Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Yes, I've read books about the Black Death and it was a real game-changer in respect of the social and economic system.

Prior to the Death, peasants who ran off from their lord's lands would often be returned to him by other landowners, as escaped property. Or not allowed to settle in towns. They were living chattel and not to be allowed freedom of movement.

Post-Death, farmlands were lying derelict for want of labourers and it's one thing to be a landowner, but owning land itself doesn't give you an income unless you have labour to cut the wood, plough and harvest and tend the animals.

Good luck to sitting on your arris at your oaken table in the manor house waiting for your boeuf and your pain when the peasants are dead or have defaulted themselves to a more lucrative urban lifestyle or a kindlier master several estates away. The rich need the poor but not vice versa.

Do you know, two centuries after the Norman Conquest, most of the Norman-descended aristocracy still hadn't bothered to learn to speak English? There's a big clue in the words used to describe the living animal and the words used to describe its meat. The former are blunt old Anglo-Saxon and the latter are derived from French.

Pig/ porc
Sheep/ mouton
Cow/ boeuf.

Pretty big giveaway about who was shovelling the manure and who was eating the finished animals, n'est-ce que pas? I am an Anglo-Saxon peasant and I never forget who my historic enemies are.

On thing I recall as an aside from, I think it was, James Kunstler's blog, was that owning land for a post peak oil world in greater acerage than you could reasonably farm with nothing but hand and horse-driven technology is largely futile.

Woodlands, of course, are a productive resource which require less attention than arable land.

daz378

off to watch the match in eccles and have a few jars......that will keep me towing the line for now....while i can still afford to

katep23

boultdj wrote: »

You don't have to wait till next year, you can make wine with all sort's of stuff, I'v got an old boot's wine and brewing book, got stuff like tea wine,saultana/raisen wine, can't post any recipe's at the mo, OH is in bed and I don't want to wake him, I'm enjoying the peace and quite:rotfl:
Try using apple juice to make apple wine/cider with.

Thank you. We're currently making wine with grapes from my dad's poly tunnel and we have a few wine kits purchased from Wilkinsons for the princely sum of £5 each which make 30 bottles. I think we'll be alright (blind drunk anyway) if TSHTF.

I got the demi johns (all 14 including the clear ones!) along with 2 huge bags of apples I was implored to take

nuatha

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Sorry been trying to catch up...

talking about the reactors in Japan...was having a conversation in work on Friday... (ok someone telling me how bad it is, and how it is not being in the news like it should be) he was saying its just a time bomb waiting to happen..

I the SHTF and it went pear shaped there, what is the potential outcome for everyone???

There are "experts" predicting the Northern hemisphere would be uninhabitable, that the Pacific will be poisoned and the Eastern Seaboard of the USA should be evacuated.
The reality is no one knows - we have no experience of this level of potential catastrophe. I can't recall any predictions that a nuclear accident in Russia would affect UK farming for 25 years before Chernobyl happened.
The Japanese government initially considered Fukushima to be a level 4 incident, then upgraded it to a 5 - Windscale was a 5, they declared the milk from the surrounding area to be unfit to drink for a month. We know that it won't be upfraded further from a 7 since that is the most severe form of nuclear incident that the classification allows.
However whether the effects are potentially worse than Chernobyl depends on what goes wrong next. Further leaking into the groundwater is local, a major spill of contaminated water and waste from the storage tanks will spread it a lot further.
Lot of burbling to say that nobody really knows.

I might be totally over reacting here, but one of my thoughts were is the sea being contaminated ? not only around japan, but travelling further afield if so, does that mean some of the fish we eat is radio active??? what food do we import from the surround areas, islands that potentially might have a small amount of the stuff on/in it??

Currently, the affected area is fairly negligible (on a global scale)
I'm unaware of any major food crops imported into the UK from Japan, Japanese sources aren't concerned about Nori and seafood harvested elsewhere in Japan at least so far.
If you're a fan or any North Pacific products it may be worth laying in a stock now.

craigywv

Hi all really interesting posts these last few days. So interesting that it has made me sit today inbetween making dinner and getting uniforms etc ready and write out my expenditures/owesies /bills etc and I have decided we are financially fine but I want to dedicate some of my money a week to making us more secure. I don't need food as such as that has been my "baby" for over a year now and have enough in pantry/shed/outhouse and various other places to feed us for quite a very long time. I have my garden veg patch and pots used to capacity and my sister lives on a farm etc so eggs/fields and growing are good. what I want to know Is say some thing real bad happens , I prep for the oil running done and the banks the way they are and food prices going up what will be the top 50 things to go first or inflate in price.I know candles,batteries,and was even told toothpaste as that's an oil based substance but what else will go up in price that we use everyday or run done , I not scaremongering but would like to know and you seem to know just about everything. I am still learning everyday and your like THE ORACLE on here lol not too much you don't seem to know so whats on your list after the obvious ones? thanks for humouring mexxx

siegemode

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Sorry been trying to catch up...

talking about the reactors in Japan...was having a conversation in work on Friday... (ok someone telling me how bad it is, and how it is not being in the news like it should be) he was saying its just a time bomb waiting to happen..

