In case you haven’t noticed, the world is slowing down. More specifically, the worlds consumption and production. What amazes me is how you wouldn’t have any idea whatsoever if all you did was watch the mainstream news at 6-oclock.
China’s stock market is in a major crash. The reason? Industrial output is weak and China’s economy is slowing. Why? Because they’re not shipping as much ‘stuff’ elsewhere like they used to. Why? Because people aren’t buying as much ‘stuff’. Why? Because most people are tapped out. Why? Because we have reached or are rapidly reaching ‘peak debt’.
While there are MANY more signs of the coming economic depression, there is one glaring fact… ‘The debt’ will never and cannot ever be paid back. More specifically the debt of nations, including the USA. We (and other nations) are tapped out. The only reason we’re bumping along is because of money printing. Additionally we used to rely on the fact that the US dollar was the world’s reserve currency. Well that has been changing and will continue to change as the saga unfolds.
Personal debt (for most) is enormous. And people’s paychecks have not gone up much during these years either. Many (most) people are tapped out and they are living at the edge of their ability to service their debts and pay their bills – having left little to no ‘cushion’. They have reached ‘peak debt’ and are not buying extravagantly as they once did.
The current financial system REQUIRES that we borrow (more) for ‘it’ to continue. It is ENTIRELY based on debt. For there to be so called ‘growth’, it REQUIRES that more people, more businesses, go into DEBT. They call that growth. While calculated debt (managed ‘smart’ debt) can be advantageous in some situations, unfortunately in many circumstances debt is unwise. That said, ‘they’ (TPTB) have created a gargantuan debt bubble. There is so much debt, that it cannot possibly be serviced. Ever.
The current system WILL crash. And it seems ever closer.
When it does, and depending on the extent and management of the crash, we will either be facing a long term economic depression, or we will be facing outright SHTF.
While we sometimes focus on SHTF scenarios, the fact is that there is a chance that an economic depression might not be an end-of-the-world scenario (although it will be for many). Though the next economic depression might meltdown into total collapse and social chaos, lets presume in this instance that it (the collapse) turns into a slow and long lasting economic depression, as in the Great Depression II.
What would it be like?
Well, lets say that the power is still on, electricity is flowing, the system is still functioning (although sporadic), the 1% are still rich and running the world, but most of the rest are struggling to put food on the table because so many have lost their jobs and household take-home income has collapsed (as well as the stock market, people’s 401k plans, and many retirement benefits have been slashed or eliminated). The government is providing vouchers for food and assistance but that’s not enough (for most). There has been sporadic violence in the cities and some metro regions, but the police and .gov have cracked down hard. Foreclosures and repossession’s are rampant. People are moving in with family, friends, relatives in order to have a roof over their heads. There’s little to no work that pays enough to climb out of the abyss, but there are odd jobs here and there.
With that picture painted, what can we do to prepare for a long term economic depression?
A few thoughts include the following:
Get out of debt! While you may think that the banks won’t have the manpower to foreclose or to repo your assets, think again. They will. If you cannot pay your debts, they will only give you so much grace period before they will come after you.
Think ‘FOOD’! You and your family will need to eat. Today’s food budget is much more of a factor than the .gov gives credit (via their CPI calculation – Consumer Price Index). Food prices will never go down. Period. The more you inventory now, the better off you’ll be later. Everyone needs to eat. During the Great Depression, FOOD was a top priority. It will be the same during Great Depression II.
Slash cost-of-living expenses!. Examine ALL of your monthly expenses. Trim them so that you can prepare for the coming economic collapse. Only YOU know your own budget and whether or not you NEED this or that. Just saying.
Sell assets that will be of no practical use during Great Depression II. Get some money for it (them) now before no one will pay you for it later.
Now it’s your turn.
What do you recommend to prepare for a long term economic depression?
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I am learning to garden. In this dry climate, I can’t do much if the town fails to provide water, but they tell me they have a plan to keep the water flowing.
You can’t just plant a few seeds and wait for produce to happen. This is about my 5th year. Each year I plant a few more things and learn a little more. But so far my carrots have been a disappointment. They take so long to mature. Same with onions. I think next year I will skip those. My potatoes are delicious, but I didn’t plant them early enough. The tops are dying, but the potatoes are still very small. My green beans caught some type of virus and I had to pull them out. The peas were delicious, but again I didn’t plant early enough so have a very small harvest.
I just finished the second batch of radishes, which always turn out well. I have tons of two different types of tomatoes and tons of yellow squash. But now there is a weather warning that we are getting 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail. I tried to put plastic over my tomatoes and squash, but the wind kept blowing it away. I brought in my cucumbers and a bunch of cherry tomatoes (the regular sized ones are not ripe yet, again planted too late.)
