From Mrs. Cog’s Corner
When I began to seriously research the topic of being more self-sufficient in colder climates, I found almost all sources with good information also came with the author’s opinions about who and what was responsible for changes in our weather and what direction those changes would lead us. In almost every book, paper or website where valuable facts can be found, it requires the reader to sift through the politics of the writer, often stated as fact, to get of the heart of the matter.
Weather records are being shattered in both directions and to anyone paying attention we have entered into a period of global storminess and unpredictability. The weather is changing and this has cascading effects upon everyone and the systems we rely upon, both in society and on an individual basis.
With the purpose of starting a discussion on the practical side of sudden, unexpected or prolonged colder temperatures, the goal of this series of articles is not to debate the polarizing issues of global warming versus global cooling and whether changes are caused by the sun, the earth or humans. We can accomplish starting those conversations in the Insane Asylum Forums. Rather, by examining the potential challenges the average person may face, we can discuss the options and alternatives to consider ahead of time while important resources are available.
Should we experience continued erratic weather and cooler temperatures, already having caused a great disruption in the global food supply, then in a nutshell we need to know what we can grow quickly to feed ourselves and our family. We need to know the easy and affordable ways to condition the soil, feed the plants, where and how to grow food. We should consider options to storing food and cooking it in a manner that will keep us healthy and not finish breaking the proverbial piggy bank. We need to know what temperatures and weather conditions certain plants can grow in and what can be grown indoors in bulk. Storing the correct seeds and supplies ahead of time can accomplish all this and more.
Understanding the potential effects on food and supply distributions systems during unseasonal and extended severe cold weather is essential. A back up plan for drinking water and a heat source are basic survival items best addressed ahead of time. Other aspects to consider are transportation, medical emergencies and hazards, the psychological effects and perspectives on you and those around you, and the events happening if a national emergency is declared. Many of these areas can be discussed and prepared for, no differently than a hurricane plan for a coastal dweller or readiness plan for tornadoes or earthquakes for people who live in zones that have experienced a historical precedence for these events.
As with the many drastic changes the world potentially faces today, having the right knowledge, keeping alert and remaining open minded are some of the best assets we possess. While we expend our energy to learn about the catalysts, causes and culprits behind our climate circumstances, let’s take the time here to invest in arming ourselves with the information we may all need to adjust and overcome.
