Ways to get ready for the future

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks,

 

In light of the bad economic news recently, I would like to post

something I wrote earlier this year, entitled Ways to Get Ready for the

Future. I am currently working on a follow-up essay on what people can

do now, given the recent troubles. I hope to be able to post that

essay Sunday.

 

Ways To Get Ready For

The Future

Tim Gamble, Sustainable

Future

 

(This list was inspired by 10 Things

to do to Prepare for

Life After Oil, which appeared in Permaculture Magazine,

issue #46.)

1. Educate

yourself on the potential problems

our society is facing. Read Lester

Brown's Plan B 3.0 for an overview of our ecological and

energy problems. Read Richard Maybury's Whatever

Happened to Penny Candy? to gain a better understanding of our

economic problems.

2. Reduce your

home energy usage as much as

possible. Turn off lights, TVs and

electronics whenever you leave a room.

Set your thermostat to conserve energy.

Switch from incandescent lighting to CFLs or LED lighting. Replace old appliances with new,

energy-efficient models. Super-insulate

your house. Install energy efficient

windows. Consider heating with a modern

wood stove. Consider a passive solar

system for your home.

3. Reduce your

use of fuel for transportation. Make sure

your vehicle's tires are properly

inflated and the engine is well-maintained (tune-ups & oil changes)

to

maximize mileage. Drive less by walking,

car pooling, using public transportation, and planning & combining

trips. Replace your old vehicle with a

newer one that gets better mileage. If

you have a long commute to work, consider moving closer to your job or

finding

a new job closer to home.

4. Get

out of debt. "When the shortage of

oil starts to hit home the economy will enter a very difficult period.

It will

not be a good time to owe large amounts of money to a bank. Take a look

at your

situation, to what extent do you live on credit? If you have a large

house

could you make do with a smaller one, and reduce your repayments? Make

getting

out of debt a family priority and use it as an opportunity to simplify

your lifestyle."

–Rob Hopkins in Permaculture Magazine.

 

5. Raise at

least some of your own food. We need a

modern victory garden

movement. Look up articles and books on

lasagna gardening, forest gardening and container gardening for ideas

on how to

grow your own food. Plant fruit &

nut trees and berry bushes. Urban

dwellers should look into rooftop gardening or joining a community

garden or

food co-op.

6. Reduce

your personal consumption of

everything. Adopt a simpler

lifestyle. Live well within your

means. Be a saver, not a consumer.

If you had to, could you support yourself and

your family on half your present income?

You may have to some day, so start making the lifestyle changes

now.

7. Be a

life-long learner. Improve your job skills. Learn about personal finance. Study

permaculture. Learn about the ecology and

natural history

of your region. Learn useful skills such

as auto-mechanics, carpentry and home repair.

Learn first aid and CPR. Learn to

sew, pickle and preserve food. Learn how

to save seeds. Learn how to hunt, fish

and forage for wild foods. Learn the

skills your grandparents had.

8. Reconnect

to the natural world. Spend time in nature. Take up outdoor hobbies such as gardening,

hiking, fishing, camping and bird watching.

Learn the names of trees, wildflowers and "weeds" native to your

area. Learn what kinds of soils are in

your region. Learn where your water

comes from. Visit nearby parks and

wildlife refuges. Visit your local

natural history museum or botanical gardens.

Learn the names of the birds and butterflies common to your

backyard.

9. Be a part

of your community. Join a local church or

synagogue. Meet your neighbors.

Participate in a community watch

program. Volunteer with a local museum

or environmental group. Support your

local farmers' market. Whenever

possible, shop at locally-owned businesses instead of the big box

stores. Attend the meetings of your city

council,

zoning boards and other local government organizations.

Let your voice be heard!

10. Get

healthy. If you smoke or abuse drugs or

alcohol –

stop! Adopt a more plant based diet such

as a traditional Mediterranean diet, or even become a vegetarian. Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and

herbs. Exercise will help you lose

weight, lower your blood pressure & cholesterol, control blood

sugar and

get fit. Walking, bike riding and

swimming are three cheap & easy ways to get more exercise. Getting enough deep sleep is an often

overlooked yet very important ingredient to good health.

