I am getting the urge to "stock-up" again. I have always done this to some degree and then God put it on my heart to really stock up in 1998 or so.......wasn't sure why, but I did it and in a few months found out why.......my husband was laid off of his job of 23 years with no warning and no severance (new owners -- cutting costs). I have kept it up since then to some degree, it waxes and wanes, but now I seem to want to stock-up again. I am a Christian and a student of prophecy, but not sure that is the reason. Is anyone else feeling uneasy about the future to a greater degree or is it just me??

-- connie in nm (karrellewis@aol.com), June 01, 2001

Answers

Connie -- I'm feeling that urge too. I don't really understand it, but it is there. I am really putting up my produce this year, and we are raising lots of poultry for meat. I guess time will tell me why I feel this urge, because I am going to follow my gut feeling. Take care. Winona

-- Winona in MO (thompsonwin45@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.

We haven't felt the "urge" since 1998 before the y2k non event. Now we live the "urge" daily and maintain a 2 to 3 yr foodstore at all times.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 01, 2001.

Connie, I feel it too. Like you over the years, I have had this urge and then it eases. It hit me about a month ago when I started planting my garden.I found my self sowing a lot more than usual. don't know why? but I usually follow my instinct which I believe is God given. My Dad told me a few weeks back that he had also sown much more than usual. He later found out that a neighbor and fellow gardener had a major heart attach before he was able to put his garden in. My Dad then knew that the reason he had sown so much was to have enough to supply his neighbor. I have felt for a very long time that economically we were spiraling downward. I don't know a lot about economics but I can see a bad storm on the horizon. The thunder is rumbling and I will prepare my household accordingly.

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

I have always had the urge to "stock up". When I moved from Va. to Mass. 22 years ago, I was convienced I was moving to the "frozen North" and that winter would last forever. Everytime the snow fell I just knew it would be a blizzard and I'd be snowed in. From the beginning I stocked up on enough to last me from November through April. In the 22 years I've never been THAT snowed in, but still having enough food in the house has always been a priority for me. When Y2K came around I just "topped off" our supplies and we were all set. It's a great comfort to me to know that no matter what (within reason) happened to us (job lay-off, deep snow, Y2K, etc.) I would be able to feed my family. Food in the pantry is like money in the bank. I also appreciate and follow my urges. They haven't failed me, yet.

Thanks for reading.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), June 01, 2001.

I allways stay a few months ahead conserning supplies; the reasons you are feeling it more so today is proabily related to gasoline prices, the rescently change in leadership, the unsteadyness of the economy, ect. In over fifty years of people watching it seems that when things get harder, or more uncertain; people in general tend to release their doubts through humor; a form of denial. I am sure someone can hang a $3.00 name to it, but I'm sure you get the idea. Remember all the elephant jokes? Then it was dead baby jokes? Then it was "Would you believe...." Can anybody put those and their related "crisis" together? I don't remember the time frames well enough.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

This is so interesting that you asked this question because I was just wondering yesterday if people in other areas were feeling the "urge". While we have stayed stocked to some degree since '98 I, too, having been feeling a strong urge over the last month or so. We have planted more than usual and restarted our stock of toilet paper. This morning I went to town and while in Walmart had this feeling that I needed to grab some extra medical supplies. Then I went and bought 2 more mantles for my Aladdin lamp. Then I came home and found this post on the forum. Coincidence? I think not. Anyway, thanks for posting it.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

No, you are most certainly not alone. We got the urge about a month ago and did an inventory to see what we needed to buy to put supplies back to pre-Y2K levels. I will add more as money and time permit. I also don't know why but have been on pins and needles for a week!

-- Frank in MI (fhill@absolute-net.com), June 01, 2001.

I think what's happening to you all who have this great desire to store or stock pile food is there's a feeling in the air latley of intense greed developing in our society and your all getting caught up it it like lemmings. Food is what most homesteaders see as a priority,so you are wanting more food than you need to feel secure.Others see having cash as a priority so their greed is materialized as wanting more cash than they need to feel secure.Maybe I'm just a fool to have so much faith in my creator and the teaching of Jesus,that I trust that what ever comes my way,I'll survive and if I don't , I'll go to the other side a few years earlier.I won't spend my last days on earth protecting or fighting over a food supply .Fear is ugly

-- SM Steve (a12goat@cs.com), June 01, 2001.

This is the first time in about 10 years I quite growing becuse of the water prices and the heat in the summer. for some reason I felt the urge to grow this summer. I have never caned in my life I wouldn't even know how but I get the feeling I sould.

