Prepping; food for thought.

[Curtis R]

would a vacume sealer and the bags that come with it work as well?

[aa1911]

amazon.com has a bunch of mylar bags, I bought some and used a 1" dowel about 3 feet long and a clothes iron to seal them; put the bag into a 5 gal bucket, fill with food along with dessicants and oxygen absorbers (I also add D.E. to grain in case of bugs), seal about 95% of the way accross with iron and dowel and then push all remaingin air out, finish the seal.

I snap the lid on the bucket and seal that as well with wax and duct tape, mark it with date and contents. Rice will keep like that for well over a decade. most canned goods last 10 years plus, Crisco shortening keeps for about 5 years or so.

I dry veggies (buy frozen vegetables, they are ready to dry once thawed) in an electric dehydrator, then once completely cooled (to avoid condensation moisture) I seal in vaccum bags with oxygen absorbers. I use them for hunting season, just open the bag and soak the veggies for a couple hours and heat up with grain and meat of choice.

Vaccum bags are great but allow light which breaks down just about anything. Cool and dark is a must.

[Curtis R]

thanks a lot aa. that helps a lot.

[Oldeyes]

I wrote about a tried and true technique to get very pure survival water on TFF a number of years ago, but given the direction of the dialogue here it seems appropriate to mention it again. Take a large sealed lightweight plastic bag (I use clear ones) and place it around the end of a live leafy tree branch or a live pine tree branch. Wrap the top of the bag with string to secure it to the branch and then just wait for it. The normal living plant transpiration process will cause pure drinkable water to collect in the bottom of the bag. When I first ran into this technique in survival course back in the mid 90's I at first called BS, but I then decided to try the moisture capturing technique on a pine tree branch overnight. In the morning a decent amount of quite clean, tasty and mildly pine scented water had collected in the bottom of the bag.

[Curtis R]

i wanted to thank everyone for all the great information. if there is anything else i or we should know please share.thank you again

[armedandsafe]

I just finished putting up 32 lbs of grains and packed them in the rectangular buckets I get from the ice cream/lunch counter for $1.00 each. That is about 60 days of grain for us. I haven't figured out what to do about meat, but I'm working on it.

I need to design and build a solar water pump. It is about 3/4 mile to the lake and about 50' lift. We need our 2 person allotment, but, I suspect neighbors will want to check in, also, which adds up to 14 others. That comes out to a minimum of 60 gallons per day and adds about 15' to the lift.

Pops

[polishshooter]

Guys, PLEASE keep this thread going...I am going to start at the beginning and catch up! I am a late comer to the thread, but NOT the idea...

I have the feeling this might be another one you might want to hit "Print" on to refer to later when we have no electricity to run our PCs OR printers....

[millwright]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

I just finished putting up 32 lbs of grains and packed them in the rectangular buckets I get from the ice cream/lunch counter for $1.00 each. That is about 60 days of grain for us. I haven't figured out what to do about meat, but I'm working on it.

I need to design and build a solar water pump. It is about 3/4 mile to the lake and about 50' lift. We need our 2 person allotment, but, I suspect neighbors will want to check in, also, which adds up to 14 others. That comes out to a minimum of 60 gallons per day and adds about 15' to the lift.

Pops

[bold added]

Let me know how that works out for you. IME you'll soon have a lot of protein - in the form of weevils - added to your ration ! >MW

[carver]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

I just finished putting up 32 lbs of grains and packed them in the rectangular buckets I get from the ice cream/lunch counter for $1.00 each. That is about 60 days of grain for us. I haven't figured out what to do about meat, but I'm working on it.

I need to design and build a solar water pump. It is about 3/4 mile to the lake and about 50' lift. We need our 2 person allotment, but, I suspect neighbors will want to check in, also, which adds up to 14 others. That comes out to a minimum of 60 gallons per day and adds about 15' to the lift.

Pops

I hope that grain was vacume packed! As for the meat, you can can it just like you do fruits, and vegies!

