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).
Someone gave me a huge sunflower last fall full of sun flower seeds, I planted some of the seeds but the flowers never grew as big as the seeds I used. The buzz words I
hear any more is water and food, get ready, get serious now!
Eight raised garden beds, four set up and working on number five. I the pattern fits the paver blocks, then the beds will fit the pavers. Using a green laser,
Apple cider season is right around the corner, so it is time to freshen up the fruit press, sanding, wire brushing, bolts soaking in vinegar to remove corrosion, spraying the varnish, and brushing on the black paint, are you ready for the big event.
Project metal shaper moving forward. I cut a hole through the top for the chain to connect to the motor sprocket. I have to bolt the two angle irons to the inside walls to mount for the motor adjusting plate. New chain is on order, project moving forward.
In my opinion the best doomsday radio ever made because it covers 11-meter band CB radio, and everybody has a CB radio stuck somewhere on their property, attic, garage, basement, somewhere.
I installed the motor, gearbox, chain, sprockets, and wired in the VFD on the metal shaper. It appears to be working as it should but way too slow so I will change out the bottom sprocket from 17 tooth to 30 tooth giving me faster strokes per minute. This will be the last machine for my machine shop.
Still working on the metal shaper for my machine shop. The gearbox gear ratio is too high (already had) so to compensate for that I ordered a 30 tooth #50 sprocket to replace the 17-tooth sprocket but now the sprocket will hit the gearbox mounting plate, problem solved by f
abing a 1/2" aluminum plate to raise the gearbox up. Time consuming but no big deal.
June 19th is when I ordered the raised garden beds
and today, Sept. 19 is when I finished this project. 800 nuts, 800 bolts, paving stones, washed gravel, rotting logs, wood chips, topsoil, and compost is what it took for this project. Stay the course and get your lifeboat in order.
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