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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Prepper/Survivalist Tips  |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 30 2011 : 7:49:56 PM
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I saw a couple of mentions in other posts about survivalists. Thought it might be fun to list info, how-to's, and links.
Survivalists are often called "Preppers" for their interest in being prepared in case disaster strikes. Did you know the number of preppers has been rising since Hurricane Katrina? Some preppers have supplies for a few days, some for a week or two, and some for up to a year. Some preppers are prepared for storms and some preppers are considered to have gone off the deep end because they are prepared against martial law and/or the zombie apocalypse.
Lots of topics on MJF are useful for preppers including MaryJane's food. In fact, the whole merit badge system can be used as a tool to learn the skill set needed for life in a prepper situation.
Right now I'm working on my supplies and feel confident my family would be ok for 2 weeks without help from the outside world? How about you?
I'll be posting some links and more info as I come across them. I look forward to hearing everyone else's tips.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
Edited by - FarmDream on Oct 31 2011 09:47:21 AM |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2011 : 09:53:03 AM
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All my family says that if anything happens they are coming here. Guess I'm well stocked. ha!
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2011 : 10:23:53 AM
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I would just like to add, that for us, who live in the county and rely on an electric well pump system that I cannot stress the importance of having drinking water and personal hygiene water stored up in case of power failure! We also keep a tank of propane full for our gas grill. I try to can and preserve as much as possible, but it is sooooooo nice to have a full pantry! I buy what's on sale in our natural foods sections of grocery stores and our co-op,if one of us is unable to make income for what ever reason, we can count on that store of food. If you don't have a back up generator, remember to store some ready to eat and high energy food too in case of power outages.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 11:54:55 AM
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A family in our church was asked to go for two weeks without going to the store. They were to live only on their food storage. Two of the things that they said that they missed the most....
1. Deodorant
2. Things they actually like to eat. They had prepared for the basics, but had purchased some long term storage items that they had not tried when they bought it. Turns out it was yucky! Taste it before you store it.
Hope this helps.
Sherone
Farmgirl Sister #1682
My Blog - www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com
Etsy Store - www.annapearlsattic.etsy.com
Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way! |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 2:33:30 PM
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One thing I think too is important is a good supply of batteries....when we moved here 3+ yrs ago I started building up the pantry so if things happened we had enough food for at least 4-6 months...I have beans, rice, noodles by the pounds in there plus 5 gallon buckets of flours, oats, sugar & grains. I also make sure to have lots of wood cut & ready for the cold months & oil for the oil lamps...plus all the baking supplies like yeast available...it may be a high carb diet but it will be filling along with the things I have canned....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2011 : 11:29:54 AM
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I have those 5 gallon buckets with the gamma lids & I put in a bayleaf with each bucket to help prevent bugs..I have flour over 2 yrs old that has stayed fresh this way...I also keep it all in my basement laundry room where its cooler.....
As for the electricity comment...I have oil lamps, wood cooking stove so if things occur like they just did with our nor'easter I am prepared..if the electric hadn't of come back on I was ready to start shoveling snow into the freezers..:)...I know that one day when I am hopefully completely off the grid I will build a smoke house for the meats instead of relying on a freezer..plus will can meats & dry them.....At one time I was off grid when I was younger & I never noticed a big difference except I didn't have a computer back then.lol...plus I learned to go to bed when the sun goes down & get up when the sun comes back up...thats the hardest one I think when its dark for so long....but I do know I plan more for the day when I have to do this whereas with electricity you just do what you want when you want & don't think about it....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
686 Posts
Emily
Thomasville
PA
USA
686 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2011 : 7:30:16 PM
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Martial Law and Zombie attacks... I will admit, I am waiting for those two things. I have been a big fan of the preppers, but with doing the new house, I have lost my touch and we have been going through our stock. I have started packing away some silver lately and I am a big fan of Survival Doc. He has wonderful ideas, my favorite was Liquor. When the economy or zombie attacks hit, then it is useful in so many ways, molotave cocktails, sanitizing, canning... I am purchasing a bottle every paycheck and keeping it in a locked cabinet. I know I might sound a bit crazy but I feel a bit comforted by my stockpile. With my recent extreme couponing to boot and my new basement, there is no stopping me now.
