Preparedness for when

the_cake

D&DD wrote: »

Ali the half price offer is on at DTBrown seeds and if you order 3 you get a free apple tree as well... I really do need a bigger garden!

I've had lots of fruit from them over the years and have been very pleased with quality and customer service.

I'm currently trying to resist these
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/seeds-plants-gardening/41800/apple-bloody-ploughman-and-pear-red-williams

Just a quick extra thank you to D&DD for this - what a great website, and such good prices! I have just ordered three greengage type trees, and got the free Charles Ross apple tree too, all for less than £30 including delivery. Sad I missed the quince tree, but should have been quicker off the mark. Lots of other lovely things too - anyone who hasn't looked at the website, do ... very tempting. And it is of course an investment as food prices soar ever upwards!

ginnyknit

I got my trees today, 4 for £32 inc delivery and they are fabulous. Nothing like the cheap ones you see in the likes of Wilkies etc, proper sturdy saplings with plenty of shoots on. They look so flipping healthy I didnt want to wait and planted them in the pouring rain.

Im in love with my tree's :rotfl:

armyknife

What if the S never does Hit The Fan ?

Maybe different, more complex forces are at work, sometimes re-enforcing each other at other times diminishing them, such that there never is one serious cataclysmic event ?

Leaving aside the all too human enthusiasm attachment to eschatological happenings, perhaps an ever increasing majority of us will experience a gradual ground up increase in difficulties in different areas of life, be it increased food prices, energy costs and instability, increased climatic variability and environmental degradation, such that one by one we'll each drop into a steadily increasing under-class ?

Whilst preparing for unforeseen, but imagined events, might have some limited advantages in the short term for the individual concerned, isn't a better response to the changes going on in the world, to make it a political one ?

I'd suggest people organising themselves into a social movement, have far more chance of affecting change or arresting what they see as what's wrong in the world, than they do as modern isolated individuals and nuclear families.

D&DD

Safely home and *touching wood* Dad's still on the mend although very slowly.Baked a huge load of muffins for the tribe when I got in as they've been so good,bit of cr*ppy holiday for them sadly but they all coped well without me and dare I say it..cleaned!!

Missed the three things challenge but if I answer honestly it would be

1/ Cigs
2/ lighter
3/ 3 in 1 coffee...

at least I would then be able to think clearly and function calmly

Said items could also be used for barter

Glad the trees were ok Ginny you worry when you recommend somewhere but these were really a fab deal weren't they.

Cake hoping yours will be as good maybe they'll have the quince on later again will try and remember to keep my eye out for sales.

nuatha

armyknife wrote: »

What if the S never does Hit The Fan ?

Maybe different, more complex forces are at work, sometimes re-enforcing each other at other times diminishing them, such that there never is one serious cataclysmic event ?

SHTF scenarios hit everyday. They don't have to be global, national or even local disasters. Recent weather in Arran or the Isle of Man would be a SHTF for those living there, but brown stuff getting flung around happens on a personal level far more frequently, health problems, job losses are real and likely SHTF scenarios which many of us prep for.

Leaving aside the all too human enthusiasm attachment to eschatological happenings, perhaps an ever increasing majority of us will experience a gradual ground up increase in difficulties in different areas of life, be it increased food prices, energy costs and instability, increased climatic variability and environmental degradation, such that one by one we'll each drop into a steadily increasing under-class ?

There are many discussions in this thread about that scenario and the useful preparations that people are making, generally increasing their own food production, and transitioning away from disposable or oil dependent technologies.

Whilst preparing for unforeseen, but imagined events, might have some limited advantages in the short term for the individual concerned, isn't a better response to the changes going on in the world, to make it a political one ?

I disagree, if you are only considering scenarios at a mass scale then a political response as part of a prepping strategy makes some sense, but a political response wouldn't have assisted when my OH became ill last summer - its only the fact that we are preppers that means we still have a roof over our head, food in the cupboards and are still (relatively) sane.

I'd suggest people organising themselves into a social movement, have far more chance of affecting change or arresting what they see as what's wrong in the world, than they do as modern isolated individuals and nuclear families.

I've spent the best part of 40 years involved in politics, in building communities and working for change on both local and national levels - I've seen some gains but most of them have been relatively ineffectual at slowing the pace of change. People have a very long history of not thinking and going along with the flow as long as the bread and circuses are there to distract them.

nuatha

D&DD wrote:

Safely home and *touching wood* Dad's still on the mend although very slowly.Baked a huge load of muffins for the tribe when I got in as they've been so good,bit of cr*ppy holiday for them sadly but they all coped well without me and dare I say it..cleaned!!

