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["Robert Walton" <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

The recent economy woes (is this worse than woes?) has me thinking
what I can do right now to be sure that I'm getting this homestead
ready to ride out some bad times. I've only been here 3 seasons, so
there is much to do, but I've got a lot together also. I'm curious
what things others are doing?

I've got a lot of wood in this year, probably enough for this year and
1/2 of next. I'm not done yet. I need to get hand saws.

Got the wood to heat the house, outdoor kitchen that can easily be
developed a bit.

Water will be a bit##, creek would be my source. I do have that
experience digging the well in El Salvador, might some in handy.

I've got to stock up on canning lids.

Lights. I use oil lamps if the lights go out. If the oil is gone, I
guess I'd experiment in making candles from fat. Maybe just go to bed
with the chickens.

My garden spot is solid. I need to stock up on heirloom seeds for the
things I'm not saving seed on.

Hand tools, hand tools, hand tools.

Got chickens for eggs and meat, goats for milk and meat. Glad I
started some geese this year for stock.

 Rob - Va