The Preparedness and Survival Site

Recently we have become painfully aware of the changing times that the downturn in the economy brings, one of the major side effects is a rise in property crime.

This is one thing that most rural dwellers don’t really like to advertise, but is a fact of life when you live in the boonies. Usually it is something that can stay “out of sight and out of mind” like the meth cookers that the police can never seem to catch in the act, abandoned stolen cars and the like, etc.

But now, the lines have moved to a point where everything is getting up close and personal for many rural residents. The main issue is thefts of opportunity. Just this month I have heard of two separate incidents in my neighborhood where tools and other property has been stolen during the day, sometimes when the residents were home!

The economy has sunk to a point where this kind of activity becomes commonplace, most unfortunately, but is a reality to dealt with. As the times get harder people will range further out to target homes and properties that have the least risk for the most gain, and from what I am seeing that means rural properties.

Seeing what we have seen, we are to a point that we are not willing to leave anything of any real value exposed to where it can be easily stolen. Living in a rural area we have been accustomed to being able to leave tools and implements out on the property without fear of having them stolen like we would have in the city. Property theft was one of the reasons that we left to begin with.

Word to the wise, if you live in a rural area and think that you are safe from this kind of thing, think again!

This one really doesn’t need any further commentary. Bottom line, the US is in a lot of trouble. The current spending rampage is only something that is going to come back and haunt us sooner or later.

The short video pretty much speaks for itself in what is happening to the US economy, it is another friendly prod to get you started on getting your finances in order and prepare for you and your family.

Buying in bulk is the best way to maximize your dollars when it comes to foodstuffs. Whether they are dried goods , or meats that need refrigeration or freezing, you can’t go wrong if you are willing to exert some sffort.

Let’s face it, the US is looking at record unemployment numbers and it does not seem to be getting any better anytime soon. The best thing that you can do for you and your family is to shop smart and shop for the long haul.

Just recently I purchased a 20lb corned beef slab, sounds big, but its really not. After I seperated it into three pieces that were vacuum packed, via the foodsaver, and frozen, I have three meals for my family and probably a friend or two for only $40.00.

Bulk buying is great for stretching your budget, we all need to find ways to ensure that our food $$’s go further and further in today’s economic world.

The main thing that you need to do is plan accordingly when you shop in bulk, package what you can into reasonable portions for you and your family (mainly perishables), the rest needs to be stored carefully under the same protocols that have been used for generations. A cool, dark place that is temperature stable.

If you have a root cellar that has fallen from daily use, now is the time to revive it. If you don’t have a root cellar, it may very well be time to build one.

The events that are unfolding here and now are so unpredictable, there is no right answer. For those that chose to prepare, it is time to make sure that all is in place and that all your plans are set.

For those that have not taken the time to lay back supplies for hard times, you’re time may be very limited. Look out for you and yours, nobody else is going to do it for you.

Eating out is nice, but its really no longer an option for those of us that actually survive on a budget. It has always been treated as the special “treat” that it is for us, and now we know that the “treats” are over for the time being. Unfortunately it is time to buckle down and face the music, reality is not a very subtle friend.

As much as we don’t like it, our friend “reality” has dropped in and decided that it’s here to stay.

As always, YMMV. Take Care out there!

Submitted by Brodyaga:

People bigger than you, institutions bigger than you, events bigger than you are moving the landscape of your life in ways you never dreamed possible today. The world as you have known it is rapidly changing largely beyond your control even as you read these words; reshaping your future faster than you can turn the dial on the radio.

And yet you still have the power to think and act.

The value of preparedness lies not in some sort of protective bubble that will shield you from all harm, but in its ability to buy you time enough to thoughtfully and deliberately choose your future rather than having to jump like a frog that got its butt tickled.

So what kind of future do you want? What do you want to happen? That’s really the bottom-line question.

Getting out of debt is good, and a foundational key to having the freedom to choose the kind of life you want. But what kind of life is it that you want to replace the life that indebtedness has so far provided for you?

Keeping a year’s supply of consumable goods; food, household supplies, medicines, etc. like any other form of insurance is designed to protect your income from future uncertainty and buy you time to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances. And like any other form of insurance it is a prudent and good thing. And it is a mature recognition that you still have to meet responsibilities even as the world challenges you. But what sort of world is it that you expect to inhabit in that uncertain future?