 

11. Conserve

water. Install low-flow showerheads and

faucets in

your home. Learn about xeriscaping. Mulch your garden and flower beds to help

retain moisture. Plant trees. Consider

installing dry composting toilets in

your home. Use rainwater catchment

techniques to provide water for your garden or to wash your car. Learn how to purify rainwater for human

consumption.

 

DON'T EVER THROW GARBAGE OR

POUR CHEMICALS INTO A STREAM, RIVER OR LAKE. Report to the authorities anyone you see

doing so.

12. Consider

where you live. Most people end up living

near where they or

their spouse grew up, or perhaps to be near a particular job. But you might be better off relocating. Actively consider where you live: Is

the community you live in really the best

place for you and your family? Will it

still be the best place for you in ten years?

Things to consider: crime, pollution, taxes, educational

opportunities,

economic opportunities, economic diversity, climate, rainfall, nearby

resources,

cohesiveness of the community, style of the local government,

availability of

public transportation and farmers markets.

13. Keep stores of

food, water & supplies. Today,

we run out to the markets whenever we need something. We have a

just-in-time

supply system, so we don't need to store things for future use. But the slightest problem can lead to a

system-wide disaster. We need to

re-learn the art of storing necessities in case of emergencies. Things to store include food, water,

medicine, vitamins and personal hygiene products, as well as other

useful items

such as batteries, sewing supplies, first aid supplies, duct tape,

matches,

candles, lamp oil, etc. If you were cut

off from buying things for several weeks, or even a month or more, what

would

you run out of? Figure out ways to store

those things.

14. Restore

nature. Plant trees. Clean

up local lakes and streams. Rebuild soils

through composting and

vermiculture. Participate in pollinator

conservation efforts. Practice organic

gardening and lawn care. Eliminate your

lawn entirely. Participate in the

National Wildlife Federation's Backyard

Wildlife Habitat program.

15. Don't

dwell on the negatives. Be a hopeful

realist. It is important to understand the

problems we

face. Just don't obsess over them.

Instead, start working towards

solutions. Acting to make positive

changes, even small ones, will increase your confidence and encourage

yourself,

your family and your friends.

[Guest guest]

This is great Tim, Thanks! Very inspiring!

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 9/25/2008 7:38:20 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, archelon2008 writes:

 

 

Hi Folks,In light of the bad economic news recently, I would like to post something I wrote earlier this year, entitled Ways to Get Ready for the Future. I am currently working on a follow-up essay on what people can do now, given the recent troubles. I hope to be able to post that essay Sunday.

Ways To Get Ready For The FutureTim Gamble, Sustainable Future

(This list was inspired by 10 Things to do to Prepare for Life After Oil, which appeared in Permaculture Magazine, issue #46.)

1. Educate yourself on the potential problems our society is facing. Read Lester Brown's Plan B 3.0 for an overview of our ecological and energy problems. Read Richard Maybury's Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? to gain a better understanding of our economic problems.

2. Reduce your home energy usage as much as possible. Turn off lights, TVs and electronics whenever you leave a room. Set your thermostat to conserve energy. Switch from incandescent lighting to CFLs or LED lighting. Replace old appliances with new, energy-efficient models. Super-insulate your house. Install energy efficient windows. Consider heating with a modern wood stove. Consider a passive solar system for your home.

3. Reduce your use of fuel for transportation. Make sure your vehicle's tires are properly inflated and the engine is well-maintained (tune-ups & oil changes) to maximize mileage. Drive less by walking, car pooling, using public transportation, and planning & combining trips. Replace your old vehicle with a newer one that gets better mileage. If you have a long commute to work, consider moving closer to your job or finding a new job closer to home.

4. Get out of debt. "When the shortage of oil starts to hit home the economy will enter a very difficult period. It will not be a good time to owe large amounts of money to a bank. Take a look at your situation, to what extent do you live on credit? If you have a large house could you make do with a smaller one, and reduce your repayments? Make getting out of debt a family priority and use it as an opportunity to simplify your lifestyle." –Rob Hopkins in Permaculture Magazine.

