Prepping for when SHTF, living more self-sufficient, or just being Green?

Whether you are concerned of an economic collapse, or just want to escape back to a simpler self-sufficient lifestyle you are not alone.

People are looking for an escape back to when growing up and living the American dream was not so complex. They seek the simpler life of living less dependent, being more self-sufficient, and more in control of their lives.


There are a large growing number of people who are stocking up and purchasing equipment preparing for the worse


Others just want to escape the chaos and move back to a simpler lifestyle with fresh air, and less toxic chemicals. Some are either being forced to do so because of the loss of incomes or have decided to change from being heavy in debt and unhappy with their situation. A large number are finding self-sufficient living as being very healthy, enjoyable and rewarding.


People are just fed up with the, economy, politics, world events, dependency on foreign oil, toxic products and contaminated foods.


2012 will probably be noted in history as the year of significant changes in the way people think, work, live and purchase products. Green is in, China products are out. American made, home grown, and the small home town businesses atmosphere is beginning to return. People will become better prepared to handle whatever economic, natural or manmade disaster that can be thrown upon them.


People are adapting and finding solitude in getting out of debt, living on less, and living without the stresses of uncontrollable circumstances. Instead of eating unhealthy foods they are cooking from scratch, deciding what additives to provide the family, and knowing where their food came from. Families are once again joining together around the dining room table to talk about family values and wholesome living.


Frugal living, recycling and shopping the thrift stores is no longer living in shame, but a place to join with others who are also wanting to live more self-sufficient.


Despite those who think the world is ending, or afraid that another world war or financial collapse is about to occur in 2012. It is actually probably a good time for our country, for us to rethink the environment, politics, lifestyles, and the way we live and raise a family.

Whether you consider yourself as a prepper, a seeker for the simpler self-sufficient lifestyle, or an environmentalist, Cottage Craft Works probably has you covered with all types of back-to-basics self-sufficient off-grid products.


Stores such as Cottage Craft Works provide a wide network across many Amish communities and other small cottage industries that still make the old time products used before the grid reached some of the most remote country side areas.


It would take years of traveling the back roads to find some of these products; in fact that is how Cottage Craft Works began. With a passion for living self-sufficient, the owners have spent over 30 years traveling the back roads to find self-sufficient products. Over this time they developed many business relationships with the Amish and other small business and cottage based businesses. This network of cottage based vendors is what makes them so unique, providing some of the highest quality durable products that can be found anywhere.


Take a look at this unique online old time general store. People often remark visiting Cottage Craft Works is like taking a tour of an early Sears Roebuck and Company Catalog.

Preppers are Prepping for the future, living more self-sufficient and less dependent

They call themselves "Preppers" they are preparing for the worst

 A large and growing number of people are stocking up and purchasing equipment with the anticipation that our normal day to day lives could be disrupted or changed forever sometime in 2012. They call themselves "Preppers" and some are preparing for when Sh@# hits the fan. (SHTF). What SHTF you may ask? Well it's a large number of concerns that have all seemed too accumulated as potential issues for 2012 and beyond.


Some are deeply concerned with the economy, increasing violent crimes, hostile countries, terrorist attacks, and what they see as a potential accumulation towards a possible total economic collapse.


The large consensus of people are just having to live with less or are in fear of losing a job and have chosen to live a more frugal self-sufficient lifestyle.


Many are just fed up with corporate greed, problematic food chain contamination issues, use of pesticides and increasing importation of foods and other products from countries less concerned with passing on harmful chemical and toxins than making a profit.


Some are very concerned with their carbon foot print, and are seeking less dependency on oil and grid power.


Before jumping to conclusions and writing off certain groups as being radical or just crazy, you may just want to consider the facts and begin to also prepare for some type of disruption in your own life or begin to live a more wholesome self-sufficient lifestyle.


There is an element of people in our society who do believe and have pointed to the start of 2012 as the beginning of the end of the world.


Setting that phenomenon aside, there are plenty of other issues driving people to be genuinely concerned.


Many are preparing for another Y2K, whereas again believing the computers that run virtually every thing we depend on are at risk, from solar storms, or some other event.


Let us investigate what is driving these fears and how you may also want to become better prepared.


It is projected that solar storms will become more active and could possibly create some blackout or disruption in communications and computer equipment in the future. The debate ranges from being just a few seconds to an extended period of time.


Regardless if these are real threats or not, we do know the country is being impacted by some of the most brutal storms that have ever been recorded. These are not inconvenience storms, where power can be restored in as little as 24 hours. These storms are devastating communities, and in some cases wiping out entire towns. It is taking weeks and months to rebuild the infrastructure of power lines needed to deliver grid power back into these wide spread devastated areas. Those living in or around can attest that being without power and communications is a real issue that they were not prepared for. If it is not a storm, just the stress on the grid during peek periods bring rolling black outs and cause power plants to drop off line.


