Posted on 03/05/2011 9:14:08 AM PST by Kartographer
We all realize it won’t happen, but the dollar is very weak. That’s just a fact.
Anything I read about survivalism indicates to keep at least a few weeks or even months supply of food on hand. As far as guns and ammunition, I seriously doubt that one person can protect what they have if people are starving. This means a network of friends is needed. That way the things that you have can be shared and protected.
I do know many people will say they can’t afford it. A food item that costs $1.00 today could cost $2.00 or $3.00 or even more by mid summer. We should all know that gasoline which won’t even store well, especially now with the ethanol can’t really be stored in quantity for any length of time.
The interest on just about any investment is presently much less than the increase in the cost of food. Therefore, a few hundred in savings spent now, will increase in value faster than just about any investment there is.
(Excerpt) Read more at mypeoplesvoice.com ...
There are plenty of grocery stores which will give away those plastic buckets if you ask. They just throw them out.
A warning though, you are likely going to need to clean them yourself, but if all they’ve had in them was food, they’ll be fine for storing food.
I buy honey from local growers in 5 pound jars and save the jars and lids, which usually have a built in gasket. They’re great for storing food, too and free to boot, once the honey is gone.
My father still uses a pump action that my grandfather own and I can’t remember it ever failing or needing anything more than a cleaning and a pump can be easily loaded on the the go. AK’s are known for their ablity to take lots of abuse and still keep shooting, but like, most things to each their own.
ping
If you loose your stores what are the odds that you are still alive? As far as ‘bug out’ a BOL doesn’t have to be in the mountains somewhere far far away, there are plenty of out of the way locations even in the denses populated areas you just have to look around for them and ‘think out of the box’.
I rather have then have to fight or search for it later. I also know that there are limits and to tell the truth at there are some sernerios I would care to even try living through.
The only plastic containers I throw out are like the 12 oz Pepsi bottles (when I even drink it).
But I have scads of the 1 qt gatorade bottles filled with water. And being a home brewer who likes to brew hard cider, I must have 50 plastic cider jugs full of drinking water.
When I use up a think of like laundry detergent, I just fill it with water and don’t even bother rinsing it. The reason?
Now I have some soapy water to clean stuff with!!
My rule is basically if it is in a jar or jug that originally held foodstuff, like OJ or cider or whatever, then its potable water.
Anything in other containers is utility water.
” but like, most things to each their own. “
Yep - very early in my ‘thinking’ process, I made the conscious decision to adopt Murphy as my patron saint - so that, to the best of my ability, every plan and preparation is filtered through the “KISS” principle.....
My purpose is not to be prepared for EVERY eventuality, but rather to stay adaptable to ANY situation....
/bump for later
I feed the birds & squirrels regularly at home, and I keep a large supply of seed & corn on hand. I also have a couple of good BB guns with 10,000 BB’s in case the doves & squirrels have to feed me. ( BB guns for soft report, less damage and no leftovers to deal with.)
This method will also work well for “City Folks” - getting meat off their own high-rise balcony.
We also keep Deer around with Corn, salt & mineral licks. However, relying on large game means a lot of noise, work and meat. Be prepared to share big game, as your neighbors will most likely know what you are doing. Besides, the excess meat will very difficult to preserve without electricity, and your neighbors can earn their meal by helping out with processing & cooking.
“I’m of the opinion that the decline will be more like Argentina’s, with dollar devaluation followed by a long stretch of hard times/resource scarcity.”
You could be right. However, I have a feeling that as bad as it will get in this country under such a scenario, it will be amplified elsewhere.
Also, in Argentina in 2001, they had a widely available fungible instrument that could be used as a store of value in the US Dollar, or the Euro that could be easily converted to local currency as needed. We may not be so lucky here if things get bad.
You’re assuming that there will be clean water.
