Save like Nana Did. Community.

Sorry I am late this week.  Life is just really busy!  While I am busy I am thinking!  A Nana post came to me while absorbing the pages of a very good book "United We Stand.  Building your emergency preparedness network" by David Kobler.      He is Southernprepper1

As with many things,  going back to the way things used to be done is wise or necessary.   I am only a third of the way into this book as I keep stopping and writing things down and making lists.  But so far it reminds me so much of my Grandparents!

We are considering a war time, depression, grid down or other event that interrupts usual supplies and services.   Really that could be many things.  We have already experienced short times such as these.  I have experienced and observed several situations where I have realised (or seen dramatic demonstrations) that no body is coming to help.   

Nan and Pa knew their neighbours and not just one or two but the whole street.  They were best friends with some of them.  They all helped and supported each other.  I think they would have done pretty much anything for one another.   Relationships like that don't just happen over night.   

Wider than their street they knew people throughout their town and were great friends with so many.   As I am reading Southernpreppers book I am identifying all the advantages of this and who and what my Grandparents had access to because of it.   This included my parents ie my Grandparents could never experience food security issues because they grew their vegetables and fruit and our farm then was chickens so eggs and meat were guaranteed.   So was manure for the garden.  

I turned my notes to ourselves and how we are doing.   Since moving here I have consciously made efforts to develop a network that we need.   This starts with an inner circle where we can rely one each other, trust each other.  The sort of person you can ring in the middle of the night and they will come.   Then a wider group that we can help each other, trade goods and services... knowledge/skills...

So far my notes look like this:

We have sewn up water,  meat, eggs,  most fruit,  some veggies, fuel storage,  food supplies,  medical supplies,  sewing and mending, wood for fires/warmth,  food preservation,  first aid and CPR,  spare accomodation, hunting deer and rabbits, foraging and fruit trees on Chloe and Lucy's properties also.

We have a CB radio and so do Chloe and Luke who are within range.  

I have a son in law that is a plumber by trade.  His Mum is a nurse... however not local.  I can reach her by phone if phones were working.

Our inner circle... we have a mechanic,  someone who can fix most things,  fix tyres,   x ambulance officer/first responder.

Firefighters.

Hunters and butchers.

Lots of off grid skills.  Note : people who who go camping off grid have heaps of useful skills.

Animal husbandry and basic vet skills.  

Andy is excellent with irrigation,  the water tanks system and the troughs throughout the farm.  He set up the over house sprinkler system which was can run on a generator during a fire.  He is a good carpenter and has the tools for almost anything.

We lack a doctor in our group.  And a dentist.

Nans network extended to women who could deliver babies,  make up the flowers for weddings and funerals,  deliver meals to anyone sick or in need.... My Grandfather kept a barometer and knew what weather was coming and was very accurate.   Nan and Pa had neighbourhood watch before that was a thing.  Everyone kept an eye on each other and any suspicious activity would not have got by their radar!  To this day I swear my Mum missed her calling in the military/federal police/FBI and if you had to choose one person to be on watch you would choose her! 

We have worked really hard on having a lot to bring to the table in a trading/helping situation.  Relying on the generosity of others is not going to get you far and not at all how Nan and Pa operated.  They gave, helped and gave some more.   Having the ability to help others and make fair and mutually beneficial trades is the goal.  That is what community is.  

In a time you need to "circle the wagons" your most trusted group is a lifeline.   In good times your network is a key to a long and healthy life.  In bad times it might save your life.

Now is the time to work on your group.  Like deciding to plant and grow a garden after a crisis thinking it will feed you is too late, trying to make connections during a crisis would be really hard as people will be wanting to deal with those they trust and potentially suspicious of others.   You don't establish a pantry during or after a crisis.  You establish it in good times.  You don't establish an emergency fund in a crisis.... you have it in the crisis because you saved it in good times!    

I am still seeing the occasional person saying they are eating down their freezer or pantry and waiting until better times to restock it.   This is like burning your limited number of candles in the daylight.   We need to rotate, organise, take inventory and fill gaps.  I have been working hard on this for weeks and have found a lot of space and know exactly how many of each item I have.  Now I know what areas need improvement or updating.   A wise woman builds her home.  I am trying to be wise.  This is a learning curve as I look back on some things I hoped were wise only to realise now they were pretty dumb... but I was learning!  

"She looks well to the way of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. "  It is never the time to be idle (unless you are sick or injured of course) but now is MORE not it than ever!     I realised something.  The Bible is full of praise for how the bees are always busy and the ants work so hard.  Our own observations are that the ants  KNOW when a storm is coming and we will see masses of them out there working at full speed.  Then we will also know something is coming.   We are instructed to be like the ants.   So we also know when something is coming and to be extra extra busy.   I do believe now is that time.   How the ants know it,  feel it,  I do not know,  but I know it and feel it in my stomach and in my bones.   So do most of my Christian friends far and wide across the world.   I learned the hard way never to ignore that feeling.    Never let anyone put you down or discourage you from your mission.   Go,  get it done,  smash it out of the ball park. 

See you tomorrow.xxx