Safety in a Failing Economy

[Countyfem]

First I would panic for about 15mins...Then have a hella yardsale..pack up and
head for the mountains...
I'm lucky that I can always go back to the family home-place in the mountains, growing up we used to raise pigs cows chickens and a large garden, would take some work as the land has laid fallow for the last 20 year but it could be done.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Countyfem

First I would panic for about 15mins...Then have a hella yardsale..pack up and
head for the mountains...
I'm lucky that I can always go back to the family home-place in the mountains, growing up we used to raise pigs cows chickens and a large garden, would take some work as the land has laid fallow for the last 20 year but it could be done.

I hear you! I honestly feel the safest in the woods/mountains. I think learning basic living skills, regardless where you live is important. I see you are in NC. Perhaps we could meet up and have a little get together for some of these city folks to learn some country skills in the event they needed it.

[Sachita]

This post will be on housing.

Is anyone in construction? I'd like to get some cost to post.

If you review the thread Tiny Houses you'll see a simple shed structure someone took and made a cabin. Today almost every city has a rent to own shed company. You need to find one that makes quality, home like structures. They are basic. If you're handy and can do your own work inside great!

Or what about a used RV hooked up? You insulate the pipes, add a deck or even another small room. Can you live in a small space? Many do. Imagine how affordable to live this way?

How many are living in small tiny houses now?

How many people are considering making this move and downsizing to save money?

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by Sachita

This post will be on housing.

Is anyone in construction? I'd like to get some cost to post.

If you review the thread Tiny Houses you'll see a simple shed structure someone took and made a cabin. Today almost every city has a rent to own shed company. You need to find one that makes quality, home like structures. They are basic. If you're handy and can do your own work inside great!

Or what about a used RV hooked up? You insulate the pipes, add a deck or even another small room. Can you live in a small space? Many do. Imagine how affordable to live this way?

How many are living in small tiny houses now?

How many people are considering making this move and downsizing to save money?

I build things, including small, off the grid structures.
I try to have this conversation often, I look forward hearing from people here.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

I build things, including small, off the grid structures.
I try to have this conversation often, I look forward hearing from people here.

we look forward to your ideas. can you share with us in laymans terms? lol

[atomiczombie]

Nice thread.

I am on disability and MediCal currently because of my PTSD and panic disorder. I live with my folks because the only other choice at the time I moved in with them was to go into a psych hospital. I have been to a psych hospital before, when I was 15, and lemme tell ya they are not a good place to get better. If anything it makes you more afraid and depressed and hopeless feeling.

Anyhoo, I barely get by on what the government gives me. I pay my folks a little rent and I have a couple other monthly bills. That plus gas money to go to my therapist once a week (an hours drive away) and the occasional outing (to safe places) - that leaves VERY little left over for anything else each month.

If I were to lose my benefits, I would be up shit creek. I need my health care because of my ongoing medical issues. My fall back would be my folks. They would have to pay for everything. They are retired and on fixed incomes and this would be a terrible burden on them financially. I would be sucking up their retirement savings just to live. That would be my only alternative. If I didn't have my folks and couldn't get any medical care, I have no freakin' idea what I would do. Probably die somehow-someway.

[SoNotHer]

I started a biomicicry and permaculture thread a few weeks ago. It dovetails into this.

Economics is a system dependent on natural systems (the earth). The parent system is the natural world. The money changing game is a subset of that system, and as the fortunes or misfortunes of the planet go, so go our own.

Although more people will focus on the Kardasians today, some of the real news includes a little article that offers an even stronger message by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change that the extreme weather we are seeing more and more of is linked to climate change. And the losses are mounting.

In the past year, I insulated more, bought a couple used bikes, built more cold frames, got a wood insert for the fireplace and saved old windows and found as much reclaimed wood materials as I could over to work with a skilled carpenter to build a sturdy greenhouse. I would recommend the same and the following if at all possible:

1) Plant nut and fruit trees and bushes.

2) Build a greenhouse.

3) Start cultivating alternative energy sources - a wood stove, a wood insert, a 150 watt (or greater) solar panel and battery bank, a small turbine, etc. And consider insulation and anything done for efficiency's sake as important.

4) Create cold frames (very simple to make and old windows are great for this too). In some zones, you can grown year round in cold frames.

5) Start developing some useful skills and tools - e.g., mounting turbines, fixing bikes, preserving food, amending soil, etc.

6) Start treating water like the precious thing it is. Buy a rain barrel. Buy a cistern. Start a wet garden.

7) Have a disaster plan (often said - more relevant than ever).

8) Get to know your neighbors.

