PREP Anybody else now doing some expedited preparation shopping?

[Masterphreak]

I've been feeling the urge to garden lately. I've always tried to keep a lot of canned stuff on hand as well as any shelf stable or non edible items. I'm finally in a house that has a little land for some raised beds. The last few weeks I've been having the distinct impression that this is the last good year to learn as much about gardening as possible. That this will be essential knowledge that my family's survival will depend on. I've been here almost 2 years now. I've always known gardening will be essential, but I haven't been in a place where I could do much more than a few pots on the balcony of my apartment. I was fortunate to grow up in a multi-generational gardening family. Spent many years in 4-H. That being said there are volumes that I don't know and can only be learned by doing. This is the first time that I'm starting a full garden plan on my own. I plan on saving seeds as much as possible. Making my own compost and just learning as much as I can while I can. Supplies are a great prep.... but nothing trumps knowledge and experience.

I don't post much on the forum but read as much as possible. I felt the need to post this.

 

[fish hook]

Just got off the phone with a friend,two hour marathon.She is very motivated.A couple of days ago i helped her make a large order of long term storage and tonight we talked about peripherals.

 

[summerthyme]

I've been feeling the urge to garden lately. I've always tried to keep a lot of canned stuff on hand as well as any shelf stable or non edible items. I'm finally in a house that has a little land for some raised beds. The last few weeks I've been having the distinct impression that this is the last good year to learn as much about gardening as possible. That this will be essential knowledge that my family's survival will depend on. I've been here almost 2 years now. I've always known gardening will be essential, but I haven't been in a place where I could do much more than a few pots on the balcony of my apartment. I was fortunate to grow up in a multi-generational gardening family. Spent many years in 4-H. That being said there are volumes that I don't know and can only be learned by doing. This is the first time that I'm starting a full garden plan on my own. I plan on saving seeds as much as possible. Making my own compost and just learning as much as I can while I can. Supplies are a great prep.... but nothing trumps knowledge and experience.

I don't post much on the forum but read as much as possible. I felt the need to post this.

Masterphreak... please try to find a copy of The Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond. It's even on Kindle now. Its a basic, practical book on how to grow a lot of good in a fairly small space, written by a man who had up to 2 acres in a market garden in the 1980s. It's a bit heavy on TroyBilt tiller promotion (he helped develop the original), but its one of the most useful starter books out there, even after all these years.

I strongly prefer it to Square Foot gardening, and you can adapt his methods of wide row pkanting to raised beds.

Good luck!

Summerthyme

 

[Profit of Doom]

Just got off the phone with a friend,two hour marathon.She is very motivated.A couple of days ago i helped her make a large order of long term storage and tonight we talked about peripherals.

Does she have any particular driving event in mind?

 

[Luddite]

Spring cleaning has turned into a desire to get more organized. I've filled a 12 or 15 (can't remember) cu yd rolloff dumpster within the last few weeks. My rule for each deposit: "Can I ever see a use for this?" sadly, I've not even reached the areas I originally planned to clean.

Found that my spare gas generator needs a carb rebuild. New one on amazon is about 20 bucks. On tomorrow's "punch list". Made trip to the non-ethanol gas pump last week. About 12 miles away. Once I get this old genny running, it won't see ethanol gas again.

 

[mecoastie]

Decided to have a garden this year. Wasn't going to with all the projects going on and work schedule. It is mostly going to be for seed and messing with some grains.

 

[Marseydoats]

It feels like one step forward, ten steps back around here. We skipped spring, and went straight into summer, 3rd year in a row. I have a lot of things that need to be done outside, but I'm not as young as I used to be and I can't handle these 40 degree temperature changes in one day anymore. If the weather ever cooperates enough that I can get some hay in, I'll feel better. I'm always panicky when we don't have any hay.
I always have 3 lists when I go to Walmart, because the shelves have been empty for so long. First one is essentials, 2nd one, non-essentials, 3rd, stock up. I make sure I spend my X amount of dollars on something. If you don't buy it when they have it, you may not see it again for months. Last week was the first time in over a year that the store was fully stocked. I got everything on my first list and a few other things. Evidently my store no longer sells frozen juice of any kind though. I was just going to pick up some OJ since I was there. I ran completely out and it wasn't my week to go to Aldi.
Trying to clean up and re-organize and I managed to bust an entire bottle of lamp oil in the floor and it made a huge mess. The plastic was so brittle that it was only a matter of time before it started leaking anyway. Going to work in the pantry today if it rains.

