10 things everyone will be Looking for when SHTF Hits

Cal Sportsman ^ | 1/6/2016 | Alan

[w1n1]

Many survival preppers talk about stashing their cache supplies and its content. But, not much is talked about other things to look for or have in their cache that doesn't fall under food and water. Here 10 that you may have overlooked.

1. Heirlooms Seeds - For the uninitiated, heirloom seeds are ones that are a true strain. Meaning, if you grow a watermelon from an heirloom seed, the seeds found in the ripe melon can be planted the next season and will, theoretically at least, grow just fine.

2. Greenhouse Supplies - Even a very basic hoop house covered in plastic will greatly extend the growing season. You can find plans online for several different types of DIY greenhouses.

3. Fire Extinguishers - When all fire-fighting duties fall on you and your family, you'll certainly appreciate the addition of at least a few decent fire extinguishers.

4. Wagons - Whether it is a robust model like you’d find at a garden center or just an old Radio Flyer, wagons are excellent back savers.

5. Feminine Hygiene and Health Products - Many if not most preppers will think to stock up on things like pads and tampons, especially if there's a female involved with the prepping.

6. Sewing Supplies - If traveling down to the local discount retailer to pick up new duds becomes no longer an option, having at least needles, thread, and some patches will extend the life of your clothes. Read the rest of the story here.

[mumblypeg]

The shotguns I tried were either too heavy or the ejection-reload process was difficult for me to operate quickly and accurately. Shoot-—lower it slightly-—rack it-—swing it back up-—then re-aim. The process seemed cumbersome to me and I wasn’t sure I could master it even with practice.
It wasn’t for me. But i know women who disagree with me.
That’s why I say, fondle the inventory.
Narrow your choices down to a few that YOU feel comfortable with.
Take notes, read up on them, then go fondle them some more.

[Faith65]

BKMK

[Pollster1]

I’m not a fan of condoms on the list. While a newborn baby would be a medical risk and a burden in difficult times, it would also be a reason to try harder. I’m fairly old, and I can see deciding that the best thing I can do is take out as many bad people as possible on my way down. With a baby (especially my own child or grandchild) to protect, the goal would more likely be to take down as many bad people as necessary but still ensure I live.

Babies are our hope and our future. We’re better off having that future.

[CottonBall]

“Number 9 is something I’m dealing with now. I would suggest coconut oil and storage in a cold, dry and dark location. Mine are in a basement that stays at or below 60 degrees.”

I’m disappointed in my basement. It’s at 60 now, but was up to 65 in the summer. Potatoes and onions sprouted and it’s much too warm to ripen cheese. I’m going to have to dig a deep dairy (cave/root cellar).

[volunbeer]

The first rifle to purchase should always be a .22 of some sort. Ruger, Marlin, or another brand. You can find one of these rifles for a few hundred dollars.

It has many uses and it is also the best way to learn shooting because they are enjoyable and easy to handle and practice with and the ammunition is ridiculously cheap in comparison to other rifles. You can hunt with it, kill or wound varmints, and in a pinch you can use it for defense.

This is the starting place and the way most of us enthusiasts began our firearms journey and we still shoot them today!

Bang for the buck you can’t beat a .22 rifle. Learning to shoot you can’t beat a .22 rifle.

[CottonBall]

“#1 on the list for everyone should be the politicians and media responsible for it happening.”

That’s why I’m building a DYI guillotine.

[volunbeer]

We have a real big garden and had the same problems you describe with basement storage although it’s been with pumpkins and squash.

Root cellar is on my honey-do list now because we enjoy having potatoes, pumpkins, and squash year round. I am also going to get a single plow attachment for my tractor to make potatoes that much easier!

One thing that works well for potatoes is to buy a 55g drum and playground sand - this is a very effective way to store potatoes and prevent sprouting and it would work at the temps you describe. They will keep for a very long time this way.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Good stuff!

[PA Engineer]

I'm disappointed in my basement. It's at 60 now, but was up to 65 in the summer. Potatoes and onions sprouted and it's much too warm to ripen cheese. I'm going to have to dig a deep dairy (cave/root cellar).

I am very lucky.

92% of my basement is underground (8% garage facing) and dry (a lot of drainage work).

I have looked around and most homes seem to have one or two basement faces above ground. I have thought about what I would do if I lived in those homes and figured I would partition (insulated walls) off the area that was underground.

Basements are one of the things I like about Pennsylvania.

