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Bail out-What are you stocking up on III--support group - Page 2

post #21 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenivere View Post
My husband was without work for about three months this year despite many resumes sent out and contacts made. I know he is not alone in that. Thankfully about two weeks ago he found a nice full time job here in our tiny little town that pays the bills and buys food without requiring a big commute. I took on a babysitting job and it's that money I am using for replenishing our supply. I have added in household supplies I've seen on sale like an extra pack of soap and an extra bottle of shampoo. I will be buying extra quilts etc to try and keep our heat bill down. I also bought a nice dutch oven in case of lack of power so I can still cook food plus I've always wanted one to take camping. So while I am doing this all more quickly than normal it's not stuff I don't normally do, I just like to be prepared for possible emergencies like power outage, higher food prices and job loss.
Jenivere, do you have a copy of The Tightwad Gazette? It's really great for making, fixing, stretching, etc your resources. It also has a section about what does and doesn't make sense to buy in bulk or stockpile. Super useful.
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post #22 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:46pm
I must agree with the concerns posisted re: our thread focus. I want to participate in this discussion, but for me, preparing for a possible future depression doesn't really = TSHTF. After researching more about what happened in Argentina, I feel that we are probably better being in the infastructure than way out in the country. I'd like to consider some food storage, but also other things. Not just stockpiling food.
post #23 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaWindmill View Post
I can totally relate to all of that. So my question, then, is why do these conversations turn into talk of living off the land and foraging in the wilderness? Surely it would make more sense to talk about the kind of techniques our grandparents used to get through the depression and, in Europe, strict WWII rationing? Wouldn't it make more sense to talk about how to stretch food, how to make and repair clothing, how to fix things we already have? I guess where I disconnect from this conversation is when the talk turns to worldwide collapses and having to physically defend your food supply from gangs of looting neighbors. The stuff about the dollar becoming useless, electricity being shut off...I just think it makes an otherwise VERY useful discussion silly. KWIM?
No I don't...and I don;t think most of the people on this thread do.

Knowing survival information is very useful. What if I got lost hiking in the woods?

We are just talking about everything. We aren't saying it is going to happen.




So is anyone making any major shopping trips this weekend?
We are going to Grocery outlet, Cash and Carry and possibly Costco.

Also, DH got paid today so we are taking cash out of the bank that we would normally leave in and rely on our debit card. Not this week, though.

You guys watching the stock market????? I can't believe what is happening!!
post #24 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaWindmill View Post
I can totally relate to all of that. So my question, then, is why do these conversations turn into talk of living off the land and foraging in the wilderness? Surely it would make more sense to talk about the kind of techniques our grandparents used to get through the depression and, in Europe, strict WWII rationing? Wouldn't it make more sense to talk about how to stretch food, how to make and repair clothing, how to fix things we already have? I guess where I disconnect from this conversation is when the talk turns to worldwide collapses and having to physically defend your food supply from gangs of looting neighbors. The stuff about the dollar becoming useless, electricity being shut off...I just think it makes an otherwise VERY useful discussion silly. KWIM?
When I think worst-case scenario, I think WORST-CASE SCENARIO. I wouldn't say the discussion is silly, either. The fact is that without fuel, our economy doesn't exist and people starve, and with a worldwide collapse, the possibility of not having fuel is very real.

It's really not that big of a leap, IMO.
post #25 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:51pm
Electricity could very well be shut off if I can't afford to pay the bill.


But my focus really is on the kind of stuff you mentioned which is why I added some extra thread and bought new needles for mending clothing. It's why I am trying to learn more simple, tasty and nutritious recipes so I can keep my family healthy on less if I need to. It's why I can and am learning more about it. It's part of why I garden and am trying to learn about root cellaring and seed saving. Simple household skills that would help us survive a depression like setting. I don't think learning about local edible foods is all that odd. I don't expect to need to survive off them but it's just one more resource I have if I need it.

My neighbors know I garden and can but I doubt they know I have a somewhat large food storage because it's never come up in conversation. Most of my friends and family are aware though and have their own supplies. i worry about the family in the little rental on the corner expecting their fourth. I don't think they have much room for storage there. I have plans to share with them if they need it.
post #26 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contrariety View Post
When I think worst-case scenario, I think WORST-CASE SCENARIO. I wouldn't say the discussion is silly, either. The fact is that without fuel, our economy doesn't exist and people starve, and with a worldwide collapse, the possibility of not having fuel is very real.

It's really not that big of a leap, IMO.
What do you think could happen that would lead to a worst-case scenario? Would this take place suddenly, or over a longer period of time? I just wonder how having two large boxes of instant oatmeal would legitimately stave off the possibility of starvation in such an event.

If you're talking about homesteading, that's a different issue - stockpiling is a short-term solution; homesteading, if done correctly, is a long-term solution. Right?
post #27 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:57pm
I don't but I have a gc for Barnes and Noble and I am trying to decide what to use it on. I've been looking into books that teach basic skills that I don't know how to do. Things my great grandma would have done during the Great Depression to care for her family. I hope not to need a lot of it but I have no way of knowing how bad things are really going to get. I'm planning a trip over to the biggest city in the area on Saturday for a few other reasons so I'll see if B&N has a copy I can look at.
post #28 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:58pm
Urban Homesteading is my goal.
post #29 of 120
10/10/08 at 12:59pm
So is anyone else planning a fall or winter garden?

