are you prepped for a recession/depression?

[paganfish]

Quote:
If everything is rosy feel free to disagree....
RP has nothing to do with it.

I agree with you on this quad!!!

AND...I am not SOLD on FOX news. They are the MOST biased network, it's not even funny!

That's my 2 cents.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Quad, no hard feelings here. I'm sorry I strayed from your original point of the post.
I don't view Ron Paul supporters as maniacs at all. I see a lot of very SMART people
supporting him. For the "We Want Change" supporters he is the only one who
offers REAL change, but most of those people will vote for Hillary or Obama.
I get testy too because most Paul supporters would be for Guliani, who is getting
no where in the primaries.

Anways, back to your original topic, I work in energy, sort of. I study alternate sources
a lot. Sad truth is we are focusing on the wrong ones and the government is throwing
money at the wrong solutions, such as solar photovoltaic and wind. Why are these
wrong? Simple, they cost TOO much and are inefficient.

Every house and building in this country should have THERMAL SOLAR PANELS on their
roofs. Thermal solar is cheap and can produce a TON of heat, thereby reducing
the burning of fossil fuels. There is also almost no material or manufacturing costs
in thermal solar, unlike the massive battery arrays and silicone factories needed for
solar photovolt & wind.

Whatever your politics or beliefs, burning less fuel is a good thing.

I also like the idea of green roofs on buildings to. Plant a garden, reduce heating and
cooling, absorb CO2(if you are of the global warming persuation), and actually
produce your own food.

Being as self sufficient as possible just makes sense...

Don

 

[quadcam79]

Quote:
thats actually something that i'll be working on here real soon. Building a solar water heater. like this

we have a very small water heater so instead of purchasing a larger one we can utilize the florida sun for heating water most of the year.

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

Hey, we had solar hot water in the dorms I lived in in high school!

Just remember, if you want to wash dishes or take a shower in warm water...wait until EVENING to do so. It was a bad day when we had to shower in the morning...you'd shiver for the next couple of hours.

We also had metal roofs to collect rain water in storage tanks. Anyone in this country use that as alternative water sources, or is it primarily wells & ponds here?

 

[ruth]

The main reason we moved to our new "farm" is so that we can begin to become more self sufficient. Not for any "the sky is falling" or "dooms day scenarios" or "end times" but because it just seems right and it seems like the right time. I've never taken medicines, even over the counter, or consumed alcohol, and thank God, I'm never sick - but everything you buy and eat now has been pumped full of one thing or another, carries health warnings after the fact, and there doesn't seem to be anything pure and natural anymore.

It started with a few chickens just for fun. Then the eggs were so good. Then the thought - why not expand on this. We plan to put in a garden - starting small at first - add more chickens - add miniature dairy goats - possibly rabbits - the list goes on and on. Again not to reflect on end times but I did read the back of the book and know how it ends. "You will not be able to buy or trade without bearing the mark of the beast." Now that time may be in the next 5 minutes or 5 millenium and I truly don't worry because the bible also tells us not to worry. I put my trust in God. However, at this point in my life, and I'm 48 - I've worked hard all my life since I was 13 - for the last 15 years I've had my own business and invested heavily in real estate including buying and fixing up homes to rent. Today I'm tired and no longer want to worry about all those bills and if they can be met in any one month or if I have to take money out of retirement. I'm tired of all the painting and maintenace and upkeep (always doing it myself). I am selling all of it and paying cash for the "new" home/farm and God willing, have money left over for the renovations and savings. Then, I can really start focusing on living off the land and living a simpler and more peaceful life with more time for God - that's what truly matters.

 

[ChuckenGirl]

i know my dad said that if worst comes to worst and cant afford any food we'll have to eat our beagles, and get a big pitbull to ward people away from our food potential animals and a garden if we get one. i just hope we can pull out of this before its too late

 

[quadcam79]

Quote:
it's going to be connected to the main water heater, cold water into the solar heater then out to the main heater...that way if we cant use the solar heater it'll just send cold water to the main heater like normal.

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

quadcam79:

That sounds like a nice arrangement!

 

[texaschickmama]

Well, I live with a pessimist. It is exhausting. I love him dearly, but nonetheless, exhausting. I am a very positive person. I like being around positive people. I am a straight shooter. Shoot it to me straight, don't underexaggerate don't overexaggerate. STRAIGHT. The media certainly does sway most American minds and American business. I like to think for myself, thank you very much. Anyway, I love the idea of being able to feed the family and exist on our 10 acres of heaven. There is nothing wrong or weird about that just common sense. IMHO

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
thats actually something that i'll be working on here real soon. Building a solar water heater. like this http://www.byexample.com/library/photos/projects/batch_collector/bc_01697.jpg
we have a very small water heater so instead of purchasing a larger one we can utilize the florida sun for heating water most of the year.

That's awesome. I've seen a bunch of do it yourself type systems and for what they
cost they give a lot back.

Look into an "On Demand" water heater. Run it off natural gas if you have it. Propane
is an option too. And electricity if you have no source of gas. They only heat the water
you use and only use the energy needed to heat it to a set point. They work
perfectly with solar preheaters like the one you posted.

Here in New England things are a little different. 3 panels southern facing can
really take a big dent out of your heating and hot water bills.