 

[Luddite]

Trying to clean up and re-organize and I managed to bust an entire bottle of lamp oil in the floor and it made a huge mess. The plastic was so brittle that it was only a matter of time before it started leaking anyway.

Thank you for the reminder. I bet some of my bottles are brittle.

Mostly I make prep type purchases when I find a closeout or really good sale. Speaking of kerosene, a few years ago, Lowes (building supply store) had metal, gallon cans of kerosene on closeout cheaper than you could buy diesel at the pump. I bought every gallon they had and drove 30 miles to another Lowes and cleaned them out too. Sealed metal cans last a LONG time. They could even be used in a tractor or truck if things got really bad.

 

[Masterphreak]

Masterphreak... please try to find a copy of The Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond. It's even on Kindle now. Its a basic, practical book on how to grow a lot of good in a fairly small space, written by a man who had up to 2 acres in a market garden in the 1980s. It's a bit heavy on TroyBilt tiller promotion (he helped develop the original), but its one of the most useful starter books out there, even after all these years.

I strongly prefer it to Square Foot gardening, and you can adapt his methods of wide row pkanting to raised beds.

Good luck!

Summerthyme

Thank you for the suggestion. Just found a used copy in good shape on Amazon for $6.40 shipped. I spend a lot of time online reading and watching videos on YouTube. I like having printed books whenever possible for preps as the Internet may be gone or severely fragmented in a SHTF situation.

 

[Illini Warrior]

It feels like one step forward, ten steps back around here. We skipped spring, and went straight into summer, 3rd year in a row. I have a lot of things that need to be done outside, but I'm not as young as I used to be and I can't handle these 40 degree temperature changes in one day anymore. If the weather ever cooperates enough that I can get some hay in, I'll feel better. I'm always panicky when we don't have any hay.
I always have 3 lists when I go to Walmart, because the shelves have been empty for so long. First one is essentials, 2nd one, non-essentials, 3rd, stock up. I make sure I spend my X amount of dollars on something. If you don't buy it when they have it, you may not see it again for months. Last week was the first time in over a year that the store was fully stocked. I got everything on my first list and a few other things. Evidently my store no longer sells frozen juice of any kind though. I was just going to pick up some OJ since I was there. I ran completely out and it wasn't my week to go to Aldi.
Trying to clean up and re-organize and I managed to bust an entire bottle of lamp oil in the floor and it made a huge mess. The plastic was so brittle that it was only a matter of time before it started leaking anyway. Going to work in the pantry today if it rains.

I garage sale with a few buckets in the vehicle - anything fluid goes in a bucket now - a number of years ago I picked up a few bottles of tiki torch fuel - same thing with a UV weakened poly bottle - the citronella stank up the car all summer long ....

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I always have 3 lists when I go to Walmart, because the shelves have been empty for so long. First one is essentials, 2nd one, non-essentials, 3rd, stock up. I make sure I spend my X amount of dollars on something.

I've always done it this way, too. I started my pantry, years ago, by taking a few dollars out of my budget each week just to buy stock up/prep items. The essentials that I had to have on a weekly/biweekly basis came first, though.

Thanks for the tid bit of info on those plastic bottles of lamp oil! I have gallons stored, but it is all in the original plastic bottles it came in!!!! I need to check those bottles, ASAP! Some of those bottles are, at least, 15 yrs old! They aren't leaking, yet, so that's a good thing.

 

[Sacajawea]

Well, for the moment, I'm putting my bucks, back and time into work that needs doing around here. I'm not fixed poorly for preps - but it can always be better.

Question: bacon grease can be canned, correct? What kind of shelf life does it have? One of the hardest things to store long-term are fats and oils. Now, I've had cans of Crisco last a few years - even opened. But I'm trying to nail down the best options for 10-30 years in that category.

 

[mudlogger]

Sac, we're keeping a couple of 50 lb cans of coconut oil that I got from a restaurant supply. Some years ago, I had a half-full 5 gallon bucket of coconut that was unused for 10 years (seriously) and it was as fresh as the day it was made. I wouldn't hesitate to get coconut for long term storage in plastic buckets if that was all that was available.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Sad to say but the famous Pentagon Pizza index has gone kauput. Something about a pizza place now inside the actual Pentagon, and the Pentagon figuring out people were using that metric.

What else would they be sending out for, chinese, hamburgers, lattes?

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Question: bacon grease can be canned, correct? What kind of shelf life does it have

Yes, it can be canned. I don't do it, because I'm constantly using it and replacing it with fresh. If I accumulate too much, I just put it into a container and place in fridge. I never have enough stored to make canning an option. How long will it last canned on a shelf, I have no idea.