[armedandsafe]

I buy the 1 lb sealed packs, then vacuum seal those. If there are weevils, we will throw a pack out the first day. After that, we'll just close our eyes.

I know how to do meat, as I helped make many pounds of jerky as a kid. I just haven't decided how to put up some emergency rations of meat. We are preparing for short term problems, as this area is fairly isolated from the major problems which will hit other areas. It is very likely that the only shortages we will see is shortage of petroleum products. That means fuel, lubricants and fertilizer to begin with. Electricity will not be a problem at first, as an economic failure will not stop the rivers from flowing.

Water is my biggest concern just now. The community well serving these 5 families is about 250 - 300 feet deep. So long as the electricity keeps flowing, we have water, but after that, .... The owner of the well is in denial, as he will not prep for a disaster. It might get very interesting.

Pops

[aa1911]

I use DE in my grain to kill any bugs, plus it's good for you. Get the food grade from your feed store or wherever, it's not too expensive and has a million uses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

That plus oxygen absorbers will elimnate any bug problems. Another good thing to do is to lightly 'toast' grain in the oven, very low heat, nothing crazy but make sure to let it cool completely before packing. Removes any last bit of moisture and hopefully kill any insect larvae.

[carver]

In a vacume there is no air/oxygen, so bugs can't live there. They only become a problem once the product is opened. As to the meat, I buy, and store, canned chicken, turkey, beef, and pork. Fish such as tuna, sardines, and fish steaks. All in cans, ready to eat.

[aa1911]

yep, I keep some extra tuna, corned beef, chicken, spam, etc for meat. Lots of dried veggies. I try to limit most stored food to stuff I eat so it can be rotated but really don't eat much canned meat ecept for hunting season. Grains are a different story, we eat tons of rice and pastas so those will get used.

If you have a bunch of stuff that's getting on the old side, before it goes past it's pull date, you can donate to a food bank or whatever if you don't eat it and restock with new. But only thing with that is most canned goods will keep for many many years past their 'expiration date' printed on the can.

Another thing I keep in my apocolypse stash is multivitamins and some Emergen-C packets, they will last for decades and still be safe and can provide a much needed source of nutrients in a small package. As much as I hate Costco for their anti-gun crap, they have very cheap bottles of 500 multivitamins for as little as $15.

Spices are another thing I consider almost a necessity, I vacuum seal kosher salt (non-iodized, I do keep some of both though), bulk tins or packs of black pepper, garlic and onion powder, and a bunch of other spices. Salt is the big one of course but others can improve quality of life quite a bit also.

Bic lighters and matches are something I like to have lots of, lighters will last forever and they're pretty cheap to stock up a few dozen. Fusees or road flares are something I keep on hand also, I carry one with me in my hunting pack and have them in all my vehicles. They are the brightest long distance signal and are good fire starters or emergency light.

Gun cleaning supplies, can't remember if that was mentioned.

[carver]

Originally Posted by aa1911

yep, I keep some extra tuna, corned beef, chicken, spam, etc for meat. Lots of dried veggies. I try to limit most stored food to stuff I eat so it can be rotated but really don't eat much canned meat ecept for hunting season. Grains are a different story, we eat tons of rice and pastas so those will get used.

I stock the product called Pasta Sides. http://knorr.com/products/Pasta-Sides.aspx Open a can of chicken, and add to the chicken flavored Pasta Sides. Makes a meal for the wife, and I, along with some steamed vegies.

If you have a bunch of stuff that's getting on the old side, before it goes past it's pull date, you can donate to a food bank or whatever if you don't eat it and restock with new. But only thing with that is most canned goods will keep for many many years past their 'expiration date' printed on the can.

Fact. As long as the can is not real rusty, not compromised, or swolen, the stuff inside will still be good.

