Comments kuroneko has made

A farmer that says 'don't stock up' - ?

Small farmers in rural areas (like Tom) will profit off a SHTF scenario. I'm surprised he would not consider the value of self-protection however.

Everyone should be growing their own food as well as supporting CSAs. As well as having some safely stored back-up grains and dried beans and cans. And stored water, batteries, battery powered radios and flashlights and candles.

We're middle-class and already priced out of Whole Foods where we live due to all the other rising costs. And it's only getting worse folks. Self-sufficiency and self-protection. There were 2 3 armed robberies near where I work in the last month, and one was in broad day-light. It's going to get hairy folks. It's good to be smart and well trained. Trained gun-owners actually prevent over a million crimes every year. On More than peak oil or financial crash, I fear angry men armed to the teeth posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

where should I start?

You'll need 1 year supply of grains and staples while you wait for your garden to harvest if you're planting grains, veggies, etc.

Ever hear of Mother Earth magazine? Perfect blend of survivalist + hippy. You may want to familiarize yourself. Current article is all about Preparedness.

Btw: kudos to banditrn above. Couldn't agree more. On More than peak oil or financial crash, I fear angry men armed to the teeth posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

picking battles with intent to do better

I bathe my 3 year old most days of the week - b/c he goes to a pretty-much naturalist daycare that has kids covering themselves with paint, mud and dirt most hours of the day. We bring the food and snacks and they supply organic milk. We bring in recycled stuff for art projects.

I've been gradually ridding my son's room of plastic toys (except for gifts of Euro-made Legos, for example), and thankfully friends/family are giving us more wooden toys, puzzles and books.  Once VW comes out with their diesel hybrid in '09 or so, we'll be transitioning to that using biodiesel. We're trying to do as much as simply as possible (using breadmachine and crockpots for healthy vegetarian/free-range-meat stuff...subscribing to CSAs). Still, b-day parties are hard to circum-navigate. I loathe goodie bags. I served carrot cake at my son's 3 year old b-day and had it hosted at a kinder-gym. No goodie-bags, just kids jumping/climbing around to music for an hour 1/2. On This family is sticking with eco-alternatives posted 2 years, 2 months ago 3 Responses