Food Set To Become The Next Big Global News Story
1,388 Views[This article states what I’ve attempted to cover on this blog for some time now. Food is going to be in critical short supply. - Admin]
AT the beginning of the summer, the National Farmers’ Union of Canada put out a press release that included the headline Global food crisis emerging.
The release is scary reading. Based on early predictions by the United States Department of Agriculture on world grain supply and demand for the 2007-08 crop year, the NFU’s director of research, Darrin Qualman, broadcasts a dire warning that “we are in the opening phase of an intensifying food shortage.”
Qualman means a worldwide shortage.
As the world went into the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, total grain supplies were the lowest in the 47 periods for which data exists and were quite possibly at their lowest levels in a century. This crop season would mark the seventh year out of the past eight in which global grain production fell short of demand.
“The world is consistently failing to produce as much grain as it uses,” Qualman said.
Despite the so-called “green revolution,” the miracle of fertilizers, irrigation techniques, and disease-resistant grains, the world, once again is in danger of not feeding itself. There are all kinds of reasons for this: population growth, climate change, a shift to feeding livestock instead of using grain directly for food, which is a less efficient way of feeding people, and growing demand for ethanol.
There are no easy solutions and there are other potential problems. The collapse of cod supplies is well-known, but many edible fish species are also in danger. Qualman says one-third of ocean fisheries are already in collapse and scientific journals estimate that two-thirds may be in collapse by 2025.
Climate change may exacerbate grain shortages. Global warming has been largely associated with drier conditions in grain-growing areas, but that is far from universal. Some areas in North America have been having unusually wet weather in spring — ideal conditions for scab, or head blight. Scab hit Nebraska wheat fields this year. The Broad Institute, a research body supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and affiliated hospitals warns that head blight “is becoming a threat to the world’s food supply.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported earlier this year that a new and virulent fungus of wheat-stem rust had spread from East Africa to Yemen. Some 80 per cent of wheat varieties in Africa and Asia are susceptible to the disease.
Crop diseases are nothing new. The Irish potato famine was caused by disease. The Bible is replete with stories of famine and the need to store grains.
Modern techniques have led to disease-resistant strains. Most strains of wheat rust in North America, for example, have been combated by cultivation of resistant strains. Agriculturists, however, stress the need for cultivation of many varieties of all crops. A single strain is always vulnerable to a new, mutated form of any crop disease. The Irish potato famine was a result of over-reliance on one variety.
The world’s food supplies may not be as robust as they were 20 years ago, nonetheless, we are not all about to starve. Famine, for the next little while at least, is going to affect others — the poorer nations of the Earth — not us.
It won’t come to the West first, but that there’s still every reason to be concerned. The warning signs are very real and much like climate change, the potential food shortage is a result of the way we consume and live our lives.
It’s also an example of how solving one problem tends to produce another. The production of ethanol reduces dependence on oil, but diverts grains from the food supply, thereby assisting in one shortage but threatening another.
For the world’s food supply, it would be better if we all ate less meat and got our proteins in a different way, but we are as used to our diet as we are to driving cars and taking airplanes and we are now using grain to do so. Having had the benefit, in the West, of eating what we want, it is hard now to deny developing countries the same, just as it is difficult to argue against their increasing use of fossil fuels when the West has caused the great majority of the greenhouse-gas effect so far.
The prospect of climate change has now gained widespread acceptance, although the response is less clear. The building danger of food shortages, however, as production plateaus and the world population continues to increase is less well appreciated and almost totally without political action.
Qualman of the NFU is not a scaremonger. He’s telling it as it is. So here’s a prediction: Food is the next big global news story and just like climate change it will generate huge controversy.
The problem can be ignored, but it won’t go away. Food - the next big news story.
[Actually, it’s quite a bit worse then this, as many articles on this blog have shown, but the message is still not getting through (for some reason). Forget 2025, we’ll never make it that far before total collapse sets in.
Maybe this blog is just too doom and gloom, too scary and cognitive dissonance has hardened into concrete minds, I don’t know, but there has been zero support and exceedingly little interest, (most) everyone keeps trying to pretend things are going to get better, while they keep getting worse and worse. Sorry, but I don’t make the news and the facts are the facts.
We are in global collapse, period. Worldwide systems are falling apart all around us, while fascism and terrorism by government is rising in leaps and bounds. Don’t like it? Do something about it. But blogging about it is proving to be huge, gigantic waste of my time no matter what is posted, it’s just not getting through.
This blog has received near-zero support except for a tiny handful of people and I’m beating my head against the wall trying to garner some interest and support to no avail. My sacrifice has been huge, costing me years of effort, customers and opportunity. I still have no place of my own to survive the collapse and at this rate, never will. Asking you to save yourselves while I cheer you on is becoming rather pointless I’m afraid. Time is now running out, and my own family has suffered long enough while I’ve endeavored to bring the news and perspectives brought here, but they are now at extreme risk, and I must now take care of them first.
I’m done for now, this is my last entry for a while. - Admin]
October 14th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Absolutely, please get your own family’s plan in place, so we can enjoy your post crash dialogs in future. We will all need a respite after hearing the upcoming endless blather on how no one saw it coming. May be worse than when all we had was deluded inert ostrich zombies to talk to.
It might not long to get up to speed in your planning. The nice thing about the RE crash is that there are loads of rural properties available on rent-to-own/contract-for-deeds and lots of supplies and equipment going at auction too. It could come together for you quickly.
