Sustainable Living for Generations

I had a bit of time to mull over a few things while driving the tractor this afternoon and this evening. One thing that comes popping into my mind fairly frequently has been just what the dividing line is between preppers, survivalist and my new title I am making up on the spot Sustainers.

Now Sustainers in my mind would be homesteading/small farmer types who are closely linked to preppers and survivalist I think but not quite the same thing. I used Sustainers because we need our own one word catch all name.

Roughly speaking I look at it like this.

A survivalist is going to pack away supplies for himself or herself plus maybe a few others focused primarily on having enough stored supplies to out last whatever emergency they may be confronted with. Presumably they would also seek the skills necessary to live off the land in case supplies were not available for whatever reason. Perhaps even plan on bartering down the road.

A prepper is kinda in the same vein as a survivalist but usually more urban centered. While the Survivalist more than likely lives at their retreat full time a Prepper would more than likely focus on surviving in place in an urban setting or perhaps plan on being more mobile and bartering skills or stored items to set up after a collapse. They need to live in one world right now but plan for another.

Lastly there is my personal favorite (and you bet your Ass I am biased) the Sustainers. These folks encompass most everything about Survivalist and Preppers but perhaps are not as focused on living off the land or mobility. They certainly have stores of food and supplies but also plan to make their own land as self sufficient as possible. By necessity they are living on their own homesteads and already living the life to some extend with plans already laid to expand their production as this long slow collapse forces them too. 

A sustainer certainly has food stored away and plenty of ammo because he or she knows things could always get ugly before they get better but they also plan perma-culture projects and know what is needed to produce the food and other items they would need for years on their own. In many instances a Sustainer is not only thinking about themselves and immediate family but their grandchildren and great grandchildren yet unborn.

With the kind of collapse I see coming our children today maybe living with computer screens, headphones and text messages but I bet our grandchildren (or great grandchildren) will know more about grafting fruit trees than they do iphones.

Everyone is different, no argument there, but my approach to surviving the coming collapse is generational. I wish to carve out my own mini food producing empire that will sustain my current family and those who come along long after I am dust.

To me that is the main difference that sets a Sustainer apart from all the rest.

But keep Prepping Everyone as usual :)