The hail warning is over in 5 minutes, so maybe a escaped. I need to figure out a way to protect my garden from hail for next time. Any ideas?
Other than a greenhouse, you mean?
We have been having a bad gardening year also, so we are seriously looking into buying one. We have had such drought that the deer are ravenous and bold!
Daisyk
I sort of recall you mentioning your yard was not overly large? does that mean it is smallish? could you build a frame over a good section of the yard, from fence to fence, to protect from hail/wind/start plants earlier? Also, if you keep an eye on “free” adds (freecycle/craig’s etc), it is quite surprising what comes up, for free. Maybe something will come up which can be repurposed as a greenhouse.
I don’t know, as I don’t have one, but I have the idea that if one is able to cover your plants greenhouse style, it takes less water, as there is less wind evaporation, etc?
Dear Wondering and Tiny,
I thought about a greenhouse, but they are expensive. The boys who mow my lawn put in two raised beds and fenced them at the end of May. (That is the reason I was so late planting; we had to wait for school to let out.) I put netting over the top of the fence too, but it wouldn’t keep the hail out. I was thinking about putting some type of stiff plastic around the sides to protect against wind and maybe hold in a little heat. In addition to the stuff inside the fenced garden, I also have a bunch of large containers that have squash, cucumbers, potatoes, etc. along the north side of my privacy fence. They did have peppers, also, but the squirrels ate them. Next time peppers will go inside the little fence. (I have a privacy fence around the whole yard, but the squirrels can get over that; my squirrel proof area is the part that is fenced with 1/2″ hardware cloth and covered overhead with netting.)
The wind blew my tomato cages over and my best squash plant is practically laying on its side, with most of the little squashes laying on the ground. I tried to fix some of the damage, but the wind was blowing so hard, it nearly knocked me over. So I guess I will have to see what it looks like tomorrow. At least, so far no hail.
That is the reason you have to practice gardening. Every year something happens — insects, disease, weather…. Or you don’t know how far apart things need to be planted (or how deep) so you learn one year to get better next year.
have been thinking about this for some time, wondering if it would help warm up soil enough to improve garden sprouting/yield.
if one took some heavy pieces of steal/pipe and put it in the bottom of garden boxes, with ends attached which stick up through soil, would it warm up the soil enough to make a difference?
along similar idea as above, wonder if this would work/improve yield/germination?
there seems to be SCADS of washing machine drums kicking around. Seen lots of folks put wheels on bottom and make firepits out of them.
put these in a garden box, half way buried, fill half way/two thirds and plant. Presto, garden dividers, and the metal sticking up should transmit heat into the dirt. ???
Old windows with the frames when placed over the appropriate size dug hole make great hot box’s and can extend cold crop growing for months (start earlier and end later) depending on your locale.
okay….yet one more idea
they are scads of folks ripping out their shower stalls, putting in fancy ones.
a glass enclosed shower stall, would make a pretty fair greenhouse, complete with swinging door.
also, in googling this, I saw some gardeners had taken those half circle, odd shaped shower stalls, laid them on the ground/garden box, and had a handy lower greenhouse/complete with lift up “lid”…
Wondering,
Those might be good ideas, but I am not sure if I could do any of them. With some of your ideas, I am not sure exactly what you mean. I will investigate your ideas, though. Thanks
DaisyK
Greenhouses can definitely be expensive but a simple hoop house made from PVC pipes and plastic barriers is not expensive. Our greenhouse has aluminum framing and polycarb hardened walls and it’s fully operational with water, electric, and forced heat. It doesn’t have to be nearly that complicated. A simple hoop house can both heat and protect garden veggies, especially those that are considered the ‘cool weather crops’. During your summer season, a hoop house can be halfway opened at both ends and the side walls with the top remaining in plastic. You can grow tomatoes and other sun-loving, summer crops inside and get a better yield, too.
Store, magazine bought greenhouse’s are expensive.
Try this:
Buy a roll of 4 ply plastic sheet, 20′ 3/4 inch pieces of PVC, required fittings Get help).
Will provide a very inexpensive greenhouse every bit as good.
Enclose the ends as your budget will allow. Can be incredible.
i live in a harsh area where the weather is brutal in the spring and early fall for storms, mostly dry during the summer with some rain from severe storms. but getting to know some of the locals here i’ve learned to plant my tomatoes within the confines of a well placed fenced in area or put them in buckets so you can move them. as far as placement of plants i have learned not to plant my squash to close to cantaloupe or you get squashaloupe not bad just different. also don’t plant squash in the same place each year rotate around to different corners of the garden, same with corn.