We have a plot in a community garden, and I would like to use it year 'round. We are in the Pac NW so I think that there are some things (like greens) that we can grow throughout the fall and maybe winter too?

Our garden saved us so much $$ this summer :
post #30 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:00pm
Susun Weed's herbal books are a good way to learn how to make medicine from simple weeds found easily around you.

As an example, in the southeast we have yellowroot in crazy abundance. It works just as well as goldenseal (which btw is bordering on endangered). Better to use the weed in your area than get an expensive endangered medcinal from across the sea.
post #31 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenivere View Post
I don't but I have a gc for Barnes and Noble and I am trying to decide what to use it on. I've been looking into books that teach basic skills that I don't know how to do. Things my great grandma would have done during the Great Depression to care for her family. I hope not to need a lot of it but I have no way of knowing how bad things are really going to get. I'm planning a trip over to the biggest city in the area on Saturday for a few other reasons so I'll see if B&N has a copy I can look at.
You might also be able to request it through interlibrary loan from your local public library. I learned a lot about how to fix things, how to make certain convenience foods from scratch - I can knit and crochet and hand-sew, and I make my own cleaning supplies, etc. We now live in an apartment, and don't have room for food storage really, but I would like to, at the very least, get some canned food saved up. My concern with stockpiling flour, etc is that it could be prone to insect infestation.
post #32 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:02pm
I am planning to put in garlic, onions and carrots and dig up some more garden space for spring.
post #33 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dancebaraka View Post
Susun Weed's herbal books are a good way to learn how to make medicine from simple weeds found easily around you.

As an example, in the southeast we have yellowroot in crazy abundance. It works just as well as goldenseal (which btw is bordering on endangered). Better to use the weed in your area than get an expensive endangered medcinal from across the sea.
Ever used dandelion? I've heard it is delicious cooked. There was an article a few months ago in Mother Earth News about dandelion recipes.
post #34 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:04pm
Looks like my library has a copy, I'll have them put it on hold for me.
post #35 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:08pm
I have lot's of dandelions mixed into my yard and I've heard they taste great on early spring before the flowers bloom but I haven't tried them yet. PLantain is a very common weed and quite useful, my mom introduced it to me when I was really young for bee stings. It's a good time right now to harvest it and make some oil. http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezin...ealingwise.htm
post #36 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:10pm
My kids slept in today but they've been up for a little while now so I need to go feed us and get some stuff done around here. I'll check back in later.
post #37 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:11pm
Just wanted to chime in and say Hello again! I totally missed where the last thread went down since I wasn't online in the evenings. But for the posters who are asking about how this is related to Current Events and why are we concerned about looting, defending ourselves, etc.-Please visit this blog http://ferfal.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-to-expect.html

It's from this guy named FerFal who lives in Argentina. He lived there when the economic system collapsed in 2001 and describes (w/videos too if you care to watch) what happened and how it happened and what it was like to live in a developed country when TSHTF. He is widely respected in the blogger community. Of course, no one is saying that what happened there will definitely happen here or that it would even be the same way. HOWEVER, we think it is prudent to learn about how it MIGHT be and prepare for the worst. We are survivalists on this thread and are interested in learning how to SURVIVE in all conditions.

There is a very real possibility of things going bad, maybe not Argentina bad, but close.

Maybe a better solution to this would be to make a Finding your Tribe thread called Survivalists? I dunno... just a thought! Glad to see we are back!


PS/ Another look at Peak Oil/downturn of economy
http://www.postoilliving.com/Archive...OnABudget.html


What an Economic Collapse looks like
http://www.peakoilandhumanity.com/Fu...looks_like.htm
post #38 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dancebaraka View Post
I must agree with the concerns posisted re: our thread focus. I want to participate in this discussion, but for me, preparing for a possible future depression doesn't really = TSHTF. After researching more about what happened in Argentina, I feel that we are probably better being in the infastructure than way out in the country. I'd like to consider some food storage, but also other things. Not just stockpiling food.
I agree with you

Quote:
Originally Posted by dubfam View Post

So is anyone making any major shopping trips this weekend?
We are going to Grocery outlet, Cash and Carry and possibly Costco.

You guys watching the stock market????? I can't believe what is happening!!
We don't have the money this week for Costco shopping. Next check...

Quote:
Originally Posted by dubfam View Post
DH and I have been talking about getting one of the radios like you ordered off Amazon...did you get it yet??
I haven't gotten it yet.. but I can't wait until I do! I'll let you all know what I think of it when it arrives!
post #39 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:43pm
Ok, so laundry going and kids fed...

I have always wanted one of those hand crank light/radio set ups for power outages. I have other things I need to spend my money on right now but I'll wait and see what you think of the one you bought.
post #40 of 120
10/10/08 at 1:43pm
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