With the global financial situation teetering on the brink of the next catastrophic disaster, perhaps it is time for all of us to consider how robust our own risk management and domestic planning has been...

If the shyte really hits the fan, and electronic transactions being the norm, there is every chance that every stockmarket and every financial institution across the globe will shut down its virtual transactions systems and physically close its doors within, maybe, 12-72 hours...

Even cash reserves would be useless within about a week - because the the suspension of share and financial institution trading would lead to the rapid shut down of every petrol station and road transport enterprise within, maybe, 7 days - and perhaps the panicked-looting and/or boarding-up of every grocery store within the same timeframe...

At the earliest, the relevant Govt, armed forces, emergency services and charity organisations would probably be distributed on the ground in about 7-14 days...

Of course, I could be way out in those scenarios and timeframe estimations - but, realistically, how long would your fridge and pantry (and garden) stores last in your household?

Oh, and how long before you would run out of medications and day-to-day items such as toilet paper and toiletries?

Equitist wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 10:37am:

With the global financial situation teetering on the brink of the next catastrophic disaster, perhaps it is time for all of us to consider how robust our own risk management and domestic planning has been... If the shyte really hits the fan, and electronic transactions being the norm, there is every chance that every stockmarket and every financial institution across the globe will shut down its virtual transactions systems and physically close its doors within, maybe, 12-72 hours... Even cash reserves would be useless within about a week - because the the suspension of share and financial institution trading would lead to the rapid shut down of every petrol station and road transport enterprise within, maybe, 7 days - and perhaps the panicked-looting and/or boarding-up of every grocery store within the same timeframe... At the earliest, the relevant Govt, armed forces, emergency services and charity organisations would probably be distributed on the ground in about 7-14 days... Of course, I could be way out in those scenarios and timeframe estimations - but, realistically, how long would your fridge and pantry (and garden) stores last in your household? Oh, and how long before you would run out of medications and day-to-day items such as toilet paper and toiletries?

I've taken a moderate interest in survivalism for a few years now, so I'm far more prepared than average joe.  
But the one thing that is lacking is my ability to protect my family and my stash from deadbeats who didn't prepare so well.  So I say thank you John Howard, for tightening gun laws and ensuring that law abiding citizens are easy pickings for deadbeats with illegal firearms.  

Have you been watching NatGeo again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUM0TOkNALg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLX-Remh7Aw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpGFHOqIi5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlhocjYtOw

Dsmithy70 wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 10:48am:

Have you been watching NatGeo again? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUM0TOkNALg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLX-Remh7Aw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpGFHOqIi5A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlhocjYtOw

Nope - just watching the news of struggles of millions of mere mortals thrown into sudden chaos in other parts of the world...

Quote:

But the one thing that is lacking is my ability to protect my family and my stash from deadbeats who didn't prepare so well.  So I say thank you John Howard, for tightening gun laws and ensuring that law abiding citizens are easy pickings for deadbeats with illegal firearms.

Get yourself a gun license.


Eq, I could probably do 5 days.

My fridge and pantry are always chockers, so I could probably do a couple of weeks - longer if I sprouted seeds (legumes and greens) for fresh vegies and raided the garden...

But I know several families, who have sparsely-stocked fridges and cupboards and shop for bits and pieces every day, who would run low within a couple of days...

That said, since we live in a semi-rural location - surrounded by lakes, beaches and bush - there's plenty of 'wild' food to be hunted and gathered, if necessary...

http://www.wallsofthecity.net/images/c0d65c0d67be_6388/dilbertsurvival.jpg.pagespeed.ce.uYDli81QBN.jpg

We routinely run our cupboards bare of short to medium dated products to avoid waste.

We have chooks with a regular supply of eggs and enough food for them for months; I live nearby a river where we can also take plenty of fish; I have enough soft plastics and worms in the garden for bait until it all blows over.  There are heaps of old people around our place with veggie gardens, most of whom will die from heat stroke when their AC goes out.  Our water supply is pretty much guaranteed and we have weapons.  We have a Woolworth's within walking distance, so as soon as their generator runs out of diesel, unless I can break into it and raid the tank first; their security system will go down and it's a free for all.  Native wildlife is plentiful and cats aren't known for their loyalty.  

I think we'll be right.

Quote:

That said, since we live in a semi-rural location - surrounded by lakes, beaches and bush - there's plenty of 'wild' food to be hunted and gathered, if necessary...

Yes. My dad has 40 acres on a river, so I'd probably pick my grandfather up and head out there.

Does that count as a survival plan?  ;D

Quote:

There are heaps of old people around our place with veggie gardens, most of whom will die from heat stroke when their AC goes out.