Once I have my containers full of dirt, they are much too heavy to move. I don’t have a husband to do the heavy lifting. I did learn not to plant the peas near the squash or cucumbers. The other plants steal all the water from the peas and beans and overcrowd them so they don’t produce. I had thought that since the Native Americans had planted corn, beans and squash together it would be a good idea. But it isn’t,
you might think of tackling in a way of mobility. not knowing your exact ability to shelter your plants via a carport or patio of some type. you might try getting a yard cart to place the buckets in. also the container does not have to be that big for the root system to thrive for a lot of the garden plants. smaller buckets will work just have to keep with watering more often.
hope this helps.
Hi DaisyK,
I would highly recommend checking with your local extension office for a Master Gardener course and other useful materials for gardening/growing food in your area of the country. I took the class last year and I learned SO MUCH and have gained so many resources!! It’s worth the time and the little bit of money (my class cost me $60). The class was the highlight of my week and I have never regretted it. You will only learn researched, unbiased information. This year our garden has never been better! Good luck to you and please let me know if you have any questions. I love to teach and share information!
NG 🙂
What “local extension office”? Do you mean at a college or university?
I live in Kentucky and all the counties in this state have extension offices. They can tell you about canning, sewing, gardening, making fences, about raising cattle, just to name a few items. You might can call your sheriff’s office to see you have something like this close to you. One thing I learned was, if you have a heavy pot to move the gardening stores have a dolly on wheels that you set the pot on and can move it anywhere .
Don’t have a dolly on wheels (it would take more than a dozen) and I don’t have anyplace to move my containers to. No patio, no carport, etc. The only way to move something would be to move it through my back door, onto a 4′ by 4′ landing and then down very steep, narrow steps to a dark basement.
My solution is to plant the more perishables/squirrel treats, etc. to the interior fenced area. A friend of mine has a large dog and a small mobile home. She got a large dog run and reinforced it with tarps on the outside and across the top. That might work for the north and west sides. (That’s where the wind comes from and the west side is already shaded by my house, so I wouldn’t lose much sun.) Now I need something across the top that will resist hail.
if I understand correct, you are suggesting using a dog run to plant inside? sounds like a great idea.
re the dolly to move plants, don’t know if that interests you, but I have seen quite a number of folks get childrens’ wagons from garage sales, and set the pot/planting container in these, plant and then move them around to get the best sun. Might work.
Are you able to get around to garage sales? Check local for sale/ for free adds? Notice boards in local grocers? You might score some plastic etc in these places?
I will be interested what all you come up with, as you seem very resourceful/ well planned out already.
One of the things I like about reading this blog, is all the tips I get from others.
No, actually, I was just thinking of using my friend’s idea of sheltering the garden from the wind just like she sheltered her dog run from the wind and snow. She just attached the tarps to the fence/dog run at all four corners and a few other places to keep the wind out. She just had to use the tarps on three sides and the top because her trailer is on the 4th side.
ah..sorry…
might work, attaching tarps, but I think it will be tough to get tarps tied down to a fence “enough” to withstand wind forces etc..? I could see it would be some easier on a dog run, as I am assuming there are many places to tie to? Also, if you put a tarp over, will plants get enough sun?
I think if I put the tarps so that the prevailing winds blow the tarps AGAINST the fence instead of away from it, the tarps will hold. There are lots of places to attach because I have put 1/2″ hardware cloth all around the fence (which was originally chain link, but that wouldn’t keep the squirrels out, so I attached the hardware cloth all around the bottom 3′ and plastic netting around the top 3′ of the fence and across the top. I used netting in the upper parts, partly because it was cheaper, but also easier for me to lift. I am not very strong.
My garden is about 10′ from my house, so it is somewhat sheltered from the afternoon sun, anyway; the tarps wouldn’t take too much sun away. Maybe I could use shorter tarps or clear plastic on the west side. I wouldn’t be putting any wind breaks on the east or south side.
it’s hard to know what will work, until you try it in a specific location, but it sounds like you have lots of experience in “figuring things out” and “making do”, so I suspect as the person “on location” you have a good handle on what might work.
all I can say, is keep thinking outside the box, keep an eye on “freebies”/”free cycle” “free list” , and what is being tossed by anyone you know/down the back alley. I haven’t actually found much I can use, but in the past two yrs, have been really shocked by some of the things being tossed out/available for free.
I realise I didn’t explain well about the shower cubicle, but since I mentioned it to you, I still have that stuck in my mind, and keeping my eye out for a free one to try. What I was thinking of was those glass semicircle/or etc, shower cubicles, and figured (found some online) laid on its side on the ground it might make a good “cold frame” to start plants in. Nice easy door to swing open etc. Also, I have a spot, if I come across the “right” sort of glass shower cubicle (for free), I am going to stick it in and try it out as a green house. I can put some kind of tarp on top as a “roof”. Again, it will have a nice easy open door as showers do.
