We are on our own now, It's important to make plans/What have You Done?

[KoKo]

I'm buying produce from "Organic Farmer" but he's been rained out with floods so he can't deliver what he promised us for the $500.00 downpayment.

I'm wondering how these flooded fields all up and down the East Coast will cause a huge decline in our produce...but nevermine...we get it all from Mexico and Guatemala these days. Those who aren't Immigrating to the US are doing the NAFTA THINGY and maybe their WEATHER is better than ours....

What are you doing? Solar heated water heaters? Rain Barrell's to combat DROUGHT...or Driving Less and Combining Trips?

What's POSITIVE that you are doing to survive and keep your sense of humor about it all?

[eleny]

1. Driving way less and using one of the frugal DU groups

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=353

[Earth_First]

2. We did several things in order to move in the self-reliance direction...

Surprisingly enough, it's not all that difficult, and in some instances, alot of fun in the process!

[xmas74]

3. I only drive to and from work, since I have to go down

a poorly lit road late at night. Otherwise,I'd bike there.

I've thought about rain barrels. Perfect if I add a spicket-would be nice for watering my plants.

[librechik]

4. I'm marrying off my son to an Australian girl

heh--visiting privileges when it all gets too too much!

(and draft-escape for my boy, if all works out!)

[Delphinus]

31. Does she have a brother?

Perhaps her dad would be more my age ... or a cousin, uncle ... you get the drift! :)

[librechik]

32. four of them

Australia's a fertile place for the man-talent, I must say --you should visit!

[Quakerfriend]

5. Hi KoKo1

:pals:

I keep a large organic garden. And, I've recently been studying edible 'weeds' found in my area (I keep wondering why I've suddenly felt compelled to do this!) Also, considering growing wheat grass indoors.

We had chickens for several years, but they loved their freedom and eventually the hawks got them.
Their eggs were out of this world!

I also make distilled water.

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the 'what ifs'.

[KoKo]

14. You are very BUSY....I can't grow much...clay soil on a hill so every

nourishment of my soil is always washed away in the rain...these days.

My best garden was in NYState where even thought I had to dig out some rocks..I got good stuff...and also where I grew up in South Carolina which grew the best Tomato crops for taste outside NJ...... Sandy soil.

Anyway...I've done the "raised garden" and "deck garden in pots" and I finally gave up..so I went the "organic route" from a farmer who doesn't live on a "high ridge" like I do where everything one does washes away.

I've gotten some great "little potatoes" (new) from him and Kale and Swiss Chard. The other stuff has been very disappointing but then it's been a hard year weather wise for him...

[drthais]

18. weather is bad all around

here is Louisiana we're going through an EXTREME drought.
We've been growing organic food for 32 years
although we have other jobs also, we have an acre in produce
and sell from our place during the summer
and to a health food store
we put up a lot of food.

hey, the 'weeds' idea is one we've talked about many times
it's for the bad times
when the hungry from the cities
come lookin for food...it is good to know what wild food looks like
or, you can distribute some across your property.

http://www.accidentalgardener.blogspot.com

[KoKo]

20. Green Leaf Veggies ...and things like dandelions that the "landscapers"

and folks for years have considered a Pest/Weed are great for Vitamin C and other nutrients. I was happy to have the Kale and Swiss Chard from my organic farmer because the "leafy greens" have lots of good stuff. One could live on them okay for a good time.......

[FloridaPat]

27. Here you go. You're back in business.

http://earthbox.com/
http://www.earthboxresearch.com/

[Swamp Rat]

6. Ride a bike, buy natural, organically grown food, buy USED books and DVDs

make MY OWN music and art, volunteer to help neighbors (and myself) recover from Katrina, carpool if I need to drive somewhere, VOTE and help progressive candidates... ad infinitum. :)

[KoKo]

22. Used Book and DVD or VHS..(if you have storage space) is great

resource. I have found many writers I wouldn't have read from Used Book stores...great Brit writers who aren't in the US Mega Stores and old movies that aren't available for rental anymore.

It's fun looking through and getting a "FIND!"

[Swamp Rat]

25. I especially find GREAT deals on classical music CDs and classic books!

I recently bought Thomas Mann's "Felix Krull" and Erica Jong's "Fear of Flying" for under a buck!!! :D

[NMDemDist2]

7. bought an acre of land and already working on the garden plans

some using gray water from the shower and washer

passive solar to start, active solar soon. a pellet stove is installed also

moving the business to the property so no commute

[FloridaPat]

8. Learning how to grow my own food. Also planning on putting in

a solar electricty system in the next 18 months if all the tax credit info is correct.

