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.

[Iron Munro]

"How to Wipe When There is No Toilet Tissue"

http://grandpappy.org/hmwipe.htm

During a long-term hard times event, what will you do if you completely run out of toilet tissue?

If your family should find yourself in this situation then the following information may be of use to you.

Prior to a hard times event it would be advisable for a family to invest in the following items in addition to toilet tissue:

• Latex Gloves

  Latex gloves one size larger than each member of you family would normally wear. Write each family member's name (or initial) on his or her own set of special latex gloves at the wrist area using a black permanent marking pen. Or each family member could have his or her own unique color of latex gloves.

• Sponges

  At least four soft sponges for each member of your family. Each family member should have his or her own special color sponges.

• Plastic Spray Bottle

  A plastic spray bottle, such as an empty window cleaner spray bottle that has been thoroughly washed and cleaned. Fill the spray bottle with clean water.

• Bucket Or Plastic Tote Container

  One small plastic tote container or bucket that is at least 6-inches wide and at least 3-inches deep. Put several ounces of soapy water in this container.

When your toilet tissue is all gone and no more tissue is available:

• Put on your color of latex gloves or the gloves that have your name (or initial) written on the wrist area.
  
• Spray some clean water from the plastic spray bottle onto one of your special sponges and use the slightly damp sponge to clean your rear end. If necessary, moisten another one of your special sponges and use it to finish cleaning your rear end.
  
• Immediately dip your dirty sponges into the special bucket that contains a few ounces of soapy water. Clean the sponges while you are still wearing your latex gloves.
  
• When your sponges are clean, rinse the soapy water out of your sponges with some clean water, squeeze the clean water out of the sponges, and then put your sponges on the special sponge drying tray that sits on top of the rear tank of the toilet stool.
  
• Pour the dirty soapy water from the sponge cleaning bucket into the toilet stool.
  
• Rinse out the sponge cleaning bucket with a little clean water and pour that water into the toilet stool. Then flush the toilet stool.
  
• Be considerate. Put some clean soapy water into the sponge cleaning bucket for the next person.
  
• Wash your gloves while you are still wearing them the same way you would normally wash your hands with soap and water. You should have one bar of soap that is only used for this one purpose and that bar of soap should always be returned to its own special soap dish.
  
• Remove your gloves and hang them on the glove drying rack beside the toilet stool. The glove drying rack could be an 18-inch long plastic towel bar that you install on the wall beside your toilet stool. (Do not use a wood towel bar because wood will absorb stuff that plastic will not absorb. Do not use a metal towel bar because the metal will rust.)
  
• At least once per week boil the sponges for a few seconds in clean water to kill bacteria.
  
• If you don't have any sponges then you could use old scraps of cloth instead. Just wash the cloths between uses the same way you would wash a dirty cloth baby diaper.
  
• If you don't have sponges or cloth then you could simply use lots and lots of water and your latex gloves. Wash your latex gloves carefully after each use.

[grumpygresh]

Only use cash for metals. Au, Ag, Pb.

[eXe]

Thats the best thing about living near a Smiths here, it reminds me every time they have the case sale, that I need to rotate stuff :) Comes in handy.

We went up yesterday and got a lot of canned goods, got home, and rotated out the old in the store room!

[3D-JOY]

YES!!

Small amount from internet sales so it is stored separately.
I use it for gifts to grandkids etc.

Specialty minted pieces are fun to give them too.

Money is soon gone and this is stored in safes that I gave at the beginning...

[metmom]

I figure that even with attrition from a few of them not sealing as well as the metal ones, a small percentage of failure is far better than nothing at all.

[cherry]

you sound like a jewel......I hope however, that you live to be about 110.....we need to keep people like you around as long as possible.

[EternalHope]

Excellent schematic!

Thanks for posting it.

[3D-JOY]

Thanks, but no special person. I do care for my friends and try to be “good” to them...

Service is important to me...

I can be as depressed or “cranky” as anyone else!!!

[Hardens Hollow]

I’ve looked into storing kibble, but since it has a high fat content, it won’t last long even stored in Mylar with oxygen absorbers. I’ve seen pet food sold for long-term storage on places like emergency essentials, but don’t know how long it lasts.

So my plan for my cats is up in the air. They are picky eaters. I have a year or two of kibble and canned food stored, and I know it will last that long even if past the expiration date. I typically buy food 6 months before using it - I did this before the Chinese started adding melamine to rice used in pet foods about 5-7 years ago and it saved my cats since the brand they ate - very expensive Natural Balance grain free formula - was contaminated. No brand is exempt, BTW. So I’ve continued the buying and serving later after sure it is safe plan.

My dog eats anything so can eat what I do when I run out of stored dog food, even if not nutritionally complete.

about birds- don’t know! worms and insects?

