[Economics] PO Jobs

Pyroptix · Coal Joined: May 31, 2007 Posts: 1

Hi,

I'm looking at doing a Cert IV in Renewable eneregy here in Melbourne, Australia. It'll take 2 years but give a good knowledge base on a wide range of renewable options and basic electronic installation. Starting in a month.

I'm not in a postion to have a property and go self sufficient but am hoping these skills will make me usefull enough to be able to make a living both now and as we powerdown.

I'm worried as the time spent studying means less time to gain finances to equip supplies. Can only hope time is on my side.

Figure Australia's got the natural gas and uranium exports to help with sudden shocks in the next 5 years.

If we have a little time can hopefully get involved with the local geothermal developments. If not, focus on micro wind and photovoltaic.

Interested in anyones opinions of the choice and prospects?

ccricers · Tar Sands Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 37

Electronics sounds like a good trade if you're really good at it. Plus, silicon parts will become limited, so will peoples' incomes, and thus the idea planned obsolescence will be as good as dead. Repairing appliances and giving new life to old things will be the order of the day. Imagine computers that are really built to last, like the cars and fridges of the 1940's. It'll simply become too expensive to manufacture new things with the notion that people will just buy something better a year from now.

On the other hand, I imagine that artistic jobs will gain some level of respect post PO. Remember that it's the artists that were given way to commercial media, and overtaken by jobs that revolve around growing the economy. Post PO all of that will be irrelevant.

in_nowhere · Tar Sands Joined: Jun 05, 2007 Posts: 26

Well there are a lot of good ideas here but they say that necessity is the mother of invention. For all of our planning I am sure that a few things will pop up that no one has thought of.

I just hope too many people don't try and get into horses. They are not as easy as they sound, there is a lot to learn and hay will be darned expensive after PO. Too many people just breeding to get horses will not be good. You will end up with a lot of injuries and abused/negelected horses because people thought it would be simple. The only people who will have horses will be the ones who have enough pasture to feed them year round, and that is a lot of land.
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skyemoor · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:13 am Post subject: Re: [Economics] PO Jobs

Yes, we have 10 acres and just pasturing 2 horses will take 6 right off the top. Hay will be extra, though there will be a lot of neighbors who will not be able to mow their 10 acres and would welcome a trim.

I've been investigating no-till, and am convinced that a periodic discing would still be necessary every few years, so having horses around may be necessary.
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in_nowhere · Tar Sands Joined: Jun 05, 2007 Posts: 26

I don't know if this was mentioned before but what about weavers or people who raise sheep or alpacas and spin the wool. People are going to need warm clothes in colder areas and people have been using wool forever, so I guess we need to lear how to knit again.
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nella · Tar Sands Joined: May 11, 2007 Posts: 57

in nowhere. I plan on taking spinning classes. Not the bike type ether Smile

My locally owned knitting/yarn shop also has looms and teach weaving classes.
They also have 2 spinning wheels in the store that are treadle powered. And they hold classes for those as well. So I plan to sign up. If I like it, and I probably will since I love to knit, they say they can get a good used spinning wheel for 100-150 bucks.
There are still guilds that exist for spinners and weavers in my area. I need to learn more.
This would be a secondary skill. Because I bet people will start to learn knitting hot and heavy when things get tough. But spinning's a little more skilled and wheels might be tougher to come by.

deMolay · Intermediate Crude Joined: Sep 04, 2005 Posts: 894

If you pay attention to history, in the last Great Depression, and the Super Inflation of Germany after the ww1 up until before the ww2. Bycycle shops did well, 2nd hand stores, people that could fix things that were a necessity. For example can you repair a tire, can you weld, can you work in wood, can you work in metal. Can you batch up bio diesel or alcohol for fuel. For trade things worth more than money or gold. Gun's, ammunition, tools, salt, pepper, tobacco etc. FOOD.

midnight-gamer · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:54 am Post subject: Re: [Economics] PO Jobs

Rather than taking a huge loan for college, I saved many long years, got married, bought a cheap home, paid off my car etc. Finally, I am ready to start college. I have a few credits into computer applications. But, given the things I know now, a more informed choice seems in order. Is there sage advice for me from the members here?
I was looking at this for starters.
http://www.unh.edu/natural-resources/ugindex.html

Quinne · Coal Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 5

Newbie post alert--hi everyone. Just wanted to add in the discussion about teachers: the summer off that they still observe nowdays I believe was a holdover from when we were a much more agricultural society. They would let children have summer off to help the family with the loads of work necessary during the summer months. Probably an observance which would still be necessary PO.

But I wholeheartedly agree with the expectance of seeing results from any profession, teaching included.

Has anyone mentioned glassblowing yet in this lengthy thread? I would imagine being able to create new glass vessels would be a much appreciated skill.

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1683

History is the best reference we have for the future, although there will be differences. My ancestors included a furniture maker who fixed anything made of wood, including hand water pumps, and a threshing machine, and made coffins. His sister was a seamstress. My grandfather built timber frame barns, and my Dad worked in a rock quarry, did carpenter work, and farmed. One uncle was a school teacher, who boarded with the kids' parents as part of his pay.

Pick any period before oil became prevalent. The work was much more physical then. A dairy farmer milked cows the hard way, by hand, not by machine, and was limited by how many he could get milked in an hour or two, twice a day. Life was brutally hard, and dangerous back then. Loggers were routinely killed by falling trees, and maimed my axes. In an age of broadly ignorant people, those with knowledge were suspected of being in league with the devil. Blacksmiths pulled bad teeth, because they had tongs to do it with, and were strong enough to hold the patient down.

Consider all the implications before choosing an occupation.
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oilysnoily · Coal Joined: Jul 07, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: new haven, ct

Yet another new one here... Does anyone have advice about the role of artists during PO, specifically visual artists? They obviously have existed in different forms throughout history. Many will probably become involved in crafts and propaganda (religious, government, etc), but do you see any other roles? I currently just got my BFA in painting. It has provided me with many different critical thinking and practical building skills that you can not usually find in regular colleges. I am not intimidated about trying to make things that I have not been taught to make. Does anyone have any good information about artists during the great depression (other than the government subsidy programs) or other hard times in other countries? Thanks!

Ludi · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: [Economics] PO Jobs

oilysnoily · Coal Joined: Jul 07, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: new haven, ct

Ludi · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: [Economics] PO Jobs

oilysnoily · Coal Joined: Jul 07, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: new haven, ct