Coming Winter: Kondratieff & Northern Hemisphere

Coming Winter:
Kondratieff & Northern Hemisphere

Northern New England has been nipped by hard frost now, and firewood gathered in. Scarlet leaves of the sugar maples blaze up the mountainsides and are reflected, azure sky and fire, in the lakes. Nights grow brisk, and seasoned firewood is not to be had for love nor money.

Some families are still paying off fuel oil bills from last winter. This focuses the mind, fear does, and has energized folks into having a look at the old wood stove down cellar, or investing in a new one, hence the run on firewood.

Towns are busy planning fuel oil assistance, and warm refuge if the grid goes down. Communities find themselves "hit up the side of the head" with the need to prepare, by brazen swindling and incompetence at the federal and corporate level. 

The press and other orifices of government-mandated double-speak, and yes the financial shills, have pretty much had their ten minutes of fame. 

"The full faith and credit" of the federal government is ringing just about as hollow as a foreclosed home. Are tent cities and families living in cars the signs of a recovery?

The first article in this blog, explored the boom &a bust cycle of "Kondratieff Winter" and the West's last experience of bank failures, foreclosures and hunger in the Great Depression of the 1930's. See: http://feastandfamine.blogspot.com/2008/06/7-fat-years-7-lean.html

Our elderly, third world immigrants, and sustainable farmers can be a resource linking us to can-do and how-to skills of harder times.

Whether the Net stays up or no, we do have people who know skills, and we have people willing to learn, some of them currently velcro'ed to iPods. We live in the midst of an extraordinary inrush of new possibilities, as the rotten parts of the status quo give way.

Alt-Energy inventors will shake themselves free of the petro-cabal, which has bought up change-the-world patents and locked them in vaults. More work will be done locally, and more by hand. Old skills will count, and new ones, still being dreamed down to earth.

Here's a surprising list of wide-ranging, useful items for families and communities, compiled at www.thepowerhour.com These basics could disappear quickly from store shelves in an emergency. Not every item may fit with your particular situation, and yes, it's a little unsettling to consider washing clothes on a washboard. Nonetheless, planning from a place of calm can be quietly empowering. We've entered uncharted times.

Candles are mentioned -- Go for beeswax, as paraffin candles give off non-body-friendly fumes, especially in close quarters. Beeswax is also much longer burning, sweet-smelling, and cleans the air. See:  http://feastandfamine.blogspot.com/2008/08/hearth-home-infrastructure.html

100 Items to Disappear First
 
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm  

Note to Readers:   
Yeoman Gardener has published: 

Wayfaring Traveler, 
Whale Rider of the Tide
&
Wayfaring Traveler,
Call to Adventure

www.wayfaringtraveler.com 
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