Be discrete.

[Skyowl]

Skyowl's Wife used the LDS Preparedness Manual as a starting place and has gotten us to a years worth of storage. We started slow and built up to this point.

The manual is found here:

http://www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedn...eparedness.pdf

At the bottom of the screen is the link to save the document.

[hford]

Echo-thanks for the idea. Thats the best example of how to start food storage I've gotten. I like the idea of splitting it into "bits and pieces" by extending the amount in storage. Doesn't seem as daunting that way. Thanks for the encouragement Maric. I love to read-it's the best resource for me! We have a small garden, and are just starting a compost pile. (we took goat panels and make a small square and are rolling with that for now.) We're in the country and pretty common sense folks anyway. We love to go "plinking" with the .22 and target practice with other guns, and I'm a really decent shot. We'll get there.....little at a time. I have a recipe I'm going to try for homemade laundry detergent and see how that goes. Cut one more expensive thing out of my list! Thanks all!! It is always, always appreciated here!

[Echo2]

Ive read every post so far, the stubborn part of me wants to argue and disagree with the generalizations of people. while the other side of me agrees whole heartedly. I guess sometime tonight Ill end up kicking my own butt till its settled.

honestly though, if we dont form some sort of group in our communities we really need to prepare to bug out. with out help, it will leave us wide open to the predatory groups and individuals.

Id use the recent spate of natural disasters as an example of why people should prep. and leave out anything considered extreme like economic collapse or what have you. most people dont want to hear it.

not that they wouldnt believe it, but they dont want to believe it. most dont really want to consider that all they grew up with, all they know and treasure might just go away. anyway Im on the verge of rambling now so Ill stop.

have a great day.

Ramble on....I'm here to say....groups are the way to go....with out a doubt.

[Echo2]

Yes, to the books, and there are many that you can pick up a few things and learn from! patriots is my favorite... I like you, do not have a lot of money, and small kids.. I save and store what I can. The biggest, for me, if LEARNING, and USING what I am LEARNING!! :) Im starting to use more coupons, and find freebies.. storing right now, what we can use.. Lots of water storage... The Mr is the firearms man, I suggest if you dont have a few, get some, and learn to shoot!!
Gardening does not cost much, learning to sew, baking, cooking on a fire, fishing, hunting.. these are all inexpensive ways to learn new skills.. So much overload, I know.. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed, and remember, its a whole new way of life, training ourselves takes time... start composting, that costs nothing... were in a good place here, to learn so much. being self sufficient is really... priceless!!! Good luck! Im glad to see your posts!!

big yup....I like the new look...:)

[Echo2]

First off....I'm not an expert int the field of long term storage (LTS)....but I've done my home work on the matter and developed a few opinions that have served me well....but don't take my word for anything....I could be a psyco living in moms basement.....as long as we both understand that.....away we go....

Beans...Bullets....and Band Aids....In that order.....

Beans....aka...food...Most folks have a bit of food in there house....but not much. If you want to begin your LTS....the take a look at your consumption for a week....or better...a month. What does your family eat? If you primarily eat out of a box...or pre-prepared foods...you may get a bit discouraged...as those types of food do not lend themselves to LTS. If you typically cook food....your in luck.

Start taking note of everything you buy to eat....and work your way up to having a week on hand....once you do this....work toward a month. You will develop a habit that will modify the way you make a grocery list....an example...I'm down to 10lbs of sugar....better get a 25lb bag next trip.

Once you have reached a month, you need to examine what would I need to have on hand to maintain this for another 2 months...This will lead you into what type of bulk foods you will use and actually eat. Then begins the trips to Sams, Costco, BJs....etc. This is also the time to start hitting the coupons to bulk up on supplies.

Look at what type of refrigerated stuffs you have to have to cook with....what are it's shelf stable counterparts....example...powdered milk...canned butter. When you see the price per weight....you are going to freak out.....just realize you have insurance for a lot of stuff.....why not against hunger.

