FIND A MENTOR

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The impetus for this was Paula's posting yesterday about the reality that it is really beginning/ending. I was out in my home shop today putting away tools because it was too cold and rainy to work outside. My wife and I have lived in the boondocks for a long time and I have accumulated a lot of tools and necessary stuff. But I have also gotten rid of things like my bulldozer that might be uselss in the future. As I looked around, I realized that everyting represented a library of experience. The same thing is true of our garden and orchard and how we live.

No Book will help you now if you are bugging out. I urge anyone moving to the coutry because of y2k to FIND A MENTOR right now.

I don't know how to say this becaue I'm not a warm, fuzzy person but if you believe that a bad case will develop, I realy belive you will not survive without a mentor.

My years in the country don't make me an expert but I'd be glad to expand on this either via email or on the fourm.

Todd

-- Todd Detzel (detzel@jps.net), November 23, 1999

Answers

I agree. I'm a programmer who knows *nothing* about chickens. But I knew I wanted to have some around, just in case things really go south. So I read up on the subject at the Ag university websites. But it wasn't til a friend at the local courthouse Ag extension office came alongside with advice and experience that I realy felt comfortable with all these birds. Now we've got eggs and meat enough for our family *and* the neighbors!

Thanks for the offer. I hope many take you up on it.

Just a country programmer with 65 chickens and a generator...

-- RPGman (tripix@olypen.com), November 23, 1999.


Tod...I agree 100%. We too have always lived in the boonies and had to do for ourselves. We learned alot in our lifetimes and I think we are going to have to use every bit of it next year. I have always said that a person pays for their education...no matter if its learning how to cut and stack wood. There is always a price and I am afraid for people that with the short time left, the price is going to be too costly. Chubby Hubby and I lead a double life. We have all the gadgets of this era, live on the grid with air conditioning, etc. But we still have all the tools, books and skills to live off the grid and on the land. I am so afraid that so many on this forum who are preparing really don't have a clue. If you get through the winter and you have health, land, water and seed, you have a chance. But you are going to have to work very hard and do a lot of things that you don't really want to do...like butchering animals. When tomatoes are in season, you can and eat tomatos until you never want to see another one. Then its the beans or the squash or whatever. You eat what you have until its gone. There are no choices of the produce market. If you live in NY you will have no citrus. If you live in Florida, you will have no apples, cherrys or pears. You will only have what you can raise, buy and barter for. I think that we are in for a long depression and there will be lots of hungry people. I urge you...if you have not read the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, do so. Its a great read, you won't want to put it down. But it will give you a "feel" for what the Great Depression was like. You/we all NEED that "feel". It may save your life. Consider it part of your education on staying alive long enuff to come out the other side.

Taz...who worrys about y'all.

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), November 23, 1999.


I've been pretty open about my age but I'd suggest Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED as perhaps the most realistic portrial of what is to come. For those of you who are old enough, How about Sinclare Lewis' book IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE. Both of these books are not unrealistic as to what mght happen.

Look, I don't know anything about computers except to type stuff. I depend upon experts to tell me what to do. Why do people think that survival in the country is any different?

Todd

-- Todd Detzel (detzel@jps.net), November 23, 1999.


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