The "Emergency Fair"

One community's Emergency Fair. This is the fire department stall.

       

This stall shows their line of available emergency freeze dried food.

 
      When we originally moved to this region, there was not a lot to do socially unless you were very wealthy.  We enjoyed the role of being the "poster family for the middle class" here, and couldn't have done many of the social events.   Polo and fox hunting,  are too expensive and neither interest me.  Fundraisers for politicians aren't my cup of tea either, although I did take my youngest son to a couple of them, for educational purposes. As time went on, I did find charitable works which not only interested me, but helped me find purpose beyond my own family, and my own likes and dislikes.

               I suppose I am happy to announce that even in our isolated rural berg, things have changed.  The new social events here are things like an "Emergency Fair" and also a "Seed Swap".    The "Emergency Fair" is a gathering in which local groups provide information about broad aspects of preparedness to families.  Some of the attendees who bought tables there in flea market fashion, are local fire departments,  local governments and health departments armed with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, rounded out by home inspection contractors, people who sell patrol dogs, and people whose companies help you grow what you can to eat, from whatever acreage you have.  Almost every local company and organization found a way in which they could help local families, both wealthy, poor, and middle class, better prepare for a wide range of emergencies, and for general health promotion of education.   In a separate room, there was citizen CPR certification, including AED training.  The local rescue squads and CERT were also recruiting. There were door prizes, and literature for making your own 72 hour bags, and "sheltering in place" versus evacuation, etc. Some of the churches which teach safe canning were there, to let people know when their classes are.  The local foodbank was there also, to let people know they need more donations, and also to let people know,  where they are, and that they are willing to help.  If your region has not yet considered doing one of these, perhaps you and friends could organize one in tandem with your county.  This was also a lot of fun.
             A "Seed Swap" is a similar undertaking.    People set up flea market style tables for a small fee, and then individuals and families come to trade their seeds for others.   Roots and plant samples are ok also if this is the way a plant is propagated.  This endeavor takes something people do anyway, trade their extra daylillies they have, split for small red tip bushes, etc. and heirloom tomato seeds for other heirloom variety seeds which can be grown as foods.  The local extension agent can also come to answer questions on best practices.
            The recession has done a few good things for families.  One of them is to foster education, a sense of community,  and some opportunities in some of the activities which have evolved since 2008.

This is one community's procedure for "Seed Swap".  Our small region was much less formal.