Author of The Blackout Book and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
Living under lockdown restrictions, prevalent in nearly every state, is about to get a whole lot worse. The government in the United States and Canada has decided to take away the guesswork in the stores that are still open and decide for you what’s “essential” and what’s not.
When I have gone to the store to pick up groceries (I’m still getting fresh produce while I can), I also like to pick up a couple of things that are pleasant diversions: magazines, a crossword puzzle book, coloring pencils, some craft supplies. It’s nice to have some things that are enjoyable on hand to keep lockdown from feeling so grim and torturous. If the store is already open, getting a sunny yellow pillow for the living room is a pick-me-up, not a frivolous jaunt to a place I wasn’t already going. When we had a birthday in the family, we even picked up a few small gifts on our regular trip to the grocery store to provide a sense of normalcy.
But the days of getting a random item to brighten a family member’s day may be numbered. The government (at least in some places) wants to make this already unpleasant time as dismal as possible for us all.
Vermont has started a worrisome trend.
Vermont has decided to choose for you what is essential and what is not, banning the sale of non-essential items at stores like Target, Walmart, and Costco.
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is directing large “big box” retailers, such as Walmart, Target and Costco, with in-store sales of food, beverage and pharmacy, as well as electronics, toys, clothing, and the like to cease in-person sales of non-essential items in order to reduce the number of people coming into the stores.
“Large ‘big box’ retailers generate significant shopping traffic by virtue of their size and the variety of goods offered in a single location,” said Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. “This volume of shopping traffic significantly increases the risk of further spread of this dangerous virus to Vermonters and the viability of Vermont’s health care system. We are directing these stores to put public health first and help us reduce the number of shoppers by requiring on-line ordering, delivery and curbside pickup whenever possible, and by stopping the sale of non-essential items.” (source)
Retailers are asked to close certain areas of the stores, rope them off to deny access, or pull non-essentials from their shelves.
What’s considered non-essential?
The Burlington Free Press reports the following items have been deemed non-essential purchases:
- Arts and crafts items.
- Beauty supplies.
- Carpet and flooring.
- Clothes.
- Consumer electronics.
- Entertainment (books, music, movies).
- Furniture.
- Home and garden.
- Jewelry.
- Paint.
- Photo services.
- Sports equipment.
- Toys.
So a store you’re already at is telling you that grabbing some hand lotion to soothe your dry, cracked skin from the constant application of hand sanitizer is non-essential? Getting a book to read while you’re locked down is against the rules? You can’t do a home improvement project while you’re stuck at home?
I fail to see how this is going to stop the spread of a coronavirus if the shopper is already at the store and the employees are also already at the store.
In fact, it seems to me that this would be helpful to our gasping and dying economy. But what would I know? Dinesh Iyer, Assistant Professor of Management at Rutgers School of Business-Camden, says the stores don’t need our frivolous little purchases.
“I think the economy can wait,” he said. “Most corporations have access to debt and finances that are not available to the common folk.”
Corporations can “leverage their assets and tide through difficult times” by borrowing larger sums of money at lower interest rates and more frequently than you or I can,” he said.
“We have an opportunity to do all the things around the house that we have been putting off, spend time with family, learn a new skill,” Iyer said.
He even cautions against online shopping.
“The online shopping can wait,” Iyer said. “But if you must, you can always add the items of interest to your wish-list. And after the crisis, if you still need it, go for it. In the meantime, conserve the resources. You will be saving lives.” (source)
It’s rather curious how Iyer thinks us “common folk” will be able to do those things around the house and learn new skills without the supplies to do so.
One of the most alarming things is that garden supplies are considered non-essential.
Of all the times in the world you need most to plant a garden, now is the time. But in Vermont’s directive, even the sale of garden supplies is non-essential.
…showrooms and garden sections of large home improvement centers should be closed. (source)
And readers shared this photo from a store in Vermont.
The government of Vermont says that it isn’t really accurate.
Recent pictures circulating on social media appear to be from a box store which has roped off access to “non-essential” areas of the store, per guidance from ACCD, with various seed packets behind the roped-off section. As stated above, agricultural seeds have been deemed “essential” in Vermont per the Governor’s executive order, however a homeowner’s access to seeds has been modified to meet the Governor’s executive order.
We’re hoping that retailers and consumers alike restrict in-person shopping to items that need to be purchased in-person and are of a time sensitive nature. While the state recognizes the importance of gardening as a source of food for many Vermonters, the ability to browse for seeds and purchase them in person doesn’t outweigh the risk of spreading the virus. Retailers can continue to make seeds available online, delivery and curbside. (source)
Okay. You can just buy them online…or can you?
Buying seeds online isn’t an option either.
Almost every seed company readers in the preparedness community have tried to make purchases from has said, sorry, but we’re just selling to commercial operations this year.
Johnny’s Select Seeds has the following announcement on their home page:
Here’s what you can expect as of March 31st, 2020:
- At this time, we are accepting new orders only from commercial farmers shipping to the U.S. and Canada and international wholesale customers. We plan to resume taking orders from all customers on April 14th. This restriction applies to all orders placed via our website, phone, and email. This was a difficult decision and we apologize for the inconvenience.
- Commercial Farmers only: Please login to your website account before placing your order or call our contact center at 1-877-564-6697 for assistance. If you have forgotten your password, you can find information on resetting your password here.
- Orders placed with our standard shipping option prior to March 31st, 2020 may experience a shipment delay of 5–10 days. Commercial orders placed on or after March 31st, 2020 may experience a shipment delay of 1–2 days.
- You may experience a longer than usual response time when you phone in your order, call on us to answer growing questions, or email us to make inquiries.
- We have closed our retail store in Winslow, Maine, and will not be hosting farm tours until further notice.
