Skills to see you through the economic collapse

[DaisyKeymaster]

I write a lot about being a producer instead of being a consumer as a way to get through difficult economic times. (And this can mean even personal economic hard times, like a job loss or high medical bills.)

I always think of things like growing food, preserving food, foraging, sewing, etc.

What skills do you believe are important for handling a financial crisis? What do you know how to produce? If you already have these skills, how did you learn them?

(PS: I’m picking your brains. Your answers may be in an article on my website.)

[Crow BarKeymaster]

Prior to my current situation, I had no skills at gardening, or with livestock. Heck, the only time I have seen anykind of livestock was at the county fair.
I bought some books, read them, re-read them and then went out and got chickens, rabbits, cows, ducks, goats, and hogs. Tried to do everything to the pre-industrial model, or big Ag model. If I can do it now, the hard way, without the use or minimal use of modern methodologies, then I know I can do it if SHTF.
One thing a old farmer said, “Get the book. Read it. But if what the book does not match your observations or experience, annotate that in the book and put it on the shelf. The book is not always right.”
I have discovered a number of books rely on the local feed or tractor supply store in order to be successful. Those storey books are awful from a self-sustainment perspective.

[DaisyKeymaster]

I did about the same thing with regard to livestock. I also joined a group back in California of local homesteaders. The folks in that group were really great about inviting new folks over to give a hand and learn. I’m pretty confident with most livestock now, even the ones I have not personally raised, because of spending a great deal of time on the farms of others.

[Anonymous]

Think of the basics: food, clothing and shelter. Better add the ability to shoot your guns and hit what you shoot at. Most everything else is details.

Food: prepare ground for planting, plant seeds or whatever, keep the critters, weeds and disease from eating your food, harvest, cook, save, prepare seeds or whatever for next year. Each of these has a level or two or three of detail below that. Similar for animals.

Clothing: Unless you die of some other cause, the clothes you have now may be all you need for the first year. Then you can probably scavenge whatever clothes and footwear you need. If you don’t have enough clothes then you better start hitting the garage sales. Detail: spinning thread from cotton or wool. Build a loom and make cloth. Sew clothes, make shoes, boots, hats, coats, etc. More details.

Shelter: house for you, barn and fencing for animals, greenhouse, chicken coop, various pens. More details.

You better have books that tell you how to do all of these things and a whole lot more. For books, start here.

[LittlesisterParticipant]

I bought a very large shed to keep my christmas things, my water jugs, and other things that I need to get out during the year. This freed my attic up for a lot of paper goods, foil, extra clothing we might need. material for making clothing along with patterns. Also, I keep my 5 gal buckets up there and have 2 set up to use as a toilet with wash cloths, diaper pail etc.  Anything that heat will not hurt is in the attic. We also have an extra 40 gal. hot water tank in the shed that we can use for water. It is new as our old one we thought was a goner, had some stuff in it that we washed out and now it is working fine. It was under warranty and they said to go ahead and keep the new one. So we got lucky on that deal.  Need to buy some extra boots and shoes as well. I am going to hit the yard sales this summer as well as the second hand stores. Hoping to find some cast iron pots as well as some stainless steel ones.

[Anonymous]

@littlesister

Cast iron cookware sells quickly at garage sales around here. Go early.

[James MitchnerParticipant]

The first step in surviving an economic collapse is to be out of debt.  Next is having six months of salary on hand in cash, not in some bank.  Ten percent of your salary should be in hard PMs – gold or silver – in hand.  Prices have dropped the past two days.  Buy the dips.  If can’t afford gold, buy silver.  Silver stands to gain the most anyway.

Have the means for self-protection, at least six month of food storage and the means of growing more food to supplement the storage.

The government will not be asleep during a economic collapse.  They will not suspend taxes.  You can have all the skills in the world but if you can’t afford rent or the taxes on your property to keep a roof over your heads, you’re done!

[LittlesisterParticipant]

James Mitchner, You are so right about all that. I have the gold and silver, and some cash stashed away and not in a bank. Self protection is very much covered. Food stock pile is over a year;s worth now. So good to go there. Just the organization is a bit over wellman. As far as bills, we don’t have any. House is paid for and car also. Only thing we have is taxes on house which I am going to start paying about 6 months ahead of time. If something happens then our personal property and realestate tax is covered for a while. I will be working on paying that to be one year in advance. These are things we all need to be working on. Something that is not as easy for many people. I feel sometimes I am one of the blessed ones in these matters but a lot more that needs to be done.

[James MitchnerParticipant]

Being out of debt is a great thing.  But if we own property – either real estate or vehicles – we are still tethered to the iron fist of government via taxes.

I realize that unforeseen (and unwelcome) event can decimate a family’s finances of no fault of their own.  Still, seldom is it discussed about having to “pay Caesar” his pound of flesh, even during a SHTF event on a large scale. (We each have our own SHTF events on a personal scale, don’t we!)

We may own a farm with livestock, chickens, a great vegetable garden and have the KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) to support ourselves.  But if we cannot pay Caesar someone else will own it.

Truly something to consider as we discuss the other issues.

[Author]

Posts