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What is prepping??

12K views 139 replies 17 participants last post by  TigerLeo 
#1 ·
Hello again!
Despite the title, I do know now what "prepping" means. But until two years ago, I did not know this expression. But nevertheless I have been doing it for my enitre life. How is that possible you ask?

Well, because every house in Switzerland is required to have at least one underground, concrete bunker which can withstand a nuclear blast. Government advises us to keep 30 days worth of supplies at home. Many people (at least the ones I know) follow that advise. I learned how to make fire in primary school and the kindergarden, like it is common in Switzerland. I had to do a 80 km march during mid-school when I was 12 years old. Our teachers would teach us on how to survive in the cold. Etc...

Then, two years ago, I watched a US series called "doomsday preppers" and I thought, "Hahaha, those paranoid people!" And then "Waaait a second, my entire country is doing that, I live in prepper nation and have been prepping since day one, without even noticing!!":confused::D

My question for you: How is that in the US? Do your children as well have to learn such skills in primary school? Like carving, making fire, walking long distances?
I am eager to know...
 
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#4 ·
The American children of today that know how to do these things were taught how mostly by parents and grandparents. The rest are being raised to be dependent on the government and to trust it. They will be the first perish in a long term emergency. Look into Hurricane Katrina and see what happened to those that were depending on government aide instead of being prepared.
 
#6 ·
That's why we are homeschooling our children. They are learning survival skills and how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. They are also not being subjected to socialist indoctrination that is all too common in public schools. Will society look sideways at girls who can shoot guns and bows and now how to survive without grocery stores? Probably but who gives a rat's backside. My girls will live and those others may not.
 
#7 ·
Swiss

the people you see on those TV shows for the most part are ignorant morons. First off, one of the golden rules of prepping is to NOT tell everyone else in the world what you are doing!
In the even that you have to hunker down and use your resources you don't want everyone who knows you to remember seeing your bunker on the TV show and come knocking at your door wanting you to feed their kids.

The producers of such "reality" TV shows find people to be on the shows by contacting them through internet chat sites that are topic related. In my opinion it is the people who just want to be on TV and show everyone how smart they are that volunteer to be on these shows.
What I am trying to say is to not judge everyone who prepares for bad times as being like these people you see on TV. In fact many of them are quite different than what you see on the shows.

We are methodical planners, close private networkers, hoarders of food and knowledge and generally a pragmatic bunch. I have friends who do not prepare but they know that I do. Sometimes they will make the comment that they are going to try and find my place when trouble starts and I told them unless they are bringing lots of food or other resources with them to not bother coming because I will not choose between feeding my kids and theirs
Then the conversation usually ends with a quick uncomfortable smile

If you want to know a popular book by an American author on the subject I suggest buying this book

this is one of the foundational books for preppers written by an expert and known leader in the movement.
 
#8 ·
Very interesting facts! Thank you for sharing. I just found the book on Amazon, ready for shipping to Switzerland :) Gonna buy for sure!!

I do know some preppers myself. I wouldn't count myself as a "hardcore prepper", but I DO have some food, water bottles, guns and ammo...There is also some emergency closet in the bunker. But most important of all, I've got a plan. I know the surrounding woods beyond miles. I would grab my stuff, cram it into my backpack and run. Or maybe stay, trying to survive with my neighbours, which happen to be nice guys. I already lived one week on my own, I guess I would make it for longer.
If SHTF in Switzerland, most ppl would stay in their bunkers I guess and wait until their food is gone. It might sound naive, but I trust the Swiss government to a certain point to handle the situation. The government reports regularly about their measures in case of a catastrophic disaster. Just now, they are talking about investing in more nuklear disaster protection and have given 5.5 billion Francs to the military... 4000 soldiers have been sent to guard our borders last week, because of the refugee crisis... So you see, a lot is going on, but a lot is being done about it. We will see what happens, I just try to get my degree and hope I'll never need to leave my dear home...
 
#9 ·
What's the game-animal situation in Switzerland? You mentioned "running to the woods". Plan to hunt to survive?

That is the "plan" of many people, I'm afraid.

I ain't going nowhere. My food, my water, my guns and ammo, my clothes, my everything else, is at my house. If I ran somewhere, I could not take it. So I'm staying.

The closest big game (well, the State Park is only about fifteen miles, and those deer would probably be pretty easy to shoot - being friendly and used to people :p) is about forty miles away. That's a long walk, and even longer coming back with a deer on my back. And then you gotta think about how many people go out hunting every year, and come back empty handed. And then think about "three thousand hunters" in my local woods, in hunting season, versus "thirty thousand starving parents" in a SHTF situation , trying to put food on the table.

I doubt hunting would work.
 
#10 · (Edited)
What's the game-animal situation in Switzerland? You mentioned "running to the woods". Plan to hunt to survive?

That is the "plan" of many people, I'm afraid.

I ain't going nowhere. My food, my water, my guns and ammo, my clothes, my everything else, is at my house. If I ran somewhere, I could not take it. So I'm staying.

