tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post5395043638888116370..comments2024-03-28T19:35:24.365-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Don't be a burdenPatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-46658409779684782332012-07-26T12:57:36.580-07:002012-07-26T12:57:36.580-07:00My wife and I live in a big city. We're planni...My wife and I live in a big city. We're planning on moving to a rural area as soon as we can. Let's just say we don't want to be here (in the city) when the food stamps get cut off.Jay from Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-47531044327900936922012-07-20T13:49:10.730-07:002012-07-20T13:49:10.730-07:00If you have good neighbors, you are truly blessed....If you have good neighbors, you are truly blessed. We do things for our neighbors and they reciprocate. We have a non-verbal agreement with the next-door neighbors--whoever goes to the curb first after the trash truck comes brings up both cans to the proper places. If we have extra produce, we share with them. When they have a family party, they bring over some of their wonderful barbeque (he is a professional cook and a very good one). We needed to cut down a tree; so one of the neighbors helped in exchange for a share of the wood. Other neighbors invited our visiting grandchildren over to use their swimming pool on a very hot day. The list goes on and on. What it all boils down to is sharing and helping. It makes for a great place to live.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-72967561179714687292012-07-18T22:51:41.330-07:002012-07-18T22:51:41.330-07:00Patrice, from your keyboard to God's Ear.
Oh ...Patrice, from your keyboard to God's Ear.<br /><br />Oh how quickly life can change. <br /><br />We also had serious electrical storms that went on for 24 hrs last week, and one house in the mountains just above us was struck and burned to the ground. Another one was hit and also burned down. Thankfully there was no loss of life, I'm told. We heard strikes nearby. It was, blessedly, raining and hailing. Otherwise life might have changed a whole bunch in a hurry for a bunch of us. <br /><br />While we're probably better prepared than the majority of folks, we're not nearly as well prepared for long term situations. We have the basic needs, like a wood stove with a cooking insert and our own well with a good river nearby, lots of lamps and candles etc. but life would have to change dramatically in a very short time if it went on more than a few weeks. Fortunately I know what that off-grid life is about and have many fond memories of family and kinfolks homes deep in the Ozarks and elsewhere in places that have never seen electrification. This was before solar panels and it was the way folks had always lived. And they lived very well. They made it, they grew it, they raised it, they hunted it, they caught it. Whatever they had they maintained and took care of it like their lives depended on it, because it did. It was a quiet, focused and a very productive, happy life. Sound at all familiar? lol<br /><br />Don't get me wrong.... I dearly love not having to heat water to bathe and wash dishes and my automatic front loading washing machine is truly a blessing. I am hugely grateful for my stove and oven. I don't own a microwave or food processor, but I can sure get busy with a blender! lol I'd miss it all a bunch!<br /><br />But I'd get it done. And we'd thrive. We have a big wood-splitter and we'd be busy. I play acoustic music and write songs on a professional level, and at no time are artists like me more valued or needed than during hard times. We live in an agricultural region. <br /><br />Better still,we live in a rural community of similarly equipped and talented people, who, in fact gathered this evening for a special meal and quiet celebration at the home of one of us to express their thanks for how much their neighbors have helped them in recent months. How cool is that? See why I'm going on and on? LOL The timing of your piece couldn't be more perfect. And oh how you'd love my neighbors who hosted us. They know how to make and DO everything.(She's a canning maven, too.) She was seriously injured in a fall late last autumn and for the first time in her life needed help. And we made sure they had it, gladly and with love, just as they would for us. Such care is never more precious and appreciated than when it's received by highly self-reliant people. <br /><br />We're so blessed, you and I. We got out. May we never have to add those two other dreadful little words to that statement....."in time."<br /><br />I shudder to think what most urban-dwelling Americans will experience if the fertilizer hits the ventilator. <br /><br />God have mercy.<br /><br />A. McSpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-1828850953286953992012-07-18T19:40:19.114-07:002012-07-18T19:40:19.114-07:00We're working on using a generator for our wel...We're working on using a generator for our well, and possibly getting a solar setup for it if we can.