Hi! I will get right to my point. My mind is whirling with the y2k delema. As a child, my life was that of constant change, as it was for all of you, I'm quite sure. As a young 15 year old bride, I was in the midst of a world changing ever faster. Bearing three beautiful children, a divorce, remarraige and many jobs to boot, I feel like I wheeled my way through life without even taking a rare chance to smell one single blossom of a rose bush. I guess I'm not terribly good at getting right to the point here, am I? I am 38 and have had some very strange things happening to me for the past couple of years. Call it an awakening or a little of that enlightening thing. It has been scary, yet, a blessing. I stop and smell every rose that I see now, if you get my drift. I love life more now than I ever remember. I am confused though. I have been brought up in a world where materialism was my mothers middle name. She pulverized me with "you should have" and "you should buy" and "you should get". I feel terribly ignorant, and to tell you the truth, down right scared of facing my future without some words of wisdom from all of you wonderful people of whom have been sharing your lives through the pages of Countryside. I have been trying to prepare, yet I feel I'm just not atuned enough to really know what goes into being prepared for such a change in life. There is a chance, although hectic and too industrialized in this day of "technological boom", that things may not change. Although there is quite a desperate need in this gross society for a drastic change, I would not want ill fate to befall on my fellow man. I haven't come to terms with the fact that if something drastic does happen, many of our family members and good friends could be overcome by illness, and yes, even death. I need help in understanding what it is I need to be prepared. I am going to be a very young grandmother this December and then again in February 2000. I need to prepare for not just my husband and I, but for my three grown children and my two future grand kids. I would like to know how much water I will need for 6 adults and 2 babies. Food! What should I have stored. I wasn't able to can anything this year. Our garden was a victim of draught and bugs.....BIG bugs. I will be attending the farmers market every weekend till it is closed to buy foods for canning. What type of medical supplies...gas...generator....tissue-toilet paper...etc. Please help!!!! Forever a friend to those in need, Sue

-- september hetherington (suzbiz98@yahoo.com), September 30, 1999

Answers

Hi- Since the year 2000 is so close I think I would begin by going on a trial run for one weekend or so to see how it goes, for example: fill some jugs with water and see how much your family uses in two or three days. Do not use any electrical appliances, this will alert you to other things you might need and hadn't thought about:(can openers, candles, lanterns, etc.)and give you a general idea of how much. I would also think about what is NECESSARY as opposed to convenient, namely food, shelter, water, sanitation, etc. Hope this helps.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), October 01, 1999.

My colledge age kids came home one weekend and told me Y2K is a hoax. They are better "educated" than me, so they aught to know. I went over to the elctric box and turned off the main breaker. OOPS! Hey, the lights went out. Light a candle. I want to wash my hair. Use the solar shower. I'm hungry. Buld a fire, and make some soup out of a couple of jars of that canned stuff in the cellar. I can't play video games. How about Scrabble. Truth is nodody knows what will happen from one day to the next, and you can get so trapped in worrying about the possibilities that it immobilises you. Concentrate on stregnth, not weakness or fear or dread. If you were strong enough to have all those babies, and go through what life has given you to this point, then you are strong enough to handle whatever happens. The idea from the last letter was good. Turn off your power and see what happens. Keep things in order: shelter,water,food,clothing. Keep thing simple. Don't forget that love and prayer can go a long way even if you have nothing else. Good luck.

-- Craig Oxendine (sox@threewings.com), October 01, 1999.

Don't worry about Y2K as the crisis to prepare for, disasters can happen anytime. Natural disaster, a serious illness, economic problems, war. The best things to have with you are skills, knowledge and faith. For a shopping list try FEMA brochures and a book called Making the Best of Basics, a catalogue from Ready Made Resources and one from Lehman's (even though I hear they are out of stock on most practical items). But first CALM DOWN.

-- Kendy Sawyer (sweetfire@grove.net), October 01, 1999.

