Preparing for the Next Depression
Another Homesteader’s Viewpoint and Recommendations
By Jeremy Myers
Oldfield, Missouri
xcalibursword@gmail.com
Another Homesteader’s Viewpoint and Recommendations
By Jeremy Myers
Oldfield, Missouri
xcalibursword@gmail.com
Many believe that there is a recession in the forecast for our country and this economic downturn is just the beginning. They say the Housing market and others have contributed to such a downturn. Well I agree in part with these statements. I would say we are in a recession and are still receding. I don’t believe it’s because of the Housing market flop. I would even say that based on my research, we could be headed for a depression. Why do I think this? You have to look at the reason behind any economic issues. Money and Labor are the main factors to any economy. Our dollars are becoming worth less and our labor is being bypassed for labor in other countries. If the labor does stay here, then it’s succumbing to the illegal immigration crowd looking for money under the table to avoid taxes then sending the money back home, thereby taking revenue from our economy.
Not since the turn of the 20th Century have we seen our dollar worth so little. In 1913 the Federal Reserve Bank was created to become the “Central” bank for America. It was not a new idea when it came into being. Three times before people in power have tried to set up a central bank but they all were closed because of the destructive nature of a “Central” bank.
You may or may not know that the “Federal” Reserve Bank is no more federal than Federal Express. They are a private bank who controls the country’s money. They have all our Gold and Silver and issue Federal Reserve Notes. The Federal Reserve Notes used to be backed by Gold but when the Gold standard was removed in the 70’s our dollar now “is” the money. There is one problem with that…its paper with ink and has no other value than such. So, what about all Americas' gold? The bankers have it.
Now it is my belief and many others’ that the cause of our recession is a natural free market occurrence for being in debt as a nation.
Out of every $1 that is printed, it costs $1 + (a sum for the cost to print). That means for every dollar that is issued, it is worth less than a dollar at the onset of its release. To pay for that $1 to be printed the Federal Reserve raises and lowers interest rates. But because the money to pay for the interest is printed by the Federal Reserve and again has a less than $1 value, the cycle repeats itself because we could never pay to have that $1 printed. So as a result, our dollar becomes less and less valuable over time. Each time the Fed says they are lowering the interest rate that means that they print more money. The more money they print the less value it has and the more they make in interest. It’s a never ending cycle and can only lead to a crash.
So this gives you a background to the reason I believe we are headed for a depression. You may or may not believe this but its worth having a Plan B for as a back up. So what are we going to do about it? One of the founding fathers once said “if Americans knew how the money system really worked, there would be a revolution over night”. Knowledge is the key. We may not be up for fighting a revolution, but there are some things we can do to survive in the midst of a crisis.
As a homesteader in southern Missouri, I have tried to prepare for an economic meltdown by growing my own produce for food and feed, raising chickens for eggs and meat, and rabbits for meat and fertilizer. I hope to have a goat or two some day for milk but I have to remember to keep everything to scale for the size of property I have. As a Biology Major, I have tried to incorporate what I have learned to benefit both the environment as an ecosystem and our farm as a means of survival. I use companion planting principles and beneficial insects to avoid pesticides; I raise all the livestock without hormones or medications and grow the food for both ourselves and the livestock.
It’s important to have principles now while you can think clearly so that when times become difficult you can react with strategic prowess. There are a few principles that I have begun to develop that I feel will provide a candle to a dark path when the electricity is out because there is no money to pay the bill. A principle is something that remains true despite the circumstances. So it is something that when all the cats are let out of the bag at once and you can’t tell which way to go…it keeps you focused.
Principle #1 – Get out of Debt quick and stay out! Notice the order of these principles. Debt is number one for a reason. This is the life-blood of our thoughts. A farm is nice to have and all the growing produce and the raising livestock is nice…that is until you can’t afford the payment on the car, the house, or whatever else you have. You can’t survive when the bank is repossessing your principle investment of survival because you have outstanding debt.
This is one of our biggest issues because when my wife and I were first married we lived in town and were attending college and thought that we had to start the “Normal Life” off right and get credit cards and loans because we had nothing and no money to pay for anything either. With one year of bad decisions we ended up with many years of debt…some of the things we bought, back then, we do not have anymore; however, we still must pay for them.
We are one credit card left to being credit card and loan debt free. Now all we have is the mounded school debt and our property. We have paid off 2 vehicles which were upside down (meaning I owed more than it was worth) Sold them and paid cash for two more that fit our needs for the homestead.
If there is a depression it will be hard to pay debts because there will be no, or limited jobs, and money will be hard to earn because the establishments to which employment is given, are not receiving money either.
So this brings me to my second principle…
Principle #2 – Become Sustainable! This is so important. You may not be able to go to the feed store to buy Alfalfa pellets for your Rabbits or Poultry feed. You have to raise it yourself. Grow alfalfa or red clover for the bulk of the feed for rabbits and raise oats for balancing out their ration. You can grow all kinds of things for Poultry, the Siberian Pea shrub is a great option, it produces a 27% protein grain while it creates a barrier around anything you want and it provides a nectar source for the pollinating Bees that you will need for everything you grow.