October 14th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Do what you need to for yourself and your family. It’s what we are all trying to do. I’m leaving my home business and going out and getting a ‘real’ job myself. The business isn’t paying the bills. If I can get a job with health insurance and enough take home pay to cover the rent and minimun payments on our debts, that will help our short term survival. My husband will have to cover food, utilities, and other ‘extras’.
Doing this will harm our long term survival, in that I won’t be doing as much growing our own foods, learning new skills, etc.
Even with that, I have to recognize that I’m in the best off 1% of the world’s population now. I have a roof over my head. I have food and water (for now). I have health care debts out the wazoo to pay off, but I had the needed operation and shocked my doctor by being healed in 6 weeks not the 8+ weeks she expected. I have a computer, electricity, and internet access. Doesn’t make loss of a dream less depressing, mind you.
But giving up on my long term survival plans is not an option, just going to take longer to get where I want to be … all while time gets short.
It’s frustrating. It’s disheartening. I’m trying to spin it into a ‘learning to be flexible’ experience.
Do what you have to do.
Fern
October 14th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Well, admin, I must say I have had an awfully good time with you being the #2 blog on my click list (right after latoc). I’d like to hear of your personal progress as you get yourself squared away, so don’t just disappear, okay? Forget those not on board, they are not listening at this point, but the choir still likes a good sermon now and then.
comrade
October 14th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
What a bummer. This is the number one blog for me.
I understand your frustrations very well. I have told my friends for years about what is coming-all to no avail. I’ve lost many over my ’stupidity’.
My closest friends and loved ones I told about a year ago that if I ever say CODE RED that means it is time to go to a full blown get ready mode.
Prioritize and buy the most important stuff first.
Double check all your preps and finalize your long distance relationships.
I went CODE RED recently because I have been reading this blog. I can only tell a very few of my friends because they think I’m a paranoid nut. Of the one’s I have told none have taken me seriously. None. One said “i have camping gear what else do I need?”
I don’t like commenting on internet sites because of My Big Brother and for some reason everyone has to be logged in to respond. That is scary to me.
Regarding no financial support for your service, speaking only for myself I live way in the middle of nowhere ‘caretaking’ 40 acres and an earthship for a friend. I work occasionally in the area and can barely buy the gas and food i need now.
I have stocked up a little here and there but I end up eating it.
Hence, I have endeavored to learn and practice primitivism.
It is just like Noah’s time- except now the clues are obvious.
It seems to me that the poorest (financially) are the ones with the clearest vision of what is coming, but with the least means to take action.
My personal frustration is being unable to help those who have helped me-like yourself.
I’ll throw this out for those it may help. There is still cheap land in the west.
Montana, Colorado,New Mexico. I mean 40 acres for 40 thousand and less. That is not cheap to me, but it may be to others. Jobs are scarce though.
There are so many mansions out here, in the middle of nowhere, stocked with everything-I mean everything,( Solar etc.) that I believe I can go from mansion to mansion after the meltdown and do pretty well for years. The owners will be stuck in what ever big city they live in.
I wish you well and will continue to think that if anyone can survive That Which is Coming it is you. For you sure taught me alot.
Thanks!!
October 14th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Don’t give up.
I came to your blog from a link in someone else’s to an article you wrote a while ago. So people are paying attention. I wouldn’t even have known about this site or how serious things were otherwise.
I’m sorry things are going so poorly for you. I used to have a website and I know how it can get to the point where it’s not worth it for you to continue just in an emotional weight sort of way.
Take care of your family and do what you need to do.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I am currently in your situation about not having anywhere to make a go of it. I have so many things, ect that are needed (tangible things), I just can’t find people and land. Considering 1 ac here w/ a shack is $140 grand, I’m not even looking here. But I’m also getting resistance from my wife about moving. I’m trying to take care of everyone and anyone and all I get is resistance and platitudes. To echo a previous post, I wish I was able to help the people who help me and others, such as yourself. I had a bit of a breakdown today and just was sick of the constant “fight” with everything and everyone. A pre-collase “battle fatigue” of dragging people along.
Take care of your family and loved ones. At this point anyone who doesn’t “get it” is so late to the game its irrelevant. You’ve saved the ones you can, thats all you can do. And THANK YOU for that. We all experience the reaction (actually a lack of reaction, right?) you get here, ours is just on a smaller scale. Time is growing short, we all know and feel it. The time for distractions and telling people is over, its time to do.
Thanks again, John and everyone else, too! Best of luck to us all, we are gonna need it.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Thank you everyone for your input. Thank you Rosie and Mary.
What many of you don’t know is I’ve been experiencing severe problems which have yet to be resolved. If I was able (to throw money at it), I’d have fixed these issues long ago, but juggling the blog, the website and trying to maintain my sanity and well-being has been a challenge.
I have come to the conclusion (long ago) that words are not enough anymore, but kept plugging away. Now, I’m absolutely certain words will never mitigate or resolve the issues which we all now face.
I had “banked” on a rush of food orders to resolves the needs that me and my family have so that we too, could make our crashstead ready (non-existent). I felt that this would happen, in time, before collapse set in and it was too late. I’m not so sure about this anymore.
By my (and Lonewolf’s) calculations, less then 1 in 20,000 people are making any preparations (based upon known sales volume at companies like mine).