Missed the three things challenge but if I answer honestly it would be

1/ Cigs
2/ lighter
3/ 3 in 1 coffee...

at least I would then be able to think clearly and function calmly

Said items could also be used for barter

Good to read your Dad's still on the mend, hope he continues to make progress.
Perhaps you should be MIA more often if the tribe end up cleaning - or perhaps you can persuade them that they should be doing so anyway?

I also missed the three things challenge, as long as I'm allowed my normal clothing I wouldn't pick anything up - my EDC is a multi-pocket waistcoat that I automatically pickup as I leave the house (and D&DD it includes the cigs and a couple of lighters) though it weighs more than a couple of ounces

VJsmum

Good questions army knife - good response Nuatha :T

I have just bought OH one of these for his birthday

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LA-HACIENDA-STEEL-PIZZA-OVEN-CHIMENEA-CHIMINEA-PATIO-HEATER-BBQ-GRILL-/370786252616?pt=UK_Garden_Firepits_Chimeneas&hash=item5654953748

Do you think he'll realise it's really a pressie for me and part of the preps? I am also going to get one of those single gas rings and some canisters - especially since my friend had her kitchen fire and now is bugging out in her caravan. Every item of fabric has been removed from her home - clothes, curtains, bedlinen (not sure about carpet) and been taken away for specialist cleaning, it has already been a week and is set to last a lot longer.

So you see, armyknife, that some things just happen and the better prepared you are for all / most eventualities, the better off you'll be. God knows I would love to blame the gubment for everything, but even I can't blame them for a dishwasher catching fire.

BigMummaF

nuatha wrote: »

....
I also missed the three things challenge, as long as I'm allowed my normal clothing I wouldn't pick anything up - my EDC is a multi-pocket waistcoat that I automatically pickup as I leave the house (and D&DD it includes the cigs and a couple of lighters) though it weighs more than a couple of ounces

Ahem
Ole Faiffull is--in most parts--a godsend, but also a PITA--literally!--as she weighs so much It's saving grace is that should someone try to nick it, the torque would no doubt break their arm I try to decant things into smaller handbags to just nip to the shops etc, but I always need something I've left behind. Thursday I was out & about, running a few errands before a dental appt & noticed one of those annoying headaches that feels like someone is s-l-o-w-l-y pressing their thumb into your brain, like TV chefs do with a junket :rotfl: Couldn't do much about it as I was giving my new handbag a test run & hadn't yet put any pain relief into the damned thing!
I always had the heaviest schoolbag too so nowt's changed with age, only the contents!

The night the family had gathered at the hospital for MIL someone had a toothache, another headache & a third felt sick. In my bag of tricks I was able to administer enough pain relief, a pastille for mouth pain & a peppermint...BIL was a copper back then & said it was a good job he wasn't on the Drugs Squad or he'd have to arrest me with all my little pills & potions :rotfl:

pineapple

armyknife wrote: »

Whilst preparing for unforeseen, but imagined events, might have some limited advantages in the short term for the individual concerned, isn't a better response to the changes going on in the world, to make it a political one ?

I'd suggest people organising themselves into a social movement, have far more chance of affecting change or arresting what they see as what's wrong in the world, than they do as modern isolated individuals and nuclear families.

I suspect you are on a hiding to nothing coming to a preparedness thread to query the value of preparing! :rotfl:
Anyhow my take is this...
Having some cash on hand and a well stocked store cupboard is a form of insurance. Insurance against some relatively 'mundane' things - not necessarily global destruction.
I certainly wouldn't advise against it and say 'Focus on world change instead'.
Just as I wouldn't say 'Forget home insurance and locking your doors and join your local crime/social action group instead'.

The two are not mutually exclusive - it doesn't have to be one or t'other. Though you make a good point about not forgetting the bigger picture.

[Deleted User]

NUATHA very good post, thank you. I prepare for unforseen eventualities because to me it is an easy thing to do. I do not DO politics, I vote as I have the right, but politicians seem in the main to have lost touch with thier public and reality. I am grateful that we have a health service, a police force, an education system, local councils to keep the infrastructure running etc. however, prepping is just common sense and if an 'Imagined' SHTF should become reality I shall have the means to hopefully stay out of harms way and survive the onset. No one can prep for long,long term disruption and the end of civilisation as we know it, we just have to do the best we can to have enough stores, skills and equipment to get through the first turbulent and dangerous weeks. Political action is the last thing I would want to happen, sticking your head above the parrapet politically would be just as dangerous as actually doing it physically. Private preps hurt no one, and if the 'imagined' event doesn't happen you've still got a heck of a lot of useful things that will be useful in everyday life.