Tools and Resources

As crazy as it initially feels to be purchasing things for climate change adaptation, remember the mad panic when we went into lockdown for Covid-19. It’s definitely better to prepare early than be one of the last people to realise what is happening and be fighting with people over the last spade!

If you would like to start preparing your household for the predicted weather conditions expected for our current climate trajectory here is a starting point. I’ll add to this as I think of more or as other people give me suggestions – please feel free to give me some! Obviously not everyone will be in a situation where they can afford all of these, just do what you can. The best advice, though, is to buy the best quality you can find, the era of buying cheap, short lived junk is over – it’s time to return to the days when tools were made that well they could be passed to the next generation.

  • water tanks (as many as you can afford and fit)
  • solar system plus batteries
  • metal watering can
  • chickens and related items
  • metal buckets
  • metal storage bins
  • metal gardening tools – spade, pitchfork, hoes, pick axe, long handled shovel, post hole digger
  • wheelbarrow
  • whet stone
  • water purification unit
  • needles and threads
  • storage jars
  • food preservation unit (such as a Fowlers system)
  • oat roller
  • electric chainsaws (yes they’re a thing now!)
  • jars
  • torches, ideally rechargeable, batteries, candles, matches, flint and steel
  • cast iron cooking pots
  • first aid kit
  • radio
  • fishing gear
  • food dehydration unit

Your Own Library

You can also build your knowledge base that is easily accessible by buying books on self sufficiency or skills you can teach yourself (keep your eye out in op shops etc as they will often have appropriate books to pick up). I’m also including some at the end on how to deal with the whole climate change mess that are also inspiring and useful.

Here are some that I have been collecting:

  • The Weed Forager’s Handbook by Adam Grubb and Annie Raser-Rowland
  • Soap Making with Natural Ingredients by Sarah Ade
  • Wild Food Plants of Australia by Tim Low
  • The Ultimate Guide to Raising Farm Animals by Laura Childs, Jennifer Megyesi etc
  • Keeping Chickens an Australian Guide by Nicolas Brasch
  • The Knitting and Crochet bible by Claire Crompton and Sue Whiting
  • The Practical Spinners Guide – Wool by Kate Larson
  • The Art of Repair by Molly Martin etc
  • The Art of Fixing things by Margit Leider etc
  • Backyard Self Sufficiency by Jackie French
  • The Self Sufficiency Manual by Alison Candlin
  • Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow, Rob Allsop and David Holmsgren
  • Home Cheese Making in Australia by Valerie Pearson
  • A first aid book (ideally for Australia) there are quite a few
  • Backyard Medicine by Julie Brunton-Seal and Matthew Seal
  • Fire Country by Victor Steffenson
  • Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
  • This one wild and precious life by Sarah Wilson
  • Beyond Climate Grief by Jonica Newby