It's awful that this part gave me the giggles.

Awful, awful.

I could survive for a week on what is in my cupboards. After that I will access an illegal firearm and prey on others.  :D

Join the military? three meals a day......joking.

What do they say in the deep south of America? bullets, bullion and bibles.

I have sufficient canned food to last some months. Coffee and toilet paper for one year. I will get flour and powdered milk and more seeds after the third Euro country goes under.

I've got lots of packets of seedlings in my emergency pack, but if they cut the water supply off I might be stuffed.

Everyone will be bartering, so the trick is to have something worthwhile to use as collateral.

I could go fishing but I'm not very good at it.

This is a survivalist strategy although it seems pretty complicated to me, but if your survival is on the line it's a good method to grow veges and fish at the same time.

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/system600a.html

Don't forget to scavenge for food with your neighbours so they think you've got nothing.

Good topic nem.

If you are going the aquaponics route you'd best have a solar powered pump.

Have a really good read of this Pansi http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travis/IBCofAquaponics1.pdf aquaponics is much easier than you'd think and can be established for very minimal cost.  If survival is the name of the game grow green leafy vegetables, berries, red claw/marin and silver perch.  If you have a multi IBC system get one of them black and expose it to full sun, it will negate the need for heating.  Combine this with a massive worm farm (possibly another IBC) and you will have a closed loop system with more produce than you can eat.  Couple it with chooks and you'll be right.

This is a project for me next year.

One very useful item to have in an Armageddon situation is a magnifying glass, pretty easy to start a fire when the sun's out.  Their is enough local timber for me to burn up to stay warm and cook my catch.  

I think it would be kind of fun once the smell of the dead bleeding heart brigade passed.

im just thinking no more POWER bills.. No CARBON TAX..

there is always a silver lining!

There's a huge difference between what you're used to having on hand and survival necessities. Here in the Sth West it's bloody Eden out there. Fresh water lobster that live in streams that wouldn't wet your ankles crossing. Plenty of rabbit, snakes, pigs, honey, shellfish, birds and plenty of wild fruit and vegetables.  

What you need. A roll of wire, a magnifying glass, a roll of fishing line, a collapsable spade, a stout knife, a cut throat razor, a billy can, a good seed store, but now we're talking luxury. Matter of fact it's all luxury, except for knowledge and an ability to roll with the punches.  ;D

What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them.

Grey wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 12:40pm:

There's a huge difference between what you're used to having on hand and survival necessities. Here in the Sth West it's bloody Eden out there. Fresh water lobster that live in streams that wouldn't wet your ankles crossing. Plenty of rabbit, snakes, pigs, honey, shellfish, birds and plenty of wild fruit and vegetables.   What you need. A roll of wire, a magnifying glass, a roll of fishing line, a collapsable spade, a stout knife, a billy can, a good seed store, but now we're talking luxury. Matter of fact it's all luxury, except for knowledge and an ability to roll with the punches.  ;D What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them.

unless you broke a leg of course!

This is really interesting. I used to read a good UK website a few years ago called self sufficient ish, if you're interested.

You guys should start a sub-forum on Self sufficiency/sustainability.  

cods wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 12:44pm:

Grey wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 12:40pm: There's a huge difference between what you're used to having on hand and survival necessities. Here in the Sth West it's bloody Eden out there. Fresh water lobster that live in streams that wouldn't wet your ankles crossing. Plenty of rabbit, snakes, pigs, honey, shellfish, birds and plenty of wild fruit and vegetables.   What you need. A roll of wire, a magnifying glass, a roll of fishing line, a collapsable spade, a stout knife, a billy can, a good seed store, but now we're talking luxury. Matter of fact it's all luxury, except for knowledge and an ability to roll with the punches.  ;D What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them. unless you broke a leg of course!

Well a simple fracture wouldn't be too bad, but generally you have to look after legs, arms heads. Being dead solves most problems  ;D

Annie Anthrax wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 12:48pm:

This is really interesting. I used to read a good UK website a few years ago called self sufficient ish, if you're interested. You guys should start a sub-forum on Self sufficiency/sustainability.

Oh I'm not that into it Annie. I'm a horticulturist so I've spent time in the bush and in the company of one of the most knowledgable bushies to be found. But preparing for doomsday has never figured large.

in the event of a zombie outbreak head right for your local mitre 10 / bunnings, preferably located near a super market. you can spread seeds and dirt over the roof oth e building and grow your own food. secondly, you have access to tools and weapons in the hardware store and a forklift for disposing of zombies.

