Watching the current market situation and the global events such as F&MD in Europe and Japan's financial problems, I think I am going to do a little bit more to get ready for a serious recession or depression. I think there is just too much negative stuff going on that could really hurt our economy. I am going to make my garden bigger and I am definitely going to get the chickens I have been thinking about getting. I have been back and forth about buying some non-hybrid seeds but I think I am going to definitely get some for the main food items I like to preserve such as tomatoes. Going to make sure my Y2k stock is back up just to be sure. A root cellar in the garage is already on the "To Do" list for hubby this year and he was just talking about going out to get the lumber this week. We already have our greenhouse in operation so I can grow some lettuce, etc. over the winter to provide fresh food just in case. I just don't have a very good feeling about what may be coming by next winter. I guess we all have to wait and see but I think I will wait "prepared" rather than just wait.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), March 14, 2001

Answers

Since 'Y2K' was a flop lots of folks have been kind of embarassed about being prepared. Many of the people that I know that prepared for Y2K were level headed very sensible people. Almost to a person they felt that the computer bug may or may not happen but that they felt a push to have emergency supplies and other things at hand. I thought when Y2K didn't happen that I would be able to catch some things at a bargain at sales....I'm seeing some but not much. Seems most folks are hanging onto their supplies. Our economy just can't continue at the clip that it has. I've been feeling an urgent need to get as self sufficient as one family can get....and quick. I know there are a lot of folks on the forum here that aren't christian but I believe this feeling is coming from God. Personal disasters can happen at any time even if the economy continues to hum along and food supplies remain sound(with genetic engineering 'sound' is a relative term as far as I'm concerned). I know there are lots of things that I want to get done that will take years to accomplish so what I am doing is prioritising and making sure that I have the proper tools available when I am able to get around to the less urgent things. The computer bug may have been exterminated but being prepared at any time is a smart thing.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), March 14, 2001.

I'm not alone???? (wheeeeww!!!) Ladies I am with you 1000%. (See answer to post about F & M - not too coherant, but....)

Amanda... I'm one of those non-Christian types, but I do believe in ONE Supreme Being - God, if I may. AND, I believe you are right there, too.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 14, 2001.

Agreed! I'm not a doom and gloom type, but certainly believe in being prepared. Having long wanted a pantry, I used the Y2K scare to convince my dh we needed to seriously stock up. I have worked at keeping the supply about where it was a year ago. Dh and I have long had a feeling that the economy was going to take a serious dive eventually. This FMD is something that could make a huge impact worldwide. Hope not, but who knows. And personal disasters can happen anytime.

Awhile back I posted that the biggest single benefit from CS mag. (for me) was learning to keep records and knowing what produced and what didn't. While our situation was such that we could afford to keep some "pets", I knew which animals to cull in a hurry if times got tough. Guess what - we have had a recent family crisis that has hit us hard, not only now but for at least this next year. I knew which animals needed to go, and we are unloading those in a hurry. Thanks to having almost no debt, having a full freezer, a well stocked pantry, and a good wood supply, etc., and knowing how to budget, we are doing pretty well. Dh has a wonderful ability to stretch a paycheck to cover the monthly bills, we will be able to sell enough critters to take care of the taxes and ins., and I do pretty well at coming up with cheap meals and clothing, and combining go-to-town errands to keep gasoline costs to a minimum. We have chickens, meat ducks, some wonderful Nubian goats, plenty of garden space & seeds on hand, and can get wood off our own property if need be. We also know how to entertain ourselves and stay content on a shoestring budget. I see us as coming through this personal crisis in pretty good shape, and I truly have many years of Countryside to thank for much of that.

In contrast, some close relatives of ours stocked up a bit for Y2K, but they not only didn't keep up afterwards, they have given away what they did have because most of it wasn't quick to fix food! After a couple job promotions and raises, they recently bought a new house, and purchased some rather spendy appliances and home decor.....on credit. Guess what - the company the husband works for is moving out of the country, and is laying off all employees. He has about 2 months left. Normally he could find a new job, except he needs to have major surgery soon (with all the added medical bills), and now CAN'T put off the surgery because he won't have insurance later. This young couple has no idea how to garden, raise animals, cook "cheap", etc. The wife's income basically covers the house payment. I have no idea how they are going to survive this next year. It is always good to be prepared, regardless of the current state of the economy.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), March 14, 2001.

