Tales - Sweden's Crisis Preppers

I recently watched a very interesting show by SBS Dateline titled

Sweden's Crisis Preppers. Because Sweden is viewed as a country that takes complete care of it's citizens, I was confused by why Swedish people would need to prep. My American acquaintances often use Sweden as proof that free college and free healthcare are doable. Because I know precious little about Sweden, and because I'm ultra-nosy, I watched the episode. It was so interesting that I've watched it three times since. I think there are indeed some important lessons to learn from Sweden. But maybe not the lessons my friends have been trying to tell me.

photo courtesy of fotojet

Sweden's Crisis Preppers

Sweden is often cited as the country that is doing "it" right. The country that provides free health care and free education. We all should follow this example, my friends and acquaintances tell me. Then I learn that the citizens of Sweden being sent literature encouraging them to prepare for crisis or war via "prepping".

Say what? 

Yes. The citizens have been sent literature from their government explaining how they should prep. This video interviews a couple of citizens who are prepping, and who have received the literature (but I believe both were prepping prior to the literature). The video also shows persons who are involved with Sweden's government, military, home guard, and civil emergency agency.

What I learned was that this video highlights "one of the world's most peaceful countries preparing for the worst" by educating students and citizens about prepping and decision-making during emergencies.

I learned that in the early 2000s, the defense spending was slashed. And a military of 700,000 is now only 50,000. And half of that number consists of the Home Guard. The Home Guard is comprised of citizen volunteers who train for military and medical emergencies approximately twice a year. 

I learned that the defense knowledge was lost because people thought they were safe. Currently, the government is slowly increasing the investment into military defense. But the current plan, if war occurs in their country, is to "get other countries to come and help us".

Say what?

Swedish preppers know that if something happens "you can't depend on the government to bring you food or get you water. You have to do it yourselves." It seems that this thinking is validated by the literature that was sent to the citizens and by the government deciding there is a need to rebuild their defense.

I do feel the need to say that I've never viewed anything by SBS Dateline prior to this video. I know nothing of their typical reporting styles, trends, or biases. Here is the Youtube version of SBS Dateline's Sweden's Crisis Preppers if you'd like to watch. 

My Idea of Prepping

Preppers are often viewed as outliers. There is a stereotype that preppers are only a handful of fringe people who are a bit off. The recluses that want to live as hermits and are a bit paranoid. 

In my opinion, there are some extreme preppers who are a bit over the top. A bit more extreme than I ever could be. But overall, I think there is something exceedingly important about being prepared and self-sufficient.

There have been portions of my life when there has not been enough food to eat. I had relatives who were impacted by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Though they did not talk about it, I knew that was why they were very frugal and saved many items because they "might need that later."  I was a teenager during the midwest blizzard of '78 and we were cut off from anything for days. And now I live in Maryland, where hurricanes can cause some damage and power loss. These experiences have given me a desire to be able to take care of myself for at least a few weeks at a time.

I think prepping has a very personal definition for each person who prepares. For me, prepping means that I'd love to have a large, well-stocked pantry. I'd also love to go into retirement at The Shack with the skills to feed myself with the food and animals I've grown. For me, I believe these skills help to keep a healthier me and a healthier environment. I do not think my goal is to be 100% fully self-sufficient. I don't know if that is possible for many people and I'm certain it is not possible for me.

I do know that I don't want to depend on the government to take care of me. I don't trust that will happen. Especially in light of this new knowledge that not even Sweden is prepared to care for it's citizens during a crisis event. The video, Sweden's Crisis Preppers has only reinforced my desire to continue to increase my prepping and self-sufficiency.

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The Thuja Green Giant From PlantingTree

Thuja Giant Green from PlantingTree

I am very excited to share that I have found another excellent source for obtaining plants and trees for my land at The Shack. This is a nursery that delivers big, healthy plants right to my front door. 

PlantingTree is an affordable online garden center. Their website is full of information about each plant; assisting me to create a wish list of appropriate plants that will help me reach my goals on my ridge in West Virginia. 

PlantingTree Online Garden Center

PlantingTree is a family-owned landscaping business turned online nursery and garden center that offers reasonably priced plants. Their website shows their love for plants - I think they like plants as much as I do and they are clearly far more knowledgeable than I am. 

Their website has a large amount of helpful information that will allow you to choose a perfect plant for your yard or garden. 

Note: PlantingTree contacted me to ask me do a plant review. I received a Thuja Green Giant at no cost. I do not believe my review is biased by that and people who know me, know that I have no qualms about speaking out about things I'm unhappy with. 

Thuja Green Giant

I chose a Thuja Green Giant for a few reasons. Some of those reasons are:

• deer resistant
• drought tolerant (once established)
• fast growing
• evergreen
• nesting habitat for birds
• dense screening for wildlife
• creates a natural privacy screen 

The folks at PlantingTree can describe the plant far better than I can. Here is one of their many informational videos:

I believe that it was Thuja Green Giants that grew as a privacy screen around the pool area at my apartment complex. Unfortunately, the new management removed these giant, cone-shaped shrubs and also removed the habitat of many birds, squirrel, and rabbits in the process. I miss those green, "feathery" giant shrubs.

The plant I received from PlantingTree was dense and healthy. It was much larger than I expected! (What I expected was a small 6-10" tall plant with drying limbs similar to holiday evergreens I've received in the mail). The Thuja was recently watered, the pot was wrapped in plastic - secured with a zip-tie, and shipped in a sturdy box that withstood our rough and tumble local shipping.

Unboxing my Thuja Giant Green from PlantingTree

Why Evergreens at The Shack?

My land in West Virginia is on top of a ridge. The views are amazing but many things about my land are difficult. It was previously an apple orchard. Although, I have no idea how apples were successfully grown there. The terrain is harsh and the "soil" is really large gravel. Planting things requires the use of a pick-ax. 

The deer and other wildlife are voracious. More than half of the things I've planted have not survived; having been eaten or rubbed by bucks during rut. There are pests that have killed the Ash trees and a different pest that killed the Elm trees before I purchased the land. It will not be easy work to learn and begin forest succession planting and management. I am only in the beginning stages of learning this process.

My land is half "yard" and half wooded area. My long term goal is to revitalize my woods and provide increased habitat for the birds and wildlife. Increasing the health of my land is going to include many things and a lot of hard work. One of the things I'm focused on is creating a stand of evergreens. 

The neighboring lot has a small stand of pines just on the other side of the property line. My plan is to mirror that stand with a larger and thicker evergreen grouping just inside my property. My hope is to provide increased habitat for birds and wildlife.

The neighbor's small stand of evergreen

If you are considering doing some landscaping and are concerned about price and quality, check out what PlantingTree has to offer. I think you'll be as happy with your new plant as I am. 

My big, healthy Thuja the day it was delivered

PS. I planted my Thuja at The Shack last weekend. The weather has been extremely dry and I'm back at the Apartment. I wish I was there so that I could water my plants daily, until it rains, but I'm not.  Watch for updates about my evergreen grove.