Just take a look around at the increases in computer technology that has occurred over the past decade, since Y2K. It is a fact that we have become more dependent on computers; even homes are now being equipped with computer controlled smart meters. So if you are preparing to stock up on candles, oil and battery lights in case of an extended power outage, you are already "Prepping".


There is no denial the economy is creating more crime. People have been unemployed for extended periods and are desperate to support their families. This desperation leads to an attitude of taking from others whatever they need to survive. It is a fact that crime is up and criminals are becoming more brazen in taking what they want at any time of the day or night and in places that you wouldn't have thought could be dangerous just a few years ago.


2011 gun sales were one of the hottest trends ever for a Black Friday. Gun sales continue to be a leading indicator that people are taking self protection measures more seriously. The sales of guns to females are a large and growing trend amongst total gun sales. If you have joined the ranks of purchasing a gun for self protection, you are "Prepping".


The economy and the threats of new terrorist attacks linger on every ones minds. The uneasiness of foreign struggles and financial meltdowns are a real issue. Could the country face a total economic collapse or another deeper recession is the debate.


We know people from around the world are planning daily to somehow attack, disrupt, or the American economy, sabotage our computers, and cripple our infrastructure, such as attacking the gird either physically or by the computerized systems that run it.


We often just don't realize how dependent we have become on computers. This dependency on computers now drives functionality. Stores can no longer do a cash sale without a computerized system, banks can no longer do transactions without a computerized system, and every level of transportation we now use depends on computerized systems to either run the transport or control the directional systems to get us from point A to B. So what would happen if just for a few days someone shut off a switch to every computerized system in our lives? If you are keeping a little more cash around and stocking up on some basic necessities just in case, then you are probably already "Prepping".


An aside to the Prepping discussion, people are just becoming more skeptical of the safety of the nations food supply chain. It is a fact that more and more recalls are occurring because of contaminated food entering our food supply. And then people are becoming more concerned with the additives, preservatives and the processing techniques of foods that maybe also causing more unhealthy lifestyles and diseases.


To counteract these fears people are again turning backyards into garden spaces to grow their own fresh vegetables. Others are turning back to the land to raise livestock to either produce meat, or milk and eggs. Hunting is regaining in popularity as a concern for necessity more than just being a sport. If you are turning back to the land to raise your own vegetables, livestock, or hunting to stock meat in the freezer you could be either prepping or just searching for a more wholesome and healthy self-sufficient lifestyle.


It could also be frugality, a desire to just live more green, or both. Those with a passion to lessen the impact on environment by decreasing the amount of waste they send off to the landfills are finding repurposing, or recycling a new way of looking at the products and the supplies they purchase. Plastics are becoming less attractive to consumers, not only for the landfill aspect but the carbon foot print dependency on oil to produce them. Plastic shopping bags have been completely banned in several areas.


Both preppers and environmentalist are learning to turn what would have been junk into products that they can use to live self-sufficient, as well as save some green cash. Plastic drums are being turned into compost machines and rain barrels to store rain water. Solar heating collectors are being built from aluminum cans, and other discarded sheet metal objects. Discarded glass windows are turning into green houses and covers for solar panels. 12 volt car parts are being converted to daily household products to run off batteries charged by solar or wind generators.


As history goes we may look back on all this preparedness and say it was a good time for our country. In all this chaos people are actually enjoying the purpose of learning to become more self-sufficient. They are beginning to learn new skills, get a little fresh air, more exercise and feel an accomplishment of doing something more for their families.


In the middle of disasters, Americans pull together to help common strangers, make new friends meet neighbors for the very first time and forget all about economic social classes.


Changes in attitudes change purchase patterns, which in turn reprograms the entire business cycle. If companies can't sell their toxic dependent products they will soon be forced to change to the consumers demands or go out of business. People are already turning products over to see if it is from such places as China, and if so pass on by. Many are looking for the sustainability and seek out to purchase recycled products. A shift is even beginning to occur away from the mega corporate owned chains to come back to the small downtown single owner shops that will still stop to shake a hand and say thank you.


In the preparation for Y2K many people flocked to the self-sustaining Amish communities to find off-grid equipment and supplies. Just like then companies who brought those same products to the general market became very popular as a one stop self-sufficient shopping place.


Whether you consider yourself as a prepper, a seeker for the simpler self-sufficient lifestyle, or an environmentalist, Cottage Craft Works probably has you covered with all types of back-to-basics self-sufficient off-grid products.


Stores such as Cottage Craft Works provide a wide network across many Amish communities and other small cottage industries that still make the old time products used before the grid reached some of the most remote country side areas.


It would take years of traveling the back roads to find some of these products; in fact that is how Cottage Craft Works began. With a passion for living self-sufficient, the owners have spent over 30 years traveling the back roads to find self-sufficient products. Over this time they developed many business relationships with the Amish and other small business and cottage based businesses. This network of cottage based vendors is what makes them so unique, providing some of the highest quality durable products that can be found anywhere.