I've got a huge sack of TVP and the same of  rice and enough herbs and spices to last several years, plus garden vegetables. I could also catch fish and prawns if necessary.  It wouldn't be the most pleasant of diets, but I'd survive.

qiv <<aquaponics is much easier than you'd think and can be established for very minimal cost.


I mentioned it because I know someone (a friend of a friend) who's got one set up in a fairly small backyard and he swears by it , but says it's not much work, looks like plenty of work to me. Says he doesn't use the mains power so he must have solar. I'll check out the website. If it involves much more than turning a switch on and off I'm lost.

Clean water is far more important than food, especially in an arid country like australia.

Grey wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 12:55pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 12:48pm: This is really interesting. I used to read a good UK website a few years ago called self sufficient ish, if you're interested. You guys should start a sub-forum on Self sufficiency/sustainability.   Oh I'm not that into it Annie. I'm a horticulturist so I've spent time in the bush and in the company of one of the most knowledgable bushies to be found. But preparing for doomsday has never figured large.

It doesn't have to be as drastic as preparing for doomsday. There are parts of Greece that are experiencing this scenario right now. No work, no power, and hardly enough money to feed themselves. It seems that all sorts of innovative ideas are coming to the fore, even to the point where they may print their own money for their individual communities.

<<If the shyte really hits the fan, and electronic transactions being the norm, there is every chance that every stockmarket and every financial institution across the globe will shut down its virtual transactions systems and physically close its doors within, maybe, 12-72 hours...>>
......................................................................

There is advantages to being behind the rest of the world. I think we would have enough warning to take action, if we were quick. I would expect it would happen overseas first so the plan is to keep an eye (or two) on what's happening and remember that just because we are an ocean away don't think we are immune because we're not.

The thing is that the European saga is not going to be fixed and it's not going away. It will play out to its logical conclusion now, so we should be prepared for rough times ahead.

Scouts honour!

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 1:27pm:

qiv <<aquaponics is much easier than you'd think and can be established for very minimal cost. I mentioned it because I know someone (a friend of a friend) who's got one set up in a fairly small backyard and he swears by it , but says it's not much work, looks like plenty of work to me. Says he doesn't use the mains power so he must have solar. I'll check out the website. If it involves much more than turning a switch on and off I'm lost.

Most of the hard work is in the set-up, once it's set-up there is practically no maintenance at all.

With Australia being a net food exporter, we are unlikely to go hungry. the real risk is that people will simply come in and take what they want.

cods wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 12:44pm:

Grey wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 12:40pm: There's a huge difference between what you're used to having on hand and survival necessities. Here in the Sth West it's bloody Eden out there. Fresh water lobster that live in streams that wouldn't wet your ankles crossing. Plenty of rabbit, snakes, pigs, honey, shellfish, birds and plenty of wild fruit and vegetables.   What you need. A roll of wire, a magnifying glass, a roll of fishing line, a collapsable spade, a stout knife, a billy can, a good seed store, but now we're talking luxury. Matter of fact it's all luxury, except for knowledge and an ability to roll with the punches.  ;D What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them. unless you broke a leg of course!

Then that would be life Cods, what are you scared of your own mortality.

My stores would probably do a month if we pulled our heads in and ration. I have heaps of peas, tins, grains, flour and a freezer full of meat. A hangover from living on a remote property that would be isolated by flooded for up to a week on no notice. Takes a while to let it go.

Put me down in the roving scumbag column. It just seems easier.

Wow, there's some interesting responses here - some from surprising sources too!

I figure that, being a relatively well-governed country, with most utilities still under government control, we would not suffer an extended loss of water supply or electricity (tho' we might still lose our frozen stuff) - and that garbage collections would be continued (or reinstated fairly quickly).

Something I didn't mention in the OP, is the likelihood of the introduction of rationing and a substitute medium of exchange and 'food/grocery stamps'. The Federal Govt (and certain big grocers) already have systems in place for welfare quarantining and associated card systems - and, in the post-9/11 era, I wouldn't be surprised if there was already a crisis contingency in place for such a scenario.

In addition to some of the sacrifices and social order reorientations already mentioned by me and others, what we would almost-certainly face, is a short-medium-term loss of the luxuries of processed foods - and a need to get back to basics with cooking from scratch.