Another thing I keep in my apocolypse stash is multivitamins and some Emergen-C packets, they will last for decades and still be safe and can provide a much needed source of nutrients in a small package. As much as I hate Costco for their anti-gun crap, they have very cheap bottles of 500 multivitamins for as little as $15.

Good idea. I'll be using it!

Spices are another thing I consider almost a necessity, I vacuum seal kosher salt (non-iodized, I do keep some of both though), bulk tins or packs of black pepper, garlic and onion powder, and a bunch of other spices. Salt is the big one of course but others can improve quality of life quite a bit also.

Try the whole black pepper that you grind yourself. It keeps much longer, and stays fresh untill ground. Remember that there is a reason for iodine in salt. We need it in our diet.

Bic lighters and matches are something I like to have lots of, lighters will last forever and they're pretty cheap to stock up a few dozen. Fusees or road flares are something I keep on hand also, I carry one with me in my hunting pack and have them in all my vehicles. They are the brightest long distance signal and are good fire starters or emergency light.

Bick lighters 5 for $5, stock up on them! Modern matches don't keep well if not in a controled inviornment. Humidity will defeat them, unless they are coated to keep the moisture out (water proof). If I want to be seen I use the chemical lights, they are smaller, and do not get old! Shelf life is undertermined. You can get about 200 4" Glow Sticks for around $10. The road flares need to be kept cool, and dry for max life. Chemical sticks are not botherd be by heat, cold, or wet. I do agree that they are much brighter, but burn out in minutes, while chem lights glow for hours.

Gun cleaning supplies, can't remember if that was mentioned.

[carver]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

I just finished putting up 32 lbs of grains and packed them in the rectangular buckets I get from the ice cream/lunch counter for $1.00 each. That is about 60 days of grain for us. I haven't figured out what to do about meat, but I'm working on it.

I need to design and build a solar water pump. It is about 3/4 mile to the lake and about 50' lift. We need our 2 person allotment, but, I suspect neighbors will want to check in, also, which adds up to 14 others. That comes out to a minimum of 60 gallons per day and adds about 15' to the lift.

Pops

What about a wind mill to pump the water up from the lake. You won't need electricity. We know that the pumping action of the wind mill won't be an always thing, but it will work part of each day, and night. The water it would pump would be stored in a cistern. If the cistern is built by the house, and is up high enough, you have running water in the house. Just turn on the faucet!

[ozo]

We also use a Pump-N-Seal
You poke a hole in a canning lid with a push pin/map pin
then put a [supplied] 'band-aid' over the hole [yellow
rectangle in pic] and place the vacuum pump over it
and evacuate.
We cooked down tomatoes from the garden for pasta sauce
and this method kept it [in the fridge] for several years and
was fresh 'til we ate it all.
We still have dry goods-beans, grain, dried veggies, mushrooms,etc
that are at least 8 years old and still good.
And for strips of jerky, it's great.
We also keep matches this way.

[carver]

Ozo, I have seen those advertised on TV, but have never seen one in a store. How about a name for the one you have. I would like to have one.

[ozo]

It's pretty hard to remember the name....but I will try.
I'll get MamaOzo to help me.

http://pump-n-seal.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbnJfs6YUE

This one is at least ten yrs old. We found it on a
'seed' website or sumpin'......never seen 'em on TV
but cool that they are, and I see the 'ASOTV' reference
on their homepage....

[Caneman]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

Water is my biggest concern just now. The community well serving these 5 families is about 250 - 300 feet deep. So long as the electricity keeps flowing, we have water, but after that, .... The owner of the well is in denial, as he will not prep for a disaster. It might get very interesting.

Pops

you need to first determine how much HP you need from your pump, then you can start to design your solar water pump... you are looking at a battery based system, although some of these pumps can run directly off of the solar panel and charge controller if you use a dc motor (this is what I would look at first, then you don't have to mess with batteries)... 1 HP = 700W, which is about 4 solar panels or so... also, you will want to have the panels as close to the pump as possible, as dc requires large diameter wire ($$$) to run any distance (if you are not using an ac motor, ac can run on a much smaller diamter wire than dc)... just some ideas to think about, solar is a much bigger project than one would think...

