I think we have to keep doing what we have been doing–only extra.
It has taken me a bit to get to where I felt I had something to say. I have been worried about the 2024 presidential election for some time, and well, it didn’t go as I had hoped. It’s not like I think Democrats have all of the answers; in fact, they disappoint me most of the time, but I have gradually learned that my standards for what a government should and should not do are different than most Americans’ standards. I have been coming to terms with that lesson in the most profound way the last couple of weeks.
Most importantly, I think, I have been coming to terms what we can do in order to get by during tough times. If you are a person who thinks the economy is going to be great under the upcoming President’s policies, then this blog is not for you, and I will just say you have no idea how much I hope you are right. But if you are a reader who listens to the economists and who understands who works in the American agricultural system, you might be pretty worried about what the future holds economically, not to mention socially. Please read on.
I am gravely concerned.
I deeply understand that Americans were frustrated and worn from high prices for groceries and other goods, (Interestingly, we did not feel the inflation on groceries as much as others because we grow so much of our own food and live by a buy-it-once system that I will talk about later.) but two things that will absolutely make things worse is deporting our agricultural work force and tariffs. Every economist I know or have read says so. Obviously, there is no point arguing that I think this is a mistake. The deed is done. America has spoken. We have to accept that these things are likely to happen–and we have to prepare.
I think we are going to be looking at some very high prices for groceries, even more so than we are experiencing now. Things may get better for a time, but the economist I spoke to said it won’t last long, if at all.
And climate change isn’t going anywhere. Natural disasters are going to continue to destroy crops at alarming rates. If deportations happen, losing 40% of our agricultural work force is going to do a number on grocery prices. On top of this, I worry about bird flu. We have already seen outbreaks in the U.S. impact the prices of food. These outbreaks are not going to magically go away. In fact, according to scientists, bird flu outbreaks are likely to get more common because of climate change, and we are starting to see cases of it jumping to humans.
In the coming weeks and months, I plan to start sharing more–and more specifically–about what we already do to be self sufficient on our homestead–and what I am learning as well. I have much to learn, and I will share what I find out. In the immediate, it is also important to look to your community. What resources can you share? How can you work together? We are going to need each other.
I watched a video made by a woman who lives in an area of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene. They had no running water, no electricity, no internet, no cell phone service, and no roads. She said, when the outside influences were gone, people came together. She said everyone organized, shared food and generators, and helped the elderly and children. She said MAGA people were working side by side with people on the far left. When the outside world was no longer influencing people, they came together. This is in us. I hope we can all find it.
I think it is also important to start assessing. What skills do you have? What skills do you want to develop? What resources can you share with others? What do you need to buy before tariffs are implemented?
And, of course, hopefully, I am wrong about all of this, and things are going to be okay. If that’s the case, in the coming weeks and months, the things I share with you will help us all save more money, make our households more inflation-proof, take greater advantage of the resources we have, and avoid processed foods, which are just terrible for us and our children.
I am going to make a promise to write every day for the next year. The journal is also coming back in the Spring with a focus on education more than ever. This is how I am going to keep my hope alive. Please share with me what you are doing to be prepared and remain hopeful.
photo credit: Elaine Casap, Unsplash
i am thinking bicycles, buggies and buckboards, ox training schools, solar, bunkbeds and bunkhouses, neighborhood libraries, childcare and canning kitchens, FEMA trailers in every yard and on those vacant asphalt parking lots, pirate radio stations and ham radio, eating bear (recipes needed), cottage industry, regional self-sufficiency, woodland native agriculture, hedgerows, loofa sponge cultivation, linen-woolen cloth, communes
These are all making sense to me! I hope things do not get so bad that we need all of these things, but I have concerns. I love your point about libraries. I was just about to donate all of my beginner homesteading books because we have thankfully learned from them and moved past them, but I have decided to keep them and start a library for my neighbors who might need them.
I’ve followed your page for a while and love reading about your property. I totally agree with your post. I am concerned about what is next as well. Know that you aren’t alone.
Thanks,
Thank you for this! I thinking knowing we are not alone is so important!
Crystal, thanks for writing this. I share all of your concerns! As a retired public health guy, I’m especially worried about this latest highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza outbreak and where it’s going. It is alarming that the bird flu virus du jour has jumped species and is now infecting a growing number of dairy herds around the country. As of the end of last week, 508 herds have become infected. While infected cows do pass the virus on through their milk, pasteurization, fortunately, destroys it, so dairy products remain safe as long as they’re made from pasteurized milk. But now the new guy who has been picked to lead Health and Human Services is anti-pasteurization. I guess one thing I would suggest adding to your list of survival skills is to continue to pay attention to experts whose advice is science-based and fact-based and not opinion-based. Even if all those experts who currently work within the government get fired, they hopefully will be somewhere and will continue to do their best to get the truth out.
Randy, this is such good advice and thank you! I am wondering if any experts are creating alternate sites or social media profiles like the Alt National Parks has done. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for this. If you find out anything, will you share as well?