Self Reliance

Turn on the TV, read the newspaper, talk to your friends or co-workers.  We live in uncertain times.  People are concerned about the future.  Are you?  We have three children - one in college, one graduating from high school in the Spring and one in Middle School.  I've been thinking a lot about the world we're leaving to our kids and have been second-guessing myself about whether we've given our kids all that they need to be successful in this world.  While there is still time, I'm determined to do what I can to instill the virtues, tools, mindset and skills I think they will need to have in their "toolbox" in order to live productive, successful lives. 

Thoughts like this led me to stumble across the following video from artofmanliness.com.  Click on this link in order to view it:  Self Reliance video  This was created back in the 50's and by today's standards is probably pretty corny.  However, it contains some very relevant information regarding the topic of self-reliance that we're discussing.  I showed this to my boys last night.  It's only 10 minutes long.  There are 4 easy points that are elaborated upon and it is interesting to think about the wealth of knowledge and the resultant difference between success and failure that reside within those 4 points :



We started on a journey toward Biblical Agrarianism several years ago to try to eat as healthy as possible and to try to be as self reliant as possible, knowing first and foremost that all things come from God.  We acknowledge that all the wisdom and knowledge is null and void if we don't come to a saving faith by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We want to feed our bodies and our souls!

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:26  

We also know that "no man is an island."  We depend on one another and are called by our Maker to help one another.  We are also called to be good stewards of what we've been given and husband the land to the best of our God-given abilities.  In order to do so we must have the motivation, drive, work ethic, skills and knowledge to accomplish those tasks.  This requires a lifetime of knowledge.  School is in session every day and the bell is about to ring!

I watched Ken Burns' documentary, The Dust Bowl, the other night on PBS and was struck by the enormity of events that took place during that time.  I marveled at people's determination, tenacity, and endurance on those hardscrabble farms.  I admired the industriousness of the lady who talked about how her mama canned 600 quarts of homegrown vegetables (WOW!) for them to make it through the year.  And also the generosity of the woman who said,

"Every day there were people fleeing that part of the country. Because we were right on the highway, they asked for food," Hodges said. The Arnett family had little, but her mother would put together bread and butter sandwiches, or fry potatoes. When their guests left, "she would cry and say, there but for the grace of God, go us."

These were tough people.  Good people.  People we should aspire to emulate.  So what can we do?

There is a blogger that I follow very closely whose name is Herrick Kimball.  He posts once a month (http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com) and his posts are always full of such good information.  I highly recommend reading his insight.  He wrote an essay back in 2008 in the midst of the sub-prime collapse that contains a good 6 point plan.  You can click on the link and read Mr. Kimball's essay here: An Agrarian Style Economic Self Defense Plan 

Mr. Kimball's 6 point plan:

1.  If you live in or near a city or high population center, get out. It was crystal clear to me as I looked through the old photos in “The Desperate Years” book that people in the cities were not in a good place.

2.  Buy land or get to some land in a rural area where you can fend for yourself. You need to be able to plant a garden, raise a few chickens, hunt, fish, trap, and forage for wild edibles. I’ll take fields and forest over city dumpsters any day.

3.  Eliminate debt if at all possible. I’ll take a humble little country home on a little piece of paid-off country land over a big, fancy, comfortable house with a mortgage any day. Come to think of it, that’s exactly what I’ve done.  Most modern Americans can’t bring themselves to downsize. Many have enough equity in their big mortgaged homes to sell and buy something far below their current standard of living, and have no mortgage debt. But they just can’t do it. I suspect many, in the years ahead, will wish that they did sell and downsize when they could. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (that's an old agrarian saying).

4.  Acquire the basic tools of self sufficiency. What, you may wonder, are the basic tools of self sufficiency? Well number one would be some debt free land out in the country. Then there are the actual tools--- like garden tools. A shot gun with ammo is a tool too. A grain grinder is an excellent tool for self sufficiency. A woodstove to heat your debt-free home is another tool of self-sufficiency. How-to books are tools too. Start with Carla Emery’s "Encyclopedia of Country Living." It'll tell you how to do just about everything.

5.  Stock up on some basic food items. You can buy things like oatmeal, beans, rice, wheat (for the grain grinder), and other staples through food co-ops for cheap. That’s what we do, in addition to freezing and canning and drying food from the garden. It’s a good feeling to have a well-stocked pantry.

6.  Find community and get involved. Get yourself into a small rural church where folks care about and will help each other. Country people look out for and help each other. That’s always been the case. It’s not going to change when times get bad. But they won't be paying your mortgage for you.

That is a great plan.  It is a great plan to help you not only be prepared, but also to live a fulfilling, honest, good, simple life.  We are working toward fully implementing that plan.  Are we there yet?  Nah, but we make strides everyday.  Lots of people think that people who are taking steps to prepare for rough times are nutcases or weirdos or extremists.  Really?  We live in an area frequented by hurricanes.  We've lived without power for weeks due to storms.  I think it is wise to prepare for disaster, whether it be due to weather, financial or otherwise.  It just seems like the prudent and responsible thing to do.  The images of people who didn't have a plan and were dependent upon FEMA or other entities for their well-being are burned in my mind. 

Planning is essential.  I had to laugh yesterday when I went to the eye doctor.  The doctor told me that he didn't need to see me for another two years.  As I brought my paperwork to the receptionist, she asked if Monday afternoons at 2:30 pm in December 2014 were going to be still a good appointment time for me?  I chuckled and told her that I barely know what I'm going to do tomorrow, much less two years from now.  I asked if she could just call me in two years and we'd work out an agreeable time.  We can plan, but our plans should be flexible and adaptable to changing times.

There is no doubt that times are a changing.  The photo below depicts demonstrations in Greece brought about by plans to cut government spending and increase taxes to address mounting budget woes.  Sound familiar?  Could that happen here?  Sure, but we don't worry about it.  I heard it said that worry is interest on a debt that may never come due.  Instead take action.  Exercise self reliance. 

AFP PHOTO/ARIS MESSINIS Protesters clash with riot police in front of the Greek Parliament on June 29, 2011 in Athens as lawmakers moved towards a vote on a massive austerity package demanded by international creditors

Pray for our country and our leaders.  Do what you can.  Begin Herrick Kimball's 6 point plan.  Start right where you are.  Gain momentum.  Take control of your future.  Start today.

I'd like to take a moment to expound on item #6.  We love our little country church.  There are about 30 or so people who attend.  Small in number, but BIG in love.  Church members meet to open, read, and learn from God's Word, pray for one another, encourage one another and literally feed one another.  On any given Sunday, you'll see people coming with bags of homegrown vegetables or fruit that is in season or eggs to give to one another.  When someone is sick or there is a death, meals are prepared.  People's physical and spiritual needs are ministered to. 

It's not just church members either.  The church body is constantly reaching out to the surrounding community and neighbors.  In past months, we've been buying socks and we bagged them up.  This past weekend we had a hay ride in which members, young and old, visited the two Nursing Homes, a VA Home and "shut ins" in our community.  We sang carols, passed out the bags of socks with the Gospel, and spent time just fellowshipping with them. 

I guess my point to all of this is to make a start where you are.  It may not seem like a lot, but it will build momentum.  Be prepared for the future.  Try to be self-sufficient, but help out your neighbors.  Be there and be an example for your kids.  You can do it!