We remain honored that you have chosen Johnny’s. Whether you have been buying from Johnny’s for 25 years or this is your first order, please know that we care deeply about helping you through the challenges of this coronavirus outbreak. Call or email us if you need growing advice or help finding products. (source)
So…you can’t get seeds from your local Walmart garden center if you’re in Vermont and you can’t order seeds from seed stores. Good luck with that garden you were hoping would help see you through this disaster unless you’ve already got seeds put back from previous years.
What can we expect?
I think it’s extremely likely that Vermont’s idea will catch on and spread across the country. Just like lockdowns began in a couple of areas then spread state by state, don’t be surprised when this trend does also. The province of Ontario in Canada has just closed all their hardware stores and is limiting purchases only to curbside pick-up. Here’s what you need to be prepared to see:
- Don’t expect that you’re going to be able to pop over to Lowes or Home Depot to pick up seedlings – or even seeds – for your summer garden.
- Don’t expect that you’ll be able to replace your children’s flipflops or sandals for the summer regardless of the growth of their feet – this could be considered “non-essential.”
- Don’t expect to be able to replace clothing for growing children – at least not in person.
- Don’t expect to get any summer toys for the kids to play with while they’re in the back-yard – non-essential.
- Don’t expect to be able to buy a bigger size of pants because you ate all your quarantine candy. You’re going to have to squeeze yourself into your old pants.
- Don’t expect to be able to get the fabric to make masks – remember? Craft supplies are non-essential.
Really, don’t expect anything. Because for some reason, it seems like governments want to make an already difficult and stressful time even worse by taking away the possibility for any kind of pleasant past-time unless you already have all the supplies you need for that.
This senseless crackdown not only makes things even more unpleasant, but it takes away even more streams of revenue for struggling businesses. And more than that, it’s limiting our ability to be as self-reliant as possible, leaving people to fight it out at the grocery store for dwindling resources with few options for creating our own food supplies.
Those living in Vermont have unfortunately missed their window for anything but mail order. For the rest of us, if there are some things you were hoping to get – be it new curtains, paint for the living room, tile for the bathroom, pots for your container garden, or the supplies to make a new chicken coop – you’d better get it now before your state follows the lead of Vermont.
What do you think?
Are these restrictions reasonable or some kind of power trip? What’s your advice to people who are new to preparedness and self-reliance? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
About Daisy
Daisy Luther writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Baker Creek opened back up and Burpee has seed as does High Mowing. For most parts of the country most would have gotten their seed already anyway. I think this is a run up from new people in a toilet paper like panic (the seed shortage) Sudden gardeners. Some one asked if they could buy radish transplants from me….just saying.
Actually, many parts of the country have NOT gotten seeds yet. Here in ND we had an April Fool’s blizzard, with 6″ of snow, high wind, and actual air temp 8 degrees. That is normal for early April here. There is still frost in the ground. We are still 6 weeks out from when people might expect to start outdoor gardening, so many here are just one starting to think about seed purchases. I’ve never been to Vermont, but I suspect they may have a later spring like we do.
Yup. In my part of VT we have easily a foot or more snow on the ground still and more on the way. Sigh……….
Depends on the region of the country or your USDA zone.
Our last frost date is mid to late May.
While we had frogs peeping in the ponds last night, this morning we had a mild frost.
While using row covers or Ag grade plastic covers, I can to a degree mitigate that.
But somethings just will not grow until we are into June.
The upside, the onions, garlic, and even a few rutabaga over-wintered and are coming back.
Posted on the Baker Creek website. (www.rareseeds.com)
Due to an unprecedented increase in order volume our website and farm are temporarily closed to restock inventory and disinfect our workspace.
We will Be back online Monday 4/13/2020 at 4:00pm CST.
I had to do a lot of hunting around online to find vegetable seeds – and I had to forget about certain types of veggies because I just couldn’t find the right seeds. There is definitely a seed shortage.
As for stores, if a store is open, it should be open and purchases of anything in the store should be allowable. What’s essential is different for each person. And things considered “non-essential” could all of a sudden become essential if it’s to replace something that broke and can’t be fixed. The store could always set limits on the # of items that can be sold per person if they are worried about running out of something before replacements arrive.
A newspaper here reported that businesses that were told to close because they sold non essentials (toys, crafts, hair products, clothes etc) were upset that the big box stores who sold the same type of products were allowed to continue selling these products! I can see their point. I also see consumers point that if the big box stores are already open for food, why not allow customers to buy all the products?
What better way to make people dependent on the government than you can’t even grow your own food
I truly understand the need for social distancing (I’ve already come to hate that trite little phrase) & I understand there are many non-essential things that can wait. But taking away our ability to provide food for ourselves is nonsensical! And so what if a lot of them are newbies: at least they are willing to try. If you are attempting to home school & entertain your kids there’s a good chance you need paper, pencils, puzzles, educational toys, etc. Are we going to tell our 5-year-old, “sorry honey, no birthday present this year” More & more “little” freedoms are being taken away & we have no reason to expect they will be easy to regain.
Live Free Or Die – oh, that’s New Hampshire…
How many were dying in the USA from the opioid epidemic, many tens of thousands?
And we just hit 70,000 dead worldwide from this?
Shutting down the economy to kill coronavirus is like tying a plastic bag over your head to stop a cold.
