Safety in a Failing Economy

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

*snipped*
I would recommend the same and the following if at all possible:

1) Plant nut and fruit trees and bushes.

2) Build a greenhouse.

3) Start cultivating alternative energy sources - a wood stove, a wood insert, a 150 watt (or greater) solar panel and battery bank, a small turbine, etc. And consider insulation and anything done for efficiency's sake as important.

4) Create cold frames (very simple to make and old windows are great for this too). In some zones, you can grown year round in cold frames.

5) Start developing some useful skills and tools - e.g., mounting turbines, fixing bikes, preserving food, amending soil, etc.

6) Start treating water like the precious thing it is. Buy a rain barrel. Buy a cistern. Start a wet garden.

7) Have a disaster plan (often said - more relevant than ever).

8) Get to know your neighbors.

9) Make, build or reinforce where you are living as though a fire, flood or strong wind will come through.

10) If you have leaves (or other compostables), heat and time, you have soil. Start "making" your own soil.

11) Stop buying into the idea that the solutions must be bought. You have, can and will do many things on your own that do not require endless trips to Wal-mart and Target. Grow your food, grow your community, grow your mind.

This is such a valuable list I reposted it in case people don't start reading the thread at the beginning (I seldom do!)

I am doing eldercare for my Mom these days, and for the rest of her life I suppose. Can someone recommend a good book on herbal medicine and natural healing? I think I should start growing my pharmacy now. I am trying to build a reference library. Where we have land there isn't good internet access. I already am not dependent on "calling the google" to find answers.

Thanks!