How to Prepare for a Family or Economic Survival in a post-modern World

i]reply to post by Libertygal


I am afraid of my pressure canner to.I have had it for
at least a year and I still haven't used it.
I did find a video showing you how to use a pressure
canner.I will look for it and post it here.

www.youtube.com...

Today is April 7, 2011

Been a bit busy the past day or two what with work and all. Plus, had to go to a Dr.'s appointment, and they want me to get a CT scan of my abdomen this morning. I think they are crazy, but I guess we shall see. The PA I saw made me mad though, because when I asked what could be wrong with my thyroid that is causing the hypothyroidism (which is one of the main reasons bugging out into the wild will be impossible for me, aside from being physically disabled and unable to walk far) she asked, "What makes you think something is wrong with your thyroid?"

I stared at her a moment and said, "Because I am taking synthroid?"

She replies, "Some people just have hypothyroidism, it's normal and lots of people have it."

I again stared at her, and I knew she must have read the look on my face, because she immediately says, "Well you could have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, but once you start taking synthroid, you usually have to take it the rest of your life."

I stated I knew this, but shouldn't we look for the cause rather than just treating the symptoms?

Anyway, it felt like a push for big pharma, and I mean this seriously. Anyone watching television for any length of time will have seen the push for a new diabetic med called Onglyza. After I said my metformin was making me ill, and I couldn't tolerate it, and could she please give me some carafate? She decides to start me on Onglyza.

Isn't this one of those drugs you see the commercial, and some person in a mild, moderately cheerful voice tells you all these side effects it can cause, and adds at the end, "..even death may occur in some individuals..."!?

I hate those commercials, because once again, it is treating the symptoms and not the problem. Then, a few years down the road, you see the commercials from Joe Blow Law firm, and they want you to join the class action lawsuit, go to their webside at baddrugs.com. So you line first the pockets of big pharma, then the pockets of the attorneys suing them. Pfft, enough for me.

I don't want the latest and greatest in big pharma to fix my one problem while neglecting the cause, all the while this new med is causing *other* problems and may even kill me! Really? REALLY?! So she gave me free samples. Not gonna do it.

So that's why the abdominal CT, because the metformin is making my stomach hurt. I think I have an ulcer or two, so how about that carafate? Nope. Got to have to CT and go see a gastroenterologist. *Sigh* Been there, done that, and don't wish to revisit.

Had these problems all my life, I know my body better than anyone, and now - I think because I have insurance, they are going to make me go through the re-diagnosis again? I am just so angry... I think I am going to have to switch doctors. I work great with my Dr., but he has hired these PA's, and I haven't seen him for two years now. Not once.

We worked well together, because he understood I was an advocate in my own healthcare. I don't need to prove anything to this PA, who thinks everyone fits into perfect little diagnosis boxes. I really hate being treated that way. So, when the CT comes back just fine, I am going to go off, and I mean big time. I fully intend to schedule a conference with my Dr, whom I have been seeing since 1996, and telling him that either he sees me, or I leave his practice. And that's that.

So much for the rant~

Did some checking on Onglyza, turns out I was right about not wanting to take it.

Of the crap listed it can cause:

Upper respiratory infections
Headaches (which I have enough of)
swelling (which I have enough of)
abdominal pain (which I have enough of)

But it turns out it inhibits lymphocytes, your body's defense against infection. I don't think I need a suppressed immune system too. Are they kidding?! Just wow.

diabetesupdate.blogspot.com...

_________________________________________________________________________________

I did a walk around through the yard yesterday, summing things up in my head, where to start, what needs to most work, and any issues I might have missed.

I took some pics I may be able to post later today, but I think I found a nice stand of poison ivy. >.< I will have to clothe up, pull it down, and put it in a biohazard bag in the trash. Lovely.

The rubbish pile in the back yard from the yard guy, yeah, its pretty big, but it doesn't look like it will be too much to handle. I will just get the kids to come over and help drag it further back before the back gets too overgrown.

I checked out my persimmon tree. It has never fruited, and we have been here since 1996. It looks like it may have some wee buds on it, but it really looked like they died before they did much. I think I am going to ditch the persimmon tree. It just doesn't look healthy, and it hasn't really grown much at all. I think that would be a good place to perhaps put an apple tree, or perhaps some other type. It is close to a *huge* pine, so it will have to be an acid-soil loving tree, whatever I decide on.