This gizmo runs on batteries and will make sure you don’t get the runs. It’s great for camping or traveling to other countries:
http://search.gandermountain.com/?D=Steri+Pen&Nty=1&N=0&Dk=0&Ntt=Steri+Pen
I suggest you get a model that takes AA batteries instead of the other type.
bfl
If you can find them The Foxfire Books are an amazing source of information.
What are the marshmallows in dishwashing liquid for?
SamiGirl, I go to the local supermarket bakery section. They have the five gallon food-grade buckets with tight fitting lids. They get their frostings for cakes in these types of buckets. My supermarket will sell them for one or two dollars. I just call ahead to see if they have any and they hold them for me until I get there.
I use them to store flour, sugar, rice, etc. I also have one that I use to make sauerkraut.
Many years ago someone posted this on a FR thread, I haven’t seen it reposted here in a long time:
Appropriate Technology Sourcebook
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(Online Edition)
By Ken Darrow and Mike Saxenian
Published by Village Earth
Welcome to the online edition of the Appropriate Technology Sourcebook which reviews over 1,150 of the best books on appropriate technology. Most of the books reviewed in the sourcebook are available as a collection in the AT Library on CD-ROM or DVD available for sale from Village Earth.
This is the online version of the latest edition guide to practical books on village and small community technology. Over 50,000 print copies of the previous editions have been used in more than 130 countries to find a wide range of published technical information that can be used by individuals and small groups. In the new edition, 1150 publications are reviewed, covering small water supply systems, renewable energy devices such as water mills and improved cook stoves, agricultural tools and implements, intensive gardening, nonformal education, small business management, transportation, small industries and other topics. The Sourcebook can also be used as the index for the Appropriate Technology Library on CD-ROM or DVD, which contains the complete text of 1050 books.
http://www.villageearth.org/pages/Appropriate_Technology/ATSourcebook/index.php
You can “reasonably stockpile” years worth. If part of your stockpile is ammunition and seeds, you can have enough to feed your family forever. Literally.
Nothing short of nuclear war or invasion will make any societal collapse a “forever” event.
Thanks for all the info. And thanks for reminding me about the toilet paper issue. Totally forgot about that.
I’m not so sure about that.
If we lost the electric grid for say 60 days, then most, if not all of it might be down forever.
And millions would probably die. You can’t just turn the clock back two centuries and expect anything else.
1. An TEOTWAWKI Mad Max situation is the most unlikely scenario. If it does happen, then we do what it takes to survive – whatever it takes. After all, who is going to hold us accountable? Those with the most wits and the most guns will survive.
2. In spite of what some people on this board believe, America is not Africa. As a born and bred Pennsylvanian, the moment the thin veneer of civilization shatters, I’m not going to take that as an opportunity to go slaughter Ohioans. Now there is a type of tribalism that has grown up in some sections of some cities among certain groups. You don’t want to be anywhere near them. But I doubt they would last long beyond their own urban borders.
3. If government fails, community takes over. Anarchy just isn’t that popular in this country. People like stability. There were many small communities after Katrina that dried themselves off and started cleaning up immediately. Neighbors banded together and pooled their resources. We didn’t see them on the news because that isn’t drama. Communities made up of the chronically stupid won’t last long.
4. If you’ve read any books about London or Berlin during WWII, (or Beirut) you know that even in the worst hard times, even in the big city people adapt and continue their lives under the “new normal.” Those that can’t make that transition die off quickly.
5. Being prepared (food and meds stockpiled, security measures in place, etc) gives us the added benefit of time to assess a disaster situation. In the event of a Bad Event, the House of Meow is ready to hunker down IMMEDIATELY. I don’t have to transition to survival mode because I have been preparing for so long now (since September 12, 2001), that it has become a way of life – and even a satisfying hobby. If things go to hell, House of Meow goes on lockdown and we can monitor the situation in relative comfort and decide our next moves.
In the mean time, we are completely prepared for any short term disasters – like Snowmageddon last year or a week long horrific flu that struck this family this winter. We did nothing to get ready for it. We are always ready. And THAT…is a nice feeling.
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