5. Raise at least some of your own food. We need a modern victory garden movement. Look up articles and books on lasagna gardening, forest gardening and container gardening for ideas on how to grow your own food. Plant fruit & nut trees and berry bushes. Urban dwellers should look into rooftop gardening or joining a community garden or food co-op.

6. Reduce your personal consumption of everything. Adopt a simpler lifestyle. Live well within your means. Be a saver, not a consumer. If you had to, could you support yourself and your family on half your present income? You may have to some day, so start making the lifestyle changes now.

7. Be a life-long learner. Improve your job skills. Learn about personal finance. Study permaculture. Learn about the ecology and natural history of your region. Learn useful skills such as auto-mechanics, carpentry and home repair. Learn first aid and CPR. Learn to sew, pickle and preserve food. Learn how to save seeds. Learn how to hunt, fish and forage for wild foods. Learn the skills your grandparents had.

8. Reconnect to the natural world. Spend time in nature. Take up outdoor hobbies such as gardening, hiking, fishing, camping and bird watching. Learn the names of trees, wildflowers and "weeds" native to your area. Learn what kinds of soils are in your region. Learn where your water comes from. Visit nearby parks and wildlife refuges. Visit your local natural history museum or botanical gardens. Learn the names of the birds and butterflies common to your backyard.

9. Be a part of your community. Join a local church or synagogue. Meet your neighbors. Participate in a community watch program. Volunteer with a local museum or environmental group. Support your local farmers' market. Whenever possible, shop at locally-owned businesses instead of the big box stores. Attend the meetings of your city council, zoning boards and other local government organizations. Let your voice be heard!

10. Get healthy. If you smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol – stop! Adopt a more plant based diet such as a traditional Mediterranean diet, or even become a vegetarian. Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Exercise will help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure & cholesterol, control blood sugar and get fit. Walking, bike riding and swimming are three cheap & easy ways to get more exercise. Getting enough deep sleep is an often overlooked yet very important ingredient to good health.

11. Conserve water. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets in your home. Learn about xeriscaping. Mulch your garden and flower beds to help retain moisture. Plant trees. Consider installing dry composting toilets in your home. Use rainwater catchment techniques to provide water for your garden or to wash your car. Learn how to purify rainwater for human consumption.

DON'T EVER THROW GARBAGE OR POUR CHEMICALS INTO A STREAM, RIVER OR LAKE. Report to the authorities anyone you see doing so.

12. Consider where you live. Most people end up living near where they or their spouse grew up, or perhaps to be near a particular job. But you might be better off relocating. Actively consider where you live: Is the community you live in really the best place for you and your family? Will it still be the best place for you in ten years? Things to consider: crime, pollution, taxes, educational opportunities, economic opportunities, economic diversity, climate, rainfall, nearby resources, cohesiveness of the community, style of the local government, availability of public transportation and farmers markets.

13. Keep stores of food, water & supplies. Today, we run out to the markets whenever we need something. We have a just-in-time supply system, so we don't need to store things for future use. But the slightest problem can lead to a system-wide disaster. We need to re-learn the art of storing necessities in case of emergencies. Things to store include food, water, medicine, vitamins and personal hygiene products, as well as other useful items such as batteries, sewing supplies, first aid supplies, duct tape, matches, candles, lamp oil, etc. If you were cut off from buying things for several weeks, or even a month or more, what would you run out of? Figure out ways to store those things.

14. Restore nature. Plant trees. Clean up local lakes and streams. Rebuild soils through composting and vermiculture. Participate in pollinator conservation efforts. Practice organic gardening and lawn care. Eliminate your lawn entirely. Participate in the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program.15. Don't dwell on the negatives. Be a hopeful realist. It is important to understand the problems we face. Just don't obsess over them. Instead, start working towards solutions. Acting to make positive changes, even small ones, will increase your confidence and encourage yourself, your family and your friends.

 

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