My hydrangea is leafing out nicely. Last year it looked really scraggly, but this year it looks very full and lush. I love the way they change colors depending on soil sweetness or acidity, so I will be interested in seeing what color it comes out to be this year. I think because we do have so much pine that it is mostly acidic soil, so keeping that in mind for the garden, I may need to sweeten the soil some.

Well, off to shower and get that dang CT that I think is a huge waste of time and money. I will try to post the pics of the suspected poison ivy when I get back. Perhaps someone can give a positive I.D. for me, since I know it can mimic a native geranium or something here.

Ok, collossal waste of time going for that CT. Had to reschedule it because I am allergic the the contrast dye and will have to premedicate with steroids and benadryl before I get it done. *shakes head*

Anyways, here are the suspected poison ivy vines. Pretty sure that is what it is, but if anyone else feels they can give a positive ID, that would be great!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1707ab413034.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/72b02cbb1746.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/54c630df53bf.jpg[/atsimg]


Looks just like it, huh? =\

bainbridgega.com...


But the good news is, the muscadines are coming in nicely! Have a large area of these.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b8a4ba91811a.jpg[/atsimg]

Off to lunch then bed for work tonight!

Today is April 9, 2011

Been a busy day (actually was busy on Friday, April 8) but got a lot accomplished. Finished getting the rest of my heirloom seeds for the year, got some raspberry starts which I am excited about! I couldn't find a marigold seed to save my life! I need them to plant around the beds, I heard they are a natural deterrent to some critters, especially deer,

Got busy with my planting, started a *lot* of seeds in the solo cups, about 40 cups or so. Got them watered in and settled for the night, and I will cover them in the morning after I get some rest.

Always done my planting at night, had a wierd superstition about it, but for some odd reason, my plants always do so much better, and seeds, as well. Probably in my imagination, but hey, whatever works!

Oh! We saw the squirrel again, and this time we got some pics! He is indeed a flying squirrel! I think it is so cool! Unfortunately, I think he lives in my chimney by way of the outside of the house though. Going to have to check into it tomorrow. I don't mind friends, as long as they leave the house alone!

My husband got some pictures of him, and when he uploads them later today, I will post the pics of him. We got to see him very close, on another tree, and it was about the exact same time of night too, so now we know when he shows up. He was right in the porch light, and his tail is short and flat, and it shows well in the pictures. He also has a very dark brown or black stripe down his side that we were able to see this time. Pretty cool to get him identified and to have him visiting!

Should be able to get the dehydrator finally within the next couple weeks, so I am really looking forward to that. Maybe three weeks at the most, I hope.

We will be working on the beds this weekend and getting them finished and installed, as long as the weather holds out. My husband said he thought we were supposed to have some more rain, but that it was also supposed to be into the 80's, so I am hoping for some really nice weather. The more I look around the yard, the madder I am getting at the yard guy. I am seriously considering firing him.

I will check back in later today after I get some rest with some pics and such.

Ok, got some pics to add for an update.

We went and got some tomatoes and strawberries for a head start on the garden, along with a few other items. We got a few each of both hybrid and heirloom varieties, but more heirloom than not.

In the first pic you can see the strawberries and tomatoes, and I picked up a pack of sweet potatoes that you can see by the foot of the dog statue. My entire porch and everything I own is covered heavily in yellow pine pollen! Good thing I do not have allergies to it, huh?! Still, cannot open the windows even though the weather is so awesome, because it already gets on everything, just look at my basket of yard tools!

