Preparations Update

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Tank-Girl said:
So blessedly happy.

I rang a bulk feed mill in a town not too far from me and had a wonderful conversation with him about buying
grains etc from him.
He's emailing me a price list for his products in 20kg bags and bulk 1 ton bulk bags.
Freight is going to cost me $55 for 6 to 25 20kg bags.
If I buy bulk bags I am going to have to organize a backhoe or a forklift to get it off the truck because it doesn't have a crane.
Hiring that sort of machine will really take the shine any cost savings from buying it in bulk and then there's the storage to keep it out of the weather and away from vermin of the 4 legged variety.
He's got hard wheat which is one grade down from prime for $16 for 20 kgs which just incredible.
Hulled oat groats, field and popping corn, mung beans.......

So excited.
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When I first started working on my food storage, I bought some animal grade wheat and corn. I asked the people at the feed store what the difference was. They told me that it was not as clean as prime grain. When I put it into 5 gallon buckets, I could see that. That was before I figured out about other places that carry prime grade, such as the LDS storehouse. I figured it was better than nothing and that it could be cleaned more if it became essential.
 
phideaux said:
We been using quite a lot of our great northern white beans in the last few months.

Time to replenish our storage stock.
We vac seal them in quart canning jars.

We got a Mennonite store close by that sells everything in bulk.

Jim
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I have tried to buy white beans every time I go to Dollar Tree. For a long time I mostly bought black beans because they cook more quickly. I like them all, but find that I eat more white beans than black, red, or other types of beans.
 
Recently we topped up on 2 recoil starters for our large and small chainsaws. The ones for the smaller chainsaw were $57.10 cheaper than I could get here in Australia and they are made in China anyway.

Not so long ago we got 2 x log lifters with cant hooks and post pullers at a really cheap price and we are already using them and they are brilliant and really well made and sturdy, got to love elder farmers who construct things like they are supposed to be built so they last. We also purchased 3 more 5 shelf shelving units for the food storage room and I purchased 3 more bags of dried cat food to bring us to a years supply of that.

Also stocked up on 8 extra tins of long life tinned vegetables and meat. We recently cut around 2.5 cubic metres of firewood and have it curing for next year and are pleased the lean-to firewood shed is starting to look full again.

Currently we are saving up for 6 more 5 shelf shelving units for the food storage room so we can stock more in there.
 
I try to stop in at Dollar Tree on Sundays (they sell the Sunday paper for a buck) and get things like their dry beans. A lot of empty shelves yesterday, and they had 5 bags of red beans and no others. So I bought them all. Stocking up on instant potatoes lately. Putting them in mylar. I don't like the potato prices lately, 50 cents a lb is a lot. I keep 50 lb bags of whole corn, whole wheat, and whole oats that I use for fodder and soaked grain for the animals, usually have 100 lbs of each on hand. I can't see much difference between the looks of that and the human grade I buy. And I have a couple of mills, so I'd use it in a pinch.
 
I got my grain and seed price lists and now I can plan.

Some prices are awesome and some are just plain scary.

I just got word that sugar prices are set to rise so I'll be making sure I get another 30 to 40 kgs at least.

I need more regular mouth canning lids and unstabilized powdered pool shocker chlorine.
They sell in small 500 grm and 2 kg bags which will keep longer than the 10 kg pails because once you open it and the air gets to it it starts to deteriorate.
I don’t know if it would destroy or react to a mylar or a food saver bag or if the vacuum would cause it to pack down and set like a rock in the way sugar does.
 
Made first hike of the season into bol with puppy last weekend. First time using new propane heater and it worked very well. Purchased the 3rd edition Survival Medicine Handbook by Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy. Now I have better guidelines of antibiotic protocols. Recently I've purchase several varieties of knee braces for use during training and recovery. A lot of miles and weights on these knees over my life. Used on-air radio auction to pick up coupons for sporting goods and various dining options at 50% off. Got 3 new pairs of the old military skis for use with any style boots, particularly bunny boots from a friend who had them fall into his lap.:D Bought some actual winter tires for my fat bike at a big discount. We tend to spend a lot when we go to Costco but it's food so I always count that as a prep also.:rolleyes:
 
- Got our 6 final 5 shelf metal storage units for the food storage room so now we should have ample room to store more in there.
- Also picked up another chainsaw file as the other one we had was too big for the smaller chainsaw.
- Rerouted all the rainwater from the gutters to go to the overflow to flow into the back water tank and the smaller patio water now goes into the collapsible rainwater tank that will serve as our summer pool as being on water restrictions we can't fill it up with town water. This will also be backup water for the gardens as well.
- Cut about another 1.5 cubic metres of firewood and will bring that back home and let it dry a bit before splitting it with our hydraulic log splitter.
- Got a good special on Christmas ham and cut it up and filled the freezer with 4 kg of lovely smoked ham.
- Topped up another years worth of iron tablets for me and allergy medication as well all on fantastic sales.
 