Are you sick of the lies and corruption that threaten to destroy the life you have now? Is it a loss of freedom you fear? Are you worried about natural disasters, maybe unnatural ones?

Every tool is designed to answer a particular need. A screwdriver makes a poor chisel. Insurance never replaces what was lost it typically only allows partial recovery to some previous state. Even the most comprehensive insurance can only supply a monetary rehabilitation that puts the physical somewhat back to what it was before, it can never put you back to what you were before. You will be forever altered, never to return to your previous state.

You see this country is not facing a financial bankruptcy so much as a moral and spiritual bankruptcy. We are not so much short of funds as we are short of backbone and Constitutional character. What we need is not credit and spending but production and savings. But that is not what our rulers will choose for us. Because we will not exercise even the authority we have over our own households and our own domestic economies.

So I ask again, what is it you want to happen? What sort of life is it that you want to protect and preserve? Before you can get where you want to go you first have to nail down what that destination is.

Answer that question and you will immediately know what it is you need to accomplish it; whether it is gold or long term storage foods, or running for elected office, or relocation out of the country, or returning to school, or establishing a retreat, or whatever your ultimate goal may be.

If you want a better life in the future, why not now? And I mean right now!

What is stopping you from at least making a start in the direction of the kind of life that you think is better than what we now have? What is it you want to happen? And who is it that you are expecting, counting on, to make it happen for you?

And isn’t that why we are in this mess in the first place?

With all the problems that the economy is facing, this is a very satiric look at the current economy’s problems that is educational at the same time.

Unfortunately there is a lot of truth in this humor, the casual attitudes of those at the top are pretty much what put all of us normal folks where we are right now.

The sad part is that is is still very likely to get much worse before it gets better. Make sure that you are keeping an eye on ensuring that you, and your family are prepared for what can end up being the biggest economic roller coaster in recorded history.

Part 1

Part 2

Originally posted by Debra in the Forums

The Conversation started over a simple but unusual Christmas Gift, my box of heirloom seeds, for those of you whom don’t know, heirloom seeds are seeds that can be saved from the plant and planted again. Hybrid seeds are usually a cross between different plants, and if you plant the seeds again, you won’t get the same type of produce you originally got. Heirloom seeds tend to be a little more spendy, but well worth the price..

Christmas Night, my parents, one of my brothers and his wife, my sister and her husband and one of my sons and his wife came over for dinner, we were discussing how it took me 3 tries to buy some ammo for a certain gun, every time I went , they were sold out. As my father sorted through the seeds, remarking what a good gift that was, he and mother started talking about the depression. Of course we listened paying great attention to what they were saying.

Mother lived in a small village in the valley along the river and Dad on a farm up the mountain, we wrongly assumed that it was easier for Dad’s family being that he lived on a farm, but he explained that it took all of what they had to KEEP the farm. Milk, butter, eggs, cottage cheese and garden produce was carted into the village to sell.

Dad has his own cucumber patch, to sell to the families to make pickles, but the money was turned over to his parents, plus even if you had a little extra money, things were rationed. All of us siblings have seen the ration stamps, EVERYTHING was rationed, food, tires, gasoline, shoes, and if you used up your ration then you were out of luck. You only wore your shoes in the winter as to keep them longer, summertime you went barefoot.

Dad has a toe that grew crooked, due to improper fitting shoes, all clothing was handed down to the next kid until they were absolutely worn out, then they were either torn up for rag rugs, or remade into smaller clothing for the little ones, or it was given, exchanged or sold to the rag man to make glue.

Material was hard to get also. Meat was very hard to come by, Mother’s family had 1 can of spam with brown sugar and catsup (if they were available) for Sunday dinner. That was the only time they ate meat and it was only Spam, say the word “Spam” today and mother’s face turns up in disgust, a perfect lesson in stocking diversified foods for your larder.

Rope was another thing, Grandma tied the cord that they used for dynamite together to use for a clothesline, because rope was scarce. That is until Grandpa came home and discovered what she had done.

Nothing was wasted, EVERYTHING was recycled, tin cans were saved for the salvage man, milk pods off the milkweed were collected to make life preservers. Newspapers were saved for the paper drives.  Every family, even those who lived in the towns had some sort of a garden, those who didn’t have a yard, had window sill flower pots in which grew tomatoes and such, anything to produce any type of food.