Oh, and the "kindling box" is a cat litter container. These things are *great* for buckets and such for just about anything around the house. I have used them to store anything from water to craft items, even replaced the bucket I use for housecleaning and mopping with it. I do not use these for food or potable water, but water for washing/watering/etc.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4723e6bae348.jpg[/atsimg]

In this pic, the center left plant was a great catch! I was so excited to find this! The pot with two smooth leafed plants is Stevia! Now I need to look into it's care and propogation.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/6816f837ca72.jpg[/atsimg]

And now, as promised, the pictures of the flying squirrel. The first pic, though a bit bright, shows the stripe down his side right against the tree. You can also see the flat little tail a bit.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/434c862c9e8d.jpg[/atsimg]

The second image of him shows the flattened tail, but the stripe was washed out a bit with the flash.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/3c9884c1b5be.jpg[/atsimg]

Enjoying the suet block while keeping an alert eye on us! Time to refill the feeder, too! Generally have to refill them about once a week, sometimes twice.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d908b462052a.jpg[/atsimg]


Okay, in this pic, I show how to cut the bottoms on the solo cups. I do this to allow extra water to drain out, but not to loose much in the way of soil. This has worked wonders for me for years, and the cups can be re-used. Depending on the size of the blade, I generally do 3 slits in the bottom, but if you use a smaller blade, you can do 4.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b35660cba93c.png[/atsimg]

And here is the result of my nights planting session. Still need to water and cover with plastic today. For the ones that I will use in the beds for rows, I have placed markers. The rest are for containers or single plantings. I started fruits, vegetables, flowers, and tons of herbs.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f55e3ac88518.png[/atsimg]

Still working on the tomato containers. I saved the jugs from the Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry juice that I drink. I cut the top off leaving the handle to make it hangable, and to allow room for watering. The bottom is very thick, much harder to cut than the tops, so I will need to use a hole saw bit to cut the opening for the tomatoes, then the knife the finish. I will post more on those later.

I read some posts about silver and gold, especially silver, going up again. Each day, I see things that just further convince me we are doing the right thing. Especially finding out how many of the Pike's Nurseries have closed. If you need plants or seeds, I suggest doing everything you can to obtain them as quickly as you can, supplies seem to really be getting low. Not trying to instill fear or anything, but resources, especially for hierloom seeds, are rapidly dwindling.

Going to get busy with some other things, and will update as I can later today!

Today is April 10, 2011

Got a lot done yesterday! Being the night owl that I am, I am still up and feeling like it is still Saturday.

The crape myrtles got pruned deeply. Had some that were about 20 feet tall. I have white and pink, but the white were volunteers. I only bought two pink ones, and now have at least 10 I am keeping, and cut down at least that many more. They are *rather* prolific. The driveway is a mess from all the cuttings, so it will be tackled first thing today. Just got too late to finish tonight.

Got all but two tomatoes potted, and my 50 lb bag of potting soil is now gone, so we have to grab some more today. It costs more than the topsoil, generally about 14-16 dollars a bag, but the container plants need it as opposed to the bedding plants.

Here are the cups in the black flats, foil underneath, plastic wrapped and mini greenhouses in effect. Lot cheaper than buying those ready made greenhouses at Home Depot! The rest of the flats are on the other side of the porch. Once these sprout, I will uncover them, and leave in partial shade until they get about 3 inches tall, then harden them off in the direct sun till 4 inches, then transplant. I will be planting a *lot* in the coming weeks!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b8026173aea4.png[/atsimg]


Here are some pics showing how we cut the jugs and potted the tomatoes.

The first pic shows how I cut the tops leaving the handles.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1f56daafaec0.jpg[/atsimg]

This is the bottom where we cut the center out with the hole saw drill bit. This plastic is *extremely* hard and thick.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/70ee89e6f9c6.jpg[/atsimg]

My husband cutting the holes.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/6305e5ff6bd0.jpg[/atsimg]

After being cut.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/6f64d33e00f9.jpg[/atsimg]

Closeup of the now planted tomato. I added dirt to fill about half way up the jug, then tossed in some fertilizer and stirred it in lightly, then topped it off with more dirt, and firmed it down well. Everything got a good drink before bedtime.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1b7694c24726.jpg[/atsimg]

How they hangin'?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e35ef5c510db.jpg[/atsimg]

One of our favorite visitors, the Downey Woodpecker. There are actually two that usually come see us, but we were making too much ruckous for them to hang out with us much.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/753a064c00e7.jpg[/atsimg]

They have a little red cap on the very crown of their heads. Hard to catch a glimpse of it, they have to be in just the right position. These are very tiny birds, the smallest of the woodpecker family. Hopefully, today, the redbellied will come and visit. You can see in the tomato pics above we refilled the suet blocks, which they love the best. Look at those claws!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/dcc1151d6825.jpg[/atsimg]

