I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Anyone from Switzerland?
dsula wrote:
But anyways I believe there are 2 possible scenarios. Total collapse where you truly need to be fully independent. In that event you're best friend will probably be your gun and it doesn't matter how much land you own. Because if you grow, next day your shot and your vegtables gone. Other scenario is law and order is maintained just cost of living increases big time. 50% of your paycheck goes for food and the other 50 for mortgage. And that's it, no more money for fun. And I believe that's the only scenario you can truely perpare for.
I suppose that's a good rough approximation to the future. But you have to take into account two things:
1) If total collapse happens, it will be preceded by the second scenario anyway. So you have to prepare for scenario 2, even if you think everything will end in total collapse.
2) Total collapse is more likely in some areas than others. Like, for example, I wouldn't like to be bet on Los Angeles remaining a reasonably safe area.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone from Switzerland?
Hi Chantal
I almost live in Switzerland, just across the border to the east: Liechtenstein.
I think it is better to buy a home, then to rent a house. If the morgages go up, your rent will go up too. So there will be no difference, unless you intent to move into a tent or a caravan.
I had my house equipped with solar panels and solar heating. And the good old oil heater had to go in favour of a wood central heating unit.
Since March this year I haven't burned one kwh of wood, thanks to the solar heating panels. All hot water comes from the sun.
I believe Liechtenstein will in the same situation like Switzerland.
Highly overpopulated and very little farm land.
Energy vise I am not that concerned. Switzerland get is electrical power from hydrologic power stations (65%) and nuclear plant (30%), Rest is solar and wind. I am no friend of nuclear plants by all means, but as long as they are online there will be no major shortages. Everybody needs to cut down a little.
If it comes to food, a total break down of food imports will be much heavier. That's why we try to grow our own vegetables. Next to them we are teaching our self, what can be harvestet in wild nature like dandelion leaves, eckcorns, mushrooms, etc. I am gonna miss my coffee! A small green house extents our harvest season by a couple weeks.
And of course, we got a 1200 lt water tank (now it is used to collect rain water for gardening)
Two of my bibles are: "The party is over" by Richard Heinberg and "Der Crash kommt" by Max Otte. Both of them are being sold in your local book store. A "fun" novel to read is "Ausgebrannt" by Andreas Eschenbach.
Ah yes, another inside: Support your local stores. They might be a little more expensive at the moment. But when there is no gas, you will valuable them as pure gold. It is easier to walk a couple miles to your local store, than to walk to the huge shopping center out of town.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone from Switzerland?
Thanks Patrick!
The "party is over" is my favorite (and I read almost all English books on the topic).
How much land do you think one person needs to supply say 50% of the food? And what vegetables/fruit etc can you recommend in Liechtenstein (and CH?) I'm currently reading about permaculture/food forests etc and trying to learn as much as I can...
And if you had the choice to live in the US or CH/Liechtenstein, where would you live?
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone from Switzerland?
Well it is hard to say, how much food one needs to supply 50% of food.
When it comes to vegetables I think 30m2 will cover plenty. We are two people in our household and our garden has about 70m2. Our garden covers about 70% of our vegetable needs.
In Liechtenstein (and CH) almost all greens grows as you get in the grocery: Potatoes, beans, peas, coliflower, broccoli, salad, tomatoes, cabbage, zuchini, pumpkins, spinach, sweet corn. And experimental eggplant, bell pepper and hot chillis.
In our fruit garden (some additional 80m2) we got apples, bears, apricots, cherries, hazelnuts, plums, elder-, black-, blue-, straw-, rasp- and cranberries. And even figues grow sheltered on the side of the house. And experimental we grow almonds.
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Anyone from Switzerland?
Hi, I'm from England but have lived in Switzerland for most of the last 21 years. The favorite swiss occupation is to find any bit of green land in a town or village and build blocks of flats or houses on it so food production is going to be a major problem. Will be taking a look at the Vosges area of France at the weekend. Loads of water, forest, not so populated and much much cheaper than anything here.
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