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155 comments on Tuna, Toilet paper, and Timing

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Consumer on July 11, 2009 - 6:28pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I expect this to be a popular thread on TOD. My thoughts:

1. Have not bought any "preps", other than camping supplies (which I use for camping). I Do not hoard food. This is mostly due to the fact that I rent, not own.

2. The biggest one I can think of is the decision whether or not to have kids. One must decide whether having kids would increase/decrease one's chance of survival over the next 15-20 years, but if you decide that it would be disadvantageous to procreate (would require you to secure more resources over the short term), then you may have hurt your chances in the long term.

3. It depends if you mean individually or collectively. I think that an individual should do both, but I don't see how reducing your demand on a personal level will do much, other than easing the psychological shock when there is less to be had. You will still need supplies. On a societal level, I think doing with less will be far more effective than hoarding.

4.

I wonder what the time frame of some "preppers" is. Are they remembering to rotate through their stocks? If you buy a bunch of canned tuna, and throw it in the attic, don't expect to be able to eat it in 10 years.

One issue also to be considered is the effect of the accumulation of physical capital (food, TP, Ammo) on social capital. Is hoarding really a good idea if it isolates you from the group? What if the power goes out, and you fall down the basement stairs going to your stash, but nobody checks on you because you're the weird guy who hoards food?

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BikerBrook on July 11, 2009 - 8:58pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"On a societal level, I think doing with less will be far more effective than hoarding."

I agree with this.

We have no stores of food (as in large cans of this or that in the basement). Instead, what I am doing is gradually expanding my garden, and continuing to learn more about providing food for myself and my husband. We do not have children, but tonight I gave some beets, carrots, and kale to one of our neighbors who has two children. It's definitely better to grow food and share than to buy food and hoard.

But I would not want to be categorical about it. If someone wants to hoard, let it be. It's just that it tends to perpetuate what is probably an existing isolation or alienation from others ... whereas we really are all in this together, whether or not it's easy to perceive that, or feel it.

My weak point in terms of food is food preservation. I am reluctant to spend time and energy canning our garden harvest. I know I would love the results in the winter, but to me it's not sustainable. On my list is to build a solar food dryer. Drying food to save it for the winter to me is much more sustainable since you don't even need a solar dryer to do it: you can simply spread out food on trays in the sun. But it does take labor to tend it.

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Mash on July 13, 2009 - 3:40am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I wonder what the time frame of some "preppers" is.

I could feed my family for about a year and 1/2 with my preps.

Are they remembering to rotate through their stocks?

I buy what we eat already, just more of it. On sale.

What if ... nobody checks on you because you're the weird guy who hoards food?

I don't advertize it.

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155 comments on Tuna, Toilet paper, and Timing

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