In the 1930's we were getting 100 units of energy for every one unit of energy we expended extracting oil, now we are only getting 11 units in return.
Of 98 oil producing nations, 65 of those have already admitted to having passed their peak production.
To my mind it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that sooner or later our lifestyles will be very different in some or many aspects.
I don't presume to make any predictions or have any answers, but what I do know is that those who survive all manner of things do so because they don't panic, they think logically, seek information and education and where possible they plan ahead.
For our household we have focussed on four key areas:
Food.....we have a good healthy storage of grains and other food items and we grow most of our needs.
Water...We need to install some rainwater tanks at several points around the house and on the garage, a project for this year and the two following.
Skills...both of us are learning some of the old skills, bread making, preserving, carpentry using non electrical tools, soap making from natural plants and a few others.
Community...Building networks of like minded souls and educating others, knowing where local suppliers are and what they can provide etc
The interesting part of this whole lifestyle and mindset is that even if I thought nothing would change, I would still be doing what I am doing...I love the simplicty, the challenges and those like-minded souls we get to meet!
What actions have you taken to build your familys resilience? Are you enjoying the journey?
15 Responses:
We are expanding our food production and food preservation skills/stores.
In uncertain times we are trying not to take the the convenience of modern living for granted. Society looks pretty top heavy now, I'm not confident it can endure much of shake-up.
While we are still renting, we are focussing on becoming debt free, storing some food and water and learning new skills such as gardening, canning, baking and cooking from scratch etc. Although we freaked out a little when we discovered 'Peak Oil' we are now excited about becoming more resilient and helping family and friends do the same.
Our society has become so detached from real life in our quest for 'more', so it's been a great opportunity to have a good hard look at what really matters.
Hi Molly yes we are almost a mirror image of your plan. But I must say where we are like minded souls are very few and far between sadly.
Only one other person in our street for example and we ALL on good acreage grows his own fruits and veg he is an elderly gentle man and what I don't grow he does and we trade off all the time. I have not much luck with Butter beans his thrive so I trade him eggs for them and my fruit trees will not start producing until there next fruiting season other than the Mulberries so we trade off again Eggs/Mulberries for Mangoes ect.
I keep him in supply of Rosella Jam as the recipe I use was his Aunts who has long passed as my neighbor is 75 so you can imaging how old this recipe is. Never fails me.
But that's the only other person I know of I am hope ful there are more but just haven't found them yet.
Have a wonderful day hope you manage to find some relief from the heat. We are heading for hot one here
Regards
Rhonda
Hi Mo. I'm with you, we are top heavy and sooner or later all chickens come home to roost, things will have to change.
Hi Mia. Debt free is vital I believe, as is the storage and new skills.
Peak oil is a worrrying factor, for me because of issues such as medications etc.
You are right too in speaking of the detachment, the way society lives is far from real and miles away from the really important things in life!
Hi SH. We have neighbours here too we share and swap with, it's a good feeling.
Have you thought about advertising in your local newsletter/paper for like minded souls to form a group? Or looking at existing gardening groups to see if they are into the whole reilience movement?
I can't wait for this heat to move on, summer is my LEAST favourite season lol!
Summer is my least favourite time of the year too - although it does bring our traditional summer storms, which we need for rehydrating the soil.
I imagine living near WA (or in WA) not sure on exact locations, that you would receive most of your rain in winter?
What are we doing for resilience. It's hard because anything we do now, we won't see for a few years. We spend most of our time in the garden, making compost, planting fruit trees and moving dirt to ensure better capture of rain water.
I think many of us take for granted that our soil is the biggest rainwater harvester there is. Anything we can capture and store on site (in the ground) reduces soil erosion and keeps fertility and moisture in.
It will be a few years until we can afford another rainwater tank, as we don't want to borrow money any more. But we can use a pick and shovel, plus spread grass seeds around to manage the water in the soil.
By crikey though, it's going to be a long hard labour of love, I can tell you! LOL. ;)
Hi Chris. We get the odd summer storm here and there, this year there has only been one small one from memory, our climate is changing here, there is no doubt about that fact.
