Emergency Preparedness….Top Post-Collapse Barter Items And Trade Skills

randysright.wordpress.com ^ | 6/11/11 | randyedye

[Kartographer]

In today’s “modern” globalist economy, we have relied upon centralized and highly manipulated trade, forced interdependency, senseless and undisciplined consumption, endless debt creation, welfare addiction, and the erosion of quality, as a means to sustain a system that ultimately is DESIGNED to erode our freedoms not to mention our ability to effectively take care of ourselves. We have been infantized by our financial environment. In the near future, those who wish to live beyond a meager staple of government handouts (if any are even given) will be required to make a 180 degree reversal from their current lifestyle of dependency and immediate gratification towards one of self sufficiency, personal entrepreneurship, quality trade, and a mindset of necessity, rather than unfounded excess.

This means that each and every one of us will not only be driven to form barter networks outside the designated confines of the mainstream, we will have to become active producers within those networks. Each and every one of us will need to discover practical goods and skills that will be in high demand regardless of economic conditions. Being that our society has all but forgotten how this kind of trade works, let’s examine a short list of items as well as proficiencies that are sure to be highly sought after as the collapse progresses…

[RegulatorCountry]

I’m less than 20 miles out from three cities of over 100k population, metro population 1.2 million. Acre-plus lots are the norm. Half acre gardens are far from unusual. A tractor? How about a tiller or an attachment to your riding lawnmower, lol? As far as “protection,” not a car comes through here that isn’t noticed, and if it’s not a known one, it’s watched. Most of us are armed, too. This is not rare or exceptional in any way whatsoever. It’s reality for the majority of conservatives, certainly on FR. You live in northern Virginia in the DC reality distortion field, in a flat with no yard from the sound of it, and mistake this for the circumstance of all. Wrong.

[goat granny]

When my kids were small, 5children in less than 7 years, I did a lot of canning...also jam and jelly making...easy, but you need to have the proper equipment, ingredients, jars lids sealers etc....with jams and jellys you need sure-gel, sugar large pot for boiling jars etc...It could be done over a good fire but stove would be better...It took 17 batches of jelly/jam to go from one canning season to the next. The kids loved to help and I have a son in his 50's that can's and makes jelly/jam, pickles etc.

But in hard times, its nice if you already know how to cold pack for canning...

The good part is all the equipment you use is reuseable the following year with the exception of the sealing lids...I use parafin on the jam's. Tomatoes are easy canning so are peaches, pears, cherries etc. Veggies are not too practical for the cold pack method. Almost need a pressure cooker for your canning veggies...Can your spaghetti sauce without meat. Can be cold packed, add meat when fixing it for dinner...

Haven't canned in decades but once you do it for years, like riding a bike, you don't forget...

[freedumb2003]

>>I’m less than 20 miles out from three cities of over 100k population, metro population 1.2 million. <<

Those are what we call “bergs.” Very small. Most Americans don’t live there. 1.2 million are in West Covina, a tiny town near Los Angeles.

>>Acre-plus lots are the norm. Half acre gardens are far from unusual. A tractor? How about a tiller or an attachment to your riding lawnmower, lol? <<

OK. Said tiller/lawnmower uses gasoline (and oil), right? What do you do when the gasoline stops?

>>As far as “protection,” not a car comes through here that isn’t noticed, and if it’s not a known one, it’s watched. Most of us are armed, too. This is not rare or exceptional in any way whatsoever. It’s reality for the majority of conservatives, certainly on FR. You live in northern Virginia in the DC reality distortion field, in a flat with no yard from the sound of it, and mistake this for the circumstance of all. Wrong.<<

My bad — may I suggest you look back on this thread? The issue on the table is what happens when it ALL breaks down? Your checking on cars won’t help when me and my zombie biker gang (don’t be overly concerned, if you join we have cookies) armed with munitions from the now-defunct US Military bases take over your 1/2 acre garden.

If you think that scenario is ridiculous, that is my OTHER point.

[dsc]

“I just don’t see that.”

That’s what makes a lot of us want to speak forcefully.

