Weekly Preppers' Thread

9/4/15 | kartographer

[Kartographer]

Preppers you know what we are looking for things like good preparedness supply buys, small discoveries and helpful hints which possible by themselves would make a interesting thread, but would be of interest to fellow preppers.

[Kartographer]

To start things off if you live in an area that has Smith's grocery stores their case lot sale is on. Good deal on Dinty Moore stew, can soup , can vegetables......

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

[NYTexan]

Looking for recommendations for a whole home generator, Quiet!, liquid cooled, runs on propane. 200 amp transfer switch also.

Have read some bad reviews about Generac and Kohler.

[pops88]

Thanks! I’ve got a Smith’s close by, but I’m not there very often. I’ll make an effort to stop in.

[Iron Munro]

BJ's has a sale on the Augason Farms Emergency Food Storage All-In-One Pail, 30 Days, 1 Person.

Priced at $83.99 with free shipping.

http://www.bjs.com/augason-farms-emergency-food-storage-all-in-one-pail-30-days-1-person.product.217033?dimId=

Not a long term solution for the Apocalypse but a handy way to grab some basic survival necessities on the way out the door.

I bought one for my home and one for our son and DIL.

I think of it as a Bail Out Bucket.

In my area we have a lot of heavy rains, flooding and are in the hurricane belt.

Last month many homes in the county were isolated by the flooding due to the heavy rains and many were escaping in canoes and rowboats with just the clothes on their backs.

[mountainlion]

It might be good to stock up on some extra salt, garlic, pepper, and other things to make stuff taste better. There are some books out there on what plants to use for what and which to avoid.

[EternalHope]

All of us remember the financial meltdown of 2008. The entire financial system came very close to freezing up. The world financial system has gotten sicker between then and now, and it is showing signs we have entered another high risk period.

A financial crisis could degenerate all the way to SHTF.

For instance, our credit cards would have stopped working in 2008 if the financial system had frozen up (likewise for EBT cards). Supposedly we were within a few hours of that actually happening. If it had, then SHTF would have been right around the corner unless the problem was resolved very quickly.

We don’t know for sure that a repeat of the financial crisis of 2008 (or worse) is in our future, but it certainly could be. If it is, September and October of this year seem like a particularly high risk time (Shemitah?).

Personally, I think next summer is higher risk than this fall. But the risk right now in the global financial system certainly seems elevated.

[Lurker]

Onan. And make sure it runs at 1800 RPM, not 3600.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’ve been looking at Generac propane driven.

[Iron Munro]

Tony's Tactical Surplus and Supplies ia an on line mil-surp store.

http://tonystactical.com/

He is going out of business and has some pretty good buys at close out prices.

Examples

- Genuine military surplus 1 Quart Canteen with cover (carrier pouch) only $2.95.

- Woodland Molle Double Mag Pouches - 4 pack for $3.99

I have dealt with him and am well satisfied with his products, prices and service.

[NYTexan]

Thanks! looks promising...

[NYTexan]

Have read a lot of bad reviews about Generac...namely that when they went from dealerships to national distribution through stores like home depot, that their customer service and warranty policy have gotten really bad.

[NormsRevenge]

A weekly peppers and a weekly preppers thread..

Wow has this place grown!

[PROCON]

I’ll check BJ’s out, thanks.

[JRandomFreeper]

I don't know if this is included in prep stuff, but I've got it under my prep budget.

I don't have the water or electricity setup for a standard washer/dryer config.

Since I live alone, and a regular water setup and 120VAC is easy here, I've got a washer/dryer combo for cheap, and it runs off easily available resources, I'll take it. I should have done this years ago.

Don't know if that counts for prep stuff, but with my situation, that is how I'm using it.

/johnny

[greeneyes]

As requested I have some information regarding the Three Sisters gardening methods. A quote from Chief Louis Farmer (Onondaga):

” In late spring, we plant the corn and beans and squash. They’re not just plants - we call them 3 sisters. We plant them together, 3 kinds of seeds in one hole. They want to be with each other, just as we Indians want to be together with each other. So long as they are with us, we will never starve. The creator sends them to us each year...We thank Him for the gift He gives us today and every day.”

This planting was practiced by numerous Indian tribes native to North America. There are quite a few Indian stories related to the 3 sisters. There’s a legend from Eastern Canada, A legend from the Iroquois, The Bear, Coyote, and the Three sisters to name just a few.

This is actually a very good intercropping or companion planting method. It works well when the corn is planted first, and then beans are planted, and finally the squash.

The idea is to let the corn get a head start and the pole beans will use the corn stalk, so you don’t have to stake the plants or provide string for the beans to climb. The squash will spread to cover the ground giving a living mulch to conserve water.

The beans are able to “fix” nitrogen from the air and help with growth - corn is a heavy feeder. I’ll post some links below for those who may want to read more about this method:

http://www.birdclan.org/threesisters.htm

http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html

http://fourstringfarm.com/2013/03/25/notes-on-three-sisters-gardening/

I am also looking into generators, I’d like to find some with not only propane or gasoline, but is there any thing out there that would be able to switch from fossil fuel to solar or wind power? Has anyone ran across anything like that?

[SkyPilot]

No complaints about Generac. Watch out for the Harbor Freight “Predator” brands. They can work OK, but know some folks who had real problems with them. They are Chinese made, which isn't terrible in of itself of course. But quality control can be haphazard. One friend went to get his repaired and they said the part he needed was “non-standard” and not even available anymore...on a 2 year old generator. I am sure some work fine. I heard a carnival owner bought them by the dozen and planned for 2 or 3 to just quit.

[greeneyes]

I think it counts for prep and regular use. I almost got a similar set for my basement to replace the large stackable unit that had quit. I figured to use the extra space for gardening supplies.

Hubby vetoed the plan, so we got a new small stackable that is better for me, since it’s shorter and I am under tall. LOL

[Lurker]

Happy to be of service. My brother sells big industrial back up units. He says the Generac portables are ok but the standby units are garbage. So I improvised mine.

I e got the 8kw portable modified to run on natural gas. It’s hooked to a 1” line. Then it goes to a ten pole transfer switch so I can run the entire house including the central air.

The only professional work was the gas line. It works well.

Best of luck.

[grumpygresh]

I have a few questions.

Does anyone know where one can buy freeze dried food in person retail (I don’t want to use credit card).

Anyone with experience with rain water systems?

I live in a northern state-WI. What about greenhouses? I have 5 acres, so space should be a problem.