Will The US Dollar Collapse?

[MoonShadows]

" Read up on what people did to survive during the Depression for ideas."...Great idea, Britesea...why reinvent the wheel?

What precautions are you taking to use as little electricity as possible?

Situational awareness will be paramount if the dollar collapses.

 

[Mini Horses]

Knowing how to wash clothes in an alternative, hand operated mode, dry by clotheslines....saw wood....alternative food storage & preservation -- solar dehydrators, ovens, hot water, lights, phone chargers, hot wire boxes for fencing. Wood for cooking & heating. Oil lamps. Just a few "non-electric" practices to consider. Transportation by bicycle, horseback, horse drawn carriage, etc.

Often times the time of year plays a huge role in what can be done, as well as where you live, due to the weather. That can be a real issue for many.

 

[baymule]

I figured that stove was too good to be true. Thanks for checking it out @MoonShadows .

During the Depression, more people lived on farms than do now. They already raised their own food, most had no electricity and they did all the things we talk about being more self sufficient. Now more people live in cities and have no idea where food comes from other than the grocery store or a fast food restaurant.

We bought toothbrushes today. We looked on the back to see where they were made. Most said China, the ones we bought said Switzerland. Really? We don't even make our own durn toothbrushes? This illustrates the point I am trying to make. Imports. Imports of ALL kinds will go up in price, if not double. A simple toothbrush. We don't make them, we import them. They wear out, we buy another, or we go out in the woods and break off a likely looking sweet gum twig.... Yes, we should be stocking up on food and most of us are well stocked in that respect. But we need to pay attention to what we use and consume and where it comes from.

So I add to the list;

Toothbrushes
Socks (keep a couple packages of new socks)
Underwear-same
Razors

 

[Britesea]

I go to the thrift stores and look for flat sheets- they can go for as little as 50 cents if they don't have a fitted sheet to match. I use them for all kinds of sewing projects like tunic tops and market bags. I figure if underwear and elastic become hard to get I can always make boxers for both genders, with drawstrings instead of elastic. I also buy yarn at the thrift stores. Even if you can't find enough of one color to make an item of clothing, you can knit or crochet squares and then sew them together to make a sweater or something.

We have several alternate ways to cook a meal now- depending on the weather and the availability of different fuels- our gas stove, the wood-burning heater can handle some cooking, the outside grill and propane camp stove, and a solar oven. I want to make a roof/shelter for the grill and camp stove in case it's raining or snowing as well.

Other low tech stuff on my list... getting the parts together for an evaporative cooler to keep meat and milk cool at least. I acquired a MAJOR mortar and pestle (weighs about 25 pounds) and is a good low-tech substitute for a blender or food processor (pesto made with it is truly superior). We have several oil lamps and candle sconces, with some stockpiled supplies. I don't know if kerosene will be easily available though.

Don't forget entertainment! musical instruments, books, cards and boardgames.

 

[baymule]

You can't tell us about a MAJOR mortar and pestle that makes truly superior pesto and NOT SHOW US A PICTURE OF IT!!

I have a good BBQ pit made from the iron tank of a hot water heater. I want to build an outdoor oven, one of those mounded up looking things, and put a concrete pad down for both and a roof over them too. It goes on my list...... I should invest in a computer paper company......

 

[Mini Horses]

OK -- so this has been tromping through what mind I have left, but I had a DREAM....read this a DREAM.....that we had a collapse & depression. The banks didn't close but, people were out of work due to stores closing. My area is rural. The stores where I work as a 3rd party merchandiser were closing.....I was out of work (as were many of the people regionally in this small town) but I still had my retirement income.

So, I found myself well set with reserves and animals to produce more and out of work! (not a problem, I still had income which kept coming). THEN (in my DREAM) some guy came on to my farm to steal chickens!!!! I caught him, took my chickens, talked and gave him food for his family. DO NOT take my chickens, they feed us all.

He could not get to a store, no money, no gas, no transportation. I had only a horse that I could ride, given free because owner could no longer pay board at their stable and I had a barn and fields of grass, so horse didn't starve.......guys, I am not liking these thoughts People & animals going hungry!




I do not like these dreams! So far as the issue it will create if such a financial collapse occurs.

 

[baymule]

There is this thing that runs in my family, we're not physic, but some of us are sensitive to certain feelings. It is not something we can call up on demand, it just reveals things to us. I have it, my daughter has it and to a small extent, my son also has it.

@Mini Horses I think you might have had the future revealed to you. If not for the whole country, then for your immediate area. You might want to take note of this and secure your chickens. A friend of ours is a prepper of the highest degree and he makes food packs to give away. He makes pouches of rice, beans and dry milk. He reasons that if someone hungry comes to him, he can give out food without revealing just how much he has. It might be something that you would want to consider. If you have friends or family that you can convince to stock up, do so.

This is when a orchard of fruit and nut trees, berry vines and a good garden will prove to be a lifeline. Chickens, a milk goat or two and you can help others in your area.

 

[Britesea]

I agree. I have read posts from other preppers that talk about blowing away anyone that comes near them. Me? I'd rather help them with some food, some seeds, teach them some skills like foraging or whatnot. I want my neighbors alive and on my side if trouble comes. We do have the means to fight off anyone that wants to simply take everything we have though, because I'm sure there will be people with that mind set. (I call them feral humans because they no longer have the attitudes necessary to live within a community)

 

[Mini Horses]

Bay, I often have similar "sensitive feelings" and most often it is a coming even that centers around the sex of a coming birth, the coming death of a person/animal, or a coming event that isn't wanted i.e. damage, accident, etc usually preventable if the preview is heeded. But sometimes also a good coming event is shared.

Most often it is not a dream (but occasionally) but a more nagging thought that continually crosses my thoughts. It's as if someone says "it" to me & I heard it but, no one is there to do so. It is always more than once, generally out of the blue.

Honestly, I think this dream was just because of the thread here & my thoughts about "what if"... I believe my chickens are safe. At least in the dream I didn't hurt him like the egg thieven rat snake I machete hit last week. Don't mess with my stuff!! In my barn, about 4.5 ft, young one. Been there about a month but been waiting until I saw him & could get a whack. My hens are so relieved!

 

[baymule]

Here in my small rural community, ( a few roads) I am trying to lead by example. People have several acres at a minimum and grow nothing. Our closest friend does grow a garden, but his wife wears a proud badge of "I'm NOT putting that up" DUMB. He has tried for some time to convince her to stock up and she ridiculed him. I got on his side and had some common sense talks with her and now she is all about buying more buckets and filling them up. Victory. Another neighbor, a couple, has expressed an interest in a small garden. Husband doesn't want wife to, she has a very bad back (why he wouldn't work the garden is beyond me). Neighbor and friend #1 and I have agreed to build them a couple of raised beds. They like the long green beans I raise, so I am going to plant them a row in the spring, trellis it and then all they have to do is water it and pick the beans. At least they want to do a little bit.

I can't feed the whole neighborhood, but if they will, I will teach them/help them to help themselves.