“If it gets to then the whole world will have to collapse.”

The whole world didn’t collapse during the race riots of the sixties. I don’t see why riots in American cities would in and of themselves produce a worldwide collapse of civilization.

“If it does, then your few thousand rounds will only last you a short time.”

Depends on how many of us there are, and how high a stack of bodies the rioters are willing to climb over to get at us.

“You will need...your own 24X7X365 zombie biker gang to keep you safe.”

The number of trigger pullers required varies with their marksmanship, the defensibility of your position, and the morale of the enemy. I don’t see having to face any well-disciplined enemy capable of self-sacrifice and gallantry.

[freedumb2003]

>>The whole world didn’t collapse during the race riots of the sixties. I don’t see why riots in American cities would in and of themselves produce a worldwide collapse of civilization.<<

The race riots lasted a couple of days (same for the Rodney King riots). It wasn’t “the collapse” — it was a hiccough.

If you are using modern history, you need something a lot more permanent.

[dsc]

“Then why post at all? The statement as you posit has zero meaning.”

Of course it has meaning. Seems to me like it means pretty much what I’ve been saying: your refusal to entertain the plausibility of worst-case scenarios doesn’t seem to be entirely reasonable.

[freedumb2003]

>>Of course it has meaning. Seems to me like it means pretty much what I’ve been saying: your refusal to entertain the plausibility of worst-case scenarios doesn’t seem to be entirely reasonable.<<

So, you are really, with a straight face, suggesting that the entire world will break down and we will, inside of our generation, be thrown back to an agrarian society and culture? No technology, no manufacturing (even if imported or exported), no imports nor exports. Just each of us tending our mini-farms with sentries on the roof to keep our gold and food safe?

[freedumb2003]

>>Of course it has meaning. Seems to me like it means pretty much what I’ve been saying: your refusal to entertain the plausibility of worst-case scenarios doesn’t seem to be entirely reasonable.<<

Oh, and what will we do with the 10 million people in L.A., the 18 million in NY, the 10 million in Chicago, etc. etc. etc. They will all be magically gone? Or will they go to where the food is and maybe take it?

[RegulatorCountry]

Those are what we call “bergs.” Very small.

OK, so you actually are a helpless urbanite.

OK. Said tiller/lawnmower uses gasoline (and oil), right? What do you do when the gasoline stops?

You have a gasoline storage tank on your property, or are very close with someone who does. You know, buying ahead, storing what you need. You'd be surprised to learn that people have always done it. Shhhhh ... they're doing it right now, don't tell anybody, lol.

My bad — may I suggest you look back on this thread? The issue on the table is what happens when it ALL breaks down? Your checking on cars won’t help when me and my zombie biker gang (don’t be overly concerned, if you join we have cookies) armed with munitions from the now-defunct US Military bases take over your 1/2 acre garden.

May I suggest you look back on NOLA, since you've referenced it on this thread? What happened on that bridge? It was blocked. Why might that have been, do you suppose? Do you think effete city people stand a chance of ever living out some improbable fantasy of even getting out. if they're all as smug and arrogant and apparently clueless as you, let alone be able to get far enough through all that to try and take us on? You won't. You're the least of our worries, if it ever comes down to that, and I hope and pray that it doesn't.

[freedumb2003]

>>Those are what we call “bergs.” Very small.
OK, so you actually are a helpless urbanite.<<

OK, you are a member of a tiny % of the USA. I can grow food, I can hunt, I can fish, I can sew, I can cook. If it all went away tomorrow I would survive. It just wouldn’t be much fun.

>>You have a gasoline storage tank on your property, or are very close with someone who does. You know, buying ahead, storing what you need. You’d be surprised to learn that people have always done it. Shhhhh ... they’re doing it right now, don’t tell anybody, lol.<<

Years’ worth? Really?

