Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Why the rant?

Let's keep moving forward...
podrock — (archived)

I myself am interested in permaculture as Mrs P. and I are planning some landscaping changes, and we'd like to get as many edible / medicinal plants as possible on our small lot. Not that we are looking to feed ourselves in any big way - we see planting and nurturing a fruit tree as an investment in the future. Like the PV on the roof.

In an emergency situation that lasts for more than several weeks, the knowledge and ability to grow small crops in containers would be as valuable as salt. (which, btw, everyone in this thread failed to mention as an essential.) Seeds are an important part of any long term emergency stash as is the knowledge to know what the hell to do with them.

I agree, the folks that want us to return to an agrarian life style are tedious to say the least. And yes, I agree, they do exist. If they want to live in a yurt on an organic farm and raise each other's babies, fine, I'll buy their produce at the farmers market. Everytime I go to a talk about the topic, I cannot help but feel that there are many there that want the collapse to happen every bit as much as those religeous types that yearn for the apoclypse.

Look at this thread, everyone has thought about what they would do if the shit hit the fan. The number of science fiction books and stories about this situation are legion. Including Mr Heinlein, who brought it to a high art. Most of us have parents from the Depression, they knew that sometimes you gotta make do with what you've got. They remember the Victory Gardens that helped sustain the home front during the war. The principles of permaculture are sound, practical, and, in my opinion, useful study for anyone who complemplates the worst case scenario. Or those who like growing their own food just 'cause it's fun.

And the community aspect is important in a worst case situation. The lone individual against a hoard o' zombies is fun entertainment, but more realistic scenarios may, and perhaps should, be imagined. Knowledge of local resources and the ability to work with others towards a common goal in crisis is one of the things that I believe makes us human. We can survive as an individual (there are many examples of people living isolated lives for long times) but it is better to create a community to face common foes (like starvation) and survive as a culture.

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