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Prepping for Survival - First Steps
AShooting Journal ^ | 10/7/2015 | John Wood

Posted on 10/07/2015 9:35:22 AM PDT by w1n1

Do you recall how you became interested in survival prepping? Was it a personal experience from a localized disaster that you were not prepared for, or perhaps watching a catastrophic event on television? Maybe you fear the economic crisis in Greece or exodus of thousands of people from troubled countries who might reach the shores of America? Maybe it was triggered by a stock market shutdown due to a computer glitch?

Whatever the reason or motivation that started you into prepping, the good news is these are all issues you are thinking about. You might be eager to carry this concern forward to the next logical phase. Here are some initial planning steps to get you pointed in the right direction.

Establish a Knowledge Base If you wanted to learn how to change the oil in your car, shoot a gun or know how to do yoga, what would you do first? You might buy a book on the subject, look up information on the Internet, watch a YouTube video or possibly sign up for a class to learn how-to, firsthand.

These are all reasonable approaches, but the core element here is to learn. This is the first step with prepping, too. It can be accomplished in a host of ways, including tasks as simple as visiting the local library or bookstore. Maybe it would help to seek out a few survivalist Internet sites like Alloutdoor.com or SurvivalCache.com. These sources can open many doors to education and planning.

Knowing what to do first, then second and so forth is crucial, because with prepping you really cannot afford to make too many mistakes. Also know that prepping is a lifelong learning process.

Learn & Earn Skills You may be an experienced outdoors person or have completed Delta Force training in the Army, which certainly would have provided some background skills, but more than likely you’re an accountant, an elementary school teacher or mechanic at the local garage. You need to assess the skills you possess and those of your team, which can include family, friends or like-minded individuals. Everyone has a role. This will help you determine what other skills you need to acquire.

Seek out local sources for skills training. Look at potential courses taught at local community colleges, or outdoors groups. Look on bulletin boards at supplier stores to see if related events are scheduled. You will likely be surprised at all of the prepper activities going on right in your own hometown. Read the rest of the survival prepping story here.


TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: doomsdayprepping; survivalists
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To: JRandomFreeper

If you don’t mind me asking, what prompted you to live in such a fashion?


21 posted on 10/07/2015 10:24:06 AM PDT by EnigmaticAnomaly ("With the demonrats in charge, we find ourselves living in an ineptocracy.")
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To: JRandomFreeper

Where did you carry water from? Did you buy it or were there fresh water streams? Looks like you had electricity?


22 posted on 10/07/2015 10:24:20 AM PDT by caww
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To: JRandomFreeper

Heck, it sounds like you should be giving us all tips. Nothing like experience to teach you all those little things you’d never think of until you have to deal with it.


23 posted on 10/07/2015 10:27:12 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: caww
I re-opened a well that had been closed for 50-60 years. Less than a quarter mile to carry, and part of it was covered with hoses.

The electricity you see is what I generated via solar panels, batteries and an inverter/charger. Not a lot of power. About 2KVA. Not enough to run a well. That was by hand.

Now that I'm back in town with mains power, I'm using the panels and batteries for emergency power here at the house. Lights, radio, wifi, network router... etc...

/johnny

24 posted on 10/07/2015 10:31:34 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: EnigmaticAnomaly
She wanted to get married. I wanted to get lost.

I could run fence-lines for my room/board/space. I had 4 acres and that little shack. ;)

She did get married.

It wasn't to me.

/johnny

25 posted on 10/07/2015 10:33:15 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: circlecity
A single guy can do a lot of things that a married guy can't do. I took advantage of that.

Yep. Experience is a great teacher. The tuition is pretty expensive, though.

/johnny

26 posted on 10/07/2015 10:36:33 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: circlecity

Recently my house water main broke and we were without for a week. Drinking & cooking was by far the least need. Washing was huge (even when minimal). Flushing... good that I have a small pond solving that volume with ease.


27 posted on 10/07/2015 10:47:11 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Everyone entering NRA offices come out alive. Not so Planned Parenthood.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Wasn’t there a movie about that shack? Behind the Red Door??


