Multiple relationships equals a community and a community equals resources. This sounds so simplistic but many Preppers do not work on developing relationships which means they do not have a SHTF community. Not having a community means that they are missing out on vital resources they may need during and after a widespread disaster or a societal collapse. I saw this concept in action for myself in the past few weeks.
Making a relationship
Amish buggies and wagons are a common sight on our road. A keen eye will sometimes allow you to get to know the locals versus those who are just passing by. I was out by the road contemplating the possibility of a future project when two Amish gentlemen that I did not recognize, rode by me and entered the business across the road. The shop was closed but it is not uncommon to see people come by after hours. I went inside my house and then noticed the Amish men coming up my driveway in their wagon. I went outside and greeted them. They said they thought I “might have something they could use”. My Amish neighbor knows I have a hardware/sporting goods store in my pole barn. I told him it was okay to tell his family and friends about it. As far as my neighbor knows, I buy stuff at auction, and what I do not need I re-sell. I just do not try very hard to sell it. So, I just thought that the word had gotten around. I asked what they needed and they pointed to my backhoe. The relationship was established.
Notes to Myself
My first thought was that I need to hide my backhoe from street view when not in use. I have a love-hate relationship with my back-hoe. I may only use the backhoe once a year but attaching it to my tractor is a major pain. But like anything else, each time I do it, it gets a little easier. I do love the time and effort it saves me. Hence, I do not advertise my backhoe. The two gentlemen explained they were from New York, in the area helping family and they needed to install a water line and drain pipe and the trench only needed to be about 25 feet long. I knew I would not want to dig a trench like that by hand and I had a lot of empathy for them, so I agreed to dig the trench. They then asked how much it would cost. I told them I was not a professional and had only used the back-hoe a few times since I bought it. I said I did not even have a clue as to what a reasonable price was. They threw out a number and I said that something in that neighborhood would be fine. So I got the location and time and the gentlemen left.
Witnessing a community
I showed up before many of the other Amish who were going to help did. The few that were there showed me where the trench was needed and where the current water line and drain pipe were, that they needed to tap into. I started to work and the ground was rock solid since it has not really rained going on three weeks. The next thing I knew, it was pouring rain. The Amish invited me in out of the rain into the building that they were working on. They brought me out a cup of coffee and we chatted. I came to find out these were relatives of my Amish neighbor. The rain stopped and more Amish showed up, including my neighbor and his wife. I told them I was not a expert with the back-hoe and that I only used it a few times and my neighbor said: “Yeah we know, the paint is still on the bucket”, to which we all laughed.
The digging was slow due to the clay ground being dry and rock-hard. I found both the existing water line and drain pipe without even putting a knick on them. They needed more water tubing and a few fittings so one of them jumped on their buggy to go get them from one of the other local Amish families. Shortly after, they broke for lunch and invited me to join them. The spread of food was impressive but the taste was even more impressive. We had many topics of conversation including one on ice houses. One Amish gentleman later remarked that he had never seen an “Englishman” get so excited talking about an ice house. The Amish, by their very nature of being a sub-culture in America, are a tight-knit community. I have witnessed several Amish “work parties” including a barn raising. It is amazing to see family, friends, and neighbors come together to help someone in their community when many Americans do not even know their neighbors.
The Amish do not carry homeowner’s insurance. Why? Because the community will band together to help the people rebuild their home and set their home back up. They also band together to raise money to pay for medical bills of people in their community. We are seeing in the rural areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, communities banding together with outside assistance to recover from disaster. Two points to remember however are:
1.) Outside assistance, like we are seeing in Tennessee and North Carolina are dependent upon technology, specifically modern communications.
2.) In some TEOTWAWKI scenarios, like an EMP or nuclear war, no help will be coming from the outside, since everyone will be in the same situation.
This is why it is so important to develop local relationships and form a local community.
Becoming part of the community
I am not Amish. I will not be part of their religion but I can become part of their community. How? It hinges on the relationships. My Amish neighbor stopped by the other night and said he had been trying to get hold of a driver to take him and his wife to Wal-Mart for two days without any luck. He asked if we could take them to Wal-Mart. Sure.
Back in the 1990s the buzzword was networking. Networking is similar, but not exactly the same thing as a relationship. A relationship is built over time while networking can be done by a quick introduction and exchange of a business card at a social or business gathering. What is the big difference? Say you need a pick-up truck to move something, a relationship will get you the truck while a network acquaintance may or may not get you a truck. The Amish are very entrepreneurial and I have found that many have multiple “side hustles”. These can range from running a greenhouse to selling plants to fixing old ringer washing machines, old sewing machines, or Coleman stoves. By building a relationship with a few Amish in the neighborhood, I have gained access to the Amish community and am learning who has the various “side hustles”, and where they are.
