WannabeHippie: How the New Sustainable Californian Gets Prepared for Earthquakes
Back off Maya, those fluffy chicks have work to do.
We say they are “Totally Unprepared” but really that’s not true.
The Gingerys are on their way to being totally prepared, just like you. We helped the Gingerys see how easy it is to adapt their lifestyle for earthquake preparedness.
The Gingerys want to live as sustainably as possible, and living sustainably is a great way to get prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse, and other smaller threats like earthquake.
The solar panels on their house mean that they are not utterly dependent on the San Diego power grid for electricity while reducing their monthly bill significantly. Those solar panels literally saved their bacon when San Diego lost electrical power in the multi-state blackout that darkened San Diego for over 5 hours on September 8th of this year.
They have a flock of 14 chickens, and a vegetable and fruit garden. The chickens provide them with entertainment, an unending supply of delicious free range eggs, and between that and the produce from their own garden, a guarantee that there will be plenty of food if they end up isolated at their home for days after an earthquake. Now that’s what I call food security!
The rain barrel on their property means they are not so utterly dependent on the municipal water supply. They are also reclaiming grey water from their laundry for watering their fruit trees.
They also do all sorts of home projects, from painting and fixing what’s broken, to making Kombucha.
Living a sustainable lifestyle ends up being a great way to be prepared for earthquakes. Look at the way you live. You may find that you too have many of the resources you need to look after yourself after the big one hits.
Elaine Gingery is a prolific blogger who details their adventures in DIY living in Wannabehippie. She tells stories of chicken-raising, house and garden renovating, and the adventures of being a self-sufficient family in today’s consumer culture world.
By Elizabeth Rood