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Farmgirl #2951
Currently renting-farmgirl wannabe |
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Crystal Koelzer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Crystal
Cosby
MO
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2011 : 8:43:54 PM
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| Everyone is comforted by their stockpiles, whatever they may be, canned goods, toilet paper or liquor. |
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SuzanneH
True Blue Farmgirl
107 Posts
Suzanne
St Francisville
Louisiana
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2011 : 9:31:24 PM
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| Wow this a great topic. One that is on the table at my house everyday. My hubby is a Bio/Nuclear Chemist with MBA an a minor in Forensics. He is always preparing for dooms-day. We are building our new house and it took forever to get the plans just right because we live so far out in the country and we wanted to make sure we planned for proper food storage, a generator....other types of "needed" things--as my husband calls them. I bake and can, we garden and have chickens. We live on a lake and my husband has installed a system that can make the water completely safe to drink if we need it. As far as stock piling silver and gold----he and his dad are taking care of that end of the details. The world has changed, hasn't it? I am so thankful for my over zealous hubby who has fifty ready-to go flashlights stationed through out the house and a portable generator that he starts up every few weeks just to keep primed. (We do live in Louisiana) and has a closet full of water bottles and dry blakets and candles...oh and a hand cranked radio, along with ready packs for each of us (me, him and our four kids) incase it hits the fan. Both of my sister in law are in medicine so my husband has been able to form up a very nice medical closet. Our oldest son is on special med. for his health and my husband is diabetic, so those two issues are being worked out. All in all it is a work in progress. I can not wait to check out the websites listed here by you guys. |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Nov 09 2011 : 03:57:59 AM
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I live in a big city - quote:
Martial Law and Zombie attacks
We're waiting for that too. Zombie's being crazies that are afraid of the end of the world and are going to loot or worse come the end of 2012.
I need to build my stock back up. I also think about fortifying the house in the event of something like that. Having enough plywood on hand to board up windows if need be. 
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My new blog - http://citychickadventures.blogspot.com/ Come visit me!
Farm Girl #790
http://pinterest.com/debbie_s/
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2011 : 11:25:26 AM
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Great topic. No matter where you live I think being prepared "just in case" isn't a bad idea at all. Even if you don't live in an area prone to natural disasters you can't rely on government services to come to the rescue especially if something happens on the scale of Katrina that you experienced in the States.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
"The things that matter most are not really things after all" |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2011 : 12:32:53 PM
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Remember way back when bomb shelters were being built?...sometimes I think wouldn't it be nice to have one of those on your property not so much for bombs but a safe place for extra food/item storage that you can have that you know will be there whenever you need it?...It has amazed me as I have built up my pantry/laundryroom area of how much room even my 5 gallon buckets take up & trying to keep them orginized when I have to move them to get to other things drives me nuts but its the only thing I can do at the moment...The above ground small basement now is a coop for one set of chickens that hopefully someday will be with the others but it shelves hold canning jars, coolers ect....I think if we ever do get a bit of land I want to get a old box car or something of that nature to semi bury in the ground just for that type of use......plus it will be a great tornado shelter...which we will need when we go back home to Missouri...plus I would like to set it up also with an area for the chickens in cause of emergencies so they have cages/feed ect in there if I need to get them in there for any length of time.....Even when I was young I knew being prepared was always important & I am glad I am able to to do this for my hubby & me when things get tight...we may not always have money but we do have food that can be fixed, blankets to keep us warm, flashlights/oil lamps & if ever needed we do have a small forest area behind our property I can go get downed trees for wood......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2011 : 11:38:07 AM
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I have been a silver smith for 26 years & one of the best places for you to buy silver is at a pawn shop...you can get coins at most that deal with silver & you will always get a fair price to pay not like if you go to a coin dealer or high end jewelry shop who sells retail not wholesale or market price on the metals...you can also get silver scrap that you can have melted down into small blocks then take it somewhere where a true metalsmith can stamp it for you after they have tested it.....very simple test but they can certify that it is silver for you & stamp it with the silver stamp......also look for pure silverware that is not in great condition...it will always be stamped but beware of silver plated.....another thing to do is cash in all your old jewelry that is broken, then turn around & buy new silver & keep the receipts with it....If you do go this route...take out the stones if they are diamonds, rubies, emeralds ect as they will not pay you for them they pay only the weight of the metal its in....hats why you may only get $50 at a pawn shop for a $1000 ring of diamonds...keep those as well in a box in a safe place.....Gemstones are also going up in price again now that the market is doing better...they like gold or silver can be a good investment down the road...epecially if you have special stones like burma rubies...color change garnets or large stones in tanzinite...Unfortunitely white diamonds are not worth much as one company owns pretty much all of the diamonds mined so you will never get your investment back on them....but colored diamonds are also good...specially the uncommon colors like red....I started investing 4 yrs ago in gemstones that I have now a large collection that is tucked away & not used in my silversmithing...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2011 : 6:53:04 PM
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Michele- Thank you so much! It's always good to hear the "insider" information. Wonderful information. I'll be making my purchases on this advice soon.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Nov 15 2011 : 4:44:55 PM
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Today I started my stock of small bottles (airplane/travel size) of whiskey. I'll keep them for bartering purposes or to get completely sloshed if there's no hope :P. I was happy to find if I bought a certain quantity the liquor store reduced the price.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Prepper/Survivalist Tips |
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Prepper/Survivalist Tips