With everything you produce or raise, think about the cycle that it takes to keep them living. No I don’t mean that you get in the truck and drive to the feed store, I mean; “What do they eat?” “Can I raise it?” “What else will this provide for?” and so on. For example, my Rabbits can be fed Alfalfa or red clover with some oats to give them the vitamins they need. In return they give me some of the best fertilizer that works great for both root crops and fruiting crops (i.e. Root crops need more Phosphorous, fruiting crops need more nitrogen). It’s a good balance and the cycle continues unabated.
As a result of the seriousness with the issue of sustainability, you have to consider the stock from which you plant. The produce you eat and the products you feed your livestock need to be perpetual and not based on outside inputs. This brings me to my next principle…
Principle #3 – Always Use Open Pollinated or Heirloom Seed Stock. It will not benefit you to buy the hybrid that the Hal-Mart sells when next year it will either produce something else, will not produce seed at all, or the seed that is produced will never germinate the next year. Also, you must consider the implications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) such as any seed with Terminator genes that kill the progeny for the next season. It is important for sustainability that you save the seed the previous year for the next year or it will never continue and you will do without. Open Pollinated seed stock insures that you will have years of the same crop. Heirloom seed stock insures that no GMO’s have found their way into the variety you have. GMO’s are being linked to or suspected to be linked to a growing list of issues we are facing. One issue is the disappearance and mass die offs of Honey bees. You can find out more about GMO’s at http://www.thecampaign.org/.
Principle #4 – Develop a Network with Others. You may have to survive, but you can survive better and even thrive (as do the Amish) with help from others. Networking with your neighbors should be high on your priority list as this is something that takes time. You have to get to know those who live close to you (even if the closest is 10 miles away). If a disaster hits, we will have to depend on each other. Some have skills that others do not have. Some have knowledge that others do not have. It is an issue that must be worked on before it becomes necessary to lean on their support and them on your support. Knowing your neighbor also cuts down on crime because it makes them accountable to you and each other.
Principle #5 – Consider Your Standard of Living. I was shocked to find out that this area in which I live, just since the late 50’s, even had electricity. Electricity seems to be a basic necessity but in all actuality it is not. I am not saying you should go out and disconnect your power, but consider how much you are using. Could you use a wood stove instead of an electric or propane furnace? Wood is a renewable resource just like growing corn (although it takes longer to grow and still should not be wasted) it can be harvested and replanted and you are not dependent on someone else’s prices, just your work ethic. What are you using for lighting? Do you use 75 Watt bulbs in everything you have in your house? Could you go with a 40 Watt instead…better yet how about candles from wax produced by your own bees which also give honey (which save from having to buy sugar)? What about hot water? Could you afford one of those on demand propane hot water heaters that work when you need them but don’t run when you don’t need them (this is not sustainable in my opinion)? What about heating water on your wood stove? I have thought about building my own wood heating water heater it would be like a woodstove but have a tank attached to the firebox to heat the water and it could be plumbed exactly like a hot water heater. Just throw a few logs in and in an hour you would have 30 gallons of steaming hot water to dilute with cold.
How big is your house? How big is your family that lives in your house? Could you do with less space to save heating, lighting, and cleaning? What about food storage? How many freezers do you have? Could you “Can” instead? Could you store things dried or things that have a long shelf life like leek, onions, kale, turnips, potatoes, beans, and dried corn? Have you ever thought about a cellar that would reach anywhere from middle 40 to middle 50 degree temps? You could get rid of your refrigerator all together. Could you live without your Cell phone?
The standard of living to most is the number one thing that frightens them. We are conditioned to believe we have to have these things or else we cannot live or we are not normal. But we have to remember that not 60 years ago people lived with out all the microwaves and the refrigerators and such and it was normal.
If it’s not your thing to give up your standard of living consider alternative power sources. Solar, to me, seems the most promising but it can’t do it alone. In my area we have wind but it’s not regular so wind power is not a good idea because of the expense to put it up verses the output given. Solar could be used along side with solar hot water heaters that work even in winter. Rainwater catchment systems would save you from having to pump water from a well or from the city for your “grey” water applications or, with filtration, even potable water. Well pumps use an incredible amount of AC when they first turn on so rainwater catchment systems save a lot of your produced electricity if you have solar. But if you don’t want to do that you can buy DC well pumps that run right off your solar panels and a few batteries. All of the alternative energy options have both a cheap and an expensive version and basically depend on how much you want to learn and do yourself. Try to become “Off Grid”.
These principles are not complete I am sure, but more will develop as needed. Also, one other thing to think about is, if you ever get gold or silver keep it! It’s your Savings account. It will be worth something when the paper money is worth nothing. Gold and silver have been used for money for thousands of years and will continue to be used as such. Paper money looses its value the minute you get it so the quicker you can convert it to a stable investment the better.
Whether you believe a depression is on its way or not, these principles would still create a successful homestead and even a business for your farm. It cuts your overhead to very little and maximizes your profits all this while you work from home and enjoy the fruit of your labors.
