Our water tastes very icky right now. It isn't only us, it is everyone - the "lake turned over" whatever the heck THAT means. It is supposed to clear up soon, and it is safe to drink, but it tastes like mold.
So, with this going on, I was thinking last night of water supplies and how best to accomplish that. I know about rain barrels, would love to get two of them, with a spigot towards the bottom for gravity feed, so I can attach a hose to it. I'll be working on that one, if for nothing else than to water the garden.
enjoy the ride -
My kids and I used to do that every now and then when they were small. We'd have "Little House on the Prairie" days, (usually when I got sick of them having the TV blaring and other electronic crap that was driving me nuts, LOL). We'd have a day without power, without any modern amenities. They loved it - of course, they were much younger then.
Now, if I turn off their internet (because they eat all the bandwidth) so I can get online, myself, they think I've ruined their entire year.
As for hand tools, well, thankfully hubby has a lot of tools. We've had to buy a lot of "farm" equipment and tools this year, because we had none of those, but shop tools (woodworking, metalworking, vehicle repair, spare parts) he has a lot of those.
I do need to stock up on medical stuff, but other than our prescriptions, I don't think we would need much, as we do not use much now - and haven't for many years. Bandages, pain relievers, and stitch'em'up kits, yeah, antibiotic creams, etc... yeah, too. But, we rarely even use a bandaid when we cut ourselves - although I know that Bandaid Brand says we will heal faster, LOL - it usually gets in the way and falls off while we're working anyway.
I know, I have to think "catastrophic medical emergency preparedness" but I just can't think that way this morning... not awake enough yet. However, I do have to say that a good herbal knowledge can by-pass a lot of the OTC drugs necesary. I've been studying that for years, and can fairly well medicate myself from nature if I had to. This was born out of a deep distrust and loathing of doctors.
(my mother, OTH, thinks doctors are gods who should be followed to the letter - I don't think she's ever argued with a doctor in her life - silly woman.)
I agree with what everyone else said, also - in fact, when I first started to read this thread, I was going to say the same thing, but someone (a few of ya) beat me to it before I got to the end, LOL. We will need friends and neighbors to help us through any disaster. Need a blacksmith? make buddies with one, get to know them, you may get into a hobby blacksmithing yourself, then you'll be prepared for metalwork. If you don't get into it, I'm sure they'll be ready to barter for work done for something YOU can offer that they cannot do or grow.
My neighbors and I do this now, to an extent. I mean, yes, everyone has bills to pay and needs that cash, but for a lot of stuff, we trade. Eggs for organic produce, meat from our cow or chickens for work on some building job. And speaking of work, no one says you will HAVE to do it all alone, think "community" and how they used to all go from field to field doing the farm work and then move on to the next farmer's field.
That is one reason we chose to move where we are - the people are more likeminded and willing to work that way. Where we lived up north, my neighbors would just as soon run over your dog (or children) in the road than come and talk to you, much less help you out with anything. Many of them wouldn't even make eye contact because that might mean they would have to nod a hello now and then.
Down here, total strangers wave to you as you pass by their place, or pass on the road. It is simply a different mindset. Instead of rats on a sinking ship - every man for himself - it is "heya neighbor, need a tip on how to do X?" or "Heya, I got the tool ya need back home, I'll run and get it." or " I got two of those, I only need one, ya want the other one?"
I don't think ANY of us will survive any disaster if we have the mindset of "every man for himself".
Peace -
Meriah
), punches, awls, files, shovels, post hole diggers, mattock, all sorts of things. A few items are hard to find in good condition - planes that can be adequately well rehabilitated, and smoothly/fully functioning hand drills, seem to be in short supply at least around here. But that just gives you a Challenge <g>
Actually this is a serious item!
