Preps for 2006?

[Jmurman]

Have you given any thought to your preps for 2006? Is there anything major that you'll be getting?

For me and my family my next large purchase will be a Rad Meter to go along with my Nuke Alert.

I also want to take our food storage from the three months on hand to 6 months on hand.

What about you?

 

[HeliumAvid]

I am hoping to secure some more money.. One of those must have preps

 

[WalknTrot]

We are pretty much set here for the winter. Will just replace what gets used.

 

[A.T.Hagan]

I'm still thinking about this and of course it's always subject to what Murphy has in mind as well.

#1 - Get way more serious about improving the quality of the garden, including completely fencing it in from the local wildlife. I suffered more critter depredations in 2005 than I intend to put up with again.

#2 - Get the new hen yard built and acquire more birds. The new one is going to have to be considerably critter proofed which is why I haven't done it yet.

#3 - Expand the family fuel storage. I'm at about forty gallons right now and I think I want to go to 100 gallons which means going over to drums and drum pumps.

#4 - Get my low-level survey meter off to Shane for calibration (and repair if necessary).

#5 - Get the sand point well driven and put a hand pump on it that I can hook a hose to.

I'm still mulling over the rest.

.....Alan.

 

[RiJoRi]

Practice & improve my primitive skills: Fire-making, shelter-building, snares, etc.

--Rich

 

[Jackpine Savage]

This will be a big year for the Savages. We are set to close on a new farm the first week of February. January will be for planning, February and March for painting and moving. Then farming and gardening.........

 

[macten_1]

I'll be looking for my next home. Otherwise I'm pretty much set on preps....

 

[Chartreuse]

Too much to list, but here's my overall plan:

1. Absolute top of the list will be to see if we can actually purchase a home. We'll be looking for something with a lot of space for a garden, a woodstove or fireplace, a large basement, and also a home that would be relatively easy to defend in case of civil unrest. Ideally we'd like to be out of the city but that depends on me being able to quit my day job, something that is unlikely for now.

We're doing the best we can in our rental but it just falls short in too many places.

2. Nuclear preps - Radiation meter, potassium iodide, good fallout shelter (the way things are going, maybe this should be number one).

3. At least double our food, water, household and medicine supplies, which, if we can't move, will necessitate a lot of reorganization and creative storage ideas - we're already having problems storing what we have.

4. I'm going to do a practice garden this year, just to get a feel for it. We do have a yard at our current house.

5. Try to figure out why I feel like we're running out of time to do all this.

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

I need to increase my food supplies, noticed hubby has eaten almost the entire two years worth of tuna! I need to clean up the place, dump the old stuff and set up more shelving for new items. Would love to get a Nuke Alert, have a birthday coming in Feb, maybe I can talk hubby into getting it for me.

 

[wasabell]

1) New employers for both myself and DH. Resumes are sent and we are both aggressively searching, and waiting for the post-holiday interviews. Wish us luck. Benefits and better pay for both of us.

2) More cash on hand.

3) Improve fuel storage. We discovered during Rita that we cannot siphon fuel from my SUV. ('03 Ford Explorer) So we need more 5-gal gas cans.

4) Expand pantry as much as physically possible.

5) If new jobs come to fruition, look for a new house in the area, or finish building ours and build the barn. Current housing is approx 600 sq ft, and we are jam-packed.

6) Wherever we land, look into drilling a well.

 

[notred]

night vision

 

[Cardinal]

Buy ourselves a farm.

I plan on learning some new skills-like cheese making, getting better at gardening, which means getting better at soil building.

Learning to cann this (next) year.

Start accumulating some Amish kitchen implements to cook on the wood burning cookstove that will be in the house we buy.

It is a little ambitious, but you eat an elephant one bite at a time (and cann what you can't eat right away)

 

[A.T.Hagan]

I'm going to add a potential one to mine and that's some sort of green house. I've got the bug bad and want something a bit more permanent than a hoophouse. I'll have to think about it a while which is OK as I won't need it till next winter.

