Comments on: Consumerism Versus Self Sufficiency

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:11:34 +0000

I do not think that self-sufficiency is selfish – especially if you can teach others how to be more self sufficient or barter skills like sewing for gardening, etc. I have become more self sufficient since I became a mom by trying to avoid toxins that are ever present in baby items in the marketplace. I am learning to sew to make my own bibs and sleep sacks. I recently became interested in canning, especially since I made about 90% of my baby’s food from the beginning. Growing up in Plymouth, Mass, my family had a large garden and egg laying chickens. We are planning to do the same once we buy a house. I am fortunate to live in Marin County, where there is a huge movement for self sufficiency, support of local farmers and an “immerse yourself in nature” attitude. We are a country of spendthrifts – spending more than we earn. We need to save and learn to be self sufficient – then the products we purchase for convenience or pleasure will mean that much more to us. That’s the world I want my baby to know.

By: Mrs. Not the Jet Set

Mrs. Not the Jet Set — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:30:48 +0000

Great post! We talk about this topic a lot on our blog. Personally, I have always felt like it was important to be self sufficient. Maybe it’s just the farm girl in me… BUT, when we do have to make a purchase (which we all do) it is important to look at how we are spending that money. Is it going to a company that supports jobs in the USA or sweatshops that employee children? Is it going to a company that exploits the environment or one that takes their own corp. responsibilities seriously?

Currently we have a series on our blog highlighting companies that make their products in the USA. We also have started a Patriot Pact. Both are great ways to help keep this scary prediction from becoming a reality.

http://www.notthejetset.net

By: Juanita

Juanita — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:30:30 +0000

You know, for a while now, I’ve told my husband that the people of the ’30s were much better prepared to deal with economic crisis than we are today. I believe this is due to our dependence on consumerism and thus our movement away from the basics in life that lead to self-sufficiency (growing our own food, living simply, making our own necessities and employing resourcefulness, etc.). In the ’30s, those basic skills were still commonly in place.

I must admit that I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this past year about it and have made personal changes to better prepare myself (my family) for self-sufficiency although I have a way to go. There is an expression that says something like, adversity leads to creativity. I’ve found this to be true and I really hope that as things get tougher, people really start (continue) thinking outside the box to find ways to weather the storm successfully as well as peacefully. For me, getting back to the basics is liberating and refreshing. I am quite excited and pleased to have a freezer full of freshly harvested produce and laying hens in my back yard. Not to mention grateful. Is there a way to spark that interest in neighbors and/or family members?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:19:18 +0000

Definitely a sobering post AND one that more people need to pay to attention to. The good news is I think people are listening as self-sufficiency is seemingly becoming a popular goal for more and more people. Possible indicators of this trend: an increase in entrepreneurism, and the increasing popularity of the “eat/buy/grow local” movement.

Keep doing what you’re doing Tiffany -I’m going to go and track down more information about Celente and his writings.

By: Willow

Willow — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:57:43 +0000

Lisa, this is not a group website but the blog of a lady who is perfectly entitled to share her thoughts. No one’s forcing you to read it.

Tiffany, thank you for suggesting we hurry up and figure out if we really have the skills needed. I personally can sew, garden, and make my own soap… but I’ve been putting off learning to can/preserve food. This may have been just the kick in the pants I needed to finally try my hand at it.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:34:11 +0000

Hmmm… This kind of doom and gloom (whether likely or not) is the kind of thing that seems to keep shaking consumer confidence and driving us further and further into this recession. Self fulfilling prophecy?

It would be nice if more people (thank you Nature Mom) were offering some ideas of change as well (what can we do now?) instead of simply telling us how awful things are going to get.

If anybody is curious, here’s one link I found with a little bit more info about Celente. http://www.nhne.org/news/NewsArticlesArchive/tabid/400/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3927/Followup-Gerald-Celentes-Predictions.aspx

As for me, I am trusting in God’s power and control… whatever the future may bring.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:08:10 +0000

Very interesting ideas! I know we are headed somewhere very differnt from the curent landscape – I sure hope it isn’t as dire as the above but it might well be!

By: Chad

Chad — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:07:52 +0000

Sounds like he is taking fact that are already present and extrapolating them. I haven’t kept up on all of these, but

1) The store of world grains have become very low. Droughts and other factors have hurt production along with the move to growing more corn.

2) Lack of grocery stores in the inner city. Its a much bigger problem than people realize.

3) It was always assumed if there were a problem with world crops, that America would be able to asorb the increased cost. This doesn’t look like a certain thing any more though.

If you add those three things together, then I could see where he came up with his guess. Its not that out there, but then again, I haven’t seen his exact predictions. I keep seeing quotes when I did a quick search. I don’t trust quotes.

Did Nostradamus really predict anything with CLARITY. You read what you want to into their sayings.