Information (from HubPages) You Will Need When the Economy Falls Apart

A looming global economic disaster could soon force us into a lifestyle more like those of our great-great grandparents.

People in those earlier generations grew their own food, traded locally with neighbors and depended on personal talents and skills to supply everyday needs.

People of industrialized nations with more technology and "advanced" economies a have lost touch with with pioneer skills. They could be hit hard by a financial collapse.

Ironically, people in less developed areas with an agricultural base will better prepared for a drastic change.

Those who plan ahead will have a chance to survive an economic storm with old-fashioned hard work and know-how.

The first necessity is information.

Do you know how to grow and preserve food? Can you make and repair practical necessities like clothing, tools and furniture?

Do you know first aid and simple remedies?

Do you know how to do survive without your usual sources of fuel and power?

Do you have at least ONE skill that can be used to make things or provide a service that other people need?

If not, it is time to expand your library with information about old-fashioned technologies.

There are many books that provide useful information.

A basic cookbook, a gardening reference, a first aid manual and even a how-to book for basic building techniques could come in handy.

There are several books available on all of these subjects and more. It might be a good idea to have some of them on your shelf.

One way to build your own library is to collect information from internet sources.

Right here on HubPages, you can find a huge amount of helpful content, that will help you put together your own resource notebook full of information.

FIRST STEPS
1. Gather supplies for your basics book:
A large three ring binder
A three hole punch and a stapler
Divider pages with tabs, preferably with pockets.
A highlighter pen, Page protector sleeves (optional)

2. Decide what information you may need.

It might include ways to grow, prepare and preserve food, alternative energy, sewing, carpentry, craft skills, keeping chickens, cooking outdoors, making soap, making candles, home remedies and any homesteading skills that used to be common.

You might not need to know all of the skills, but having a few would make it easy for you to barter with others.

Why should you print out pages when they are always available on the net? What if your power goes out, or you can't afford internet service? You should have a printed copy.

Assembling your "Basics" book
After you browse HubPages for topics and articles that might be helpful….
1. Label your dividers with topics
2. Print out your information articles
3. Use three hole punch on your printed sheets or slide the sheets into page protectors
4. Highlight articles to show tools and supplies you might need for each activity.

Once you have your information organized in a way that is easy for you to access, there are other things you can do to make that information easier to use.

Your notebook binder will give you an idea of what tools and supplies you may need to use the knowledge you have accumulated.

For instance, if you know you can grow corn or other grain, or if you know you can gather acorns for making bread, you could make flour by pounding kernels between stones, as was done in ages past.

You might also think about buying a hand cranked grinder to make that process easier.

If you want to make soap, you might think of getting some molds or a pan that will let you make several bars at once.

If you need to cook over an open fire, some cast iron pans or kettles would be handy.

What kind of Information might you want to collect?

If you find yourself needing to provide for yourself and your family, you might want to search out general topics on HubPages like "Frugal living", "bartering" and "do-it-yourself".

You will find plenty of hubs about planting fruit trees, vegetables and herbs as well as canning, drying and preserving.

You can also find information about making bread, cheese, vinegar, beer and wine.

There are more than 200 hubs on candle making, more than 80 on making soap, several dozen on Metal crafts and leatherwork. There are scores of hubs about sewing and knitting, as well as several about weaving and even spinning .

There are hundreds about cooking, including making cheese, vinegar, beer and wine
Home Remedies and first aid articles also are easy to find.
Gardening and information about farm animals and livestock. including sustainable agriculture and farming, abound. If you want to find out about beekeeping or raising goats and chickens you will find information here.

There are a couple thousand hubs about fishing. Other subjects include building furniture, sharpening tools, irrigation systems, alternative fuel. You can search out valuable information pertaining to any of these subjects on HubPages.

Hubbers with Info

In addition, there are several articles by Brie Hoffman about living off-grid including how to live without a refrigerator. Marye Audet also has a number of hubs pertaining to homesteading topics. Montana Farm Girl and homesteadbound also have valuable information.

I have left out scores of others who might have information you will want in your notebook. Feel free to suggest hubbers or articles you would suggest in your comments below..

Now, let's get sttarted.