Posted on 07/24/2009 3:24:45 PM PDT by appleseed
Some see the current economic downturn as tough — but temporary — times to be endured. But others see it as a harbinger of even grimmer days ahead. So they’re preparing for the worst by stockpiling food: piles and piles and piles of it.
Call them “suburban survivalists,” or call them, well, a little goofy. But they’re dead serious about being ready for a big crash … by making sure they have a nice little nosh in case of a catastrophe. Across the country, there are people preparing for the possibility that we will not have access to food by ensuring that their cupboards, at least, will be far from bare.
Postapocalyptic Pathmark Take Bill Cole, a dad and doctor who runs a successful chiropractic office. He seems like the guy next door … which is where you may have to go to politely borrow a cup (or a barrel) of sugar should a fatal financial meltdown occur.
Cole has turned his home in the suburbs of Pittsburgh into a virtual postapocalyptic Pathmark. “I’ve got enough to last two years for me and my immediate family,” he says. His stockpile is filled with foods that can stand the test of time — from peanuts to pancake mix, canned peaches to peas.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.msnbc.msn.com ...
Well I agree, without coffee there is no reason to live anyway!
Flood, tornado, blackout?
Oh, I’d make them stand guard.
But I’d give them shooting leasons with .22s, arm them with the surpluse rifles and then have them man the perimeter.
No sense having an outpost overrun and then have to take it back again. Besides, gun shots are good early warning.
It would have to be real “end of time” stuff to get marauding gangs cruising over to our neighborhood looking for loot. Every other porch having a man or woman with a rifle would tell the visiters its time to move on.
You’ll need wheat. Hard Red Spring Wheat. And you’ll need a GOOD grinder; preferably one that can be either electrically run OR hand-cranked, ‘cuz the power WILL go out, and who knows for how long.
A single bushel of wheat is good for about 70-75 loaves of fresh bread. Figure you’ll be on a subsistence diet, so bread will be a major staple. That’d mean you’d be allocating about 1/3 loaf per person per day, assuming you’ve got veggies, occasional meat, and maybe seasonal fresh fruit available.
Now, we’ve got to suss out just how long this will need to go on. I’ve good reason to vote for 1335 days, but figure a full five years on the outside, just to allow for contingencies (early onset of duress, or delayed recovery of the supply chain afterward).
All told, then, you’d need enough wheat to bake 610 loaves of bread in order to get you through; dividing by 70 and rounding up (to be conservative) that’s 9 bushels of wheat per person; 540 pounds.
Now, I happen to have priced Hard Red Spring Whate just a few weeks ago, and found that it could be had at retail in manageable 50-pound sacks for under $30 each; $28 to be exact.
Figure each person would need 11 50-pound sacks of what to see them through five years of duress, and that comes out to a little over $300.
At that rate, you can stock up on wheat AND keep most all of your precious metals. Just be sure you store your grain in a DRY location that is impervious to vermin and other pests, because they WILL get into it if they can.
AND...lasty but not leastly...get yer butt ta church on Sunday; open Book, insert face. No use goin’ through all of this trouble to be prepared for upheaval, only to fall short at the end ‘cuz ya missed the main point of it.
LOL! Yeah, sure...
Me either.
Oh.
THREE more brief points:
1. DON’T go blabbing about your stockpile.
2. Guns and ammo may be required to defend your supply of wheat, so have plenty on-hand.
3. Failure to observe point 1 will increase the probability you’ll be faced with point 2.
You don’t live me do you? :-)
You can run the commisary, I’ve got the arsenal and guard detail. The “hospital” is about five houses up on the left.
It’s posts like yours that make me glad to be a FReeper. Thanks for the great info.
Vote for 1335 days?
Um, the gold is not for "buying groceries."
Bartering for the food you haven't already stocked up on in the form of other tangibles is how one would obtain groceries in a meltdown.
IOW "I'll trade you 500 rounds of .308 for your cow" presumably with another equally prepped individual, not with the hoards who ignored the stormclouds.
People who wait and then try to exchange gold for basic neccessities will be known as "victims."
The gold is for a brief period as things really spiral in a panic. OR one can exchange gold for land/large purchases AFTER things start returning to normal, but before people start trusting printed scrip again.
Gold's only real function is to store your wealth for when a veneer of civilization exists. It won't make you rich or save your hide when the poo hits the fan but it will help you prosper and rebuild later.
Gold has its place but bullets and food come first!
Roccus, who asks, why?
Don’t forget oil, the body needs the fats.
Added to the list.
We grow bamboo as a wind break so if it becomes apparent that we will have to defend ourselves there are going to be some wide ditches lined with pointed bamboo sticks, we’ll save the ammo for the one entrance.
I agree. I’ve stocked up on silver Eagles. Each one should buy at least a day’s food. If that need doesn’t arise, they still hold their value against inflation.
That is survivalist literature stuff. Look at areas where they had to go to ground. Hurricanes, etc. Money doesn’t mean that much. People want plywood and ice.
Executive Order 10998, February 16, 1962.
That's for sure. He's going to be a big target if times go really bad. He may find 50 dudes surrounding his house some night. Why do people always have to brag about things they shouldn't even be talking about?
The way I look at things is that if worst comes to worst then ammo = food. I’d gladly give up currency to make room for food, water and shelter.
Actually, I think I’m going to head down to the river right now and practice for when TSHTF.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.