Hi DaisyK,
Jan’s got it right. Check with your state university system; typically the Extension is what it says – an “extension” of the university, geared toward public education. Jan is so right – there are tons of free or inexpensive classes, field days, etc. to learn about a variety of topics. I also get my pressure canner lid tested to make sure I am pressure canning at the correct pressure. I could help you find information about your state and give you some great resources from mine, but perhaps that’s best done via email, and I am not sure how to go about doing that. Ken, do you have any thoughts?
NG
Check this out, might work for you
http://hightunnels.org/constructing-a-simple-pvc-high-tunnel/
I’m going to try some low tunnel gardening this fall, looks like a good way to protect crops and lengthen the growing season. http://www.motherofahubbard.com/10-reasons-low-tunnels-are-better-than-cold-frames/
Daisy, I feel your pain. What I have done is multiple things to help get one over on mother nature. A ground garden, raised beds, a hydroponic green house and also and indoor hydroponic garden. It’s so hot down here in the south of is difficult to work with sometimes. But with the green house, we had tomatoes all winter long. As a matter of fact the tomato plants in there now are two year old and still producing. They are even growing out of the sky vents. Cummerbund did the same thing as I was picking cukes on the roof. Right now indoors, I have planted lettuce and swiss chard. Always growing something and no need to worry about drought with the hydro.. Just a thought for you. Also the green house is polycarbonate panels and aluminum framed and can withstand severe weather. It’s was expensive but worth it.
Hail… I get a type of Blue Hawk black plastic cloth from Lowes that is a fine enough mesh to keep out most of the hail. it usually comes down at an angle so you can imagine the size that may fiy through. I put in a bunch of the large tomato cages in the spring and push them as far down as I can while planting the tomatoes deep so they grow extra roots on the bottom of the stem. Then take the black plastic cloth and use some twist ties to tie them down to the top of the tomato cages and to the garden fencing so that all of the tomatoes are covered no matter what direction of hail or amount of wind. When the tomatoes start growing through the plastic mesh when they are quite tall… I take off the mesh. The plants get rain and sun and grow wonderfully. We have weathered many hail storms and I have never had to replant the tomatoes… not a single one… BTW it is not a ‘cloth’ but rather a thicker plastic mesh that has a square pattern and is sturdy and flexible and not at all wimpy like the mesh they have for keeping birds away… i have used the same black plastic ‘cloth’ for 7 or so years and it does not show any signs of falling apart yet…
I don’t have a Lowe’s nearby, but maybe Amazon might have some of that plastic. I used screening material one year, but it kept out too much sunlight, so my tomatoes didn’t do well. This year I used bird netting, and it keeps birds and squirrels out, but probably not hail.
Use pvc pipe and make a frame over your garden in sections. Put plastic over the frame and anchor with rocks and dirt to bury the edges. Be sure you have those sections completely enclosed on the ends so the wind cannot get in and lift the plastic off. We have been very successful with this kind of system.
Maybe some silver and or gold if you can afford it , I feel that we will go back to how things were before paper money became the norm , back in the early to mid 1800’s , when most all of transactions were paid by using precious metals , I myself believe silver is the best way to go , if cash does go bust , there will be instances when you won’t use a whole coin , you would at times have to cut coins or even cut junk silver to buy items , every one doing any type of business will have a scale to weigh the metals for true weight . Put back as much ammo as you can , or enough reloading supplies as you can too , how much is up to you , but as Ken said FOOD is gonna be the most important commodity you will need , that and clean water . Be prepared and ready . Keep your powder dry .
It would be nice to have a two year supply of toilet paper , but some may not have it or can get it , if need be you can always use newspapers or old magazines just have to work them why rolling them around in your hands to soften them up , just an idea .BPAR.KYPD.
I don’t worry about toilet paper. You can use a hand pump water sprayer that can wipe out Klingons from Uranus.
If you get one with a metal wand, you can fill it with sand and put a bend in it without kinking it. That way it’ll shoot “up” where you need it to.
I gotta give credit where it’s due, I learned that little trick from and episode of the TV show Jericho. Of course Johnston Greene was helping make a still, not a do it yourself bidet. 🙂
I always heard that when you leave the outhouse, you should tear out a page of the Sears Roebuck catalog (I know, no such thing now-a-days), fold it, and put it in your back pocket, so that it would be soft when you needed it.
