Surviving Another Depression.......What Would We Need?

[Reinbeau]

Community is extremely important. Backwoods Home had an article about this very thing. Know your neighbors. Know who is capable of what, who can help, who will need help, who will be a drain. Cultivate good relationships with your neighbors. It can't be you against all of them when the SHTF, you'll need all the help from the community that you can get.

 

[VT Chick-lit]

Some times I think my family believes I am preparing for armigedon. This is not the case. What is happening now is different from what happened before the Great Depression. Unlike our economy during the Great Depression, our current economy lacks the manufacturing capacity that we had then. We are no longer selfsufficient. We import all the important things, steel, oil, food etc. During the rush towards more profits and greater capitalism, we have left ourselves exposed to the whims of other countries that supply much of what we buy, or the raw materials for the few items we still make. This is not a good position to be in.

My father had a saying for when things got tough:

"I hope you have a comfortable saddle because it is going to be a bumpy ride." My stockpiling food and other items is an attempt to put a little extra cushion in my saddle for the "bumpy ride" that is ahead of us.

 

[tackyrama]

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The best advice by a MILE! Way to go justusnak. What most Americans are short of is backbone.

 

[kstaven]

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Well said! I agree many in our society have lost touch with the true concept of friends, family and community. In todays world I do not see always being prepared for a disaster as paranoid. Wether manmade or natural, we all know problems can strike anywhere, at anytime, without warning. I never have obsessed about tomorrow, I enjoy everyday to its fullest, and have the faith I will be OK no matter what happens.

 

[setter4]

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Isn't it great? Wait till you get to the part about the turkey's breedin...ROFLOL!!

 

[marko15]

For TP you could always start saving your newspapers , or your old catalogs and build a cheap outhouse

 

[DuckLady]

Too true!

 

[1acrefarm]

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Corn shucks and cobs were frequently used as well. I swear people had to have some tough backsides in those days.

 

[debilorrah]

I am going to tell you a true story. I used to live in the Eastern Sierra's in a town called Bishop. We lived 9 miles outside town and 3 miles up a mountain in a very isolated area outside of the city limits.

The day before Thanksgiving it started snowing - nothing unusual, we worked our day and drove home in the snow. Later than night it became a complete white out. You could not see your hand in front of your face. We all went to bed thinking that, as usual, it would stop, we could shovel out and our guests would come for a good dinner.

In the morning, not only was it still snowing, it was already 5 feet high around us. Doors couldn't be opened, cars couldn't get out, people were stuck. We had a small community of about 49 houses. I had a turkey and stuffing and potatoes, but nothing else. I had planned on going to the store that day.

Pretty soon, here comes my neighbor wading through the snow to see if I had any butter. I had butter and asked her if she had any veggies she could spare. Another neighbor came over and asked if we had any chicken stock, yes we did, and I asked her if she had any dessert she could spare. And she did. Next thing we knew, we were all at our house with the biggest thanksgiving feast you can imagine. I had never had such variety of food or cultures in my life. It was the best holiday I can remember and I would love that to happen again in any case of emergency.

 

[kstaven]

debi Real community events like that is what kept our grandparents going during their depression and one of the major factors in surviving the next one if it manifests.