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Food

“My brother has a farm! We’ll have plenty of food.” When I hear this I ask, “What kind of farm?”. You can get any kind of answer here. Most people don’t realize that most professional farmers are specialized; they only grow one or a few things. There are farmers that raise only cattle, or corn, or fruit trees, et cetera, sometimes with smaller sets of supplementary crops. Farms that can be lived off of completely, which are very rare, are almost always small and provide for a small number of people. Each crop or type of livestock take special consideration and often special equipment. A huge farm that has all of the equipment to raise different kinds of crops and animals is a rare thing.

“He has cows; we will have meat and milk.” If he is a cattle farmer, he probably relies on hundreds or thousands of pounds of feed, a commercial water source, and large amount of medication to keep them parasite free. If they are pasture fed, that is land that cannot be used for farming crops. Without water they will die. If you plan on getting meat out of them, then he has to have enough cows to have a rotating stock and the ability to get them to slaughter size. Without all of those supplies required to keep them alive, not mentioning water, you guys are going to eat like kings for a very short time until they begin dying. Even if he’s got enough land and water, breeding more cows takes a lot of time, so unless it’s okay to kill off his breeding stock, you’re going to have to wait a year or so for new cows to show up. Of course, you’ll be eating a solid meat diet on little or no water with a questionable ability to cook it.

“Well, my brother has 30 acres!” I don’t know of anyone who can farm 30 acres with a family of four. I doubt your brother is running 30 acres of crops. If he is, he’s probably heavily reliant on fuel-powered machinery, hundreds of pounds of fertilizers and pesticides, an automated watering system, and possibly some hired help. All of that gets cut down to what can be managed by hand. Also, 30 acres of what? Not all land can be farmed for all crops. “We would plant more crops!” When exactly are you showing up at your brothers farm? Could it be in November, when his family is living off mostly canned goods stored for the winter? Even if it all went South just prior to the main planting season, are you going to show up at a critical time as unskilled and uneducated laborer to help him prepare another two acres just to feed you and yours? Like he’s got time to plow, till, fertilize, and plant what it takes to feed you, when he needs to do that for himself. Does he have the seeds for that? Does he have the fertilizer? Does he have the space, or the water, or the ability to keep up that much land while teaching and managing uneducated people? Even if that were the case, does he have the food and water to keep everyone alive until those crops are ready to harvest? Just because he has a farm, doesn’t mean there is something to eat at all times. Even if all of that miraculously happens, did he plan on storing food for you and your family as well? You made the mistake of thinking a farm meant food, but your very little thought also didn’t include preservation. Does he have the ability to dry/smoke/can for the additional people? Does he have burnable material to smoke food or salt for pickling Does he even have the number of canning jars it takes to store that much food and get you all through winter. Does he even can food? With the power out, he loses the ability to refrigerate and freeze, which for most people means no food storage, at all. So even under the best of circumstance you still may starve come winter. But you aren’t in the position to learn how to do any of things (or get updated if you do know).

“We won’t eat as much!” You have enough or you don’t. Try saying “I won’t breathe as much!”. Are you going to let your kids waste away? You’re saying that you’re going to selflessly sacrifice your life and health for everyone else in a survival situation but won’t make any sacrifices now to prevent it?

I’ll Work For It

You say, “I’ll help out and work for my keep.” It takes approximately two acres of heavily-farmed land to feed a family of four. Some will say that even this is unrealistic (myself included). This isn’t just any two acres; this is suitable farming land of closely packed space supported by commercial fertilizer and pesticides worked year-round by dedicated and educated people. Manure, mulch, and compost are monitored and maxed out in their use. You aren’t going to show up and have double the compost simply because you envision planting crops. It also assumes there are decent yields. This is with big box stores for supplies and the power and information of the Internet at hand. The knowledge and work it takes to rotate animal and crops in sync with natural fertilizers, composts, forage, et cetera is not something you’re going to learn in a week or just by reading. Once again, if your brother has a well-maintained maxed out farm, I doubt he has the ability, equipment, or space to double everything he does.