Wendy,
no joking, I have never heard of the back pocket softener, but I BET it would work. Much nicer. However, these days there are not so many catalogues. Suppose a magazine page would work much the same, so if things go bad, go around and scrounge magazines.
Phone books are easy to get. I could see going through the attorney section first.
You guys and your soft paper. How about washing up after with water–it’s easy, nothing to buy, save yur cash for stuff going into your body not going out. ; )
I was thinking start at the federal government pages then work through state and county, then progress to attorneys then insurance agents and banks etc etc
You could probably use an Obama or Clinton book and get it for free !!! Just a thought.
Sorry Thor, there is NO WAY I’m letting either one of them get that close to my azz, even if it IS a book… HAHAHAHA I feel like they have s©¶¢☻d me enough the way it is. JMHO of course.. LOLOL
Obama or Hillary tp both would look better after being used. Just a thought.
HAHA, funny you should mention TP, a good neighbor has some of that O-TP in an outhouse. Anytime I go there I always lose weight, cause not only do I pass a little more fecal matter from just the sight of that TP I also exhale the remainder of the stomach past my vocal cords. I have asked him to cover it, it really turns my gut sour.
NRP
get on the U-Line mailing list. They send out a huge catalog every month.
One of the things I really like when travelling around the world is the use of open markets. Some places in Western Europe have a market in their town center more than once week. The charge to set up, I was told, was nominal. I could buy a few sticks of dried, barbecued elk and a small piece of Stilton cheese while looking at everything else people were willing to trade or sell. Where I live in Virginia, we have local farmers markets for produce (mainly) that are well attended. In harder economic times, I see a great rise in local barter markets.
Virginia is gone.
The cancer moves quickly when it metastasizes all hope is gone.
The Federal Government has bloated to the point that the infiltrators have had to expand into bordering states. Namely Virginia.
Also, our gifted leaders have ensured immigrants are now overpowering the legacy citizens. Nine native Virginians per 1 refugee,,,,, in 1970 it was 100 native Virginians per 1 refuge.
These people are not assimilating, and added to the burgeoning Federal Government overflowing into the great state of Virginia,,,, like I said it’s gone.
The top 3 metropolitan markets not effected by our failing economy reside close to Washington DC.
Stand by people,, look this stuff up. You have no idea what’s coming down.
I’ll stop for now.
Hope you read this. It’s going viral,,,,, nation-wide.
I am also in Virginia and it is going down quickly. There are only 3 blue districts in this state but those 3 districts run this entire state now. Fairfax County is overrun with illegals and it has greatly affected the public school system. These illegals will not assimilate, are filled with poverty and gang behaviors and poverty-driven crimes. It is a cancer and it has metastasized.
It’s elsewhere, too. Idaho is now battling a resettlement of Somalia “refugees”. The status of “refugee” is allowing the Feds to bring in more illegals and place them in the red states. It won’t end until they have achieved their goal of domination. Idaho is not the only state with illegals and “refugees” — those who are unaware should read the alt news sites online and watch the patterns.
When this depression hits everyone will have to go back to gardening or starve. There is going to be a very long learning curve for those of us that do not know how to garden. During this time of learning how to garden we will just try to exist off our stored food. So here is were we can help ourselves. Let’s store up commercial garden fertilizer ( say 13-13-13 by the 100 lb. barrel full) to get us to the point where we can use compost or other fertilizers made by nature so to speak. At some point even the commercial fertilizer will run but we will have bought a little time to learn. I am already gardening but I have stored up 400 lbs. of commercial fertilizer.
Best wishes all
How many will die because they are not prepared, live in the city or are just plain clueless…??? This depression will be unlike the Great Depression of the late 20’s and early 30’s…… Be prepared for violence as it will be everyone for themselves…..o
Actually 21Bravo, there are predictions of as many as 95% will die off in the first year if an actually total SHTF occurred. 75-80% if an economic disaster happened like the Great Depression. Those are not just Bloggers or Survivalist blowing steam, were talking researched numbers. A single EMP, a month power outage, Pandemic, Social collapse, you name it, would be very bad.
NRP
TO HELP WITH THE GARDEN YOU MIGHT TRY PLANTING YOUR TOMATOES IN 5 GAL BUCKETS INSTEAD OF LEAVING OUT SIDE ALL THE TIME.
KNOWN A LOT OF GARDENERS HERE THAT DO THIS FOR MANY REASONS, HAIL, CRITTERS, INSECTS, LACK OF MOISTURE. ETC. SEEMS TO DO VERY WELL. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY HAVE TO TRIM YOUR PLANTS TO KEEP THEM MANAGEABLE
We are working to making the house more energy efficient by re-insulating the attic. I am improving my sewing skills in order to tailor clothes I already own (I’ve lost 30 lbs so far) and I’ll be able to take clothes purchased at thrift shops and make them fit or re-make them in some other fashion. We don’t have any debt (except our mortgage), so one my my goals is to decrease expenses as much as possible. Which is difficult when I’m buying preps. I just purchased an emergency bivy, shelter, and poncho for my GHB in anticipation of the winter.