In my opinion , I don't need a god to blame things on. To me it is simple action, reaction. Karma if you will. Where is it written that things will always be on the upswing? What goes up , must come down and that includes the economy among many other things. I question if people will pay attention. Maybe planning the budget and the privatization of social security isn't such a great idea in light of the fact that things do go down. I don't manage my finances hoping that everything will be hunky dory forever and ever. Then when things don't work out go crying to the government to rescue me. You know who's going to bail out the government. Same as always, it's the good old taxpayer. I agree with the idea of stocking up and becoming more self reliant, but thats holds no matter what the economy is doin, in my book

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), March 14, 2001.

Umm, well, our state governor officially declared a drought today here in usually wet Washington State. We are also facing dire electricity shortages, especially this summer. Top that off with the fact that the tech industry has driven our local economy for the last oh, several years (Microsoft, etc.) I think we may be seeing some interesting problems (ahem!) Did I mention that we just had a 6.8 earthquake?

I am getting a few more 55 gal barrels to add to our supply (plus we have the 1000 gal water tank that we get water off our garage roof for...) The barrels are going around the perimeter of the garden(s). The water supply in the tank is for us and the 6 doz critters who also call this place home. We get water from our water district, but I can smell rationing not too far off, unless we have a really wet spring/summer (it could happen.)

We have food stored, grow food, and have been working on self- sufficiency (such as it is these days) for a few years. We have still been working off-farm (nice to have income when you can get it...might be handy as I think I'll be buying next winter's hay this spring! Irrigation costs this summer will drive alfalfa prices up even worse than they already are) but we could tighten our belts without incomes, if need be!

To any of you who are still not sure whether or not you need to be ready for ups and downs in the economy, I would urge you to please "err" on the side of caution, and get moving! I'm not a pessimist, and I think things will be okay, but much better to be safe, etc.

Just my $.01 (lost the other half this week on Nasdaq!) ;-)

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), March 14, 2001.

It's always good to be prepared for the "rainy days". It's really easy to get caught up in the rush of preparation and being worried about it. I feel the best way is rely on God for guidance and protection along with educating yourselves the basics of homesteading, survival, first-aid, etc. It's sad to see alot of people are so dependent on the "system" to bail them out. Just think what happens when the electricity goes out! People are so paranoid these days, how can they live without the TV! Shocking!! Just being funny here. But back on this subject of preparing oneself, you're on the right track and keep the fa

-- David Cripe (cripeland@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

the last line (above) should read "…keep the faith." I don't know why the last few characters of the submissions keeps getting cut off?

-- David Cripe (cripeland@aol.com), March 15, 2001.

Another good thread .I have been getting new calves , i see meat going through the roof .I will expand the garden and pastures .Will will produce are own beef , pork ,lamb and chicken this year and every year from now on .It took a while to get going but will be worth it .I have cows and goats to frshen yet for milk .The nice thing is I have enough meat to also supply family .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 15, 2001.

Boy Patty we do think alot alike! We are doing everything you said . I will also be hitting yard sales and auctions looking for more oil lamps and such. I will also be looking for clothing and shoes for the kids.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), March 15, 2001.

We've already been advised to expect some pink slips to be handed out. Looking at the larder , greenhouse and garden sure keep the stomach from churning to bad. Feels like its Y2.015 to me. One of the guys I work with said he felt like DiCapprio in "Titanic", when the ship went down and he said "hold your breath":>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 15, 2001.

With all the great thinking at Countryside I think we'll all do just fine. I might get beat up for this, but maybe a good depression would bring our greed driven society back to things like respect, care for friends and neighbors, spending time with our children, looking after our elders, and realization that there's more to life than accumulation. Our daughter, when she was eighteen, and getting ready one Saturday morning to go to her weekend job, exclaimed I HATE MONEY! I think about that remark often, and can only guess at all the things she was trying to tell me.