.....Alan.

 

[Seabird]

My goodness, Alan! You are ambitious!

This year, I tried something new with my garden, and it has paid off. I dug down 2.5' to 3' and laid in screening all along the bottom and up the sides to where it came above the gound all around the edges of the garden about 6 ". Then we made a box cover of screening attached to two-by-fours in sections I could lift myself. Inside the underground screening, we placed balanced soil that was fertilized. The bugs, snakes, spiders, and critters that feast on my garden every year were thwarted in a major way. Today I pulled 11 beefsteak tomatoes, 9 eggplant, a basket of green and red peppers from the garden.

The one night we were warned of a freeze, it was easy to cover the whole garden area with tarp.


This year coming up, we are doubling our space.


A greenhouse sounds so wonderful! Someday...

Seabird

 

[Inkywon]

1. Getting a late Christmas present from hubby, a rear tine tiller this counts as prep for we will be able to enlarge garden

2. Clear more briars, dead trees from property

3. Get rid of junk

4. Organize preps better

5. Increase walking to 4 miles a day. I am at 2 a day now.

6. Get my prep information off computer and into hard copies

Edited to add Seabird I love your idea with your garden I may copy it somewhat this isn't patented or anything is it?

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Nope, can't think of anything I need. Except to get myself frosty. I think we'll need our preps in the not too distant future. Don't ask me why I think that. It has to do with groceries and toilet paper.

 

[eXe]

Lets see.. get back yard garden done (Should take a day or so)

Finish the fallout shelter

More batteries for the solar array

More ammo stashed (Recent shortages and political climate makes me scared.. so I stock up lol)

Probably put in another order for some 10 cans I need here and there for rotating..

Get at least one small panel, charge control, and deep cycle in the truck shell so I have power pretty much anywhere I go.

thats about it on the big stuff

 

[patb]

Since growing season is sort of unreliable up here, the top of my list is a substantial greenhouse. DIL grew some great tomatoes last year in Earthboxes. Container garden was what we had on our deck. They can be used inside also. Would like to try some dwarf lime or lemon trees too. But that will have to wait for May or thereabouts.

In the meantime, just beefing up preps we already have and inventorying to make sure we haven't forgotten anything.

Patricia

 

[Gizmo]

I want one of those Berkey Lights that Frugal Squirrel sells for a great price. Also a portable filter, but I don't think that is going to happen soon.
My biggest prep wish is a small wood stove. But the stove, installation, permits and inspection would be about a grand at least in the city. Then there is the price of the wood which I know I can build up over time, but......
Just this week we had to put $850 in to our truck for brake pads, rotors, transmission leak, flush, fluid and new seal, fan belt etc. That was a shocker.
They gave us a free oil change, filter and lube though!
Sorry for the drift.

 

[Seabird]

Edited to add Seabird I love your idea with your garden I may copy it somewhat this isn't patented or anything is it?

Heck, no, Inkywon! It's not patented. It was just desperation! Between this one snake named Leo (the king...he was about five feet long )and the ugliest bugs I've ever seen, I lost a whole crop last year. This year, I improvised. And it worked great! Please feel free to expand on the idea. You might even make it better.

All I know is it really worked.

 

[momof23goats]

Snakes? I hate snakes. IF I find one in my garden, I don't name him, I plunk himwith the hoe!!!!!!!scared of snakes, woooooooooo, don't like them at all.
Lets see, I need to get more food in, and then save seeds this year. and do alot more drying, and plant out three more fruit trees.
I am preetty well set. I think.

 

[okie medicvet]

1. fireplace and/or woodstove
2. improvements on storm cellar to make it into a bomb shelter as well
3. purchase of potassium iodate, geiger counter, and make faraday cage.
4. get faraday flashlights and batteries and other prep supplies
5. berkey water filter
6. begin vegetable garden
7. get more food/water container preps
8. prep oriented books.

That's about all I can think of now..and what I want to get done this year.

I made a decent start today..got some more food, and bought a handcranked radio.

