I thought for a change of pace I would try to put a positive spin on my fascination with the American Apocalypse by making some constructive suggestions for how to get by while the country falls apart. Here goes:
Cultivate Multiple Sources of Income.
The cash cow full time job is about to go the way of the dinosaur unless something changes, and so far, it isn’t looking like anything is going to change anytime soon. So it’s important to have a lot of different baskets to keep your eggs in. Take an inventory of your stuff and your skills and figure out which ones you can turn into income or sell for money. Diversify as if you were your own stock portfolio.
Stash Cash.
Have some cash stashed away, not in bank, which can fail, but somewhere you think it will be safe. A standard place is in your freezer in an empty waffle box or something of that sort. It doesn’t have to be a lot of cash. A few hundred dollars is good if you can swing it. You never know what can happen and when, so it doesn’t hurt to have a back-up plan.
Zip-Loc Your Important Documents.
If you have to leave your home quickly, for any reason, the last thing you will time for is tearing through stacks of papers looking for your birth certificate. So get a zip-loc plastic bag and put copies of your birth certificate, drivers license, passport, bank and credit card numbers, vehicle titles, and any other pertinent identifying info, and then keep that bag somewhere you won’t forget it–next to the box you have your money stashed in for instance.
Stockpile Canned Goods and Drinking Water.
Okay, this one does have a certain ‘ick’ factor to it. Hoarding? Isn’t that going a bit overboard? No, absolutely not. Even FEMA, which can’t do anything right, advises keeping a few weeks worth of food and water on hand to eat in the event of a natural disaster. Plus, buying in bulk is a good way to save money. So when you see a sale on 10 for $10 for anything you can store, go for i.
Grow Your Own Food.
It’s not that difficult and not that expensive. Consider planting a fruit tree and some raspberry bushes. Even hardened plant killers like me can manage to grow green beans and tomatoes. All you really have to do is water them and make sure they get enough sun. Swiss chard and collards are also easy to grow and packed with vitamins A, C, and micronutrients like iron and zinc. Freeze and/or can whatever you can’t eat fresh.
Buy Local in Bulk and Freeze or Can.
When a blueberries come in season, if they grow locally, buy them in bulk, and freeze or can them. The same goes for cherries, strawberries, apples, peaches–just about any fruit. tomatoes are easy to can and are a good base for many meals.
Learn to Use Rice, Beans, and Potatoes.
Rice and beans combined make a complete protein and if stored properly, they keep forever. Find as many good recipes as you can using them and keep plenty on hand. The same goes for staples like flour, sugar, cornmeal, vegetable oil, and oats. These foods are filling, nutritious, and inexpensive.
Assemble an Energy Emergency Kit.
When the power goes out, it is astonishing how quickly life is reduced to the basics. A generator is a good thing to have, but most generators require gas or oil, which may or may not always be available. A couple of kerosene lamps and a kerosene cook stove, some candles, a self-charging flashlight and radio, and some board games are worth their weight in gold during a power outage.
Weirdly, assembling this list is depressing me so much more than my customary ranting. It seemed like a good idea when I started it but already I am getting myself into a funk. I think I am just going to ditch it and post a recipe instead. This one is for bread pudding, which is a delicious way to use up stale bread. We like to eat it warm.
Bread Pudding.
Tear leftover stale bread or rolls into small pieces and place in a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nuts, and raisins. In a separate bowl beat three of four eggs until foamy and add three cups of milk, a cup of sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla if you have it. Canned fruit is good too instead of the raisins–chopped peaches or apricots for example. Pour the milk & egg mixture over the bread and let it stand 10 minutes or so while the oven heats to 350. Sprinkle the top with sugar and bake for 45 minutes to about one hour, just until top is brown and custard is set. Eat while warm for dessert, breakfast, or any other reason.