Sue, I can understand your reaction of fear and panic. Last November my own frightened "voice" was heard in the pages of Countryside. Many emails and letters full of simple tips were sent my way. But, the most important and simple one was sent by many people. DO SOMETHING! Anything small or large goes a long way to calming you down. I've created a stash of food and other sundries as they go on sale. This does not just sit there waiting for the 'sky to fall'. Even my husband is greatful for this resource when for whatever reason our money is low we know where to go. Y2K or not I intend to keep rotating and using this tip. There are many other things that I have completed in a years time but, nothing feels as good as just doing something. Check out www.keeper.com for a true rubber cup for your menstrual needs. It lasts 10 years or more, is comfortable and again y2k or not it's just a smart move. God bless. Pam

-- Pam Pitts (msjanedoe@hotmail.com), October 01, 1999.

I think don't panic and get overwhelmed where you can't do nothing, is the best advice. At this point you can't get it all done. Start out trying to get a week ahead, then try for two weeks, then a month. Don't go in debt trying to stock up, thinking the world is going to end and it won't matter. Cause, it may not be that bad and then you will have a hard time paying the bills.

-- Kellie Duncan (ckduncan@earthlink.net), October 01, 1999.

September,

Check out these Lusenet forums: TimeBomb 2000 and Time Bomb 2000 Preparation. You get to them by clicking on LUSENET, above, and then clicking on the forum names.

Intelligent, supportive on-line community. Forum takes y2k very seriously.

-- PH (ag3@interlog.com), October 02, 1999.

Sue,

Check out these Lusenet forums: TimeBomb 2000 and Time Bomb 2000 Preparation. You get to them by clicking on LUSENET, above, and then clicking on the forum names.

Intelligent, supportive on-line community. Forum takes y2k very seriously. If you put your post (the same one) there, you'll get lots and lots of help quickly.

Best of luck,

-- PH (ag3@interlog.com), October 02, 1999.

I recommend the website www.y2kwomen.com for information. There is a lot of good information in it plus links to other sites for information. I would go to the back issues, starting with #1, and start reading. The author of the site, Karen Anderson, has a saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Try to do one thing to prepare every day. Good luck.

-- J. E. Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), October 03, 1999.

There is some FEMA information available at http://www.iwaynet.net/~kwroejr/violent.html In addition to the FEMA brochure you may wish to request information from the LDS (Latter Day Saints) also known as Mormons. In a telephone directory they would be under Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have always seemed very helpful and friendly to me, though I'm not of their faith. As you may or may not know, they advocate having a years resources at hand, whether it be the supplies themselves or money to purchase the supplies. I've had some divorcees they me they lived on such supplies until they could get back onto their feet. For less than $10 you can get 20# of rice and a container of bouillon cubes at Sam's Club if you don't mind shopping there. That's a start.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), October 04, 1999.

Think camping: Get a propane stove and a kerosene/oil lantern and fuel supply. Have candles as well. Flashlights are OK if you have enough batteries, but a solar flashlight might be more useful. Accumulate a variety of canned and dried foods and an extra supply of water (1 gallon per person per day) over the next couple of months in the course of your regular shopping. Buy what you normally eat -- soups, beans, stew, tuna, whatever. There are juice concentrates that come in cans that look like soda cans that you mix with water. Choose quick-cooking rice and pasta, but avoid expensive "convenience foods." Consider card games, books, and other ways to pass the time that do not require electricity. Memorize stories to tell. Out here in California we're prepared for earthquakes so this is no different. And try to remember -- the best things in life aren't things.

-- WK Grady (wkbg@pacbell.net), October 05, 1999.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who responded to me email in this forum. There are a lot of very caring people out there. I didn't mean to have people feel I'm full of panic and fear. I'm getting prepared as we speak. I just haven't been preparing for very long and only want the best for my family. I do feel however that when crunch comes to crunch, I will be the one in the family that will hold things together. I will have the mindset which I will have been building on for some time. I have made a choice to be ready for now on for whatever may come our way. Thanks to all of you, this will be quite possible and probable. My heart and prayers for safe keeping and good health to all, Sep.

-- september hetherington (suzbiz98@yahoo.com), October 06, 1999.