Before the virus hit, we averaged about 7708 deaths per day in the U.S. from disease (CDC figures), that comes out to roughly 215,000 dead every 28 days. The flu kills about 35,000 people in the U.S. on average every year, though we did have a particularly bad flu season last year (61,000 dead allegedly). Regardless, these COVID-19 statistics just don’t add up. The coronavirus overwhelms hospitals, that’s its main superpower. The amount of people needed critical care seems to happen all at once, hence the hospital bed shortages, ventilator shortages, etc. If you remove its superpower, it seems to be a fairly benign virus, at least when we compare it to other diseases. We don’t even if the deaths attributed to the virus are the real cause of death, nor do we know if the people who died before the pandemic was in full swing died of non-related illnesses. This whole thing is a shit show, we don’t have enough information. And to top everything off, strange things are starting to happen.
He’ll yeah lmao
Vermont’s rules seem to be very extream. I bought potting soil, manure, seeds, a few started plants ECT along with milk, eggs, and celery on my last trip to Wal-Mart.
At Tractor supply I bought 2 interesting how to books, a tree, and a tractor tire innertube.
By the way. The Wal-Mart where I bought plants and racks of seeds but I have plenty. What surprised me was the tire sales and automotive dept was closed. A new tire isn’t a necessity?
Third day been unable to leave comments because of errors. Frustrating to not be able to say more than a few words.
Do you have a ad-blocker?
VPN?
As I understand it, TOP has been hit by SPAM a lot lately.
Perhaps that has something to do with it??
Home Depot was limiting the # of people coming into the store.They had people wearing bright safety vests-with a mobile device in hand- outside ,along with plastic barricades funneling people into the store. I was asked if I was shopping with another person.I said’ No” and was allowed in. I got my gardening supplies,including seeds and pvc pipe for the kitchen sink. Overheard 2 guys deciding whether to buy a lawn mower or not and a HD employee was talking with them about it..The HD employee asked them if they were going to buy it or not..I was asked if I needed “help”since I was looking too long at the seed racks.I made my selection,paid and got out of there..
I was able to purchase seedlings and garden dirt at my local Lowes store over the weekend. They were only allowing a few folks at a time into the garden center. Could not enter from the main store, had to enter through designated outside entrance. Very Orwellian experience.
Last fall we were told by Ice Age Farmer to expect seed shortages in 2020 due to the crop losses in the seed manufacturers. Needless to say, I bought what I needed as soon as they hit the shelves.
Although I’m angry at this, I can’t say I’m 100% disappointed that the toilet-paper people who’ve never seen a seed in their lives can’t waste them.
I read about this last night and although I had not planned on gardening this year and have a seed bank, I googled some tried and true companies (Johnny’s and Baker Creek) to no avail. I tried Baker Creek and each time I added something to my basket that was “In Stock”, it continued to reject the items so I was unable to order. I assume they are either out of stock or shut down completely as their notice on their web page indicates they are on a skeleton crew trying to just get orders out. Wasn’t sure if this was just orders already received by them or not. Anyway, I googled “Seed Companies {in XXX State}. I typed in states near me. Came up with one in Georgia called South Georgia Seed Company out of Ellijay, GA. They had plenty of stock and I placed an order. The second place I tried was one that I had received an unsolicited catalog from. It was Seeds n Such out of Graniteville, SC. Their website indicated they had quite a bit of stock as well. Another place I contacted was the Seed and Feed Store I frequent here in NC. They have no shortages on seed at this point and can still sell them. I would suggest contacting some of the hardware stores or seed and feed places locally. I figure seed and feed places have to be open to sell feed to farmers for their livestock. I could be wrong. Anyway, I get no kickback from the above named places.
Remember the government motto – Never let a good crisis go to waste.
Try Mary’s Heirloom Seeds! They are a small mom and pop business and has great sales and inventory. They are running a little behind because they can’t hire help right now but 2 weeks isn’t bad.
As I read it, you can buy virtually anything for pickup or shipping. You just can’t come into the store to do it. Pretty silly!
I guess I will be ordering my sons present for his birthday next month now just in case to have something… We were considering getting him the hamster he has wanted(although now he wants a bird and I do not)
I wanted a bird for my 10th birthday. My mother bought me a juvenile yellow-headed Panamanian parrot. I loved that bird. It died when I was 50 years old. It was named Polly…we never knew it’s sex, but assumed it was female. It knew about 25 short phrases, and maybe 50-60 words.
I’m not sure if this is the real reason for what Vermont did or not but I recall reading an article online recently that stated owners of small business shut down as “non-essential” were complaining loudly to their respective state officials that it was unfair for large stores such as Walmart, Target, etc., to be allowed to sell items that were not food or medicines or other “essential” items when those smaller businesses could not do so. So perhaps Vermont is doing this to be “fair” to the small businesses? If not, it would seem that simply limiting the number of customers allowed into a Walmart (for example) at any one time would be the better course of action.
I appears to be nothing shy of CONTROL to me…spell that with all caps C O N T R O L !!! Do you see it coming on us little by little by little, so gradually like the frog in the water…it just gradually heats up until the frog dies off…Are we all going to just DIE OFF? Well it seems as if civil war may be just around the corner…
People will get tired of all of their restrictions and all hell will break loose…
We should wash out hands yes more so than usual. Keep away from people considering that you don’t know WHO has the virus and WHO doesn’t. Just assume that everyone you see is infected and stay a safe distance away. Wear mask if you have them, if not create one, use a scarf but still stay away from people as much as you can. Don’t fly on a plane unless it’s totally necessary…Be vigilant and safe b/c it’s not just your own safety but the safety of everyone else… The authorities are taking this to far with their “control” measures that are NOT really essential, but just show that they apparently want to feel important and be in control…
Don’t be concerned about a mask. This virus is an exosome created by cells that have been exposed to toxins. Keep away from cell towers and all 5-G. These emf frequencies damage cells causing them to secrete RNA particles (exosomes) incorrectly diagnosed as corona virus.
Wuhan China got sick after going full phase 5-G, so did New York.