9) Make, build or reinforce where you are living as though a fire, flood or strong wind will come through.

10) If you have leaves (or other compostables), heat and time, you have soil. Start "making" your own soil.

11) Stop buying into the idea that the solutions must be bought. You have, can and will do many things on your own that do not require endless trips to Wal-mart and Target. Grow your food, grow your community, grow your mind.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Countyfem

First I would panic for about 15mins...Then have a hella yardsale..pack up and
head for the mountains...
I'm lucky that I can always go back to the family home-place in the mountains, growing up we used to raise pigs cows chickens and a large garden, would take some work as the land has laid fallow for the last 20 year but it could be done.

If things got really bad I would move to Dalton, GA and live with my buddy Beth. Keep her house clean and do catering for movies with her.

[Rockinonahigh]

I have a life time lease on 20 acers out in the back woods of Louisiana,there is a cabin,deep well,plenty of game with a little used lake that joins the property.My son and I can bug out to it if needed,the cabin is made of brick and stone and has a fire place 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep with a 2 foot drop in the floor of it to keeep the ashes and wood form falling or embers going to far the grate is steel...yeah I know its kinda mid evile but sturdy as can be.My cousin owns the property but has no intrest in it,there is enough room to plant a guarden have some live stock to boot its so wooded that as I chop trees for the fire place I can clear it as I go.The only reson I dont stay there now is its location.When my uncle was liveing he took enough solor panels and all it takes to put them up in the cabin.Uncle is old army he set it up real good.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

I have a life time lease on 20 acers out in the back woods of Louisiana,there is a cabin,deep well,plenty of game with a little used lake that joins the property.My son and I can bug out to it if needed,the cabin is made of brick and stone and has a fire place 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep with a 2 foot drop in the floor of it to keeep the ashes and wood form falling or embers going to far the grate is steel...yeah I know its kinda mid evile but sturdy as can be.My cousin owns the property but has no intrest in it,there is enough room to plant a guarden have some live stock to boot its so wooded that as I chop trees for the fire place I can clear it as I go.The only reson I dont stay there now is its location.When my uncle was liveing he took enough solor panels and all it takes to put them up in the cabin.Uncle is old army he set it up real good.

I like the idea of communal living in separate dwellings. I'd love to find someone who owns a huge chunk of land, like the one mentioned above, and work out an arrangement with them to park my RV or Tiny House on their land in exchange for any services I can offer to the little community. It would be awesome to live on huge plot of land with tiny houses scattered everywhere and a like a big tent/building as a common area. I think it could work and could be pretty awesome.

[SugarFemme]

I agree with you 100%. People would have privacy in separate sleeping dwellings and maybe communal meeting and eating areas. And work could could possibly be each according to his/her ability. Each according to need. Socialist/Kibbutz ideology. I've lived it before and it works really well if thats the lifestyle one is comfortable with.

Originally Posted by Stacy

I like the idea of communal living in separate dwellings. I'd love to find someone who owns a huge chunk of land, like the one mentioned above, and work out an arrangement with them to park my RV or Tiny House on their land in exchange for any services I can offer to the little community. It would be awesome to live on huge plot of land with tiny houses scattered everywhere and a like a big tent/building as a common area. I think it could work and could be pretty awesome.

[SoNotHer]

That was the plan for my farm. You share the work and the wealth and draw upon people's strengths. Intentional communities are happening, and I think we may see more and more of them.

Originally Posted by OneOfAKind

I agree with you 100%. People would have privacy in separate sleeping dwellings and maybe communal meeting and eating areas. And work could could possibly be each according to his/her ability. Each according to need. Socialist/Kibbutz ideology. I've lived it before and it works really well if thats the lifestyle one is comfortable with.

[SugarFemme]

Seriously, if you can ever pull this together, or need help doing it, please let me know. It is something I have seriously been thinking about for many many years.

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

That was the plan for my farm. You share the work and the wealth and draw upon people's strengths. Intentional communities are happening, and I think we may see more and more of them.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Stacy

I like the idea of communal living in separate dwellings. I'd love to find someone who owns a huge chunk of land, like the one mentioned above, and work out an arrangement with them to park my RV or Tiny House on their land in exchange for any services I can offer to the little community. It would be awesome to live on huge plot of land with tiny houses scattered everywhere and a like a big tent/building as a common area. I think it could work and could be pretty awesome.

I have a huge chunk of land. You guys are more then welcome to put tiny houses or rv's here. Much of the land is already cleared and I have a large creek.

The great part about southern virginia is its not too awful cold or hot. There are long seasons for growing and with a greenhouse you can extend that even longer. I am one hour to the Blue Ridge Mountians