It was not long ago that many of you were talking about a instintive drive to stock up on the pantry. The recent events and unstable economy have me thinking about it too.

-- tradesman (tradesman@my.com), September 19, 2001

Answers

Staying at least minimally prepared at all times is simply the prudent thing to do. Emergencies by their very nature will rarely ever give you advance warning enough to be able to stock up before they hit. Getting caught unprepared could have unpleasant consequences so better just to stay generally prepared all the time and not take the risk.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001.

Yes the feeling is in the air again. Herds selling down to a manageable few, I had 4 phone calls for folks looking for milkers and or bred does this morning alone! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 19, 2001.

We have always maintained a stocked pantry. Just since '99 we measure in multiple seasons instead of months.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001.

I have always been the type to stock up....for years and years, but have sure noticed alot of people doing it again..who were slacking off since Y2K and now feel threatened again. Life is just too unpredictable to not be stocked for some sort of emergency

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), September 19, 2001.

I'd hate to be one of the many who have to rush to the store for milk, bread & toilet paper. It seems like every time there is a hurricane watch or a forecast of an inch of snow.

-- cathy in NC (planet10@gloryroad.net), September 19, 2001.

we have placed buying another wood-burning heater as priority one for right now! (because of possible rising fuel costs or the possiblity of no fuel at all)

Also we have tried to stay stocked up on some things ever since before Y2K and now we feel it's even more important. After my mama started talking about the ration books of WWII we really feel that importance.

We want to be ready no matter what. People can always think better if they are warm and well fed!

And while everybody is stocking up, don't forget to have food for your animals!!!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001.

Suzy, it's being delivered on Friday! I always worry about water. I have 100' well that I could put a pump on, but the water is VERY high in iron (so much so that it is not palatable without a filter). I'm not sure how to filter the iron out without electricity. My aim in all types of stocking up is to be able to live well (not just survive) without electricity if the need should arise. I do store water, but I need to figure out a more long-term solution. Any suggestions?

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), September 19, 2001.

Yes, I remember a certain post where someone had stated that they felt something was telling them to start stocking up cause hard times was comeing, and had asked if anyone else had the same feeling. There were a lot of responsed to it.

I've been trying to get ready but I seem to be the only one in the family with any concerns.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 20, 2001.

Sheryl - I do not have the science at my fingertips, but it seems like you could rig up some sort of car-battery charged or even exercise-bike charged electro-magnet around a pipe that would pull at least some of the iron out of your water as it was (probably slowly) passed through it. Does anyone know if this would work and how well?

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 20, 2001.

British Berkefeld Water Filter -- works without electricity. But it isn't cheap. St. Paul Mercantile is one source, and you can find others by searching on the first four words of this post. I can personally attest to the reliability and honesty of John, the proprietor of St. Paul Mercantile, having had dealings with him in the past. I personally have nothing to gain from sending him business, however. If you can find it more cheaply elsewhere, more power to you.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), September 20, 2001.

My understanding is that the Berkefield is a straight filter - it will filter out pathogens , but won't remove dissolved chemicals. For that, you need some form of chemical reaction - the usual is something like the Brita or Pur jugs with an ionic resin core which will take out the chemicals. They're also low-volume - OK for drinking and cooking water, but not laundry. For higher volume, ask local people who deal in wells and pumps - they'd know the situation.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), September 23, 2001.