As we worked outside until well after dark, the regular light attracted bugs came out. We saw a white moth, not like any we have ever seen, so I thought I would share.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/13715af3a465.png[/atsimg]

And a couple years ago, we saw this unusual one. He is bright pink and bright yellow. Just perfect for Easter!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/7bbc0c7dafc2.jpg[/atsimg]

And some caterpillars are in my wild cherry tree in webs, perhaps tent caterpillars. I guess they are coming out now, saw a few of these.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/fce61a71a9ac.jpg[/atsimg]

Yep! Looks like it!

georgiaoutdoorsgpb.blogspot.com...

Oh! The I tried the experiment with the herb seeds from my spice cabinet. The sesame seed already started to sprout, as well as a couple black peppercorns. The poppy seeds sprouted too! They look like miniature mosquito grubs.

Still waiting on several others, but I will report back on that if/when I see anything positive, one way or the other, but it is looking like herb seeds may be just as viable as garden center storebought seeds. And cheaper!

If you decide to try this, I put the seeds in a cup and added just warm water to soften the hulls. I change the water twice daily, because it gets really cloudy and gross, so I rinse the seeds and add cool, not cold water, not warm again, you don't want to warm the sprouts.

If you decide to keep them, rather than planting some straight into the soil, use seperate cups for each kind, as they take different times to sprout. Also, remove them from the cup and plant as soon as you see the sprouts form, or they will likely rot quickly.

You can also sprout seeds this way between a couple layers of paper towels, but you have to keep them moist. If you try the paper towel way, put them into a plastic bag, but be sure to let it breathe! I like the cup way better, it is easier than having paper towel filled bags all over the kitchen. Heheh.

Let me know if you have any luck!

I thought I would share one of our favorite recipes. It is a southern recipe, and though it sounds unusual, I highly urge people to try it! Simply delicious! My mother-in-law gave me this recipe the first time after she served them for dinner one night.

Mayonnaise Biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup milk
6 tablespoons mayonnaise

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.In a large bowl, stir together flour, milk, and mayonnaise until just blended. Drop by spoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.
3.Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Recipe courtesy of
allrecipes.com...

I prefer to use a muffin tin, as this dough is very wet. I spray them with a little Pam to aid removal, and fill the cups 3/4 of the way full. I bake them till they *just* get a hint of brown, don't overcook these expecting a fully golden brown color you usually get with biscuits, or they will not be as good! If you have several hungry people, double the recipe, this says for 12 servings, but it makes about 8 regular sized muffins.

Enjoy!

reply to post by Libertygal


you said:

Facing that reality, one has to come to the decision that the best that they can do is to hunker down, and literally build your home into a retreat, a fortress of sorts, if you will. I don't mean for you to run out and build a bomb shelter, but more to simply find ways to secure yourself in the environment that you find yourself in, and to work with the best that you have.

with your experiences & the cognitive circuts you have created in your thinking processes... tell me how i can form a sanctuary mode in a house i share with a woman that has some 12+ cats that have their own fortress of piled up furniture that was built to protect the cat food dishes from being poached upon by the 2 dogs that also reside inside the house ??
one dog is a 90lb black Lab that cries when outside and fears water, and thinks/behaves like a cat in dealing with its excrement passage, (it tries to dig a pit to dump in)

the house smells worse than a barn,,, i know because i lived on a dairy farm for 8 years...
the cats and dogs roam freely, crap & pee as they wish... and the housemate dutifully follows their footsteps with a bucket of clorox water and mops up the messes as she comes across them.

her fantasy world of having an indoor garden-of-eden is a nightmare
a health hazard, etc.... especially the hardwood kitchen & dining room floors that have been patched with 3/4" plywood over the years....there are soft spots where one dare not walk or one may crash through the floor


kindly take this plight on... thanks



Oh, i must add that i only got into the mix starting last Sept 2010, the above practices & rituals have been an established practice (or lack thereof) for more years than i can count...
her 2 former boyfriends that lived in her Moms house, well... both died of cancers and were only experienced in painting when they were healthy...
I have waited until this March 1st before attempting any remodeling/rehabilitating work because the house was in Probate since July 2009... so don't blame my distancing from the floor problems or for allowing that condition to multiply until the dangerous situation it is now...
besides we have almost a feud going on the house being used as a cat & dog kennel

reply to post by St Udio


I thought for some time about your post before replying. At first, I thought you were trolling. If, indeed, you are, then woot, you got me.