Lisa

-- Lisa Miller (ljmill35@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

Connie, I believe your thinking is right on, I believe what is happening in Israel right now could just spiral us into a mess, There could be a all out war, In John Hagee's book, He said that the muslum countrys would probably cut back production of oil, or Israel would bomb them and there would be no oil. In that case gas could cost us 4.00 a gallon, Our economy would go into a down ward spiral, Now this what the book said, and of course much more. I believe christians are being warned by our heavenly father, and I am starting to stock up again, Don"t forget your dried milk, I heard somewhere that fall out from a atom bomb would make milk undrinkable, now that everyone thinks I"m totally bonkers I will close, hang in there connie and do your thing, God Bless Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 01, 2001.

I think we should always be prepared, even talks about it in the good book. I don't think people are greedy stocking up food, sensible for sure. Even proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Even Joseph interpreted Pharoahs dream that a famine was coming and they put up several years of grain (that was smart). It is good to be prepared, thats why I like this forum, there are others that feel the same way. Revelation tells of hard times coming, be not deceived, but be prepared for what is to come. Thank the Lord that for the elects sake those days shall be shortened (Matt24:22) May your cupboards be full. Love in Christ,

-- Judy (inhishand65@yahoo.com), June 01, 2001.

Great response, Judy! But I would also like to know how it can be considered greedy to want to be able to meet the basic needs of your family and any others who need your help. One of the other things God's Word tells us is to take care of our family and to care for others. I won't kill over my food supply. I do firmly believe that the Lord led us into preparedness.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

I was just shopping tonight with my husband, We noticed prices had gone up on lots of items. This week ads were their two for one price so we got double on things. Thanks for sharing your feelings with us. My husband said last year were putting in a bigger garden next year,and he made me more raised beds.They are almost filled. We also belong to a food co-op. I really recommend people join,we get organic foods we don't raise.

-- Joanne (ronandjo@sisna.com), June 01, 2001.

The stocking up urge usually hits me in last summer or early fall. Must be that Quacker ancestory. But, I too have been buying more in recent weeks, and I'm not sure why, just feeling I should. Our grocery store just expanded and had a huge re-opening sale, so sale prices along with coupons inabled me to buy more than usual. I also found a great thing, our store has meat "reduced for quick sale". It is meat that has a sell by date of that day or the next. I was able to buy ground pork (for meatloaf) for 89 cents a package. Each package was over 1-1/2 pounds. I thought that was a good buy. Check with your meat dept. they may have one too.

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

We're getting that same urge as well. The garden is giving me fits, as we've just moved to a new place, but I'm determined to get as much harvested as possible and to can some veggies and all of the fruit from the fig and pear trees. (This will be our first year canning!) We're also raising chickens for the freezer (and eggs) and milking one goat.

A friend of ours who has never canned before (or shown any desire to learn LOL) just ran out annd bought a case of canning jars and canned all of the plums from her MIL's tree, and went on a stocking up jag at the local grocery store's meat sale.

I think we need to be ready for the Lord's plan to come to fruition.

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), June 02, 2001.

Answering Deena's questain, how can stock piling be considered greed.Or as she put it meeting the needs for ones family.I thought everyone was speaking of stock piling food for a disater.Not putting up food for storage in an everyday life as usual situtation.Or because the food prices will get higher along with higher fuel prices. I know if I had stock piled food and there was a disater I'd end up sharing it with neighbors.Being that news travels through our community almost as fast as the speed of light.And that's through gossip not fiber optic wires,I'd have all sorts of beggers asking me to give them some food for their starving children.I'd end up giving my rations of the food away rather then live with myself hiding the food or turning people away.My 3 year food supply will be gone in a week.And sometimes during a disater you might have to leave the area your in.Do you take the 2 or 3 year food supply in the back of a pick up or would you need a wells fargo type amored truck .As for the strong people out there who are able to control their emotions and not be a soft touch, you might be able to sustain yourselves and witness your neighbors slow death.They'll need someone to bury them, so it'll all work out.And you'll be able to pat yourselves on the shoulder and say we survived cause we're Gods chosen and we listened to him.And then you can rebuild everything and it will become in time the way it is now and another disater or war will happen and the ones who survive that one will do the same.I stock pile also.But in the spirit sense.Material things rot,rust or get stolen.Spiritual things never rot, rust and nobody can take them from you.And you can take them with you when you leave.I think also the surviviors of a national or global disater would see wide spead mental illness arise from people not being able to mentaly cope with losing family members, friends seeing people starve to death and dealing with a torn up world theirs minds weren't prepared to handle. .During the Y2K fad , a few people surprised me when they told me of the weapons they had and when I asked them about if they stored food they said they would just steal food from the ones who were stock piling it.I heard it from just a hand full, but I'm sure alot of people have the same idea, just don't talk about it.If it's a fuel related rise in food prices,storing food will be real heplful.But if it's the wrath of God and the bibical prophecies come upon us no material preparation will matter.