 

[eXe]

Now that my wife is back home and healthy, I have been stocking up on some freeze dried stuff. Used all of my thrive credit and put in an order (its the free stuff you get for being a consultant) so that was a good 400 bucks worth of food, had to put all that away the day she came home from the hospital lol but I will not be upset at some work for free food and also have been rotating out things from gear and storage with new as well. To me it just feels like things are going to go nuts at any moment lately.

 

[Profit of Doom]

What else would they be sending out for, chinese, hamburgers, lattes?

Apparently they have their own food court.
http://www.ebmpubs.com/GFS_pdfs/gfs0310_pentagon.pdf
As well, there may be rules about deliveries, especially in “busy” times.

 

[Gingergirl]

I've been feeling the urge to garden lately. I've always tried to keep a lot of canned stuff on hand as well as any shelf stable or non edible items. I'm finally in a house that has a little land for some raised beds. The last few weeks I've been having the distinct impression that this is the last good year to learn as much about gardening as possible..... just learning as much as I can while I can. Supplies are a great prep.... but nothing trumps knowledge and experience.

I don't post much on the forum but read as much as possible. I felt the need to post this.

Hello Masterphreak, I'm a 6 year transplant from NW Indiana to Indy. My long time go to for area gardening information has been Purdue U Extension (online) :
https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/

Especially helpful for recommended varieties and planting dates.

Hope your garden is bountiful.

 

[hiwall]

Anyone wanting to buy some long tern food remember that the LDS Food Centers have Very good prices. Here is a link to see if there is one close to you.
https://providentliving.lds.org/food-storage/home-storage-center-locations-map?lang=eng

 

[TxGal]

Anyone wanting to buy some long tern food remember that the LDS Food Centers have Very good prices. Here is a link to see if there is one close to you.
https://providentliving.lds.org/food-storage/home-storage-center-locations-map?lang=eng

hiwall, I'll strongly second that. We've been buying from the closest one to us, and it's about a 4-hour round trip and worth the time and effort. They are that good. The staff there are all volunteers, and never once have we heard a word about faith or religion, if that is a concern for anyone. Their mission is to help everyone be prepared, and they are very helpful. I don't believe it is possible to beat their prices, and many of the items come from Church farms that grow wheat, etc.

 

[Doomer Doug]

Wow, it was a good thing I listened to the spirit and went out and bought a whole bunch of canned goods. Target just raised the price on most of the canned goods I bought by an average of 20 plus percent. I AM TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

For example, the canned green beans I bought over the last several days just went from $1.19 per can, to $1.49 a can. Next, the Del Monte peaches I bought yesterday for $1.99, just went to $2.39. The Hormel Vegetarian Chili increased from $1.69 per can to $1.99 a can. The list goes on and on. I try to walk in the Spirit, and listen to what it says, and boy did that pay off for me over the last 4 days. I got nearly 75 cans at the lower price, because I reacted immediately.

Yep, we are now seeing a system wide food price increase of around 20 percent, and this is after previous price increases. For example, I bought Del Monte peaches for $1 last fall, and now they are $2.39.

WEIMAR REPUBLIC HERE WE COME!

 

[TxGal]

Wow, it was a good thing I listened to the spirit and went out and bought a whole bunch of canned goods. Target just raised the price on most of the canned goods I bought by an average of 20 plus percent. I AM TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

For example, the canned green beans I bought over the last several days just went from $1.19 per can, to $1.49 a can. Next, the Del Monte peaches I bought yesterday for $1.99, just went to $2.39. The Hormel Vegetarian Chili increased from $1.69 per can to $1.99 a can. The list goes on and on. I try to walk in the Spirit, and listen to what it says, and boy did that pay off for me over the last 4 days. I got nearly 75 cans at the lower price, because I reacted immediately.

Yep, we are now seeing a system wide food price increase of around 20 percent, and this is after previous price increases. For example, I bought Del Monte peaches for $1 last fall, and now they are $2.39.

WEIMAR REPUBLIC HERE WE COME!

Wow, thanks for posting that, DD! Those of us on the Grand Solar Minimum thread have kind of been expecting that because of all the flooding and other crop raising problems. It sure didn't take long. Fresh fruit and vegetables have been up and down depending on the variety and store, and the quality seems to be a bit off this spring.

I thought (hoped) it would have taken longer for it to translate to canned goods price increases. I should have known better.

 

[Seeker22]

Yes, it can be canned. I don't do it, because I'm constantly using it and replacing it with fresh. If I accumulate too much, I just put it into a container and place in fridge. I never have enough stored to make canning an option. How long will it last canned on a shelf, I have no idea.