On the other hand, if you are serious, then I can only offer you advice based on my experiences. And we wll know what they say about advice, it is free, you can take it or leave it.

If this really is a real post, you made it unclear to me what this "housemate" represents to you on a personal basis. From the detachment in the post, it almost seems if you are just roommates, but there is an undercurrent of a relationship. If this is a relationship, I can perhaps offer some suggestions as to how to approach the person, but that is all. And again, this is based on my experiences only.

I know with my husband, he is definitely a hoarder. He hoardes computer equipment. If he is at a customers office, and sees they are throwing away a pallet of monitors, pc's, etc, he asks if he can have any of it. He has brought home computers, monitors, *monster* 600 lb printer/copiers, you name it, we probably have 10 of everything.

At first, I didn't really say much, as he has been able to replace my monitor when it went out, fixed montherboard issues, had a replacement mouse when my cat chewed the wire on mine, and even ram and hard drives.

The issue was, however, all the outdated eqiupment taking up space moving from being effective to clutter. Eventually, it started to present, IMO, a fire hazard. I approached him from varying angles. Anger, irritability, you name it. At first, when I pointed it out that he was a hoarder, he got mad. I expected that, but once it was out, it was out.

From there, over time, we had discussions. For the longest time, when I brought it up, he would get angry and refuse to talk about it. Then he began to rebut, that yes he was a hoarder, but lucky for me, remember when that monitor went out? We reached a "yes, but" point in the topic. Yes, the monitor was great, but the other 15 monitors are now so outdated, do they even work, etc. We finally ended up with "we need to rent a dumpster".

The same sort of thing happened when I approached him about making a lifestyle change with regards to how we are living and eating in our current situation, which is reflected upon in this thread. He is, and was, and perhaps always will be - resistant to change. But, he also has common sense, and when I explained things, and showed him things to back up what I was saying, he began to come to the same understanding as I, and things very quickly went forward from there.

Now, he is eagerly in the same frame of mind, and willing to make changes that benefit us both, and actually bring to us, with effort and hard work, a better standard of living. I showed him where we could save money instead of spending it wastefully. I made a plan, we worked on it together, we made decisions together. I learned a long time ago I cannot tell him what to do.

Basically, the point I am getting at is that you have to talk about the issues, and find ways to work them out. Some people that hoarde really have a problem, and perhaps helping them explore that can lead to a resolution. Some have to have some counseling, some do not, but waking them up is the first step. Enabling someone by not talking about it only helps to further the problem. You may even hear something like, "I never knew you felt this way."

If this is a roommate situation, and not a relationship, then I leave it to you to work out your solution. You have the power to change your reality, and all arguments aside about your situation or money, you make choices.

Don't know if anything I said helped, but your post was absent a lot of information, which is not really so much on topic, except wanting to make changes in your lifestyle, which you are the only one ultimately responsible for that.

Today is April 11, 2011

We got some work done yesterday on the front island and the island by the road. The one by the road has a stop sign and fire hydrant in it, and it is where I keep my lillies. I also added one crape myrtle a couple of years ago, and now that it has gotten a good hold, it got a good pruning. I topped it off at about 3 1/2 to 4 feet. It started from seed from one I bought some years back, and was transplanted.

Generally, I let it overwinter with leaf debris to help protect the plants. It is a gravel bed, and the lillies love it. I also put a globe yucca out there, about 4 years ago. It is supposed to stay small and compact, which it has. It has also bloomed every year since we planted it, with a flower spike that is about 5-6 feet tall. The blooms are beautiful!

When we started clearing the leaves and dead spines from the yucca, I discovered it had babies! It has 3 right now, and I need to look into seperating them from the parent plant. Two of them a very good size.

Here is a video about all the uses for yucca plants, including eating the blossoms:

www.youtube.com...

