The Road - Cormac McCarthy

If you are still on the fence about the need to prepare for possible future emergencies and other unforseen events and need a little motivation to get you moving, or if you simpy enjoy ready quality writing with a thought provoking plot, I recommend you read The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I read the book and then watched the movie. As is more often the case than not, the book contains more details, but if you're short on time (or you just don't like to read books) then by all means watch the movie. 

Urban Aquaponics

Aquaponics has been popular in Australia for quite a few years, but in the last couple of years the interest has been increasing in the United States.

There are many examples of commercial aquaponics businesses on the internet, but for the purposes of urban survival something along the lines of the video below might be a nice starting point.



After our holiday travels to visit family out of state, we're going to start our own basement aquaponics system.

Last winter I successfully operated a very prolific homemade hydroponic system. I've posted some example pictures below:

Kale, Spinach, Collards

Kale

Spinach for supper





The downside to hydroponics is the cost of nutrients. With aquaponics, the fish generate the nutrients and the media and plants help filter the water for the fish.

Why do preppers focus on so much negativity?

I started this website about emergency preparedness a.k.a. prepping, because so many of the blogs, discussions, forums, and website about "being prepared" focus almost solely on negatives. I think I understand why they chose such a negative tone in their material - because it sells.

That is almost exactly the same approach the mainstream news media takes as well. Why? Good news doesn't sell the same way bad news does. Good news blogs and bloggers aren't popular to the same degree that the "doomsday" guys are either. Documentaries seem to follow this same pattern.

Case in point:  NatGeo's Doomsday Preppers series.

There is nothing that good and positive about emergencies, disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., but must the so called prepper experts continuously flaunt the negativity to such a degree?

Here's an example that arrived in my inbox today from one of the urban prepper experts that writes a very popular website and blog. These are the main points from the e-mail:

1. Stop believing that positive thought about the future will make things better
2. Don't become overcome with the paralysis of analysis
3. Don't believe the economy will improve

Here are my personal thoughts on the points above:

• I am not an absolute believer in abundance theory, but I know from personal experience that people who are generally positive about the future and who have a postive outlook during their daily social interactions are usually more successful in their careers and with their families. Nobody I know wants to hang around someone that prescribes to the glass half empty point of view constantly.
• I have to agree with point #2. It's better to take small steps toward the overall goal of preparing for the unknown that may never occur than be taken completely by surprise when it happens.
• The naysayers and pundits (preppers included) have contributed to the self-fulfilling prophecy to a large degree, but they do so from a subjective perspective and for selfish reasons. Many of the naysayers and pundits have a conflict of interest. Many of them (not all) want to sell you something. They want to sell you bug out bags, survival food, e-books about buying gold and silver, etc. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying you don't need to be concerned about those products and the potential for return to economic recession. You surely do. But if you blindly follow the experts and their recommendations, you may actually end up in worse shape financially.

I am not a prescriber to the idea of moving your family to the countryside, into a compound, or to an underground bunker. My goal with this blog and with this article is to add a little normalcy and moderation to the overall debate.

I don't believe in by-passing my 401k donation and spending it all on gold and silver. I don't believe the government is out to get me or looking for me around every corner. I am not going to run high balances on my personal credit cards to by 2 or 3 years worth of dehydrated food to store in my basement or spare bedroom.

I do think putting a little extra food, first aid supplies, water, batteries, etc. on a regular basis makes sense. Having some gasoline, good tires, and a vehicle in good working mechanical condition provides a comfort level that I can leave the area when I need to and get to where I am going. You will continue to need these things whether or not SHTF.

Doomsday Preppers

Let me start by saying that I enjoy watching the Doomsday Preppers episodes on NatGeo. Now airing in its' second season, the show has a loyal following of viewers. Among my friends, the show has garnered mixed support. Some have told me that they applaud the show for raising awareness for the importance of preparedness, but other friends have told me that after watching the first episode they never watched it again due to perceived extremism. Whether you personally love it or hate it, the show has increased awareness of the possibility that bad things can sometimes happen when we least expect it.



The clip above is from Week Two of the 2012 season. It features a teenage prepper from rural Missouri.

Initially I wasn't sure I liked the teenager taking prepping so seriously. Kids need time to be kids, right? But after watching the entire episode, I changed my mind. From what I saw, the kid seems to be very well supervised by his mother.

Some folks I know were surprised at the target practicing portion of the show, but his mother was close-by the entire time. Growing up in Missouri myself, I know from first hand experience that hunting and fishing and being outdoors is a normal part of life in a rural area.

Cae to share your thoughts on Doomsday Preppers?