Fruit, especially here in the north was a TREAT, those who had their own orchard faired better, but still sold most of it to make a living. Citrus fruit was almost unheard of, and if you were lucky, for Christmas, your only present was a orange (greatly appreciated) Can you imagine putting just an orange under the tree for our kids today?

Butter, eggs and dairy were scarce if you lived in town, and if you had a milk cow, you never had left over milk. Medicine was also hard to get, or at least pay for, so a lot of home remedies where invented. We still laugh about Grandmother’s mustard plaster, Dad said he didn’t know if it was the plaster that worked or whether the germs just couldn’t stand the smell of it.

She concocted some type of plaster out of mustard and they would slap it on your chest or neck and wrap it with rags. I remember when I was real young having Vicks vapor rub on my neck and then Dad’s handkerchief wrapped around my neck for sore throats, which I hated for even though it was a CLEAN handkerchief. I knew that Dad had blew his nose one time or another on it, and the thought was revolting.

If you are reading this, it is most likely that you are trying to figure out how to prepare you and your family for any bumps in the road that may come to light as time moves on. You may have also been looking at all the “neat” solutions that come ready to go in a can or a box.

I only have one real question on this.. Why on Earth would you spend so much for so little? Granted there are some specialty items out there that you can not produce at home (like canned cheese), but the rest can be done at home if you are willing to make the effort and save probably more than 80% over the cost of pre-packaged remedies.

Long term dry storage of goods has been practiced by humans for centuries, yeah the neat version of twelve #10 cans of long white rice is nice and convenient, but at $60.00 a case?? That boils down to rice that is costing you $3.33 a pound! Yes, you read it right, $3.33 a pound ! Packaging it yourself from bulk buys at the supermarket can bring the cost down to cents per pound, not dollars per pound!

While I have to respect certain items that are not easily prepared for long term storage at home, the ones that are though, that is another story.. I am revolted at the prices that are being charged for pre-packaged foods that normally only require a cool, stable and dry environment to last for decades (with or without special packaging). Nitrogen packing and all that neat stuff is great, but its not required in all cases.

Grains and the like can stored using Mylar bags, 5 gallon buckets, and a generous helping of oxygen absorbers tossed in the bags prior to sealing them and then placing the bags in the 5 gallon  buckets (which also are sealed).

Salt, sugar, flour and a myriad of other dry goods can be stored in that fashion. Trust me on this one, I have plenty of dry goods that were packaged exactly in this manner that are just as good today as they were was when they were packaged more than eight years ago.

Canning items is also another alternative that can be used in conjunction with dry storage, even items like butter can be canned at home (cheese, I’d leave to the professionals).

Bottom line, there is a lot that we can do for ourselves, thus avoiding the high cost of pre-packaged solutions that only serve to drain you of money better spent on more preparations.

Like I said, the pre-packaged solutions are neat and all, and they have their place for only certain items that cannot easily be preserved at home, in the current economy it is better to get the most bang for your buck. If you don’t know how to preserve food at home, now is the time to learn.

Anonymous Writes:

Through the observations of life I have noticed some things as most of you have also noticed. One thing to do with these observations is to organize them to become a tool for you to better stabilize your life, sort of set things in perspective.

I will inject throughout this commentary what I believe are words of wisdom, or one might say, guidelines to avoid self destruction.

One hero character of mine “Dirty Harry” once had the line ”A man has got to know his limitations”. Most things in life we attempt to bring to pass in the natural require cash/income, willpower, careful thought, observing others and their accomplishments and mistakes, learn from both, skill, talent, ability, cash again, drive and more. Honestly, understanding what you have in your arsenal of the above and what you simply don’t have should be key in determining your realistic goals in life.

This subject is designed to help us all locate what we currently believe, expect and are prepared for, or trying to prepare for. In life one can quickly discourage ourselves by setting their goals way to high to obtain from where they are. The end  result is that we stop trying in any way after awhile.

Let me mention “Comparison” In most cases comparison leads to and ends up with one of two things happening. One party, or object, being elevated, and the other being lowered. Or, the other persons position or accomplishments being torn down while yours are built up. In general this is non productive outside of stroking your own ego.

Now, onto the subject at hand.

“What does each of us believe the future might hold for us, and what steps have we taken to prepare for it?”