Um, you are an idiot?
It is an incremental power grab.
All nations are moving in lock-step (like we are some odd singular Global Country where taking away the rights of citizens is the ONLY option). Which might seem weird given that there are many more people dying from other diseases, but they aren’t getting the media attention.
I mean, car accidents kill WAY more people than COVID-19. Should we all stay locked inside to keep safe from car accidents?
Heck, tuberculosis and even liver disease kills more people globally. Did we panic about them?
No, but you can expect the incremental controls to increase until you are unable to leave your homes for any reason.
….then expect far, far worse.
Keep calm people. Stay home. A big deadly virus is coming.
Keep calm. Stay calm. Stay in your homes. Good people. GOOD people.
Sit….Stay..
Don’t mind as I slowly install this barbed wire fence around you. Pay it NO attention. See I’m just dropping off the spool of wire from the truck. Nothing to be afraid of, right? That spool has been sitting on the back of that truck for a week already.
You still have Netflix and food right? See I’m just unwinding it a bit. It That isn’t scary is it? No. That’s silly. It’s just what we need to do only for 2 more weeks or so. We need to stay calm. Stay inside.
Keep calm.
There….
“Ok boys the fence is up. Cut the comms. Disarm and tag them block by block. Process and relocate them…..and don’t forget to mention that food and water are available in the camps. If they spook the wrong way we’ll be the ones bagging the bodies up. Better if they do it to themselves in the camps.”
Is it worth it to trade your freedoms for safety? Know your enemy. They won’t stop until you’re in the dirt.
Bravo!
No man escapes
When freedom fails
The best men rot in filthy jails
And they who cried, “Appease, Appease!”
Are hanged by men they tried to please
No man ‘survives’ when freedom fails,
the best men rot in filthy jails,
And those who cry ‘appease, appease’
Are hanged by those they tried to please.” – Hiram Mann.
Hiram Mann was an American aviator, a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, and member of the Tuskegee Airmen’s 332nd Fighter Group, an elite squadron of African-American airmen during World War II.
I love the quote.
Government tyranny at work against it’s citizens.
Hmmmm yes indeed,… & I want to decide whether the government is essential.
After all the governments of almost every country over the last few years have proven their irredeemable corruption, lawlessness & incompetence for the entire world to see.
Hence the massive on going protests we’ve seen in several countries.
All of a sudden this Coronavirus arrives & PRESTO! Our governments become paragons of virtue & efficiency with all the answers?
I don’t think so.
No they’re still the same corrupt, self important, incompetent boobs that were leading us yesterday. So none of this is a surprise.
INSANITY! That is all it is.
For me, I usually order seeds from Territorial Seed Co.
I did get an email saying they are behind on orders but are trying to process them.
In the mean time, I went to my local, small biz plumbing/hardware/feed and seed shop and bought from them. They are great. More knowledgeable than the yahoos at a big box store, they recognize me, and I know them and their names. Good people.
As a result of this whole thing, I am pushing for the local small biz owner vs the big box stores. The way I see it, it is them who need the most support during this crisis.
NOT the big box stores.
(Disclaimer: I worked a PT job at a home improvement big box store. They get a weeks worth of training before turned out onto the floor.)
So yet another reason to be into preparedness and not buy seed last minute.
Also more reason not to live in nanny states.
A town in my state tried to do their own thing and had to get spanked. We don’t allow that round here.
The other side of the coin is will waiting 2-3 weeks to buy that seed kill you? Stay home. Why is that so hard?
Matt in OK,
Good point about last minute seed buying.
As other have noted, many are new to gardening experience and are for a lack of better words, “panic” buying. Likely more than a few dont know which way is up on a rutabaga seed (that is a joke, but you get the idea).
From what I have seen around my neck of the woods, a lot of people who garden, are expanding their gardens.
What I think is the BEST solution, let some of your previous years crop go to seed. Then collect and save those seeds. Generally from the best producing plant. After 5 generations, you have heirloom seeds.
By dumb blind luck, I have had tomato seeds over-winter, and come back the following year. And I dont even like tomatoes.
Same with dill and oregano (but I like them).
Yeah the panic gardening is a thing.
I have to be out so I’m trying to be a sacrificial lamb and take care of folks but this is how it’s going: Everyone talks bout the young folk but I swear the old are worse.
My friend 54 takes his 75yr old father to rent a tiller then to Atwood’s to buy tools to garden the first time …
STAY HOME
I go shopping for one. Call her the next day. Says she doesn’t need anything cause she got out AFTER I shopped to get some other things.
I’m gonna mow for another 76 yr old and I have a guy go by to fill her gas cans. She won’t let him cause she’s gonna get out later and get gas that week. Uh no STAY HOME.
Older retired couple I know drive across the state cause they are bored stopping several times for fuel and food. STAY HOME
I call another and she says “oh I got out already” I’m like what the … she says “I stayed home 3 days”. Is 3 days 2 weeks !?! STAY HOME
Ok exit soap box stage left.
After we ordered food online for 89 y/o FIL, he WENT OUT to buy a thank you card to send to us. They just don’t get it.
Bhahahaha I needed that laugh and I seriously share the frustration and yet I can’t help but love them.
I think its time to VISIT AMAZING POLLY’S WEB SITE ,shes been collecting the dirt on the HERO’S of america and canada,ITS really looking like CRIMINALS are running everything,who would have guessed that..AMERICANS absolutely will not vote for honest people,If your not a well know thieft,and snake in the grass,you can’t make it to first base in government,A FAMINE IS COMING,and your hero’s are the ones bring it on you,I hope you got PETS that taste good,YOU’LL be eating them soon…OH,the LORD says this con-virus is a RUSE ,to steal everything you own..THE HOSPITALS are empty.its ALL a lie….
