There are so many things going on right now that we take our focus off the coming days. Now since the summer is coming to a close and the fall is rolling in, we’ll be seeing empty shelves again in the grocery stores and a lack of other resources. We must look forward to positive things happening in our future, but all of us have to prepare for anything bad to come. What are you doing to prepare for the days ahead? What are some tips you have that can help your people? (Answer the best way you can and be free to converse with myself/others)
I’m asking these questions out of concern and I would like to get back on track with preparation. Ever since Covid started, I learned more about the importance of stocking up on food, water, and other essentials. The bad part is not having space for stuff (especially if you live in an apartment/condo). I remember in 2020/2021 we had canned food, water, paper towels all over the dinning room and some in the living room. Even though I live in a new apartment with more cabinet space and a bigger storage unit than the previous apartment, I am still overwhelmed with apartment space (I wish I could live in a house right now). But once my family and I reorganize, I believe we will have additional space for food, water, and other necessities soon.
Last week a family member gave us a furniture piece for the living room that has a storage unit built in. So we can put canned foods in it. Right now we have water in storage, but it’s not enough to last us for a year or more. I will have to take inventory this week so I can figure out how much water to get. My household primarily drinks Crystal Geyser natural spring water. We consume other natural spring/alkaline water too depending on some things. I can understand now that more people are starting to buy up water because of the water crisis nationwide. Not only are Black residents in Jackson, Mississippi going through their water issues, but certain zip codes in (majority Black) Baltimore city recently had e-coli detected in the water. I guess our people are seeing now the importance of having water, because people are coming into stores like the dollar store (I have inside knowledge) asking if any water is in stock. So far water shortages are going to be happening more if the trucks don’t deliver regularly.
My plan is to start going through other avenues to access clean drinking water. I like filtered water, but natural spring/alkaline is better. I know of a black owned water company that serves the DMV and I’ve purchased from them in the past. I have to buy a membership from them soon. By the way, I will share this business among others on here today or some time this week. Back to what I was saying, I’m going to start buying water again from the black owned business. The only reason why I haven’t been purchasing from the shop is because I haven’t had time. My mother and I have to drive to another county to pick up the water, but we will just have to plan on going forward with it at least once a month if not most.
I must give credit to people like Queen Ahmadiyyah Shakur because she has always stressed for our people to stock up on food and water since the fall of 2020. I can remember seeing videos of people in grocery stores and the shelves were empty and I’ve seen someone in Walmart saying the workers are being told to throw out non contaminated foods. I hate how many people here (especially white folks) waste food. The waste of food also comes along with product contamination/recalls which Queen Shakur always reports on. I remember her questioning are people being told to throw out their food so that they have nothing to eat. I don’t think we truly understand the severity of this. For instance, just imagine going to the grocery store and buying food. You come home and get alerted that the same food you just purchased may be contaminated and you’re ordered to discard it. Now what, and do you see the problem?
I don’t want to keep on going on about this part, but I just feel like something isn’t right for a company to manufacture food and not be 100% sure that the equipment is properly sanitized, other health regulations are followed to a T, and no food becomes contaminated.
These issues are pushing me to purchase more local food products and continuing to visit farmer markets. The only bad thing about farmer markets (ones I am aware of) are the farmers are white, but at this point you patronize where you can for the best products (just as long as you don’t deal with anti-black racism). Another issue is farmers markets are open from May to October/December. The one I have been visiting for some years now extended their services until December. But after that you have to go back to regular markets.
Back to survival, I need to attempt to grow in the apartment again. I had a bit of a hard time doing this due to lack of space, sun light exposure (I have to use a plant light), and equipment. I managed to get pepper plants started months ago, a leman seed sprout, and a avocado tree growing from the pit. It didn’t work out and I lost my focus. Another way I wanted to prepare was to began canning. I have the equipment in storage, but have yet to start. I think once I can regain my focus, I’ll be able to prepare more.
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