Fortunately and unfortunately, my wife is absolutely crushing it with her career. It’s great because as long as civilization holds on, it will allow for all the things, both prep and non prep related. It sucks because I’m waiting for her to realize that she’s reaping the benefits of a system that’s killing the planet and that we need to abandon if we want to orchestrate the most advantageous landing spot for our family.
But she knows how I think. She knows what I want. I’ve said many times I keep beating the drum not because I think I’ll sway somebody with a single, well crafted argument or analogy. But because they might have their awakening a bit sooner than they otherwise would. That’s the best we can hope for, in my experience, and it might end up working better than I’m anticipating. It might actually save lives.
While I’m terrified of what 2026-2027 El Niño will unleash, I’m hoping it leads to me experiencing the shift you’ve been experiencing.
Oh my friggin god. I'm a normal earthy crunchy 60yo.
I JUST STARTRD THIS PAST MONTH moving on. I've combatted global warming since 1980. I gave up. So so so much more. Until now. I'm living. We are exactly in sync. I'm amazed. I hope I continue. That's my fear.
Very interesting progress on the dew harvester, Jessica. I'll be interested to read more of your results. You mentioned plant transpiration. Do you think certain plants would help more, such as deep, extensive roots, or is the more humid air close to the ground (3 ft.) enough, regardless of the plants in the area? The article you linked is also interesting.
We'll see! So far, 3 feet seems like enough but I suspect thick grass and flowers, etc, with thick roots would help. I don't think it should be right over them but adjacent. I might have to use PVC for the test frame because galvanized pipe is...scarce for some reason.
At the moment I'm teaching my 14 year old son about rules and, unbeknownst to him, critical thinking by getting him to look at rules and decide which are worth following. We start by looking at the rules that benefit society vs those that benefit individuals and specifically those that benefit individuals or groups at the cost of society. And then we move on to the cost of breaking those rules. It's a specific view on the legal vs moral arguments put into practice.
The water harvesting comment made me think of this and today we have too many rules that benefit a small group at the expense of society and it is a moral imperative that they be broken. But quietly, subtly, all while telling those in 'authority' "Yes sah, of course sah", while we carry on building our own homestead on the cotton plantation of authority.
This is right where I am tbh... I've been dooming for a while, and I'm anxious to start doing instead. Both have their place tbh, but the doing is what ultimately matters. It's just hard when I don't own the place where I live, and don't have access to soil... There's gotta be smaller projects I can work on or skills to learn in the meantime.
The 'doing' is the exciting part - it gives a sense of agency. We've formed a small group in our area that is focusing on skill sharing in response to systems collapse - food growing, health etc etc. It's the community and sense of local connection that gives me 'hope' as opposed to the hopium that we can turn this around. I am a household of one and can't do it all on my own.
Hi Jessica, I drilled my own well last year so I didn't have to pay for irrigation water for my yard. I get about 500 gallons a day and in an emergency I can use it to supply water to our house. Here in California it doesn't rain in the Summer when I need water so a well makes more sense. I found a very economical storage system - they are called IBC tanks. They hold 300 gallons each and can be daisy chained together. Used ones sell for $50.00 each in my area (SF Bay Area) and they can be daisy chained together. Every two days I use most of the water in my four tanks and then they refill. The tanks are clear plastic so algae will grow inside after a while if they aren't covered - that's the only downside.
"Slowly and surely, community is happening. Not because we forced it. We’re building it, and we’re attracting the right people to us."
One of the principles of Anarchism is that you set up alternatives to whatever it is you despise or see failing, and eventually, when people see it working, they'll join in. You might be years on your own with whatever that alternative is, then, within a decade, everybody is doing it.
Only the system will fight back. If your water companies are privatised, expect them to try and force an ordnance through your local legislature to ban home water harvesters.
YES, and congrats on breaking through to the action side! Whether it feels like a sudden shift or a gradual one, it is what happens when we recognize that information is good, but only takes us so far. Imagination and inspiration carry us forward!
Well, I just have to *build it* now, the final model. :) The hinged option is looking difficult and expensive for something we'll probably want to leave up anyway. So I'm thinking permanent install. Looking forward to definitive results!
I'm just thrilled that I figured out how to collect dew on a surface and make it run off. This is a big win. Fingers crossed that coated aluminum works even better.
It ought to work better. I get using a more rigid frame in what I understand your set up to be. You might want to try schedule 80 pvc rather than metal - just a thought. (If it’s steel, heat transfer might lessen collection)
Love this.
Fortunately and unfortunately, my wife is absolutely crushing it with her career. It’s great because as long as civilization holds on, it will allow for all the things, both prep and non prep related. It sucks because I’m waiting for her to realize that she’s reaping the benefits of a system that’s killing the planet and that we need to abandon if we want to orchestrate the most advantageous landing spot for our family.
