[Hermit]

We are more or less self sufficient now.
We grow all our veg with plenty to sell, more next year as we have now accumulated ploughing and harvesting gear. And collect as much of our own seed as poss.
Meat...We have one rule if it does not produce we dont keep it. So we have geese, turkeys, hens ducks, sheep, and goats for meat. Rabbits also a plenty. Pasture pigs soon.
Fish... We have our own sea fishing boat and a trout burn. We also have creels
Eggs... plenty to sell and eat.
Milk. Cheese etc again the goats.
Fuel we have our own peat banks which can last us a good deal of the year. Fuel for the tractor, boat and car.mmmm We did downsize the car to a runabout as the tractor does the heavy work and the car runs forever on a tank of fuel.
Hay and silage.. we do our own, more fodder crops to be grown next year hopefully.
Water . we are on mains but the crofter before us had a well built by the water folk which we plan to use in the future.
Booze, one of the more important things!!! so the next step we are brewing our own as we have now got all the gear together.
Preserves ..all our own with enough to sell as well.
Leccy ,, our only reliance but use very little as we dont do gadgets  and if it was not for the freezers could easily go off grid. But we are looking at a private use turbine. A rayburn does the water ,most of the heat and the cooking.
So we would do pretty well looking after ourselves. No mortgage, loans, cards etc and no commercialism here so money spending is at a minimum .  And only two bedrooms so NO! just joking anyone welcome anytime.

[tizaala]

What a depressing read this thread is. You have gone into a tailspin Just because a few disgruntled students camp out side a high profile establishment to complain about the system that gives them their weekly handout , ( did you  notice that they all had new tents? ) and as usual one of these idle wasters has to pick up his guitar and sing his stupid protest song,, they make no contribution at all to the society they complain about , yet they think they have the right to disrupt other peoples lives. Stick them in uniform and let them negotiate with the Taliban , perhaps they could sing them into changing their ways.
As for the oil shortage, what oil shortage? the Falkland war was only engaged because of the vast reserves that are there, they haven't even begun to explore Brazil and the rest of South America yet,
The European economic situation  is unsustainable in it's present form , mainly because of wastage by bureaucracy and mismanagement by Brussels , as for member states with financial difficulties then cast out not bail out should be the order of the day.
And as for our own government -------If they stopped giving away billions to third world dictators to buy arms with then they wouldn't have to steal the pensioners heating allowance ( over 65s lost £50, over 80s lost £100 this year ), how are they expected to cope when the winter bites.
If you have running water on your land then you can rig up a car alternator to provide you with 12v lighting , it's good enough for sheds,
Yes , be self sufficient
Yes , be independent.
No , the world isn't ending, just evolving a bit more, Our grand parents and parents went through much worse.

[Rosemary]

Here, here, tizaala 

[Sylvia]

Tiz, have you ever considered standing for Parliament? We would all vote for you.

[Hermit]

I thought this post was more tongue in cheek than that serious. Not depressing just a scenario.

[doganjo]

I thought this post was more tongue in cheek than that serious. Not depressing just a scenario.

That was my impression too - which is why I added the comment about semaphore and pigeons! 

[deepinthewoods]

im not depressed!!! i think its quite exciting really!!

i agree, that my grandparents and great grandparents had much more to deal with, its just a shame that all the baby boomers jumped on the debt merry go round and left that as an inheritance for future generations. ive enver had a loan in my life or a credit card, and guess what, i couldnt get one if i wanted one because ive no proven credit history. daft really.

[Plantoid]

When the ship hits the fan ?

I've got my eye on the pair of scribble serpents that live next door , all knives in the knife block are razor sharp and I have three 25 kg bags of gritting salt to salt them down , plus I have several kg of honey and a brick built barbie .

 I'll get my own back for them bullying  verball abusing & trying to intimidate me for being disabled and struggling to try and do things.
 Revenge is sweet and best eaten cold 

 If the old cow is too tough I'll feed it to their dog  and then eat that when she's all gone .

[robert waddell]

a dog is for any day of the week      not just for xmas

[Plantoid]

 :DThats what started the problem .

I was hacked off at her turning it out letting her mutt yap itself bloody stupid at all hours of the day or night.
 I asked her to get it under control or let me have it for my mutt's dinner , because the incessant yapping was destroying the quality of my life and that of the neighbours.

[MAK]

I guess that we are all agreeing that the outcome of the current economic crisis will result in great social change. Just like the end of communism a few years back. Such a dramatic change was generally welcomed in the east because  they had little and saw the potential for better quality of lives. Now ( across Europe) the change is not welcome but feared because it will worsen quality of life for millions. How will urban populations react ?
 I have witnessed frightening behaviour at Tescos when an oil strike limited what was on the supermarket shelves.
I agree that many of us have the inclination and skills to try and be as independent as possible. We could even do without our laptop and this web site.  My worry is how the great unwashed will stomach the pending social change and any likely crisis such as rationing of power or fuel.
I would suggest that putting a few days walking distance between ourselves and large urban ( supermarket dependant) areas could be sensible.   

[doganjo]

I would suggest that putting a few days walking distance between ourselves and large urban ( supermarket dependant) areas could be sensible.

A good idea in theory but in practice you'd need to sell your present property to one of the great unwashed  and be able to afford something suitable.  Unfortunately not an option fro me, so I guess I'll just need to dig a moat and pout in spikes.

[RUSTYME]

 The thing is , nobody knows what is about to happen .  But it is certain that there are huge changes on the way .
 For those in the mock , ridicule and attack brigade , which usually , but not always , includes the nonbelievers , good luck to them , and i genuinely hope they are right . I , however , think they couldn't be more wrong if they tried .
 But they are entitled to their opinion as am i .
 I live the way i do because i want to , it is that simple . It just so happens that if things do go tits up , my way of life would be nearer the new norm , than it is to the norm that most live now .
  Why do the m, r, a, brigade feel the need to take the piss out of those that take precautions against events they think are likely to happen ?
 I bet most , if not all , of the m , r , a , brigade ,have car , house , life insurance ? Is that not the same thing ? , just they are doing it with money . 
 If reading something depresses me , i just don't  read it ! I go dig the veggie plot , perhapse the m, r , a , brigade should go earn even more money to buy even more stuff and more financial security , and they , like me , wouldn't have time to be depressed .
 Cheers russ

[MAK]

Yep - but if you can sell up in these hard times then it is easy to find what you need for a small holding in a VERY rural area.
We got away from semi urban life ( Cambridge) last year. With little spare cash we bought a house and 2 sod off big barns with all the land we need for our small holding. In France ! We do not have a pool but a great piggery, full cellar and barn full of food for the winter. All in 8 months.
It is far easier to live the life we all aspire to here because land is cheap and there are so many homes for sale ( the young people prefer towns and not the old ways of near self sufficiency).  Markets sell all animals,feed, tools etc for the rural life and locals embrace and welcome our efforts.
What an escape and just in time. 

[RUSTYME]

 As you say , just in time !
 I wish i was that brave ! Plus i only have 6 acres in wales , literally not a penny to my name , so i will have to sit it out where i am .   
 No pool though ! How do you cope ? lol .