Readers of this blog (estimated at 3,000 from webstats) are preparing at the rate of 1 in 60. This is very, very low. Either the blog is just infotainment to them, or they (like some have shared), simply cannot prepare like they’d want to.
I wish I could do more. I wish I myself could “step up to the plate” and help by giving away the supplies people need. I care very little about money and always have. It’s just something to use, like a tool, but it’s not my goal and never has been.
However, like everyone else, it’s needed to buy the things we need. I’m hoping to mitigate this need as much as possible in the near future. My goal has been to build a self-sufficient, semi-sustainable homestead, but time is running out.
In Lonewolf’s words in regards to those who prepare, and those who don’t: “One of the things this means is that marauding (mutant zombie bikers) will be (is) a total waste of time and effort (and risk) even if stored food is not protected/hidden. The odds of finding a household even having significant supplies to ‘acquire’ would be about the same as winning the lottery.
If 1/3 of County population went to ‘visit’ 20,000 other (different) households, odds are only 1 will find anything (assuming it’s not protected).
If one person went to 20,000 different households (20 per day for 100 days), the odds of any of them having a stash to steal would be about 33%.
The odds of someone in this county visiting 20,000 unique households (right now) and of getting shot or beaten to a pulp is probably about 33% and near certainty (probability = 1) in a collapse circus”.
In other words — the entire country is effectively TOAST when it comes to collapse preparations. The number of people preparing for collapse will NEVER be remotely sufficient if collapse were to happen in the next few years.
Collapse survivors will be few and far between, 1 in 20,000. Assuming that they all survived, this represents only 15,000 (prepared) survivors.
Others ways of looking at it — everyone you see, know and drive past is a walking dead man. Maybe even you.
I don’t actually expect only 15k to survive (for now, there are huge factors at work that will change even this number), there will be others who manage by hook and by crook, but this number represents that people that “get it”. It’s not very many. It’s also my targeted customer base, and it’s no wonder at all that I’m having such a hard time of it.
The blog goal was to inform interested others to prepare, but frankly, I’m beating my head against the wall. It’s either not working, or it’s actually backfiring.
Some hate me for what I publish, others have threatened me. Some have even tried to kill me. Most people I know don’t understand the reality of the world we live in today, and have absolutely no idea of the reality of the world we will live in tomorrow.
I can’t fix that. I can only fix “my world” and encourage you to fix your’s.
The time has come to make my collapse preparations in earnest with what I have. It may already be too late, or it may not. Bush & Company are an EXTREME danger to this country, but few truly realize just how dangerous he is. This won’t change in 2008 either.
It’s time to “get out of the way”, or at least have someplace to go. And that’s what I’m going to try and do.
The blog will stay up, and so will the main food website. My efforts and attention will be on making some needed money and making my own preparations for my family.
I wish the best for everyone. - Admin
October 14th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I am sorry to read that you are cashing it in, for only a short time I hope. I read your blog everyday. I also feel that time is running short, thus the reason that I spend every weekend working on getting things done. Finish the pantry, complete the shops, work on more education for a different field in the future. Every day for me is 16 to 18 hours long and there is still not enought time or money to get the job done. However, every day is a day closer to being there. After a few days rest I hope you start up again, every voice we hear is another voice in the choir that will allow this song to be heard. Hopefully in time there will be enough people singing that the message will be heard.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
On the subject of food. Any idea how to deal with oldbeans that will not cook down. Any ideas would be helpful.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Yes, yes, yes. Please take a time-out to care for yourself and your family.
Your contributions have not gone unnoticed by those that count.
Some will make it through the coming changes, some will not. For those that are too blind to see what lies before them all I can say is May the Blessings Be. Then be on my own way. I owe them nothing, same applies for you.
Peace admin.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Have you tried a pressure cooker? Or grind them and make refried beans out of them.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
MG-42–
Are you talking about dried beans, such as pinto beans that have been stored a bit too long? Don’t know what you mean by, “Won’t cook down.”
You know you have to soak dry beans overnight, right? Then cook slowly for about 4 hours–maybe more if the beans have been stored a long time.
Another key thing to remember: Don’t add salt until after they’re cooked. If you add salt at the beginning, the beans will never cook.
Soybeans supposedly never cook to the point where they’re soft. Old recipe for soybeans: Place a piece of granite in the bottom of the pot. Add beans and water. Beans are done when the granite is soft.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
What is it you mean by support?
I’m sure you have a huge throng of people who think like you do.
Well, too bad for you not being around much longer. Love your stuff.
I suspect I will be among the many to die an early death. My income is 750 per month. I have no property. I have little stashed. I have no true survival skills because it takes money and time to train.
I also have no regrets. Everyone dies. The only question I have is how miserable I will I make it for the fascists before I go.
Many are like myself. Informed but not as well supplied as many of the bourgeoisie middle class who largely populate the peak oil class. C’est la vie.
With or without your very pointed, accurate, hold nothing back commentary, reality will impinge. Truth be told, we do not need anyone to tell us what is becoming increasingly clear. Do what you must.
I’ll drop you from my click list.