I spent 30 years in heavy industry creating new and faster ways to harvest and distribute our earths mineral resorces, and have to ask myself if I could have spent my life differently.

Maybe it would be a good thing if everything came to a halt, and we had a chance to rethink where our society should be headed. Money is nothing but an instrument to measure who,s winning,and who's loosing!

Well, down off my soap box, I'm ready for the beatings!

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), March 15, 2001.

Hey you're not alone on this too, woodsbilly. In fact there are probably a lot of us Countrysiders fell this way and I've known some people are disappointed about the "business-as-usual" effect after the Y2K scare. But it is sad to see how our society is so materialistic, entertainment/sport crazy with no sense of out-going concern for their fellow man. Computer and technology (if used correctly) can be a tremendous blessing, unfortunately we've also created a Frankenstein monster that is ready to blow away every man, woman, and child off the the face of the earth (200 times) with weapons of mass destruction! Godspeed His Second Comming!

-- David Cripe (cripeland@aol.com), March 16, 2001.

I know we will be ok , we know how to fend for ourselfs.I'm affraid for my extended family , they are in the city.I am doing extra so they will be ok to.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 16, 2001.

jd has been telling every reader for the past few years that the economy was going to take a tumble. One does not have to be a Harvard economist to have seen it coming. The Y2K excercise of putting food by and stocking up for unknown problems was a dress rehearsal. Look in your encylcopedias for Depression vs. Recession, so you understand the difference.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), March 16, 2001.

Having lived in Florida all my life, I am used to "preparing" - just in case...(Hurricane Season every year), However, it is quite different to be purchasing several week's worth of non-perishibles, batteries, bottled water, first aid supplies etc. as opposed to preparing for a recession. I live in the city. Can't seem to grow a thing for some reason (contrary to my screen name - though I've tried time & time again), never mind livestock (Don't think the neighbors nor the city officials would think to kindly on that one). So what's a person like me to do to prepare/put aside for what's to come?

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), March 17, 2001.

woodsbillie,

Your right. we NEED a recession or depression to make the money worth something again. Reminds me of the hitchikers guide to the galaxy where the phone sanitizers make leaves "money" and they strip all the trees and everyones "rich" but whats the use.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 17, 2001.

Greenthumbelina, I too live in a agriculturally-impaired area (in town). What I've done is to stock up on canned goods, etc for my pantry and watched the sales for meats and stocked my freezer. I know it's not the "typical homesteader" type set-up, but we each do as we can with what we have to work with. A quick "preparedness" story. I recently started my own business. I went without a paycheck for almost 8 weeks. In that time I used up my "cash stash" on day to day operating expenses. But the only groceries I had to buy were bread, milk and eggs. I lived off my pantry and freezer. It's not an overnight process. It's taken me a while to be that well stocked, and now I've started restocking, getting ready for the next time. Just watch the sales, use coupons,and only buy what you know you'll eat, and before you know it, you'll be set. There are as many different ways to "homestead" as there are people on this forum. Do what works for you and your circumstances. Good luck. John

-- John D in Pa (mrmopar@penn.com), March 17, 2001.

Bear in mind our current leadership is making our current situation seem worse than it is--it's to their advantage to do so. We're still in a healthy market, folks.

-- Betsy in NY (sassyweitzel@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

Helloooooo, anybody in there?????? I want you to call my Japanese accounts that are leaving me sitting on 14k of small and medium shirts that they ordered and tell them the economy is okay, and that they should buy more.....and pay up front for them!! That would help me a lot. I need to pay for these blanks and the electricity and labor it took to make these shirts. Thanks. Also, if you would call my friend who just had to take a week of unpaid vacation from Motorola and let her know it's all good, that would brighten her outlook. It is definitely not okay out there. I've been there and it's not all just swimming along blissfully.I don't know if this is the "big one" but it isn't looking good.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), March 21, 2001.

I'm sorry Betsy, I just got off the phone with the bank and heard that the stock market had fallen another couple of hundred points. I don't mean to take it out on you. It just really isn't good right now and the current administration hasn't had a chance to do anything to the economy yet. I wonder what you mean by them using it to their advantage?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), March 21, 2001.