Prepared Society Forum banner

Preparations update

977K views 8K replies 421 participants last post by  zimmy 
#1 ·
Preparing for when the SHTF is something that we are all planning and implementing. Some of us are further along than others who are just getting started. I know some of us are willing to share everything that have done and some will share just enough to let others know that they are doing something.

What I would like to do is have a thread for people to list off recently acquired items that they make or buy or trade-for that are normal "everyday" items that have a use in their preparations. I would like to keep guns and ammo out of this thread if at all possible.

For my partner and I, we have just purchased another set of 12-volt based communication devices, also known as CB-radio. One CB will be mounted in each of our vehicles and one will be mounted in our travel-trailer. The reasoning behind these is because we like to talk to each other. Yes, we have cell-phones and text-messaging, but, with the crack-down on cell-use in vehicles, we would like to have another form of communications. Personally, I believe that the crack-down on cell-use is warranted due to the fact that my dad's arms are screwed for the rest of his life due to an idiot on his cell-phone while driving caused an accident with my dad on his Harley.

Next everyday type of item is a matched set of fire-proof, water-proof, security-based safes. In the safes we have copies of all important papers (vehicle registrations, birth-certificates, credit-card contact information, banking information, drivers licences, insurance-photos to prove that we own what we say we own, insurance policies, etc). The SHTF-scenario we are planning for is break-n-enter theft or fire.

With the safes, I purchased a laminator to create another level of protection for the important documents. With the laminator I have a Dymo label-maker to label anything that needs to be labeled. The reason behind that is no-one can read my hand writing, not even me. I can type fast-n-furious, just, please don't ask me to write with pen-n-paper.

The next everyday type of item is books. We have purchased a few more story-books to read. If the power goes out and I can't get the 'net to run for any reason (even with my UPS systems running all my computer-based equipment), turn to books to read. Candle-light, flash-light and lanterns are great ways to read.

Found a great deal on solar-powered with hand-crank AM/FM radios. There are lots of normal battery or AC-powered options, and the radios in our vehicles and in the travel-trailer - but - sometimes it is nice to have a radio that doesn't ever need fresh batteries and sometimes the current-bush doesn't have holes to plug in the power-plug.

Finally, an everyday type product is DVD movies. The only reason for that is because I don't have a portable BluRay player and that is because they are not on the market from what I can tell. Portable DVD-player's battery is charged via solar or 110vac so I can watch on the mini-screen or plug it into my (soon to be ordered) 12-volt 22" TV (located on 12volt-travel.com).
 
See less See more
#3 ·
We plan on getting a tower built for our solar panels to get them higher for more efficiency.

Garden expansion is in the works again for this year including working over some unfenced land for growing grain. (If there's no fence around the garden to keep the deer and bears out you they will destroy it.)

Another root cellar is also in the works. The first is too small for our increased garden output and it wil also be set up for better use as a fallout shelter.

I just finished my first self-bow this week. (A self-bow is a wooden bow without any backings. A purely primitive bow.) I enjoy bowhunting and have gone from recurves to compounds then back to recurves and logbows and now to a self-bow. I love bowhunting because of the challenge. The home-made bow is also part of our effort to be self-sufficient.

My wife and I are working on weight loss and getting in better shape. We've both shed some pounds this winter but outdoor activity has been difficult due to our unseasonably warm winter and lack of snow. It's been more like spring breakup this winter than real winter. I've lost about 85 pounds over the last few years but the last 40 is coming off hard.

We feel an urgency this year that I've never felt before. With the world economic situation so unstable I believe this is the worst year I can remember where I've been concerned with world-wide stability. We are fairly well prepared overall and now are concerned primarily with expanding upon what we've already done.
 
#4 · (Edited)
We have mounted mobile com's CB's and 2 and 10 meter ham in both our vehicles. Hand held CB's in our BOB's Also considering "world band/satellite com's in the future. We also have portable cd/dvd player and aprox.500 dvd's and about 700-800 cd's. Every time I/we go to a yard sale we/I pick up several paperback books as well as any CD's/DVD's they have if cost is only a buck or two each. We also grab up any reasonably priced outdoor gear. We have about 12-13 friends that do the same and every 2-3 months we have a "swap meet" where we get together do a pot luck dinner and trade stuff we bought and already have or don't need. It works out well and saves all us time/money we also have a group E-mail list where we let everyone else know it we are looking for something of find something someone else wants. Even though most of our friends aren't preppers. Most still camp/fish/hunt whatever as well as enjoy movies and CD's.
 
