We are entering the stage where ideology and education about sustainability and living within carrying capacity will be augmented by the reality of identifiable consequences of our overshoot. External consequences like the peaking and decline of below ground energy and commodity resources, above ground environmental degradation of our climate, soils, fisheries and climate will have a profound effect on our culture.
2009 is the year when we start to feel it.
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
Where your at with your survival preparedness - just starting out or well entrenched?
Myself?
In the last few months I am have increased from 30% to 45% of the way there to reach my goal for long term survival preparation.
Time and mostly money hold me back.
Money dictates my progress for the most part.
Time is a factor as well, as I have to study and test many things.
I am working in many areas at the same time from food, farming, self defense, property security, transport, emergency energy, community dev, etc.
My defense areas are about 90% complete.
Food and water areas about 70% finished.
Other areas such as farming are on the back burner until things get to code orange as space is limited.
Community development? Well, it is on the list as a 'possibility' but I realize that many of us can't even get our familles on board let alone a community.
It is also important to distinguish if you are a short term survivalist or long term survivalist.
I was a short term mindset since 1991 or so, and have turned into a a long term mindset this past year.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
My goal is short term, I have enough food now for my family for about 4 months. I got the the guns and ammo. couple grand in cash, couple grand in gold and silver. next purchase will be a good supply of propane, and then the basic household stuff.
My ultimate goal is to be able to stay home for at least 6 months. So I have been brainstorming on what I would need to that.
Money is tight now after the holidaze, but my tax returne should get me caught up
Also only 2 grand left to pay on the credit cards, I have declared war on my dept. Once the cards are done, I will attack the mortgage
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
I'm never going to be ready because the fun part of life for me is to prepare for independence. That is what I like to call it instead of preparing for peak oil. We homesteaders are preparing to get off the treadmill of everyday life and prepare for an independent future for our kids. Building this dream is half the fun.
VFR. If you are planning on trying the farming thing at the Code Orange level, then you are already screwed. Farming takes more than reading a book. If you've never done it that is.
crap happens and it its too late to learn that you cant put your cattle out on lush clover in the spring after you've found them on their side dead from bloat, as an example.
I also can't understand how a person can be a survivalist and hate gardening. I guess it takes all kinds.
Maybe you're striving to be one of the well armed bandits that will just take what they need when they need it and leave the farming and gardening to the suckers. If so, be carefull when coming to my house as we'll be ready for ya.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
I don't know how to grow anything. I don't have the land/soil, or the know how. I guess in a long term situation I would have to join a group that could sustaine. I would be a good choice in the matter because I'm a hard worker, and trustworthy.
Short term emergencies/shortages is all that is going to happen I believe. There are way to many weathy people here to put up with doing without. Before stuff runs completly out, we will have hyperinflation. Its the ace in the hole for the wealthy. Only 1 person I know has any preparations at all, and she's a morman. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, dosen't believe anything bad could ever happen. And they have NOTHING saved. These are the people I want to stay at home and avoid. When you go to Wal Mart you better wear your bullet proof vest,, you might get shot over the last cupcake
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 7114 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
Yea I am a long termer too.
According to my personal Five Rules I’m down to about 2.8 out of 5 currently from probably 3.8, 18 months ago.
I suffer from some short-term debt due mainly to the gyrations in the corn and cattle markets, my own extravagance and some family obligations so that is –1 --- the biggie.
I don’t have quite as big a pantry as I once did so that is -.5
On the plus side we have a daughter and nephew joining us close by; +.5
Of course I will never get everything perfect so 4.0 or better is where I try to aim.
As SCF mentioned I would say to either get yourself set up for the long term today while life is easy (farming, a trade, even gardening) or eliminate that from your long term plans.
Like Thuja says over and over, the first couple stages of transition, whenever they occur and however long they last will be the real decider.
Just like in a political campaign, ya don’t want to peak too soon. _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
I'm no where near prepared as I need to be at this time. I've been thinking lately about how I don't have a cold cellar in place for my increased garden area I have worked up for this year.
Really, a cold cellar is where I think I'm going to concentrate my efforts this year instead of my earlier mentioned barn renovation. If I get a decent sized cellar in place, it can be used for a multitude of things from, of course, storing your roots and tubers to hanging out and having beers in, during the summer.
Threads like this remind me of how much work I really have to do, notwithstanding what I've mentioned earlier about having fun with it.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
thuja wrote:
I bought some extra pinto beans this week...2 for one special.
Sometime you get a good deal, so stock up. Bought about 35 pounds of lentils on sale a few weeks ago. Nice legumes too. About 65 cents a pound. I just threw them in my 5 gal pail still in the bags.
Looked at some today and they went up to 1.19 a pound.
All food seems to be getting crazy.
The Chilean grapes that are crap are $5 a pound...a bag is $11. Who can afford em?
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
sittinguy wrote:
My goal is short term, I have enough food now for my family for about 4 months. I got the the guns and ammo. couple grand in cash, couple grand in gold and silver. next purchase will be a good supply of propane, and then the basic household stuff.
My ultimate goal is to be able to stay home for at least 6 months. So I have been brainstorming on what I would need to that.
Money is tight now after the holidaze, but my tax returne should get me caught up
Also only 2 grand left to pay on the credit cards, I have declared war on my dept. Once the cards are done, I will attack the mortgage
Good deal. You sound more prepared than most.
What size propane tanks are you getting? i was thinking about 30's and 40's
Yes, there always is a 'good' excuse for us to debt.
