Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clay Strong on October 10, 2013 at 0:07

Yes it is sad.  About the only scenario that I can imagine being convincing.is to set the kids down and tell them what you believe the future holds in store. Then tell them that you must regretfully decide which of them has a chance of survival. And, that decision will be based upon how well they learn the lessons of survival that you will try to teach them. Then explain that those who seem to be unable to demonstrate that they can hold their own will not be allowed to be a burden on the others. In essence, they are all on notice. Sink or swim.

Permalink Reply by Michael Kelley Sr. on October 20, 2013 at 12:54

My wife has always been an advocate of long term storing of Rice & Beans.

She says the Beans will even help keep you warm at night after eating. ;)

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 20, 2013 at 13:05

Well said Michael its a food easy to store dry and beans are a good source of protein and fiber!

Drought conditions are appearing in various areas of the country, ours eased a bit this year but just north of us (and slightly east) experienced what we went through last summer. It's really becoming the norm, striking at random. What if it hits the Northern hemisphere as a whole? What then?

Permalink Reply by Clay Strong on October 20, 2013 at 17:47

What then? Total chaos. I hope the message in this discussion is heeded. Not that climate change will be slowed soon enough, but that everyone had better think about what they will do as things get worse. Just the expected increase in food costs (none of which the farmer will see) will be devastating. I don't know how effective long-term food storage will be. But, we should learn how to do that. Food that must be properly stored will be priceless. The food supply will be sporadic at best.

Survival skills must be learned regardless of how unlikely we think it may be needed. No one is going to take a person in to feed them when the survival of their family is at stake. If you don't go stand in the lines for food handouts, someone may assume that you have a stash hidden that they can steal. No one can be trusted. This is the kind of life that future generations will live.

I just shut down my blog about climate change because it seemed that no one cares. I now will think more about survival skills and my own survival.

 

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 20, 2013 at 22:25

Exactly the problem Clay. People do not seem concerned in the least. All of the potential scenarios you spell out could happen and it would not take much to get to that point. But few folks actually read any of the the warnings nor do they take recommended action. 

It is advisable to be sure you have a good reliable source of water. Take a common sense approach and find things to grow early or later in a season when it may be cooler. Pick crops that mature quickly or have the amount of time to grow before a frost. Water only when absolutely necessary and then use only precise watering and metering application to insure optimum hydration.

What else can you do in a drought? Will you be prepared and where will you start?

Permalink Reply by Ron James on October 21, 2013 at 13:22

People will not be concerned until Walmart has nothing to offer. It's like money, they're not broke as long as they have a credit card. When the stores are even starting to have empty shelves, the panic will start and it will be a madhouse.

All one needs to do is look at crop failures and low water tables around the country, even the world. Sure there is rainfall, even floods, but that water is not where the droughts are. 

If I can find the list I made of my seed needs I will post it. I planned my survival garden the way the Indians and pioneers did it. Crops that can be stored, dried, made into other foods without canning. 

I really think I have spent to much time trying to warn people, and tell them to have at least short term supplies, that I am now a bit concerned that they will show up at my door wanting handouts. I don't mind giving a meal and then they move on, but once you start feeding someone, they will think of you as their meal ticket and never leave. 

Permalink Reply by Clay Strong on October 21, 2013 at 17:21

This is a little known story of survival that shows how when starvation is knocking at the door, resourceful  people can survive.

In the Sacramento Mountains area just north of El Paso the early Spanish settlers wanted to kill any Native American who resisted being made a slave. The Natives had for ages spent time on the desert floor during the winter while it snowed in the mountains. When summer approached, they moved back up into the mountains. The time spent in the desert was a gathering time for a staple made from a cactus like plant that grows there. The roots were dried in pits and then ground into a flour-like substance that would help sustain them while in the mountains. The mountains offered a retreat from the Spanish soldiers who were assigned to either kill them or enslave them. The desert basin was tall with grasses at that time and settlers did not want the Natives to be there. The numbers of game animals were reduced to near nothing for the needs of the Spanish settlements. So, food was scarce.

