People starting to wake up to the uncertainty of these times? http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008May24/0,4670,EnvironmentalSurvivalists,00.html
I think many many "sheeple" are now becoming aware of "something", and are gradually building "a little stockpile" of bits & pieces. I myself am new to this sort of thing, and have had my eyes opened only about 1 year or so? CURRENTLY AT DEFCON 5: INSIDE THE "OCCUPIED - ZONE" London calling to the faraway towns Now war is declared - and battle come down London calling to the underworld The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin London is drowning and I, I live by the river
This raises an interesting thing, a conflict of sorts. Hoarding in small quantities by many people vs. large quantities by a few amounts to the same thing; a reduced availability of stocks and rising prices. Should we applaud the newly awakened or be dismayed? I think, and maybe I'm the only one that does, that the awakening will reduce (to a degree) pressures on our personal stocks. A good thing, if the sheep take on some responsibility for gathering their own grass. Aside pricing and availability, I don't see a downside.
Very True Ghrit! Whilst people like myself are the "newly awakened", this may hinder and push the already rising cost of commodities up, we the newly awakened then on the other hand are no longer a threat to many long-time preppers! By this i mean we become more friend than foe!!! Myself and others do, certainly need to take on some responsibilty for "gathering our own grass" I personally dont see a problem (well i wouldnt would i..lol) but i can appreciate what you have said, because on a long term basis the questions you have raised are going to affect me, arent they? CURRENTLY AT DEFCON 5: INSIDE THE OCCUPIED - ZONE London calling to the faraway towns Now war is declared - and battle come down London calling to the underworld The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin London is drowning and I, live by the river
I don't know if it's as widespread, but we are very tourist driven where I live, and you can FEEL the effects. People are still coming down to the beach as they always have, although the restaurants and such are taking a pretty good hit and yet you see lines out the door at Wal Mart where people are buying cheap and saving their money as opposed to the past few years where people just threw everything on credit or whatever they do and worry about it later. I recently lost my main job due to the economy, and had been working Sundays at a restaurant and was able to pick up close to full time work; which is good except they are always worried about hours and how much they are spending. We were down by like 2 grand yesterday, and one of the other restaurants in our company was down by almost 5 grand, so people ARE paying attention even the ones that say everything is going to be "just fine".
Some people are opening there eyes of late. I found a PERFECT bug out spot on a friends land of all things recently. We do not want to many nor to little of people prepared. I am no where close to prepared but plan to change that , I just hope I have the time and finances.
Look at the bright side: if the availability of a certain type of product goes down, then that particular market is hot. Which means, businesses will step in to fill the gap.....meaning more of our type of products being produced. This may actually drive prices down.
Most of the people will most likely decide everything is fine in a few months and lose intrest similar to Y2K. So I could see it being a very good thing. Some will keep their eyes open and become prepaired lowering the number of starving zombies and those who loose intrest like after Y2K will likely sell off their stuff later and we can buy it cheaper from them. Win all around.
I have several family members and friends in a "group" along with a BO spot. Have some supplies but man would I need more if this happened soon.
Recognizeing the need and doing at least SOMETHING to prepare and plan already puts you a long ways ahead of the VAST majority of folks. From there its just a matter of doing the most you can with what you have. Is the BO spot land you (or your group) already owns? If so then buying a few fruit trees may pay higher yield for the money than those 2-3 cases of canned fruit to store. Dose a group member live ther that would be willing to tend some stuff? If so a large garden and some critters could be had for the price of a couple months food stores or a small amount of other stuff and can go a long ways toward sustainable food and other benifits (leather, milk, fertalizer, etc.) for the group.
I would think that the more prepared people there are, the less likely the threat of mutant biker zombies and the like, since preparation should also include firearms or weapons of self-defense...
try googleing 'postage stamp orchard'. IIRC its not to expensive and has a variety of fruit trees that will grow and produce quickly in a small area and as I recall you could get 4-5 of them at least for $100 and plant an orchard in an area 100'x100' or less that in 2-5 years would start producein a real good amount of fruit. If he has a small patch of ground he dont use then Im sure he would be happy to let you plant them there and maybe even water them as they get started for a good share of the fruit. Would also tend to be a deer/wild life magnet in the fall and make for a GREAT hunting spot. Other than watering them to get them going its also VERY little work to keep them going good. Just one of many options.
