Sustainable living pioneer Marjory Wildcraft joined John B. Wells to discuss various scenarios which point to imminent collapse, the best ways to prepare and how to find a survival retreat. Wildcraft said she had been heavily involved in real estate in 1990s and early 2000s, and foresaw the economic meltdown of 2008. She expects something similarly dramatic to happen at any time and encouraged listeners to begin learning how to grow their own food. "Growing food is a solution to so many problems... that's the foundation," Wildcraft explained, noting how grocery stores have only four days worth of food and most areas have no local farm infrastructure (food travels an average of 1,500 miles to get one's table).
For those people who, like herself, want their own survival retreats for the coming dark times, Wildcraft offered some tips for choosing a location. The very first thing one should do is get in touch with a spiritual source, she said. Wildcraft shared her three-step process of 1) locating a region, 2) finding a community and 3) settling on a specific property. The region should be about 300 miles from large population centers, she advised, pointing out how disease and famine are exacerbated by population. Natural disasters, climate and proximity to nuclear power plants are other important considerations when choosing a region, Wildcraft added. She recommended listeners read Strategic Relocation and Rawles on Retreats and Relocation, as well as use tools like Google Earth.
The biggest mistake people can make is believing they can make it on their own, Wildcraft continued. Living alone and isolated is as dangerous as being in a big metropolitan area after collapse, she warned, noting that community provides both necessary social interaction and missing survival skill sets. Look for a small town with a compatible population, she directed, adding that churches, festivals and stores can provide a snapshot view of a community. Wildcraft suggested listeners start growing their own food even if they had no immediate plans to move, as the skill takes some time to master.