In August 2016, I Pressure Canned five cases (60 Half Pint jars) of Bacon ends and pieces. I still have some left and the jar I used two days ago was fresh as the day I canned it. I cut the bacon strips in four or five pieces and stuffed it in without using any water. Leave a full inch headspace. 55 minutes in a Presto Pressure canner at 11 pounds. I used the Ball Quilted Jelly jars which are thicker glass with the diamond pattern. Wipe the tops well with a fresh part of a tissue soaked in vinegar for each jar so you don't carry grease from one jar to another trying to wipe it off- and your seal should be fine.
I would assume that bacon grease would last just as long.

 

[Illini Warrior]

I've always done it this way, too. I started my pantry, years ago, by taking a few dollars out of my budget each week just to buy stock up/prep items. The essentials that I had to have on a weekly/biweekly basis came first, though.

Thanks for the tid bit of info on those plastic bottles of lamp oil! I have gallons stored, but it is all in the original plastic bottles it came in!!!! I need to check those bottles, ASAP! Some of those bottles are, at least, 15 yrs old! They aren't leaking, yet, so that's a good thing.

get yourself some of the blue plastic 5 gallon containers for your lamp oil - serious $$$$ upgrade would be a metal safety can .....

 

[fish hook]

Does she have any particular driving event in mind?

Not that i know of,just a sence of unease.

 

[Doomer Doug]

For what it is now worth, I have seen between a 10 to 20 percent price increase, pretty much all over the place the last week or so, at Target, at Rite Aid, at Safeway and even Fred Meyer. I think we should be buying as much food as we can, over the next 30 days, since we are looking at a staggering amount of damage to farmland, various crops. The corn planting in the Midwest is waaaaay down, and that means food issues for animals. By the way, I saw somewhere where ONE MILLION COWS DIED IN NEBRASKA THIS SPRING. I am also seeing the rise in the price of ham lunch meat over the last month or so, again up ten to 20 percent.

 

[wab54]

Bought 8 rolls of duct tape to put up. 4 gallons of Coleman Fuel. Sanded and painted my rusted Coleman Lanterns. Also picked up 4 food grade 5gal buckets and GAMMA lids for them from LOWES(In the paint dept). 10-Israeli bandages and 4-Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pak First Aid Kit with QuikClot Advanced Clotting Sponge
I feel spooky as well. Something is coming.


WAB

 

[Broken Arrow]

Just bought a house out in the sticks, so yeah, been spending on preps!

 

[jward]

Your conviction led to me making a Sclub visit sooner rather than later, doug. Now, the question is freeze or dehydrate 30lb of blue berries?


Congrats on the new property Arrow! Fun times!


No new *pings* here. I was majorly wound up last week, but that subsided with the tornadoes pushing on through. Still pretty compartmentalized and shut down, which the lord sometimes does for me ahead of great trauma, but I believe that is in reference to my personal life.


The spirit is willing to feather and fortify the nest, but I'm just not being directed to do so ATM.

 

[bluelady]

Trying to clean up and re-organize and I managed to bust an entire bottle of lamp oil in the floor and it made a huge mess. The plastic was so brittle that it was only a matter of time before it started leaking anyway.

Oh, I'm glad you mentioned that. We just found an old box of UltraPure lamp oil bottles when we were working on the garage last week. I never thought about the plastic failing, but it totally makes sense. I think I'll transfer it all into glass jars.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

get yourself some of the blue plastic 5 gallon containers for your lamp oil - serious $$$$ upgrade would be a metal safety can .....

I'm getting a stronger urge to stock up on more basics. I will be going into town on Monday to hit all the stores. Will probably spend a bit more than I normally do, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Yes, on getting those metal cans for my lamp oil. I've checked all of the bottles and no leakage, but I want to be safe. Hope none of them fall apart when I go to pour the oil into the cans!

 

[Michiana MaJo]

Wow...a 10-20% increase in all those canned items, in just a week, Doug! I've been stocking up on various grains and beans, mostly, so far. Will be looking into canned items, next week....need to do extra, because I am sure my family is doing nothing about it, despite my warnings of events to come.

When we got the news of the flooded Midwest farms, awhile back, I wondered how long it would take for sellers to start jacking up prices, even though the shortages aren't being seen, yet.

 

[annieosage]

I just added a bunch of stuff to my preps- toiletries, TP, some first aid, and such. I really need to find the time to rotate my pantry. I'm good that way. I have 2 expensive items I need and unfortunately at the moment my wallet doesn't have the capacity LOL. Soon though I hope it holds out a bit.