-- SM Steve (a12goat@cs.com), June 02, 2001.

Without preachin a sermon--the reason some of ya'll are stockin up is because-- "My people will hear My voice and a stranger they will not follow"! Christ is coming back real soon--! Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), June 02, 2001.

Thank you hoot, good answer, I"ll try not to sound to negative, But have you heard the news about Israel this morn. They will strike back, and all of you who understand bible prophecy will know this could be a real time of trouble, I pray the rapture of the church will happen before all this takes place, but if not, Just maybe God is warning his people to prepare, something I would consider is buying seeds for next year, and canning lids, In 1973 when there was a gas crisis, and the lines where miles long, a lot of you will remember that there were no canning lids any where. could it happen again who knows, I really thank you for posting this, I am printing it off and giveing it to some of my friends who feel the same way. God love you all, Irene

-- Irene orsborn (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 02, 2001.

I am somewhat a student of prophecy, and have stumbled across something that shook me a little. Have you ever heard of Albert Pike? He was a prophet from the dark side, was a worshipper of satan. He lived long before either world war. Yet he correctly prophesied BOTH world wars, and the general reason for each one to happen, from satan's perspective. Anyhow, Albert Pike's prophesy abotu world wars didnt end with the second one. He speaks of a third one that is to come yet, and it is to begin with Israel, and will usher in the antichrist. Remember, this was prophesied in the 1800's long before there WAS a nation called Israel.

But we dont need satanists' prophesies to know what will happen, do we? Its all there in the Bible, if anyone wants to know.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), June 02, 2001.

Don't know what it is, but, feeling the same here. Maybe like Hoot said, God might be talkin!! I know that we stockpiled quite a bit more than we usually do before Y2K, and even though we didn't need them for that, there were several family members that fell upon hard times that year, and we were able to help them out greatly with what we had on hand. Come to think of it, we still haven't emptied out the pantry!! Seems like the more we gave, more appeared. Loaves and fishes. :) Anyone that pays any attention to world events has to see that things aren't real great right now, and it would be only prudent to prepare for hard times. I just hope that folks will worry about preparing their eternal souls as much as they worry about their pantries. For it is appointed for man but once to die, then the judgement.

The Lords love and blessings for you all!!

-- Uncle Jake (lulafred@cs.com), June 03, 2001.

Without preachin... Hoot has me confused once again. So let me get this straight. If Christ is coming back real soon then I would not need to stock up on anything at all, right? Unless of course Christ is expected to arrive "hungry" (which is a human trait that I doubt Christ has to be bothered with).

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), June 03, 2001.

Wake up people! If things turn so bad that the stores run out of food then it will be total anarchy. Surviving hunger is a natural instinct and believe me, people will kill for it. Living out in the country it's easy to forget just how massively populated our nation is. For every person in a rural area, there are 1000 in the cities. They will come in masses, like a plague, in search of food because all urbanites, even if they don't understand the process, they know their food comes from the country. Imagine your homestead being overran by a caravan of 100s of starving urbanites with no qualms of killing you for your food. I don't care how remote you think you are, they would eventually arrive. You are a fool to think it won't be like that if things get so bad that you need to use your stored food. Store all the food you want but don't forget the bullets!

-- anonymous (no@no.com), June 03, 2001.

Boy oh Boy connie, did you ever get some great answers, the last one is really scarey, I read somewhere that if the food ran out in the big citys, that they would all probably riot for several days and hopefully wouldn"t have the strength to walk this far. surely there wouldn"t be no gas or money if things were to get this bad. Hoot, when do you think Christ will come for us, man I don"t want to be here. I hope this post doesn"t get deleted, Its been really interesting. I want to print it out when it looks like every one has had there say. May God bless you all Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 03, 2001.

Irene! I don't have any idea when Jesus Christ is coming back. He tells us in the Word to be ready. Nothing to worry about--if we're Christians. He will take care of His own. I'm thinkin that He wants us to prepare because of being able to help other folks. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), June 03, 2001.