CYA
October 14th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I don’t know how many people you’ve reached,but you certianly scared the hell out of me. I’ve been preparing along the guide lines you’ve discussed and with each step felt more secure,but there was an unexpected snowball effect. Rural living is much cheaper,providing your own food is cheaper still,learning skills to make your own things saves even more. With each step the next was easier, and more affortable. Your blog has shown me which direction the most immediate threats where coming from. I hope I’ve set the right priorities and have accomplished most of it. I thought fasciism the most immediate and have been eliminating debt. In less than 2 monthes I’ll be debt free. This is when I plan to set up long term food storage. I’m glad to see you’ll still be selling food products. The system doesn’t have to collapse for me to see the benift of this lifestyle,and I thank you for that. For those that didn’t get the message there’s a proverb “A wise man will learn more from a fool than a fool will learn from a wise man”
October 15th, 2007 at 4:58 am
Thank you for your time, effort, thoughts, and insight over the past few years. You’re still my first reading stop daily. Please do stay in touch occasionally, letting us know how you are fairing personally at the least. Okay?
For more recent readers, admin has put the blog on hiatus at least once before, as everyone needs a break from time to time. Do not despair.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:11 am
I found your site via LOTOC adn it has become one of my favorite to read on a daily basis. I am starting to make preparations for the crunch that is about to come and purchased food from your store. I know it is frustrating because people don’t seem to “get it” but you have to keep trying. It’s a struggle for me to convinvce my own family that the world as they have know it will be no more. I hope that after some time away you will return with your briliant posts.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I’ve loved your site and will miss not having it to read each day. Your articles have taught me a lot. I bought 2 years worth of food from your store and am soooo glad I did. The knowledge that my wife and I can eat for a while if all hell breaks loose is some comfort.
I don’t know why it is that only 1 in 20,000 prepare. Or why I, and others who frequent this blog “get it”, and most others don’t. Denial must be strong!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:53 am
I had been marvelling at how he found the time to write so much, although I did very much appreciate his labours on this site. And I have to say, being frustrated at the lack of a bulk freeze dried food supplier here in the UK, I would have gladly bought from him but for the prohibitive costs of transporting such items here.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Your site is the first I read every morning, and the best for information and advice. I’m following your advice to the best of my ability and feel guilty that I haven’t been able to give you the support you deserve. Your family comes first and I hope things work out quickly for you. I will be checking here everyday, and I’m grateful you will be leaving this site up. I live in western Canada and am finding it harder and harder to put aside my preps, the price of everyday items is getting so high. I’m glad I make my own bread, cause now the price of a loaf of “boughten” bread is between $4.19 and $4.69 a loaf. Pasta hasn’t increased in price yet, but with semolina going for $10 a bushel and hard red winter wheat getting $8.50 it won’t be long now.
I can’t say enough how much I appreciate all the help I’ve gotten from your site. Take care, do what you need to do. Will be waiting to hear from you when all is as you need it to be.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I’m an LATOCer and have just recently
been reading your blog. If course you
have to take care of yourself first. I
work parttime to pay the bills and
finance prep. When you start with no
knowledge or tools but a patch of dry
Georgia clay, in the middle of a 100 year
drought, well, prep takes time. Lots of
time and money. We all have to do what works
for each of us. Good luck.
Michelle
October 15th, 2007 at 11:57 am
BTW - folks, the calculations that Admin and I did which came up with the (perhaps) 20K ‘prepared’ (with storable food) is the TOTAL OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS combined (excluding Mormons). This is based on the SA sales profile (history) times 10 other major vendors (if there is that many - none ‘around’ longer or with greater selection or with lower prices) times 10 years (obviously including the Y2K ’scare’ - praise be unto MicroSucks)).
In the past 12 months, the total (of again 10 assumed vendors such as SA) is about one in a quarter-million Americans have acted - this is in spite of significant price increases and declining dollar value, Peak Oil, Climate Change and rising tyranny (if not overt fascism) . In my entire State, SA is aware of only three (3) people who have purchased ‘reasonable amounts’ of storable food (and I’m one of them).
So, when your cupboards are bare, don’t go out looking for someone who did prepare. They are just NOT out there to find.
Also know this, there are only a handful of canneries in the entire country, so when and (if) the big rush hits, they will all be instantly swamped and overwhelmed (aka, unresponsive to your ‘demands’)
WRT to this ‘blog’, when if EVER, has a post had 17 (and counting) responses? Answer, NEVER. As always, people don’t know what they have until it’s gone (holds equally true for water, food, shelter from the storm, …) Many - if not most - blogs are someone’s private outlet for venting (often in the form of dementia IMO) and they usually neither expect nor actively encourage participation from the public. This blog was NOT one of those. This blog had several impetuses (if I may presume on Admin’s behalf aka turf), 1) to wake (some) people up from the deep slumber of the ‘walking dead’, 2) to strive to ‘provoke’ a meaningful fraction of people to ACT responsibly WRT their own survival needs (future), 3) to hopefully generate a small community of activists who would spread the word that time is very short for those who would ‘expect’ (attempt) to avoid the pillaging hordes and ’social’ chaos that is headed down the proverbial tracks (AKA, at you). and 4) (yes) to stimulate sales such that Admin himself could prepare for himself and his family.
WRT item 1 (above) - this site now has approx 4000 unique weekly readers (according to web stats). Obviously 4000 is ‘better’ than 400, but not by much compared to 400 million in the US and Canada.
