The Bounce

I've been trying to find something I once read that predicted that the next oil crash would be preceded by an unprecedented price drop before sky-rocketing, and destroying the oil-based economy that we currently live under.

Then there's the knowledge that certain oil producing economies have been deliberately over-reporting their in-ground reserves. Add to this the fact that, under international agreement, the amount of oil a country is allowed to pump out of the ground is proportional to the amount left in the ground - the more you have, or say you have, the more that you're allowed to pump out.

Add to this the principle in Economics that says that if there's a resource in the ground, it's best if you can dig (or pump) it up as quickly as you can...


Let's just say that, while pump prices are good for my wallet - I'm not optimistic that things will stay this way.

Fortunately, I think I've finished my major tree purchases - the only ones I'm now really after I think I can no longer get. I'll keep an eye out for those ones, there are a couple of gaps I could fill in the garden.... I now just have to look after the ones I have put into the ground.

Retail therapy...

Well, one of my suppliers has come through, and finally has a couple of carob trees - I was feeling a bit meh, and they've brightened my day. I shouldn't feel as low as I am, we've had plenty of rain the last couple of weeks - everything is green, plants are growing, and my hayfever is working its magic.

Not that I should use the term retail therapy... Let us call it... Prepping Therapy.

Carob is one of those trees that any prepper with land in a suitable climate should consider. The pods are reasonably nutritious, the trees are drought resistant, and are long lived - we talking decades. I'm reading mixed things as to their nitrogen fixing abilities, though; if they can host the bacteria, that means less fertilising.

Personally, I prefer carob to chocolate. Many reasons - used as a chocolate substitute, it's not as oily, and doesn't irritate my gastro-intestinal tract the way chocolate does... Yes, it does taste different, but... I can grow it where I am. I have found that it gets too cold here during winter for cacao trees to survive. In a PSHTF-world, I don't think anyone would complain for too long if I gave them a choice between having carob, and not having chocolate.

Thinking about it - that's an important lesson that many survivalists, preppers, and sheeple would have to learn PSHTF - you have to come to terms with what is at your disposal.

Or, in the words of a favourite author of mine: "We are here, and this is now."

Now I have to go outside, and finish getting rid of that tree stump that is exactly where I want to put one of these saplings.

My Wish List

My wishlist for 2015:

   Water tanks
   Solar water still
   Bore water well
   Greenhouse
   Zeer pots
   Cotton gin
   Composting toilet
   Stills for essential oils, etc. - multiple
   Rocket stove
   Solar food dryers
   Grain, etc., grinders - again several
   Compound bow, plenty of arrows
   Finish my garden, put up shed...

Anyone care to help?

The Joy of Friends

A friend learnt about my (so-far limited) preps, and said to me "So, I'm coming to your place when the apocalypse happens!"

My reply was "No - I'm the person who you realise you should have helped earlier, when the apocalypse happens..."