[CottonBall]

One thing in my list when we moved (going Galt) was a basement. Most houses, though, had the basements finished so I settled for one that was badly finished so we could undo it.

Well, it was mainly the acreage and proximity to the forest, but the house was acceptable.

It does have one exposed, walk-out wall. And is above ground with small windows. So I don’t think I can fix it, so I plan on digging a 10’ deep cave, what the locals call a dairy since their parents and grandparents kept milk and eggs in them. I hope then I can ripen cheese and store vegetables.

LOL, I love that you calculated the per cent of your basement that is underground! I feel so inadequate - I’m an engineer and should’ve thought to do that!

[CottonBall]

Thanks for the potato idea -that’ll be great until I also dig my cellar!

[Ozark Tom]

The toxin can be destroyed at 185 F for +10 minutes. To kill spores requires a pressure canner and higher temperature.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a70a5447-9490-4855-af0d-e617ea6b5e46/Clostridium_botulinum.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[Ozark Tom]

Buy aircraft cable 1/16 - 3/16 for snare traps. Quiet and conserves ammo. Add abrasives for a wire saw.

[Reddy]

Thanks. We were wondering about the difference. We need to get out there and do some hands-on experimentation.

[Patriotic1]

If you wait to start gardening when the SHTF, you’ll be in for a surprise. It’s tough, especially if your dirt is not in great condition.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

If you have seeds and want to grow food, make certain you have fencing around your garden or you will just be feeding the animals. For rabbits 1” hex chicken wire 3 feet minimum, probably stockpile 4-25” rolls of fencing, and metal stakes are best. I will defer others on deer fencing. Probably 6 feet high at least. You will still need the chicken wire around the bottom for the rabbits! (Nothing keeps out the squirrels.)

Rather than use plastic on your garden, use Reemay or Agribon row covers. It breathes and you do not risk cooking your plants on a warm winter day.

[PA Engineer]

LOL, I love that you calculated the per cent of your basement that is underground! I feel so inadequate - I'm an engineer and should've thought to do that!

I admit I'm a tad bit obsessive compulsive.

Well, it was mainly the acreage and proximity to the forest, but the house was acceptable.

That is what we did (acreage, forest and poorly built home) and have been adding and modifying for 21 years. I did the design for the additions and was crawling around in the trenches when we added drainage. I had to know the foundation depth and length for three different sides of our house during the design of our porch, great room and greenhouse.

There was no walk out from the basement, so we closed it in to grade with the additions. The end result was a cool and dry microclimate.

[CottonBall]

“I admit I’m a tad bit obsessive compulsive”

You say that like there’s something wrong with that ;)

How does one get a dry basement? The humidity in mine is about 10% higher than in the house. It’s been around 50% these wet winter days. I didn’t know I could control it without a huge (read expensive) dehumidifier.

I’ve seen pictures of your greenhouse- it’s impressive. My house isn’t set up the right way for an attached greenhouse, so I’ll get an external one next spring. My first summer in Tennessee last year was so productive with the small, roughly done garden that I can’t wait to do it right this year. I just pulled up grass and threw in some seeds and everything grew! (I’m from the desert so that was miraculous).

[PA Engineer]

In reality a person needs three guns.

Agreed. I will be purchasing the Black Aces Tactical DT-12. It is something of a hybrid, however I think it bridges well between long range and short (still keeping my 870). This is a short youtube video your reference:

Black Aces Tactical DT--12 Gauge

[PA Engineer]

How does one get a dry basement? The humidity in mine is about 10% higher than in the house. It's been around 50% these wet winter days. I didn't know I could control it without a huge (read expensive) dehumidifier.

We had problems with springs from the hillside and poor drainage.

I painted dry lock on the interior walls and Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield (battleship grey) on the floor. On the outside we had the contractor apply TW-60 sheet waterproofing.

The existing and some replacement corrugate pipe was useless. We found it had been crushed during previous backfills. We went with schedule 40 PVC for the replacement and gravel fill. We also used PVC pipe for the springs and ran them away into the woods.

We included four clean outs, however we have never had a problem. We did use gutter helmet for the gutters to keep the large fall debris out of the drains.

The most important thing is to get rain and any ground water away from the home. A simple grade change away from the structure will help. It wasn't cheap, however the cost during the different projects was marginal because of all the excavation work.

There is another possibility that may cause wetness when the basement is properly sealed. You can get condensation on walls because of the temperature differential. I just had the HVAC installers damper the basement off from the central air system and balance the airflow with the rest of the house.

Hope that helps.