#5 ·
why CB instead of FRS/GMRS radio?

I have Garmin Rinos w/ map Gps, altimeters

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146&pID=8523
We have a couple match'd sets of Cobra FRS radios that are directly rechargable for their internal batteries. They work well enough and are CB-radio compatable, but, their range is quite limited. I have a couple of fairly large handheld Cobra CB-radios that plug into a 12-volt powerport or can run on a whack-load of Double-A batteries and I can hook up an external antenna as well for greater range than what the stubby can signal to.

I am looking at the range-factor of CB-Radio as well as the "internally-powered" factor as being combined with the vehicle instead of needing to rely on rechargable or throw-away batteries.

As for this thread - I was just looking to have a posting where people can update others with their latest multi-use prep-related items. Not looking for a list of everything that a household has stashed (Yes, Jerry - I am teasing you about your lists :sssh: )
 
#6 ·
recent additions

For power outages, we recently bought a GoBe Power Hub Battery & Solar Briefcase (we use electric/propane for now, but have solar and windup gadgets). Figure it'll work for our long camping trips as well. Also used our grocery/shopping budget this month to stock up on heirloom seeds (got a bulk buy, lots of variety) and onion bulbs (also a bulk buy). We have so many friends and family who garden/farm, that we can put all of these to use. The seed packets were about 1/2 off retail price, and the onion bulbs were an even greater bargain.
 
#10 ·
Yesterday, finished the Food Storage Excel spreadsheet and inventoried just about all of my long and short term food storage and essentials. Found some surprises, and some good news.
Do tell ... what kind of good news?
 
#12 ·
Made a 10 qt. stock pot of beef barley vegetable soup. Six qts. of it get canned tomorrow when we get home from the auction where I'll be looking for more canning jars. :rolleyes:
 
#13 ·
Just added another tool tonight to the collection of goodies. Picked up a vacuum sealer with bags and jar-attachments and such. it was on special for fifty-bux, figured couldn't really go wrong with it.

Might get a chance this weekend to test it out - well - after the winch gets mounted on the LJ.
 
  • Like
Reactions: neil-v1
#16 ·
Well Vance, I guess you liked the idea. Thanks.

aj, this thread is now a sticky. A topic that remains at the top of the page in any given category so that it doesn't fall down through the list of threads as new ones are posted. It makes it easier to keep updated.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Ran across some emergency dental cavity filling/cap replacement kits, so stocked up on those and topped off other dental supplies (favorite toothpaste and toothbrush brands, floss, mouthwash). I know how to substitute some minty baking soda in a pinch, but goshdarn it, figured our faves on sale, so stock up. :D Also working on adding to our 'drinking water supply' with boxed yoohoos (chocolate :woohoo:), can juices, tea bags, favorite soft drinks and 'koolaid' flavors. Adding these as we find them on sale/clearance.
 
#19 ·
Planted 5 Fruit trees, 2 walnut, 2 oak trees and 2 kiwis today. Ordered 100 pine seedlings and started some Goji seeds.

This year I will put in a smaller garden just to keep learning and use the extra time for longer term investments like an expanded coop and putting up 3 years of firewood.
 
#20 ·
Ordered highbush cranberries and native grapes to plant out by our slough. Been looking into medicinal and edible native species that we can camoflage into the landscape at the farm, as it is all pasture with a couple of big sloughs and a bunch of little mud holes.

Looking into starting to switch the dogs onto a 'doom diet' of porridge and table scraps for one of their daily feedings (our table scraps are pretty healthy, being all made from scratch, and organic and local when we can find / afford it). Have the trial pot cooling off on the stove right now. The dogs are at my feet drooling. They have gotten porridge in the past as a 'recovery food' when they have been ill. I don't think this will be a difficult switch :)
 
#6,856 ·
Ordered highbush cranberries and native grapes to plant out by our slough. Been looking into medicinal and edible native species that we can camoflage into the landscape at the farm, as it is all pasture with a couple of big sloughs and a bunch of little mud holes.