But she knows how I think. She knows what I want. I’ve said many times I keep beating the drum not because I think I’ll sway somebody with a single, well crafted argument or analogy. But because they might have their awakening a bit sooner than they otherwise would. That’s the best we can hope for, in my experience, and it might end up working better than I’m anticipating. It might actually save lives.
While I’m terrified of what 2026-2027 El Niño will unleash, I’m hoping it leads to me experiencing the shift you’ve been experiencing.
There's certainly nothing wrong with building a cash cushion. Many of us are going to have to keep straddling the two worlds.
Oh my friggin god. I'm a normal earthy crunchy 60yo.
I JUST STARTRD THIS PAST MONTH moving on. I've combatted global warming since 1980. I gave up. So so so much more. Until now. I'm living. We are exactly in sync. I'm amazed. I hope I continue. That's my fear.
Very interesting progress on the dew harvester, Jessica. I'll be interested to read more of your results. You mentioned plant transpiration. Do you think certain plants would help more, such as deep, extensive roots, or is the more humid air close to the ground (3 ft.) enough, regardless of the plants in the area? The article you linked is also interesting.
We'll see! So far, 3 feet seems like enough but I suspect thick grass and flowers, etc, with thick roots would help. I don't think it should be right over them but adjacent. I might have to use PVC for the test frame because galvanized pipe is...scarce for some reason.
Galvanized electrician's conduit might be strong enough. Or is that in short supply, too?
That's exactly what I just switched to. There's more of it for sure. :)
They had me at “Lex Luthor’s irl twin”
At the moment I'm teaching my 14 year old son about rules and, unbeknownst to him, critical thinking by getting him to look at rules and decide which are worth following. We start by looking at the rules that benefit society vs those that benefit individuals and specifically those that benefit individuals or groups at the cost of society. And then we move on to the cost of breaking those rules. It's a specific view on the legal vs moral arguments put into practice.
The water harvesting comment made me think of this and today we have too many rules that benefit a small group at the expense of society and it is a moral imperative that they be broken. But quietly, subtly, all while telling those in 'authority' "Yes sah, of course sah", while we carry on building our own homestead on the cotton plantation of authority.
Jessica, there are few on Substack I'm more certain to read than you.
Because you do things. You work to live in the world being built around us. An ounce of sweat is worth more than 10,000 gallons of bullshit.
If you guys ever travel through Missouri (probably not likely I know) I hope you stop by and visit us.
This is right where I am tbh... I've been dooming for a while, and I'm anxious to start doing instead. Both have their place tbh, but the doing is what ultimately matters. It's just hard when I don't own the place where I live, and don't have access to soil... There's gotta be smaller projects I can work on or skills to learn in the meantime.
The 'doing' is the exciting part - it gives a sense of agency. We've formed a small group in our area that is focusing on skill sharing in response to systems collapse - food growing, health etc etc. It's the community and sense of local connection that gives me 'hope' as opposed to the hopium that we can turn this around. I am a household of one and can't do it all on my own.
Hi Jessica, I drilled my own well last year so I didn't have to pay for irrigation water for my yard. I get about 500 gallons a day and in an emergency I can use it to supply water to our house. Here in California it doesn't rain in the Summer when I need water so a well makes more sense. I found a very economical storage system - they are called IBC tanks. They hold 300 gallons each and can be daisy chained together. Used ones sell for $50.00 each in my area (SF Bay Area) and they can be daisy chained together. Every two days I use most of the water in my four tanks and then they refill. The tanks are clear plastic so algae will grow inside after a while if they aren't covered - that's the only downside.
"Slowly and surely, community is happening. Not because we forced it. We’re building it, and we’re attracting the right people to us."
One of the principles of Anarchism is that you set up alternatives to whatever it is you despise or see failing, and eventually, when people see it working, they'll join in. You might be years on your own with whatever that alternative is, then, within a decade, everybody is doing it.
Only the system will fight back. If your water companies are privatised, expect them to try and force an ordnance through your local legislature to ban home water harvesters.
YES, and congrats on breaking through to the action side! Whether it feels like a sudden shift or a gradual one, it is what happens when we recognize that information is good, but only takes us so far. Imagination and inspiration carry us forward!
Congrats. You stayed after it and have great results. That’s a lot of hydration
Well, I just have to *build it* now, the final model. :) The hinged option is looking difficult and expensive for something we'll probably want to leave up anyway. So I'm thinking permanent install. Looking forward to definitive results!
I looked at the photo you had at the top of your post. I assumed from that and your narrative you are building something similar.
I'm just thrilled that I figured out how to collect dew on a surface and make it run off. This is a big win. Fingers crossed that coated aluminum works even better.
It ought to work better. I get using a more rigid frame in what I understand your set up to be. You might want to try schedule 80 pvc rather than metal - just a thought. (If it’s steel, heat transfer might lessen collection)