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.
The first step should always be building up a larder- by buying on sale.
That makes for a 25% food savings.
Once a person learns that there are huge savings received now by prepping- they’re hooked. Plus it provides funds for the other things.
Great fun! I spent a year in two rooms while I fixed this place up.
Had water but no electricity. Think I had it better than you. Water is heavy.
Couldn’t do it again though. Getting too old for that kind of fun.
IMHO, the major force driving people back to self reliance and independent life styles is the federal government.
Almost every major issue that lurks in the background with the potential to destroy the economy and the nation is directly or indirectly caused by the federal government.
Fifty years ago and more, people who fit much of this characterization weren’t called Preppers - they were just people.
Of course even then 99% of them lived outside the cities.
They were do-it-your-selfers with useful skills who grew, gathered or hunted food to can in the summer to get through the winter, etc.
One big difference between then and now is that the federal government had not yet grown in to a behemoth with an oppressive presence that made life more difficult for the independent minded and made most things worse with their incessant meddling.
If/when the stuff hits the fan you can be certain the root cause is the federal government.
/johnny
/johnny
bfl
Don't overlook the simple Well Bucket (aka bailer bucket) for pulling water from your drilled well in emergencies.
You can buy them ready made ofr make one yourself.
Just google WELL BUCKET or DIY WELL BUCKET.
Here is one ready made:
http://tinyurl.com/Lehmens-Well-Bucket
Here is a D-I-Y model:
http://tinyurl.com/D-I-Y-Well-Bucket
Do you have a Bison pump, which kind, about how much did you spend, how often do you test/use it, what did you need to get besides the pump, etc?
**** “Learn to garden NOW.” ****
I guess I will have to learn how to eat Sand Spurs and Johnson Grass as that is the only thing that grows here.
(there are times when those 2 struggle)
But lots of Fish & Crabs
I have the SS model that sits down at 80’.
If I remember correctly I spent about $800-$900 on the complete kit, rods, pipe, pump and top unit. The unit is good from 200’.
I use it when I need to get a drink from the well or just need a small quantity of water.
Thank you.
As a parent of teens, I am so stealing this line ... “Experience is a great teacher. The tuition is pretty expensive, though ...”
/johnny
IMO the best gardening book ever, and the only one you’ll need, is
The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith.
Before getting this book I had no clue. I just wore myself out with trial and error, and hours online, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. Six bell peppers that cost $400 worth of labor.
The first chapters are an overview of basic theory and methods —his way contrasted with everybody else’s way. Then some chapters on bugs and weeds, then individual sections on specific plants and how to plant them.
This book is so well organized, no matter what veggie you’re planting or what question you might have, you just flip to the page and your answer is right there.
Once I got started using this book’s methods, I’ve found that I do almost NO WEEDING!
Gardening is far more complex than just poking a hole with your finger and sticking in a seed. His method is labor intensive at first, but once your garden is laid out, it keeps paying off in ease of maintenance and super high yields.So in the long run, it’s a lot LESS work than trial and error.
This author shows how to do it the right way from the beginning, so you’ll produce food, not weeds or bugs!
I’d love to have that well pump. SHTF, you can pump the water by hand and run it through a biosand filter for good measure.
I like your styling red door and stove ;-)
I will buy the book, and as a salute to prepping, it will be paper not kindle - grin.
Container gardening works even in concrete jungles. I am having to learn to grow food in the deep forest. It is a fun challenge.
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