If his farm is two acres and it provides for his family of four (just barely), he’s already maxing out production on that two acres. He’s already milking that land for all it’s worth. The addition of just you by yourself (but remember that there are three of you) will add another 25% on what is being consumed. Your lack of education aside, no matter how much you “help out”, won’t give him another 25% out of that land. At this point, he will have lost the ability to purchase commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and probably the ability to water it as well. The production on what he has now will drop and might end completely. The work that will make a difference just isn’t there. You don’t get to sweep floors and wash laundry while everyone is starving to death.

Lightening the load of work doesn’t add to more production. Just because you shell peas and shuck corn doesn’t mean there are more peas and corn. Hauling water for livestock doesn’t make more livestock. If there is limited pasture land, helping out with the cattle doesn’t allow him to have more cattle, and even if it did it would be months before the cattle were bred, born, and raised to the point of harvest. Basically it means that your contribution, as uneducated as it is, doesn’t allow or make up for your consumption.

How many extra tools do you think are on a farm? How many people can shovel when there are only three shovels, et cetera?

Are you even capable of helping? Have you tried chopping a realistic amount of wood or working a field for hour? Can you do this for days, or is what you mean by “helping” sitting around doing all of the light work that makes no difference? Of course, you’re not in a position to improve your mind or body, not in any way.

But I Have Valuable Skills!

“I’m a military trained battlefield medic/paramedic/emergency room surgeon, and I have extensive experience in natural home remedies, holistic healing, and maternal medicine! I would be an asset to anyone! Ha!” That is incredible and a skill set that would give anyone pause. That doesn’t change the fact that he can’t feed you. Your training will allow you to keep everyone up-to-date on what stage of dehydration they’re in right up the moment of death. Air, water, food (in that order and all three of those) are first priorities. If you cannot provide those, it doesn’t matter if you can set a broken bone or perform an appendectomy with kitchen knives and utensils. People need food and water immediately. Do you really think you’re going to shovel food into your mouth, secure in the knowledge that you are a medical resource in time of need? Between bites of food, you can tell everyone how you’ve got them covered if someone breaks a leg. Of course, you are assuming that your brother has all of the medical supplies needed to fully utilize your skills, but you’re not in a position to stock up on those supplies. If you get hurt, you are even more of a burden, but you’re not in a position to teach anyone medical skills however basic.

“I Will Learn When I Get There”

In a disaster situation, no one has time to teach you. Survival is the main concern. No one wants you to plow through supplies and waste time and effort making common mistakes. Why are you waiting until death is at the door to learn anything? Once it hits the fan and many resources are unavailable, there will be less time to educate you and your children from day one. I’m sure your brother will understand that you just aren’t in any kind of position to so much as read an article to learn a single thing right now. I’m sure he’ll understand having to teach you everything in person. I’m sure he’ll laugh when he remembers his years-long learning curve and the mistakes to get where he’s at. He’ll keep on laughing when you waste irreplaceable supplies making beginner mistakes.

A farm doesn’t mean food automatically. Self-sustaining farms and preparedness often go hand-in-hand, but there are many farmers out there that don’t prepare. Farming is a business, and that business relies on power. (Water relies on power, too.) There are farmers who don’t can or preserve food in any way. Some grow their one or two crops and then everything else is last minute from the grocery store. There are farmers who are incapable of surviving without outside help; they sell crops for money and that money buys everything else they need. In a major disaster, their farm would rapidly fall apart. Once their wells stop pumping water, their livestock is dead in a few days and their crops shortly after. I assume your brother’s house is self-sustaining. This is assuming your brother even knows you’re coming. You and he may have had a discussion and he may have agreed. That doesn’t mean he’s given the slightest thought as to how he’s going to provide for you, has prepared to do so, or is even capable of doing so. Of course, you’re in no position to have a realistic discussion with the person whose house you’re running to. Once the grocery stores are empty, the ATMs stop giving cash, and the real desperation begins, your brother’s lush crops and walking four-legged steaks won’t attract any attention. He won’t lose a single mouthful to looters and thieves. Not that you are in any kind of position to learn any kind of self defense or read up on a combat mindset.