I vividly remember the day I looked up Y2K on the internet to find a very lively group of folks. Amazed and shocked at the thought that some of them were simply ? going to blow up the bridges across the San Jacinto river on Interstate 45 and 59, so Houstonians couldn't come north! We also threw around the idea of a trek into town if bedlam did come, to stock up on drugs, like my asthma meds, nothing fun :) from a local pharmacy, while others whould be stealing food.........how awful is that! There were lots of discussions about if you would help neighbors, how much help could you really give to the detriment of your family and if we could kill somebody. The gals would all get together and talk about just how much we were expected to do in a day with cooking, cleaning (just think about laundry) schooling, gardening and the animals. I was very hard core about the whole thing and will admit a total depression as the lights stayed on. Husband slept. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), June 04, 2001.

I have always tried to keep a full pantry. We have lived in Mass. for 28 years with the last 16 on a non-town road. We never know when we will be plowed out, depends on how big the storms are. I don't much like shopping or the entire system of using gas to get into traffic to go to the store to pay someone money for food!, so I only go to the store once a month and belong to a food co-op. I try and grow as much as possible to last the year. The urging I have felt lately, is not so much to stock up food but to become more self-sufficient. This becomes a slow process because of the cost involved. We would like to run our home on alternative energy but any method does cost money. We have one more payment on our mortgage and then our house and 8 acres is ours - then we can seriously start investing in solar, wind and wood. We also have tuition bills since my daughter will be going to college this fall and my son is still in a Catholic high school, so I always feel like were moving in slow motion to be able to live the way we want to. I think this urge to move faster is mainly due to the new administration, gas prices, Israel... and for me, not wanting to be part of the system and the consumer society that we live in. Diane - nice to know someone else out there is in Mass. Elly (skutel@mediaone.net)

-- Elly Skutel (skutel@mediaone.net), June 04, 2001.

I thought it was only me. Glad it is not. I too have always had extras on hand but this time I am trying to have a couple of years on hand. For me, I know that part is because we are moving back to the country and we will be retiring. The other part is not sure, but I do see that everyone is in for a rough ride. I want to make sure that we will at least have the basics.

My daughter works at a natural food store and I get a 20% discount. I have been buying things like oatmeal in 25lb bags. They also sell Seeds of Change garden seeds and I bought extra and am keeping them safe. I also bought the book on saving your seeds so that eventually I won't have to rely on the seed companies either.

I know that prices are just going to continue to go up so whatever I can do now to save I will do.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), June 04, 2001.

Thanks for everyone's responses. You have made me think that maybe what I'm feeling is just the urge to become more self-sufficient. I am at this point very much dependent on others for food, power, water, etc. as we live in town on a city lot. I have a very small garden (big trees in back, no sun) that we eat out of in the summer. Our home, cars, etc. are paid for so we are debt free, but have a daughter heading off to college in the fall. Mostly what I accumulate is knowledge. I don't have to depend on myself for a lot of things now, but I have the knowledge and materials to do it if I "had to". I have family nearby with land where we could grow more food if necessary. I just feel restless, like I should be doing something ----

-- connie in nm (karrellewis@aol.com), June 04, 2001.

It seems like the panic has already taken over some weak minds and nothing has happened yet.Because of my different opinion I've been given a virus.Mob rule.I think some Christians on this forum see their version of Jesus to be like a Sadam Husssain, if you don't agree wiyt them they'll try to eliminate you.I think Ken all material with religion on this forum be screened and deleted.To many revengeful finatics .

-- SM Steve (a12goat@cs.com), June 04, 2001.

It's no wonder the only other person to disagree with this post was named anonymus,and probably used a false e-mail address he knows this forum better then I and knows what to expect from some of it's people if you don't agree with them.

-- SM Steve (a12goat@cs.com), June 04, 2001.

The Holy Bible tells us that God will supply all our needs. All we have to do is to have faith in him. This doesn't mean that we don't have to stock up on food and supplies. And if you do stock up on food and supplies, it doesn't mean that it was stocked up for you yourself. God could be urging you to stock up because you can afford it and he may soon send someone to you who will need it. It maybe that someone will be blessed by you, and in return God will bless you. In situations like this you need to be in touch with God, in order for you to know what to do.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), June 04, 2001.