Keep up this pattern until the desired length of time cover is established....then go for a couple more months....:). You have to basically modify your life...so don't try to do it all at one time. Not only will you drive yourself nuts....but you'll buy a bunch of stuff you will never use.

I have a group...and we....as a group...have made many bulk purchases. To find the best bargains....you need to shop....Emer. Essent. has good products...IMO...yours may vary. Shelf Reliance.....Mountain House....Providence Pantry...all have good products...and most offer their products in smaller sizes to sample. Get them on the phone...tell them what you are looking for...you may be able to work out a deal with them directly....it never hurts to ask.

Sealing food in your own buckets....I could explain it....but search youtube....a lot of good info there....I will say it is generally cheaper.

Something to think about....lets say you eat 1 pound of food a day (which isn't much)....that's 365lbs a year....family of four....1400lbs +.....most folks that have LTS....plan to bug-in.

Just realize that once you hit the one month mark....you enter a exclusive club....less than 1% of the populace....better know how to protect it.

After 9 missed meals....desperation sets in in most folks...this is when they are extremely dangerous....after 30 days of fasting....they become generally lethargic and begin to lose muscle tone....but still dangerous....just slower....after that they will begin to....well....disappear....:(

Good luck...Echo2

[maric]

Yes, to the books, and there are many that you can pick up a few things and learn from! patriots is my favorite... I like you, do not have a lot of money, and small kids.. I save and store what I can. The biggest, for me, if LEARNING, and USING what I am LEARNING!! :) Im starting to use more coupons, and find freebies.. storing right now, what we can use.. Lots of water storage... The Mr is the firearms man, I suggest if you dont have a few, get some, and learn to shoot!!
Gardening does not cost much, learning to sew, baking, cooking on a fire, fishing, hunting.. these are all inexpensive ways to learn new skills.. So much overload, I know.. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed, and remember, its a whole new way of life, training ourselves takes time... start composting, that costs nothing... were in a good place here, to learn so much. being self sufficient is really... priceless!!! Good luck! Im glad to see your posts!!

[TennOutdoors]

Ive read every post so far, the stubborn part of me wants to argue and disagree with the generalizations of people. while the other side of me agrees whole heartedly. I guess sometime tonight Ill end up kicking my own butt till its settled.

honestly though, if we dont form some sort of group in our communities we really need to prepare to bug out. with out help, it will leave us wide open to the predatory groups and individuals.

Id use the recent spate of natural disasters as an example of why people should prep. and leave out anything considered extreme like economic collapse or what have you. most people dont want to hear it.

not that they wouldnt believe it, but they dont want to believe it. most dont really want to consider that all they grew up with, all they know and treasure might just go away. anyway Im on the verge of rambling now so Ill stop.

have a great day.

[Echo2]

Oh wow to the whole thread.
First, regarding crossbow dude....*forehead slap* really!? I am so embarassed for him, and you.
Second, whoever said seeing this would motivate people is so right. hit the nail on the head. We are just getting started, and oh my goodness. We are nowhere ready. They upside of where i live-I have no neighbors within sight really. One kind of in front, but we live on a farm and are way back off the road, so any and every delivery is no big deal. We can shoot off cannons in the middle of august and nobody blinks. Nobody has the guts to drive up to my house because, inexplicably, someone started a rumor about it being haunted years ago and scared the scrap out of the local population. We have done nothing to change that rumor. The pizza guy refuses to come down the sidewalk. We have to meet him at the end, lol.