[carver]

Originally Posted by ozo

It's pretty hard to remember the name....but I will try.
I'll get MamaOzo to help me.

http://pump-n-seal.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbnJfs6YUE

This one is at least ten yrs old. We found it on a
'seed' website or sumpin'......never seen 'em on TV
but cool that they are, and I see the 'ASOTV' reference
on their homepage....

Will be ordering one ASAP: 1 PumpNSeal, 100 Tab-Cheks, hole punch, bag attachment, foam block, $32.95 + $7.95 S/H No S/H on more tab checks if ordered with the PumpNseal.

[carver]

Originally Posted by Caneman

you need to first determine how much HP you need from your pump, then you can start to design your solar water pump... you are looking at a battery based system, although some of these pumps can run directly off of the solar panel and charge controller if you use a dc motor (this is what I would look at first, then you don't have to mess with batteries)... 1 HP = 700W, which is about 4 solar panels or so... also, you will want to have the panels as close to the pump as possible, as dc requires large diameter wire ($$$) to run any distance (if you are not using an ac motor, ac can run on a much smaller diamter wire than dc)... just some ideas to think about, solar is a much bigger project than one would think...

That's why I suggested a wind mill. Use a DC generator, and convert lighting to DC. Lights work when wind mill is turning. Solor will cost you!
If you use 235wat panels, you will need at least 22 for the average home. Total wats 5,170, at a cost of $0.91per wat, total cost for 235 wat panels will be around $5,000. And lets not forget those inverters, and batteries! AC is better than DC for home use, since your home is already set up for AC. but the batteries to store energy will last for only a few years, and then they have to be replaced. In a SHTF scenario, they just might be impossible to find. Then what? Solar only works during the day time, wind mills will work day, or night! And lets not forget that armedandsafe lives up north!

[Caneman]

Originally Posted by carver

That's why I suggested a wind mill. Use a DC generator, and convert lighting to DC. Lights work when wind mill is turning. Solor will cost you!
If you use 235wat panels, you will need at least 22 for the average home. Total wats 5,170, at a cost of $0.91per wat, total cost for 235 wat panels will be around $5,000. And lets not forget those inverters, and batteries! AC is better than DC for home use, since your home is already set up for AC. but the batteries to store energy will last for only a few years, and then they have to be replaced. In a SHTF scenario, they just might be impossible to find. Then what? Solar only works during the day time, wind mills will work day, or night! And lets not forget that armedandsafe lives up north!

wind energy is a good idea, but the problem with it is that you need a "diversion load" for times during extra windy or gusty conditions, you can very easily overload your system and you need a way to divert off the excess current (it is manageable, but can be catastrophic if not planned for properly)... wind energy is good too and can complement solar very well

btw, if you take care of your batteries, and don't overly discharge them, they can easily last 5-7 years, and in some cases upwards of 10... the industrials batteries can last 20+ years... it depends on what you buy and how much you are willing to spend...

[Curtis R]

can you make a supressor for a pellet rifle without regestering it and will it do any good?

[Jerryboy]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

Water is my biggest concern just now. The community well serving these 5 families is about 250 - 300 feet deep. So long as the electricity keeps flowing, we have water, but after that, .... The owner of the well is in denial, as he will not prep for a disaster. It might get very interesting.

Pops

here's what you can do: get all the parts and equipment you need to change the well to manual or wind powered, then when the crap hits the fan offer to buy the now useless electric well from him for some food. this may sound coldblooded, but, if you're not prepared when the SHTF, you're gonna be taken in by people who were.

[Jerryboy]

Originally Posted by Curtis R

can you make a supressor for a pellet rifle without regestering it and will it do any good?

i don't know if it would help any, as air guns are already kind of quiet...