WRT to item 2, as was indicated above, in the past 12 months a mere 1 in 200,000 have purchased ANY food period and only 1 in 2 Million have purchased significant stocks from SA. I’ll do the math for you; that’s about 50 customers who are actually ’serious’ and put their money where there mouth is. Anyone who has shopped around for storable food already knows that SA’s profit margin is miniscule - he is selling at the best (lowest) prices in the entire industry (period), even lower than the canneries themselves charge (in bulk). He can only do this if the volume is substantial - and the volume is NOT remotely close to substantial. One could not feed a dog (properly) on the the proceeds being generated here after 11 years of continuous effort. If it wasn’t for 2 (or 3?) other incomes in the household, they themselves would have starved long ago.
WRT item 3 (community of active, involved, responsible ‘messengers’ - in the “real world” not merely cyberdom),: Well, of the 4000 readers here barely 4 bother to comment on a regular basis. 95% plus of ‘readers’ here NEVER so much as remarked (ever) much less provided cogent commentary/input, nor have they purchased anything at all, or apparently (will) do anything besides click on the next tab on their ‘To Do’ (ha ha ha ) list. It’s almost like there wasn’t a blog or a SA site at all. Lather, RInse, Repeat, Lather RInse Repeat, day after day, month after month, year after year. Get the picture? Monkey see, Monkey do NOT. In fact, an all too familiar trend is that the more dire and/or immediate the news is the less the inquiries, commentary, and sales become (this is a fact). The more blogs that are written/posted and ‘read’ the less email, phone calls and food orders are received. In recent weeks, TMK, the phone, email, and orders virtually stopped - one or two $50 ‘orders’ per week is basically ‘meaningless’. A single weekend-long ‘camping trip’ of two people could easily eat more than that. $50 worth of salt could go a long way but that’s about the only thing where $50 ‘worth’ could be remotely considered planning for a future (preparation). This volume of ‘preparation’ won’t pay for the web host (server) much less ISP and phone bill etc. So, I fully understand how this gets ‘really old’ (discouraging, depressing, etc)- rather quickly - NTM that maintaining a website costs money and generating cogent/topical content takes significant (meaningful) time away from one’s own preparation (future).
One further point. The combined effects of increasing global and US population, declining per capita and absolute agronomic harvests (climate ‘instability’ and resource degradations)), increasing energy costs (forever), and the declining ‘value’ of the US dollar on global markets means that the rapid (massive) food cost increases are ‘bushing’ GUARANTEED- in the near - if not immediate - future. This is an unavoidable FACT - aka consequence, aka ‘reality’ (accept or like it or not). Can you say, “Doubling Time”? Surely you can! Or, “Exponential”? I thought you could! So , what are you waiting for? The next 300% price increase in 24 hours (sorry, SA does not create/control the marketplace - never did, never will). Can you say “Garage Sale”? Can you say, “sell the gas guzzler” (ride a bike or walk (get fit))? Can you say “Cut the cable” (as in TV)? I didn’t think so. Or, can you say, “Charge it”? ( I thought so). What’s 10 or even 20% interest charges on a credit card compared to 50 to 500% cost increases in food over the next few years? Answer, a mere fraction. And that’s IF the US dollar doesn’t totally flush into the fiat cesspool (aka hyper inflation) and IF Dubya grows a bushing brain and IF Sticky Dicky doesn’t mash the big red buttons (on Iran), ETC, ETC.
Finally (okay, so I lied earlier), TMK this blog is not totally dead - aka kaput - or at least not quite yet. Whatever future the SA blog may have is largely going to require (depend on) alleged readers to become “Doers” (actors, players) instead of “Viewers” (voyeurs, spectators). Albeit, that if recent HIStory is sufficient guide, this too is a ‘bushing’ pipe dream - as in a debilitating opiate to maintain the dissonant stupor of the masses. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I read your blog and enjoy your interpretation of the the events happening in the world. I think you are right on the money and although many people would think you are too pessimistic, I believe you may be too optimistic. I hope you will reconsider your decision to quit, because you are the only guy with the guts to say what needs to be said. You are Paul Revere. I am very well prepared and usually purchase my storage food directly. I live in close proximity to Walton Feeds and an excellent preparedness store in Idaho Falls. However in order to support Mr Revere, I plan to place an order with him in the next day or so. It won’t be huge but it will be a start and I will look to SA on future purchases. There is an old saying: “Don’t let the bastards wear you down”. I hope you will stay on the air.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Most people who read this blog, know whats at stake and whats coming down the pike. Most people also are just barely living day to day, any rocking of the ship their on and it’s gone,BYE BYE…
The top 1% in this country are getting richer and they don’t need your supplies, nor your blog. The bottom 50% are getting poorer and they need your supplies but can’t afford them and there will probably be your reading group,coupled with the middle 49% who don’t know which way to turn on a day to day bases, Never knowing if you have a job tomorrow or if your pension will be taken or how the kids will be fed or clothed…
Hard to buy 3 months,6 mths or a year of supplies when you don’t know if you have money coming tomorrow. $2750, (1 year for 4 people) is alot of money in one chunk and if like me, alot probably don’t have that available on their charge cards…Not this day and age, although I do know of a few and like I said above, they don’t need, their set already…
Your blog has been interesting, I have gain some knowledge and have agreed to some things, from the short time I’ve been reading it, other times your views differn from mine, and so it gos, can’t make everyone happy…
Keep you and yours together best you can, and we on this end, will do the same. Take care sir and remember, their watching you just like they are me…
be seeing you…
The Prisoner
October 15th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Nope, your right. They don’t need it, the rich will always be able to buy whatever is still available at whatever the going price is. They’ll remain as dependent on the system as they are today, and just as victimized.