Okay, so the question(s) is-What are these companies that you order from? Emergency Essentials? And Mountain House? What exactly do you order from there in bulk (if you are willing to share-if not I understand) Someone mentioned wheat. I was wondering about that. I assume you have a good hand grinder. How do you seal buckets? I would guess that you put a mix of things sealed in bags so you don't end up with 50 pounds of rice in case you have to run. How long does it last? Do you just date it and switch it out regularly? I wish there was someone around here that could show me some techniques! ANd I wish we had a BOL. Our house is okay-but there are still too many people around for my comfort. It has it's perks, but too many downfalls for my liking.
We have sort of vaugely mentioned prepping to some of my very close friends, and they seemed fairly warm to the idea. They didn't think I'd lost it in any case. But, they have no idea to the extent that we want to prep, nad we just aren't going to share that right now. They might change their mind on our state of mind then, lol. Our biggest obstacle is money. If you had to pick where to start if you were us and pretty tight on cash, where would you start? Just trying to see if your thoughts lined up with mine. It's hard being a solo prepper. Props to all of you who are super prepared who are flying solo. Sorry this is long and a little ramble-y. I feel really strong pressure to get prepped-not because of here, but just this feeling. I can't think that I randomly found this site for no reason, or that my husband just happened to get a book called Patriots the same day for nothing. Any thoughts will help. Thanks

I'll write a responce to this...this eve....and yes....read Patriots....then One second After....that will kick you into overdrive.

[hford]

Oh wow to the whole thread.
First, regarding crossbow dude....*forehead slap* really!? I am so embarassed for him, and you.
Second, whoever said seeing this would motivate people is so right. hit the nail on the head. We are just getting started, and oh my goodness. We are nowhere ready. They upside of where i live-I have no neighbors within sight really. One kind of in front, but we live on a farm and are way back off the road, so any and every delivery is no big deal. We can shoot off cannons in the middle of august and nobody blinks. Nobody has the guts to drive up to my house because, inexplicably, someone started a rumor about it being haunted years ago and scared the scrap out of the local population. We have done nothing to change that rumor. The pizza guy refuses to come down the sidewalk. We have to meet him at the end, lol.

Okay, so the question(s) is-What are these companies that you order from? Emergency Essentials? And Mountain House? What exactly do you order from there in bulk (if you are willing to share-if not I understand) Someone mentioned wheat. I was wondering about that. I assume you have a good hand grinder. How do you seal buckets? I would guess that you put a mix of things sealed in bags so you don't end up with 50 pounds of rice in case you have to run. How long does it last? Do you just date it and switch it out regularly? I wish there was someone around here that could show me some techniques! ANd I wish we had a BOL. Our house is okay-but there are still too many people around for my comfort. It has it's perks, but too many downfalls for my liking.
We have sort of vaugely mentioned prepping to some of my very close friends, and they seemed fairly warm to the idea. They didn't think I'd lost it in any case. But, they have no idea to the extent that we want to prep, nad we just aren't going to share that right now. They might change their mind on our state of mind then, lol. Our biggest obstacle is money. If you had to pick where to start if you were us and pretty tight on cash, where would you start? Just trying to see if your thoughts lined up with mine. It's hard being a solo prepper. Props to all of you who are super prepared who are flying solo. Sorry this is long and a little ramble-y. I feel really strong pressure to get prepped-not because of here, but just this feeling. I can't think that I randomly found this site for no reason, or that my husband just happened to get a book called Patriots the same day for nothing. Any thoughts will help. Thanks

[collector]

As far as receiving deliveries I don't think there is any real way to truly be discrete, even if you get em brown boxed or cover em with a blanket someone will probably say to themselves hey they sure get a lot of non descript deliveries hmmm.... and as far as conversing about prepping I sometimes try to probe to find if anyone else has similiar views, have only found one that could become a potential prepper so far, I never discuss specifics at first but just talk about being prepared and how life can be unpredictable and dangerous, the majority just don't get it at all, and would become a liability if they were to become interested in it. It is amazing how willing and quickly people will spill their guts about pretty much everything, even things that could get them in real trouble.

[Snow Walker]

This is why I don't worry about "making someone's list", I know they are looking for certain things and I highly doubt most people who practice survival skills/preparing are a priority for them. If it were my store I would have told him to never come back, you don't get any more ignorant then that, well I guess you can, but you get my point.