I am having quite a year with the gardening. Last year I got my Master Gardener certification so I could learn how to grow food etc in Florida. Coming from up North, I was doing almost everything wrong. The citrus is doing real well. Finally got the trees big enough to feed us and the critters. Working on salads for the summer. Planting all sorts of interesting and unusual food for Americans. Seems there's lot of food raised in the Carribean that we never see.

As for the tax credits - I heard Florida is going to have one which will make installing a solar system free. There are plans for distilling your own water with no electricity around.

A friend of mine is putting up a hydroponic fish farms that will fertilize his hydroponic vegetable farm. Yes, it's time to look local.

Interesting web site that I still have problem understanding what they're talking about - or at least how to do it: www.solari.com

[KoKo]

16. Good Stuff...what you say. How large is your acreage in FLA...sounds

like you are going for new market with food tastes, too! I notice that food tastes are changing from what I see in my Food Markets, too. More spicey and ethnic than before.

[FloridaPat]

29. I got into a neat site: www.pfaf.org

Also the weeds that are edible. It's amazing what is edible and grows easily.

I have 15 acres, half of which is forest. Yes I have a fireplace. Found a use for hurricanes - they bring down trees so I don't have to worry about killing myself chopping them down myself.

I like the idea of periannial food crops. One of my favorits: moringa. Great salad plants Grows well in Florida. Dies after a cold snap but the tree comes back from the roots. Grows over 20 feet per year from the ground. Has more calcium per cup than milk and all the essiential ammino acids.

Sweet potatos take over the garden. My potatoes are doing wierd things too - like taking over the garden. A couple of varieties of hibiscus have edible leaves and flowers. There is a weed here that's edible. It has taken over my yard. Taro can be grown in the shade. Hostras are edible. The list goes on. My plan is to have enough periennals to have a nice flow of food.

Also found periennal broccoli (probably will do better up north), wheat and rye. Having a lot of fun.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Keeping my spiritual center

Mystics from different paths are all talking about the changes that are starting to happen, and suggest that those who are in community join together (and those not in physical contact join in spirit) to do practices and meditations. We've found that within our community we also are willing to share practical skills and tips for survival. Using an old swimming pool (those with the three to five foot sides) as a water collector is one thing being done. Sharing tools so that gardens produce to the max is another. Collecting foodstuffs that aren't perishable is another-group buying cuts down the cost per individual. Having the solar backup ready is also imperative.

[KoKo]

21. I've found alot of help

on the Astrology sites like DU's Own Star...Nancy and other sites who have folks that give links to most of the same stuff DU'ers do. Nancy started here on DU and the links came from DU posters...I find that a good place when things get to me. Mostly because they have great political insight from "Mundane and not Sun Sign" astrologers:

http://www.starlightnews.com/

http://www.astroworld.us/

[shugh514]

10. I moved closer to my work

It was easier for me to relocate because I rent. I used to travel 60-75 miles per day round trip. I now drive 10-15 miles a day. I take less trips to nowhere. I used to love taking off in the car and traveling backroads I've never been on. It's not that I can't afford it. I refuse to feed the beast. I found a place with a woodstove I use to supplement the oil heat. I also buy local when I can.

[zeemike]

11. We have the opposite problem here

Way too dry, but we are fortunate to have our organic farmers have irrigation from the river and so they can still make a crop.
But what I do is try never to buy new. I drive old cars and fix them when they have problems. But I am blessed to know an Old timer mechanic that knows how and is teaching his son how, to fix things at a reasonable rate. .

[KoKo]

24. Wouldn't it be great if we could "Fix/Repair" things anymore.........

Things are so cheap with Chinese imports most folks think it's not worth the bother, though. I'm so tired of "fish eyed glares" when I ask if something can be repaired...but I know that lots of jobs were lost when everything became computerized and it's hard to repair stuff like that.

[Initech]

12. I stopped using my credit cards

Except for my ATM / debit card (which is linked to my checking account and draws out of it automatically) I've stopped using them altogether.

[KoKo]

15. Yes...I only have one Credit Card and when the Shopkeepers harrass me

about getting 10 to 15% Off My Purchase if I just fill out a form for "XYZ" Store Credit Card ...I always say..."No Thanks' one card is enough for me."