Arizona, the hospitals are not empty. You’re delusional and generally I let you say what you want. But it’s incredibly dangerous to downplay what’s going on in America. I have personally lost people I know to this virus. I know people in healthcare who tell me about the hell they live through every day.
I’m not saying the government isn’t going to take advantage of the situation but the virus is very real and very deadly.
Do you have 5-G installed in your town?
Where are you.getting your numbers?
All my numbers are cited in the links you can click throughout the article. 🙂
You can’t reprimand ‘Arizona’ when your title is inflammatory. You’re encouraging this kind of conspiracy nonsense. This is why idiots keep protesting about their right to ‘freedom’.
Hi, Yolande.
Welcome to my website with three rude comments as your introductory offering to the comments section. It’s terribly unfortunate you dislike the title of my article, however, I believe it portrays exactly what happened without hyperbole. It’s also quite unfortunate that you don’t understand people can care about public health, care about the economy, and care about personal liberty simultaneously. None of those views has to be mutually exclusive.
Have a great day.
PS: This website is a privately owned business. Therefore I actually can reprimand whoever I want in the comments.
Long time reader, first time commenter (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!).
I would like to thank you, Daisy, for the wonderful articles. I have been reading them for a while now and I feel that they have definitely given me enough of a “heads up” to stay ahead of the curve on this whole event. Thank you Daisy!
For a long time, I have been a homesteader (some folks would consider me a prepper, but I normally do not) and someone who everybody says “when it all goes to pot, I am coming to your house.”. Back when I read your article about Wuhan being quarantined overnight and without any advanced notice, I suddenly shifted from homesteader to prepper. The day following that article, I promptly went to Aldi and purchased enough supplemental canned goods to “ensure” an additional 2ish month’s supply of food (on top of the estimated 3 or 4 months supply already on hand). I filled up the back of my SUV for under $100, well before any crowds/shortages/quantities were limited. On my next paycheck, I purchased all of my seed needs for the upcoming year’s garden.
My point to telling you that isn’t to brag, but to thank you (Daisy, and others) and to point out to others the need for decisive action. I am a firm believer in communications/intel and using that information decisively to make the most timely decisions.
I’m so glad I could help – thank you for letting me know this 🙂
I don’t feel pity for them … when you elect /condone socialism you should really get a “taste” of what it is really like.
But still keep your powder dry and your eyes on Jesus.
Amen to that!! All’s I have to say is FUCK OUR SELF-CENTERED MURDEROUS GOVERNMENT! IM ASHAMED TO SAY IM AN AMERICAN WE ARE GREEDY,MONEY HUNGRY BULLIES! LAND OF THE FREE?! THATS THE BIGGEST LIE YET. NEVER HAS BEEN NEVER WAS LAND OF THE FREE. AND! WE’VE GOT A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR, FREAK OF NATURE AS A PRESIDENT. There is no hope for. So just like you said keep your eyes on JESUS!
I vote we do something about it. Bring back tar and feathering, especially since oil prices are so low. Let’s start with that dimwit Iyer at Rutgers. I’m tired of people that never did a day of hard work in their life telling me what to do!
Daisy – great article. Went to Dinesh Iyer Bio pretty boring but his Twitter nickname is “Red Devil” no Lie check it out. Aero Garden is still a viable option while they are still allowed to sell their gardens & seeds & podkits + you are growing Indoors where you Control & Protect your Own Food Supply. Thank You & Good Luck & Cheers to ALL!
Order out of Chaos
Like anything else the government does, this is about control.
How far will we let them go? That’s how far they will go… for now.
.
Stopping the sale of seeds should give you an idea. Non-essential? Really?
.
The main issue, as I see it, is what will be left of the economy when (if?) this is over.
GEE! I haven’t had a comment held in moderation in ages, but I do understand.
Keep on doing what you’re doing.
If I was President, governor or a mayo I would first point out to make us an agricultural nation, county or city (garden where you can).
I consider it VITAL to national security and would encourage it at every level. From government to citizen level.
One of the things directly prayed for in the LORD’S prayer is for food – everyday, I might add.
Strictly Medicinal Seeds out of Oregon and Sustainable Seeds out of Northern CA are still going as far as I know
Oh and Grow Organic in Peace Valley, CA. These companies are online and still doing business. Though there may be some delay.
Our neighbor went to the barber and a sheriff came in and told the barber to shut down as soon as he was done with the three men in the shop because it was “non-essential”.
My DH cut two inches off my last hair cut. I was way overdue when everything went into lockdown. It was driving me crazy. Had to tutor him through each step but it turned out great! I’ve been cutting his hair for 43 years so we already had the right scissors and combs, etc. No one’s going to be seeing me for a while anyways….
Sure to be plenty of firsts out there!
If this type of action continues, more people will begin to defy the suggested stay at home orders. We all get it that non essential outings and gatherings are discouraged or prohibited however, there are some who will want to take the risk and go to essential provider stores. Why else would Home Depot and Lowes be open except that they offer things and stuff that allow people to take care of their homes.
Naturally any outings should be as well thought out in advance as possible but there should be no attempt to prohibit them – everyone knows the rules for minimizing exposure to others germs and therefore the onus is on the individual. I like to search for and list or order all the home improvement items I want, then swing by and efficiently pick them up or wait for them to show up at my house if that is in order. We are not pets or children.
This whole thing with its restrictions and masks and isolation is demeaning and people will not tolerate it for long.
Wearing masks and isolation is demeaning? You people are delusional.
