months-1500-to-make-a-sandwich-entirely-from-scratch/

Made a sandwich entirely from scratch. I'm fairly certain I have the skills to do this (not very efficiently), but undoubtedly the cost (in time alone!) is prohibitive.

Just a nice reminder to be thankful for the market economy.

[makattak]

Oh, the end was a nice reminder to. The sandwich was "not bad."

If you want something that is good to excellent, you'll have to have someone who specialized in that.

[MillCreek]

After watching this, I was reminded of my neighbor who refers to her '$40/pound tomatoes' that she grows in the back yard. 

[KD5NRH]

For $1500 and six months, you'd think he could have gotten a girlfriend and had her make him a sandwich.

[MechAg94]

But what I didn't see stated is that he now has a pipeline of bulk ingredients to make a whole bunch of sandwiches not to mention other uses and products. 

It seems to me that there would be some money in a sandwich shop that made 100% homemade or locally made sandwiches. 

[KD5NRH]

It seems to me that there would be some money in a sandwich shop that made 100% homemade or locally made sandwiches.

There would certainly be some money going to every level of government for all the assorted inspections and other fees.  Insurance companies would happily pocket whatever is left to cover all the different types of operation involved.

[RoadKingLarry]

It is satisfying to sit down to a meal wherein everything you eat was produced at home.
With the exception of some seasonings and salt it isn't that hard to do.
If you expand your networking to include other local growers it gets even better.

A typical "home grown" meal at my place could consist of grilled pork chops, fried potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes followed up with fresh watermelon for desert.
Do a little trading with the neighbors and add home made bread, eggs and milk.

[Ben]

With the exception of some seasonings and salt it isn't that hard to do.

My dad said that while he was growing up in pre WW2 Germany, salt was one of the very few things they ever bought at the store. Everything else came from the farm.

[KD5NRH]

With the exception of some seasonings and salt it isn't that hard to do.

And a lot of seasonings can be substituted with wild edibles if you know what you're looking for.  The sour stuff on sumac berries is actually better than lemon on lots of things, (rinse it off with vodka then evaporate the alcohol to get a strong, usable version, or with water and freeze it in an ice cube tray to store - hot water will break down the flavor.) and juniper berries can do all sorts of things for meat depending on how you prep them.

[Perd Hapley]

It is satisfying to sit down to a meal wherein everything you eat was produced at home.
With the exception of some seasonings and salt it isn't that hard to do.
If you expand your networking to include other local growers it gets even better.

A typical "home grown" meal at my place could consist of grilled pork chops, fried potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes followed up with fresh watermelon for desert.
Do a little trading with the neighbors and add home made bread, eggs and milk.

I understand you would just grow the corn in your garden, but how would you make the cobs that you would place it on?

[vaskidmark]

I understand you would just grow the corn in your garden, but how would you make the cobs that you would place it on?

He just recycles them from the little house out back.  (That's what we told my cousin.  I don't think I ever saw that shade of green again - not even on an LST skirting the edge of a hurricane.)

stay safe.

[Scout26]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Gppi-O3a8

[RoadKingLarry]

And a lot of seasonings can be substituted with wild edibles if you know what you're looking for.  The sour stuff on sumac berries is actually better than lemon on lots of things, (rinse it off with vodka then evaporate the alcohol to get a strong, usable version, or with water and freeze it in an ice cube tray to store - hot water will break down the flavor.) and juniper berries can do all sorts of things for meat depending on how you prep them.

If you're already growing your own food herbs and such are a no brainer, peppers, garlic and herbs can all be dried and if stored properly last a long time. Salt is really the kicker that can be pretty hard to come by if you do not have a clean natural source.

[zahc]

The first bit of  Wealth of Nations is all about driving home the fact that all of civilization comes from specialization made possible by money and a functioning economy.

A while back a guy at work was saying that he mowed his own lawn just because he wasn't going to pay someone to do something he was capable of doing himself. I didn't say anything but I was thinking about all of the uncountable ways he pays others to do things for him and wondering why he feels mowing the lawn is different. I mean I guess I change my own oil because I want to, but not because I have any hesitation about farming things out for the right price.

[KD5NRH]

Salt is really the kicker that can be pretty hard to come by if you do not have a clean natural source.

OTOH, it's cheap and keeps forever.  Old peanut butter jars (and anything else glass or plastic with a plastic lid) will keep salt fresh longer than I expect to live, and a lifetime supply bought in bulk at the feed store costs less than a month's supply of beans.

[230RN]

zahc remarked,

The first bit of  Wealth of Nations is all about driving home the fact that all of civilization comes from specialization made possible by money and a functioning economy.

And with respect to  scout 26's link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Gppi-O3a8

What seems to be forgotten in all this discussion of distribution of effort, is that the first conception of a new product or process usually comes from one individual.

It may be discussed in committees and board rooms, it may be developed from prior art, it may ultimately require materials and supplies from around the world, but the single original germ of an idea is usually from that one eureka moment of one single individual.

I weasel-worded this with the words "usual" and "usually," but with my limited pre-coffee brain power, I can't think of a single instance offhand where "always" would not apply.

Terry, 230RN

[MrsSmith]

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

That is all.

[230RN]

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