Of course you were the only one with this brilliant idea of running to your brother’s house. You have no siblings. His wife doesn’t. Your ex-husband, once he begins to starve, will never think of going there, and your brother’s neighbors won’t have their hands out either. None of those people will have family or friends, right?

Many people will make the same mistake in thinking that a farm means food. Many of them will have an idea of where those farms are. Many of them are coming to take what’s at the farm– what you have.

Bring up disaster preparedness and you’ll get a variety of reactions, everything from concern to amusement. Awhile after you start this discussion you’ll usually receive a comment like “I’m coming to your house.” This last declaration being an entirely different issue in and of itself, it’s a statement to the effect of “I don’t have to do anything because you’re doing it all for me. I will continue on my merry life while you make the sacrifices necessary to save me if anything goes wrong. You save, you train, and you go without. We’re friends, and I’m special.”

Here are some common stated problems followed by their causes or meanings:

“I don’t know.” I refuse to learn.

“I can’t afford to, not even a single can of soup can be put aside a month.” This is often spoken by people with a staggering cable bill.

“I am physically unable.” I will not plan. I will not read to educate myself.

“I have somewhere to go.” Someone else will take care of my uneducated mind and unprepared body when I show up empty-handed.

“I can’t change my life. I need to be happy and live!” I’ll spend my money and time on all of the little things that bring me happiness. You spend your money and time on all of things that will keep me alive.

“I’m not in a position to right now.” I will never be in a position to.

I’m Not In A Position To Right Now

“I’m not in a position to right now” is a foolish statement and an excuse. No one reading this is dumb enough to believe that the person saying it has actually dedicated any thought to the statement before speaking. No one thinks this person actually sat down and contemplated all the ways, however small, that they could get better prepared for an emergency to finally come to the conclusion that they just weren’t in a position to do anything. The real reason they don’t is that they don’t want to. It is far easier to hide from the truth and assume someone else will take care of them than it is to go through the effort of getting ready to take care of themselves. It is far easier to do nothing. They know that they aren’t ready and look stupid for it, so they attempt to cover up their laziness by claiming it can’t be done right now. If it can’t be done, they can’t be blamed for it not getting it done.

I Have Someone Who Will Take Care of Me

“I have someone who will take care of me.” This is one of the most selfish things said without the slightest bit of thought. It the same as saying “Love exists in the mind of some other person, so that person is morally bound to care for me.” Not the slightest bit of thought is put towards the effort or burden that will be placed on those loved ones. The only feelings these leeches have is the satisfaction of insurance and security when they think of the person they can run to when their world falls apart and they are unable to take care of themselves. Love of this kind only works one way– their way. It is not the kind of love that ensures they show up as ready as they can be in mind, body, and material, so that everyone can pool resources and work together. It is the kind of love that means you get ready and sacrifice while I spend money on living it up so that I will show up at your door as useless as possible causing all of us to die together.

“My son/brother/mother/uncle/neighbor has a farm, and we’ll go there. We’ll be fine.” I almost always ask this person if their benefactor is planning on taking them in. An answer of “of course” always follows. I clarify by asking, “Is your brother planning to support you with food and water while protecting you? Does he have those preparations in mind and is actively working for you as well as his own right now?”. The answers become more unsure at this point, but their response is still along the lines of “We’ll be fine.”

Many people say “I” have somewhere to go. What they mean by “I” is “Me and my family of four as well as our two dogs”. “I” may include two children, a husband or wife, grandma Sue, and possibly some neighbors. Let’s just say it will be three people for argument’s sake.

