Jim:
My pessimistic mentor in preparedness frequently says: “I hate being so d*mn right all the time!”
I can’t help but wonder if you share the sentiment. I’m beginning to do so!
The more I read the current news about market volatility, Peak Oil, and CCD the more I am reminded of the pieces I wrote and you published on SurvivalBlog months ago! The full texts are still available in your archives and the advice is still valid!
For new readers and to refresh the memory of others here are a few quotes pulled out of the late in 2006 and early 2007 pieces.
From November 3, 2006: How Long Until You Starve?
“ The lowly honey bee is the most prolific and productive pollinator of crops. It is actually threatened with extinction by a new wave of parasites and bee diseases. In the same way that “avian flu” endangers the global bird population (and to a lesser extent humans) bee diseases have the potential to destroy that essential link in the production of food for human consumption.“
“ Even changes in the market price of fuel affect the profitability of farming. If a farmer earns $1,000 per ton of food produced, but it will cost hundreds more in fuel costs next season, why would he plant the next crop?”
“ Some very intelligent people warn of an economic collapse on the scale of the Great Depression or worse. Hyper inflation is a reality in third world nations. It has happened in civilized and developed Europe several times in the last century as well. What if your paycheck loses 90% of its buying power in a month’s time? What if the markets lose faith in the imaginary value of currency? Such things have happened repeatedly in the past. If the store shelves are full but a can of soup costs $100, how long can you eat? How long until rioting empties the stores and stops distribution?”
What can you do?
#1 Store a food and water reserve to see you through the initial crisis.
A year’s supply for your family is not an unreasonable amount. FIVE years of the shelf stable basics for your family would not be too much.
#2 Open pollinated “heirloom” seeds and the ability to raise your own crops (at least “gardening”) are part of the answer. Buy your seeds now, practice planting, harvesting, storing the food, AND saving your own seeds to plant for the next season.
#3 Don’t overlook unconventional sources of food. With a little research you should be able to recognize wild forage plants and prepare them for your table.
#4 If keeping domestic livestock or poultry is an option that you would like to explore, I highly recommend Countryside and Small Stock Journal.
#5 If keeping small stock isn’t practical you may resort to foraging for wild game or fishing.
From April 2, 2007 Top Ten Suggestions for Stocking Up:
“… the time to stock up is before a shortage occurs…we are living at the tail end of a historic period of plenty.”
“” Whether you feel that the price hikes we are seeing are due to Peak Oil, developing nations gobbling up natural resources, or active war zones sucking in all available oil and ammunition, you can not deny that prices (especially for fuel and metals) have increased significantly over the past few years. … it will become far worse.
“ When you factor in the very real risks of an economic crisis (derivatives, real estate, etc), the loss of honeybees from the pollination cycle, … you can see the threat of significant price increases for goods with a post-SHTF value.”
So my top ten recommended specific purchases are below.
1. Food Grains – rice, oatmeal, beans, wheat, corn – most of us consume far more than we produce. Food grains are cheap especially if bought in bulk and when properly stored can last for years. Regardless of the crisis, food will be needed. It just makes sense to keep several months of food on hand especially in light of the potential shortages that could result from the die off of pollinators….
2. Matches –
3. If you can still find reasonably priced ammunition … buy it.
4. Effective defense weapons – (note on 1-25-08- that the elections are less than a year away!)
5. High Capacity magazines – (note on 1-25-08 that the elections are closer every day!)
6. Over the Counter Medicines –
7. Hygiene products –
8. Oils of every kind –
9. Salt –
10. Honey – the bees are dying.
– Mr. Yankee