Most of the Easter lillies are up and about 3-4 inches tall, and the set of Asiatic lilles that are all that remains are robust and healthy, about 6 inches tall. Everything is coming up really early this year. The day lillies are now bushy and full, about 8 inches tall already, and could use a dividing, I hope I can get to it before too much longer.

I have found, that though it does take time to develop a flower garden in this way, it is satisfying from an economical standpoint. Once you have a base of bulbs, tubers, any perennials, really, time is the only factor standing in the way.

Tuber division is easy, and usually, for me, best done in the spring. I do not lift my bulbs and tubers for storage, as, where I live, the leaves from the trees is sufficiant to provide overwintering in most cases. Some people have varying opinions about when is the best time to lift and divide tuberous clumps, and really, you should do what you find works for you.

Just remember that cutting into the tubers themselves opens them up for disease and fungus, so instead of hacking into them with a shovel like some are wont to do, take a little time and care and seperate them by hand, gently. I knife to cut through the finer roots is fine, though.

If you have tuberous flowers, like cannas or Dahlias, you simply dig up the parent plant at the first signs of life in the spring, and using a clean knife, seperate tubers that have devoloped their own roots. Depending on how long they are in the ground, you can get many tubers and still leave the parent plant well in tact, and expand the garden for free. Some people wait till after the bloom, but I have lost plants doing it that way. It worked better for me to divide first thing in spring to assure them a full summer to re-establish themselves.

For gladiolous, dig the bulbs up, and look for baby bulbs on the bottom by the root. These are called cormels. If your glads have been in the ground a couple of years, you can easily get 20, 30, or more cormels from the base of your collection. The more you have, the more you can get. These will take a year of growth, then bloom usually the next year, though I have had some take as long as 2 years.

White Lily of the valley, Easter Lillies, and Asiatic Lillies also have these baby bulbs, and if you have some that have been in the ground for some time, you will notice the smaller undeveloped growth along with the parent plant. This is a sign it is time to divide. Not doing so can result in the parent plant actually being compromised, and strangling it out all together. So, not only is it free flowers to expand your garden, or to give as gifts, it is also healthier for your plants.

Clumping plants such as day lillies are simply a matter of lifting and cutting into halves, thirds, or for big clumps, fourths, then replant being sure to give room for growth. Just be careful any time that you divide tubers to not cut the tuber itself, but the connection between the plants which is usually thinner and softer than the tuber itself.

Today is April 13, 2011

Got some not great news on the CT scan, but meh, this too shall pass. Couldn't post yesterday before work, my connection went down, not out, but the DSL modem loses the connection on occasion and my husband has to work his witchery on it to get it back.

I came home from working Monday night, so Tuesday morning, and several of the cups had sprouted! So, off to work I went last night, and when I came home from work, it looked like more than 3/4 of the cups had sprouted! A lot faster than I thought on some of these crops, but still nice.

We are having another little bit of cooler weather, so the perfect time to get these cool weather crops into the ground. Going down to mid to lower 40's at night, so while I doubt it, we have the potential for one more frost in the making.

I was too exhausted this morning to play in the dirt when I got home, so I will post some pics later, as I need to go ahead and uncover these cups. Many of them have the sprouts already lifting the plastic up! Really exciting!

Oh, the simple things in life! Much more exciting to me than any new phone app or new gadget.

reply to post by Libertygal


Excellent post.

I hope all is well my friend.

a reply to: Jomina

I have Excalıbur dehydrator and I can say that ıt is worth for every penny . This is not the cheapest dehydrator on the market but with 15 square feet of drying space and a 26-hour timer,The Excalibur 3926TB reduces time and effort on your part as you can basically leave the unit to do its thing, and produce a lot of products!

Perfect if you are starting up a small business and you know you can recoup the initial outlay. Dehydrators are a great way to preserve food.

They remove the moisture from fruit, vegetables and meat, which stops food from spoiling, but without losing the nutritional values and enzymes. and be aware that Excalibur 3926TB is in the TOP picks list .

a reply to: Libertygal
I used to think that survival was all about prepping, but I am too old, and my body too broken, to even worry about it anymore.

I will tell you, though old and broken I would still be a very valuable resource for any community. I have the rare gift of Mother Wit, I have spent my whole life collecting miscellaneous information, because I am an Info Junkie, I have been active in the medical field for over forty years, and I have one of the most logical/illogical minds you will ever find.