You are smart to work on your sewing skills! Try to get your hands on a treadle sewing machine in case there is no electricity. You will have a great skill to barter with! I am a fairly good seamstress and I have been a hairdresser for 35+ years and think both of those skills will come in handy!
I’m so proud of you for your weight loss! It takes a huge amount of determination for this. Way to go!
Thanks! It’s been long and hard…with many plateaus…sigh.
Each week I buy a 20 lb bag of rice or 10 lb of beans or pasta or box’s of oatmeal then pack it in 5 gl buckets every few weeks. I have freeze dried veggies and meat and also canned goods but the staples are cheap and will keep you alive and also be good for trade. I have been learning to garden for the last 3 years but still have a learning curve though I am getting better. My main thing to work on is soil. In the Vegetables growers bible they tell you that good gardeners grow veggies but great gardeners grow soil.
amen to the soil.
we compost a lot of grass and mix with lots of left over veggies. when i get a chance I’m going to get cotton hull and mix in with fish heads old family recipe from the delta area of the Mississippi.
A really good article to discuss with . no one knows when does economic depression would come, preparedness is a must
At our homestead, we’ve been at this for decades. We have a greenhouse for starting plants I grow from saved seeds. Our garden uses almost 100% heirloom/open-pollinated varieties (we sometimes use a hybrid seed for broccoli). We have a rainwater catchement system that includes a 1,000 gallon catchement tank plus 4 55-gallon drums for garden irrigation.
We raise purebred Nubian dairy goats and I breed for conformation, high dairy yield, and disposition. I want those critters to be enjoyable while they work for their keep. lol We have several bucks and a number of milking does, plus some yearlings and young kids in our herd. We have a large enough herd that we can continue breeding for generations without the fear of much in-breeding.
We also raise meat rabbits (Californian and Silver Fox), chickens for eggs and also raise broiler chickens once or twice a year. The broilers we order yearly because they are hybrids (we would probably lose this option in a depression and we realize this). We also grow out a pig or two for our yearly pork consumption. We do not keep boars or sows and know that raising pigs for meat is completely dependent on other farmers nearby.
We do quite a bit of canning: veggies, meats, sauces, soups, jams, fruits, etc. We do our own butchering, sewing, repairs, fencing, barn/outbuildings, plumbing and electric. Husband is a riflesmith so repairs or builds are not an issue. We reload and have a small range on site.
We are not off-grid but have lived off-grid and did fine with our gennies (we have 2). During a depression, we would be mostly off-grid, no doubt, and so we have planned for a lifestyle similar to the early 1900s. We have numerous manual tools and machines including a wood cook stove, wood stove for home heat, kitchen tools, oil and kerosene lamps, treadle sewing machine, etc.
We are debt free and have enough cash on hand to pay property taxes for several years — that’s part of ‘the plan’. We stack metals to offset probable losses of income and pension. No one else in our families is involved in serious preparedness. We are planning for a family style ‘invasion’ of anywhere from 2 more to an additional 8. This includes my parents and children. We don’t discuss these things with them, we simply plan for some probabilities and keep focusing on what needs to be done. None of them understand why we ‘work so hard’ (their words) but maybe someday it will sink in. Basically, we live as our grandparents did: frugally, morally, responsibly, and reliant on ourselves.
We have areas that we need to improve and future plans we still want to implement, just like everyone else.
Great response to the article–clearly written with lots of good suggestions.
I am a beginning gardener. Totally agree there is a learning curve. Lately I have been adapting my mindset towards the Great Depression model for the future. I am buying “stuff” that may be difficult to get even if I have the money, stocking up on clothes, misc. items, etc. The less expenses I have at that time the better as what food items I cannot produce myself will be very expensive. Also interested in developing my sewing skills and learning the old ways of making patterns from existing clothing.
Tools, especially hand tools. Less money creates “DIY” thoughts. Do the work yourself rather than paying others to do it.
Most of the tools sold lately are ‘power tools’. Saves time and effort. But what if power and/or gasoline is no longer an option. Those contraptions become next to useless. So hand tools.
Don’t necessarily have to sell them either. Renting / lending out for barter is almost as good as payment.
While I agree JR that power tools can become obsolete if the batteries run down a simple solar charging system can help with that. You don’t need enough power to run a house but can get small chargers to handle batteries for tools,flashlights and other small things like a cell phone ect.