I’ll Go To My Brother’s House

If their response is “I’ll go to my brother’s house”, I ask where he is. He is often many miles or a few states away. When I ask how they are going to get there, the answer is almost aways that they plan on driving. So, I’ll bring up that ATM machines may not work, there may be massive power outages with no gasoline available to buy, and roads may be clogged with broken down vehicles and the traffic of fleeing people or things such as tornadoes. Phones may not work. They will claim that they know the way, but when I ask if they know more than one way to get to their brother’s house, I’ll usually get a blank look. Things such as road blocks, downed trees and power lines, flooding, stalled cars on a bridge, et cetera may obstruct their known path, but they are in no position to get a $2 map and mark out more than one route, to have a tank’s worth of gas in cash set aside, to fill up a small gas can with extra fuel, et cetera. They are in no position to learn how to change a tire or to set up a schedule to make sure their car stays maintained or at half a tank of gas.

I Will Show Up

Let’s just say you get there and that there is enough food and water to sustain you long term, and you are provided with shelter and protection. What problems are you bringing? What special medical needs do you have? Do you have dietary restrictions or require medication? Do you turn into a mental basket case when it comes to stress? Is your body as prepared as it can be? Are any of these things a concern for anyone you brought with you? If you or one of your children has chronic ear infections, I’m sure your brother is going to laugh it off when you plow through his supply of antibiotics. Maybe your method of parenting is to shut your kids up with gaming consoles and a TV. Have your kids spent any real time outside? Without the constant digital distractions that are so common to kids these day, what will happen when all of that is gone? What are you actually bringing to your brother’s doorstep?

Some people are so severely addicted to coffee that they can’t function without it; they literally cannot focus. However, you’re not in a position to research alternative medications that see to your needs or stock up on the vital ones. You’re not in a position to eat just a little more healthy or exercise in even the smallest way. You absolutely can’t break your addictions now or in the very least put a packet of instant coffee singles in your glove compartment to get you through the drive over there.

Water

I clarify further by asking a series of questions: “Because most sources call for one gallon of water a day per person, is your brother storing an extra three gallons of water for every day you’ll be there for an indefinite amount of time? If your brother isn’t storing it, does he have the ability to procure and purify that much extra water every day? Has he stocked up on the water purification equipment and/or water purification chemicals needed for all of that water? Is there a realistic and plentiful source of water?”. This is usually when the other person begins to run from the argument. They have begun to understand that they have no plan at all and haven’t done any thinking on the subject. They once again start making statements about being fine, et cetera. Sometimes they’ll dodge with a change of subject by saying something like, “It sounds like you’re worried about me. I’m flattered.”

Water is a very important resource. The potential lack it, which can cause death in days, hasn’t once entered their minds as to whether it is actually available at their safe haven, much less the thought of what it would take to provide this for them and their family. “We would boil our water.” This is the fastest reply to come, and it is usually uneducated as well. “So assuming there is an unlimited supply of water that you can get to the point where boiling will make a difference, what are you going to boil it with? Do you have a clue how much burnable material it takes to boil a gallon of water? Actually it’s seven gallons every day if the main means of purification for his four and your three is boiling (not including animals). This, of course, is taking away from burnable material needed to cook enough food for that many people. By the way, what are you going to start that fire with day after day after day, and how are you going to do it if you aren’t in the position to get a single packet of chemical purifiers, a case of bottled water, or in the very least learn how to build a fire or find out how long it takes to boil water for purification?” You can guess how the conversation usually goes after this.

“How is your brother going to water his farm?” I live in a farming community. I do not know of a single farmer who has a solar-powered well system capable of watering their entire farm…not a single one. Every one of them relies on grid power to run their pumps and crop watering systems. When the power goes out, all of that goes away. That means dead plants or plants that severely under produce. It means dead animals. It means dead farmers, if they don’t have water stored.