Safety in a Failing Economy

[Sachita]

This post will be on housing.

Is anyone in construction? I'd like to get some cost to post.

If you review the thread Tiny Houses you'll see a simple shed structure someone took and made a cabin. Today almost every city has a rent to own shed company. You need to find one that makes quality, home like structures. They are basic. If you're handy and can do your own work inside great!

Or what about a used RV hooked up? You insulate the pipes, add a deck or even another small room. Can you live in a small space? Many do. Imagine how affordable to live this way?

How many are living in small tiny houses now?

How many people are considering making this move and downsizing to save money?

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by Sachita

This post will be on housing.

Is anyone in construction? I'd like to get some cost to post.

If you review the thread Tiny Houses you'll see a simple shed structure someone took and made a cabin. Today almost every city has a rent to own shed company. You need to find one that makes quality, home like structures. They are basic. If you're handy and can do your own work inside great!

Or what about a used RV hooked up? You insulate the pipes, add a deck or even another small room. Can you live in a small space? Many do. Imagine how affordable to live this way?

How many are living in small tiny houses now?

How many people are considering making this move and downsizing to save money?

I build things, including small, off the grid structures.
I try to have this conversation often, I look forward hearing from people here.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

I build things, including small, off the grid structures.
I try to have this conversation often, I look forward hearing from people here.

we look forward to your ideas. can you share with us in laymans terms? lol

[atomiczombie]

Nice thread.

I am on disability and MediCal currently because of my PTSD and panic disorder. I live with my folks because the only other choice at the time I moved in with them was to go into a psych hospital. I have been to a psych hospital before, when I was 15, and lemme tell ya they are not a good place to get better. If anything it makes you more afraid and depressed and hopeless feeling.

Anyhoo, I barely get by on what the government gives me. I pay my folks a little rent and I have a couple other monthly bills. That plus gas money to go to my therapist once a week (an hours drive away) and the occasional outing (to safe places) - that leaves VERY little left over for anything else each month.

If I were to lose my benefits, I would be up shit creek. I need my health care because of my ongoing medical issues. My fall back would be my folks. They would have to pay for everything. They are retired and on fixed incomes and this would be a terrible burden on them financially. I would be sucking up their retirement savings just to live. That would be my only alternative. If I didn't have my folks and couldn't get any medical care, I have no freakin' idea what I would do. Probably die somehow-someway.

[SoNotHer]

I started a biomicicry and permaculture thread a few weeks ago. It dovetails into this.

Economics is a system dependent on natural systems (the earth). The parent system is the natural world. The money changing game is a subset of that system, and as the fortunes or misfortunes of the planet go, so go our own.

Although more people will focus on the Kardasians today, some of the real news includes a little article that offers an even stronger message by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change that the extreme weather we are seeing more and more of is linked to climate change. And the losses are mounting.

In the past year, I insulated more, bought a couple used bikes, built more cold frames, got a wood insert for the fireplace and saved old windows and found as much reclaimed wood materials as I could over to work with a skilled carpenter to build a sturdy greenhouse. 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.

[Cin]

I have to admit that stuff like this is very intimidating to me. I am not handy. As a matter of fact I am actually the exact opposite of handy. Everything I have ever tried to put together, I have screwed up. Sometimes it’s usable, sometimes only parts of it are.

I put this storage cabinet together but I put the shelves in upside down and the cans would slide off because it slanted in the wrong direction. But if you kept the doors, which I managed to put on right, closed it was okay.

Another time I put together this tv stand that had shelves and doors but when I finished you couldn’t use the doors. Unfortunately for some reason I wasn’t able to take it apart and fix it so the person I made it for was stuck with it like that. She didn’t make me feel bad and even thanked me but I don’t remember her ever asking me to put anything together again. Nobody ever does. At least not more than once.

They have come for my butch card but I always manage to hide.

I can paint though, but then who can’t? As long as one’s hands work it shouldn’t be an issue. I couldn’t build the tiny house or do any meaningful work on it, but I could paint the crap out of it.

I fixed a doll cradle I got at a yard sale once. It was off balance. So I took it apart and glued ( I can use glue, but not nails so much) it back together so it rocked and didn’t lean to one side…well not much anyway. And I painted it pink and white with flowers. So I guess I could do useless stuff like that. Not much need for doll cradles though when you are in survival mode.

I won’t even go into my experiences trying to grow stuff. Suffice to say everything dies. I mean I know everything dies, but the things I try to grow never even get a chance to live first.

I can fish though. And hunt if I have to. I am a good shot. I prefer shooting skeet or trap or other target shooting. Balloons blown up and put on water, a lake or a pond will take off right quick and it’s big fun to shoot them with a 22 before they get out of sight. However, I don’t like killing things much. I can do it though. And if I am hungry it probably wouldn’t be a problem at all. But that would be the extent of my ability to survive.

So as much as I love the woods and the outdoors in general, especially any kind of water, I wouldn’t trust my ability to survive on my own. Well, I can start fires and hunt and fish so I would have a very high protein diet. Better than no diet at all.

Truthfully I feel so inadequate around this kind of stuff, I mostly don’t even think about trying anything. I’m all thumbs. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to live should the shit hit the fan. So I will just stay quiet and keep reading.

[Apocalipstic]

I've never been camping. No, never.

I have managed to keep an aloe plant alive for years only to lose it in a break up.

I am incredibly unprepared right now...hell, I am even grossed out by worms.

Maybe I need to make sure I take a direct hit if we go to war.

