Originally Posted by
CaryC
Of course what you say is true. Absolutely no problem.
You might consider this thought: Why did people have large families in the old days? Aside from the lack of birth control pills. The thought was NOT yuck, more mouths to feed. Rather, the need for more hands to do the job. And we should do the same.
I'm not saying anyone should take in the whole community, but rather to look at an increase in family size during tough times as a good thing. More hands to get the job done. and in a grid down, whatever situation.
I know you have an alternative water source, Bear, other than bottled water. If you don't, you're in serious trouble. More hands means fetching water with guards, and purifying it. While others hoe the garden, forage in the woods, 24 hour surveillance. etc. If there is none, more hands to dig a well.
My grand father and his family were poor share croppers. A husband, wife and 6 kids. Each spring, family members would come for a visit, and stay till fall. If they didn't have enough beds, they would make pallets on the floor. The men, boys would get up and go the field together, chop wood, tend the blacksmith shop, bring well water to the house, etc.... All the women/girls would cook the meals, wash clothes, wash dishes, hoe in the truck patch, can and gather fruits and veggies, all done either over open fires outside, or on the wood cook stove.
Never, ever heard a bad word cross my grandfathers mouth about the visit from relatives.
And when they left there was enough food, and cut wood to do a family of 8, the winter.
So, if your family grows during a grid down, may actually be a good thing.