Why we prep
Here's another reason why you – and your friends and family – should prep:
- Japan rocked by massive earthquakes
- Japan's economy grinds to a halt after earthquake paralyzes critical supply chains
In the last week or so, Japan has experienced two earthquakes in the mid-seven Richter range. Those are reasonably powerful quakes, but not the truly major-league shakes that can occur in Japan on a fairly regular basis. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake hit a 9 on the Richter scale; and in addition to massive building and infrastructure damage, the quake and subsequent tsunami resulted in the death of some 16,000 people and made over 340,000 people homeless. Four and a half million people were without electricity, and one and a half million had no water. And despite a massive international effort, two weeks after the event there were still some people receiving only a single meal's worth of food a day.
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Prepping means being able to feed yourself ... and others.
And that's one of the reasons we prep.
I know, I know.
Last week I said we'd be getting to the right way, the wrong way and McLene way of long-term bulk grain storage. And I really did mean to; but while I was out last week collecting rocks for a corner fence post, it occurred to me that telling you how to do something isn't very efficient if you don't already understand why you should bother doing it in the first place.
So just to make sure I got it clear, I did a bit of internet back-roading and looked for other prepper folk's explanations for why everyone should store food. I was kind of amazed to discover no one really laid it out completely. Sure, there was the self-reliance thing; the peace-of-mind gambit; the save money scenario; and the ever-popular "don't end up being a slave of the state" gig. All valid reasons, to be sure.
But two of the most important reasons to have a lot of food in a long-term emergency weren't mentioned; at least, not directly.
So let me begin by giving you the hard cold truth. There is absolutely no reason to store large quantities of food ... if you are sure you'll never need it. Your three-month pantry (see last week) will handle any problems that occur in a short-term emergency, and the government will sooner or later spin up and make sure that others around you are taken care of. For anyone in that category, you can skip the rest of this article and head over to Patty Ann Malley's "Internet Rambles" column.
But if like me, you've taken the red pill, then read on.
So now I'm going to let you in on a couple of really important reasons why being well – or even overly well – prepared is in your own best interest. And these two reasons are great because they can, at the same time, be both altruistic AND self-serving, as well as being biblically sound to boot.
Reason 1: Proverbs 28:27: "He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses."
Reason 2: 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."
You see, one of the reasons to store food for use in a disaster is to be able to share food in a disaster. It's a Christian duty, pure and simple. And since storing food isn't overly expensive if done right, it's a fairly easy duty to perform. However ...
Let's say that you've managed to get out of the city proper. Maybe you're now in a suburb, or a semi-rural location. Maybe better still you've got a place in the country. And you've been prepping for a while. You've got your family around you; and in addition to your three-month pantry, you've got a pretty good garden, a chicken coop, and you have a couple of years' worth of long-term food stored in your garage, basement, root cellar, or out buildings. You've also established community with like-minded preppers in your vicinity who are at a similar level of preparedness. Well done!
But now let's lower the sword of Damocles. A solar flare takes out the power grid. Yellowstone burps. The Canadians invade. Take you pick of major disasters.
The point is, suddenly and for the appreciable future, the food supply is disrupted. And the government is too busy flying off to their bug-outs to worry about yours. Well, you've planned for this. You've not only got your pantry and a couple of years of food for your family, you've got a system in place (the garden – livestock – prepper neighbors) to replenish your supplies.
But then comes the knock on the door. It's a young man. Maybe his wife is beside him. Maybe there's a baby in her arms. He explains that they're hungry and haven't eaten in a couple of days. Likely you've seen them around because the first folks who come knocking will likely be locals. And the first people to arrive at you door will be asking, not taking. But not for long.
Now you've got three choices. One, turn them away. After all, you were wise. They weren't. Two, provide them with some food, knowing that you can spare it (this time) but also knowing that when they finish that up, they will be back – and maybe with some friends.
Or three: You hire them.
Now why would you do that?
Because, as it says in First Timothy: "... the laborer is worthy of his wages." The simple reality of the situation is no matter how much food you and your fellow preppers have saved up, it can't last unless it is protected and replenished. However, without electrical power, you're going to have to go retro to muscle power. And many hands makes for lighter work.
But just as important: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. But the next day he'll be back for another fish and he'll bring friends ... and possibly a chainsaw.
Teach a man to fish, and he'll still be hungry until he catches enough fish. So see chainsaw above.
But pay a man to fish, in your pond, with your pole, and your supervision ... and you'll have someone who will defend that pond and his job against anyone trying to get free fish.
So there you go. Your long-term food storage is valuable not just to feed your family. It's also a source of real wealth that can supply you with community, security and strength ... assuming, like me, you believe there are real reasons for having long-term food storage in the first place.