It would be awesome to know some local people who are doing this. I have tried to start collapse groups multiple times, but so many people are more into talking about collapse and accepting it rather than preparing and adapting.

I used affirmations daily to help myself get the willpower to workout every day and be healthy back in 2012-- science is right, it works! I just was thinking last night that I am going to write out a ton of affirmations to help me get through this collapse, i.e. "I am getting stronger and more resilient everyday", "I am getting getter at building things and self sufficiency.". Just a little idea to throw out there, hope it helps someone else.

I'll try to keep it somewhat short. I'm 16 and became collapse-aware few months ago. I live in a rural community in central EU so Trump dismantling US democracy propably won't affect me this much (not for now at least...). Nonethless i'm still terrified about things like accelerating climate change with all of it's long and short term consequences, global rise of authoritarianism, looming threats of rescource scarcity, agriculture disruption and water scarcity and so on. On the top of that i know literally no one who's even remotely concerned about things i've just mentioned. Which is kind of a bummer because due to my parents being in total denial i can't make any meaningful preparations for at least next two years (and that's assuming i'll get to move out as soon as physically possibile). Also beside being collapse-aware i'm just a regular first-worlder with remotely no survival skills, bad eyesight and poor physical and mental health. I've tried to ask folks over on r/CollapseSupport for some advice on how to handle it (frankly being aware about the issue while being unable to do anything about it was driving me insane) and while indeed some comments were somewhat helpful i still sort of don't know how am i supossed to prepare for what's to come. Like, i know that i should aim for at least few month supply of food and water, maybe a bug out bag, but for now it seems like the only thing i can do at the moment is to make "concept of a plan" (lol) on how to prep and optionally whine about it online. And i'm also afraid that i just won't be able to make all those neccessary preparations on time. Especially that i sort of wanted to go to college (which is still affordable where i live) to get an engineering degree but that would require me to live in a city for some time... Therefore i really could use an advice from someone more expirienced with prepping. What can i realistically do to improve my chances of survival during incoming societal/ecological collapse? Will i even get to start prepping as i can't do so for next few years? What skills should i aquire in the meantime? Is going to college still worth it in your opinion? Could i somehow prepare for the collapse while also attending college? What would you do if you were me right now? I'd really appreciate some solid advice and blunt honesty, even if that means something like "Yep, you're screwed kid. Go spend some time with your loved ones while you still can and wait for your slow and painful death of starvation". Some of my questions may appear naive and/or were already answered here, but i'm not a regular here so i guess it's easier to just ask. Also pardon me my little spelling mistakes/ grammatical errors/flawed autocorrect.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Hi, I might have the opportunity to work abroad (agriculture sector, I'm Italian so I can move easily in EU) for a few months in 2025 or 2026 (depending on if I pass an unrelated job interview for a 1 year long position in a few weeks or not).

I'm a woman, and I'm considering choosing places where women's rights are a priority, and where I might look around for a definitive self sufficient homestead for me and my group. I want to reduce risks, and all kinds of considerations are going into this choice from climate projections to seismic activity, from geopolitical stability and possible conflicts to ease in learning the language (as a group we speak Italian, about half speaks English as well, and one of us speaks a little French, I would be willing to learn a third language if it's not a particularly difficult one like Finnish -well in an immediate survival situation everyone would try to learn whatever is required, but I'm talking about learning it before it's necessary-), from population density to resources and logistics, and from burocratic obstacles to altitude.

I was thinking northern EU, Denmark for example (women are treated as equals, population density is low, forests are scarce which has advantages in the "pyrocene" even if wood is useful and trees are beautiful, hopefully I'd leave behind the worst heatwaves and drought, not bordering with Russia, not as long of a night as other Scandinavian Countries... It's almost all sea level/low altitude land though + seems a little unwise now that it's under the spotlight due to interest in Greenland. AMOC collapse could change things in an unpleasant direction in that area as well. Pay is good but cost of life is high, I think they cancel each other out mostly. Logistics and geology should favour it compared to Iceland. Bureaucracy -and distances- seems a lot easier to deal with that somewhere like New Zealand. Really inviting places might encounter some problems because everyone will want in though).

Another option would be France (maybe Lozére or Creuse), I like the willingness of its people to rebel when needed. It has nuclear energy, which has positive -resilience and self-sufficiency- and negative -what happens when collapse makes it impossible to take proper care of those places?- sides. Its climate is a little easier to get used to right now, but that also reduces the buffer against extreme heat.

What do you suggest? I'm listening!