My advice is to buy verified non-GMO and keep all your seeds. Learn what is edible in your area. Most weeds are edible, but you want to know which ones aren't, and don't believe that old wives tale, that if an animal eats it, it is safe.

I don't care how well stocked you are, or how well defended you are, if someone wants what you have, they are going to take it. Your best bet is a strong community of like minded people, and this is something you need to have started working on years ago. Join a group, a church, volunteer, whatever it takes to get you out there in your community, and make yourself known.

Know you plot. I live in the woods and my land will grow some items with no effort. Drop a seed and it will grow, but drop that seed on my neighbors land and it won't grow with the most loving of care. Same with mine. Some things grow on my neighbor's land that won't grow on mine.

It is okay with us though because our crops usually yield are much more than one family can consume anyway, so we share and we make a lot of stone soup.

You are only going to be able to make it for so long alone. You have to sleep. You need support if you, or one of your gets too sick to go unattended. Eventually things will run out and they will wait you out. Until they don't have to wait any longer. My best advice is to grow a community.

a reply to: Libertygal
You can use mayonnaise for just about anything that calls for eggs, if you don't have any. But eggs can be kept a very long time if they are kept properly, and they don't need to be refrigerated. Many foods have a long shelf life if stored properly.

How to Store Food Without Refrigeration

How to Store Fresh Eggs

Seems like a good thread to go into what we (my family) do....

Our situation - We live in the outskirts of a small town (outside city limits) on 5 and a half acres. There are homes around us, but we have a nice little property here. We have a horse, some dogs, some cats, a bird, and bunnies, and we often board others' horses in our stable and pastures. But, my wife and I work in the big city about an hour away (so long commute there and back each day). Doesn't give us a lot of time to do much, but we also have 3 twenty-somethings in the household (2 are my stepkids, and work part to full time, the other is a friend who takes care of things in exchange for room and board, and spending money). Neither of us make a lot, but together, just under six figures (not counting the kids, and they pay monthly rent, which basically nearly covers the mortgage).

What we do - Best to probably break it up into categories.

WATER AND SEPTIC - We have a well and septic system, so this is great for SHTF, but have a standard electric pump. We do have an emergency bullet bucket if we needed to use it, but this would be a major pain. Over the next couple years, we plan to switch to a solar powered water and septic pump system. In addition, we use rain catchment barrels, mostly to collect water for watering the gardens. Also, we have large (50 gallon) barrels that store emergency water (remember we have a lot of animals to keep in water too). Finally, we also stockpile (and rotate through) bottled water...typically buying it only when it is on sale. We don't keep any past 6 months without rotating through. Septic is pretty self-maintaining, though we do stockpile bacteria and treatments for it (and get it pumped every 2 years). Having running water, toilets, showers, etc. post SHTF is just too important.

FOOD - Though we work, we do have time on the weekends (and the kids can pitch in as needed), so we plan to start our garden in Feb. (prepping it in Jan). We'll grow most of the basic veggies we eat and home canning for what we don't. The chickens provide enough eggs each day (and can be meat when they stop laying, after breeding some more chickens). While rabbits are currently pets, post SHTF, we know we can switch this more for meat production, much as some may not like it. We also stockpile canned foods, and store dry goods (like pasta, grains, rice, etc.), but also things we may not get easily post SHTF (like spices, mixes, powdered dairy products, etc.). We also will be waxing cheese (amazing how long this can store unrefrigerated). We pretty much assume that post SHTF, we can't rely on refrigeration so that is pretty much the angle we are taking. In addition to these measures though, we can hunt of course. Snakes, birds, squirrels, frogs, and wild rabbits are the most likely game, maybe even a wild boar now and then, in our area. Also, fishing of course, and occasional deer.

Other main areas are SECURITY (guns, ammo, lots of fencing, etc.) and MEDICAL (stockpiled supplies, cross-training, basic EMT level training), as well as TRADE (things we could offer other survivors for trade, etc.) But would kind of be even longer of a post....

