This forum is so devoid of practical advice I wonder how many of you are making serious contingency plans. So you've bought a bunch of open pollinated seeds. Are you working on seed saving this year? You may discover certain crops have special requirements (and are benefitted by the use of floating row covers 916-272-4769 or lumilite (from the Chicopee Co, Box 2537, Gainesville, Ga. 30503, product # 51821-00). Have you scoped out oak trees near you you can harvest from come fall? Trying your hand at canning this summer? How about going on a camping trip? When you get back you may want to check out a few camping catalogs for those items you missed (Cabela's,Safe-Trek 800-424-7870, Mass Army Navy 800-343-7749,Lehman's 330-857-5757,Cumberland 800-334-4640,Brigade 800-338-4327,Campmore 800-526-4784,U.S. Calvary 800-777-7732,Sims Portable Stoves 800-736-5259,Sierra Supply 970-259-1822,REI 800-426-4840. Taken a 1st aid course lately? How about an EMT course at the local junior college? Are you developing a network of associates (anybody in your area a ham operator? Maybe a pool of funds could set her up with a solar power bank). Any friends work leather, sew, ect. Maybe you could store raw materials they'll need. Know an experienced gardener? Maybe you ought to buy some extra seeds for him. Trade for produce later? Maybe you can join a local volunteer fire dept. Get exposed to trauma and stress now and maybe you'll do better later if required to. Just what are you going to do about your water needs? Got a good water filter yet? Baked any bread from flour you ground fresh lately? Discover you may want to include some white flour to make a lighter loaf your kids will actually eat? How about experimenting with natural yeasts or sourdough products? Are you preparing your body physically now? Building a good library of practical books (the Encyclopedia of Country Living better be in there), how about text books for your children, an encyclopedia set, philosophical tomes? What about a good book on weather and a barometer to alert you to impending changes? Bikes are cheap at yard sales-bought a couple for $5 last week. Storing tubes,patch kit,slime? How about a trailer to pull behind? Kerosene by the 55 gallon drum is mighty cheap right now. Have you read about the indigenious folk that inhabited your area before whites? What were their major food sources? There is so much to do I can't imagine folk have much time to debate the finer points of the future (unless you're subscribing to a minimal disruption scenario). Just wondering.

-- skipper clark (skipper@cncnet.com), August 22, 1998

Answers

Skipper, I, for one, have made extensive preparations. I don't mean the following as a serious slam of your note because many of the things you mention are valid. However there are two (rather different) points I think you may possible have missed.

1. MANY of the folks who post here had probably never killed and dressed an animal for food, canned thier own food, etc. It's gonna be pretty difficult for this type individual to have and articulate plans much beyond the "gold or silver" level. This is not said to denigrate any of you so please save your flames. I speak with the experience of 3 years as a Cop, 15 years life in Alaska, and a "Country" life style most of my life. I have been in many situations where life was at risk and I know whereof I speak. There are just a LOT of details you can't know without experiencing them. Many of the aspects of living without the system as we know it are just too fine grained for most people to think about yet. I have considered starting a thread with some details of preparation but don't know if there is enough general interest. I also have already made one post along these lines, see above: "THE single most important purchase".

2. It is more interesting as less chilling to talk about things in broader terms with the exception of possible civil unrest which seems to get a lot of play. Nobody seems to want to talk about VERY pedestrial subjects like knives, dysentery, canning jar LIDs, shoes, rope, and any of a thousand other mundane things that will be ABSOLUTELY essential to any comfort level other that bare survival.

A lot have prepared some, some have prepared a lot. For most, they're just doing the best they know how. And as to that, your post hopefully will help those who need ideas.

God (whatever he is to you) be with us all, and keep your powder dry.

gh

-- Gary Hale (garyhale@hotmail.com), August 22, 1998.

Skipper

I must disagree with your opinion that practical info is in short supply on this forum. Please see some of the older forum messages for specific questions, or post a new one if the subject you are interested in is not covered to your satisfaction. I have found that most of the questions posted here by people looking for a specific answer get a good response rate.

In fact your posting itself proves my point about the quality of the dialog here. There is a lot of great info there. You have also caused others to think, and to question their assumptions about the future. Myself included, thank you.

As to some of the non 'specific issue' bantering that goes on here, I believe that coping with a huge change in lifestyle requires some letting off of steam. This process helps a greatly in dealing with the stress that is bound to build up. Kind of like group therapy. I, for one, have very few neighbors who take this seriously, so I greatly appreciate the chance to unload some of the tension here, with others who understand.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), August 23, 1998.

For practical advice I go to Gary's forums, even though I wouldn't mind seeing more here. This is more of a community to share frustrations, plans, hopes, news and ideas as I see it. You have listed many good ideas, some (Oak trees, bikes) I haven't thought about. Garage sales are great, aren't they? I found some cast iron cookware, containers, canning jars, clothes, even a campstove and tarps all for pennies! We have a list/schedule of things we need to do or buy and are slowly whittling away at it as money comes SLOWLY in. The country living encyclopedia is next on my list, but there are just SO many things to buy that we have to prioritize and can't do it all unless we go into debt (which isn't an option).

-- Kay P. (Y2Kay@usa.net), August 23, 1998.

Skipper, lots of thought-provoking questions! I've found acorns taste bitter and I'll find how tea, lemonade, etc taste made with chlorox treated water this week. I've written Coleman Co for a catalog so that I can be aware of what's available in LP stoves, lanterns, heaters and fluorescent lanterns. I'm writing my electric and water companies when I pay Sept 1st bills. Met with 4 ladies from this general area to determine how we might be more effective in making people aware so they can prepare, typed awareness/preparedness letters to mail this week to relatives, friends & neighbors, talked to my pastor, bought and washed out 55 gal drums for widows and single ladies at my church (water storage), checking out alternative energy systems, have bicycles (but not patches etc), bought Encyclopedia of Country Living. Whew!

I need to do more networking, take a 1st aid course, learn more about lakes and swimming pools as a source of potable water, and on and on!

To me, Gary North's forums are the best for good, practical advice and making contacts that can help you with what you are trying to find out. People there have been incredibly kind and helpful and encouraging; the first week I was on there in July, I was completely overwhelmed trying to read all the posts. Once I got caught up, daily reading is no big deal (fortunately I'm retired). I like Yourdon's forum because it has up to date info on current events. I'm so very thankful that my grown children practically insisted last fall that I get a computer for e-mail. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the opportunity to stay current.

Where do you buy 55 gal. drums of kerosene?

-- sylvia ross (bluebirdms@aol.com), August 23, 1998.