The cracks in the American food system have been showing for a while now. The price of eggs has skyrocketed to as much as $13 for a dozen in some places. The number of food recalls has increased 20% between 2020 and 2023. Plus there is the ever looming presence of climate change and its many impacts on our food system, like Florida’s orange production declining 92% in 20 years.

Now some of those cracks are starting to crumble. Already this year we have seen accounts of farm workers being targeted in California, resulting in 75% of workers afraid to go to work the day after men in unmarked cars targeted field workers, going so far as to slash their tires to prevent them from leaving.

The FDA and CDC have been ordered by the new President to halt all external communications. Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be a 100% restriction on releasing information as a drug warning has been issued. But, the order for a communication halt was vague and open to interpretation. It’s only meant to continue until February 1st, but, there’s no guarantee that things will return to normal then. Especially as Trump has previously argued against testing for illnesses because they keep finding them. This happened during the pandemic and it’s quite possible that it could happen again with bird flu.

Now that he’s in office, Trump has reiterated the threat of tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. Both Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum have both said that their countries would respond if the tariffs were implemented. We’re basically looking at the start of a potential trade war.

Oh and egg prices are still climbing.

I’m saying all of this not to scare anyone, but to encourage people to start prepping if you haven’t already.

How?

Right now is the perfect time to start gardening. Yes, even if you have snow on the ground. Even if you live in an apartment.

If you have the money, stock up on as much rice, dried pasta, and beans you can get your hands on.

Grab a few cans of food whenever you go to the store. Go for the cheaper ones. Just make sure they they aren’t dented or rusting.

In my book Preparing Your Food for Round Two I go into detail on how to get food resiliency in these scary times.

Myself and everyone else in this subreddit are happy to help answer any questions you might have about prepping.

Also, as a note, while we haven’t openly joined the X/Twitter ban, we’ve also never really dealt with anyone posting anything from there. Rest assured though, we are a left leaning group and BS will NOT be tolerated.

I am an American, I believe in the rights of the individual no matter race, sex, gender or creed. Though I joke in a dark way and live an imperfect life I really do my best to care for who I can when I can.

I often look around me these days and feel struck with hopelessness. I feel pain for what I feel I’ve lost. The disastrous shortsightedness of my fellow man that has brought us ever closer to the theme of this subreddit. Collapse.

In the long term, things are sure to be bad. But I’ve made a deal with myself to try and do as much good as I can with the time that I have left.

This is a massive platform and if the mods are ok with it I wanted to share some information.

Contraceptives are on the chopping block. For many of my friends and colleagues this is a major concern. I have found a cost effective way to provide an option for contraception that is easily accessible now. Most of you are familiar with plan b one step and the fact that most brick and mortar stores offer it for 40$-50$. This cost prohibits any kind of stockpiling for the average American when these medications may be on the chopping block.

However many of you may not know you can order the same medication on Amazon for 8.49, and if you order 4 you can bring the cost down to around 6$

The search in the bar to get it is “OHM my choice”

I hope that this may give a slight sense of relief to a few people I will continue to try and provide measures and ideas to try and help make the process easier.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

(Scroll until "=======" to skip to the idea)

Been thinking about which skills to build up in prep for severe disruption—especially since training is expensive (time/money) and not knowing something in the wild can be life or death.

As I was thinking, I realized how often I use AI as a collaborator for learning or building anything new at this point. Solving complex, novel problems without AI would feel like a step back into the dark ages.

That must be essential, right?

So below is an exploration of how to potentially bring along AI capabilities into a mid-or-post-collapse world. The concept is simple:

A low-power LLM running on a book-sized E-Ink device that works entirely offline. Designed to help you survive and rebuild.

Many of the design considerations are centered around the assumptions of:

1. A permanently altered climate (for ~10-100s of years).
   • Goal: prioritize reliability, durability, and creative reasoning for complex real-world survival problems.
2. An untrustworthy social climate where visibility is potentially dangerous (stealth).
   • Goal: prioritize being entirely off-grid, with data interchange possible only via physical means.

Cost was not a consideration in this v1, with the expectation that costs for AI compute will fall drastically over a short period of time. However, a rough current-price was included below.

Would love thoughts on the concept, its usefulness, design concerns (some obvious), or contributions for how to improve/actually build this. I'm not an expert in any of these domains, so I welcome anyone who is.

Note: this is a "maxxed-out" version that still fits the physical & real-world usage constraints. There is definitely a way to cut out much of the power (single LLM, 16GB over 64GB) and still have a very useful co-survivor.

Working title: Rogue One

====================

(Compiled with o1-pro, no edits. very long.)