And yes, most of our rain comes throughout the winter and Autumn, sadly not as much as it used to be when i was a child, in those days it was rain almost every day!
You are right about most forgetting about our soil as a resevoir. We use swales to direct the run off around the garden, for the odd bit of rain we have had since buying this house it seems to be working.
Rain water tanks are so bloody expensive, hence our 2 year project on them lol.
You have inspired us to become more resilient, and part of my blog is about being prepared for an uncertain future... financially, emergency supplies, skills, basics etc.
We are trying to build a food forest, growing what is suitable to our area. We are learning the skills of food growing, composting and soil enhancement, seed saving, preserving and dehydrating, and protecting our crops. We need to work on growing/ storing grains/ seeds, making our own flour and how to do without dairy!
We are about to have a rainwater tank installed, and hope for a second one at some point. A greywater system would be great too, and maybe a composting toilet or waste management would be handy in the future!
We are having solar panels installed and I want to learn more about maintenance and repairs of those (short TAFE course?), and other alternative energy sources, as well as solar cooking and drying.
In the coming year or two, we will add chooks, perhaps bees, maybe a pond, and hopefully a greenhouse.
I also want to increase my knowledge of herbal medicine and be able to grow a wide range of herbs and plants for that.
We are working on community involvement, through our local CFU, school, neighbours and trying to meet other likeminded local families...
I feel like there is SO much to learn, and obtain for our house/garden, and throw in life in amongst it all, it an get pretty hectic around here, BUT learning and adding all the above things is enhancing our lives right now & teaching our children & setting us up for retirement, even if the 'worst' situations never come about...
Oh, and I forgot to say, getting fit and healthy! Must be alot fitter than I am now (that goes for my husband too), and must be a good role model for the kids... fitness will help them in the future!
Hi Dixie. Don't you just love the fact we can all share and teach each other?
You don't need to do without dairy, you will barter some of your goods for someone with a cow lol!
You sound like you are well on your way to building your resilience, WTG!
I am now into looking at what we can do for additional income as pensioners if we had to. One of the things I have done is planted lillies, asiatic and oriental, worth about $10 each from a florist. I figure those who wont buy fruit or veggies may well buy flowers LOL
I can sell natural plant based soaps or preserves, hubby is a wonderful builder/carpenter.
As with all things in life we are most sucessful when we plan ahead and that is what building reslience is all about...a good risk management plan:)
And as you say, if nothing else we will be healthier and happier for the simple honest pleasures we find in our journey:)
Molly, you could always make some cash by teaching! So many more people will need and want to learn from you... those of us reading your blog are just getting it for free right now!
Awww, thanks Dixie, you are too generous:) I, just like many bloggers still have much to learn about the lifestyle I think.
I do enjoy the classes I give at work for those in our community struggling financially, in terms of how to build resilience in the home ( growing food, veggies, home made beauty products etc), just the basics though, advanced is still a way off for me too I feel:)
I agree.
I'm impressed especially with the grain growing.
I've been listening to the book reading on RN (first person) by Watkin Tench describing in detail the way they were looking to farm the land in 1779 eg:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/firstperson/stories/2010/2763803.htm
The entire book is downloadable, I believe, from the guggein thingy.
Personally, I've got most of the stuff to make bio-diesel and have kept the diesel car that can do 5l/100km. Pug 405 wagon and done a major overhaul on it. On my 5 acres I may be able to grow a fair bit of the canola to run it.
The oil press may be able to use a hand type design as per the wonderful "practical action" website inspired by EF Schumaker:
http://practicalaction.org/?id=home
Also have you heard about resilience theory?
Check out :
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bigideas/stories/2009/2449142.htm
Bloody good.
CU.. wish I could write more, but..!
Hey Gav, thanks for those links, they were excellent!
I have to clarify here, we don't grow our own grains, we are only on half an acre. Instead we barter. I keep an eye on their books and business practices and they keep us in organically grown wheat, oats and barley. Works like a dream!
Loved the Resilience Theory!
Good brief and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.
Glad to be of help Anon:)
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