Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Not only is a Maine writer giving advice on how to find happiness through a simpler life, she is living out the lessons in her own book.
Wendy Brown wrote the book Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs: the Thrivalist's Guide to Life Without Oil.
NEWS CENTER's Lee Nelson recently spoke to Brown about the inspiration behind her writing.
Brown said much of the book's content came from her own experiences at pushing her family to become more self-sufficient. In the event energy supplies become scarce, she said her family knows how to fend for themselves.
Brown described herself as a thrivalist. She coined the term to differentiate herself from survivalists, who she views as being more militant. But she also wanted a term to distinguish her from preppers, who are more passive about stocking supplies from traditional retailers.
Through basic farming and the limited raising of animals, Brown said she has created a sustainable food supply that is not dependent on grocery shopping. By eliminating appliances that she considered redundant such as a clothes dryer, Brown said she reduced her monthly electricity usage from 1,000 kWh to 350 kWh.
Brown said her advance planning paid off in 2008 when a storm knocked out power to her neighborhood for four storm. While her neighbors struggled to get by, she said her family remained comfortable because they had a wood stove for heat and were already accustomed to washing their clothes by hand.
Brown regularly shares tips on how families can break their addiction to oil on her blog. Click here for a link to read her latest posts.
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