28 posted on 10/07/2015 11:04:58 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Article 5 convention.)
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To: jpsb

Use a ‘sock’ type filter and the black filters sold by Berky. Then a pass through a Sawyer .02 micron filter. More than this would be distillation in one form or another.


29 posted on 10/07/2015 11:07:35 AM PDT by S.O.S121.500 (Had ENOUGH Yet ? ........................ Enforce the Bill of Rights .........It is the LAW...)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Thanks...


30 posted on 10/07/2015 11:17:32 AM PDT by caww
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To: MomwithHope
LOL! I don't know. I do know that the owner of the property thought having a red door when I'm sharing a 4 acre pasture with 3 uncut bulls was funny.

I found it less than funny one morning when 2 of the bulls wound up on my porch. I don't believe in the bull/red color thing, but I was close that morning. ;)

/johnny

31 posted on 10/07/2015 11:27:17 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

It was a joke, the movie was actually called Behind the Green Door. When I was in my early 20’s I lived for a year and a half in a small one room geodesic dome on a platform held up by telephone pole stilts. I was in college and only had to pay 30 a month. There were geodesic domes scattered around Carbondale Illinois because Buckminster Fuller taught there and I took his World Game class. The only entrance to the dome was from a trap door in the platform. I would pull my VW beetle up under the dome, step on the fender then the hood and could get inside. Dog and cat quickly learned. It had electricity and a small oil heater. No water, there was a hand pump at the back of an old farmhouse no one lived in. I had to do any dishes there, cold water on, and would set plastic jugs out with water to warm up for a back porch shower. I was in college with a full scholarship for tuition but nothing for room and board.I remember a restaurant in the college town that one night a week had all you can eat spaghetti for 2.00. I’d get a glass of water too and take some lemon sugar packets they had out for tea and make my own lemonade. Ah those were the days / NOT!!


32 posted on 10/07/2015 11:39:50 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Article 5 convention.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

It was a joke, the movie was actually called Behind the Green Door. When I was in my early 20’s I lived for a year and a half in a small one room geodesic dome on a platform held up by telephone pole stilts. I was in college and only had to pay 30 a month. There were geodesic domes scattered around Carbondale Illinois because Buckminster Fuller taught there and I took his World Game class. The only entrance to the dome was from a trap door in the platform. I would pull my VW beetle up under the dome, step on the fender then the hood and could get inside. Dog and cat quickly learned. It had electricity and a small oil heater. No water, there was a hand pump at the back of an old farmhouse no one lived in. I had to do any dishes there, cold water on, and would set plastic jugs out with water to warm up for a back porch shower. I was in college with a full scholarship for tuition but nothing for room and board.I remember a restaurant in the college town that one night a week had all you can eat spaghetti for 2.00. I’d get a glass of water too and take some lemon sugar packets they had out for tea and make my own lemonade. Ah those were the days / NOT!!


33 posted on 10/07/2015 11:40:38 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Article 5 convention.)
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To: circlecity; Bloody Sam Roberts

Also, keep a WaterBob around, if events where you might have some warning (hurricanes) are likely. $20-$25.


34 posted on 10/07/2015 12:21:59 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Amen then Prep!


35 posted on 10/07/2015 1:21:23 PM PDT by Patriot Babe
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To: tacticalogic

For Washing. I think there are Dry Shampoo to wash hair. One can use wipes to bath.


36 posted on 10/07/2015 1:22:49 PM PDT by Patriot Babe
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To: JRandomFreeper

That is cute, but does it have a bathroom for you know what? =)


37 posted on 10/07/2015 1:23:53 PM PDT by Patriot Babe
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To: Patriot Babe
See my post #20. I handled other plumbing in other ways.

Short answer is no. And there were large predators like bears and mountain lions in that pasture.

I didn't go out unless I was a)armed b)dressed c)had the dogs with me.

One night a dog ran off a big cat. My business finished early and I got inside the shack. ;)

/johnny

38 posted on 10/07/2015 1:28:21 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Which was hotter? The offset smoker or the tin house?


39 posted on 10/07/2015 1:46:19 PM PDT by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything.)
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To: outofsalt
The smoker. I wound up building the shed in the shade, so -18F was really -18F.

/johnny

40 posted on 10/07/2015 1:56:07 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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