 

[k_edwards]

My goals for 2006 that could relate to preparedness are to continue running and doing weights 4-5 time a week and increase my endurance and strength. I also plan to buy a handgun.

 

[Splicer205]

My goals for 2006 that could relate to preparedness are to continue running and doing weights 4-5 time a week and increase my endurance and strength. I also plan to buy a handgun.

It's a great idea to stay physically and mentally prepped and it wouldn't surprise me if that's one of the most neglected areas for many of us. Spring and summer are nice, but I do hate getting out in the cold, and am not one for rec centers and malls. You run outside, or go to a gym or what? Right now if I had to run a half mile, I'd probably drop dead from a heart attack. Gotta get to work on that. Thanks for a good reminder.

 

[ferret]

Thanks for bringing up this subject. It's good to think about a plan. It's interesting that so many people here are focusing on nuclear problems rather than avian flu.

1. Inventory my preps to find out how much I really have.
2. Finish the veggie garden area – in progress
3. Rip out the prior owners ornamental garden and put in productive shrubs and trees (native whenever possible and all 100% organic) – in progress
4. Get preps organized – in progress
5. Get myself in shape physically and mentally – again
6. Determine if a root cellar/fallout shelter is a possibility
7. Buy a portable weather radio
8. Get rid of junk – got serious about this today and it’s almost done!

 

[Splicer205]

Thanks for bringing up this subject. It's good to think about a plan. It's interesting that so many people here are focusing on nuclear problems rather than avian flu.

1. Inventory my preps to find out how much I really have.
2. Finish the veggie garden area – in progress
3. Rip out the prior owners ornamental garden and put in productive shrubs and trees (native whenever possible and all 100% organic) – in progress
4. Get preps organized – in progress
5. Get myself in shape physically and mentally – again
6. Determine if a root cellar/fallout shelter is a possibility
7. Buy a portable weather radio
8. Get rid of junk – got serious about this today and it’s almost done!

Sounds like about a years worth of work! Got rid of junk in one day? You must fly like the wind.

 

[k_edwards]

You run outside, or go to a gym or what?

Just out on our street. I just dont go as far when it is cold. I just started this month, and it was really hard the first few days, but it is getting easier now.

 

[LilRose8]

Sounds like about a years worth of work! Got rid of junk in one day? You must fly like the wind.

NAH!! She just can't possibley have all the junk we have. It would take me weeks!

This coming year I hope to have that homestead that has eluded me for so long. And a fallout shelter.

BUT my daughter hit me with ' Mom I need money for my wedding in JUNE ' ARGH!!!!!!
Money just flies away.

As for greenhouses, this is my DREAM. Of course, I need a house first.
http://www.geodesic-greenhouse-kits.com/beauty_gallery.php

 

[Splicer205]

Just out on our street. I just dont go as far when it is cold. I just started this month, and it was really hard the first few days, but it is getting easier now.

I bet it was hard, but you must be proud you got it started. It's real hard beating that asphalt. Well, I guess it's hard beating the tile floor too. Well, I guess it's hard running outside where the ground is uneven too. Yup. I bet it was hard. Glad it's getting easier. I'll keep that thought in mind when it warms enough to venture out.

 

[Splicer205]

NAH!! She just can't possibley have all the junk we have. It would take me weeks!

This coming year I hope to have that homestead that has eluded me for so long. And a fallout shelter.

BUT my daughter hit me with ' Mom I need money for my wedding in JUNE ' ARGH!!!!!!
Money just flies away.

As for greenhouses, this is my DREAM. Of course, I need a house first.
http://www.geodesic-greenhouse-kits.com/beauty_gallery.php

Well the difference is that we don't consider it junk. That's non-replaceable barter stuff. And as far as the greenhouse, droooooool. That's beautiful. A person could live in there too. And congrats on the wedding. That's money well spent, and she'll remember it forever. And it's the ultimate prep thing. Get them safely under someone's wing so it'll be not quite as much to worry about.