Glad to see you calmed down! You're doing great! Now for those grown children-what are THEY doing to provide for THEMSELVES and THEIR children? Around here, there have been more than a laugh or two, among friends and family, that "she" is saving water, food etc., hee,hee. OK, I'm a good sport, but when shit hits the fan, don't come crawling to me! I was born, live, and will die, a Christan woman who loves her family, but even the Bible will tell you, that sometimes, only the strong, and the prepared, survive. Stock up, light the stove and LOCK the door.

-- k. calabro (catfish@bestweb.net), October 06, 1999.

Although we "heard" it coming with the first issue that Countryside put out concerning this Y2K problem, we stalled and did not get around to preparing until this summer. One thing that really helped was talking to people who shared the same concerns. I had become as complacent as my fello neighbors when I only spoke with them. I got tired of suggesting there may be a problem and being called "Henny-Penny". Thank goodness I ran into someone at the local thrift shop who overheard me trying to convince my husband into buying a used yogurt maker. Come to find out, her husband is a co-host on the most widely listened to Y2k radio program on the internet. www.y2knews.com After meeting with them, my interests were rekindled. I quell the feelings of urgency by doing something, everyday, to help store away essentials. And just getting around, keeping our eyes open for what we need, has been very productive. Just the other day, we got a used 250 gal.Kerosene tank that our neighbor didn't want anymore. Since we will use this kind of fuel, along with wood for backup, this is real handy.We also acquired a cow and some chickens. I found out that you can store milk by canning it. And I make butter, lots of it. We find bushels of apples that people don't want to bother with and make applesauce with it. This year our canning shed will be full. One question that I have: Our canning shed is made from rock and is not partially built into the ground. We just moved here this spring and learned recently that the shed will probably freeze. Thus all of our efforts will burst with the jars. Any ideas on preventing this? We thought of using a lantern with the flame on low out there at night or when its below freezing. I've got room upstairs to store stuff, but planned on using the space for other essentials like flour, etc. Thanks for any help you can lend. Patrice

-- Patrice Bertke (herbalgroup@skybest.com), October 07, 1999.

Hi Patrice Invest in some trash cans with locking tops to store the flour and other, in the shed, move those jars to the house. All of that hard work and good food will be wasted if it freezes and breaks!

-- K. Calabro (catfish@bestweb.net), October 08, 1999.

>I have been trying to prepare, yet I feel I'm just not atuned enough to really know what goes into being prepared for such a change in life. There is a chance, although hectic and too industrialized in this day of "technological boom", that things may not change.<

Things will definitely change. Computers control almost everything today, and too many "didn't believe" soon enough. Prepare for economic dislocation for an unknown length of time.

Patrice, as soon as you are able, pile dirt around the walls of your "canning" shed. If you are able, buy some foam insulating sheets to put in place first, but definitely pile dirt. The ideal amount is _equal_ to the depth of the local frost line. (Frost line is the point where the ground doesn't freeze.) The idea is to make the "canning" shed seem to be underground and mitigate temp. swings. If you can, also buy straw (not hay) and pack it around and between the jars. If you can't do that, get styro peanuts. If you are _extremely_ cautious, and can afford the costs, put a small 20-40 watt bulb in a "caged" fitting in the shed. Over 12-18 hours, a small bulb creates a fair amount of heat that can hold above freezing.

Make trips as _infrequently_ as possible. Every time you open a door to the shed, you lose heat. Anything you do to proetct against wind, and more direct heat losses, will hold the temp at an above freezing level. Good luck.

-- Walter Daniels (fbngraph@indy.net), October 20, 1999.

Prepare don't panic is the way the EMA director here has been addressing this issue. He's a really great guy and I went to yet another Y2K forum last Sunday night. He was telling those folks that he's been telling most folks to at least lay in emergency supplies for a 72 hour power outage, but since they lived on a mountain outside of town, he suggested they prepare for a one week outage...not just as a precaution for Y2K but for any other disaster that might strike such as an ice storm, tornado, etc....any preparation you can do will be better than nothing...

we haver personally stocked up on bottled water (I'm getting more), canned food that we canned and bought, cat food, other animal food, stuff like crackers etc. and long lasting candles. I must get more batteries (would really like a solar powered charger for the AA batteries my police scanner uses), more batteries for flashlights, and need to stock up on toliet paper. Also, make sure you have extra medications.