Take a look at this unique online old time general store. People often remark visiting Cottage Craft Works is like taking a tour of

The Aermotor Windmill is Still USA Made and Being Manufactured

The Aermotor is the only USA made windmill which began production in 1888, it by far has been the American choice of all water pumping windmills.

There is probably not a more photographed, featured in movies, and talked about American farm and ranch item than the old time water pumping windmill. The Aermotor is the only USA made windmill which began production in 1888, it by far has been the American choice of all water pumping windmills.

You can travel in any direction across the Midwest and see the Aermotor Windmills still standing tall and many are still pumping water to livestock tanks or to replenish ponds and lakes.

Aermotor is still the preferred water pumping supply system for ranchers and farmers located in remote areas to keep their livestock water tanks full.

Like many other manufactures Aermotor used a simple system to move and lock the tail to the side. This turns the fan blades out of the direct wind in order to protect the windmill during high winds.

This feature saved many windmills used in the Midwest during violent storms and high winds and is one reason the Aermotor has survived so many years.

Many are turning back to this old time water moving machine to harvest free wind energy.

It doesn’t take long to locate an Aermotor even if the name has worn off the tail the distinctive metal bonnet gear cover located just behind the blades will tell you it is an Aermotor.

Many think this classic like many old times American made products are no longer being made, and those in use have just either been maintained or restored. The fact is Aermotor is still busy making the best windmill ever made.

The design and the parts have changed very little over all these years. Only the manufacturing process and the metals used in those parts have been modernized to benefit both the price and to make the parts last longer.

Aermotor Windmills are still built in San Angelo Texas in a modern 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.

Despite the temptation lured by imports to produce and supply cheaper parts to American manufactures, Aermotor still manufactures ever part in the USA.

Aermotor has the longest warranty in the industry, 7 years in fact.

The Aermotor pictured was erected in the 1950s and is still going strong today!

Cottage Craft Works encourages folks to work with a local Aermotor dealer in their area. If there is not one available Cottage Craft Works will be happy to sell you a new windmill or locate the needed replacement parts to repair or restore one through their Amish Aermotor dealer.

Cottage Craft Works carries brand new Aermotor Windmills, windmill towers Aermotor Parts, and Heller Aller water well pumps.

Their Amish Aermotor dealer is Troyer Windmills of Sugar Creek Ohio. They are probably one of the most established and experienced dealers in the Aermotor dealer network.

Like the Aermotor manufacturing company, Troyer Windmills also has a very long history with Aermotor. Now in their third family generation; they have been supplying and erecting Aermotor Windmills Since 1929.

For centuries the folks at Troyer Windmills have been erecting Aerator windmills across the Midwest, the Eastern states and occasionally even as far as the West Coast. They will travel almost anywhere in the United States to erect a new windmill. You can contact Cottage Craft Works to obtain an installation quote.

Windmills are sold separate of the towers allowing the customer the option of finding an existing tower and purchasing the windmill or purchasing a new tower. There is even a short stub tower available to convert another manufactured tower for the Aermotor Windmill.

Aermotor Windmills come in 6’, 8’, 10’, 12’ and 14’ blade sizes

Just need parts? You can review a parts diagram on line at Cottage Craft Works and e-mail for pricing and shipping cost. If you are relocating an existing Aermotor Windmill, you can even purchase new anchor post and cross pieces to use in the setup of an old tower.

You can purchase Aermoter Windmills, towers and parts at http://www.cottagecraftworks.com Windmills and Water Pumps.

Cottage Craft Works is a very unique on line general store featuring all the old time American made quality products that are as useful today as they were back then. Just Like the Aermotor Windmill; Cottage Craft Works carries all types of old time products and reproduction items that date back to the early 1900s following the American industrial revolution.

If you are looking for old time American made products for the home, farm, ranch, or just want to add a bit of nostalgia to your back drop, Cottage Craft Works probably has it. Many compare a tour through the Cottage Craft Works web site as like taking a tour through an early 1920s Sears Roebuck Company mail order catalog.

Sustainable Agriculture- Heller-Aller Water Well and Windmill Pumps

http://lizstevens.hubpages.com/_1u9mpimfdt8jz/hub/Sustainable-Agriculture-Heller-Aller-water-well-Windmill-pumps-since-1886?done

Certified Organic-Grains-Flours-Cereals-Healthy-Bars-All-Amish-Grown

http://lizstevens.hubpages.com/_1u9mpimfdt8jz/hub/Certified-Organic-Grains-Flours-Cereals-Healthy-Bars-All-Amish-Grown

The Aermotor Windmill from Cottage Craft Works

http://lizstevens.hubpages.com/_1u9mpimfdt8jz/hub/The-Aermotor-Windmill-is-Still-USA-Made-and-Being-Manufactured-New

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