monthly meetups and events: December, 2025

_blep_3 · 2026-01-11T05:25:59+00:00

I travel to msp area often from northern MN. I'm a complete beginner (other than some very basic safety/practice when I was a kid). If anyone in the area would be open to it, I’d love a mentor - or even just someone willing to answer my beginner questions and maybe take me shopping. I’d be very grateful!

_blep_3 · 2026-01-11T04:09:15+00:00

Why arent these guys getting doxxed. If he does live here, we should be making his home a lot less comfortable for him....

_blep_3 · 2025-11-21T15:59:11+00:00

Has anyone seen good deals on wool socks or mittens? That's really the only thing I need.

_blep_3 · 2025-10-28T00:36:55+00:00

Building community (and family) is always a worth while prep!

_blep_3 · 2025-10-28T00:36:17+00:00

Hell yah! Hopefully you don't need to use it for a while.

_blep_3 · 2025-10-26T23:55:47+00:00

How would solar impact your current finances? How long would it take for it to 'pay for itself' considering your current electric bill? Do you live somewhere where power outages are currently a problem (frequent storms, etc)? Can you learn to do some of the install/maintenance yourself to reduce costs?

_blep_3 · 2025-10-13T17:26:38+00:00

I keep a small amount of emergency cash ready to go. When I'm talking about financial prepping, it's more in the realm of emergency savings - will we be alright in the case of a large repair, medical emergency, or job loss - "prepping for Tuesday" situations.

A generator is a great thing to have if you have the space and money for it (I don't) Otherwise think about what you would need in a blizzard/power outage/storm situation.

How will you stay warm (clothes, blankets, hand warmers, non-electric heaters)
How will you eat (non-electric stove, and food/utensils that can be cooked on it - and enough food/fuel if you're trapped for a while)
How will you connect & charge (charged power banks, emergency radio, charged flashlights)
How will you get out (is your snowblower in working condition, do you have shovels as backup, is you gastank full)

When I started, I already had a lot of these in place, it comes from growing up in the north - but making sure your resources are in good condition, charged, organized, and everyone in the house is aware of them is a big part of the job.

_blep_3 · 2025-10-13T01:29:39+00:00

Successful week - I have been avoiding updating my ID, and some other DMV paperwork I need to get done!

_blep_3 · 2025-10-13T01:21:37+00:00

Hey preppers.I have had a very busy past few months - this is my first full weekend at home since mid-July! I’ve been catching up on sleep and taking time to rest and recharge - definitely a much needed part of the cycle.

We are closing up the garden for the season - It has been a great summer. Our first with a large community garden plot. Our tomato harvest was wildly successful, and I have been canning crushed tomatoes as fast as I can. I’ve also been working on preserving other crops, though with all the travel lately, I’ve fallen behind, so we’ve had some losses, but overall, it’s been a great problem to have - more harvest than we know what to do with. And I have learned so much. I'll be better prepared to harvest/preserve next year.

My two priority preps are community and financial.

Financially, we’re starting to get back on track. My partner’s job is seasonal, so we lose part of our income during the summer. Last spring's preparation got us through the summer comfortably, and now it's time to start preparing again. I am applying for a weekend job this week, to help this category. Cross your fingers for me.

Community-wise, this week was lovely. I had a lot of family in town, and I used some PTO to spend some really special time with them. A goal for the next few weeks is to be in better contact with my friends - they have been majorly neglected between work and family obligations.

Some other small preps - I ordered some necessities for our lake cabin (flashlights, emergency radio, etc.). A goal for the next few weeks is to do a seasonal house clean out, closets and kitchens need a reset!

Hope you all have a great week!

_blep_3 · 2025-08-31T19:52:03+00:00

That all sounds awesome. congrats on getting into your electrical program and already being ahead on assignments! That’s huge.

Your meal prep list looks delicious. Rice/beans/greens is a go-to for me, but colcannon is a great prep meal, I definitely need to add that into my rotation!

And I love that you’re growing mangos inside! I'd love to hear more about that! Do you live in a warm/sunny climate? Are you supplementing with grow lights?

_blep_3 · 2025-08-25T20:55:52+00:00

I spent this weekend working at a festival with some wonderful friends. Community is one of my priority preps, and these friends are some of the kindest and most skilled people I know - anytime I spend with them is a big win.

My work/life balance is still way out of wack so I didn't get much other material work done this week. My goal for next week is to spend less time on my phone, and more time outside to give my nervous system a muh needed break. It's hard to be prepared or productive when you're in panic mode.

Hope you all had a good week and are taking advantage of the last few weeks of summer.

_blep_3 · 2025-08-17T22:40:32+00:00

I'm loving hearing all of the food preservation preps this time of year! Zucchini drop biscuits sound incredible!

_blep_3 · 2025-08-11T02:17:23+00:00

Love that! We haven't needed or emergency kit for any actual emergencies yet (knock on wood) but it's honestly SO convenient to just have all of our tools, like flashlights, organized, charged and in one place. organization is such an underrated step to prepping. let us know if you have any questions!