Survival LLM E-Ink Device

Concept

• Offline AI Reasoning: Pull from multiple knowledge domains (bushcraft, electronics, medicine, etc.) to address on-the-fly queries—like a digital “fix-it” guide that interprets problems in real time.

• E-Ink for Low Power: Once text appears, the display draws almost no power. Perfect for intermittent Q&A rather than continuous reading.

• Hot-Swappable Battery Packs: Swap in fresh cells or power from solar or a hand-crank—no dependence on the grid.

How It Works

• You power on the device, which boots a minimal OS.

• The e-ink screen loads your previous session (using almost no battery).

• You type or select a question: “How do I forage safely in this region?”

• The LLM runs entirely on-device, processing your prompt and generating step-by-step answers.

• Answers appear on the e-ink screen, using negligible power after rendering.

• You can shut off the device via a physical cutoff switch to store it for months with zero battery drain.

Usage Examples

1. Quick Field Guidance: “How do I build a slow-sand water filter with these materials?”
2. In-the-Moment Learning: “Explain how to repair a bike chain tensioner.”
3. Multi-Domain Queries: “Modify these greenhouse plans to fit an arid climate.”

Design Constraints

• No Connectivity: Minimizes detection and rules out reliance on external servers.

• Full Offline Operation: Must store all data, including the LLM itself, locally.

• Zero Battery Drain: Physical cutoff ensures indefinite shelf life.

• Wide Power Input: Supports solar, hand-crank, or other improvised sources.

• Passive Cooling: Minimizes mechanical complexity and noise.

Why Multi-LLM Instead of Single LLM?

We included multiple smaller “expert” LLMs (for bushcraft, electronics, etc.) plus a generalist “router” that delegates queries. This design:

1. Lowers Compute Costs for each domain query. If you only need foraging advice, you can use a smaller specialized model.
2. Improves Accuracy by focusing each model’s training on its domain.
3. Keeps Flexibility with a coordinator model that merges or re-routes queries as needed.

That said, a single LLM can still work if cost/power constraints are tighter or if you prefer simpler management. You’d lose some domain specialization but reduce memory and cost significantly.

Estimated Battery Life

Using ~150 Wh battery packs, actual runtime varies with TDP settings (15–25W typical) and usage:

• Heavy Usage: Frequent queries (a few every hour), each burst at 15–25W for 30–60 seconds.
  • Estimated: ~2–3 days per pack before recharge or swap.
• Light Usage: Occasional queries (a handful per day).
  • Estimated: ~5–7 days on one battery pack.
• Standby / Zero-Drain:
  • Physically cut off power, so it can be stored for months without losing charge.

Core Specs and Approximate Pricing

Note: Costs vary widely based on supplier, volume discounts, and any custom engineering. The above estimates reflect small-volume or prototype pricing.

Potential Expansions or Changes

• Microphone Input: Voice-based interaction for low-dexterity or hands-free conditions. (Power overhead for audio processing could be significant.)
• Higher IP Rating: Upgrading from IP65+ to IP68, but that might complicate heat dissipation or add enclosure bulk.
• Knowledge Packs for Multi-Device Sharing: A “swap module” or removable drive that lets multiple devices exchange new data or references offline.
• Diagramming Capabilities: Ability to draw accurate & helpful diagrams (like AI etch-a-sketch). Likely pull data from patents, open CAD, etc.

Why It Matters

• Adaptive Knowledge, No Internet: Paper manuals are great, but they can’t dynamically recombine information. A local LLM can create custom steps or clarify processes tailored to your exact situation.
• Power Flexibility: Configurable TDP (~15–25W for daily use), e-ink display’s near-zero power after rendering, plus a physical cutoff for zero battery drain in storage.
• Rugged & Reliable: Industrial parts, shock-resistant design, minimal reliance on external infrastructure. Perfect for uncertain conditions.

In mid-to-post-collapse scenarios, an offline AI “brain” may help plan or improvise solutions. It’s not magic—you still need real-world skills—but it can bridge knowledge gaps and guide you more effectively if you aren’t an expert in every domain.

Been thinking about them lately. Im not a greenhouse expert though, Ive never owned one. But from what I understand the benefits they offer are unmatched. So what about after a collapse of industry and trade?

Specifically I've been thinking about materials.

Glass doesnt degrade but is fragile. It is easy to clean. Its relatively heavy and awkward to handle. But think of the hundreds of thousands of windows in any given large city. Glass cutting is relatively low tech, you could build a greenhouse out of window panes. But each broken pane is in a sense irreplaceable. Workshop glass blowers could make small window panes I imagine but they would cost a lot. Would the cost to benefit pay off?