>>May I suggest you look back on NOLA, since you’ve referenced it on this thread? What happened on that bridge? It was blocked. Why might that have been, do you suppose? Do you think effete city people stand a chance of ever living out some improbable fantasy of even getting out. if they’re all as smug and arrogant and apparently clueless as you, let alone be able to get far enough through all that to try and take us on? You won’t. You’re the least of our worries, if it ever comes down to that, and I hope and pray that it doesn’t.<<

That doesn’t make any sense and doesn’t address the question at hand. Getting out? Remember, ALL THE WORLD is reverted back to the 18th century. The 90+% of Americans who don’t have a 1/2 acre will be looking for food and provisions from the few that do.

I am sure you farmers out in the country are probably doing well. But the OP doesn’t matter, you are already self sufficient. But to tell people they need to have a garden when they might have a 20X10 backyard (and to hang on to gold) is nonsensical.

And, should “the collapse” occur, you will have 10s of millions coming after you and your gasoline storage tank and your garden. And they will need a leader. And I feel up to it.

[RegulatorCountry]

you will have 10s of millions coming after you and your gasoline storage tank and your garden. And they will need a leader. And I feel up to it.

Well, I feel sorry for them, then. You're already in la-la land. It's only downhill if you appoint yourself omnipotent plenipotentiary of popular procurement. You'll all be reduced to dining on long pig and acorns with such leadership.

[freedumb2003]

Well, I feel sorry for them, then. You're already in la-la land. It's only downhill if you appoint yourself omnipotent plenipotentiary of popular procurement. You'll all be reduced to dining on long pig and acorns with such leadership.

You prepare for worldwide collapse and everything going back to 18th century minus and I am the one in la-la land?

OK, well enjoy your seeds and gold, I guess. I'll perform my own risk management. Oh, and prepare my biker zombie army (cookies and all).

[little jeremiah]

I said “some people” have the bias of normalcy. That’s as far as I got in your two comments to me.

Life’s too short to deal with the kind of nonsense you offer.

[dsc]

I just went back to get a few of the riots from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

1964 - New York City 1964 race riot, July 18–23 (New York City)
1964 - Rochester 1964 race riot, July 24–25 (Rochester, New York)
1964 - Jersey City 1964 race riot,[9] August 2–4 (Jersey City, New Jersey)
1964 - Elizabeth 1964 race riot,[9] August 11–13 (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
1964 - Dixmoor 1964 race riot[9] August 16–17 (Chicago, Illinois)
1964 - Philadelphia 1964 race riot August 28–30
1965 - Watts Riot, August 11-15 1965, (Los Angeles, California)
1966 - Division Street Riots, June 12–14 (Humboldt Park, Chicago)
1966 - Hough Riots, July 1966 (Cleveland, Ohio)
1966 - Benton Harbor Riot, August–September 1966 (Benton Harbor, Michigan)
1966 - Atlanta riot of 1966, Sep. 6 (Atlanta, Georgia)
1966 - Sunset Strip curfew riots (Los Angeles, California)
1967 - Tampa Riots of 1967, June 1967 (Tampa, Florida)
1967 - Buffalo riot of 1967, June 27 (Buffalo, New York)
1967 - Newark riots, July 12–18, 1967 (Newark, New Jersey)
1967 - Plainfield riots, July 14–20, 1967 (Plainfield, New Jersey)
1967 - Cairo riot, July 17 (Cairo, Illinois)
1968 - Washington, D.C. riots, April 1968 (Washington, D.C.)
1968 - Baltimore riot of 1968, April 6–12 (Baltimore, Maryland)
1968 - Chicago riot of 1968 April 7–14 (Chicago, Illinois)
1968 - Kansas City riot of 1968, April 1968 (Kansas City, Missouri)
1968 - Louisville riots of 1968, May 27, (Louisville, Kentucky)
1968 - Glenville Shootout, (Cleveland, Ohio)
1968 - Democratic National Convention riot, August 1968, (Chicago, Illinois,
1969 - Days of Rage, Oct. 1969, (Chicago, Illinois)
1970 - Kent State shootings, May 1970, (Kent, Ohio)
1970 - Hard Hat riot, Wall Street, May 8, 1970, (New York City, New York)
1971 - May Day Protests 1971, May 1971, (Washington, D.C.)
1971 - Camden Riots, August 1971, (Camden, New Jersey)
1974 - Cherry Blossom Festival at the Richmond Stadium, (Richmond, Virginia)
1975 - Livernois-Fenkell riot (Detroit, Michigan)
1977 - New York City Blackout riot, July 1977, (New York City)
1979 - Greensboro Riot/Shootings, Nov. 1979, (Greensboro, North Carolina)

I can’t agree with your statement that widespread rioting in America would necessarily require or produce a worldwide collapse of civilization.