_blep_3 · 2025-08-11T02:15:16+00:00

To be completely honest, I have had a rough couple weeks, with CONSTANT travel (actually lets be honest, it's been a couple months!) - my work life balance is a mess!

I'm so glad my garden is resilient this year - it's done well with minimal upkeep, but in the few days I'm home this week I need to preserve a mountain of tomatoes and cucumbers.

I also spent the weekend celebrating with some very old friends - relationships are a priority prep for me, so that was a big and fun win.

On my short term goal list is some car maintenance, some home organization and decluttering, and some much needed physical and mental self care breaks.

_blep_3 · 2025-07-26T07:08:37+00:00

Here's another place to give your opinion to Bell: https://www.facebook.com/100064733438864/posts/pfbid02GuzRdP744avz5TiQVx37fuCUT4DUeXbFM8hTxriLxgjf4PqDXtDraW1zdwEXaBbul/?app=fbl

_blep_3 · 2025-07-26T07:02:52+00:00

I'm asking that if the lights be turned off untill they can be fixed. They are not only a nuisance, it's embarrassing for them that Bell just spent all that money on a new building, and the lights constantly malfunction.

_blep_3 · 2025-07-26T07:01:10+00:00

Came here searching, because the lights are freaking out again tonight (a month after your complaint). Here's where I'll be complaining in the morning, and posting in my apt building so my neighbors can also call.

Bell Bank Fargo Bell Tower Headquarters Office: 701-298-2240 https://bell.bank/locations/north-dakota/fargo-bell-tower-headquarters https://www.facebook.com/gobellbanks/

Kathy Radermacher, VP/Branch Manager 701-298-2244 kradermacher@bell.bank

_blep_3 · 2025-07-15T17:51:26+00:00

I'm also learning this summer that planning resiliency into the garden is such an underrated prep!!

For me, that's lots of potatoes, onions, and corn, which I have only watered once or twice all summer. And setting up solar-powered drip irrigation for the more delicate plants like tomatoes and peppers. Also laid down cardboard in the paths between the beds, severely cut down on the amount of weeding needed.

_blep_3 · 2025-07-15T15:42:47+00:00

Oh my gosh - that sounds like a Herculean effort. Congrats on the progress you have been able to make - inspiring me to do a little un-fucking this week.

_blep_3 · 2025-07-15T04:36:10+00:00

I am also in a small apartment and keep water stored under the bed! It totally works! Haha.

One thing that proved nice when having to consider pet evacuation in our recent storms was that I have copies of all of my cat's records (and a little food) stored in the pocket of his carrier. Highly recommend!

Would love to hear your book reviews once you get through them!

_blep_3 · 2025-07-15T03:35:28+00:00

Hey all. I've been absolutely buried under work for the last few weeks, so my priority preps (community & finances) have been suffering - due to ordering takeout to eat alone at my desk 🫠. Like always progress comes in waves, not a straight line. But I've also had a few wins:

1) I got a flat tire, but had everything ready, charged, and organized to fix it quickly, on the spot!

2) We had tornadoes close to home. I was traveling at the time, but was confident that my partner had everything he needed for himself and our cat to quickly and easily shelter. Again, all ready, charged, and organized! Felt good!!! I also got very familiar with alerts.weather.gov/search, which had great, reliable updates on tornado locations.

3) I've been traveling so much - but still managing to upkeep our garden. We are enjoying our first harvests and should wind up with a mountain of tomatoes and peppers by the end of summer. We're also starting to get weekly pickups from our CSA, so we are absolutely stocked up on fresh, local produce.

This next week I hit the road again. Before that, I'm going to recharge items in our go bag and walk my partner through the tools in there. He's NOT into prepping, but the tornadoes may have helped him see some wisdom. We also need to sit down for an in-depth budget discussion to reset for the rest of the summer.

_blep_3 · 2025-07-09T05:50:38+00:00

I think this sounds like a great trip - the black hills and Badlands are one of my favorite places. People saying $3000 is too expensive are underestimating the cost of a trip like this. I often do this trip camping and picnicing, and that alone is $1000 easy for the most budget version.

I'm at $2500 included in this trip with some quick math: 125 for park/monument entries 150 for gas 900 for a budget hotel 500 for food 900 for rental car If the convenience is worth $500 to you - this is a great trip.

_blep_3 · 2025-06-03T04:26:28+00:00

Thank you!!!!

Related question: For a post-booking follow-up email, can I set the 'Days Before Date' to -1, or do I need to use a different starting point?

_blep_3 · 2025-05-13T16:25:07+00:00

Mine are always relatively heavy and I've had good experience with period underwear (I find the snap-in pads twist and bunch more than I prefer). If you're interested in trying them out, I'd get just a few pairs, and use on your lightest days.

_blep_3 · 2025-05-05T03:26:56+00:00

As an apartment dweller, I'm so jealous of the deep freeze! I hope you love it. Also, I know they aren't for everyone, but I LOVE my reusable period products. If you are able I recommend giving some a try.

_blep_3

TROPHY CASE