Living in New England, albeit not VT, I’ve heard about this. As another poster mentioned, it stemmed from closed businesses expressing concern about non-essential purchases being able to be made while their businesses were closed. In terms of distancing however, if a big box store is allowing say 100 customers in at a time based on the square footage but blocking off a considerable amount of the space used in the calculation, the density of shoppers would still be high so it doesn’t make sense. In terms of seeds, if food is essential, seeds are essential.
On another note, I’ve read about so many people “cleaning out” while at home. I can’t seem to wrap my head around this. I’d think now might be a good time to reconsider being a “minimalist” & instead think about what can be repurposed such as clothing for its fabric and notions. I’m not sure anything can be assumed at this point & am old enough to have had enough, “I should have kept that” moments to know it doesn’t hurt to have a few spare blankets and pillows put back.
Just my two cents. Many thanks to The Organic Prepper for such well written & informative articles. I wish I found this site years ago.
Thanks to Daisy’s prepping advice, I had already purchased many seeds to expand my garden. However, a week ago my husband went into the local grocery store and bought even more seeds without a problem. I’m in California. The only thing hard to get here is flour and yeast! Everyone is gardening and baking over here. Instead of swapping photos of our kids, it’s pics of our loaves of bread (any baked good). What are the rest of the states doing?
The control freak governments around the world are going to find out the hard way,that they won’t have enough guards to keep them safe when the citizens have had enough of being controlled,and all hell breaks loose against them.They fail to understand that there are billions of people on the planet and only the ‘sheeple’ do what they are told.
I’m hoping some good will come out of this in the form of lawsuits to rein in these “authorities” who believe they have the right to limit drugs we can have and essentials we can purchase. Will one of these governors decide people cannot have blood pressure or diabetic medications next? What’s the difference in what MI and NV governors have already done limiting Hydroxychloroquine?
Time for people to fight for rights to their own land usage as well, for example: gardens and chickens. (Come on, 2-3 chickens well cared for in someone’s back yard isn’t a problem in most places that allow them. Yes they poop, so do dogs and chickens don’t bark.) In some places you can’t even fly the American flag!
I have leaf lettuce coming up inside. Was lucky I got my seeds early. Wish I had gotten through to more friends about stocking up. Very frustrating trying to convey that mindset. Love to come here and be with people like me. Thanks Daisy.
Here in Australia most of the online seed companies are limiting sales to previous customers.
I wanted to get a few more packets and luckily I was a previous customer of 3 companies.
I managed to get from the 2 smaller companies (with them being sold out of many varieties) some of what I wanted.
The third company and largest had a waiting list.
No flour or sugar to be bought from the supermarket. Toilet paper….whats that?
The supermarkets have instigated special times for elderly, disabled and infirm to 7am until 8am Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday for all services such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, police and firemen from 7am until 8am.
Of course we are all free to go at all other times if we wish.
I am over 70 and our age bracket has been confined to isolation in our homes. Go out only when absolutely necessary.
The local doctor does online consultations and only takes face to face patients depending on the necessity.
Luckily I am a prepper of many years but it is all at my farm. We now have restricted regions or zones for travel and I am unable to access my farm presently. I was in the process of shifting as it happened and didn’t quite get all my things up there especially all my new fruiting trees and plants. I expect a window of opportunity will still arise and I will get there soon.
Stay safe everyone. It is all over the world and we are all in the same boat.
Don’t get stuck in the city when it all goes down they say.
It’s easy to forget, but retail and food service workers are at risk of getting sick as well as
those working in the health services. Maybe more so in a way, because the stores I’ve been in in Massachusetts, only one person was wearing a mask. I don’t know if stores have forbidden workers from masking up (because it’s not “customer friendly”) or if the workers themselves are not by choice, but given the fact that the covid virus can be spread so easily and by asymptomatic people, this is disturbing.
I know that the JoAnn Fabrics in my town is open only for pickup of online orders to minimize the risk to employees and customers. This may be an option in other parts of the country.
As far as other things that people are looking for, some options are:
Amazon Kindle – there are many books available for free downloads to your device, and the app is free for Android phones. You can probably get it for other devices, too.
Craft materials: have a closet cleaning party with your family. Clothes that are too worn to be usable can get a second life as craft fabric. Learning to sew is a useful skill even for younger kids to become familiar with. Old toys can be cleaned up and broken ones can provide parts for avant garde sculptures and collages and other art projects.
Save seeds from tomatoes, squash, strawberries and other fruits and see if they will sprout. Carrot stumps and the base ends of celery and lettuce will sometimes regrow leaves. Sprouted potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions can be planted. There are directions online and YouTube has videos on how to do it.
Encourage family members to come up with their own stories and have a storytelling night.
While it’s discouraging and distressing to be prevented seemingly arbitrarily from going where we want, when we want, to buy what we want, if we exercise a little patience and ingenuity, we will be able to get through this.
And if, by going without something now, we get through this faster than otherwise by minimizing the risk to ourselves and others, I’m all for it.
Good suggestions Miss Kitty. I would just like to add a note on the Kindle. Your local library probably has books that can be borrowed at no charge for both your Kindle and through other apps (like Overlook) My library lets me take out 10 books for 21 days and is connected to numerous other libraries in a system. Call your library to find out how to start.
I also have many paper books bought at the annual “Friends of the Library” yearly sale. Donated books sold very cheap. I live for that summer sale! Again talk to your library to find out about sales in your area after this is over.
I think the food shortages are going to go on for awhile because people are waking up to the need for some type of backup supplies. Be sparing with what you have. I don’t think the shelves are going to fill up with things like flour and yeast that quickly. We’ll survive. Our great grandparents survived during the depression and through WWII rationing. We will too. Stay Safe!
Bookmark booksalefinder.com .. it’s a great site that’s very good at posting library sales year round.