$2750 / 4 = $687.50 each, or $57.29 per month. Cheap living and cheap insurance, but it’s still not affordable for many.
I haven’t had health insurance in 15 years or so, so to me, that’s expensive at any price. No pension, no “plan” for retirement (which I no longer believe is realistic), no possibility of fixing what’s wrong.
From private emails I’ve received, and the comments on this thread, it’s very apparent that “group purchasing” would help (some) who could / would participate, but this would still only help a handful who could participate. It’s not the solution.
The real answer is to learn to grow your own, learn to do for yourself, stop driving, stop consuming, stop participating in all the stuff that is tearing this world apart and thereby learn some self sufficiency and independence. But even this is going to be out of reach for the majority of people, who deny it’s necessity and lack the skills / desire to have it anyway.
This is why I remain reasonably pessimistic about our chances of surviving the collapse, some of us will, but most of us won’t. I’m hoping to change that, otherwise, I’d never have published anything.
I’ve come to the conclusion, as I’m sure many have, that actions speak louder then words ever will. Actions define the real meaning of our words.
I’m I could write for years more, but this will never be enough, not for me, and not for everyone else. I’m simply doing what I’m asking, and I’m hoping everyone else who is listening is also doing.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
[…] Survival Acres provided the most concentrated doom news of just about any site out there that I was aware of. A one stop shop for your all-scarcity-all-the-time needs. […]
October 15th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
kevin (cryptogon)
NOT true - the blog is on ’slow down’ mode for awhile - all else is full steam ahead whether or not a granite rock-face jumps out onto the tracks.
Please check your ‘facts’ before publishing rumor and induendo - thank you.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I research, over analyze, and agonize over 95% of my decisions. That included where I would purchase my food store from. SA was far and away the very best source of all kinds of information and opinion on food and supplies. I didn’t know if I wanted MRE’s, freeze dried, dehydrated, or whatever. I didn’t know the differences or advantages and disadvantages of each. I found all that and more here. And I thank you. I also found the largest selection and Best prices here. I comparison shopped one other supplier once when I first started and have made all the rest of my purchases here ever since.
Now for the bad news.
Although I only discovered SA last spring I have told coworkers, friends and family about the issues discussed here for 6 years now (since 9/11). I mentioned SA on a couple of discussion boards in the past hoping to generate interest and sales. I do not know of anyone whose mind I have changed enough to cause action. Not one. All we can do is act for ourselves and assist those we can When They Are Ready. Not before. Fate, karma, grace, or pain will turn those that are meant to be, not us. We can not change the world and we are not asked to. Just ourselves and maybe our small part of it. To demand more is just another form of narcissism.
Lastly,
Be careful John. I think you are more susceptible than the rest of us to being overwhelmed with despair because you have immersed yourself, business, and life around studying and communicating a whole hell of a lot of distressing and depressing information that would make most people run screaming from their computer.
Take a break. Look around at the beauty, life, and love that is all around you in your family, nature, and you. Everything you see, the earth, water, trees, animals, family, and yourself, are all created from atoms and molecules formed in stars that exploded billions of years ago and reformed into the planet and bodies we inhabit now. AND IT IS CONSCIOUS!
Fucking amazing.
Look at your loved ones. These bodies lives are short. Do not spend this valuable time in despair. Prepare yes. Despair no. Take time to sit quietly, read some Thoreau. Ask yourself, “who is asking?”.
John. Know that you have helped me prepare for my family and that my job as a health care worker involves sticking out whatever comes in a place that may not do to well. You will have helped everyone I can help. Your reach is farther than you think and all its consequences you will never know.
Thank you.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
First-timer, here. What you need to understand about this society is that it’s like this cheese in southern Europe, some island in the Mediterranean, I think, that’s so deeply nasty, it’s illegal. If you touch it on its surface, it will weep a nasty semi-clear fluid, it’s in a such an advanced state of rotting, and it’s hugely infested with maggots. And it’s like that by design! That’s the way this vile stuff is supposed to be! (Yes, the crazy people who actually want to consume this horribleness end up suffering for it when they do so, hence the illegality.)
That hell-cheese is a perfect metaphor for our society. And it’s that way by design, folks. Get used to it.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:53 am
Well said, Kali. Time for John to take a “Green Pill”….
(from the Life After The Oil Crash Lexicon):
Green Pill: Taking a Green Pill refers to a Peak Oil aware person temporarily putting TEOTWAWKI out of his/her mind. Taking a break to go play in the garden, walk through the countryside, get laid under the stars, and perhaps to reflect on how the coming changes may actually preserve some of the wilderness and revive old, rural traditions. Avoiding the gloom and doom aspects of the Oil Crash, and news relating to it, at least for a little while.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:32 am
I haven’t posted before but have been visiting regularly for the last couple months. I did place a recent order for $3400 to jump-start my preparations. Just wanted to let you know that there are some people out there that are listening and starting to take action. Best wishes to you and your family in your preps. There are at least some people out there listening and taking action!
October 16th, 2007 at 6:52 am
My two cents:
Admin, I’ve been reading your site regularly over the last few months. I really respect your efforts. I link to it from my site at least twice a week now; I had hopes that it might drive some custom to your business; apparently not.
It’s been clear from the tone of successive posts that your awareness has been taking a severe toll on you.
I know the feeling.