In other words though, even working full time, it is possible to prep. We don't want SHTF to happen, but the other facet is that all of our preps have a NOW benefit, and something practical to offer. Even stockpiling helps when unexpected bills mean less money for groceries. We also coupon like crazy (and sale shop) and plan out meals, which helps eliminate a lot of impulse buying. We keep two fridges and one standing freezer pretty full along with a pantry. (Craigslist is great for extra appliances).

Prepping is part of our life, but it isn't our main concern. We like to have fun, enjoy life, and our preps just help with that. We love our animals, and enjoy eating food we know we helped produce. We like having what we need at hand, when we need it, but we aren't going to be all doom and gloom about a SHTF that may never come. Even if it never happens, enough minor issues will come up to make our preps worth it.

I started reading about canning, and I soon learned it was a bit more complicated and time consuming than the crabapple jelly that I had made some years ago. I felt a bit worried about it, the possibility of botulinin toxins growing in canned foods, that fact that this was one area I had *no* real experience in, and that the food really should be eaten within a year. I wanted something more substantial, long-lasting.

Don't be put off by it. Generations of folks have canned, and with far less tools than we have today. Mostly, the risks come more with canned meat than fruits or veggies, but as long as one is moderately careful, they can make foods that will last for years. And while many may recommend a year, at 5 years, you won't taste a difference in home canned goods. At 10 years, you'd lose some of the nutrients, and it would taste "off", but still be consumable. Mostly, it isn't hard to tell if a can goes bad either (that's the whole reason for its design).

I've had green beans for example, that my grandmother canned years prior, and they were fine. (and still tasted fresher than store bought). i too am less confident with my skill at canning meats, but with the right tools, kind of easy to be more safe about it.

Great and valuable thread!

I love gardening and produce my own food (despite very limited space. Next to the love for plants, it s part of prepping.

What I see as a very weak point in my preparations is Water.

Where I live the water quality is extremly good, water quantity abundant.
Right now.

I am worried, in a SHTF scenario, that will change (nuclear fallout, dust from vulcanic eruption, spreading deseases (one dead body in the water source and its over....)

So i d like to hear your tips on:

- how to store large quantity of water (best without that plastic smell from plastic containers)
- how to treat dubious water ( i know filtering and boiling) but i see boiling as a problem, fire/smoke is visible from far , same goes for generators (less smoke but a hell of a noise) and its probably better to have a discreet way to do it?

- i heard for instance the trick of putting water in transparent containers (PET bottles, glass bottles) and let it in the sun for 6 hours (UV should kill the nasties) this would prolly work in summer. But sunlight is rare in winter here, plus might not be avail at all (again vulcanic ash in the air....)


Thanks in advance.

Water should be more of a replenishment strategy than a hoarding one. We make sure never to keep stored water more than 4 months before using it (though the guideline is about 6 months).

What about capturing rain runoff? (or snow if in an area that gets it)

As for visible smoke, post SHTF, night will be VERY dark (and like early man, most will hunker down at night), so should be pretty safe to boil then without advertising. Filtration of course, isn't difficult, but boiling too is safer. Filtration is great for solids, but boiling is better for biologics.

A well, of course, is best. Kind of hard to contaminate a modern well. (but, you'll need a way to pump it...while manual methods are available, here's where a solar pump can be handy....one of our plans, but a bit costly...but without water, you're living on borrowed time).

a reply to: montycruel

After got great reviews about Excalibur 9-Tray Clear Door Stainless Steel Dehydrator , I bought it 3 months ago . A lot of research went into choosing this dehydrator. While I like the look better of some of the square, black models on the market, the functionality of this machine won out. I liked that the heating element is on top, so if there are any drippings I don't have to worry about it leaking into the motor. There is a fan that evenly distributes the heat to make it faster and more efficient. It is also extremely easy to clean. All of the layer come apart and can simply be wiped down. The thermostat and timing features are easy to operate and read and it comes with a great instruction manual that helps you determine the heat and time setting of a wide variety of foods. Finally, I liked that additional trays can be purchased and up to 20 trays used at a time. I purchase large quantities of fruit when it is in season, and can now process it quickly. I sat on the sidelines for a long time looking at dehydrators but when I finally jumped in I'm glad I chose brains over beauty. I have and would recommend it to anyone considering a dehydrator.