[freedumb2003]

Again this anger thing.

Oh well, I take it as the new normalcy.

[little jeremiah]

Bias of normalcy means just that - people who cannot imagine any real material change in circumstances.

“Everything’s always been this way so it always will.”

It’s based on the fallacy that “everything’s always been this way” as history tells us a different story. Rise and fall, growth and decay, that’s the way civilizations always have been and always will.

Or a subset fallacy is “everything’s getting better and better - progress - evolution - leaping upwards - more modern inventions - yay!!” That’s a slightly different one.

People generally believe what they want to be believe. The best way to live is to have a thirst for the truth, even if it means I have to give up fondly held beliefs. Never boring that way.

[freedumb2003]

>>I can’t agree with your statement that widespread rioting in America would necessarily require or produce a worldwide collapse of civilization.<<

So a small problem of a few days MIGHT break out in your area (none of the riots were in places where people have 1/2 acres for a garden) and thus you think it wise to construct your entire life around preparing for one? You might notice NONE of these happened throughout the country at the same time.

And that isn’t what the OP says to plan for...

Your seeds, your gold, your risk analysis. YMMV.

[dsc]

“So, you are really, with a straight face, suggesting that the entire world will break down and we will, inside of our generation, be thrown back to an agrarian society and culture? No technology, no manufacturing (even if imported or exported), no imports nor exports. Just each of us tending our mini-farms with sentries on the roof to keep our gold and food safe?”

Are you going to be unreasonable now? I didn’t say anything about “the whole world.”

There are a number of events that could disrupt distribution of goods and power sufficiently to require that people would have to defend themselves against starving marauders. Or become a starving marauder. How long that would last is anybody’s guess.

[RegulatorCountry]

You’re the one making the 18th century claims. I’m merely describing things as they are and have been here all my life.

Me, I see looming institutional instability that can threaten local and regional control. This will lead to breakdown of law and order in pockets, primarily urban but not entirely, with flare ups and periods of order and calm, fluctuating from place to place over time. Some areas will be much more prone to maintaining order than others.

Along with this will be shortage, scarcity, distribution snafus and wild swings in price for basic necessities. I honestly don’t see it lasting all that long before it’s brought to heel by hook or by crook, not even a year. I don’t like pondering the nature of the governance that would arise in the wake of such a thing. It will be authoritarian, I suspect.

That’s how I see it, and how many others see it. We’ve come very close to economic collapse several times since 2008, and all the trillions of quantitative easing have merely papered over the rough patches. QE is going to come to an end, perhaps as soon as this month. We’re already three years into an unadmitted depression. Take away the flood of stimulus, and what is there?

Rome didn’t fall in a year, and the so-called Dark Ages didn’t sweep in suddenly. Nothing lasts forever, and we appear to be faced with tenuous times, to anyone paying attention. Preparing is wiser than gibbering and cavorting about, making up very improbable cartoon biker fantasies while mocking those who have a little future orientation, despite that future appearing rather bleak at the moment. There’s always hope, though. That appears to be the difference, here. You see pointlessness, in more ways than just this particular matter. I don’t.

You do what you want. I’ll do what I want. Funny how that works. I fail to see why it’s such an object of derision for you, or why you feign offense when your taunting gets thrown back at you. It’s almost as if you have an audience, somewhere. That seems familiar somehow. Does the DC crowd dislike preppers as much as it dislikes creationists? Sounds like it.

[jy8z]

OK, well enjoy your seeds and gold, I guess. I'll perform my own risk management. Oh, and prepare my biker zombie army (cookies and all).

You really are free to be dumb. For now.