 

[20Gauge]

We have been expanding our canning operations.

We figure there is 4 to 6 years before it goes bad, but yes it is getting worse by the week.

I keep thinking of what will happen when they get the power of the Presidency

 

[Old Reliable]

We have order more freeze dried food from Homerville Inc (https://honeyville.com/) they are about the only freeze dried food I trust.

The Honeyville Story
https://honeyville.com/our-story/
Our founder, Lowell Sherratt Sr. had a good head for business. Along his journey of life Sherratt forged many great friendships with kindness and fairness. Sherratt worked as a citrus salesman in Southern California in the late 30’s and early 40’s. During which World War II was in full swing, but no one could prepare the United States for what would happen on December 7, 1941. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in a vicious sneak attack that effectively neutralized the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The United States promptly entered the war on December 8, 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor led many to believe that Japan was planning a full-scale attack on the West Coast of the United States. Authorities questioned the loyalty of ethnic Japanese living on the U.S. West Coast and called for action. Franklin D Roosevelt responded with Executive Order 9066, which allowed military commanders to designate restricted military areas at their discretion. These areas started out with critical areas on the west coast but soon spread to cover much of the east and west coasts of the country, a full 1/3 of U.S. soil.

 

[nomifyle]

Reading through the replys I saw where I responded. Still pretty much the same, filling holes I saw during our power outage. Stocking up on stuff from the Dollar stuff, some boxed mixes that I rarely use. I'm vacuum sealing in canning jars to help them last longer. Some of these things would be nice to help with food variety. Also replinished the my first aid stuff.

I fell yesterday, actually tripped. The frightening part of it was I could not get myself off the floor. I have arthritis in my right arm and just did not have the strength to get up. I had to scoot across the floor to DH's recliner and was finally able to get up there. I skinned my elbow pretty bad and my hips hurt a little worse than normal but nothing broken. Scary.

Judy

 

[hiwall]

I bought another five-gallon gas can for fuel storage. Our generator is our only practical way to acquire fresh water so we need fuel for it. Yes we do have a rainwater catchment system and we do have a permanent creek and we do have several water filters. But still the well is our only "real" water source.

 

[Martinhouse]

Nomifyle, I have only a land line phone and I always keep the cord arranged so that if I'm on the floor and can't get up, I can reach it to pull the phone down to me to call for help.

Now, from thinking about this a little more, I should probably install a little screen door handle at the bottom of the door that connects my greenhouse with my living room, so I can pull that door open and get myself back into the house to get to the phone if I've fallen out there. Hope you are okay from your fall but really glad that you've mentioned it.

 

[Luddite]

I fell yesterday, actually tripped. The frightening part of it was I could not get myself off the floor. I have arthritis in my right arm and just did not have the strength to get up. I had to scoot across the floor to DH's recliner and was finally able to get up there. I skinned my elbow pretty bad and my hips hurt a little worse than normal but nothing broken. Scary.

Judy

So sorry. Please forgive me if I'm looking for a zebra in a herd of ponies but imho, be honest with yourself if you notice any other symptoms. Did you fall over a rug or uneven floor? If not, (I'm not a medical person) could your fall and weak arm be "mini-stroke" related?

I pray not, but early detection means wonders. Many members here know tons more about this than I would claim to know. I hope they could remove my concern as being unnecessary.

 

[Doc1]

Cheap fry bread

Here's a handy recipe everyone should remember. I say remember because it's so simple you don't need to write it down. Most of you know that I'm originally from New Orleans, so I love spices. You can make almost endless variations on this recipe with spices (or sugar to sweeten it for friend donuts). You can add some whipped egg or full cream. I'll leave the particulars to you. Here's the basic recipe and it works great to provide a cheap, filling and healthy meal:

a.) 1 cup of white flour

b.) 1 teaspoon of baking powder

c.) Add milk (or water) and knead by hand to dough consistency.

That's it. Couldn't be simpler. You can create balls of dough and smash them into patties, roll the dough out and cut into square or triangles or do anything else you can imagine. Pan fry this in vegetable oil or lard 'til done to your satisfaction. You can fry burrito shells with this and fill them with refried beans or other ingredients. You can add sugar to the dough and make powdered suger-sprinkled donuts or use the fried patties with gravy and just about any meat or just eat them as is.

The flour and baking powder has reasonable storage characteristics and you can use canned milk if you don't have fresh. As I said earlier, you can use water if you don't have milk, but milk improves the taste.

Best regards
Doc