Economically, I think things will get a lot worse before they get better, and so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about ways to weather the storm. The key to surviving economic hard times is to know your resources and your community, and to help one another.

With that in mind, I thought I'd start a list of resources in my area (Arkansas) and invite others to add their lists. Then we'll have a database to draw from when times get hard.

My broad categories are:

FOOD-
NW Arkansas has several good resources for food--stores include

Ozark Cooperative Warehouse (Fayetteville)-Members can buy in bulk, and goods include locally grown organic produce.

Duffy's (Harrison) This is a store connected with a food distributor, and you can get stuff there that didn't sell or was the undamaged part of a damaged pallet of goods. Just changed management, and my neighbors have told me they are stocking more health food store type items. Military and senior citizen discounts.

Newton County has two organic blueberry farms, where you can pick your own. They will trade with you for the berries (you pick so many for them, you get some free).

There are farmer's markets in Fayetteville, Jasper, and Harrison in season.

WATER-
Lewellyn Springs in Newton County is a large community spring where you can get your drinking water. No charge.

Hot Springs Arkansas also provides taps throughout the city where you can get the famed mineral water merely for loading up your jugs and drinking bottles. The mineral content of each spring is labeled. Remember that the water comes out HOT.

CLOTHING-
Thrift stores in Harrison include the Hospital Auxillary, Share and Care, and the Humane Society Thrift store.
Angel Works in Jasper provides work for developmentally delayed adults as well as offering clothing and household items for sale.

HEALTH CARE-
Herbalists abound in this region, and you can find them in Fayetteville and also Eureka Springs, I believe, but I don't have specific names of people.
Future Visions Foundation of Harrison is a non-profit foundation dedicated to holistic (integrative) medicine, and offers seminars and classes. Every June there is a free health fair where there are screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.
In Berryville, there is a compounding pharmacist. This is a fellow who is licensed and qualified to actually make up medicines from scratch, as it were. My doc uses him to make up specialized medicines.


Anyway, hope you add your lists.