Took a little road trip with my Dad today mostly because he likes driving around in the country I think more than anything. Stopped a picked up a pack of Sawzall blades for my plow restoration/salvage project and picked up a small truckload of logs some tree trimmer left in the back parking lot of where I work. They were really stressing about getting rid of those logs until I told em I would get em this weekend.
Hey I ain't turning down free wood.
There is this stretch of road in the Southern part of the Center section of Missouri nestled in between two small towns on a little Lettered highway that just amazes me every time I drive through it. The first thing most people new to the area notice of course are all the Mennonites and perhaps a few Amish traveling along in their horse drawn carriages or the girls and ladies in their big dresses and bonnets pedaling down the side of the highway on their bikes. I have grown up seeing such sites fairly regularly so I don't even notice half the time.
What intrigues me about this little 10 mile section of road is that almost every house or farm is some type of business.
From bicycle repair and manufacturing/sales to furniture, clocks, country stores, septic repair, excavation. Pretty much name it and within that 10 mile section of road you will find at least one business sign for it. Plenty of John Deere tractors with steel wheels too but also plenty of farms and houses that don't look to be connected to Amish or Mennonite either. Of course it is sometimes hard to tell around here because as I have mentioned before there seems to be a lot of overlap, intermingling and people who leave or hang out around the edges too.
As we were coming up on the section of road I pointed out what we were going to see ahead of time and my Dad started reading all the business signs too. He said he had been through there many times and it just never stood at to him either but once I pointed it out he was intrigued as well.
I will say this. That little community or I guess section of the countryside won't be hurting for trade-able skill sets come a collapse.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
I don't know, I guess that I am one of the few people left around here with a plow, that might come in handy. Of course I would need for the tractor to run or plan B would be for the horse to plow gardens.
ReplyDeleteSf - From what I know of agricultural machinery having one of the old Furgeson's or other old smaller tractors that continue to run after 60 years or more would be a huge bonus. seems like the guys around with the big new tractors are constantly working on them and waiting for parts etc. I sometimes think it won't be a lack of fuel that leaves those big behemoths sitting but lack of spare parts. Our old tractors are pretty basic really.
DeleteInteresting observation Preppy - and true. For many many people (to some extent myself as well) their job skills are somewhat, mostly or completely attached to 1) Electricity; 2) The Internet or Interstate/International Commerce; and 3) A Consumer society. Take any one of those three away and things change drastically - without electricity, any and all computer related jobs become obsolete.
ReplyDeleteTB - No electricity would kill most of the jobs out there or change so many that a lot of those who thought they were skilled wouldn't be any longer.
DeleteGene Logsdon writes a fair amount about this in a similar observation about the Amish/Menonites (he is in Ohio) and how many have another "job" even beyond raising an essentially self sufficient garden.
DeleteNow that's what I'm talkin' about. It sounds like a wonderful example of the agrarian model and agrarian economy. That's the way things ought to be.
ReplyDeleteLeigh - All I know is that t is unique. I noticed all the side business signs when I went through there last Summer. It is even a unique area for the Amish/Mennonites too int hat respect. I mean yes those types do have a lot of roadside businesses I have been through many of their areas and not seen so many either.
DeleteWhen I meet someone I always ask "what's your trade" and if they have to explain their job to me I'm always a little disappointed! I'm building up a network of people with different skills around here but I still try to do everything myself if I can.
ReplyDeleteKev - Building up a network is a good idea as is keeping your own skills sharp. You are certainly on the right path!!
DeleteInteresting post PP, even though my own job relies on electricity (factory work) I have enough 'tradable ' skills to be of use in the event of collapse.
ReplyDeleteYour right also about older machines being more reliable, comes down to being built simply, with pride and to last methinks.
JW - Ya those older machines just seem to be so much better made. It's really the same with all items too from can openers to tractors. I tried saying it was that way with us men a few times but not sure the Women believed me :)
DeleteThis is an interesting topic, I agree in having skills that don't rely on everything being so modern. This helps with being able to survive in small towns, on farms, etc.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's interesting that many people across the prepper/survivalist landscape don't think much about skills if life continues without a collapse. In this type of setting I get scoffed at for my job, but it pays the bills and I'm very marketable across the country. Sure, I know a lot of other stuff (I can even build a square building that leans a lot), but to some your job/trade/occupation should say it all/define you.
Someone has to make the espresso, mop the floor, deliver newspapers, stock the ice cream freezer, etc. For years I've been telling people I'm a cook, even when they ask about my military service. Nobody thinks twice about a cook, long live the brotherhood!
I don't know what i would have to offer as a trade. I guess i would have to think about it.
ReplyDelete