Dear Steve, I went back through the post, and for the life of me I couldn"t find anything so bad, I read your disagreement with interest, and you had some good points, I don"t think any of the christians said any thing to offend you, I bet that most of us would give you the shirt off our backs if you needed it , and I don"t think christian posts should be banned, I love reading what every one has to say, good or bad, and another thing steve most who answered were women, we have a nesting instinct that men do not understand, When we think there is trouble brewing on the horizon , stocking up for the family just comes naturally . Then there are people like me, who are lonely, and writeing on the forum gives us something to look forward too.I"m 71 years old, and live in the booneys, and yes I"m a christian, but I would never hurt anyone if I could help it. So steve darling leave us to our fun,God Bless Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 04, 2001.

It is difficult to conceptualize the rapture beliefs and people being so unhappy with their lives that they are just about holding their breaths for Jesus or whoever to come and take them away from their misery. Sad, very sad.

-- Billy Bob (billybob@aol.com), June 05, 2001.

Billy Bob, I"m not miserable,but I have studyed bible prophecy my whole life and I believe Christ is comeing back soon, there"s nothing on this earth that will compare to what is waiting in heaven for born a gain christians, I have had a great life , But I will continue to hope and wait for the rapture. With Love Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 05, 2001.

What a bunch of bull-oney!

Hoot, you myopic old goat, people like you have been telling us (and our parents, and our grandparents, and our great great great grandparents that "Jesus is coming soon" for several centuries, at least. I'll not hold my breath on THAT advice!

Get a life, people. Learn to THINK for yourselves, for crissakes!

mamspe

-- mamspe (foo@bar.com), June 05, 2001.

It is written,

"But do not forget one thing dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyonw to perish, but everyone come to repentance."

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destoyes by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:8-10

-- Kathy (jubilant@ncweb.com), June 05, 2001.

SMSteve, Billybob, mamspe---please join me for dinner as I am certain we would get along!

Some of us are just reacting to the world around us 'cause we pay attention to the news. With all the doom and gloom it is hard not to think about being prepared. Please check out this topic labelled Part II.

Oh, and please realize that stocking up may have nothing at all to do with any belief in how the world came to be, or any other religious beliefs.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), June 05, 2001.

I, too, got the urge stronger in the last month. I've started stocking up more on paper products and I did twice as much strawberry jam as I did last year. I am heading out to garage sales looking for things that will be useful. I think that I feel this way because I believe the economy is going to tank within the year. One of the women in my vanpool just had her husband get laid off. He is an electronics technician and had worked for the same company for fifteen years. They closed their doors. She is panic stricken now about how they will pay for things. I told her about the things I do to save money and I told her she would have to learn to do without. They had the typical two career family, always ate out for supper and lunches and bought anything they wanted without worrying about how much it cost. I told her how we coped with it fifteen years ago when hubby lost his job and how it turned out to be the best thing that happened to us. We adjusted and were able to allow him to stay at home and homestead so it has made us both very happy. I work full time but I don't really mind it and I had the better career opportunitities anyway so we are living our dream without worrying about money. Works for us. Nine more years and I retire and will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor full time with him.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), June 05, 2001.

Connie, I stocked up in 98. After Jan. 1, a lot of people got rid of their stuff and I just took what a lot of people didn't want and am now, really stocked. During the Y2K deal, a lot of people acted like it was a competitive thing. It was the ones who were stocking against the ones who weren't. That's foolish. If you are stocked up and never need it, that doesn't mean that the ones who didn't stock up won and we lost. It's not like a football game or something. If you are prepared and never need it, it's OK. If you are not prepared and need it you are up the creek. Probably, China will never send a big bomb and nothing will ever happen. If nothing else, it's just a good feeling and common sense to be prepared for what- ever. I, too, am a Christian. That's the most important thing. Hope my support helps. Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), June 06, 2001.

I have what is considered a large family (there are 8 of us)and have always wanted large amounts of supplies around. We just moved out into the country last spring. I have been really working hard to get the garden going, etc...when we lived in town, I would go to Sam's and buy up food. Our church also had a thing where you could buy food storage. Everytime I would stock up, we would get broken into. The insurance wouldn't cover it, it was "Just food". Imagine that!!! I had 3 yrs supplies at one time, and it was gone in less then two hours. I over heard my neighbors telling a new neighbor that when we left the house, they should go to my place, it was like a grocery store. I was furious!! But, alas, the police said I couldn't prove it so nothing was done. Anyway, I didn't mean to go on about that, what I was getting to is that between the news and my past experience in town,I have been blaming that on my urge to stock up. I don't know how good things will go this time, since the ground is so poor, but I will grow what I can, and work toward better ground for next year!!!

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 08, 2001.