Finally someone with some common sense. So many comments here indicate how screwed up and selfish Americans are. Your country used to be a beacon of hope; now the rest of the world sees how rotten you’ve become. Shame on you!
Hi Daisey, Here in Delaware all the stores no bleach, no rubbing alcohol and no peroxide. Been like that since toilet paper run. You do see tp every once In awhile, but none of the above. I think government hoarding.
Frankly, what the despotic state governors should expect is massive public non-compliance. Who exactly do they think they are to decide for me whats “essential”?
I have not yet seen this stupidity exhibit itself in my state. It rankles me bad enough that Vermont is doing it. Personally I think its a test bed for certain globalists to ascertain the public’s reaction/response to even more draconian ‘rules’ are forced upon them. If they pacify Vermont then watch for it to pop up in other areas.
Preppers look ahead. It sucks to be caught short. I ordered seeds last winter and now have what I need. But even where seeds are available to be sold to the public, unlike Vermont, seeds are already picked over and in very short supply. Same will be for those tomato plants you plan on picking up. So don’t wait too long.
We ordered seeds from Seed Savers. Many types of seeds were out of stock. Initially they sent an email explaining there would be a delay in shipping and could not give a date when they could ship. Finally about a month later some of our seeds have arrived. We were concerned we had waited too long to order.
People in government clearly believe they have the right to run our lives down to the smallest detail. We need to find a way to communicate to them that this is not acceptable.
Duh: One fact the government boys forgot is that plants have a growing season. Plant too late, and the end of the cycle temperatures / sunlight hurts the yield substantially.
Somehow, delivery people in a warehouse bringing virus back from their delivery list on their shoes and contact is more than someone picking up a package and going to the same checkout line as for other goods?
This is taking up floor space, and the seeds will not be usable again until next year. So why not have a salesperson there, handing the seeds to purchasers to put next to their milk and groceries, with wipes if touched and to be replaced, until the stock is sold out or significantly diminished? The persons who never ran a business telling business folks how to conduct it has never been right (well, what do you expect for a State of Bernie Sanders). Instead of a blanket ban, it could be “sales of these items shall not occur unless the vendor exercises such sales using social distancing in compliance with Executive Order ____ in a manner commensurate with, or greater security than, with essential items.” Then the retailer can decide for itself how and what to sell.
Meh, now that I wear a mask and wrap around sunglasses everywhere I go, if they won’t sell it to me, I’ll just take what I need, at gunpoint if necessary.
When are we as a people going to come together and organize to resist this tyranny that has been foisted upon us? Everyone should just ignore these mandates and just go about their business. According to the Declaration of Independence, which everyone should read, it is not only our RIGHT to rid ourselves of a tyrannical government, it is our DUTY to resist and replace this government…even if it means using deadly force. Thomas Jefferson said something to the effect that the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants. How much clearer does that statement have to be? The answer and key to ending this government overreach lies within each and every one of us. I, for one, do not want to live in the NWO that is planned for us. If we care about our children and their future, we need to find the courage to stand and fight regardless of the costs. We’re not going to live forever. Those of us in our 50’s and older, remember what it was like to be free without all this government intrusion in our lives. Let’s try and preserve it for the generations to come.
Problem is, we have become a nation of wimps. Sit on the couch and watch homer simpson. You become what you watch. Really, watching tv makes you stupid. Proven facts.
Find three or four you know and trust, and talk to them. Don’t make comments…it’s dangerous.
Vermonter here. Yup, this is kinda nuts. There ARE some stores here where you can still buy seeds and even items deemed “non-essential” but you have to know where and I’m not posting it here or they will be closed! The really interesting thing about it of course is that if you were to want to buy seeds without leaving a paper trail of your purchase for some reason, the only way to do that would be in the store in person and paying with cash. So forcing people to order online does create a trail of just what you bought. Maybe I’m paranoid but when do the authorities show up to declare that you have too many seeds and you need to “share”? Along with the ammo, masks and TP of course. Just wondering……
If they would just shut the borders and keep the infected hordes in the Northeast from traveling up here to stay at their second-homes, etc that would go a longer way towards keeping us healthy; more risk getting something from a bunch of New Yorkers than a seed packet that someone touched!
Visited our local Walmart based on this helpful article. Everything seems normal and for sale (except TP & propane). Shopping carts and caution tape cordons set up while a bemasked employee counted us coming in/out (I asked her). No area was blocked off yet.
Side note about everyone staying home in my suburban neighborhood: noticing lots of new faces (I’m retired) wandering streets. I thought it odd this group of 4 teens looking in our backyards…Anybody else noticing things?
I can not help but be reminded of Nazi Germany hearing about all this nonsense. Papers from your employer saying you are an essential worker? Sounds like Nazi-ism to me!!! Not being able to buy whatever you want from an OPEN store? Again, Nazi-ism!! Being harassed and fined because you went out for a drive, even though you made no stops? What, did you forget your papers? I can’t believe America is putting up with this non-sense!!! But then, fear is a powerful tool! And we have been heading towards socialism for a very long time!!! Good luck America. You are getting a taste of what you have been wanting, so enjoy it. You thought you were going to be immune, because you were a good little automaton? Wake up people!!! This was WHY I PREPARED!!! Power, once taken, will not be given up easily. Hunker down, people.
How can we make masks when Hobby Lobby was forced to close? It is the only store that sales fabric and elastic. What the neck is wrong with hobbies when we are stuck at home for weeks! Or science projects for our bored kids!?
I review about 30,000 news items each month, so I pretty much see everything. I have noticed that at least 3 states that do what this article talks about are ALL governed by female governors, for what its worth.
well, at least here in Michigan, we have tyrannical “brilliant” Governor Gretchen Whitmer who just outlawed the sale of gardening supplies in the middle of planting season! So, we’re just supposed to starve if the food supply chain breaks down. ???