[Blade]

I wouldn't have a problem with this type of living. Ya see.........

My Grandpa taught me how to live off the land

I live back in the woods
I've got a shotgun a rifle
and a four wheel drive
I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk til dawn
Ain't too many things this ole boy can't do

We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
you can't starve us out
and you can't make us run
Cause we's them ole boys raised on shotguns
And we can skin a buck
we can run a trout line

That's how "Hank" put it I'll just add that I'm pretty handy and can do most anything. Growing my own meat or walking in the woods killing it, whatever way it comes I can deal with it. I garden and can. To be honest my biggest set back is POWER. Not for lights or TV but to run the pump so I can have water LOL. So I guess as long as I had a well or running stream where I could get water I'd be ok. Growing up we ate quite a bit of fish and wildlife I don't have a problem dressing it out, but I'd have to wash my hands LOL yeah a country boy can survive

[SoNotHer]

I appreciate the honesty of this, Miss Tick. Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” That's what matters. Stay curious and interested. Everyone starts at a beginning.

I'd like to see a future Planetary gathering to be an offering of homesteading, off-the-grid, permaculture and survival classes. Hint, hint Sachita

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

I have to admit that stuff like this is very intimidating to me. I am not handy. As a matter of fact I am actually the exact opposite of handy. Everything I have ever tried to put together, I have screwed up. Sometimes it’s usable, sometimes only parts of it are.

I put this storage cabinet together but I put the shelves in upside down and the cans would slide off because it slanted in the wrong direction. But if you kept the doors, which I managed to put on right, closed it was okay.

Another time I put together this tv stand that had shelves and doors but when I finished you couldn’t use the doors. Unfortunately for some reason I wasn’t able to take it apart and fix it so the person I made it for was stuck with it like that. She didn’t make me feel bad and even thanked me but I don’t remember her ever asking me to put anything together again. Nobody ever does. At least not more than once.

They have come for my butch card but I always manage to hide.

I can paint though, but then who can’t? As long as one’s hands work it shouldn’t be an issue. I couldn’t build the tiny house or do any meaningful work on it, but I could paint the crap out of it.

I fixed a doll cradle I got at a yard sale once. It was off balance. So I took it apart and glued ( I can use glue, but not nails so much) it back together so it rocked and didn’t lean to one side…well not much anyway. And I painted it pink and white with flowers. So I guess I could do useless stuff like that. Not much need for doll cradles though when you are in survival mode.

I won’t even go into my experiences trying to grow stuff. Suffice to say everything dies. I mean I know everything dies, but the things I try to grow never even get a chance to live first.

I can fish though. And hunt if I have to. I am a good shot. I prefer shooting skeet or trap or other target shooting. Balloons blown up and put on water, a lake or a pond will take off right quick and it’s big fun to shoot them with a 22 before they get out of sight. However, I don’t like killing things much. I can do it though. And if I am hungry it probably wouldn’t be a problem at all. But that would be the extent of my ability to survive.

So as much as I love the woods and the outdoors in general, especially any kind of water, I wouldn’t trust my ability to survive on my own. Well, I can start fires and hunt and fish so I would have a very high protein diet. Better than no diet at all.

Truthfully I feel so inadequate around this kind of stuff, I mostly don’t even think about trying anything. I’m all thumbs. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to live should the shit hit the fan. So I will just stay quiet and keep reading.

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

I started a biomicicry and permaculture thread a few weeks ago. It dovetails into this.

Economics is a system dependent on natural systems (the earth). The parent system is the natural world. The money changing game is a subset of that system, and as the fortunes or misfortunes of the planet go, so go our own.

Although more people will focus on the Kardasians today, some of the real news includes a little article that offers an even stronger message by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change that the extreme weather we are seeing more and more of is linked to climate change. And the losses are mounting.

In the past year, I insulated more, bought a couple used bikes, built more cold frames, got a wood insert for the fireplace and saved old windows and found as much reclaimed wood materials as I could over to work with a skilled carpenter to build a sturdy greenhouse. 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.

Excellent! Really, really good information in this!
I think it's especially valuable how you reminded us that these are simple steps-- "simple" in the sense of composting, meeting neighbors, and being mindful of water consumption-- they don't take nearly as much complicated management/effort as having a car, for example.
Permaculture is interesting stuff, with so many applications in all areas.
Thanks for this great post!

[Rockinonahigh]

One thing I do is save money at home,shure I have some in the bank but what if I cant get it out of the bank or even get to the bank.I know I would have to trade my cadi on for a 4wheel drive truck or jeep..

[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!

[SoNotHer]

Dr. Duke's The Green Pharmacy is the usually the first thing I turn to. I can post or PM some more if you need it.

http://www.greenpharmacy.com/

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

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!

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

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!

I have a lot of experience with herbs and essential oils, however in the last few years i've learned so much about radical intensive healing. check out a book on Amazon and research Gerson Therapy. Try it, seriously. I take my mom fresh foods because she can't afford to buy food on her monthly piddlings SS gives her. She worked all her life, they used her money and now she gets shit. Anyhow, we are seeing amazing things. Its not always easy but it works.

As for herbs- anything plant based is good and the fresher the better. Micro nutrients provide intensive healing. You could never get this with dried herbs. You can juice and use lots of fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, basil, etc. These should be a regular part of your diet.

Have you thought about growing some of this indoors under simple plant lighting? Doesnt have to be expensive. You and your mom would great benefit from the effort.