We have a small area for gardening which we can enlarge when needed, we also experimented with container gardening which I like as you can bring the containers in when really bad weather threatens. We will likely use both methods next year. We also have all the materials on hand to build a cold frame to give us a jump on the growing season. I would really like to be able to build a small green house. We have a dolly to move the containers so lifting is not an issue. I like the security of containers as well. We can move them inside when we feel that security is an issue.
Firearms and Training. Big time!
Security, Defense, and being able to support whatever forces that remain “Good”. It won’t be pretty however you stack the deck. But being able to come out on top after an attack from many, many sources after the SHTF, is vital. What good are all your stocked items if you cannot Keep those items or those that maybe have storage and you have, Security to provide.
Train and then train some more. Once you think you got it, Do it again!
Just my $0.02
Very sad picture. Even sadder to think that so many of our population are living in conditions even more squalid. Of course they could all have jobs if they wanted them, if there were any jobs to be had. Good news is with China’s economy collapsing maybe some of our exported jobs will come back home? Bad news is if we are not buying from China they have less reason to attack us.
What ?
Did you say some people in America are living in squalid conditions?
We have the best fed parasites in the world,
Geeze, they’ve got phones, cars(gas), TV’s. cable, internet, and the laptops (required to use them) air conditioning, and the homes to put all of this crap in.
All without contributing one thin dime. Of course they must be allowed to vote,,,, right? Which takes more out of our pockets and put a burden on our ability to prepare.
Yeah, the poor in this country are living in total squalor.
Fact is, their living at a rate which far exceeds most in the world that works for a living,,,,, and even some working stiffs in the US.
God help me,,,,,, I’m sick.
As always a good conversation piece Ken.
Luckily if it is an economic collapse there will be signs to watch for, such as China’s stock exchange, Greece’s finical disaster, the EURO exchange rate, our own Gold/Sliver prices, our own markets, and of course dozens more.
The money you may spend now may well mean the difference if you go hungry/starve or not, the difference if your family starve or not as you try to squander a living somewhere. My suggestion to anyone would to be, Stock up at least 2 years of Freeze Dried, canned, dehydrated, whatever foods and find a source for water, for without hose you are toast, all the “toys”, BOB, Firearms, Radios, BOVehicle, Knives, hardware, anything, will mean absolutely nothing if you have no food and water. You/we need to start with the basics first, Food and Water. Do you have enough for 2 years???? Anyone????
Those that have prepared for the next depression/SHTF will be the only ones that survive, period.
NRP
Get firearms and become proficient with them. Period.
Practice,,, become numb to the inevitable. They will be watching, looking for a chink which they can exploit.
One thing is for sure,,, cowards will always look for and exploit the weak,,,,, the conflicted (well we are armed to the teeth,,, but should we).
They will attack in force because they have no stones on they’re own.
My belief is that they will move on if one hair on their head is at risk at any certain property.
Believe this. Act accordingly.
Ronald Reagan said peace,,,, through strength.
Believe it.
Turn the other cheek?
Is that what David did,,,, ? The lord is on our side if you believe.
No guarantees. Prep physically, and mentally.
May be controversial here but:
I believe that our only hope is to go through a significant national ‘Depression’.
You’ve heard the old saying,,,,, ‘you have to hit rock bottom, first’.
If a depression is all we have to worry about,,, I’m telling you we really dodged a bullet here.
I agree with a prior post or two.
Precious metals is essential, invest,,,, start now (even if only in small increments).
Ken stated first, you can not have one shred of debt. Live frugally, heck I drive a ’92 Ford truck.
During the first depression,,, yes there were some predatory maggots roaming around, but nothing like will happen the second time around. The moral decay within our society has grown exponentially.
This is your biggest threat if you have worked hard to prepare.
During the first depression people roamed the states trading work for room and board (that’s where the term journeyman came from).
You can not afford to require that kind of help today.
Use the net while it’s still available. Team up if you don’t have family. Learn, practice. And sadly develop a need for survival which transcends decency.
Having read this latest offering from Ken, the posts, and commented myself I’m a bit distraught.
I don’t know when but the theme song to “The Last of the Mohicans” movie has invaded my mind and I can’t get it out. (1992).
Sad, Brutal,,,,
But we will survive if enough of us embrace the realities of our future.
Today I defrosted the deep freeze in the house. As I was putting stuff back, I made a pile of anything pior to 2014 & even added some, but not all, 2014 beans as my beans will be ready in a few days. After all was away, I debagged them into a 5 gal. pail & had it filled to the top. Then I headed over to our neighbour & we fed their pigs. Why? I could have composted it but they are new farmers & we will be buying 1/2 of one of those pigs come fall. They are preppers and learning just about everything. I think we preppers should be building relationships & helping where ever we can before there is a crisis. We need to keep as many allies as we can in close proximity.