WVDragonlady said:
My hubby just gave me an early stocking stuffer lol

A tactical Pen

https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Military-Industry-Defensive-Ballpoint/dp/B0776NV27V/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3J1VGQRNPF33U&dchild=1&keywords=tacpen&qid=1575818831&sprefix=tgtacpen,aps,1145&sr=8-4
Click to expand...

Very cool. I have a pile of similar tactical pens branded as a S&W product. I keep one along with a Rite in the Rain notebook in every go bag.

Pen.jpg
 
Big day tomorrow and I have my shops and route picked out to get across it as efficiently as possible.

Paying rent and then getting online and buying a large rocket stove and a pack of 10 mc4 connectors.
Other things on the list -
A jerry can of fuel.
20 kg bag of grain.
30 kgs of sugar.
2 kg pail of pool shocker.
A stove top whistling kettle.
And then groceries.
The main thing I need is powdered milk and the sugar but I get my sugar from a different store than my other groceries.

I may live to regret not buying my yearly phone and internet subscription this pension but I want my rocket stove and
mc4 connectors delivered before the 31st of Dec.
According to those who know the 31st Dec is when we find out if the repo market has enough liquidity to fund the FX swaps.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/i...repo-market-legend-predicts-market-crash-days
 
Amish Heart said:
Kroger was clearing out canning lids today in their clearance section. I bought 11 boxes of wide mouth lids for $1.25 each, and 22 boxes of regular sized lids for $1 a box.. Bought them out.
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You bought them only because I did not get there first! :)
 
Well got across it and got everything I needed and within budget.
Good to see a result after so much pain and effort.

Can't wait to get my rocket stove and the mc4 connectors so I can finally build my solar system.
The pool shocker is for the 2 000 ltr pillow tank that I'll be installing under the house for water storage.
I need a down spout diverter and a 15 mtr length of agricultural flat hose so I can collect the rain water off my roof.
But what I have at the moment I can work with if it all went pear shaped.
 
Amish Heart said:
Kroger was clearing out canning lids today in their clearance section. I bought 11 boxes of wide mouth lids for $1.25 each, and 22 boxes of regular sized lids for $1 a box.. Bought them out.
Click to expand...

That's awesome! I'd have bought them all too.
 
*HUGE SIGH*

Well, wouldn't you know it. The gas bottle for my stove just finished and now I have to wait until next pension to get
it filled. Just as well I have a full spare in the storage room.
I refuse to keep cash reserves in the bank anymore with the system as it is.
At least I'll go through the 31st with the peace of mind knowing that I'll have both bottles full and have enough lpg gas to can the contents of my freezer

My new kettle works a treat and it's a relief not to have to use a saucepan for my morning cups of tea.
I need to get toast worked out because the camp toaster I brought was a disaster.
 
Take two graham crackers (look up graham cracker), put a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow in between them. Melt it. Can be down in a microwave if you don't have a fire going where you can roast the marshmallow.
We'll be using the electric oven inside, the portable electric oven inside, and the propane oven outside tomorrow for cookie baking.
How about getting a little toaster oven, Tank? You can make toast in it and dishes for one, and the electricity is minimal.
 
Amish Heart said:
Take two graham crackers (look up graham cracker), put a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow in between them. Melt it. Can be down in a microwave if you don't have a fire going where you can roast the marshmallow.
We'll be using the electric oven inside, the portable electric oven inside, and the propane oven outside tomorrow for cookie baking.
How about getting a little toaster oven, Tank? You can make toast in it and dishes for one, and the electricity is minimal.
Click to expand...

Oh thank you AH.
I looked up a picture and they sound and look delicious. I'll have to try them.

I'm moving away from getting any more electric appliances unless it's a phone or a laptop hence the reason why I don’t buy an electric toaster.
I saw a robust fold out camp toaster that can be put over a camp fire or camp stove on a 4×4 camping store online.
It has to be either cast iron or stainless steel because galvanized metal and aluminum gives off some pretty noxious fumes when it's heated.
I have used a cast iron pan and laid the bread flat but the bread dries out before it browns and I end up with a crispy crouton that shatters
when I try to butter it.
Who thought toast would be an issue.
 
You could use a cast iron pie iron. I have a number of them, good for grilled cheese and small pies (fruit or savory) and I'm sure they'll toast. My cousin (who is Amish and doesn't have electricity) makes toast with a metal piece on top of her propane stove range.
At that point, you could do it in the oven, too, quickly on high broil.
 
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