What changes can we make to our lives to deal with the economic and energy crises ahead? Have you already started making preparations? Got tips to share?
well lets see at one time I kept goats and horses and grew much of my own food, I didn't use electricity did all cooking on wood fires, washed with a Victorian hand powered washing machine used a mangle .
had at least a years supply of food, nbc equipment was part of a nuclear war survival group did all this for decades .
now I don't know what I'm doing I'm thinking of going to sea maybe to another country I'm clearing the decks, I may settle in some remote shack or I may go visit somewhere that I think might be fun in the coming collapse.
if I had family likely Id be getting some form of doomstead not sure where but there would be more reason for me to do that , Im a lost and wandering soul yet cheerful
"What causes more suffering in the world than the stupidity of the compassionate?"Friedrich Nietzsche
I have a reasonable stock of tinned food, etc (bought in bulk at bargain prices) and have a selection of solar-, crank- and shake-powered gadgets but I do also grow increasing amounts of veg - virtually all my own needs from 3 beds before making another 6 beds (!) and a fair amount of fruit.
However, there is no space to keep chickens as well (and may have already said on here that it is easier to walk the mile into town and buy from a free-range supplier in the market) let alone a pig (ditto). Still needing to learn how to preserve fruit and veg without relying on electricity. Going off-grid for electricity would be next but personal circumstances preclude that - because of the disruption - and it is not really necessary at the moment (I can afford the electricity bills).
I'm doing all this because of the way the world is headed - peak oil, global warming or just plain financial bust, the economy is like a house of cards ready to collapse at any time, and then basics will become very expensive and life very difficult for the (mentally and equipped) unprepared.
foodinistar wrote:I voted 3 but am a 3- wanting to be a 2.
I have a reasonable stock of tinned food, etc (bought in bulk at bargain prices) and have a selection of solar-, crank- and shake-powered gadgets but I do also grow increasing amounts of veg - virtually all my own needs from 3 beds before making another 6 beds (!) and a fair amount of fruit.
I'm more or less the same as this but I left my fruit trees behind with my dad and I haven't grown much vegetables other than potatoes since I plugged back into the matrix.
I'm a 3 but not from choice.
My veggie growing is still on the first rung and I'd starve very quickly if I had to live off the garden. But I am learning to bottle stuff and have been making chutneys and pickles. I've got a well stocked pantry, lighting's taken care of and I've plenty of wind up gadgets.
I'd love a roof full of solar panels and a multi fuelled stove though.
jonny2mad wrote:
now I don't know what I'm doing I'm thinking of going to sea maybe to another country I'm clearing the decks, I may settle in some remote shack or I may go visit somewhere that I think might be fun in the coming collapse.
Similar here. I take some preparations but not all that seriously. Frankly i don't have enough to live for, i'd almost rather take my chances.
So any nominations for most interesting place during the collapse?
jonny2mad wrote:
now I don't know what I'm doing I'm thinking of going to sea maybe to another country I'm clearing the decks, I may settle in some remote shack or I may go visit somewhere that I think might be fun in the coming collapse.
Similar here. I take some preparations but not all that seriously. Frankly i don't have enough to live for, i'd almost rather take my chances.
So any nominations for most interesting place during the collapse?
California maybe, America generally might be fun
"What causes more suffering in the world than the stupidity of the compassionate?"Friedrich Nietzsche
Ludwig wrote:I'm interested in how much people on PS have changed their lives on a practical level in advance of PO.
Advance of PO? You mean, "now that we're 4 years into it" don't you?
Yes, I know PO has passed - I meant "in advance of the fallout of PO". I should have been more precise. In my defence, I had a stinking cold at the time
"We're just waiting, looking skyward as the days go down / Someone promised there'd be answers if we stayed around."
Voted 2. Bit restricted due to the missus, so no buying woodlands etc.
Interestingly, was at a friends this weekend. Had a long talk about SHW, and his may go in before ours!
Their next door neighbours have got chickens. So have a few people at work. Another friend just put a woodburner in. Our allotment soc has a 2 year wait. I think lots of non-PO people are doing good stuff under the radar.
snow hope wrote:Do you notice the distinction that you are not liked in here RGR and that you act like a *anker in most threads that you unfortunately post in? Have you still not got the hint yet?
Chateau Renewable is a kind of 2 1/2...no solar or chickens, but woodburner, minor food stash, bikes and other human-powered kit, plus teaming up with other like-minded people in the vicinity.
I'm not much up for prep, beyond having the typical type of survival prep that any household should have anyway.
My food stores are enough that I can come through a long period of unemployment. Enough clothing stored that I have years worth.
Reduction of debt and lowering energy use is mostly from a money saving point of view...
The one thing I have done is sell my beloved motorbike, from a cost point of view it didn't make much sense... I'll be updating on my new set of wheels soon as I've bought/modified them.
Would have liked to vote 1, but don't have the land or facilities to obtain it, so voted 2. Am concentrating on not having to buy energy - once I have all I need from renewable for the next 20 to 30 years, I can then put all the effort into finding food when the time comes. If the time never comes, I'll still have no worries regarding energy for the rest of my day's
We're definitely trying for a 2. Probably just scraping a 3 at the moment. About to start looking at solar though, which'll boost us closer to a two. I guess the orchard (going in in January) and the Aquaponics (just started running) lean us towards a two too.