I live through the dirty looks from the "check out persons" who apologize and say: "I have to ask," knowing they are trying to hold onto their jobs while the Boss is telling them to sign me up for Store Credit Card.

It's really hard to deal. If we don't sign up for Store Credit...folks lose their job..if we do We are in Debt Forever!

[Initech]

19. I never use the store credit cards either

And I love how they always get you with the "sign up or I'll lose my job" angle. Fuck it. The way I see it is the fewer databases I'm on, the better!

[KoKo]

17. My water heater is on it's last years...I'd like to go "Solar" and wonder

who sells them?

[tnlefty]

13. Kids are out of school so the driving is even less than it was!

I combine trips. Along with some other projects, we installed a wood burning stove that will heat the water that we need as well as heat the house during the winter. We grow the foodstuffs that we can.

I haven't had 'window treatments' that cover my windows for years, and it's great to have natural lighting and I also burn candles - lots of candles. From the time that my oldest was 18 months old he understood the 'turn the light off when you leave the room' and when there is enough light coming through the window don't turn the light on at all!

My flower gardens have always required heat resistant and drought tolerant varieties of plants. I gaze lovingly at other types from afar, but I don't plant them. I don't even water my lawn. I composte a lot of materials that others would put in a landfill, and if enriched soil and mulch isn't enough for a plant then it doesn't belong in my flowerbeds.

My thermostat is set on 65 in the winter and 80 or above during the summer. If it's 100+ outside then I will turn the thermostat up from it's normal because it's gonna feel a heck of a lot cooler anyway. We also use ceiling fans.

I'm waiting for the day when solar power strips can be applied to existing windows.

[greenman3610]

23. renewed my RN license and took a part time gig

to diversify my income streams.

[left is right]

26. You all have listed great ideas for fiscal/physical surviving

But I would suggest that you also keep a diary--not one of those cute little bloggy thingies but an actual pen/paper diary. A lot of what we now know about the Holocaust is due to the courage and wisdom of those who documented the atrocities in their diaries--at great personal risk. This administration is drawing us ever closer to something that feels disastrous. And we can't count on the National media to record the truth. That only leaves freedom loving people to do it for prosperity. Record the atrocities for future generation.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

28. Haven't Needed To Do Anything Different To Survive So Far.

I'll let ya know when the time comes.

[jokerman93]

30. The frugal group on DU has been helpful for motivation

JokerLady and I have been working hard all year on these issues. We paid off the car and all other debt (except the low interest mortgage on our other apartment in China). Destroyed all but one credit card. Bought bicycles for local getting around. Am using a BART pass to commute to work now. Fortunately my company is doing very well so far, so we're in the lucky position to be able prepare thoughtfully for any lifestyle changes that may be coming. We're lucky to have the luxury of knowing what many of our choices are - and so are able to make good ones as far as possible. We buy fresh produce only at the local farmer's markets which haven't been too impacted in our area so far. The prices are significantly lower and the selection much better than at our local Raley's/Nobb Hill or Trader Joe's. I'm baking fresh bread and J-lady is showing me some tricks to cooking Chinese style. Also, this spring we started growing several medicinal and culinary herbs and vegetables "in the pot" out on our little balcony here since we're apartment dwellers. (By the way, wheat grass is highly nutritious, costs pennies and is easy to grow - though it tastes a little weird.) I've also started building a rooftop garden but I doubt it'll be ready until summer this year. The apartment complex manager and I have been putting together an emergency plan for the residents too. Most of them are too indifferent to care, but they'll sure come asking for help if there's an earthquake. We're on one of the main fault lines here, so we need to be ready to help our people get organized and in positive survival mode to be able to work together if there's an emergency and the Federal/state emergency response systems are still broken or inadequate. That takes a plan.

As far as energy is concerned, well, we keep the lights off when we aren't using them, and throughout the winter we actually managed to get by without lighting the pilot on the gas heater. (The snuggling was delightful by the way!)

And, I agree with the sentiment posted above -- we're on our own. After Katrina I don't doubt it'll play that way again. That's the neocon's "new normal" for America I think. And to me, that means it's up to us now. A new culture of community and the values of cooperation for mutual benefit will have to come from us. Can we help and teach ourselves in preparation to help and teach our neighbors?

And last but not least, to keep my sense of humor in top shape I do the usual stuff - I watch old Flash Gordon serials, sing raunchy songs in the shower, read DU, and try to give the world a good goosing every once in a while...

