Coverin the Bases Reader Comments:

From Column Covering the Bases posted on February 1, 2011 From: Austin J I, too am concerned about the direction of our country, the current and foreseeable future's uncertainty as related to US currency stability, food/fuel pricing and availability and just plain ol' everyday life. As such I have become a "Prepper". I stockpile MRE's, water, weapons, ammunition, clothing and canned goods (all, except the weapons, are great for bartering).

---

I also will be planting a garden this spring using "natural" seeds so I will be able to continue the process without having to buy more seed. I store a small amount of fuels and have a small generator so I can keep the "essentials' running in a pinch. I believe we must all wake up and smell the coffee. America, not to mention the rest of the world, is headed for a very hard time and the more self-reliant you are, the better off you will be. P.S. Make sure to keep a little extra of everything on hand so you can help others that did not have the foresight to be prepared. *Good points Austin, and I hear ya. But the main thing Deb and I feel, is you have to go with what’s in your heart in regards to what actions you take to hopefully be able to provide for your family if times really get tough. All your points are valid and we look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks for your input.

---

From: Buford We will find out about our younger generation.  If they are up to what is about to be put in front of them. This weather is going to cause major problems with food production.  Australia is one of the major growers of grain.  What do you think all the weather going on down there is doing to crops.  The weather here is not so great either. What is all this snow going to do to food harvest here this country?  The Ivory Coast has already banned the export of cocoa.  What is that going to do with the price of chocolate?  Food shortages are over the horizon.  I have a feeling that skinny haters of over weight people aren't going to have it so good. *Thanks for reading Buford, and we appreciate your comments. The weather this year has created havoc worldwide, and this has to play a major role in food production, or lack of it, you’re exactly right. I feel inflation is coming too, it has to. Food costs may get really high, and is but one reason to buy a little more each and every time ya’ hit the grocery store! Deb and I literally look at food today as an investment! Please come back and see us!

---

From: Miz IF you have a well system for water?  It might be prudent to purchase a manual hand pump.  So far, we can still afford to run our system with electricity.  If the 'guvment' keeps messing around with this cap-and-tax, I expect electricity to obtain a luxury status.  We do not have central heat/air and right now as we heat with a pellet stove (with a thermostat).  Thank goodness we stored the wood stove in the barn.  IF electricity costs rapidly rise, we'll have to pull out the pellet stove and go back to the wood stove.  It'll mean getting up at dark-thirty to replenish the wood, but at least we won't shiver!
I'm also grateful we have treed property and won't have to buy wood.
The low last night was 11 degrees F.  I consider that 'nippy'!
Yeah, we live rural...
One more reason to give thanks to God. *Great point in regards to pitcher pumps...”If you have a well system…” We’ve had a well so long Miz, I forget about city water mains, sorry. With well systems though, in our case, pitcher pumps are “the ticket” during power outages. I’ll talk more on this a little later. Keeping your woodstove around is very smart, good move. It could come in very handy down the road, especially if Deb and I show up on your front porch looking for a bite to eat!! LOL! Thanks so much Miz for reading and commenting too, keep em comin! 10-4 on the giving thanks to God as well! God Bless all you guys!