Preparations Update

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vicks vaporub
not just for colds and coughs. ever hear of the old wives tale of putting it on the bottom of your feet then put on socks at beditiem to stop coughs? it actually works, done it for years. and your feet end up minty fresh!

sinus meds - cold pills - cough syrup - generic nyquil -
 
Amish Heart said:
Love the Wartime Farm series and even have the book.
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It is certainly enlightening.
This morning I had to go to the dreaded "mart." I really don't like that place. Fresh produce was sparce and much of it not very nice looking. They had 2 bags of the bunny food I hadn't been able to get and 1 of the kind I already had so I got all 3. I mix 2 kinds for the bunny. Also got Hubby 10 jugs of grapefruit juice he likes. They usually only have 2-3 jugs when I go. Today they had 12 - I left 2.
 
I loved Wartime Farm and there are other similar video series on Youtube. One that I've watched a couple of times is The 1940s House. The family that took part really committed to it.


After the holidays, I slowed down on my prepping to get better organized and have a better idea of just what I have but it's time to get back to stocking up. This week pork is on sale so I have a couple of orders to pick up this afternoon. One store has pork butt roasts for 77 cents a pound. I already have some in my freezer but I'm getting two more. These I'll cook and divide up in small amounts to freeze. Another store has quarter loin pork chops on sale at $1.37 a pound. They come in the large family packs so I'll be dividing those up, too.

I've recently noticed that the cheaper saltine crackers are becoming scarce so have been keeping an eye out. Finally, this week I see the store brand saltines on sale at 99 cents a box so I'm getting six boxes of those. They're so handy to put peanut butter on or a slice of cheese.

The store brand mac and cheese is 4/$1. Those are so great for making quick cheap meals. (Make up one box, mix in a can of chili and top with cheese. Pop it into the oven until melted.) The Jiffy cornbread mixes are on sale 3/$1. I really like having the small boxes that make up fast with no waste.
 
Start to figure in a plan for $9.65 per gallon "Rationed" gasoline..........and not available.

And "THANK YOU" a million thanks, to the silly "sanctioning" idiots. With a special super thank you to Uncle Joe. Yes, the Great State of Alaska, is fixing to gift the residents roughly $4,000.00
Yes, The Great State of Alaska finds itself instantly swimming in oil wealth.
Anticipate the great depression migration of swarms of desperate humans, not unlike the 1930's (And where is John Steinback)

Suggested reading: The 15 Best John Steinbeck Books Everyone Should Read | Reedsy Discovery
(Yes, Most are a graphic truth of reality of depression era hell)
 
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Sourdough said:
Start to figure in a plan for $9.65 per gallon "Rationed" gasoline..........and not available.

And "THANK YOU" a million thanks, to the silly "sanctioning" idiots. With a special super thank you to Uncle Joe. Yes, the Great State of Alaska, is fixing to gift the residents roughly $4,000.00
Yes, The Great State of Alaska finds itself instantly swimming in oil wealth.
Anticipate the great depression migration of swarms of desperate humans, not unlike the 1930's (And where is John Steinback)

Suggested reading: The 15 Best John Steinbeck Books Everyone Should Read | Reedsy Discovery
(Yes, Most are a graphic truth of reality of depression era hell)
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When the first Permanent Fund Dividend came out people would get on the Alaska Ferry with a one way ticket to Ketchikan, which is on an island, and planned to hitchhike to Anchorage. They would ask the purser for a blanket and a pillow. The purser informed them that there was a $10 deposit. They said they couldn't pay the deposit. He informed them that it was a deposit and that they would get their money back when they returned the blanket and pillow. They didn't have ten dollars in their pocket. Their plans to pick up their $1,000 and live off of that until they got a job. The reality was that they wouldn't be eligible for a PFD for about a year and a half. This story played out time and time again.

The reality is that the cost of living in Alaska is higher than any PFD.
 
Caribou said:
When the first Permanent Fund Dividend came out people would get on the Alaska Ferry with a one way ticket to Ketchikan, which is on an island, and planned to hitchhike to Anchorage. They would ask the purser for a blanket and a pillow. The purser informed them that there was a $10 deposit. They said they couldn't pay the deposit. He informed them that it was a deposit and that they would get their money back when they returned the blanket and pillow. They didn't have ten dollars in their pocket. Their plans to pick up their $1,000 and live off of that until they got a job. The reality was that they wouldn't be eligible for a PFD for about a year and a half. This story played out time and time again.

The reality is that the cost of living in Alaska is higher than any PFD.
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Is that a once a year payment of monthly?
 