<br /><br />Great, thought-provoking post.LindaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12203719919661519350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-82476928602898590852012-07-18T18:43:42.151-07:002012-07-18T18:43:42.151-07:00I think we had the same windstorm hit us a few yea...I think we had the same windstorm hit us a few years ago. We were able to cook and eat, stay warm etc. We have a hand crank radio and hand crank battery charger..the only thing we were lacking wast light! Thanks for the reminder as I forgot to purchase the lamps. Candles are not always availiable!<br />And, its amazing the folks that look at our garden and say "you know they sell this stuff in stores" The majority have no clue and it scares meKatididshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15568618127371786808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-36842540209431727972012-07-18T16:32:12.632-07:002012-07-18T16:32:12.632-07:00We've been fairly prepared for ourselves for q...We've been fairly prepared for ourselves for quite some time. We live in an urban area where people take things like electricity & television for granted.<br />During the "Inauguration Day Storm" (Clinton) we had a bad storm come through. We lost power for 11 days. We had heat, light, & plenty of comfort. We did many of the things you did to prepare for the storm also. Showers, laundry, etc. just to get a bit ahead "in case". <br />I had a home based business, quite a niche business actually. We sold dollhouse & miniature supplies. I never did have a fancy computerized cash register - always used receipt books, handwritten of course, and a plain cash drawer. I have plenty of light - numerous lanterns. Plenty of heat - kerosene heaters & stove. I had more customers during the power outage than I had had the previous month! People were looking for things to do! They just couldn't figure out ways to entertain themselves.<br />My elderly Mother is in a Senior Apartment complex. If power goes out she will be in deep stuff if she stays there. There was recently a "Preparedness Expo" that it was highly suggested at the Senior Center that ALL seniors should attend. Not my Mother! Her comment to the speaker was "I'll just go to my daughter's house! They have heat, food, and a Scrabble game!" Well, we do have quite a bit more than Scrabble to entertain us.<br />We have gone out of our way to try not to burden anyone. We are seniors also - but certainly young enough to take care of ourselves.Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11962961868538669953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-23788243212800242372012-07-18T15:46:48.547-07:002012-07-18T15:46:48.547-07:00Good post, but I think you're preaching to the...Good post, but I think you're preaching to the choir. Wish I were reading this in my local newspaper.spynedrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00625594740991423635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-43126515309033701322012-07-18T15:14:36.461-07:002012-07-18T15:14:36.461-07:00You're like a breath of fresh air, Patrice. To...You're like a breath of fresh air, Patrice. Too bad that those who need to heed your words probably aren't reading your blog. :-(<br /><br />How much better this world would be if all families were as responsible as yours. My compliments, Ma'am!<br /><br />Sam....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-62913134299996377172012-07-18T14:15:17.393-07:002012-07-18T14:15:17.393-07:00Well said Patrice. I've been trying to "...Well said Patrice. I've been trying to "convert" many people to preparedness for the last 5 years and I'd say my success rate is maybe 5%... There are going to be a lot of miserable folks if things continue falling apart, but we can only do so much for our fellow man before it becomes wasted effort. Thanks for taking care of yourself and the gentle reminder for others!J.L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06866419711226012785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-81867526223553562482012-07-18T11:54:11.972-07:002012-07-18T11:54:11.972-07:00I love watching some of those reality shows on Dis...I love watching some of those reality shows on Discovery but I'm always surprised at how there's always a handful of people who sit around and complain and don't do their share of the work. Maybe it's just what the producers decide to film and show. Anyhow, I don't imagine those people would last long in a different world - as John Smith said, no work, no eat.Karynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775592484866509189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-7503153443051655322012-07-18T10:54:54.528-07:002012-07-18T10:54:54.528-07:00Great post!!!!!! Makes one think of were they, the...Great post!!!!!! Makes one think of were they, themselves, would be a burden.small farm girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485314092236803411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-91190990230362730292012-07-18T09:09:47.126-07:002012-07-18T09:09:47.126-07:00Reciprocity is built into our genetic code. It is...Reciprocity is built into our genetic code. It is an inherent part of human nature. People avoid asking for favors, because they know that they will owe a favor back in turn.<br /><br />But some people seem to have done a wonderful job of turning that part of their nature off.russell1200https://www.blogger.com/profile/16258915475311426433noreply@blogger.com