Posted on 10/07/2012 2:50:25 AM PDT by djf
We often have threads that quote recommendations of others about things you should do to prepare. Those threads usually focus on food, water, medicinal items, bug out preparations, etc.
So I think it would be interesting to find out what FReepers themselves are doing. Combined, we are probably one of the most intelligent, experienced, honest, and practical group on the planet.
Without further adieu! In the last two days I:
Bought 3 food grade 5 gallon buckets Bought enough oatmeal to fill one, which amounted to 18 lbs. Bought a 5 lb bag of tobacco (I'm a smoker, I admit it, but if SHTF, tobacco will be priceless) In my garden, I had a number of radish plants that went to seed, so I spent about an hour collecting radish seed pods.
So post away on what preps you are making. Hopefully, we can give ideas and help out people who are curious about what to do!
So you will be sitting around smoking a cigarette and eating oatmeal and radishes. Sounds like a plan...
In between killing zombies.
Hopefully, that doesn’t mean YOU!!
(jus kiddin. I wouldn’t kill somebody because they were totally unprepared and homicidal...)
But ...no man or family is an island either. I think it is time, way past time, if you haven't already started to think about people around you. If you plan to bug out or hold fort you can't defend all by yourself.
Identify folks in the neighborhood you'd want to be sure to ‘be on our side.’ If you have not done so already, introduce yourself and cautiously befriend them. Host a potluck dinner for your immediate neighbors etc. Don't talk about all the ‘prepper’ things you are doing, but strategically build alliances. Who will be able to help? Who will need help?
Example: Neighbor two doors down maybe hunts, owns a few rifles or power-bows. Somebody else is a good fisherman. Another hikes(GPS & map reading skills).
Example #2: Elderly lady next door. What are you going to do? Leave her to die? Or does grandma have a place with you? Nothing like grandma's meal, wisdom, and inner strength.
Even if you decide to bug out, you may need to leave as a group to safely travel outside the danger zone. You may not be headed to the same destination, but leaving as a group that can strategically defend itself could save more lives.
Do you have a route planned with two alternatives in different directions? And most importantly do you have copies of your Bible and the Constitution.
Actually, I am also preparing. The first thing I have done was stock up on ammunition before it becomes illegal to buy any. We have also been buying and storing canned goods a little at a time before prices soar out of sight. Keep as much silver coins on hand as you can. Good luck and be careful out there...
I bought some knee pads so that my knees don’t become too sore from all the praying that I will be doing.
I bought some good gloves for all the hard work I will be doing.
Stashed a little food, a little seed, keep the tank on my car full and have a good bit of water.
My mother always told me—root, hog or die.
The rest is in God’s hands.
Good for you!
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of canned goods.
Canning preserves food for a very long time. My recommendation would be people have at least 100 pounds of canned goods per person stored away.
Many people emphasize rotation, and expiration dates, etc. While it is always nice to have fresh items to eat, I think that might end up being a luxury.
I have probably 300 lbs or more of canned goods. This year I ended up tossing 4 cans because of suspected contamination. I’ve been storing food since before 9/11, but that’s another story...
Here it goes:
Canned 14 chickens (were on sale)
Shot deer, canned half, jerked other half in dehydrator
Cured bacon sides, smoking now
Dehydrator going full out- 20 lbs frozen sweet corn, 20 lbs sweet peas pre cooked, and assortment of fruit this week
Monthly run to Sams for canned fruit and beans, rice, flour, salt and dried beans.
Re-sighted in all scoped rifles (not an easy chore).
Order monthly lantern oil, wicks and parts.
Reload, reload, reload.
My stash has Spam and canned stew among other things. I have no intention of eating it unless I have to.
IIRC the only canned product I've had a problem with is pineapple. Have had a few cans go bad and leak.
“Order monthly lantern oil, wicks and parts”
lamp oil & wicks? Do you FReep by oil lamp?
Years ago, someone I used to hike with had these (kinda) granola bars.
I tried one, they were horrible.
But they would keep you alive.
If all we had in our stash was filet mignon, we’d probably eat it before we need it.
Stash some food that would be the last thing you would eat, because IT MIGHT BE!!
For me, that would probably be calamari, someone put that once in a salad I was eating, I luv seafood, but that stuff was downright foul...
;-)
One case of Kentucky Delux.
Cheap whiskey will bring top dollar in barter.
Smart move with tobacco. Author Pat Frank (”Alas, Babylon”) wrote in 1962 that “the day may come when a pound of tobacco is worth more than a pound of gold.”
BTW, what’s the best form of bulk tobacco? Bugler tins, say some. Just curious.
“Do you FReep by oil lamp?”
Now, that’s funny right there....., no.
But, I have a store of oil lamps of all kinds. Really nice ones to ones that just screw onto Mason jars.
FReep on
Bartering with people means you have a conversation with them, a sort of respectful distance.
How do you barter with someone who just smashed your bedroom window in the middle of the night? Or tossed a firebomb at your house?
Whiskey will be valuable. But the most valuable things will be common sense, reason, planning and hope.
Shredded pipe tobacco.
I bought abt 5 lbs of cigarette tobacco before the tobacco tax increase went into effect, can’t remember what it cost.
Now, 6 ozs of Drum Halfzware Shag (a premium smoke!) costs me 27 bux.
But I can buy 12 ozs of American Beauty pipe tobacco for 15 bux.
They will SOON up the tax on pipe tobacco, so get it while you can.
For those of you who don’t speak tabak, a pound of tobacco is about 3 cartons worth.
First and foremost the question is are you prepared for eternity and what about family and friends. All the food storage, etc in the world is for naught if everyone is not ready to stand before God. The plan of salvation is the ultimate preparation. I download http://patburt.com/ and share with others. It has the ‘prepare” theme.
Besides food, water, generator (solar), and of course toilet paper, plastic bags, etc., I would have a supply of silver biotics (non-collodial silver - American Labs) that comes in gel and tube. You can’t go wrong in putting that in your emergency kit. It is not only like an antibiotic but also is used for prevention.
Thanks for the post!
I’m mapping all the people who are planning to sit on their stockpile so I can go shopping at Prepmart after TSHTF.
Good luck!
If you are going to shop, how many places do you think you can hit before your currency doesn’t have enough denominations?
My bet is the average thief/looter might be able to hit 3 places before he takes a dirt nap.
Time-wise, that’s what? Two weeks, maybe?
Thank you, Maudeen. I am with you on that. Others might flame you but you are correct that being prepared by salvation is number one#
I have been trying the “Hormel Compleats” meals recently (Mostly out of aversion to cook just for one) and they are not too bad. Stocking up on them is easy too.
I will see you, Maudeen, just inside the Eastern Gate. Praise the Lord!
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