I have gardened for many years but something new comes up every year. One year it is tomato blight, another year too much rain, this year it was cabbage root maggots so I know that even those of us that are experienced could lose a lot of garden due to some blight, drought, etc. I think it is good to have some backup food & not just depend on 1 year’s garden. For those just learning to garden try to get yourself a gardening friend. When I was starting out I had a mother-in-law who came through the 1st depression who was such a help. Best of all she was non judgement when I failed. I think we will need good friends that we help & who help us if we have another depression.
A reverse thought in gardening– some years the green beans or corn or tomatoes are real good. Those are the times to make sure every little item is harvested and put up, even if you think you already have enough. Never let anything go to waste cause next year things may fail that did well this year.
I had way more tomatoes than I thought I needed last year, but put all of them to the canner. This year my tomatoes did Terrible ! But I have enough to get through till next spring.
Also, sweet corn has done very well the last three years and because I put it ALL in freezer and canner, this year I could experiment with corn for grinding into corn meal.
I am saving now for soil & garden set up for in the attic, in case gardening outside is not possible. Blight, disease, fallout. Just another possibility to check off the list!
if you put a soil/garden in your attic, you are likely to get
a)moisture build up/mould in attic/walls
b)fire hazard if you run cords to run grow lamps
you’d need some pretty extensive renos/expensive to convert an attic to grow room.
I vacuum seal all my dry goods (rice, beans, sugar, ect) and I have found the best and most affordable way.
Purchase “Food Saver Vacuum Sealing Accessory”, one of each for standard and wide mouth jars. I got mine on Amazon for less than $10.00 each.
Many have recommended the use of a hand-held manual vacuum pump from Harbor Freight. I tried that and it was a waste of time. I waited till the 25% off coupon came in the mail and I used it to buy an electric vacuum pump that is designed to pull out freon from air conditioners. It was already on sale for $89.00 and with the coupon it was out the door for around $60.00. Fill your mason jars with dry goods, place the sealing lid on top, place the Food Saver on top. There is a small hole in the Food Saver. Turn on the vacuum pump, the hose has a cone shaped tip on it, stick the cone in the hole and wait about 2-3 seconds and then pull the hose away, the jar is now very tightly sealed. You can open it with without damaging the lid and re-seal as needed. This entire rig was less than $100.00. By the way, I vacuum seal my ammo in Mason jars too.
That’s Old Boy Scout by the way.
A quart size Mason jar will hold about 150 rounds of .556. Well placed you can get 75-80 rounds of .308 vacuum sealed. If you are into reloading, pour your powder into the jar and seal that too.
I found Anaheim and Yellow peppers on sale for 50 cents a pound. I bought about 10 pounds and dehydrated them and then vacuum sealed them in jars.
Good luck Patriots. If you want to know how all this ends, read the book of Revelation.
I believe that you’re referring to this:
FoodSaver Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer
We use this all the time… great accessory.
Ken,
Would you help me get in touch with the family in this picture? What year was the picture taken? I think that I might be somehow related.
Thanks
…just one of many photos available online via web-search of the Great Depression…
Thanks!!
I have already slashed my expenses. I have no home debt and I own my car outright. My biggest debt is my student loans. I live in a travel trailer on a piece of rented property which includes my water bill my utility bill is also nominal. I know how to garden and I have some stored seeds. I intend to begin gardening and raising chickens and goats next year. I have some food stored and I already collect rainwater.
My family has been doing this for generations, even after we moved away from the farms. We currently have about 2 years worth of food items and always have seeds for next year vacuum packed and frozen in the freezer. If they aren’t needed, I buy new ones, but you never know when you won’t be able to even get seeds to get a garden started.
We have close to 5 years worth of wheat, beans, rice, pasta and those type of things vacuum sealed to extend their shelf life. Once the first year of an economic disaster hits, it won’t be over at the end. It may just be your family out of work that makes you have to survive, not just a world wide disaster.
You need to make sure you have all those other items you need, like medicines, personal items, clothing or at least cloth if you have young children who may need larger sizes. I remember my grandmother, her sisters and my mom all working together to can and get up fruit, meat, etc. for the coming year. I’m so grateful they taught me what to do.
SHOES. boots. Major need, hard to get resource during great depression.
We will eventually be driven back to our grub farm by all this and we are trying to make good on the time now. If I had 4 sons, 3 would be there cropping, but I don’t. Maybe you will meet farmers who need the help and have at least a place to sleep and food. That will be more than most.