In order to be able to deal with this subject without having a breakdown, I think it’s necessary to have coping mechanisms. Other than drugs or drink or some other anesthetic, humour and/or apathy are natural responses. I haven’t seen any here.
THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM; it means you’re a more serious man than I am. What this means for your continued health is that you must take regular breaks from doom (a week at a time perhaps), and “smell the roses”.
“In the long run, we’re all dead.”
As to preps - some of us can’t do what we’d like, because we’re basically itinerants. One year ago I was sitting on 400LBS of grain in Los Angeles, and a 3 month food reserve, approximate cost: $1000 - enough to see me through 6 months. Then, a chance of a job in Canada meant I had to move. Bye bye food supply, (as they don’t let you move that much food through customs).
I’d have been better off if I’d saved the cash and mailed it to my parents.
I wasn’t to know. Hindsight is 20-20, but you see the dilemma. I don’t own my own home, I’m an itinerant. I’m not the only one.
Even land is too expensive to buy now, thanks the to bloody bubble. So, like many, I muddle through and cross my fingers.
Although I’m one of the more prepared individuals around - yet I’ll be the first to admit I’m nowhere close to being ready.
What you’ve done here is good - shake the tree. See the response? People have no way of knowing that you’re in trouble, and they do care.
Here’s hoping a few more orders come in to make your effort worthwhile.
You should do this at least once a month, as new readers will be unaware, and regulars will need reminding.
It’s not begging, it’s the delivery of a badly needed kick in the pants.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Take heart, Friends! Thanks to this site and others I frequent, I–a 62 year old grandmother–have done these things this year: laid in a supply of dried food. Canned beef and pork. Learned to sprout beans. Finally got the compost pile working after many years of good intentions. Bought a dozen chickens. Trade eggs to the neighbors for radishes and rabbit. GOT HIGH SPEED INTERNET. Dried herbs. Canned hundreds of vegetables from my garden. (scrounged dozens of mason jars from the coal bin at the vacant house down the road.) Learned to use a bow drill. Documented all the edible plants in my neighborhood and when they are ready. Canned grape leaves in which to stuff rice and goodies. Stocked up on razor blades, shoe strings, knitting yarn, thermometers, matches, antibiotics for my fish (:)) charcoal,…well you get the idea. Here’s the thing. I have had a wonderful life and if I die, it’s okay. But I really hope I survive the coming hard times because once we get through it, as Bob Dillon says (I know, many of you have never heard of Dillon) “a few more hard years, then a thousand years of happiness” I really want to see this for myself. My children and grandchildren live far from me. I pray we can all be together, but on the other hand if I can’t be with the ones I love, I’m gonna love the ones I’m with. And so I’m not really saving all this stuff for me. I’ll probably die. I’m collecting it for you. And I’ll bet you a quarter that every one of you knows some old codgers who are thinking the same way. It’s going to be okay. We’ll get through this together. Much love to all of you. cb
October 16th, 2007 at 7:43 am
I read what you say routinely and agree with most of it. But sometimes there’s simply nothing else to say.
Having written a book no one reads (Ruminations from the Garden), (if and when someone dares, they seem shocked into silence), I understand the frustration.
I anticipate the slow descent scenario. So pace yourself or you’ll burn out and be missing in action when you’re needed.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Bythe way, rust has been hell on grain crops here in Texas for the past couple of years. Even affected crops not normally succeptible, like corn and milo.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:00 am
I’ve been reading your site quite regularly and wish you all the best. I think I got here from Carolyn Baker’s site. I have not ordered food from you because I just don’t think I will personally use dehydrated food. We have stored up about a year’s worth of canned and bagged bulk food (like beans, rice & flour)instead. We have developed a pretty good garden and greenhouse and have blanched and frozen and dehydrated our own veggies and fruits as well, despite far from ideal growing conditions.
I don’t know why it is so difficult for the herd to comprehend the disaster that is all around us and getting worse by the minute. All I can conclude is that the corporate lock on the media really works to bamboozle the vast majority. Many of the retired people get it, but they (we) don’t really count. The younger ones, especially with children, are in denial because the reality is to horrible to accept.
You might want to check into Central Oregon as a place to live. It’s not perfect, but it is quite cheap and people have a pretty sane “live and let live” attitude. We bought the cheapest place available in Deschutes County - an acre of land with a trailer home and garage for $65,500. About half the residents have concealed weapons permits, so it’s a real polite place to live. We’d love to have you and yours as neighbors. If we can help, contact us.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:38 am
:) Everybody eats dehydrated food! Most just don’t realize it. It’s sold in the supermarket and found in restaurants all over the world (and you’ve made some of your own). It’s considerably more nutritious, longer lasting, highly concentrated and easier stored then canned (wet pack) food. And it cost a lot less.
But that’s not meant as a sales pitch (really), you’re doing the right thing, as are several others that have written. Learning to grow your own is the only real long term answer there is for what will be a global problem.
What is needed is community supported agriculture, getting both young and old involved. It’s hard to comprehend why this hasn’t happened on a wide scale. Around here, they think you’re nuts if you mention peak oil, let alone climate change.