Much like the U.S. government in a later time decided to kill all the buffalo to starve the Natives into submission, the Spaniards would not let the Natives come to the desert floor. The forests were set on fire to drive the Natives deeper into the mountains to freeze to death. This forced the Natives to look for other sources of food to supplement the game and fish. They resorted to eating the inner bark of trees. It could be eaten by boiling or roasted  and pounded into a flour. They were wise enough not to completely girdle the trees which would kill them. The weather must have killed many of them.

                  But, survive they did, because there are early accounts that have passed down through the various Apache groups still on the Reservations in the region. Scientist in recent years did studies on the forests in an effort to see what the trees, alive and stump, could tell them about the history of forest fires in the region, To their surprise they found many trees that had healed over areas several feet from the ground that had once been low enough for Natives to have harvested the inner bark. The time periods can be determined precisely to the year by studying growth rings. The Spanish archives support the contention that the trees were scarred at the same time (a period of several years) that the soldiers were attacking the Natives in that area.

it isn't difficult to see a time in the future that small groups/families will have to take to the woods somewhere away from the chaos to survive for as long as possible. This is going to complicated by our current government's plans of making all public lands off-limits to everyone, except themselves and their friends. People will have to stay on the move to escape the rounding up that will be going on. Of course this will occur after food shortages and general collapse of order occurs. Many of us will die before then. But, just as the Natives have passed down survival secrets, we must do what we can to teach our children survival, and in turn, they can teach the grandchildren.    

Permalink Reply by Ron James on October 21, 2013 at 23:19

That was a great story Clay. Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 22, 2013 at 9:37

That is a timely story I agree Ron. For sure Clay something we can take a lesson from perhaps?

Ron James said:

That was a great story Clay. Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by Clay Strong on October 22, 2013 at 13:48

I appreciate the compliments guys. Another documented story of survival through determination is worth telling here. I'll try to keep it short. The Apaches were herded onto Reservations in the 1800s. They were being starved and were dying from being provided foods that they were not accustomed to or was spoiled. Epidemics were taking their toll as well. A small group of men and women slipped off on foot down the mountains to the basin toward Texas now called the Guadalupe Mountains just above the Mexican border on a hunting trip, as had been their practice for centuries. Of course, the U.S. soldiers were tracking them. While the men were out hunting, the soldiers attacked the women in camp, killing all but three who were viciously shot in the legs and left to die. 

When the men returned from their hunt, they realized that the soldiers were probably out looking for them. and were going to return to kill them or force-march them without mercy The soldiers probably knew that the wounded would slow the Natives down as they tried to evade them. Two of the women could walk well enough not to have to be carried. One would need to be carried. Her man decided he would carry her the 90 miles or more back up into the mountains, while evading the pursuing soldiers.

As soon as the Natives could get up into the timberline the better, but trekking across the ridges would be tough.  Long story short, the man carried that woman the entire way and they all made it back to the somewhat safer Reservation in about 20 days. I won't quote the name of the man who carried his loved one on that arduous trip, but he is an Apache hero to this day. The Reservation I speak of was the last place that Geronimo escaped from. The Apache were, and are, hardy survivors of tyranny and genocide.

Sometimes survival is about raw determination and knowledge of your surroundings. Then, your skills make it possible.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on March 17, 2014 at 9:09

California and the west in a serious drought. Now what? many folks down to less then a 90 day supply of water.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on March 17, 2014 at 9:44

I have always said they should run a large pipe line from the Mississippi to the west, with water in it. They have a lot of gas and oil pipe lines, why not water. When the river is high, pump water to waiting water storage cites. The Romans did it. Why not Americans?   .
Steve Hanner said:

California and the west in a serious drought. Now what? many folks down to less then a 90 day supply of water.

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