I Am Your Neighbor, Give Me Some Suga!

Ever wonder what would happen if our cultural apocalyptic prophecies came true? We all have different versions of the Big End, some claim fireballs, flying horses… others see sun spots… and my personal favorite, the lifting of veils like the good ol’fashioned Skinny Legged read, all of which cacophonously play into our consciousness as The Official Day of Reckoning. Most of these are fear-based and fuel uncertainty, insecurity, and an overall lack of clarity as to what we should do in the event that cataclysmic change should befall us. Whether you’re a soothsayer, an A-boarded town crier, or a Plain Jane like myself, the best remedy can be as easy as taking hold of the present moment and educating yourself about your options.

The last thing I want to be is a beheaded chicken flapping around in a time of chaos. Personally, being somewhat prepared, keeps me sane. My motto is no time like the present to dissolve any lingering aspects of fear-based notions. For me, I had a double-whammy of epiphany. The first was a week of isolation in a snowed-in cabin when I housesat for a friend. It was just me and the birds, but luckily for me, my cabin was adequately stocked by its rightful owner. Nonetheless, all that extra time on my hands got me to thinking about the ‘what ifs’ surrounding the potential for a lack of food and water. My second coconut moment was my migration to a farm this past February. Chickens now scatter underfoot, and my food has the potential to come from the soil that surrounds my 1890’s homestead, yet I don’t know the first thing about soils, planting, or proper vegetative/fruity care. The safety of my water supply is another concern coming from the makeshift pipes of an old home. Honestly, I haven’t the first clue how to grow my own food with an intent to feed, nor do I have jugs of water squirreled under my kitchen cabinets…. But that got me to thinking… should I?

In case of emergencies, how do I procure clean food and water? Do I know my immediate community well enough to cover my empty bases? What role would I play in the wake of limitations of basic needs for living? What would Calamity Jane do? And for God’s sake, I don’t even own duct tape! Perhaps it’s best that I have my little freak-out moment now… and not fan the flames when our climate becomes a little suspect.

In a potential world devoid of access, be it electricity, food, or water, I quickly realized that I do not have the ability to provide for myself, let alone my family for friends. It truly lends new definition to the old idiom:  Give some suga’. I am your neighbor!

So research I did. On the subject of preparedness, I found a range of inspirational to fear-factored advice. Below is a small smattering of how to make do if the grid goes off-line. It’s not an overnight overahaul, but it’s got me thinking in a clear direction. My fear-based mentality is overrun with rain barrels, seed propagation, and masterful chicken coop designs. Take a gander at these options to learn more about sustainability:

Purchase an emergency kit in your neck-of-the-woods or build your own from scratch:

1. How to make a comprehensive 72-Hour Emergency Kit
2. Natural medicine Emergency Kit

True stories of making it happen on a small acre plot of dirt:

1. Living off less than $7000 a year: the Simple Life
2. Friendly Haven Farm adventures and how-to classes