Thanks for the invite. Oregon has some good things going for it.
cb - You’re doing great! Putting these young ‘ens to shame! I feel the same way about “collecting it for you” (my survivors). I well realize the challenge of surviving what faces us. I’m not a defeatist, not even, but I’m also no spring chicken. The future belongs to the young. My job is to help them survive it.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Seems like a lot of people are giving up the struggle, and that’s what it is - a struggle. If you give up, you lose. If you hang in there, you might have a chance, no guarantees. Maybe I spent too many years in the Marine Corps, or maybe I’m just an ornery old cuss, but I’m not going to let these bastards beat me. I don’t have much money, but I’ve been stockpiling food, etc. for decades. I don’t have a Survival Yuppy retreat. I do have a place to go. I live in the PacNW near the Cascades. Think National Forest. Think Wilderness Areas. My family and I have been visiting these areas for years, hiking, hunting, backpacking, snowshoeing, x-country skiing, and survival site preparation. Caches are in place. Routes are selected with periodic resupply points. Edible hardy and wild food plants have been established in the areas for future use. We can last a LONG time, winter or summer. Smokey the Bear and environmentalists wouldn’t approve, but they won’t be there when it all comes down. We will. Any of you can do the same thing. It’s damned hard work. Make it your hobby.
Semper Fi
October 16th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
SA has the best prices, especially on condiments. Will be ordering taste-testing samples from SA soon. It’s hell ordering 50# of something and then discovering it isn’t anything like you expected.
Food is very cheap right now, especially grains, even with the price increases. Rice hasn’t yet taken a big jump, so consider purchasing white rice as your major staple. Costco has it for about $14 per 50#. Consider 3/4 pound of rice/person/day. I’d buy my bulk items locally, because shipping on 10,000# of anything can be expensive.
As for what to purchase, you first you need to learn to cook an item before you can get an idea of how much to buy. If you eat something once each week, then measure the ingredients with a kitchen scale, then multiply by 52 weeks, then multiply by shelf life in years, then purchase that amount, and move to the next item on the menu. You might want to break this up somewhat, because if shtf tomorrow, you don’t want to be stuck with just 30 years worth of rice or wheat.
Pasta is cheap, stores forever, is easy to prepare, and is easy to source locally. I get mine from my local Winco supermarket, as they have a bulk purchase program that offers 10% discounts for unit purchases. Only the Mormons and Mexicans seem to know about this however. At about .60/#, pasta is relatively inexpensive. Add potato flakes @ $1/#, shredded potatoes @$1.50/#, beans, salt, sugar, and powdered egg whites/milk, damn, you’re on your way to food security. Get your tasty condiments from SA for variety, and you’ll be in food heaven!
If you’re a renter, consider renting a storage locker, preferably with a/c. You can store a lot of dehydrated food in the smallest locker spaces. When the time comes, beg, borrow, or steal a large truck to retrieve it.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
My daughter called to say that fresh organic milk is $7.00/gallon today in the city and powdered milk is $12.00 a box!!
October 16th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I love to ski,backpack,kayak and camp. One thing not mentioned here is that you can easily carry 2-weeks of Mountain House Food in a back pack. For those without money this should be first preparation. The light weight of dehydrated food is minimal. This may buy you the time you need to develop other options.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Yupp,
I’m putting up over 100 quarts of tomato products, 200 lbs squash, 400lbs potatoes…etc, etc…My fruits are just starting to produce so I’ll have them in the future.
And we’re selling what we can to get the money to buy some survival food.
Thing is: I can grow yearly food, but I have new pests coming in….so what if I’m too injured or sick to farm…or what if pestilance strikes the fields…or what if it’s too dangerous to farm openly. Or what if I lose the farmstead? The deer ate ALL my sweet potatoes…I’m just glad I don’t depend on the produce for survival yet.
Anyone farming knows there are windows of time things need to be done in and if you miss the window, your season is ruined. There are too many things that can go wrong for me to feel secure. I’m going to invest in dehydrated food, for sure; and I want to do it before energy goes much higher.
Still holding on to my short-term gold and silver investment, but I’ll probably start cashing that in within a year. So it will be: Gold into food before too much longer if I don’t get the funds in other ways.
I figure we have….a year… to secure food stores. Maybe more, but I just can’t discount some kind of ’surprise’ by tptb. Basically I want to b secure by the time the next election rolls around, and I advise everyone to consider that timeline, although NOW is an even better time to get ready.
Make food security, etc. your New Years resolution, heh.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Food security is an urgent matter. Do not delay. General Mills, the “GM” of the food industry recently hiked prices for all wholesale/retail customers. Grain prices have doubled in the last year. Because meat/milk/cheese/egg is derived from grain, a doubling of feed prices will substantially increase the costs of animal protein sources.
Although grain prices have moderated somewhat in the past couple weeks, don’t be complacent. Grain futures are poised to take off in the coming months, resulting in cascading price increases at the grocery store for nearly ALL foods. Secure your food storage staples TODAY.
http://www.gmiflour.com/gmflour/markettracker.asp
[Worldwide reports indicate a huge global shortage developing - Admin]
October 18th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Take a break, by all means, but please don’t give up completely. It’s honestly because of you that my eyes are open. If a mom like me can work overtime and her husband works a 2nd job to be able to supply ourselves “just in case,” then you’re getting through somewhere.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:12 am
[…] Of course, Poland isn’t the only country facing rising costs. Due to climate change and the energy crisis we’re barrelling headlong into everyone on earth is going to be paying more and more for food in the future. Grain production levels continue to fall short of demand every year, the vast majority of food consumed travels further than most high-flying businessmen, and with 6+ billion people on earth there are more mouths to feed than every before. […]