Not just quid pro quo
Relationships and Community do not need to be just for quid pro quo situations. The other morning I went out to feed my cows and I was met with an empty pasture. I jumped on the four-wheeler and started to comb the neighborhood. I knocked on a few doors but many were not home. A cursory search resulted in two piles of dung and some hoof marks being found. One pile of dung was found immediately outside the fence, the other pile was on the next road to the north along with the hoof marks. I stopped to talk to a fellow legionnaire and told him if he heard about anyone finding two cows to please let me know. While talking to him he told me that a local “deer farm” had its fence cut and the person doing it was caught on camera. That was good information to know. It could be the self-righteous animal rights terrorists letting animals out. Relationships are a must for getting valuable information or intelligence.
It is not instant pudding
Making relationships and becoming part of a community is not something that happens instantaneously. Relationships are built on trust, and trust is earned. Trying to establish new relationships during and post-SHTF will be challenging. Walking up and knocking on a door today is pretty safe, but knocking on a door post-SHTF could be very risky. Having relationships and being part of a wider community will eliminate some of the risks when knocking on a door, post-SHTF. The more interaction you have with a person, the better the relationship–that is assuming that both people are acting honestly and admirably. If a neighbor, whom you only met once, came over to your house today and asked for a 10-pound bag of sugar that they would replace later you might take them at their word and give them the sugar. Would we do the same after SHTF? Trust and relationships are a very valuable prep that many preppers neglect.
Communities
Think about American life before the automobile. Communities were small and each town had things like a general store, sawmill, grain mill, doctor, blacksmith, and a church. Nowadays, those amenities may be miles away and difficult to access in a post-SHTF world. Do you have a doctor, nurse, or EMT living in your neighborhood? Do you have a relationship with them? It will be up to very localized communities to establish security in a post-SHTF world, as well. I have been around lots of different people with guns, some I never want to be around again due to their poor firearm handling. Would it not be nice to know before TSHTF who has good experience in firearms training and security, law enforcement, or the military? In a post-SHTF world, our communities may revert back to just a few miles around our area, it is vital to know the people (good and bad) in your community before the SHTF.
Resources
When you have solid relationships, built on trust over long period of time that opens up access to resources. Resources can be tangible, such as tools, equipment, or supplies. Resources can also be human such as a person providing their time and “the sweat of their brow” or a person providing their knowledge such as engineering know-how or medical treatment. Just the other night my Amish neighbor asked to use my power washer. I do not like to loan out my equipment but to people I know and trust I have no problem with it. When you are an active part of a community, the more resources you will have access to. Having access to resources does not mean they will be “free”. There is a big difference between loaning a neighbor a power washer on a “Blue Sky” day versus loaning a generator to a neighbor after TSHTF.
Returning the favor
The one thing that will kill a relationship very quickly is not being reciprocal. My old neighbor would literally drop what he was doing to help me. He ran his own business and could not get away from his business to run errands or go to auctions. My neighbor knew I attended auctions frequently. One day, he asked if I was going to a particular auction in the area. I said I was not planning on it and he then mentioned that there was a piece of equipment that he wanted at the auction. I told him I would go and try and get it for him. He gave me his top bid amount and a blank check with his signature on it. The morning I woke up to go to the auction, I was sick as a dog. It was cold and rainy outside. But I still went. Why? Because I knew my neighbor would do the same for me.
Final thoughts
We all understand “Bean, Bullets, and Band-Aids” I argue that we need to add “Buddies” to the mix. “Buddies” with different skill sets, knowledge and experiences that complement other “Buddies” in the community. Another reason to add “buddies” is that “many hands make for light work”. A few years ago I fenced in about two acres of pasture with electric fence wire. I pounded in around a hundred 7 foot “T” posts by hand. This task took me several evenings after work to complete. Compare this to my Amish neighbor who fenced in about 8 acres with locust posts, pounded in by a sledge hammer. He then strung up 3 strands of barbed wire. My neighbor completed his fencing project in just one evening with several other young Amish gentlemen. The other reason that “buddies” should be added is because multiple people will be needed to help with the security, for the community. So make sure that you are adding buddies to your prepper “to-do list”.