Hi all,
I may compete for being one of the most pessimistic about where we are quickly headed... if not I will feel right at home.
I am a country boy by upbringing, city dweller for quite a while and country boy again by choice - dropped out of the rat-race 5 or so years ago and now live on a mountain somewhere in the Appalachians.
I'm here to learn mostly - I have a sort of "I don't know what I don't know" feeling in my gut.
I'm looking for a good checklist for long-term survival. Most of what I have seen online has been fairly lame and intended to get a person through a week or so of hard times. I think we are heading into an extended period of hard times (see pessimism).
Here is roughly where we are now with preparedness.
Wood burning stove and fp insert for heat & cooking.
All the wood we could ever burn.
Propane generator (1000 gal tank)
Freezer full of food (see generator)
Looking into biodiesel and related generators for longer term sustainability.
Stockpiled non-perishable food - goal is 3 years worth and we are short of that right now
Grow and can our own food
Fully stocked root cellar
Water is from a well - have just ordered a manual pump - stream nearby too
Outhouse
Goats and chickens for meat, eggs and milk
Plenty of wildlife around: deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, quail...
Wild edible plants: morels (but haven't found any yet), berries, cattails
Have learned this year how to tap birch trees and reduce to syrup
--- Needs / wants / dream of
As mentioned above, looking into biodiesel but doesn't seem self-sustainable
Need longer term energy source (solar? wind? not sure)
Need more hunting / trapping supplies
Need more trade goods stored up (coffee, tobacco, liquor)
Need to learn more about wild edibles / herbal medicines
Would like to add a dexter cow, some pigs and horse / mule to the livestock
Wish I had a cave!
Anyway - we are in the middle of the wilderness - approx 100 acres and surrounded on 3 sides by thousands of acres of wilderness.
Do I sound extreme? :rolleyes:
