What if?

What if.....what if the shit hit the fan?  Would you be able to handle it?

This past week I was renewing some old, and subscribing to a couple of new magazine publications.  I know, how unfrugal of me right?  But I look at it as investing in my "homesteading" education.  These are not frivolous fashion magazines mind you.  These are magazines I keep and refer back to as needed.

Anyway, "Mother Earth News" of course was one of them, and also a new one for me, "Backwoods Home Magazine."  While visiting their website to subscribe, I came across an interesting article titled "How America can be saved from stupid people" written by Dave Duffy.  It was an eye-opener to say the least.  If you'd like to read it in its entirety, you can find it here at Back Woods Home.  It refreshed my memory on how important it is to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family when the shit hits the fan, so to speak.  Duffy's "short list" (there does exist a longer one) of top priorities were:

1. Get out of Debt (obvious)
2. Set aside an emergency stash of cash (and I would add, keep it safe somewhere at home)
3. Diversify your assets (again, obvious and see #2)
4. Keep a large pantry - can your food! (and a good stash of drinking water)
5. Plant a garden for a regular supply of fresh food
6. Keep chickens (not always possible, but rabbits are, and they are higher in protein, though you are out of luck with eggs)
7. Keep dogs and cats (burglar protection and mouse patrol)
8. Learn how to barter
9. Volunteer in your community -it will keep you connected and knowledgeable about your area, its resources and residents 

The ultimate point is to learn how to better control your life now, so that you are able to come to your own "rescue" (if the need arises), rather than wait for the government, or someone else to do so for you. And you never know when a power outage from an ice storm/tornado/hurricane/ etc. could set things back a week or two, or God forbid something worse, leaving you and your family in a crisis-mode for an extended period of time.

I feel fortunate that I at least live on a small farm.  The food portion of my survival plan could be met pretty easily for a good period of time.  The water situation would be tricky, but doable.  I have a small stream, but it would have to be purified for drinking.  And I have a well, but it has a pump that is controlled by electricity.  I really need to get a manual pump for back up emergencies.
 


My main pantry is seriously low on canned garden goodies...

I also need to make an effort to get more canned meat and other items on my pantry shelves, and build a small rocket mass heater to heat the canned food if needed.  Propane only lasts so long you know.  And my kitchen stove is electric.  No help there in a power outage. And a heat source - the coal / pellet burning stove needs to be reconnected to the chimney.  So many things to consider!

I guess my whole point is that I really do need to sit down some afternoon and come up with a plan, and plan B, C, D,,,,, etc. of how to best get myself and my household prepared for an unfortunate situation, should it happen. My hope for you is that you'll also take a moment to stop and consider what you would do and how you would handle something like a two week power outage if you were unable to get to a store, or if the stores had empty shelves?

Better safe than sorry.  ~A