Hi folks.

Some people know me as a Hemp advocate, others as "That Worm Guy", talking about organic gardening, not needing any chemiKills in my food. Some people know me as a professional Psychic and others as a Drummer or maybe as "Magicfingers" Mike ( I am a Reflexologist). Considering some of the things I do, many people are surprized when I talk about being a survivalist. Many of the things I now do do not have a high viability and high priority in the future. Yes there is always a need for music but in the future I will not expect to get paid money to perform, most likely a meal may be my fee. One day Hemp and Cannabis will be free to grow anywhere anytime and it will be cheap, but we are not there yet so I will continue my work there till things change. Because of the economic downturn, that may actually speed up the changes.There is no pay in being an advocate. I have to do something to make money while is has some worth. I read Tarot Cards. It is a gift I have that runs in my family. If/when the internet goes down I will have to go back to face to face readings. There is not a lot of call for a Tarot reading when all hell is breaking loose. Oddly enough people will still go to a psychic if the matter is important enough. Massage and Reflexology will also not be high on the list. It is a good skill if you want to trade favours and such. I can help out as a medic's assistant because I know my way around a body better than the average joe and I am comfortable touching people. I have helped perpare a friend of mine's body for burial. They will need people who can handle dead bodies in the future. Not many people know I practice Tai Chi. That is one of the things that will be very needed in the future. Not many know I am a bicycle mechanic. I could (if I had to) take a bicycle apart down to the bearings and put it back together again. I have most of the common tools I have need of; only 2 special ones that I have not got yet. I am working on that this summer. I also went to George Brown in Toronto and got my C.E.T. so I know electronics too. I know there will be a need for guys like me. The next trade I want to tackle is blacksmith. If I can make my own forge, I would be able to make my own tools and repair other tools. I would be able to make replacement parts for bikes.

I did not want to turn this into a long brag session, sorry about that. I am just good at a lot of thngs. My point is 85% of the people who still have jobs right now will have to learn completely new skills in order to still gain employment. The many who are out of work right this moment, think of this time as a time that you can work on new skills. I love camping. Some people hate it. I say to those who hate it, at the very least gain a couple of the basic skills of camping. We dod not know what is before us. There may be a time when you will be very glad you decided to learn some of the basics. If you had to "Bug - Out" and live in a tent for a month, could you? How about 3 months? Still with me, ok 1/2 a year in a tent- can you do it? Still with me? good How a bout a year? Do you know all that you need to know to survive in a tent in all four seasons? It would be a lot easier if that tent was off some white beach at Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Your diet would have a lot of fish and peepa's in it. I would pay to do something like that down then, but then again I have a thing for fresh mangoes--- mmmmmmmmmmm. Sorry food took my off topic. Actually food can get me right back on topic. Does one of your skillsets include the ability to grow a garden with out any chemiKills? if it does not, I would hop on that as my main priority. The only way to have food security is if everyone grows something. Even the First Lady down in the States is growing an organic garden. Good for her.

I want you to do your homework and look in to the recent past to see how things where done with a lot less machines to do the work, because that is where we are going back to. I am now going to wash up before going to bed. All I have to do is turn a tap and like magic, hot clean water will come out. think of how many hours you would have to gather wood,make a fire, haul water and get it up to hot.

I want you to really think about that!

Michael J. Kaer, author of "What Money Can't Buy" part 1 & 2

Hi folks.

You can now go to a group I joined to see the photos of my first 4X4. The site is at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=72414842758 . My friend Lance started this one. He helps out with the local community gardens project here in Chatham. The wood and the panel sides I got from my neighbour's garbage (with her permission). I like the fact that it is all recycled stuff and I did not have to pay anything for it. My biggest cost was for seed. I had spent a few bucks on a type of peatmoss substitute, but that was an experiment, so I do not add that to the costs here. I also paid for some of those small peat moss pellets. They did not work with what I was trying to grow so they got tossed in. Again I am not adding the cost of the pellets because that is not a real cost. I want to look at when I buy a few bags of soil and add those costs down the road. Down the road even farther I will not be able to get soil( assumming most of the stores have shut down). On a side note, I think stores like Canadian Tire will continue on but a much subdued store with less gadgets and more "real" tools. As the cheap imports turn into expensive imports our exports will have to increase. At somepoint all trade is going to come to a standstill and then a slow but steady trickle will start up from that point. The time could be coming soon where our money is not going to be worth toilet paper( not soft enough) and the only things that will have value is seeds, produce and fresh fish, tools, guns and ammo, bows and arrows, books, toilet paper,knives,needles and pins, sturdy and longlasting cookware (cast iron)... anything that has real value. A rookie card in any sport, even if it is signed by the player, is not worth anything intrinsically. It is only worth something in exchange for something else. Something "Priceless" could also be "Worthless" if no one is willing to trade you for it. Go around your house and see if there are any "Priceless" gems you are willing to let go of. I have a few trinkets that do not have value outside of certain circles. If I sold them, that money could get me some more batteries or a solar panel or several bike tire tubes. It could even buy one of those expense bicycle tools that helps you take off the gears from the back tire. There are a few special tools need, but I have most of the tools I need for right now. I can not buy those tools or special items when everything is shut down, so now is the time to get them. We can prosper our way out of this mess , but it will take time and a change in many thoughts. Good luck