Poor Man
Survival
Self
Reliance tools for independent minded people…
ISSN
2161-5543
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the
homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of
totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?”
― Mahatma Gandhi
― Mahatma Gandhi
I have a dream…
Watching the Ken Burn’s documentary on the
Roosevelt family legacy
reignited my pipedream of helping my fellow citizens who have fallen out of the
middle class.
Folks during the Great Depression knew what it was like
to be poor compared to people of the 21st century [However, the cost of living
by comparison is dreadful]. Programs
such as the CCC, TVA and other programs helped rebuild America and helped
restore self respect and put some cash back in the family coffers. It didn’t end the Great Depression but it
sure helped rebuild the American spirit, unlike the welfare programs of today.
The poor of today
often have large flat screen TVs, expensive Smart phones, vehicles and nice
clothes. Back then the majority of families
remained a mom and dad unit while the majority of poor families today are
usually fatherless and having children [expected to be the majority in 10
years] out of wedlock no longer seems to carry any stigma…after all, Uncle Sam
will provide everything you need no matter how many children you have.
At this point,
approximately one
out of every three children in the United
States lives in a home without a father.
When my foreign cousins [mostly from Germany] come here
they often comment on how much stuff Americans own…to the point where they have
exhausted room for cars in the family garage and need to pay to store their
stuff. Their take is few in America are
really poor but what amazes them most is how poorly educated so many of us
seem to be.
A recent report
titled “Hunger in America 2014”
released by Feeding America, revealed that 46 million Americans have relied
on charities for food in the past year.
That equates to one in seven and we have record amounts of people who
receive food stamps. Yet, look around
you. We also boast the most obese people
in the world! More than 60% of Americans
are now considered obese.
Prior to being waylaid with a heart attack and other
health problems my plan had been to open a camp for unwed mothers, limited to
15 cabins and it would include a garden, livestock and repair shops, a communal
dining hall and library. Everyone would
be expected to pitch in whether it be food preparation, sewing, animal care, or working in the garden.
For women under
the age of 30 in the United States, more than half of all babies are being born out of wedlock.
We would also offer basic skill training covering
paramedical skills, small engine repair, electrical, plumbing and
carpentry. Education covering the three
Rs would be offered as well. Working
with animals and your hands is a proven confidence builder and helps to build
self reliance skills.
I’ll be in the hospital again this weekend to have some
devices inserted into my heart. If all
goes well, I hope to be recuperated by the spring of 2015 and plan to research
grants and or donations which will enable me to restore the non-profit status
of a group I used to be the volunteer chair of [the Minimalist Group] and will
research various groups where I might find grants to secure funding for this
10-15 acre facility…any suggestions would be welcome.
It is not enough that you have a
vision. The vision must have you.
- John Ortberg
- John Ortberg
[Incidentally, I looked at the Bill Gates Foundation and
they don’t bother much with needs in America[.
How to Research Your Family History-Free
or Cheap
I’ve paid researches to dig up information about our family tree. Lots of interesting folks in my lineage
including a Prussian General/Duke and cousin of the Red Baron along with one
ancestor who fought in our American Revolution – on both sides! {He started off on the side of the colonists, got
captured by the British and fought for them and then escaped and ended the war
on the side of the colonists].
You can earn some cash or just
have fun as this is largely a self taught hobby. Interviewing family members, searching census
records is part of the strategy. You can
increase your expertise with free seminars offered from such groups as the
Illinois State Genealogical Society [IllGenSoc.org].
You might also sign up with the
Association of Professional Genealogists [APGen.org] and there are plenty of online
sites which are helpful including:
FindMyPast.com, and the sites I’ve listed below.
FamilySearch.org.
This website is run by the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints, and includes a multitude of records for people of any religion to help in researching their family tree. FamilySearch.org is one of the best sites for accessing free records. Many of the documents come with photographs (that you can easily print for your records). A quick search turns up death, marriage, and birth certificates within seconds, even if you only know a first and last name. With millions of records on hand, this database is a great way to fill in the branches of your family tree without spending a dime.
Access the Ellis Island Records Database.
Because we're a nation of immigrants, chances are you had a relative come into the country through Ellis Island. This database is run by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, so you can search their records for free. They have more than 22 million records from immigrants who entered the US at Ellis Island or the Port of New York between 1892 and 1924. The database is very extensive, so you can search by your relative's name, the year they arrived, year of birth, town of origin, or the name of the ship they arrived on. You can also print out immigration records or ship logs relevant to your ancestor's history.
Search Social Security records.
The Social Security death index began in 1962 and has housed records on American citizens since its inception. You can search their database for free through the FamilySearch.org website. The Social Security records are a great place to start if you don't have a lot of initial information. All you need is a first and last name to begin your search. Some records have photos attached, but at the bare minimum, you can find the dates of birth or death and that person's Social Security number. This information will give you a great starting off point for further research.
This free
project has been growing since 2008. As a community we are creating a single
shared family tree using traditional genealogical sources and DNA tests. As
individuals we are connecting the tree with our private family histories.
More Resources to help
you live better…
Free Ebooks from the Poor Man Survival Crew:
>A Guide to Homemade Cleaners
>Emergency Food Buyers Guide
>Secret Sources of Finding Healing Foods
Check these sites to find ways to pay less than
retail…
>RatherbeShopping.com
>SeeAnnSave.com
>LivingWellSpendingLess.com
Got a site you’d like to share? Use the email posted at the bottom and don’t
forget to share our resources with your family and friends!
Find More DIY and Homemade ideas here:
Will You Laugh or Cry at the Coming Food Price Spikes?
So far this summer, the drought
that has decimated most of the fertile growing areas in California as well as
11 other states and has continued to scorch what crop land that remains.
The bad news is that there is no relief in sight. Most farmers are just plain giving up and are now refusing to plant as the losses mount up from previous years of farming in what has turned into a desert. In Fact, it's so bad that Tim Quinn, the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies said...
"There are places in California that if we don't do something about it, tens of thousands of people could turn on their water faucets and nothing would come out."
During the last drought-induced food crisis which took place during the Dust Bowl days, folks knew how to hunker down, live on less and grow their own food.
That's not the case today. The average American today doesn't know how to live on less, let alone grow their own food.
The bad news is that there is no relief in sight. Most farmers are just plain giving up and are now refusing to plant as the losses mount up from previous years of farming in what has turned into a desert. In Fact, it's so bad that Tim Quinn, the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies said...
"There are places in California that if we don't do something about it, tens of thousands of people could turn on their water faucets and nothing would come out."
During the last drought-induced food crisis which took place during the Dust Bowl days, folks knew how to hunker down, live on less and grow their own food.
That's not the case today. The average American today doesn't know how to live on less, let alone grow their own food.
Find the resources YOU WILL NEED here:
Yours in freedom,
Bruce ‘the Poor Man’
Got a News Tip or Resource to Share With the Poor Man?
Send it to: PoorManSurvivor@Gmail.com
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