PREP Time to Prepare for the Collapse

[tm1439m]

Excellent article for those who are just beginning to see the light! Also great additional information from Barry!

Now, let's concentrate on the message in the op and forget about the spellings or grammar errors. (and I'm one who notices all of them, but prefer to think about the message more)

+1000 so on with the show folks.

 

[Rex Jackson]

Best case? I think we have 5-6 months. Worse case? 1 month.

When the food & bank runs start, its over. You best be STOCKED.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

something in the bible about beams and planks and eyes.... eh... not my gig anyway.

Back to topic. Thanx, Barry and Martin for these two posts that are full of great info for new preppers. Even those of us who are seasoned preppers need to be reminded of the basics often. I mean, who wants to make the mistake of getting a dozen #10 cans of premade chocolate pudding? (don't answer that!)

I suggest that any of you that have printers that function with ink and paper to use, print this information out and start leaving it in the break room at work, at coffee shops you visit, on those free news stands in the entrances of grocery stores.

Think about it. The more ppl that are prepared, the fewer ppl we have to worry about shooting when they try to come for our preps.

 

[Tristan]

When you are stocking up on food be sure to include some ready to eat foods that don't require cooking. Try to think of some backup source to cook your food if you don't have gas or electric. Dry beans take a long time to cook. Think of storing some already cooked beans in cans. You can just open and eat if necessary.

Have recipes in mind of things you can throw together right out of the pantry. Make sure you have some simple basic things like matches and non electric can openers. Make sure all your lanterns and other sources of light have fresh batteries and replace as needed. Store fuel if you have an outbuilding to keep it in.

Just a note, but dried beans (and many other types of foods, too) cook far more quickly in a pressure cooker than in a normal pot. I do Black-eyed peas in about 15-17 minutes, and beef stew in 25...

Quicker = less energy.

 

[SarahLynn]

Soaking in water=less cooking time as well although requires knowing what you're going to cook about a day ahead.

 

[SarahLynn]

Another thing I've learned this past month is to trust your instincts and if you feel the urgency to do something, you better do it.

Case in point:
Last year I found large gasoline cans on sale, and bought two. This was with the intent of having extra on hand to fuel our van, which will in turn be used to power an inverter to run some small items in the house in case of a power outage.

Back in November, I think, the price was about 66 cents a litre, which is the lowest it's been in over a year. I repeatedly suggested to my husband that we stop and fill the two gas cans, but he kept telling me the price of gas was going to get lower, and we should wait.

Well, it's now January and the price is now inching up over 81 cents a litre. I don't believe it will ever lower-or at least not for some time-back to 66 cents again.
So...the moral of the story is, if you feel strongly impressed to do something, maybe you should listen to that inner voice! I wish I had now.

 

[homemakerof6]

Great Article Martin. Thank You !

 

[chickenrancher]

"Denial is not a river in Egypt." is probably the most inane sentence in the English language. Anyone who uses it loses me right there. (And "beg the question" wins the Most Misused Phrase.)

That is a VERY common phrase and is often used. Doesn't make it inane. And Martin, yes you should have posted it. Don't let the critics keep you from posting what you think needs posting.

I'm also a stickler for grammar but it doesn't mean I can't get anything useful from incorrect spellings.

cr

 

[BlueNewton]

We have been so fortunate to have had so many false alarms here at TB2K. I think each serious one was a blessing to get us even more prepared. We will never be one hundred percent prepared on a daily basis. But by now, there really are no excuses to not be very ready.

I don't know if we have 1 month or 6. I don't know what the catalyst will be for the dramatic change that we all expect. Just death by a thousand cuts? Or something more definitive? But it is coming. And soon. Of that I feel quite sure.

 

[Utopianwar]

The Grammar Kings

Time to Prepare for the Collapse
Gwen Caldwell

(Editor's Note: This is not a drill. The [would be] leaders that you have put your trust and faith in have had their way with you (and you probably weren't even kissed). Denial is not a river in Egypt. If you have any friends, tell them (I know, they won't listen. Most of my friends don't even listen. But that doesn't stop me from telling them). If you follow our advise and nothing happens, so what. If you don't, and everything you read here comes true, you are going to find yourself, and your friends, up a creek without ... - JSB)


Take the time to prepare for the coming financial woes.

The financial stability of our country is in peril. Unemployment continues to rise. The housing market continues to fall. Banks are failing at an unprecedented rate. The stock markets are unstable, as is our dollar. Folks, the new regime in Washington is not going to fix this problem! No matter how many bailouts they want us to pay for, we are only applying a band-aid to a gapping wound in the financial jugular vein of this country! It will not stop the bleeding.

