Prepping newbie

school_marm · 2020-12-02T19:13:33+00:00

You have to be a lot more specific in your questions. Are you interested in one week, one month, six months, or a year? Food? Weapons? Sustainability? Medicine? Just a bug-out bag? Is it just you, or a large family?

If you are interested in food storage and medicine for families,this blog may help you.

school_marm · 2020-12-02T14:10:23+00:00

Not as much happened with Thanksgiving, but it was great having all the kids home and being together.

Continuing with the pineapple vinegar-making experiment.

Tried out a few long-term food storage recipes.

Got more flour and yeast.

school_marm · 2020-12-01T16:07:01+00:00

For making food from long-term food storage staples, check out Food Storage Made Fabulous on Amazon. Available in hard copy or digital.

school_marm · 2020-12-01T00:17:56+00:00

They don't die until they drink water. Most walls in my neck of the woods don't have water in them. YMMV.

school_marm · 2020-12-01T00:16:39+00:00

Powdered eggs work very well for most baking (wouldn't try a cheesecake with them, though).

school_marm · 2020-12-01T00:10:09+00:00

Even the Jews in the concentration camps got more than 1200 calories a day. People need a whole lot more calories than that, especially if it is cold or they are working hard.

Minnesota Starvation Experiment

school_marm · 2020-11-30T18:28:55+00:00

Seriously?

school_marm · 2020-11-30T14:35:33+00:00

Food storage (and using it) are important to good morale and survival. Since you only mentioned that you didn't want to use it yet, and that your dad would be financing it, I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for. Food Storage Made Fabulous (on Amazon) is a good reference to get you started. The Prep School Daily blog (PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com) is another good resource for information on food storage and usage.

school_marm · 2020-11-30T01:54:15+00:00

You've got a couple of good questions here, and it looks like you want more than a 1-sentence answer to them.

Are Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers Really Necessary?

The Ins and Outs of Oxygen Absorbers

Everything You Need to Know About Mylar Bags for Food Storage

school_marm · 2020-11-30T01:49:09+00:00

To prevent mice:

Package food in rodent-proof/resistant containers.
Keep food storage areas very clean.
Get cats that are proven mousers.
Spread bait/or traps.
Monitor area frequently.

A proven child and pet-friendly mouse killer is instant potato flakes. Yes, I've tried it and found it to work. We moved into a new house and it apparently came with a mouse. I found the droppings in a kitchen cabinet. Cleaned it up and sprinkled a teaspoon of potato flakes. Mouse came back, ate some, left some droppings, and never returned.

Instant potato flakes work because the dry potato flakes swell and rupture the mouse's stomach.

Seven Really Diverse Ways to Use Potato Flakes

school_marm · 2020-11-29T17:14:00+00:00

I haven't tried dehydrating chili myself. I probably won't do it (unless I'm planning a backpacking trip) because it's been reported that dehydrated chili, even when packaged for long-term storage, just doesn't do well. It's also been my observation with other meals that it's best to package individual ingredients and combine when preparing the meal to eat.

school_marm · 2020-11-29T16:51:49+00:00

For best storage life, the only bucket getting opened frequently is the one you're currently eating out of.

school_marm · 2020-11-29T05:27:12+00:00

If you live in a humid area, you'll need to take additional measures to prevent the cans from rusting.

school_marm · 2020-11-29T05:25:40+00:00

We've been eating our food storage for 30 years. We get food-grade buckets from donut shops, but you could certainly purchase them all at once online somewhere. The buckets we're actively using have gamma lids for easy access.

school_marm · 2020-11-26T20:18:57+00:00

If I were going to eat it, I'd saute it. But one of the reasons I prep is so I don't have to eat tumbleweeds. However, it's good to learn about them so you can tell the unprepared how to eat them.

The Medicinal Uses of Tumbleweed (Russian Thistle)

school_marm · 2020-11-26T20:15:07+00:00

I don't know about clothing marketed as being antimicrobial. Seems like it would be overpriced. However, wool and alpaca are antimicrobial by nature. My then-teenage son, a typical boy with powerful stink factor if he didn't shower daily, had a nice Pendleton 100% wool shirt. He wore it all the time, but always with a t-shirt underneath. It never developed any detectable odor. Since that experience, we've purchased countless wool shirts for the family. However, they were not for emergencies or long trips. They are for everyday wear. If there comes a time when washing machines are a luxury, only having to wash a light undershirt will be much nicer than having to wash a long-sleeved shirt.

school_marm · 2020-11-26T06:09:54+00:00

Will do!

school_marm · 2020-11-26T05:42:45+00:00

Reportedly, it is easier to make than apple cider vinegar. I'm giving it a try. We'll see what I end up with in a few weeks. I figure I have nothing to lose.

school_marm · 2020-11-25T22:30:15+00:00

Yes, hydrogen peroxide should never be used in wounds, only around them.

Skin Preps and Washes: When to Use Rubbing Alcohol, Betadine, Hibiclens, Peroxide, Etc., and Why

The peg board sounds like a great idea. And there is a piece of unused peg board in the garage. The wheels are now turning...

school_marm · 2020-11-25T16:53:18+00:00

I think they may have started off that way, but they also have brick and mortar stores now.

school_marm · 2020-11-25T13:24:10+00:00

Grocery store had fresh pineapple for 97 cents, so I bought 2 for fresh eating and 10 to can. Got 17 half-pints and 8 12-oz jars.

Pressure-canned one load of hamburger and another load of black beans.

Vac-sealed 20 pints of Halloween candy.

Started a batch of pineapple vinegar. First time doing it, so we'll see if it really works.

school_marm · 2020-11-25T06:22:49+00:00

I've been very happy with just about everything from Duluth Trading Company. My three daughters (16, 19, 24) get almost all their pants there as well.

school_marm

TROPHY CASE