It has become something of a joke to many conservatives to wish the worst for California due to the state’s left-leaning political structure. But what many “red” state inhabitants fail to recognize is that without Californian agriculture, the country would starve.
Fresh leafy greens, citrus fruits, almonds, avocados, rice, and so much more is grown in California, while the rest of the country – and especially America’s heartland – grows primarily genetically modified (GMO) corn, soybeans, and (hybridized) wheat.
Unless you want to be eating only high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and soybean oil next year, you had better hope that California figures out a way to get enough water to its farms, otherwise there will almost certainly be shortages of many of your favorite foods.
“I am so shocked and saddened by the comments from Midwesterners regarding California’s water shortage that I felt compelled to respond,” reads a submission from someone who reads the Desert Sun about this issue.
“Evidently, many in the Midwest are unaware that the bulk of California’s water is used for agriculture, not lawns, golf courses, or ‘thirsty people.’ The food grown and raised in California is sent all over the country, it doesn’t just stay here in California.”
Are Americans ready for nationwide food shortages?
While California’s water supply is certainly mismanaged, to say the least, the state is also facing a serious drought situation. There is only so much that can be done, in other words, to get what little water there is to everywhere it needs to be.
As we reported back in the spring, Sierra snowpack levels fell to the lowest levels in 72 years – snowpack that melts and provides water to farms.
Sure, California could stop dumping its freshwater into the ocean in order to save “endangered” fish species, or perhaps build more desalination plants. But would it be enough?
“Desalination of the ocean is one piece of the puzzle to provide water for the West Coast; however, it is also very expensive and would make any food grown with it unaffordable for the average American,” reads the rest of the reader submission to the Desert Sun.
“California could cease to grow food for the country and then we would have enough water for our own residents. Are Midwesterners ready for the nationwide food shortages that will ensue?”
To blame one side of the political aisle over the other for this mess is short-sighted. If anything, the entire country is being judged with California as the vehicle of that judgment.
In the coming months when grocery store shelves start running out of organic romaine lettuce and fresh nuts, Americans will wish they had prayed for the situation in California rather than mock it.
Perhaps the overwhelming pride of this country will face a serious wake-up call in humility once California, America’s food basket, is no longer able to deliver the things we have all learned to take for granted.
If California suffers, we all suffer. This is no laughing matter and it is not something at which to point and laugh as if it will have no impact on you.
Even if you live internationally, recognize the fact that California is a major global exporter of fresh food. Again, without the state’s agricultural system intact, most of what would remain at the grocery store would be corn and soy products as that is primarily what is grown throughout the Midwest.
“The coming dust bowl will once again be caused by ignorant farmers not learning regenerative farming; all they know is till and spray which creates serious soil problems,” wrote a commenter at Natural News about another serious problem with the way food is typically grown in the United States.
The latest news about the California drought situation can be found at FoodSupply.news.
Sources for this article include:
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Prayer or ridicule from the midwest or anywhere else won’t change anything about anything, anywhere. This article is a tangent; a meta discussion.
I can see the headlines now; “the midwest didn’t take advice to pray for miracle water to materialize in CA and now midwesterners are depending on their own local farmer’s markets for their produce….”.
I said years ago if / when the drought in CA got bad enough. The rural area will take it in the _____ . Politics over reason . More people per sq. mile in the cities . YOu want to get reelected. You make sure the women in the city can still use a flush toilet.