We have got to start facing the facts and preparing for the total collapse of our financial system as we know it. Start downsizing now! Get your pantries stocked with food, water, essential vitamins and medicines. Making these preparations now may not only save your life, but will ensure that your quality of life is not reduced in the face of economic disaster.

We can live for three hours in the cold. Have a back up shelter plan with a heat source.

We can live for three minutes without air. Have a first aid kit and EMT book for reference.

We can live for three days without water. Get a water filter system and store water.

We can live for three weeks without food. Stock your pantries.

Every person should have a bug out bag that contains at least these minimums in case of any emergency. A sleeping bag or blanket, tarp or tent, clothes line rope, fire starter, food for three days, water, a mess kit, a knife, a towel, a change of clothes with extra socks, outer wear for the season, first aid kit, flashlight and batteries.

When stocking your pantry always start by buying your staples first. Things like flour, sugar, oats, salt, oil and Crisco, rice, dried beans, lentils, pastas, nuts and dried fruits, etc. Then buy canned goods, starting with canned meats, vegetables, fruits, tomato sauce, soups, etc.

Then think about those every day things you and your family eat. It does no good to stock pile and store foods that your family won't eat. Buy things to season foods and enhance foods like bullion cubes, gravy mixes, spices and herbs. Buy condiments like ketsup, mustard, BBQ sauce, mayonnaise and so on. Snack food and cereals. Hot chocolate mix, coffee, tea, Tang, and other water enhancers.

Be sure to consider any special dietary needs your family members have. If you have family members that have Diabetes for instance you may want to make sure you have plenty of cinnamon as it helps regulate blood sugar. Get stevia for a sweetener.

I encourage all of you to look around your homes at the things that you could liquidate right now to create storage space for food and that can create extra financial resources for stocking up on food. Quit eating out, avoid fast food and junk food. Eat popcorn, fruits and vegetables for snacks to keep your immune system built up and save money.

Think about those things that will disappear in a crisis and make sure you have them. Oil lamps and oils, batteries, diapers, camp stoves and fuel, guns and ammo, toilet paper are things that come to mind. Think about those things that might be good barter items in your area...get them.

I urge you to go online and purchase heritage garden seeds, so that you can grow your own food. Even if you live in a small apartment you can plant food in containers to help you supplement what is in your pantry. Buy sprouting seeds and a sprouter. Buy canning jars, so that you have a means of preserving your food.

There are many excellent videos at www.youtube.com on sustainability, survival skills, long term food storage, growing urban gardens and so forth. Take the time to educate yourselves on these skills.

I believe that our time to prepare is short and would encourage all of you to do what you can now. I have already noticed that the shelves at the stores where I live have less selection and fewer items. It is not unconceivable that one day the shelves will be empty.

We will not be getting a bail out, be assured. Our bail out is how we prepare now and how well we do it.

Friday, January 23, 2009


http://silverbearcafe.com/private/01.09/collapse.html

I am glad you did post this, because these are the same kind of convos my family and I have. Even if people already know, it’s good to talk about it.



What I am about to say is not to be taken in a harsh manner, just making a point.

Put my faith in an editor who doesn't know the difference between advise and advice? I don't think so.

"Denial is not a river in Egypt." is probably the most inane sentence in the English language. Anyone who uses it loses me right there. (And "beg the question" wins the Most Misused Phrase.)

You have been struck by the grammar police. Lol, wow. I would think people would be happy to see prep threads, instead of picking apart the grammar, and phrasing, I know I am. Kudos to the OP! I am glad to see prep being discussed.

 

[Utopianwar]

We have been so fortunate to have had so many false alarms here at TB2K. I think each serious one was a blessing to get us even more prepared. We will never be one hundred percent prepared on a daily basis. But by now, there really are no excuses to not be very ready.

I don't know if we have 1 month or 6. I don't know what the catalyst will be for the dramatic change that we all expect. Just death by a thousand cuts? Or something more definitive? But it is coming. And soon. Of that I feel quite sure.

Well said. It is better to be prepared for nothing, then not prepared for for when something does happen.

 

[fairbanksb]

Unbelievable.. Disregard a good article because of spelling?

 

[oldladydoolin]

When you are stocking up on food be sure to include some ready to eat foods that don't require cooking. Try to think of some backup source to cook your food if you don't have gas or electric. Dry beans take a long time to cook. Think of storing some already cooked beans in cans. You can just open and eat if necessary.

Have recipes in mind of things you can throw together right out of the pantry. Make sure you have some simple basic things like matches and non electric can openers. Make sure all your lanterns and other sources of light have fresh batteries and replace as needed. Store fuel if you have an outbuilding to keep it in.

