In these unprecedented times—at least unprecedented in the lifetimes of most of us—we have an extra push to take care of some of those important but not yet urgent tasks of preparing for the cold. Fortunately we haven’t experienced too many supply chain disruptions yet during the pandemic, but we’ve become more aware of the potential for these. Here are a few questions to consider… Have you stocked up on matches? Have you stocked enough fuel for the winter? If you heat with wood, is your chimney cleaning overdue? If there were to be a power outage, do you have enough warm clothes and blankets to keep everyone comfortable for a good night’s rest? Do you have candles or solar lights as a backup? Do you have snow tires or chains? Are roof leaks and air drafts patched up? …
Currently we are working continuing the 2019/20 “Designing for Community Resiliency and Emergency Planning” work that we did with the amazing folks at CHANGING WORLD and OUR good friend and permaculture/emergency planning teacher CHRIS GILMOUR….his big message these days:
Spending extended time observing nature helps cultivate valuable and essential traits that can help us in a changing climate and world. Ones that are transferable to all aspects of our modern life and are very useful when times get tough we need to be;
Developing focus for extended periods of time, (in a world where ADHD is an epidemic.
Learning by observing, asking YOURSELF questions, and trying to solve them, as opposed to being taught or searching it on Google.
Sitting still with a calm and present mind (in a world where anxiety is also an epidemic).
Understanding what normal climate, weather, or natural patterns is and what is not.
If we all work together we can begin some continue the important work that OUR ECOVILLAGE has been doing supporting neighbourhoods in Asset Based Planning and Recovery Design (such as taught at Tamarack Institute)