8/06: Survival of the Prepared

Someone recently sent me a link to a story about the government buying up all the canned butter and dehydrated meals/MREs through end of 2009. The same person sent me a link about a stockpile of plastic coffins in Georgia (I think). The thinking is that the government is expecting the bird flu pandemic or something else that will either greatly reduce the population or that the Middle East war will go on much longer than expected.

It got me thinking about our family's preparedness for various situations. Sure we have a little garden growing some great stuff. I dehydrate or can whatever possible (because of rising food costs). I buy dehydrated veggies and fruits we can't grow (which I've been doing for years because it was the only way to get my son to eat certain things). I buy dried soy and rice milk (we have a lactose intolerant person here and dried is cheaper in the long run and longer-lasting). We have dried eggs and soy beans because the prices of those things are getting out of hand.

ABOVE: Our dried eggs (purchased from www.beprepared.com)

ABOVE: Our powdered rice milk (purchased from www.amazon.com)

ABOVE: Our dried soybeans and dried peas (purchased from www.justtomatoes.com).

Weslee also loves their dried blackberries, blueberries and mango.

Doug likes their "tropical treats", including the kiwi, mango and papaya.

I like the strawberries, bananas, pomegranate and... almost everything they have!

I buy toilet paper and shampoo in bulk when I find them on sale. We have rechargeable batteries because it's good for the environment. We bike or walk (ok, infrequently but sometimes!) not in preparation for no fuel but because it's good for us and the Earth.

I don't consider our little family survivalists. We don't have a 2-year stockpile of food, nor an electrified fence or guns to defend our home. We are simply working to take care of our family in a difficult economic time. Yes, we're prepared, or working to be. And yes, we're thinking things out. Does this make us survivalists?

Vikki

p.s. Started to rain here in Thornton around 4:30 and now we're worried about flooding. Still.... needed the rain!!!!