Homesteading families

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I'm not sure how to put this. But I've been thinking about "what if". What if Y2K had been something more than it was? I wonder how many of us were prepared (either partially or wholly) to survive and help our immediate families survive? That's great. But, what of other homesteading families that live nearby. I mean, people of like mind should pull together in an emergency situation. But, how do you find people of like mind in your communities? As far as I know there are no associations, etc. to let you know. There should be someway of homestead type people knowing who they can turn to in times of need that live fairly close. I suppose if they had county fairs or farmer's markets nearby they could find fellow homesteaders. Anyway, like the redneck said when stopped and asked by the state trooper"Got any I.D." He said"bout what?"

-- Terrell (terrell@tanet.net), May 08, 2000

Answers

Terrell, I think that it is probably best if we are somewhat spread out and not all clumped or congregated together. We are better able to help those around us that way. A friend of mine said one time how neat it would be if all our church family could live on one piece of property -- not a commune, but a community. But for the same reasons, I didn't think that was a good idea. God doesn't want His people all clumped together in one spot. He told us to be the salt of the earth (salt being used more as a preservative in those days, as well as flavoring), and salt doesn't perform either of its functions well in lumps. Homesteaders need to act as a type of salt, too, and we don't want to be all in clumps, because that would leave some people without access to the kind of help a homesteader could give in time of need. It is nice, though, to be able to use means such as this forum to stay in touch and help educate one another.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 08, 2000.

Terrell, in some areas there were groups of people who organized their localities for y2K, for example: Whidbey Island Washington. Some of the internet forum groups started some smaller regional groups...seems to me that there was one on TB2000 in the northeast US. Those folks are probably all still communicating. You could also check with the Red Cross...they actually might be able to put you in touch with something at the grass roots level. I bet you could find some still active if you go to any of the still existing y2k forums...Ed Yourdon has one, and there's one in Texas, and the TB2000 alternative one is still, up...??? Good luck. Agreed we still need to think about these things .

-- sheepish (rborgo@gtex.net), May 08, 2000.

TB2000 is still up, and active - if only just. For anyone who missed it, there is a wealth of self-reliance style information in the archives at Time Bomb 2000 Preparation Forum .

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 09, 2000.

My husband and I moved to our rural homestead four years ago. We were strangers in the area and put all our resources into our land and partially built home. Not that we did everything right, but we gradually acquired some of our circle of homestead friends by regularly attending the ongoing livestock auction about 30 miles from where we live. Over a period of several months, as regulars, we would just have conversations on say, the quality of some of the farm tools going through. After a period of time we'd ask someone who brought in goats to talk about the rest of their flock. When we didn't properly put in enough feed for our calves during our first winter (having come from a city, I just figured you could buy hay on demand - guess what, at least up here in Maine, it isn't something you can run out to the feed store and buy. Besides, frankly, we were broke and holding on to our animals by the skin of our teeth) we would ask associates at the auction where to get hay. We learned alot about feed and what does and doesn't work.

Our best and closest relationship is with a dairy farmer who desperately needed help getting hay in. We help him and in exchange he lets us have the hay we need, as well as lots of advice on raising our cattle. We are going into our third haying season with him.

Since we live in one of the poorer counties in Maine, there are lots of opportunities to barter. Not everyone is in the same homestead situation we are in. Some of our friends only keep chickens and a garden, others are loggers and hunters. I guess we were never really preparing for Y2K, but all the people we knew were kind of feeling out each other to make sure that we'd be available to give each other a hand. But for us, it is an ongoing thing. You just kind of know when someone needs help (not wants and is too lazy to do for themselves) and you do something to help.

Another good place to look is through a local church. If your garden really produces well, I'm sure the pastor can help you direct the surplus and as you learn more about your neighbors you may be surprised how many people quietly go about their lives doing their little bit to ensure their own self sufficiency. They just haven't labled themselves as homesteaders.

I apologize for rambling on and hope this may have been of some use to you.

-- Anne Tower (bbill@wtvl.net), May 15, 2000.


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