In normal times, they’d be telling everyone to plant a garden to help out with the food supply. Now? The exact opposite of what common sense would tell you to do. Something is very, very wrong here and the rights and liberties our brave soldiers died for in the past two centuries and more are all being violated and taken away by power hungry tyrants.
Daisy Luther says, “I fail to see how this is going to stop the spread of a coronavirus if the shopper is already at the store and the employees are also already at the store.”
Well I will help you see. The longer that you are in the store buying things you do not really need the more chance of you getting infected or giving someone else your infection. DUH!!!
Very true.
They hate Capitalism. This is what low-level Communists do.
Thank God for our AMAZING government! I was getting tired of thinking for myself.
Wait a minute… Isnt the same government trying to save me from the VIRUS?!?
As a sovereign man I feel I am able to think for myself. If i need any help, I will ask.
So, please… if you are with the government, take this Isolation time to practice lying in the mirror. Or maybe sexually harass one of your staff members. Keep yourself busy! And by all means….
LEAVE ME THE F&(/ ALONE!
I am ordering my seeds online before it is too late to plant the basic vegetables we usually can throughout the growing season. Walmart.com has canning jars at $11 and change, get some before they run out.
This “virus” is wrecking our country. Freedom is disappearing one slice at a time. Go back to living life as you have in the past, take the basic vitamins C,D3, magnesium, and zinc.
Go outside and get your gardens prepared.
research exosomes…what is being mistaken for corona viruses.
research the dangers of 5-G
Dr. Guitenne where are you?
I’m not trying to be an alarmist, but isn’t it odd that a comet is about to become visible to the naked eye all across the world? They’re calling it Atlas, it’s green in color (the color of death and pestilence) and is supposed to be one hell of site to behold. Comets have always been considered to be bad omens by our ancestors, harbingers of death, etc. I just find the timing very interesting, with this worldwide pandemic going on and all.
I’m actually surprised we’re not hearing more about it. I learned of its existence last week and it was reported to be five times the size of Jupiter, and half the size of our sun (the comet’s atmosphere, the glow we see that surrounds its icy core). The comet is said to be some 72 million miles from earth, so it should pose no danger to us, though that is within the confines of our solar system, so there’s always a chance of something amazing happening, though very unlikely.
The comet should be visible soon, look low in the eastern sky and you should be able to see in the next week or so. Astronomers are excited about its arrival, but comets are unpredictable. It could light up the night sky in spectacular fashion, or it could peter out and be a huge disappointment. I’m a little paranoid, I don’t like coincidences, I find it odd, and it feels like a bad omen to me.
Little by little the whole world population is starting to experience what it means to be a refugee of war or an inhabitant who fears terrorists or bombs or lack of food or water or safety from murderers or robbers. The notion of safety money indifference to the poverty of poor people in the world will be better understood and soon mankind will start living like ”Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Corona will fly away where there is love.
You’ve still got your guns! Use them for the purpose they are for…and quit your bellyaching!
We need a citizens uprising. How long can this go on before riots start in major cities? Let the civil war begin!
well im pushing 81 and when i was a kid of about 20 i was in a law library and for some reason i was looking at a USC law book in the goverment sections and the best i can remember sections 753 or such. what i happened upon were about 6 or 8 pages of a 3 phase construction of a united nations army that in its final stage would consist of 2.2 millon chinese soldiers, 2.2 million russian soldiers and 2.2 american soldiers. this was a federal law book. it was around 1960. i looked in later years but the pages had been deleted or i just couldnt find them again. i had wanted to copy them at the time but i didnt have any change. as far as im concerned whats happening now is simply a part of the last parts of the 3 phases of the law. if you read a book ‘visions of glory’ he in vision saw chinese troops invading california with blue helmets to rescue us after a huge earthquake. we of course have to adopt a new government. utah prevails in the end and saves the constitution. store food and pray a lot.
Vermont voted a Communist – Bernie Sanders – into the U.S. Senate. It is reasonable to infer that Vermont’s supine voters elected Sanders political clones into state and local government as well. My suspicion is that Vermont may being used as a test bed to determine how far citizen’s can be pushed before there are instances of resistance accompanied by various levels of violence.
How can anyone be shocked or even surprised by this? Elect people that want to burn your civilization to the ground, then act surprised when the fire starts.
I do think the governors are out of touch with their citizens! They tell us to stay at home as long as possible, and only go out once every 3 weeks for food, BUT then the grocery stores are limiting purchases to two of each item ( might work if your single?)! I live in SC. We can still get toys, crafts and garden supplies ( but there isn’t going to be any Spring sales to reduce people traffic). But what is very concerning to me as I help others to prep, is the decline in options/brands online to deliver of food especially! In my local zip code Walmart has decreased the quantity from two of each item to one, in less than two weeks. In a zip code less than 30 miles away, one is still able to get two of each item. Be safe every one! Thanks Daisy for the articles!
It appears that the State does not like it if you are not sitting on the floor in the basement in utter fear and misery. If you are buying “non-essential” things, then you are not keeping your mind on what they demand you do, their “Plandemic”. You are supposed to sit on the couch riveted to the pronouncements of the same bureaucrats whose agencies failed at controlling the disease, and who now demand we stay imprisoned while they cook up a poison they will force us to submit to, in order to be released. SHAME on any seed company that does not sell to individuals online. There is NO REASON not to, other than totalitarianism.
Walmart has started this nonsense at some stores where I live. I found another Walmart that is more “lax”. I have last yrs seeds, most of them are still good, hopefully can barter.