Re-use and Conservation

It is important to develop a mindset of re-using materials to the greatest extent possible, and of curbing our overall use of materials, so that we use as little as possible. I'm no saint in this regard, and I don't intend to preach, but these are pragmatic skills, skills that every survivalist should have. The truth is that the days of plenty are now over, for the human race is so overextended that we are in danger of running out of many metals and minerals -- and water! -- in the coming decades. Learn to make do with less now, so that you don't hurt so bad when you no longer have the choice. You might trying cleaning out old peanut butter jars to store grains in, or using old wine bottles as water bottles, shopping at yard sales for utensils and dishes and tools and old electronics. Every item you buy used saves a tremendous amount of time, energy and materials that would have otherwise been used to manufacture that item. WE MUST DE-PROGRAM OURSELVES FROM THE CONSUMER MENTALITY. When you do buy things new, you may wish to make sure that certain items (like jackets or boots or a grain grinder or solar panels or a car) are high-quality, so that they last either for a long time, or forever. It goes without saying that you will also need to properly maintain these items. Other items (like dishes) might be just as functional when of lower quality.