Oh look, this old thread is still here...


http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1276990594/0

Re: Self-Sufficiency and Survival Foods


Equitist wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 9:36am:

~~~ I just wanted to share one of my favourite quirky light-reading books and web-sites, on the subject of self-sufficiency and survival foods... http://herbsarespecial.com.au/books_and_dvds/about-isabells-self-sufficiency-book.html http://herbsarespecial.com.au/images2/self-sufficiency-book.jpg Quote: Isabell Shipard, one of Australia's most knowledgable and sought after authorities on herbs and author of the acclaimed books How can I use Herbs in my daily life?  and How can I grow and use Sprouts as living food? says, "For many years I taught Herb Courses, covering many edible plants, and included a segment on survival foods and the importance of self-sufficiency for possible hard times. People often expressed that I should put this information into a book. With the economic squeeze in Australia, and severe drought experienced over large areas of farmland, just what will the future hold for average Australian families? Everyone is experiencing the pressure, as food, fuel and the cost of living has dramatically risen in price. In this 21st century we are seeing major disasters that are disrupting peoples lives in so many areas of the world. We must all be more conscious of ways to reduce, recycle, repair and reuse items and consider how we can all tread more softly on Planet Earth." "What I desire is that all who read this book will be inspired and motivated to take action for the benefit of the planet." We believe the book, How can I be prepared with Self-Sufficiency and Survival Foods? will be a valuable reference manual for every person and family. This book offers encouragement about the importance of being as self-sufficient as one is able and an action plan to help you 'ride the storms'. Isabell shows us how to be prepared with a step-by-step emergency management plan for food provisions and essential supplies. The book is A4 size, 136 pages, and beautifully illustrated with over 100 coloured pictures. The full colour cover is celloglazed, with a durable stitched and bound spine. We need to encourage one another to be as self sufficient as possible... now... in our gardens, as this is the most nutritious fresh food and and cheapest way to live in these times of rising prices. Growing our own food is very satisfying as well as beneficial to health and well-being.

http://herbsarespecial.com.au/images2/self-sufficiency-book.jpg




Annie Anthrax wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 9:40am:

You may be interested in one of my favourite websites. http://www.selfsufficientish.com

lol, Eq.

Well, if I said it twice it must be true!

freediver wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 7:24pm:

With Australia being a net food exporter, we are unlikely to go hungry. the real risk is that people will simply come in and take what they want.

I have a sneaking suspicion they won't be after food!

nairbe wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 8:24pm:

cods wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 12:44pm: Grey wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 12:40pm: There's a huge difference between what you're used to having on hand and survival necessities. Here in the Sth West it's bloody Eden out there. Fresh water lobster that live in streams that wouldn't wet your ankles crossing. Plenty of rabbit, snakes, pigs, honey, shellfish, birds and plenty of wild fruit and vegetables.   What you need. A roll of wire, a magnifying glass, a roll of fishing line, a collapsable spade, a stout knife, a billy can, a good seed store, but now we're talking luxury. Matter of fact it's all luxury, except for knowledge and an ability to roll with the punches.  ;D What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them. unless you broke a leg of course! Then that would be life Cods, what are you scared of your own mortality. My stores would probably do a month if we pulled our heads in and ration. I have heaps of peas, tins, grains, flour and a freezer full of meat. A hangover from living on a remote property that would be isolated by flooded for up to a week on no notice. Takes a while to let it go.

Stock up on the salt, it'd be a shame to waste all that meat. mmmmm Biltong.

qikvtec wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 9:27pm:

freediver wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 7:24pm: With Australia being a net food exporter, we are unlikely to go hungry. the real risk is that people will simply come in and take what they want. I have a sneaking suspicion they won't be after food!

Crikey, what are you thinking...?

Equitist wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 9:29pm:

qikvtec wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 9:27pm: freediver wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 7:24pm: With Australia being a net food exporter, we are unlikely to go hungry. the real risk is that people will simply come in and take what they want. I have a sneaking suspicion they won't be after food! What are you thinking...?

Labour and materials, particularly the radioactive stuff.

qikvtec wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 9:30pm:

Equitist wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 9:29pm: qikvtec wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 9:27pm: freediver wrote on Nov 8th, 2011 at 7:24pm: With Australia being a net food exporter, we are unlikely to go hungry. the real risk is that people will simply come in and take what they want. I have a sneaking suspicion they won't be after food! What are you thinking...? Labour and materials, particularly the radioactive stuff.

I'm still not sure I'm following you...

Quote:

need to get back to basics with cooking from scratch.

There's some other way? <sniffs in haughty manner>

QUOTES  ....Stock up on the salt, it'd be a shame to waste all that meat. mmmmm Biltong.
What would scare me most are humans. Apart from my own, I'd get the hell away from them.

I say - this one sounds interesting.!!

Survivalists all,   ... so we are. I have taken some basic measures and...

Honestly - ?? I could survive for an indefinite period, sans electric power, ..... we all have resources outside our common worldly experience , and if I must I know I can do OK. !!!!! YEAH.