Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs : The Thrivalist's Guide to Life Without Oil

In the latter half of the twentieth century, the percentage of the total American population living in suburbs grew to nearly fifty percent. Fossil fuels were cheap and plentiful, and car-dependent, energy-intensive lifestyles came hand in hand with this demographic transition. In the age of Peak Oil, environmental catastrophe, and a failing economy, it is imperative that we transform the suburbs into sustainable communities. Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs envisions a suburban evolutionfrom isolated cookie cutter houses with manicured lawns and two-car garages to small, closely packed, productive, interdependent homesteads. This guide to simplifying suburbia and adopting a lower energy lifestyle breaks down all our basic needs and describes how they might be met after the loss of the modern conveniences we currently take for granted. From small-space gardening techniques and a guide to small livestock to tips on cooking and heating, sanitation options, and much more, this is a complete guide to becoming more self-sufficient wherever you live. Required reading for anyone interested in increased self-reliance and a lower carbon footprint, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs will help you look past the white picket fence to a new world of possibilities. Wendy Brown is a suburban homesteader growing roots (both literally and figuratively) in southern Maine where she and her family have made the transition from a completely dependent, consumerist lifestyle to one of living debt-free in a comfortable, more efficient home in a desirable location with a bountiful garden. Front Cover; Advance Praise; Title Page; Rights Page; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgments; Preface; Day 1: Shelter; Day 2: Water; Day 3: Fire; Day 4: Cooking; Day 5: Food: Stocking Up; Day 6: Food: Long-Term Storage; Day 7: Growing Food; Day 8: Livestock; Day 9: Laundry; Day 10: Lights; Day 11: Electricity; Day 12: Waste Disposal; Day 13: Health Care; Day 14: Cleanliness; Day 15: Tools; Day 16: Building a Library; Day 17: Entertainment; Day 18: Schooling; Day 19: Networking; Day 20: Security; Day 21: Transportation; Day 22: Afterword; Bibliography; Index; About the Author. Based on the premise that we have 21 days before we lose our modern conveniences, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs is packed with practical solutions for becoming more self-reliant and transitioning to a lower energy lifestyle. From shelter to livestock to transportation to tools, this is the ultimate guide to simplifying your lifestyle while reducing your dependence on oil. Provides information on ways to create a sustainable lifestyle in the suburbs, covering such topics as growing food, keeping livestock, electricity, waste disposal, health care, entertainment, education, and networking The survival list for the thrivalist HOM022000,book