[Hardens Hollow]

“Not all disasters are group events, this particular one only applies to me. It’s good to have the setup and the skills.”

The usefulness of prepping comes in lots of ways, most unexpected I would guess.

My motivation for prepping is financial collapse, but the preps will be useful no matter what the emergency is. Could be a job loss, weather issues, local power outage, civil unrest, the list is infinite.

I’m glad you have your preps to help you out.

formerly yorkiemom ;)

[Hardens Hollow]

“My 2 catz are indoor only catz. They never, ever go outside.
They wouldn’t know what to do with a rabbit.”

I was thinking as I read your post, my 3 indoor cats are in the same position. but perhaps I am doing them a disservice. I am acquiring prepping skills, so why shouldn’t they? And the skills they would need to survive are more instinctive, so should be easier for them to learn.

Now, my 3 are LONG-haired Persians. That’s the only issue i see getting in the way.... mats, hours brushing, etc.

[Jamestown1630]

Thanks. I figure they’ll eat canned food if they’re hungry; we just have to find the right one. Some of the canned selections, they’ll gobble up; with others, they just turn their noses up. It might help to score some taurine, to add to canned tuna or chicken, for prep. That’s the main nutrient that I’m concerned about, when it comes to cats.

Will look into it.

-Best,
JT

[Jamestown1630]

:-)

I don’t think a cat could do that; but the pigeons might be useful for long-distance communication.

(The problem is, they were no good at their “homing” vocations; and that’s why I’ve got them.)

-JT

[Hardens Hollow]

I make one of my cat’s food - she has grain allergies and strruvite crystals (for which the only solution from vets is a prescription food high in grains).

Along with a protein source, cats need vitamins C, D, E, and A, calcium, tthe taurine you mentioned - which is interestingly found in mouse hearts - B complex, and some fat and salt. I use chicken livers for the A, but the rest is artificial. I might have a protein source and livers and fat from raised critters if TSHTF - but the vitamins and minerals and taurine won’t last for long-term storage. If so, I could make all the cats eat the homemade food, but haven’t figured out how to get it viable for long-term.

I’ve had vets check out my recipe and Cotton’s blood tests show she’s a-ok with her nutrition! I thought the strruvite diagnosis was a death sentence since she cannot eat grains and the vet was less than helpful. It’s been 5 years and the only issue has been varying her food enough to avoid appetite fatigue.

[PA Engineer]

Thank you. The only part missing is the standard AC distribution input to the panel. That would make this system a household UPS with proper load shedding.

[Ellendra]

I’ve used the 3 Sisters method a few times, and there are some things that tend to get left out of the description that might be important:

1. Once all those vines grow, you won’t be able to walk through the patch. If all 3 are varieties that don’t need harvested until the plants dry down, and they don’t need any tending until then, this might be fine. But if you need to get in there, for any reason, it won’t work.

2. Spacing. When using this method, plant in hills a few feet apart. If you try to plant it in rows like normal corn, then the beans and squash will get shaded out. They might produce something, but they won’t be as healthy as they should be.

3. Harvesting. Assuming you grew a dry bean (since there’s not much chance of reaching them to pick a green bean), they will be tangled in with the corn stalks and squash vines. The untangling will mean the harvest takes longer, is more frustrating, and leads to more dropped in the process.

I find it easier to plant in blocks, and just rotate the blocks to get the soil benefits. This makes both the growing and the harvesting much easier!

[Ellendra]

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

Any camping and outdoors store should have some. In some places, big box stores like Walmart are starting to carry it.

[Ellendra]

If you add a small spray bottle, you can extend the life of those wiping cloths. Sort of a DIY bidet, use the spray bottle to rinse away the “matter”, then use the cloth to dry. They’ll still need washing, but it won’t be quite as bad.

[mumblypeg]

A spray bottle of water is a great idea.
With about an ounce of Listerine or white vinegar.
This can **also** be used to spritz the underarms.
Speaking of underarms, Wallyworld sells “Naturally Fresh”, a hard deodorant stick made of minerals and ammonium alum. It’s like a lump of rock salt. You moisten it and rub it on. It seems to control bacteria, thus odor, better than most deodorants I’ve tried. Plus, supply lasts awhile. I’ve had my little rock for a couple years.

I forgot to mention in earlier posts:
Crutches, walkers, and bedside potties for family members who are getting older. Or for unexpected injuries. Buy ASAP, because might be hard to find when SHTF. These can often be found second-hand.
Case in point: while rummaging at a flea market recently, I spotted a fine old folks’ walker, $5. The kind with tennis balls on the bottom. Thought, gee, I should put ‘walker’ on my prepper list, to get **later**
Next day, I sprained my ankle.
Spent days hopping and clumping around the house, using a barstool instead of the walker I should have bought.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Wow, I haven’t seen you around these parts for a looooong time!!

Good to see you are still with us ;)