The closest big game (well, the State Park is only about fifteen miles, and those deer would probably be pretty easy to shoot - being friendly and used to people :p) is about forty miles away. That's a long walk, and even longer coming back with a deer on my back. And then you gotta think about how many people go out hunting every year, and come back empty handed. And then think about "three thousand hunters" in my local woods, in hunting season, versus "thirty thousand starving parents" in a SHTF situation , trying to put food on the table.

I doubt hunting would work.
Good input.
Sometimes, the deer comes in my garden. We have ten thousands of deers in our state alone, which has about 200000 people in total. Every year, we get more and more deer, which cause massive damage to the woods. 2015 alone had 15000 more surviving the hunt than planned. Not to mention the capricorns everywhere... We have lots of cows too, but the farmes almost kill you already these days if you do harm to them xD If I went in the woods, I would take lots of food with me. But as I said, that would be the last resort, primary objective is to stay at home, maybe go hunting for one or two days... I have food for 60 days, water filter, and 1500 litres of water stored in a tank. Plus the woods begin just behind my house, and I have wood pellets stored... I don't know if and how long I would survive, but hey, it's something! :)
 
#12 ·
if you live in a town with a larger population and there is no food and 10,000 people start hitting the surrounding woods for game, the game will just be pushed out of the area in a short period of time.

unless you live on 100 acres and nobody else is on your land, hunting for food during a massive SHTF scenario is not a good plan
 
#13 ·
I agree to a point. Around here, the largest population is Knoxville. Those people couldn't find a grocery store. Where I primarily hunt is an area of about 153,000 acres. With another 100,000 just west of me. I hope we can get by for a short term.
 
#16 ·
Just in the media right now: Near my hometown, this morning a whole valley is cut off completely due to a rockfall. Authorities say it's taking at least until thursday to reach the village. Luckily, nobody was hurt. But the people are quite on their own for now...
No electricity, no internet...
 
#17 ·
I live in a rural area where hunting is a way of life, but there is lots of land and game isn't that hard to find. I believe I'd find plenty of small game to sustain my family for a short time. I know if a few places where I can locate feral hogs, deer aren't too hard. I'm not fat from where Missouri has been stocking elk, if driving is a possibility, I would likely go to my in laws in Kansas. I stock up on ammo. A box here, a box there. Currently I've got plenty of shotgun and rifle ammo. I'll be picking up more pistol ammo soon. My SHTF plans are varied depending on the situation.
 
#25 ·
sounds good. I would just still urge you to have some shelf stable food put back. Growing a garden is great but you can't start a garden unless its spring time and if SHTF happens in Dec, you'll have a long way to go just eating a few squirrell here and there. Plus think about this. If a big event takes place that results in martial law, you'd be better off staying in with your family at least initailly. They will need you there with them instead of out looking for some small game

Also make sure you family has any special needs met in the food storage. Mrs Cooper has become intolerant to gluten latley so we have been stocking up on more gluten free foods just for her. this is something we didn't have to contend with years ago, so we have had to adjust our plans.

rice and beans can be bought in 50 lb bags a Sams Club and they store very well. We repackage ours into smaller Mylar bags and place them into 5 gal plastic pails to make them rodent proof. Now, if all you had was rice and beans, you may not starve but man would you get sick of that!
But think about if you had some canned chicken breast and a can of cream of chicken soup to mix with that?
If you had some fllour and could make some biscuits to do with a pot of beans?

just some food for thought.....pun intended
 
#27 ·
sounds good. I would just still urge you to have some shelf stable food put back. Growing a garden is great but you can't start a garden unless its spring time and if SHTF happens in Dec, you'll have a long way to go just eating a few squirrell here and there. Plus think about this. If a big event takes place that results in martial law, you'd be better off staying in with your family at least initailly. They will need you there with them instead of out looking for some small game

Also make sure you family has any special needs met in the food storage. Mrs Cooper has become intolerant to gluten latley so we have been stocking up on more gluten free foods just for her. this is something we didn't have to contend with years ago, so we have had to adjust our plans.

rice and beans can be bought in 50 lb bags a Sams Club and they store very well. We repackage ours into smaller Mylar bags and place them into 5 gal plastic pails to make them rodent proof. Now, if all you had was rice and beans, you may not starve but man would you get sick of that!
But think about if you had some canned chicken breast and a can of cream of chicken soup to mix with that?
If you had some fllour and could make some biscuits to do with a pot of beans?

just some food for thought.....pun intended
This right here ^ this is why I live this forum. DB you are a wise man. I agree with everything you are saying, and I will be working up a stockpile, right now I have the basics, and that will get me through a good chunk of time, but yes I see a need for more.
 