Simple, don’t go making this complicated, alright? I will attempt in this piece to outline the levels or expectations I have heard about and place them in some form of ascending order. I am doing this to help us all identify where we are in life on this subject, not to tell you in any way where “I” think you should be.

Here goes, say “that time” has come;

First level
Life is grand and I am confident that nothing bad will ever happen to me. Besides what little event will probably (wishful thinking here) ever occur will be in good weather anyway.

Second level
So many things could happen…why worry about it. What will be, will be.

Third level
I am a Christian or of another faith….all my needs will be provided for me…I am sure of it. They aren’t at this point in time but again I want to just believe they will be then….

Fourth level
Something bad might happen to me thus I have great insurance. However, bad things in life can happen, which no insurance company offers coverage for. What then? Then what happens if the insurance company fails or goes under?

Fifth level
In any economy I could lose my job and have no income. I need to start saving six months of cash to live on and build up my consumable (food, hygiene supplies, daily use stuff).

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure….

Read the rest of this entry »

So, we have officially entered a “recession”, what does this really mean?

Tough question to answer, it all depends on your individual situation. Everyone has been seeing the headlines in the paper, jobs are being lost at record rates, foreclosures are still at record rates and those that have gone through the process and obtained a restructuring of their mortgages are still defaulting at almost a 50% rate.

What does this tell you? It tells me that we are in for some hard times. The train has already derailed, the question is how long the damage path is going to be. While I normally try to be optimistic and give things a chance to turn around, this is not one of those times. All the indicators are there, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the public at large starts to feel the real effects of what is happening in the US this very moment.

For those that have lost their jobs so far, I am truly sorry. My best wishes out to you and your families, there has to be a bright side but I have not found it yet. For those that are still gainfully employed, its time to start stocking up. We all tend to live in a “it can’t happen to me” world, guess what, it can happen. Why not take the time to make sure that if it does that you may be able to survive the ordeal in a semi comfortable fashion? Failure to plan is only planning to fail. Please take the time to make some plans and follow through with them.

Here is the current unemployment forecast for the US:

 Image courtesy of Forecasts.org

What are the chances that you are going to get caught up in this graph? If you even think that it may be a chance, time to take action. Oh, wait, even if you don’t think that you may become one of the statistics in this graph, it is time to prepare! It is not just the loss of a job that needs to be prepared for, there are many things in life that can throw a curveball at all your plans and expectaions. Why wait for the derailed train to make you part of it’s damage path?

Preparedness is a lost art amongst Americans, it was lost upon the invention of the nation wide distribution system for goods and services, after that the idea of locally produced and consumed products became almost extinct. The just in time system is a delicate one that does not take much to disrupt, and most people rely on this system for their very existence.

What does it take to prepare? Not much. A little extra effort here and there is a good start. For example, when shopping the sales think “one for the cupboard and two for the pantry”. Oh wait, the pantry is a forgotton thing for most folks too, the younger generation probably does not even know what one is. If you don’t have one, set aside a small room or large closet in your house to store food and necessities. This does not have to be a bunker full of goods, just enough to comfortably sustain you and your family for at least two weeks. If you can expand that to last six months or a year, that is a much better position that you will be in if you ever have to fall back on it.

It is up to us as individuals to make sure that we have what we need to take care of ourselves and our families. Disasters like Katrina have already taught us that the government is not able to mobilize the needed resources in a timely manner to deal with a major emergency, but, I have to let the government off the hook to a certain degree. The magnitude of Katrina was a known threat that the folks in the area chose not to prepare for, the government is not all to blame for the lack of foresight by the people that lived in the area. Individual responsibility is key.

Individual responsibility was one of the key factors in the formation of the United States as a country to begin with. It is time that you get out there and do your part. The government can try to save us, but the reality is that we need to save ourselves.

This is good information, listen even closer to the fella that spent time Sarajevo during the war there. Folks like that have been there and “done that” during a collapse.

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. “Survival-in-a-Can”
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war – death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
    near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
   quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold’s.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity – it’s the easiest to
   do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
    heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy – it makes a lot of
    the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
    enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in
    bulk.
6. Bring some books – escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
    valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival
    guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway – trust me, you’ll
    have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many
    people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
    toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
    lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

Credit goes to http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm for the posting of this on their site.