An employee’s guide to catabolic collapse

[phantom power]

Before looking at what jobs are likely to be available, perhaps it is worth discussing the revival of part of the economy that only a couple of generations ago was integral to virtually everybody’s life; the household economy. The backyard vegie patch, a few chickens, some fruit trees, home made preserves and clothes; these are some of the elements of the household economy that were a vital part of our ancestor’s way of life, and no doubt will be part of ours in the not too distant future. For the doubters, the potential of the household economy is significant. As an example, during World War Two the Victory Gardens program saw some 40 per cent of vegetables consumed in the USA being grown in backyards and other small plots. Reducing your reliance on the formal economy is one way of reducing the impact of disruptions caused by job losses or other systemic failures that are likely to occur in the future. Indeed, as the formal economy contracts and fewer employees are required, both the number of people ‘employed’ in the household or informal economy informal economy and its productivity are likely to grow dramatically.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7752

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. +1,000,000,000 another thing that is going to help is the decentralization of

power generation. Fuel cell substations, micro turbines and the like.

[jwirr]

2. Decentralization of almost all things will help us more than large

corporations that will fail eventually. I love this post. It is what I have been helping my kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to set up. Don't forget to learn how to preserve those items. I do not like the Mormon church but I have one book of theirs in my library - it tells how much one needs to have available for living one year. My mother used to can what she knew she needed until the next crop would ripen. There are so many things we can do to prepare for the disruptions in our life. The one area that I can see as a real problem is health care - especially medicines. In my opinion the fact that our meds are made off shore is tantamount to a national security issue.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Homegrown Veggies Also Taste Better