Sourdough said:
Start to figure in a plan for $9.65 per gallon "Rationed" gasoline..........and not available.
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Ugh I really hope it doesn't get to that. I have such a long commute right now, just not ready (although when would we ever be).
Bought 2 more bags of flour, the price was up $10/bag on amazon since I last bought in 2020. Also picked up more rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. More flats of canned food.
My pantry is overflowing. I need to find a climate controlled container to put on the property and start moving stuff up there. I think we are going to end up boondocking there; getting a large container to store water and then a portable septic to hook up to the trailer (so it's easier to dump). Shouldn't be too long until we get septic and well dug, it's entirely too muddy right now unfortunately.
 
DrJenner said:
Ugh I really hope it doesn't get to that. I have such a long commute right now, just not ready (although when would we ever be).
Bought 2 more bags of flour, the price was up $10/bag on amazon since I last bought in 2020. Also picked up more rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. More flats of canned food.
My pantry is overflowing. I need to find a climate controlled container to put on the property and start moving stuff up there. I think we are going to end up boondocking there; getting a large container to store water and then a portable septic to hook up to the trailer (so it's easier to dump). Shouldn't be too long until we get septic and well dug, it's entirely too muddy right now unfortunately.
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Hopefully not too much longer😉😃
 
Terri9630 said:
Is that a once a year payment of monthly?
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Once year........generally Sept. or Oct. This year they are talking about $2,500.00 PFD and a $1,350.00 fuel help gift. mid summer.
 
Cascadian said:
I just discovered small gamma lids. They fit 2 gallon buckets. Has anyone else seen these? We paid under $6 at a local grocery store. I only got one I need to get more.
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I don't have any 2g buckets but have used gamma seal lids for a couple decades. In fact got a shipment of 5 last month. Here's a yellow one. My buckets are all 5g & 6g. I just rigged up 2 new 6g pails with gammas. 12g of water weighs about 100lbs. I have to haul water from my porch up to the corral where I have the bull calf. Now I sit my full water buckets on a garden cart with gamma lids. No water spilled!.

The last 6 months I've been spending extra on supplies. Every time I pass a store with dog or livestock feed, rice, anything I can get in 50lb bags. I stop and spend extra cash. Yesterday in town I grabbed another 50lbs of dog food and 50lbs of rice.

My problem now is storage, where to put all these bulk items. My shop is full along with the house. I have some room in the pole barn but would have to build shelving.

Also harvested a basket of Usnea yesterday. Need to make tincture today.

rice asn.JPG


spr 22 usnea 2 a.JPG
 
We had been finding it difficult to find pasta, macaroni etc. There is a store 50 miles away that I drive past. I had never shopped there but co-workers recommended it. They have a lot of bulk items in inside down bins that you fill plastic bags with. They had plenty of noodles and the baby gamma lids and buckets. I think they will come in handy for frequent items.
 
I find good bulk starches - pasta, rice, flour, and spices and dried mushrooms at international grocers.

When the meat cases at the grocery store where stripped (except for the revolting vegan kibble) the international grocer still had meat.
Goat curry is delicious and compared to the inflated prices for red meat at the grocery store the goat meat they sold was extremely reasonable.
 
Tank-Girl said:
I find good bulk starches - pasta, rice, flour, and spices and dried mushrooms at international grocers.

When the meat cases at the grocery store where stripped (except for the revolting vegan kibble) the international grocer still had meat.
Goat curry is delicious and compared to the inflated prices for red meat at the grocery store the goat meat they sold was extremely reasonable.
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I was thinking about you today😊
 
Ran to the grocery store just now - normally I don't do "quick runs" but had to get something special for cleaning hubby's work clothes. And lo and behold, the meat section was loaded with whole chickens marked down on manager's special. So I loaded the back of the car with a bunch of birds.

Just seemed like a sign that I'm supposed to can a bunch of chicken. 😎
 
I had to go to town for an appointment last week so I stopped at about 5 different stores, mainly to check the clearance racks. I got some good deals...

plastic drawer set
work boots - 2 pair on clearance for hubs
mens shoes - 2 pair on clearance for hubs $15
cough syrup - clearance
blankets - $2.50 (Christmas gifts)
hand warmers - $1 for packs of 8-10 - we don't usually use these but they would be great for hunting, ice fishing, & skiing. I couldn't go wrong with the price so I loaded a bag up with them and may give them as Christmas gifts too.

I got an appointment to top off the propane pig so I don't have to worry about crazy price increases for a while.

I took some time today to go through some drawers and sort out some stuff. I organized a bunch of food and other stuff like paper products as well. I've been in 'stock' mode for the last few months, so it was time to get it out of the bags and on shelves. I also unloaded some totes and put things (like candles) on shelves so that it's easier to know where stuff is. The totes are a PIA unless you have all of one thing in there. I found a few goodies while I unloaded some of the totes like a nice set of knives for cleaning fish that we won at a banquet. We can use those now.

