Yes, indeed, Edey Elovesta, it's just like in an aircraft emergency, when Mother must put on her oxygen mask before tending to her children.  1st, we must take care of ourselves.  Hillel (one of hte 2 most famous Rabbis ever) said, "If I am not for myself,then who will be for me?  And if not now, when?"  Yours in Him, Deb

You are right Edey the vary people who say you are hoarding will be the first to knock at your door when they run out of food!  Times are changing all over the world and we had better start doing something about it.  This is the second year I have grown foods.  Don't know much about gardening but I have been learning very fast.  I even learned how to build a earth stove made out of mud.  Yes I know this sounds drastic and maybe to some like panic.  However if you give yourself various options when bad times come you won't feel so helpless.  I am learning about condensation so that I can learn to make water.  Better prepared with no emergency then not to be prepared with an emergency!

Peace,

Justice

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2002-10-01/Build-Your-Own-Wood-Fired-Earth-Oven.aspx

As well as using the famous grasshopper/ant story, don't forget the "Little Red Hen"!  

I am not finding any current reliable news reporting on food rationing for North America/Canada.

Rationing of precious commodities is not as rare as the WWII era--I remember gas rationing in the 70's during the Carter administration...and 14% mortgage interest rates were considered good.   

On stock piling.  I would need several hundreds of pounds of food to stockpile for a few months and in this tiny hose it is impossible to do so.  I instead stock pile 3 to 6 months of the bare min. and then fill in the rest with skills.  

Michigander Fan:

after all, rationing is not unthinkable in the USA - it happened during WW2, so within living memory (not mine, but some peoples')

LOL  LOL  LOL  LOL  LOL

Gigi:

. I get annoyed when I read articles that use the word, "hoarding," as if preparing for the future is an bad thing.

I understand that totally. I feel hoarding is when you have SO MUCH stashed away that it goes bad before you use it, or gets bugs, or whatever flour and stuff does. If it will be used before it goes bad, then it is not hoarding. I think it is another way people put responsibility (blame)on something else other than themselves for not taking care of their own business. Sorry if that sounds like a rant, it just strikes a nerve when i read that stuff too.

Bless you All,

Lynn

Gigi people love to call other people names when they think your "panicking" Then when things get tough they go to the ones who have taken time and responsibility to take care of themselves. I am saving food too I don't care what they call it my family will be okay.  Here in California you should see how people turn when we have had a bad earthquake.

One store owner was charging 5.00 for a gallon of water because he knew people needed it.  Go a head and let others laugh. Be prepared is my motto.

I have been saving low sodium low sugar organic stews in cans because they have a little of everything you need I date them with a marker the day I bought them.  You can always open a can and eat it when you are in a hurry and buy more later.  That way you always have fresh food. I am also learning about wild plants one can eat.  Even if things don't get that bad it is still knowledge and knowledge is power.

Peace,

Justice

In the commissaries in Japan we're limited to 2 20lb bags of rice each shopping visit. That doesn't sound like a large limitation (and it certainly doesn't affect us) but I'm sure to some its very telling. To be truthful, I think I may be a little relieved when we get to the states again. Though I love Japan, its not a nation that can feed itself. And I sure don't expect it to be feeding American families if things turn badly very quickly! The US possesses the ability (even if we've let it slide lately) to feed itself if needed, though I'm sure the floods in the mid-west aren't helping this year.

nanagain2000:

More than once I've been told I'm weird cause I stock my pantry and even that I take unfair avantage of the stores cause I stock up when they have a sale. I

I've heard others say that, too. It is ridiculous.  Do not listen to them, because you're being wise. I say the stores take unfair advantage of us in other ways, so it's perfectly legitimate for you to buy sale items if they're available.

we always been prepared .. my DH job was seasonal he worked form about April to October , the rest of the time he worked construction , sold fire wood what ever it took for the family . My Daddy busines was season so  I was used to it . 

we always had a huge garden and animals for food .. the garden now 4 times as large and we have chicken , pigs , and cows.