Set aside the politics, the chest thumping, etc. How well or poorly do you think you'd fare if civil war broke out in the U.S.? What would be your pain points?
I'll start. I think supply chains would break down fairly quickly and I doubt we could easily purchase provisions on an ongoing basis. We are rural and somewhat off the beaten path. I figure we could only count on the gasoline and diesel on hand. I don't think we'd use the gasoline on the generator. It's more valuable for the chainsaws and log splitter for wood to heat and cook with. For light we have a lot (several hundred pounds) of candles. When we first got the farm we didn't have electricity and used candles for light. The tractor is diesel. We have some diesel to plow and disc a field for planting but I wouldn't count on it long term. I just ordered a couple of 200W portable solar panelsto charge our power bricks, emergency radio, CB radios, etc.
I think I'll buy a few sacks of Speltz from a neighbor that grows it for his animals. We grow a small amount of Amaranth we have plenty of vegetable seeds. I wouldn't be able to start seeds early indoors like I normally do but we could start some in windows and cold frames. We have plenty of hoop greenhouse frames and plastic so that would help with getting an early start as well as extending the fall season.
We have an Amish neighbor who has a herd of dairy cows. He sells the milk to a cheese factory. I doubt the milk (tanker) truck would continue picking up twice a day so I'd try to make a deal with him to trade for milk or maybe for one of his cows.
We'd dry and salt the beef in the freezers or can it to preserve it. We have enough dry goods (rice, beans, flour, etc.)to get through the winter. We also have fish in our lakes There are plenty of deer on our property but I think we'd end up dealing with poachers.
I think one of the bigger pain points for us would be medical, prescription and non-prescription medications.
Water is certainly an issue. We have deep wells (~300 feet.) I suppose for a while we could use the generator to power the well to fill up totes. Beyond that we have life straws and family life straws to filter water from the creek.
We have board games, cards and musical instruments (guitar, mandolin, harmonicas) to amuse ourselves if we aren't too tired.
I've been in a war zone and anyone who looks forward to a war doesn't appreciate what they are asking for. It's an ugly business and people suffer. My thoughts above fall into the category of brain storming. A lot more thoughts but I'm not trying to write a book.
So how do you think you would fare where you are?
I'll start. I think supply chains would break down fairly quickly and I doubt we could easily purchase provisions on an ongoing basis. We are rural and somewhat off the beaten path. I figure we could only count on the gasoline and diesel on hand. I don't think we'd use the gasoline on the generator. It's more valuable for the chainsaws and log splitter for wood to heat and cook with. For light we have a lot (several hundred pounds) of candles. When we first got the farm we didn't have electricity and used candles for light. The tractor is diesel. We have some diesel to plow and disc a field for planting but I wouldn't count on it long term. I just ordered a couple of 200W portable solar panelsto charge our power bricks, emergency radio, CB radios, etc.
I think I'll buy a few sacks of Speltz from a neighbor that grows it for his animals. We grow a small amount of Amaranth we have plenty of vegetable seeds. I wouldn't be able to start seeds early indoors like I normally do but we could start some in windows and cold frames. We have plenty of hoop greenhouse frames and plastic so that would help with getting an early start as well as extending the fall season.
We have an Amish neighbor who has a herd of dairy cows. He sells the milk to a cheese factory. I doubt the milk (tanker) truck would continue picking up twice a day so I'd try to make a deal with him to trade for milk or maybe for one of his cows.
We'd dry and salt the beef in the freezers or can it to preserve it. We have enough dry goods (rice, beans, flour, etc.)to get through the winter. We also have fish in our lakes There are plenty of deer on our property but I think we'd end up dealing with poachers.
I think one of the bigger pain points for us would be medical, prescription and non-prescription medications.
Water is certainly an issue. We have deep wells (~300 feet.) I suppose for a while we could use the generator to power the well to fill up totes. Beyond that we have life straws and family life straws to filter water from the creek.
We have board games, cards and musical instruments (guitar, mandolin, harmonicas) to amuse ourselves if we aren't too tired.
I've been in a war zone and anyone who looks forward to a war doesn't appreciate what they are asking for. It's an ugly business and people suffer. My thoughts above fall into the category of brain storming. A lot more thoughts but I'm not trying to write a book.
So how do you think you would fare where you are?
