By Michael, on March 13th, 2013 
By Stacey Thompson
As it stands, individuals have very little power to stop a calamity, especially one caused by nature. Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions leave the land scarred and momentarily unusable; this includes its capacity to provide life giving nourishment to the creatures that live on it.
Humanity is no less reliant on the earth than the rest of the biosphere, but thanks to our race’s penchant for innovation and tool use, we are able to fare much better than the rest of them despite the trials that the natural world puts us through. Our knowledge and technological advances allow us to tame the wilds and reap bigger yields from it, often times to the detriment of the environment and the other living beings that inhabit it.
Focusing back on the present situation, the planet has become a tad more inhospitable; the global warming proponents are not exactly too happy that their projections are being realized. Of all the problems generated by this phenomena, flooding has taken the center stage. It would have been alright if after the waters recede, the land would all be reclaimed, but the fact is that we are literally losing ground to the oceans.
We, the humans that have decided to be more self-sustaining and conscientious of the environment and the rest of the biosphere, are at a great disadvantage, seeing how the rest of civilization is behaving. It is imperative that we take matters into our own hands and prepare while the rest of the world callously abuses the planet’s resources. If they will not listen after the many warnings given, then we have no choice but to move on without them.
Paramount in our hierarchy of needs is the ability to grow and produce food. My ideas focus on the steps that work towards the end of food sustainability.
Seeking Higher Ground
If we are to start a new haven of self-sustainability, it would have to be on higher ground. Flooding is obviously a bigger possibility in the coastal areas, and in the long run, as ocean levels rise, the coastal maps will definitely be redrawn, with more land going under the sea. Though I do not cherish the idea that a “Big One” will happen (flood, earthquake, etc.), we should not eliminate that from the list of things that could happen.
Fortunately, there are many areas in the world that have plenty of rich, arable acres inland; quite affordable in comparison to the overpriced seaside properties. Securing such parcels of land should be one of the first steps to undertake.
Equipment (and lots of it)
Given the size of the land you will be working on (and very likely it is undeveloped), it will be necessary for you to have large earthmoving and agricultural equipment to make it happen. It need not be expensive, however. Searching through equipment marketplace sites like Rock & Dirt and NextTruck Online, you can find some lucrative deals on surplus vehicles and equipment that still have many years of good service left in them.
The heavy equipment won’t operate by themselves, though. Find the time to learn and actually get certified to operate these machines. It is definitely a useful skill set to have, useful immediately and in the event that things just don’t pan out for humankind.
Find the Right People
Noah had to make do with his sons and in-laws, but you don’t have to. There are many like-minded and progressive folks out there that are willing to work with people with the same ideals. Don’t rely on just online meetings; go ahead and meet people and talk about food production and other related topics to find out what they have in mind. Ideas get better as they are developed by more people.
I fervently hope that we never have to see the calamitous scenarios that we are so scrupulously preparing for. Live well, everyone!
About the Author
Stacey Thompson is a professional writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and a lover of weird little animals. She is based in San Diego, California, and is maintaining a blog that her group of friends is contributing to, Word Baristas.
