Suburban survivalists stock up for Armageddon (Food, guns, ammo., etc.)

msnbc.com (GAG) ^ | July 23, 2009 | Mike Hammer

[appleseed]

Some see the current economic downturn as tough — but temporary — times to be endured. But others see it as a harbinger of even grimmer days ahead. So they’re preparing for the worst by stockpiling food: piles and piles and piles of it.

Call them “suburban survivalists,” or call them, well, a little goofy. But they’re dead serious about being ready for a big crash … by making sure they have a nice little nosh in case of a catastrophe. Across the country, there are people preparing for the possibility that we will not have access to food by ensuring that their cupboards, at least, will be far from bare.

Postapocalyptic Pathmark Take Bill Cole, a dad and doctor who runs a successful chiropractic office. He seems like the guy next door … which is where you may have to go to politely borrow a cup (or a barrel) of sugar should a fatal financial meltdown occur.

Cole has turned his home in the suburbs of Pittsburgh into a virtual postapocalyptic Pathmark. “I’ve got enough to last two years for me and my immediate family,” he says. His stockpile is filled with foods that can stand the test of time — from peanuts to pancake mix, canned peaches to peas.

[hiredhand]

As terrible as it sounds...the thought DID cross my mind that all the wandering lefties were indeed potentially FOOD. But I think I'd rather eat a skunk than a leftist! :-)

[Gilbo_3]

skunk, leftist, but you repeat yerself...

anyhow, hopefully we will all be fortunate enough to watch the majority of the silliness from our rural locales...

prepping and bloating just in case, although not nearly 'enough' yet IMO...

though the Lord did say 2 simple swords, along with Faith would do...shameless tag ref...

[hiredhand]

They were a bunch of people I used to work with. They aggravated me so bad, I can't even describe how much! There were three of us like me on a wing of about 75 people, and those 75 just never quite knew what to think of us. When the company layed me off, more than a few thought I was going to return with weapons and clean the place out! Can you believe that?! Some of them even didn't show up for work the next day because they were scared! I messed with their minds and told them that I had to think about it for awhile before I'd so something like that so it would probably be at least a couple of weeks before I returned! Of COURSE I'm not going to return and do something like that! They're idiots! I did actually tell one person not to ever, EVER show up at my door out where I live. That was almost 6 years ago and I think I could be civil now. But at the time, if the person had shown up, I'm pretty sure I would have hurt them. ...probably not killed them, but definitely issued a first class ass whooping... or got whooped!...one or the other. :-)

[hiredhand]

Hopefully, we'll be OUT of the thick of it because we're out in the sticks! You've made a good point though, lets not ever think we've got enough to have things covered.

Let us remember 1 Chronicles 21 where David was tempted by Satan, took an illegal census and numbered his soldiers because he thought he had a big enough army to do what he wanted and then suffered a momentary loss of trust in the Lord. 70,000 under his charge died because of that. I'd rather not lose ANY under me!

[Squantos]

Hey resend those baby pic’s again Gilbo .....they didn’t come thru last time .

[Squantos]

Don’t keep all yer eggs in one basket advice per se.....:o)

safe deposit box
home fire proof gunsafe
cached in secret hides
with trusted friends
in plain sight, hollowed out brick on wall of home for example.

[PapaBear3625]

you do NOT have to grind wheatberries into flour before using them. You can BOIL them!...whole...and it’s a lot “like” rice...not quite of course. But we eat it on occasion that way here...either put salt on it, or butter. I get tired of it like that QUICKLY though.

In Greece, Eastern Europe and Lebanon, they make a dish called Koliva with boiled wheat mixed with honey, sugar, and fruit.

While I think of it, honey is another thing that keeps a long time, and is valuable for improving the taste of otherwise-bland foods. Honey can also be used as a topical antibiotic for skin wounds.

[hiredhand]

Koliva? I've never heard of it, but I'll bet it's CLOSE to what we make here!

Wild honey is good for healing skin wounds. I cut my food BADLY once and we had wild honey which we harvested from a bee tree. My neighbor told me to wrap it up with gauze soaked in wild honey. You see...my Dad didn't "think" I needed stitches. But when my Mamma saw it, she had an entirely different opinion! But by the time she saw it two days later, it was adhered...even though you could still tell it had been a big cut. I fell from a second floor in a home under construction to the floor below and landed on a board pile on my back and one foot.

[Rannug]

Several years ago I bought a whole house generator which runs off natural gas from my own well. I never feel goofy when the power goes off, which is quite often here in the boonies, but I do become more alert. One never knows.

[elkfersupper]

Ron peterson all out of 32-20 an 50-110 ?....:o)

Very funny.

I'm actually moderately okay in all calibers, but I really don't feel comfortable burning any until I know I can replace or rebuild it.

[crusher]

The purpose of gold is the protection and transfer of wealth from one time and place to another, namely the re-emergence of civilization after our long bout with collectivism is over. Not that I have any, of course. I’m pretty sure it was in my boat when it capsized with my two dozen projectile throwers and the ten thousand projectiles. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

OBTW, marauding hooligans also cleaned me out of my larder, so the half dozen barrels that used to be full of food and the dozen cabinet that also used to be full of food are now bare. Trust me, you don’t have to check them. Just keep moving along.

[Squantos]

Same here....I want to triple my inventory before I go after yotes an sod poodles again.

I was lucky in picking up lots of 45-70 ammo an components so my Ruger No 1 is primary mulie an elk slayer this fall.

Hope yer well. Stay Safe !

[OB1kNOb]

You have your own natural gas well? Dang! And I thought I was prepared.

[NFHale]

“...wandering lefties were indeed potentially FOOD...”

Lib-flavored MRE’s???

Nah...I’ll stick with Spam...

[hiredhand]

Bbq them! Everything (meat) is better bbq’d! :-)

[NFHale]

Personally, an M2 flamethrower works well for me...

BBQ, huh?

You a propane barbeque or a charcoal brick barbeque kinda guy?

Good to hear from you!

[hiredhand]

Hey! We could do them like we do chickens before we eat them... feed them really good for a couple of days. :-) They “think” we’re treating them really well for a few days, and then *whack*! :-)

[DuncanWaring]

What is that critter?

[elkfersupper]

Regards and thanks.

I'm on the way. Had to abandon the 231 Ball for alternatives, but the manuals and the Dillon have helped me adapt.

Just glad I had some primer and brass.

No more recreational shooting until I can refill my possibles.

[Squantos]

231 is my bulk resource for my pistolas...... what was alternative ya found that works better ?