The stores seemed pretty well stocked. Although, I noticed WM had a huge hole in the pasta isle. We rarely eat pasta so I didn't much care. I wasn't in there long, so I'm not sure what else may have been gone. The canned isle seemed pretty well stocked and I even saw some Keystone cans there. I grabbed another container of peanut oil (which is probably more than we need) but we do like to have fish frys in the summer.

With gas prices what they are right now, it'll probably be a while before I get to town again.
 
This week I have been looking at my seeds feeling so comfortable and then I watched a bit of the Ice Age Farmer and I realized that I have a big hole, I have no grain seeds that are for planting, yes I have lots of grains stored but no seed for growing. So I went online and ordered some wheat, rye, oats, and a couple of other grain type grasses. My thinking is if things go south I want to have options for the long haul...

I have a little prepper type dark humor, but is is a true story:

Someone at work left a drawer full of Powerbars when they were put on maximum Telework in March of 2020, when they were allowed to go back into the office they discovered that a rodent had gotten into their desk and had eaten all the Powerbars.... It died.... Choose your preps wisely.
 
I'm sure most here have this all figured out. Water is the one area I've been really concerned about since moving off the mountain where we had not only our well but a river fed by the mountain. Here, we are in the valley and the water has nitrates like crazy even though we do still have a well and a river. I have considered the berkley filters but could never bring myself to spend that much for a "just in case" situation. I ran across this video and now have a system but at a much more affordable price. (The filters should arrive this week.)
 
LadyLocust said:
I'm sure most here have this all figured out. Water is the one area I've been really concerned about since moving off the mountain where we had not only our well but a river fed by the mountain. Here, we are in the valley and the water has nitrates like crazy even though we do still have a well and a river. I have considered the berkley filters but could never bring myself to spend that much for a "just in case" situation. I ran across this video and now have a system but at a much more affordable price. (The filters should arrive this week.)
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If you can get the six gallon buckets it is even better. The bottom lid should have a gasket to help prevent overflow. When the water flow becomes too slow you can clean the filter by scrubbing them with a green pad. Don't do this until you have to as you can only do the cleaning so many times before the filter is too thin to be safe. If your filters are silver permeated they will kill any bugs that might get through the filter.

Great video, thanks! I've done this and it works. I make mine with a single filter. For the two of us there is more than enough speed to keep up with our usage. If you wake up with 5 or 6 gallons ready to go, and you keep the top filled, you will need substantial usage to run you dry. You can always set your system up with one filter at first and then add in a second or third later. Keep the water above the filter to use the entire filter and extend the filter life.

These would be a great barter item. For barter you really only want to give up one filter at a time.







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Amish Heart said:
I thought you stored wheatberries, Urban. You could just plant those. Same with dry beans. Same with lots of grains.
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I wanted to have things that I know would grow, I didn't buy much just a few pounds of each of what I would consider staples. About $100 total.

I have decided that I want about 10 rolls of plastic in storage, if we start seeing flashes I'll cover the yard and then when the smoke clears call it a field.
 
Today we got our shipment of canned flour, 2 cases and the wife was happy.

This week I turned on my rain water collection system and today we got about 1/4" of rain, my barrel sight gauge says I collected about 100 gallons of water for the garden.

I have been working on updating my solar array, I had been aiming at 1000 watts, but I don't want to overload my charge controllers, so I think I will go with 800 watts instead. I have everything ready and the 800 watts will have the same footprint as my 400 watt array.

After a full winter with an indoor growing station I took time to reflect. I have come to the conclusion that fewer plants in small containers with staggered plantings is more efficient from a space perspective. I am looking at old shopping lists and seeing what vegetables get ordered on a regular basis and am planning my future growing based on the frequency of the things ordered. I think it will make my growing station much more valuable to my family.
 
shoes

was looking at my shoes, slippers, sandals and decided its a good idea to get another pair of each favorite. my favorite slippers werent bad, got them on sale 1.5 yr ago at walmart for 9.99 but they were now 12.99 on sale, i grabbed 2 cause these are the best and most comfortable rugged infoor-outdoor slippers ive ever had..

shoes-sneakers--already had backup so thats good.

sandals. i love crocs and have the basic open toe sandal, got mine maybe 1.5-2 yrs ago for runder $20 on sale. today same sandal is over $50. found a knock off for $25 but wont be shipped til middle of april. im gonna keep looking.

check your shoes, got to have good comfortable ones, might be the last ones we can get for a long while the way things are looking..

listening to some economy show and they said shipping-trans costs for food and supplies is going up triple digits. thats gonna add to the hurt. i dont think we make shoes, socks or underwear in the US anymore.
 
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