#26 ·
Good concept I guess. We also have a natural well 200 meters from home, but everyone will be there I guess, so I better avoid that. Since I have nobody to look after, and my parents are very fit and armed, I could hunt all day ;)
We have a shop which is dedicated to emergency food. We buy from there. Beans, dried meals, coffee, milk powder, pasta, etc etc....
What I rarely hear people talk about is personal fitness. I am a marital artist since 16 years and would consider my fitness being over the average... What does all your gear serve you if you are too weak to carry it? :p
 
#29 ·
in our situation, we wil be spending alot of our daylight hours and lots of calories burned just seeing to the chores of daily life just like it was in 18th century America.
you won't turn a spigot and get water, you will have to go to a well or a river and haul it back. You won't put your clothes into a washer and push a button, you will put them into a large water tub and scrub them clean, wring them dry and them hang them up to finish drying.
you will be working on the land, hunting and growing your food and working on your shelter and security.
I think we will all be better physically fit and many people will find out they didn't need that sack full of pills their doctor prescribed to them after all.

When I researched my ancestors and found some photos of them from the late 1800s, I discovered there were not many overweight people then. most of the photos of them they looked very thin but fit and it had to be from all of the phyisical labor they had to do daily just to live without all of the modern comforts that we now have
 
#31 ·
I am out in the sticks, and I am a prepper. DB has posted some good info, as well as others, but I'm going to add one more. Hunting. If you are hunting for food, like millions of others, and you fire a gun, what do you think your chances are of getting that meat back home? You've just told everyone in the woods where you are. As far as preserving meat goes, there is only one method that will work in a SHTF scenario, and that's smoking. If you happen to live near a salt deposit, then you might successfully salt down some meat, but a salt deposit will be as busy as the lake side. Everyone needs salt, and everyone needs water!
 
#32 ·
American students used to learn useful stuff. Since the federal dept of education was formed they're focused on things like;
Your EBT card gets refilled on the first.
This is how you put a condom on a banana.
Your feelings are far more important than your accomplishments.
America is the problem in the world.
You don't need to read and write, someone from the government will tell you what to say and do.
You get the idea.
 
#39 ·
According to Google - What's the price for a college education?

>According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 school year was $32,405 at private colleges, $9,410 for state residents at public colleges, and $23,893 for out-of-state residents attending public universities.<

Wow. I just looked up FSU. Living "on campus" - that's in the dorm, right? - costs 6200 a year. That's five hundred a month - for a DORM ROOM?!?!?
 
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#40 ·
The ones that I get an uncomfortable laugh out of are the ones that say "I could live on a rabbit and squirrel everyday". Oh yeah, prove it. Wild game is quite lean for the most part but your body needs the natural fats and carbs. Eventually your body will start to feed upon itself to get these. The end result......you will die of malnutrition. You need to store vegies and carbs.
Along with medical supplies, self defense, hand tools and bartering items.
 
#47 ·
killing the topical bacteria isn't the issue. the clostridium bacteria deep in the puncture would where it's not viable to put crushed garlic or honey is where you will have the problem.

And there is a big difference in an antibiotic and a vaccine, especially a toxoid vaccine that introduces an inefective toxin as a target for your bodies to make antibodies against.

it's not like the old days of 'it burns to pee and you go get a shot and everything is fine tomorrow' deal.. vaccines are totally different.
 
#49 ·
killing the topical bacteria isn't the issue. the clostridium bacteria deep in the puncture would where it's not viable to put crushed garlic or honey is where you will have the problem.

And there is a big difference in an antibiotic and a vaccine, especially a toxoid vaccine that introduces an inefective toxin as a target for your bodies to make antibodies against.

it's not like the old days of 'it burns to pee and you go get a shot and everything is fine tomorrow' deal.. vaccines are totally different.
Nature's drug store has worked for mankind for thousands of years. And after all this time of proven effectiveness, man in his arrogance has decided that his brand of modern medicine is better. It might kill me, but I ain't buying it!
 
#54 ·
It would be bad around here is this happend. The liberals would starve to death waiting for the government to help them. We do have some food stocked up and there are a lot of pump wells around the area.

If it lasted over a month I would probably try and get out of this area. There isn't enough game around here to feed many people so that is not an option.
 
#57 ·
And that's why I don't think you'll be seeing to many of the modern drugs being used. And some of them have almost no shelf life at all. In a SHTF scenario folks will have to fend for themselves. There won't be any rabies shots to be had by anyone. And if Ebola should break out, where are you going to turn? It won't be pretty, but those that are best prepared, will do better, and even they might not make it.
 
#56 ·
Ever seen that show on discovery mashed and afraid? There's some people on there that might survive, buy there's quite a few there who wouldn't live past the first week, just because they have to do things the hard way.
 
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#62 ·
What is prepping?

Politically correct speak for those of us who are prepared to make it on our own, with out the help of the government.
 
#66 ·
And that is why I store meds. The life span of most meds is much longer than most ppl expect! Antibiotics, for example, from WWII have been known to still be potent in the 21th century. Of course, it varies greatly from med to med, but overall, antibiotics can be stored for years. At least that is, what I have been doing. I once got a quite nasty infection due to an injury and didn't want to see the doctor immediatly, since I had the meds at home. Took 2 year over the shelf life antibiotics for 7 days, infection was gone.
 
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