You are right about having some ready to eat foods. If and when this happens, at first you are going to be in a daze not knowing what to do. Having ready to eat food will get you through until you come to your senses and remember that you do know how to survive. Once you get your plans going, then you can start cooking.

 

[Utopianwar]

Unbelievable.. Disregard a good article because of spelling?

That was the same thought I was having.

 

[GingerN]

BTW, if you suffer from gas or other gastric problems after eating beans, add a teaspoon of baking soda in your beans next time while they are cooking. The baking soda will cause the cooking beans to bubble big time, however, by the time the beans are finished cooking, you will find that the beans will cause little or no gas or digestive problems in your system.


And the thing is, a single teaspoon of baking soda will not change the wonderful taste of a pot of beans one iota.

Very true, plus, it tends to break down the outer coating of the beans to make them softer.

A potato in the beans will do the same thing (and absorb excess salt) but it does not taste good, so just throw that potato in the compost pile. It does not affect the taste of the beans.

 

[Utopianwar]

Very true, plus, it tends to break down the outer coating of the beans to make them softer.

A potato in the beans will do the same thing (and absorb excess salt) but it does not taste good, so just throw that potato in the compost pile. It does not affect the taste of the beans.

Also I was thinking the other day, if you were out hunting, and you either don't wanna scare your prey, or there just so happens that people you don't want to know you are there are nearby, and you have a major gas attack; what now? There are hiding, and some gunman are walking by, all of a sudden, riiiippppp... I doubt they will blame it on the foliage, or on the wildlife.

 

[Zulu Cowboy]

Staples like beans and rice are great...but the most overlooked prep item, (at least in my opinion) are condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, spaghetti sauce, etc...) and things to make your staples a bit more palatable...like Cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken, powdered gravy, etc. These items can all go a long way, toward making a very bland meal, at least edible...

As for wheat...why not store pasta? It'll keep for a long, long time...

I'm also a big believer in storing canned meat, (chicken, tuna, beef, spam...).

These items will be worth their weight in gold!

Zulu Cowboy

 

[WriterMom]

When you are stocking up on food be sure to include some ready to eat foods that don't require cooking. Try to think of some backup source to cook your food if you don't have gas or electric. Dry beans take a long time to cook. Think of storing some already cooked beans in cans. You can just open and eat if necessary.

Have recipes in mind of things you can throw together right out of the pantry. Make sure you have some simple basic things like matches and non electric can openers. Make sure all your lanterns and other sources of light have fresh batteries and replace as needed. Store fuel if you have an outbuilding to keep it in.

This is great advice (and so is the article you posted Martin - thanks!). We are low on money (REALLY low until my next paycheck), so for the past week I've been cooking with our preps. Cooking three meals a day has occupied a big portion of my day. (Usually we have things like cereal, lunchmeat, store-bought bread, but not this week). We don't use too many convenience foods, but boy do I appreciate them when I get home from work at 6:00 and the kids are hungry!

So, this week has reminded me that I need to stock up on "convenience" foods, just to give myself a break once in a while. Making breakfasts from scratch is easy, but lunches and dinners are more time consuming (and none of them will touch tuna fish or chicken salad sandwiches, which are so easy to make!)

My plan is to make and freeze a bunch of homemade pizzas, homemade chicken nuggets, fries, and whatever other "convenience" foods I can think of (oh, wait, I ended my sentence with a preposition, please don't shoot me!) I will also stock up on bags of cookie mixes - they are quicker to throw together and will give me a break from cooking from scratch. Hmmm...maybe some Chef Boyardee, too.

Writermom

 

[Martin]

That is a VERY common phrase and is often used. Doesn't make it inane. And Martin, yes you should have posted it. Don't let the critics keep you from posting what you think needs posting.
I'm also a stickler for grammar but it doesn't mean I can't get anything useful from incorrect spellings.

cr

Never happen

 

[Loon]

I recall that one of the things to be in shorage first is bread. Make sure you have items and skills necessary to make your own if you have to. Also, keep things like crackers rotated in your pantry. Milk may be another thing you can't get so make sure to have some canned milk and powdered milk in your pantry. While it may not be your favorite as far as taste goes, it will work and give your kids the nutrition they need if and when TSHTF. I use canned milk for cooking too since we don't really buy any milk other than buttermilk. It's handy and it has a long shelf life.

Don't forget to store some oils. You'll need them for cooking. I like to stockpile canned salmon. It is a great source of protein. I'm going to look for a source for single serving size mayo in case we lose power and don't have refrigeration. It would be nice to have single serving sizes.