Plastic degrades in UV. Its light and can be folded onto itself and compacted and stored in a dark, dry place. When it becomes too brittle to be useful, it can be burnt or even refined into fuel. But nobody will be making greenhouse plastic in workshops.

Alternatives? You can probably downscale the production of cellulose to make essentially transparent paper. But it would be so flimsy and biodegradable that it would be impressive if it lasted even a single growing season. I find chitin to be a fascinating alternative to plastic. But you face issues with scaling and its also biodegradable, so it may only last one year or two. So could the food waste of a greenhouse from one year feed enough insects to generate the sheeting material for the next? Its an interesting idea. But then you are diverting composting material which could be used in more useful applications, such as compost, animal feed or biogas.

For now glass seems like the best option for a collapsed economy greenhouse, coupled with access to a workshop glass kiln.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Hello all. I have recently completed college, and I have also recently become collapse aware and am panicking. Not only mourning the life I always planned on living, but also trying to cope with the anxiety of it all. Could anyone direct me to some basic resources/literature on preparing? Food, water, etc? Thank you all. Feeling a bit isolated and overwhelmed today.

So I've been innocuously prepping in small ways that aren't too time/labor intensive. In my mind, I believe that when SHTF, skills > resources when it comes down to it. Call me naive, but even the biggest stockpile of freeze dried goods can't compete with basic gardening/foraging skills. As a result, I've been trying to build up a varied skillset that can "prep" for later down the timeline. Such as:

• Wild gardening
• Camping
• Cooking
• Bike repair (hot take: bikes are gonna come in clutch in an off-grid situation)
• Stargazing (perfect to learn wayfinding)
• Language learning
• Yoga
• Reading

What are some other hobbies to take up that'll pay off in the collapse?

EDIT: I'd like to mention I'm looking for AFFORDABLE hobbies without a high cost of entry. Notice how all the hobbies I mentioned don't require a lot of cost. I can't really drop $800 in equipment for woodworking or welding.

I have a few piercings and plan to get more. However, when shit inevitably hits the fan, I don't know the best course of action in regards to body mods.

On one hand, piercings and body mods can make you uniquely recognizable. Which can either be in your favor or really not in your favor. Very situational.

But also if personal cleanliness and hygiene products become less accessible, infections are likely to occur.

If you are a modded person, do you plan to take them out/hide them? Why or why not?

Have you already taken action one way or the other? Meaning taken out piercings/covering up tattoos, or have you went ahead and gotten more?

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

I received a $6000 USD scholarship a few years ago from AmeriCorps that must be spent by 2028 or I lose it. It can only be used at accredited institutions, including trade schools and universities. Being a little more collapse aware now, I wonder what is the best way to spend it to prepare to help my family and my neighbors with their immediate needs.

My first thought, pre-collapse-awareness, was to go back to school to become an art therapist (I'm a former art teacher). The scholarship would only get me started on that track (Masters degrees aren't cheap), but there are other funding options for finishing that don't necessarily require debt. I think being a trained therapist could be generally helpful, as good mental health is a part of survival. But it's not as big of a player as say shelter, food, and so forth.

I'm also considering:

• Car and small engine repair
• EMT or nursing
• Sustainable agriculture
• Construction trades - electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry
• Animal husbandry

What degrees, certificates, or non-matriculated classes at accredited institutions would you spend $7000 on to help prepare for collapse?

For additional context, I have ADHD. Courses that require a lot of memorization or writing aren't the best for me (like nursing), but still doable.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

Sorry if there is another post about this.

I’ve been doing a more advanced version of my usual prepping since the election. This has me questioning the USD with a higher level of suspicion than I’ve ever had.

Are you buying precious metals? Loonies? Euros? Pesos? Curious to hear from someone out there who is better with this topic than I.

Thank you for reading and may your bulk items be forever at a discount.

Did you do anything to prepare for collapse this week? It can be anything from reading an interesting article to installing a greywater recycling system in your house. No project is too big or too small.

This thread is here to inspire others to take actions they may not have otherwise thought about doing.

If you’re interested in leaving observations of collapse in your area then I encourage you to head over to r/collapse where they have a weekly thread for this very thing.

When I called for quotes awhile back they wanted to emphasize how it eliminated the only thing I'm not worried about in our water - chlorine. I am however worried about pesticide runoff, pharmaceuticals and mostly(99% of my concern) microplastics.

What kind of whole home filter is "best" for microplastics? I feel like it's a small step to prep as our ecosystem collapses

Thanks in advance.