Looking into starting to switch the dogs onto a 'doom diet' of porridge and table scraps for one of their daily feedings (our table scraps are pretty healthy, being all made from scratch, and organic and local when we can find / afford it). Have the trial pot cooling off on the stove right now. The dogs are at my feet drooling. They have gotten porridge in the past as a 'recovery food' when they have been ill. I don't think this will be a difficult switch :)
 
#21 ·
I'm thinking of buying some kind of solar charging system for 12 volt batteries. I have 2 400 watt inverters, and I got to us one the last hurricance we experienced. a 400 watt inverter using a good car battery will run a small box fan for about 8 hours. This minimal system can be used to charge cell phones, or run radios.

I already have a good reference library. Always working on food storage. Buying precious metals as able. Already have a good gun safe. Made a good hidey hole for other valuables. Buying more guns and ammo.

One thing that I haven't done, and absolutely need to do, is make a master check list of needed items. Perhaps a bug out list of needed items. if bugging in, what are the neede items. No one can remember everything, so several good checklists would do everyone well.\

Lastly, for good or bad, I have stopped trying to waste my time convincing other family members, or friends of what I think is coming. They just give me the blank stare, and roll their eyes. I just keep to the idea, that if I'm wrong, no problem, I've lost nothing. But if I'm right, guess who'll be the first people knocking on my door. I will always help my family, but friends are probably out of luck. I don't try to convince them but one time. That's all they get. I'm tired of thinking about the problems ahead, but it's not going to get any easier. Good luck guys.
 
#23 ·
I keep forgetting about this thread.

Picked up 2 peach trees yesterday. Hope to get them in the ground this weekend.
Canned 4 pints of pork BBQ to add to the larder.
 
#24 ·
During the winter months I put a lot of thought into my prparation goals and objectives. This has mean a very busy month for March. I've added more apple and peach trees , blueberries and more grapevines with trellaces. I've also been building more fence to help secure more of my little farm.

Next week I will be adding the last section of cross fencing and then I plan to tackle building new a chicken coup/run and adding more rabbit hutches.

Just ordered a couple of solar lighting and battery charging kits and am putting together an order for a small scale solar electric/backup system to power some apppliances in my home

Yesterday I contacted a local nursing home about their empty food buckets so I can add to my long term food supplies. Recently some of my family moved back into the area and I know they simply cannot afford to be prepared and well, clueless so what do you do? Fortunately there are a few of my family members that are beginning to see the light and are asking questions due to the direction things seem to be heading so that will mean a bit more help for me. It also opens up a couple more alternative BOL's

Recently I had my RV remodeled and serviced. Something occured to me that I had not even considered in my preping. I had not included any type of repair supplie for the rubber foor nor to fix any type of window leaks or damage, plumbing etc so that is now on my list of items to get ready. So those of you iwth motorhomes and travel trailers may want to consider that.

It seems the more prepared I am the more I find I have yet to do.
 
#25 ·
greaseman;23497 One thing that I haven't done said:
greaseman.. google gander mountian week long camping check list. It is a pretty good "idea" list. Also as to convincing friends. I agree somewhat. I try to use recent events as a reason to prep. Last winters ice storms helped convince several of them. When power was off for over a week here due to downed power lines and such. We ( wife and I) had power due to 3 gennys, heat due to 2 big kerosene heaters, water due to a well, plenty to eat due to our home stores. Most of them ended up either suffering in the cold or in an overcrowded shelter.
Now over half of them at least have 1 genny and at least a small kerosene heater.
Some ARE learning even if slowly. So there is hope for them. As for the others....... WELL I prep for family along with mine. Friends.....??
 
#26 ·
preps

I am finding that when it comes to preps, that most often, one idea leads to another. And it's always the case of something more that I need to do. i do find that keeping touch with discussion boards like this continues to give me good ideas.

I do get the gut feeling that we are reaching the critical mass time, when we will soon have to impliment some of the ideas that we have been working on for so long. I am finding that this feeling of imminent danger is an extremely common idea, and many people have the same feeling. My thoughts on that are, that that many people can't be wrong.

I have stopped trying to warn family members long ago. They will become concerned when they get hit in the head by economic events. I know that I will eventually have to take care of them, and I'm preping for that. That's probably a common thread in the area of preps.

So, as the days go by, I just keep plugging away with preps, buying long term food stuffs, precious metals purchases. getting a garden going, and any other thing I can think of. goodluck all.
 
Top