Those with kids or who have a sweet tooth might want to find canned puddings. Open and eat. Have at least part of your pantry in items that do not require refrigeration or fuel to cook. Jerky is a great protein item too and you can take it along with you.

After holidays you can stockpile candies cheap. Valentines day is coming up. We don't do sugar here because mom and hubby are diabetic but for those that can eat chocolate that is a great time to stock up on it. Lots of drugstores have it 75% off right after the holiday. You can freeze it too.

 

[nharrold]

Also I was thinking the other day, if you were out hunting, and you either don't wanna scare your prey, or there just so happens that people you don't want to know you are there are nearby, and you have a major gas attack; what now? There are hiding, and some gunman are walking by, all of a sudden, riiiippppp... I doubt they will blame it on the foliage, or on the wildlife.

One of my favorite hunting cartoons, which I can't dredge up right now, shows two hunters with rifles peering over the top of some brush. Just below them, out of sight, is a third hunter squatting down with his pants down around his ankles. At which point one of the two hunters says to the other, "Listen! I thought I heard a buck snort!" The look on the third hunter's face is priceless.

 

[theoriginaldeb]

Also, keep things like crackers rotated in your pantry.

Thanks Loon...that reminds me....crackers are amazingly easy to make and I am looking for more cracker recipes. Has any one tried making crackers or have a good recipe or two?

Also... this is the second thread I have read this morning that reminded me of the time it takes to cook from scratch.
When my seven were small I used to spend many hours in the kitchen...often the whole day....which makes me see the need to make a list of time savers.

I was going to list a couple of kitchen time savers here in this thread but think I will start a new thread.

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?p=3231425#post3231425

 

[Deena in GA]

Staples like beans and rice are great...but the most overlooked prep item, (at least in my opinion) are condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, spaghetti sauce, etc...) and things to make your staples a bit more palatable...like Cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken, powdered gravy, etc. These items can all go a long way, toward making a very bland meal, at least edible...

As for wheat...why not store pasta? It'll keep for a long, long time...

I'm also a big believer in storing canned meat, (chicken, tuna, beef, spam...).

These items will be worth their weight in gold!

Zulu Cowboy

Very good suggestions! One thing I seldom see listed that we keep a very good stock of is bullion. Comes in very handy in flavoring stuff or making gravy.

 

[bw]

Unbelievable.. Disregard a good article because of spelling?

Not at all. But we're all pretty much members of the choir here, and this is a message we've heard before.

You don't disregard because of the spelling, you downgrade your opinion of the writer. Writers who don't know the difference between advice and advise are telling you they don't try hard to make words count. Writers who toss in 'Denial is not just a river in Egypt" are pretending to be profound while missing a more direct path to their point. Writers who use inane statements and cliches are telling you they have cut-and-paste minds.

Writers who don't respect their readers deserve no respect from their readers, even when we agree on points they make.

 

[Utopianwar]

Not at all. But we're all pretty much members of the choir here, and this is a message we've heard before.

You don't disregard because of the spelling, you downgrade your opinion of the writer. Writers who don't know the difference between advice and advise are telling you they don't try hard to make words count. Writers who toss in 'Denial is not just a river in Egypt" are pretending to be profound while missing a more direct path to their point. Writers who use inane statements and cliches are telling you they have cut-and-paste minds.

Writers who don't respect their readers deserve no respect from their readers, even when we agree on points they make.

That's assuming the writer was trying to be disrespectful.

 

[bw]

That's assuming the writer was trying to be disrespectful.

No, I made no assumption about the writer of the original article. I said "Writers who don't respect their readers ...", not "This writer doesn't respect readers.".

 

[theoriginaldeb]

I like correct spelling and grammar as much as the next person....but it is best to not get hung up on such stuff.

Historically before spelling and grammar were standardized....everything was phonetic and it was common to see imaginative spelling.
Noah Websters 1828 dictionary was the beginning of the standardization of the English language in the United States and was done to keep us... 'on the same page'.... 'so to speak'.....sometimes cliches are the shortest route to the point....

For example: Barry misspelled 'caveat' but his post was loaded with useful information.

'Exit laughing' everyone 'life is too short'...for a war of words...

 

[kytom]

It does no good to stock pile and store foods that your family won't eat.l[/url]

if rugby players eat their dead and people resort to cannabalism save the things people wont eat till the last meals.

 

[kytom]

Unbelievable.. Disregard a good article because of spelling?

the purpose of language is to communicate an idea this also involves being a good listener. if one looks so hard at spelling then they are missing the whole article.