Hopedance

Survival During the End of Oil
by Ira White

There is no way we could possibly know exactly how it will all come down when the oil gets short and the economy tanks. We have some alternative sources of energy, such as solar, wind etc. Other technologies have existed for some time under control of the large energy companies. These newer technologies will be released, but only when the time is ripe for making a killer profit. There have been rumors of these technologies over the years and I have been privileged to have first hand knowledge of one of them that has not been produced or even patented because of the intimidation that goes on when someone tries to bring a new energy technology to fruition. In short, we are and will be at the mercy of the large energy companies, but only if we are not proactive.

It is difficult to say if the grid will be up and running or how high the price of getting to work will be, but it is safe to say that it will take an increasingly larger percentage of our paychecks to keep the lights on and commute to work. It is entirely possible that our economy will collapse due to the high debt load that keeps getting higher each time the price of energy goes up. The collapse will start slowly with the rise of energy prices and eventually will result in the bottoming-out of the stock market. There is a chance that unforeseen events could result in a sudden crash, but likely it will happen more slowly. Living a sustainable lifestyle will prepare us whether the economy slowly settles to the bottom or comes crashing down. On an individual level, some of this may be mitigated by extreme conservation and planning. There are five basics that will need to be addressed: food, water, transportation, medicine and security.

In many ways, the preparation I am advocating will sound like emergency preparedness. A stockpile of food will be necessary but that would be a temporary solution. A garden or window boxes filled with food-producing plants will help for the individual economy long term. It all gets back to living as sustainable a life as possible. Composting yard and kitchen waste and knowing how to garden will be invaluable. Crops for this area include lettuce, spinach, chard, potatoes, broccoli, onions, garlic, tomatoes and peppers. Fruit and nut trees will also be valuable, especially since they sink their roots deep and can be given a minimum of water during a drought. In areas with frost, it would be prudent also to have a hot box and/or greenhouse for winter growing and getting an early start on food production for the spring. I designed and built a greenhouse in my back yard that cost less than $100 and is 6’ x 12’ x 4’ high. Along these lines, it would not hurt to study up on edible plants that grow wild in your area. Surprisingly, there are a lot of "weeds" that are edible and nutritious or provide a medicinal value. Lamb’s quarter can be found in many areas and is good to eat. The roots, flowers and leaves of the dandelion are also edible, as are many more native plants. Chamomile is a soothing relaxant and is good to settle an upset stomach. A book on edible plants and medicinal herbs should be on your shelf. The problem with a garden is water. Heavy mulching will prevent loss of water. Polymer water-retention crystals help, but only if they are placed at the bottom of a plant’s root ball. Drip irrigation conserves precious water. We cannot be sure how much water we will continue to have or how available or costly it will be. The only thing for sure is that it will cost more.

My advice is to install a water collection and storage system so that when it does rain, you will be able to make full use of the water that normally runs off the roof and into the gutter. You will want to be able to store your water in such a way that it does not breed mosquitoes. Grey water usage for ornamental plants will be a must. For drinking water, a"First Need" water filter with extra filter cartridges may come in handy, as well as a filter on your sink, to take out the pollution we increasingly encounter.

Having a Primus stove, which burns almost any fuel, to boil water with, could help as well. In this case, you could easily make and distill alcohol for the stove with a solar distillery, and your cooking and water boiling will be covered. A solar still could also be used to turn nonpotable water into drinking water. Plans for a solar distillery may be found at http://www.solardome.com/SolarDome84.html.

The following link not only has the plans for a solar still, but also has information for producing ethanol along with how to secure a permit from the government to keep the revenuers at bay: http://777health.members.easyspace.com/ethanol.html.

Ethanol may be used to run your car. It is best when mixed with gas, but in a pinch and with a couple of minor changes to your ignition, you can run pure ethanol in your car, although the performance will be affected. As far as transportation goes, the most efficient and inexpensive transportation machine ever invented is the bicycle. Having one in good condition with a few extra parts such as cables, bearings, brake pads and a hand tire pump will enhance your ability to get around. Add to the bike a set of rear wheel baskets and perhaps a small trailer and you have something you can carry your groceries in. Get one now and get in shape riding it.

The bicycle will start saving you money from day one and will also keep you in shape so that you may need less medical attention. Who knows, some of us might find we don’t really need the expense of operating and maintaining a car. For the medical part of living, it would be an asset to have a good medical kit as well as a home medical reference book.

"Home Remedies" by Rodale Press is a start, and I am sure there are others. In addition, having a book on herbal medicine and identification would be helpful. I am currently in search of a title in this area that is updated with the latest knowledge of what works and what does not. Your kit should contain: Benedryl, an anti-diarrhea drug, an assortment of pain relievers, a couple of topical antiseptics, a laxative, an assortment of bandages, dressings, sharp scissors, medical tape and any medicines used by the family. All medications should be rotated out of the kit and replaced with fresh medications on a regular basis corresponding with the expiration dates.

Owning a nice set of hand tools with perhaps a few battery-operated tools and a solar charger could be handy and provide one with a job as well as the ability to fix what is broken. A wind-up radio, solar panels for charging batteries, solar oven and other tools for individual survival as well as the stockpiles of food, water and other necessities will be essential.

It will be just as essential to have a way of keeping this all secure. Let’s face the facts: many of us have big hearts and will share what we have with those who have not prepared, but there comes a point where one has to look out for one’s self/family and protect those things needed for survival. One who cannot take care of oneself cannot help others. Besides sitting in a machine gun nest on top of your house all day and night, there are other ways of bringing security to your stash. Forming local alliances in your neighborhood will be of the utmost importance. A group has more survival power than a single person or even a single family. Within the group will be an array of knowledge and skills that may be traded. Importantly, neighborhoods that have banded together will be less susceptible to groups or individuals intent on stealing the neighborhood’s resources.

Now is a good time to get to know your neighbors. It could save your life someday. Remember: people are a resource and when grouped together can do much more than as single units. Below are three lists. List one is books that would be helpful for reference, and the second is a list of gadgets and chemicals and some of their uses. The third list contains some of the jobs that one will want to think about taking when transportation gets too expensive to go to work or if long-time job just disappears overnight.

Resources:
Books: "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies," Rodale Press
"The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect and Disease Control," Rodale Press
"Rodale’s Garden Insect, Disease and Weed Identification Guide," Rodale Press
"The Complete Gardener," Lois Wilson
An older copy of the "Boy Scout Handbook" - A wealth of information can be found here from tracking and trapping to tying knots and cooking over a campfire
"The People’s Guide to Basic Solar Power," by William L. Seavy
(These are books that I use. There are probably more updated ones on the same topics, but you get the idea as to what you need to have.)

Gadgets and Chemicals:
Alcohol- disinfectant, pain relief (drinking alcohol only), fuel for car and stove
Light hydrogen peroxide- disinfectant, mouthwash
Vinegar- disinfectant/cleaner, preservative, hair rinse
Sodium bicarbonate- cleaner, tooth paste, deodorizer, rising agent in food, acid neutralizer for the stomach and many more uses than I [don't] have room to list
A good collection of hardware, wire of different sizes and uses, string and some light rope First Need filter with extra filter units
Solar panel and charging station for batteries
A selection of hand tools
Wind up radio

Jobs: Bicycle repairman, producers and local distributors of alcohol and vinegar, small appliance repair, knife and garden implement sharpener, food producer and distributor, shoe repair, herbalist, battery charging station attendant.