PowerSwitch

This is the working website of a handbook in progress. The writings here are based on the premises that industrial civilization is unsustainable, and that its collapse is inevitable.

Synopsis
Despite everyday beliefs, civilization, as we know it, couldn't have existed without the humble sheep. The sheep's importance in providing meat, milk and wool, the basis of our food and clothing for millennia, has never been appreciated. Twenty years ago, Alan Butler set out on a period of research to redress this balance. "Sheep" is the consequence of that work. His book marries religion, economics, history and cultural studies and demonstrates the remarkable fact that without sheep we may not have spread around the world in the way we have. This is a fascinating study of the world's single most crucial domestic animal that is an eye opener and a pleasure to read.

Downshiftgal wrote:When you look at the economies of doing it the old-fashioned way, it can be scary:

A *good* hand weaver should be able to produce four to five yards of cloth per day. It takes approximately 7x the time to spin the wool for that day's weaving. You can make a pair of trouser from a couple of yards of fabric, or a dress from four (obviously depending hugely on pattern and weight of fabric). That would probably take another half day (assuming use of treadle sewing machine).

We're talking between 4 and 9 days labour for one garment.

No more £3 t-shirts after the crash... It makes you see why women carried spindles everywhere and spun continuously.

adam2 wrote:

Downshiftgal wrote:When you look at the economies of doing it the old-fashioned way, it can be scary:

A *good* hand weaver should be able to produce four to five yards of cloth per day. It takes approximately 7x the time to spin the wool for that day's weaving. You can make a pair of trouser from a couple of yards of fabric, or a dress from four (obviously depending hugely on pattern and weight of fabric). That would probably take another half day (assuming use of treadle sewing machine).

We're talking between 4 and 9 days labour for one garment.

No more ?3 t-shirts after the crash... It makes you see why women carried spindles everywhere and spun continuously.

Very true, thats why I have stocked up to the extent of 100 T shirts/short sleeve vests, 100 pairs underpants,100 pairs socks, 25 pullovers,25 pairs trousers and large supplies of sheets, blankets and towels. Whilst stockpiles will eventually be used up, this will postponne the day, for many years.
I believe that it is prudent to prepare for a sudden crash, though in my view a return to the 1930s deppression era is more likely.
I suspect that in 10/15/20 years time clothing, shoes, blankets etc. will be readily available in the shops, but that the prices may be unaffordable for many, as was the case in the 1930s.

adam2 wrote: Very true, thats why I have stocked up to the extent of 100 T shirts/short sleeve vests, 100 pairs underpants,100 pairs socks, 25 pullovers,25 pairs trousers and large supplies of sheets, blankets and towels. Whilst stockpiles will eventually be used up, this will postponne the day, for many years.
I believe that it is prudent to prepare for a sudden crash, though in my view a return to the 1930s deppression era is more likely.
I suspect that in 10/15/20 years time clothing, shoes, blankets etc. will be readily available in the shops, but that the prices may be unaffordable for many, as was the case in the 1930s.

RenewableCandy wrote:Don't forget the CedarWood blocks/potpourri to keep the moths out

snow hope wrote:Wow Adam2, that is some serious preparation. Would you be interested in starting a separate thread and listing what you have stock-piled? I would be interested to see the list and I am sure others would learn from it too.