Also, he said to make sure your gas tank on your vehicle is full and may have 5 to 10 gallons stored somewhere on your place BUT NOT IN YOUR HOUSE! Make certain you used the gas after a couple of months and put new gas in the cans, rotate it like you need to do the food.

During the blizzard of 1993, here in the south, we were without power for 6 days and then we only had a fireplace and so my husband, one remaining child at home then, our son, and I all slept on a mattress in the den floor in front of it. Every night my husband would read out loud from a Jim Herriot animal book for about 45 minutes, we'd listen to the news on the battery radio, and then snuggle under quilts and go to sleep. Our water never gave out then but it was rough cooking on the fireplace because we were not prepared...Now we have a small propane heater (since we can't afford to get the chimney repaired on the fireplace yet) and I think we know better what to expect.

hope this helps!!! suzy in 'bama

-- suzy (slgt@yahoo.com), October 21, 1999.

some inexpensive things to stock up on at the grocery/sams wholesale......first, read the nutitional labels......in a true survival situation you need food items that are nutritious........for example, i love green beans, beets, etc. but these are low-calorie, low-nutrition foods.......buy inexpensive, generic store brands of the bright green, and bright orange foods, these are the most nutritious and have the most vitamin content......example is canned carrots, cheap and 100% vitamin a, c, etc per can/serving..also greens, such as spinach, turnip greens, etc. if times get bad, you don't just want to fill your tummy, you want to put nutrition and vitamisn in your body, as you will be very stressed in such a situation......for $10 a week extra, you can get an amazing good supply of foods, without going into debt.

buy a $10 box of dried powdered milk......buy a couple dollar can of shortening ( when times are good we try to lose weight, all of us on a diet, but when times are tough you better be putting some fat/food/fuel into your body)......buy "tang" concentrate....each glass gives you lots of vitamin c........i had bought a few containers are regular price, but then the IGA put out a really good sale on them and i really stocked up on tang.......buy some multi- vitamins, $2 at dollar general stores......

when you go grocery shopping, be sure to read the nutritional labels, some of our very most popular foods don't really provide much nutrition........stock up as i said on greens, carrots, also canned solid-pack pumpkin is very nutritious........don't buy things your family or you will hate to eat and refuse to eat it......

i have been recycling soda bottles the last few months... i wash out the 2 liter soda bottles and fill with water......i have taken a spare bedroom and that is now my pantry. by changing and prioritizing my budget, i have accumulated a lot of extra food at $10 per week.........i also have an occasional second job, and all that money goes to extra food also......watch your sales and stock up. get a gallon of clorox and a cheap eye dropper, this helps to purify and store water when the time comes. if you can get a second income, do it. save some money, be out of debt, accumulate a pantry. a pantry is money saved, like a savings account......when you have extra stored foods, foods you like to eat, that you have bought on sale, got really good prices on, you automatically saved and made money....be sure to date your foods, with a magic marker, and begin to rotate.......i cook out of my kitchen cabinets, and i use the pantry as my grocery, i restock the kitchen cabinets from my pantry, and my pantry from shopping.....

know your prices, know when an item is truly on sale at a good price, and stock the heck out of it at home...watch sale ads, look at other places like dollar general stores, etc, and compare........

stock up on beans, and rice......brown rice does not store very long, but white does.......put them in containers with a bay leaf or two....buy on sale.....

remember, you're not just stocking up for y2k, you're stocking up for winter storms, natural disasters, job loss, economic problems, recessions, etc etc etc......this is not a one-time thing, this is something you should practice all your life and pass on to your children.

if you have any questions, feel free to write me back. i have lots of ideas that i have put into practice and will be happy to share with anybody....

Gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), October 25, 1999.