 

[ferret]

NAH!! She just can't possibley have all the junk we have. It would take me weeks!

I just moved a few months ago and got rid of a lot of stuff. The remainder that's been in the garage was in 2 10x10 foot storage units (yes, we had a lot of crap!).

The goal with this project was to be able to get the car into the garage and be better organized. We should be able to do that tomorrow or Sunday at the latest.

Goodwill has been very happy with me.

 

[okie medicvet]

speaking of getting into shape...I'm joining our small town's gym today.

 

[Cardinal]

speaking of getting into shape...I'm joining our small town's gym today.

I don't usually recommend stuff, but my treadmill is possibly the best investment I have made in myself in a long time. I have had one for years now, and it is still going strong. I walk an hour on it everyday, while watching the evening news.
Don't need to worry about the weather, or being armed in a bad neighborhood!
Don't need to dress fancy either.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Keep working on getting out of debt.

Buy a Big Berky.

Keep rotating and adding to supplies. Fine tune lists.

 

[FloridaGirl]

Our main goal for 2006 is to build a storm shelter underground. I have a feeling that 2005 was just a rehearsal for what is coming. DH agrees with me even though he is not a prepper, but seems to be coming around. He has contacted a company about installing the shelter which I could also use year round to store my canned supplies since we are totally out of room in both our houses.

We live on the coast of Florida and do realize that our home would not withstand a Category four or five storm and since our country home is less than thirty miles away, it would probably go also with a big storm. There would go all my money, work and supplies, I really need a secure place to store my supplies as well as a place to go during the storm. That means I could also add to the supplies that I have and be a lot more organized.

 

[ejagno]

Floridagirl, I'm still working on rebuilding my real life shelter above ground. My new goal is to be back into my own home by next hurricaine season. As far as underground.............not possible since I'm barely above sea level. I did however purchase the pod that I was leasing and will do more research into having it sunk even a little up against a water levee that we already have in the rear of my property.

As for everything else you might say I'm really heartbroken and confused where preps are concerned right now. I had a 1 year supply minumum of everything my family could want or need,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,providing my home stayed in tack. After Rita, I lost it. The canned meals I had was donated to emergency workers since I wasn't allowed back in the city for weeks and was able to contact a few friends. The fuel reserves and generators went to fuel stoves to feed those emergency workers. Oh, I'm thrilled that they were able to retrieve it and use it but this leaves me back to homebase with nothing. Let's face it, my greatest threats are explosions from nearby petroleum and natural gas plants and hurricanes. Either way I GO BOOM so now I'm thinking portable and not shelter in place. Oh hell, if it goes boom I have to shelter in place. See..............nothing but more confusion.

 

[Bird Guano]

Let's face it, my greatest threats are explosions from nearby petroleum and natural gas plants and hurricanes. Either way I GO BOOM so now I'm thinking portable and not shelter in place. Oh hell, if it goes boom I have to shelter in place. See..............nothing but more confusion.

Self-contained bug out trailer may be more appropriate in your circumstances.

One of the utility trailers with living space, along with a "toy garage" at the end of it for storing preps, not toys.

You can use it to shelter in place if necessary, OR in the case of a hurricane, load up and get out of dodge rather quickly.

I have one kept in the garage fully loaded and attached to shore power. It's part of the "shelter in place" methodology I use, and I can also load and go in < 7 minutes if I need to remove myself from the threat.

 

[ejagno]

Thanks Bird but currently it's being used for real life shelter. We bought one 28' Wells Cargo Toy Box following the hurricaine. We also have another enclosed Utility Wells Cargo fully stocked with supplies for on-site, off-the-grid meal preparations. Our tiny apartment houses myself and 2 kids and DH and my youngest son are in the Toy Box at the shelter still cooking for all of the hard working relief workers still getting the infrastructure on line.

 

[AusieGrandad]

Stainless steel buckets have suddenly become very cheap in Oz.
Probably made in China.

In a survival situation strong durable containers can be very important.
Cheap plastic buckets sometimes break in a couple of days.

AG