I have to watch it too. Debt and fat both creep up on me.
Thoreau didn't think much of debtors. From Walden:
"Some of you, we all know, are poor, find it hard to live, are - sometimes, as it were, gasping for breath. I have no doubt that some of you who read this book are unable to pay for all the dinners which you have actually eaten, or for the coats and shoes which are fast wearing or are already worn out, and have come to this page to spend borrowed or stolen time, robbing your creditors of an hour. It is very evident what mean and sneaking lives many of you live, for my sight has been whetted by the experience of others; always living on the limits, trying to get into business and trying to get out of debt, a very ancient slough, called by the Latin - 'Res Alienum' or 'another's brass' for some of their coins were made of brass. Living, seeking to curry favors, lying, dying, and buried by 'other's brass'; always promising to pay, promising to pay, tomorrow, and dying today insolvent."
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
SpringCreekFarm wrote:
I'm never going to be ready because the fun part of life for me is to prepare for independence. That is what I like to call it instead of preparing for peak oil. We homesteaders are preparing to get off the treadmill of everyday life and prepare for an independent future for our kids. Building this dream is half the fun.
VFR. If you are planning on trying the farming thing at the Code Orange level, then you are already screwed. Farming takes more than reading a book. If you've never done it that is.
crap happens and it its too late to learn that you cant put your cattle out on lush clover in the spring after you've found them on their side dead from bloat, as an example.
I also can't understand how a person can be a survivalist and hate gardening. I guess it takes all kinds.
Maybe you're striving to be one of the well armed bandits that will just take what they need when they need it and leave the farming and gardening to the suckers. If so, be carefull when coming to my house as we'll be ready for ya.
I guess I was not clear. Farming to me is a small garden in the backyard with some rabbits and some chickens (maybe).
Just never liked gardening I like longboarding, kayaking, dirt bikes and the like...not gardening.
Good point about practice and testing things out. I could not agree more.
The bible reminds us of this "Test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil," (1 Thess. 5:21)
Even if you are an atheist, this concept of testing can be of help to you just as you have brought up here....test...test...test.
We are lucky we are still in the 'Indian Summer'.
You lurkers don't wait until the winter sets in to start work on your preparedness efforts.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
Pops wrote:
Yea I am a long termer too.
According to my personal Five Rules I’m down to about 2.8 out of 5 currently from probably 3.8, 18 months ago.
I suffer from some short-term debt due mainly to the gyrations in the corn and cattle markets, my own extravagance and some family obligations so that is –1 --- the biggie.
I don’t have quite as big a pantry as I once did so that is -.5
On the plus side we have a daughter and nephew joining us close by; +.5
Of course I will never get everything perfect so 4.0 or better is where I try to aim.
As SCF mentioned I would say to either get yourself set up for the long term today while life is easy (farming, a trade, even gardening) or eliminate that from your long term plans.
Like Thuja says over and over, the first couple stages of transition, whenever they occur and however long they last will be the real decider.
Just like in a political campaign, ya don’t want to peak too soon.
Sounds like you have done a 180 from your old life in Ca. The corm market? You should be doing good with the high prices corn fetch, but I am no expert. Was just told corn has skyrocket from all the ethanol demand. I like your clarity on grading your work. i just shoot from the hip, but may have to be more particular in the future
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 7114 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
vfr wrote:
[Sounds like you have done a 180 from your old life in Ca.
Oh yea!
<<The corm market? You should be doing good with the high prices corn fetch, but I am no expert. >>
I only have a few acres - way too small for commodity crops. They are most suitable to grass farming in the long term, which is what I am aiming for.
<<Was just told corn has skyrocket from all the ethanol demand. >>
Our main crop is Holstein bull calves raised on a bottle from the time they hit the ground - since they have no udder they are pretty well extraneous on dairies.
They go to feedlots fairly small as opposed to beef cattle – 8-10 cwt.
The doubling of corn prices around 9/07 really put a fork into a market we were just starting to learn. We had raised them to 7-8 cwt but that market dried up and we sold a bunch much lighter.
Now the market is getting back in balance and we have a drought of stuff to take to the auction barn.
Uh-oh, too much information I'm thinking....
Anyway thanks for the compliment.
_________________ Make a plan and work it:
Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 1645 Location: Oklahoma City, USA
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: Where you're at with your survival preparedness?
So far, so good.
My major live tree/vine purchases are just about done, with all but my blueberries in the ground right now. I got some hardy pomegranate seeds and I now have a tree going!
My rainbarrel system is online; I currently have a bit over 1200 gal. water in storage with plans to build another 1200 gal of storage in the coming year.
The gardening experiment so far has been successful; with row covers extending the harvest and playing with plantings in the various microclimates I've been able to continue a salad for the whole family from the garden on a twice weekly basis in January. Not bad for the first year.
I've always been pretty good about keeping stocked up and I've doubled that. DH asked me the other day about this -- I'd estimate we could comfortably live two-three months without going to the store if we had to (family of five including three teenagers) on what we had in the house right now. I intend to double that this year by greatly expanding the garden and doing a lot more food preservation.
After much tribulation, I can now make an edible loaf of bread. I already know how to cook, sew and crochet. I can fix just about anything if I have to. I'm learning how to knit, and my goal this year is to learn to keep angora rabbits and learn to spin their fur.
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I already know how to cook, sew and crochet. I can fix just about anything if I have to. I'm learning how to knit, and my goal this year is to learn to keep angora rabbits and learn to spin their fur.