I the SHTF and it went pear shaped there, what is the potential outcome for everyone???

I might be totally over reacting here, but one of my thoughts were is the sea being contaminated ? not only around japan, but travelling further afield if so, does that mean some of the fish we eat is radio active??? what food do we import from the surround areas, islands that potentially might have a small amount of the stuff on/in it??


Also ..I know in the scale of things this is not important:D but I am prepping for price increases etc.. 630ml fairy liquid is only 70p in A$$$DA at the moment.. (£1.60 in T's) I am stocking up.. one normally lasts me a few months ( I normally fill the sink with hot water as I am cooking etc so all dirty plates go in straight away..which saves on WUL) bought 2, so might go and buy another 20 tomorrow..:cool::rotfl:

The Japanese situation is extremely alarming and certainly isn't covered by the media as it should be. If it was and people were more aware of the situation and possible/inevitable outcomes of the disaster that is still unfolding then the nuclear industry and connected corporations would lose big time. Since the msm is pretty much controlled and dictated to by the gov and corps.

We watched the tsunami disaster unfold from the first trickle of reports as news broke and were horrified and glued to the tv and our laptop. We knew that things would be covered up and distorted and looked to the alternative media for more information. I stopped buying tuna and anything Japanese, as more info was released I stopped buying anything that originated from the pacific and the west coast of the states. I've been called alarmist and alsorts. I believe based on my own knowledge of the situation that it is far more serious than we will ever know and that we are right to be so cautious.

For more info on the situation regarding the removal of fuel rods, the tuna and other sealife and salmon all affected by radiation or the death of sea creatures ENE news is worth a read Link below. Also it has news relating to various situations of concern with other nuclear energy problems and events and the comments section is even more interesting if not more alarming.

I remember Chenobyl well and how it affected the sheep farmers in the UK for more than 25 yrs. The affects of and radiation from Japan are already spreading through the ocean and weather systems and if the SHTF with reactor 4 it could spead trouble to reactors 1,2 and 3 (which are so bad they can't even get close enough to assess), the situation is truly dire.
Some reports and scientists warn that if another big quake or tsunami or even human error arise then within 40 days the northern hemisphere will be contaminated/affected by radiation. Yet still TPTB peddle nuclear power.

Many will say but there's no alternative. There is though and has been various energy sources researched and proven and power efficient inventions that have been acquired and quashed by the corporations that rely on oil and nuclear to line their pockets.
Back in the 90's I remember the excitement surrounding a new engine development designed as an alternative to those reliant on oil. The inventor went to the states and Ford was so interested that they entered into business with the inventor and the idea was never released or developed further.

http://enenews.com/category/location/u-s-Canada

http://enenews.com/top-scientist-fukushima-is-the-most-terrifying-situation-i-can-imagine-ive-seen-a-paper-which-says-its-bye-bye-japan-and-to-evacuate-n-americas-west-coast-if-unit-4-goes-after-q

http://enenews.com/category/location/japan/page/2

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think you're bang on the money, BB. Interest rates are at historic lows, which many people haven't truly understood as being the exception rather than the rule. If people can't pay down debt at these rates, what the heck do you think will happen to people when the rates go up? Even about 10 years ago when I was working in debt advice there was a growing movement for creditors to apply for charging orders as a way of turning a non-secured loan or even credit card debt into a charge on the property.

I think you need to get out from under debt with all urgency, even if it means living very basically, in order to be positioned as well as you may for the trying times ahead. Practise as much self-reliance as possible, build skills and build interpersonal relationships. Dig up that lawn now and start thinking about the woodstove and the insulation and keeping your eyes very firmly on the essentials of life and not on the froth.

Well put GQ.
I remember my mortgage interest rate at 15.75% and I think it may even have gone slightly higher. Many these days either have no experience of this or have forgotten the effects.
I can't remember the last day out we had and Holiday ? Can someone explain this strange word to me. It hasn't been in my vocabulary for over 15 years.

dragonette wrote: »

Hi CTC,

Had a discussion recently with a friend working with an environmental protection agency, radiation (even gamma) travels a max of 6m in water, alpha and beta much less than that.

