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To: reformedliberal
No sarcasm intended on this. I think I'm going to start asking on threads like this certain basic questions. Such as: have you selected your livestock yet? Chickens, goats, hogs, etc. Do you have basic woodworking tools? Not an electric saw but a medium or coarse handsaw, hammer, ax (not a little camp hatchet but a real ax) can you sharpen same? List could go on forever.
182 posted on 11/24/2008 9:46:50 AM PST by nomorelurker
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To: nomorelurker
Good thought.

We are putting together a list of hand tools and hand kitchen appliances (grinders/hand operated clothes wringers, etc) that we might need in future. It gets more than a little daunting when you consider the amount of physical labor that would be involved in living back in the early 20th century, especially for those of use who are older.

Antique stores are a good place for hand planes and old saws, as well as rotary beaters and foot-powered sewing machines.

Back in the day when we were craftspeople at the art fairs, my son made spending money with a foot powered buffer using an old sewing machine treadle. He just went to all the jewelers and offered to buff their silver for a fee. Then, he would also offer to help people load and unload, especially in areas where extra security was helpful.

As for livestock, one of the benefits of a network is you can specialize. I would rather trade for eggs and meat that we can't hunt/fish ourselves. Chickens and cows produce more than many farmers can consume themselves. I will have more veggies at harvest than we can eat while they are still good. I have raised chickens and I hated it!

But everyone can think about what they can offer in that sort of economy. Check with the people you trust and see what they are thinking of doing.

183 posted on 11/24/2008 10:00:17 AM PST by reformedliberal
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