I will do whatever it takes to protect my Family, an innocent person or myself, but the last thing I think about is taking another life. I have seen enough death in my lifetime and and although it was justified a person still has to live with that and it's not a good feeling.

In fact, there have been times that I have and still do lose my interest in hunting and trapping. I guess you could say people do change and I can accept that.

People like this give everyone a bad name...hunters, people like us, sportsmen and the human race in general.

Thanks for sharing!

[CountryGuy]

I'm pretty new to all this, well at least finally moving forward with getting supplies. been working on the knowledge I guess since I was a kid. Glad to know this can be an issue. To bad they wouldn't even take some spray paint to the logos. Maybe more people need to start sending in complaints to their web site. They're like any Corporation, take every chance they can to advertise but I agree, knowing their products and their clientele you would think they'd under stand the need to be low key.

On the OPSEC issue, I was going to mention that for those larger deliveries, get one or 2 of those blue moving blankets like they sell at U-Haul. If an order comes by LTL or pallet, cover it with a blanket or wrap the boxes once on the hand truck. Might be able to bluff some neighbors into thinking your just getting some furniture.

[Echo2]

I was gonna ask but figured it was nuna-mu-business... the photos/location looked industrial. I was hoping it wasn't your home. I suppose there is a trade off in this respect. A good deal traded for a little OPSEC compromise. At any rate, your photos will inspire those who see them here. It's easy to be an internet prepper... read, read, read, plan, plan, plan. Seeing others actually walking the walk (in photos)... it motivates individuals to 'get to it.' I suppose I should contribute in that respect as well.

RA

Those supplies ...and most of what shows up at my shop....don't goto my house....they goto the BOL...or to one of the other projects I have going on (if you read my writeup in "more people are waking up" you'll see one of my other projects)

There is someone at my shop during buisness hours all the time....the BOL is hit or miss....besides...OPSEC.

And...If I were single....I could easilly live at my shop....:)

[Recently_Awoken]

Those pallets look exactly like my last wheat order - flagrant buckets from EE. SkyOwl knew it was coming and came home to meet the UPS lady and had her offload straight into the garage. Still could have been seen.

My initial order from Mountain House (a year ago, before the Government rush), the truck showed up out front. By plan, I was home. I all but begged the driver to pull around back. No dice... 18 wheeler!. I pursueded the driver to break the palletes open in the truck. In exchange I'd dolly the boxes in, via three trips. IIRC, it took about 5 minutes (and a bucket of sweat). The whole time, 'MOUNTAIN HOUSE FOODS' emblazened on each box, in front of my house. Was the middle of the morning. But again, a trade off... Bulk, financially ammicable, deal traded for a little OPSEC compromise. In reality, those possibly watching... I sincerely doubt they had a clue what it was or why it came. I have readied 'excuses' should questions arise.

Since that time, I go to the local LDS cannery for bulk purchases of staple goods. Everyone there is either religiously motivated to prep, or they themselves are preppers. They don't ask, I don't ask, everybody smiles, and the loads come home, in my vehicle, and are unloaded a time of my choosing (ie. night). Your local LDS cannery is a tremendous resource. If you haven't, learn where yours is today. And note... they are not immune from current economic tremors. Nearly EVERYTHING has increased in price. Some, dramatically. To delay is foolish.

RA

[Recently_Awoken]

No worries....this is from prior ordering.

I get everything sent ot my shop now....and commonly get the ..."if the SHTF....I'm coming to your house"....I say"fine...I wont be there."

this came as shown....after asking to tape the markings....



and this....

I was gonna ask but figured it was nuna-mu-business... the photos/location looked industrial. I was hoping it wasn't your home. I suppose there is a trade off in this respect. A good deal traded for a little OPSEC compromise. At any rate, your photos will inspire those who see them here. It's easy to be an internet prepper... read, read, read, plan, plan, plan. Seeing others actually walking the walk (in photos)... it motivates individuals to 'get to it.' I suppose I should contribute in that respect as well.

RA