:smoke:
J

[JCMach1]

34. don't worry about disaster-- natural or political too much

because the second there would be a problem the US army would be here to secure everything...

It's the oil supply!

Life goes on in one of the craziest places on earth Dubai/UAE)... just two days ago I was skiiing and stepped out of the complex to 45+ centigrade heat... the heat is horrific here in the summer and I am sticking to the airconditioning.

Now the vacation home, I get worried (after all it's Florida and hurricane season)!

[jokerman93]

37. "Don't worry" is good advice

I agree with you.

I've heard Dubai can be like an oven, so I'd say your A.C. is a real necessity there for sure! Here in the San Fran Bay Area, using the gas heater for us is more of an option, actually. We have a nice climate. I sometimes forget to be clear about where we live. lol :-)

In our neck of the woods though being prepared for an earthquake really is a good idea no matter how much faith one still keeps in the Fed government. Our region is extremely earthquake prone and has a history of some pretty destructive hits. Considering the enormous stress being put on our military these days, I'd expect there would be a significant delay, several days at least, before any kind of essential services would be available locally, and even then a hierarchy of priorities would have to be set. Then there are the enormous issues of government incompetence, fraud, waste and abuse, things I think we don't take into account at our own peril.

The people who live around us are regular working people who have little time to think about emergency preparedness. That's why we've been putting together a plan and finding out how to build a tenant organization - think of it as a community service. The way we see it, the group of us are just anticipating an eventual likelihood by putting together a plan for the folks in our little complex here. Now - as far as the political disaster - maybe you haven't been following the trends, but that already happened about six years ago.

Our gardening and family frugality campaign isn't a survivalist thing. I sure hope it didn't read that way! We view it as a form of personal activism. We have in mind things like trying to minimize our unnecessary consumption and waste; teaching ourselves some lost home skills; enjoying our garden way out here in the middle of strip-mall hell; getting more exercise while reducing our energy imprint; not feeding or buying into the corporate credit-debt beast. Things like that. Our personal simplicity campaign may not make much of an impact on the world, but it's what we can do. We're enjoying it actually. And with simplicity we're finding unexpected pleasures too. We'd be doing it even if we didn't feel responsible.

All in all I'd say it's about an experiment in the dynamic relationship between self-reliance and community - not survivalism. Anyway I hope it read that way.

Here's part of what started the ball rolling for us last year:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=141&topic_id=14867

Skiing in Dubai! LOL. That really is cool!
B-)
J

[JCMach1]

38. I love self-sufficiency by the way

I always grew vegetables, and my own fruit in Florida when I lived there. I also did compost piles, recycled, etc.

Here self-sufficiency would mean fishing and growing dates...

They are doing some cool things here though:

1. Massive recycling of waste...
2. They even take the massive amount of grass clippings directly to the dairies...
3. Desalinization plants which work in direct conjunction with power generation help use less groundwater...
4. Ski Dubai, the place I was visiting recycles all of its water into the landscaping of the Mall...

The problems here are the same as in the US:

1. Too many large SUVs on the road
2. No good mass transit system yet (METROs are coming though)

[lonestarnot]

33. Planted a garden and bought a hybrid.

Tomatoes, onions, garlic, some herbs and roses. Honda. Figured I rather be in debt for a fucking car payment than give those bastards one red nickle any more than I have to for fuel.

[sendero]

35. The wife and I..

... have made and are continuing to make extensive preparations for self-sufficiency.

The Sendero Compound is under construction - but I'll forego the details, there are already enough people here that think I'm a wacko :)

[skids]

36. Currently cutting electricity use...

...as a computer geek I have a bunch of always-on systems like routers/webservers/fileservers running on old outdated desktops.

I'm buying used laptops to run them on -- they perform just as well and use 1/10th of the power.

All our bulbs are CF. Small solar spotlights for the outside steps for the most part keep my housemates from leaving the outdoor lights on.

After that I'm thinking maybe of getting some solar space heating window units -- I rent, so I can't
really mod the house. I'd be much more aggressive if I hadn't been priced out of the real estate market and had a house of my own.

Every once in a while I pick up a couple extra cans of food (when they are on sale) and stash them for emergency use.

Eventually I'm going to pick up a full suite of battery-powered power tools, so I'll be equipped to improvise even if I end up living in my car.

[upi402]

39. tiny car, selling off stuff/property, bought gold,

Republicans should have their toys confiscated and be forced to fan us / hold our umbrellas.