Clearly locally contamination of the food chain is significant, but further afield should be safe. I know fish can migrate, but the levels will be too low to be a danger

How sure are you of this ? It appears to me that goal posts and readings are frequently moved and changed by TPTB to suit their agenda and to avoid panic. You may want to have a look at the links to ENE news. Tuna and salmon have been contaminated and star fish and other sealife along the west coast of the states is in a bad way. Along with this soil samples and produce has also tested positive for contamination through rainfall.

Hard_Up_Hester

I was a member of Unison, I withdrew when the subs went up to over £10 and when my union rep 'didn't want to get involved' when my desk and shelves were being dismantled around me.
Hester

[Deleted User]

CRAIGY when we had the strikes and power outs in the 70s the things that dissapeared off the shelves very fast and were in short supply were candles, toilet paper, salt and sugar all of which have a stable and endless shelf life so investing in those items would give you not only enough for your personal use but for bartering for other things in the future. Some things that won't last too long are pulses and flour and there is the added problem of possible infestations of wevils if you do store them for too long.I would opt for dried packets like soups and instant mash and skimmed milk powder as they keep far longer than the best before date indicates and pasta will keep indefinately as will rice although rice has the potential for wevils too. Things like foil packed tea and coffee should also keep far longer than the best before date as will canned foods and foods in sealed glass jars like jam, friut and veg. Hope that helps, Lyn xxx.

Things like soap,washing up liquid, dishwasher liquid and bath products as well as most candles are oil based as are most pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, I have invested in things like the 1000 meter spools of sewing thread and some new needles to make sure I can repair our clothing and household fabric items. Plastics and anything made from them are also made from oil products so things like cling wrap, carrier bags, freezer bags will not be available and also lamp oils and paraffin are oil products and would be scarce and very expensive. Things to repair and maintain what you have would be very useful if THSTF in a major way and would give you a better quality of life afterwards, also seeds for veg and herbs etc would be useful too.

craigywv

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

CRAIGY when we had the strikes and power outs in the 70s the things that dissapeared off the shelves very fast and were in short supply were candles, toilet paper, salt and sugar all of which have a stable and endless shelf life so investing in those items would give you not only enough for your personal use but for bartering for other things in the future. Some things that won't last too long are pulses and flour and there is the added problem of possible infestations of wevils if you do store them for too long.I would opt for dried packets like soups and instant mash and skimmed milk powder as they keep far longer than the best before date indicates and pasta will keep indefinately as will rice although rice has the potential for wevils too. Things like foil packed tea and coffee should also keep far longer than the best before date as will canned foods and foods in sealed glass jars like jam, friut and veg. Hope that helps, Lyn xxx.

Things like soap,washing up liquid, dishwasher liquid and bath products as well as most candles are oil based as are most pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, I have invested in things like the 1000 meter spools of sewing thread and some new needles to make sure I can repair our clothing and household fabric items. Plastics and anything made from them are also made from oil products so things like cling wrap, carrier bags, freezer bags will not be available and also lamp oils and paraffin are oil products and would be scarce and very expensive. Things to repair and maintain what you have would be very useful if THSTF in a major way and would give you a better quality of life afterwards, also seeds for veg and herbs etc would be useful too.

Thank you Lynn as usual a very imformative post. seeds are well stocked up too many in fact have frozen some as googled what could I freeze.i am actually starting to "hoard" tea bags and am glad you told me they keep longer than the date as I have enough to run into the next generation lol. my sister is like yourself shes the seamstress lol she would kill me if she heard that she has a loom that takes up a whole room in her house she weaves everything and enjoys it. shes a charity shop picker for wool/materials anything that can be unpicked/unravelled is! I think I shall concentrate for my preps on coal/logs wood for a while as I have an open fire in my house as well as oil ch. so if the oil runs out I am relying on the open fire. sisters oh is a tree surgeon and they have a small hold with barns of free wood seasoning so I can get it off her a lot cheaper, I still have theold coal bunkers from years ago I brought mine with me to this house when we moved much to the disgust of oh ..............he glad now! so starting to fill this up.i get the screaming nerves when I think of what I threw out when I was 19 and moved into my first bought house .......a woodburner!!!!!!!!!!promptly ripped out and binned and a rather fetching modern totally useless gas fire installed.....oh the follies of youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MrsAtobe

dragonette wrote: »

Hi CTC,

Had a discussion recently with a friend working with an environmental protection agency, radiation (even gamma) travels a max of 6m in water, alpha and beta much less than that.

Clearly locally contamination of the food chain is significant, but further afield should be safe. I know fish can migrate, but the levels will be too low to be a danger

The gummint don't think so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_Incident_Monitoring_Network