Here’s the deal. It’s the weekend (or, like me, you are on vacation in the middle of the ocean) and your tooth starts to hurt. The pain has become so bad you can not eat, can not concentrate and whoa! you can not even enjoy yourself and have fun. What’s a gal or guy to do? . . . Let me let you in on a secret: you can temporarily mitigate the pain and suffering with with oil of clove, an inexpensive and readily available essential oil. Here is what you do.
In the effort to prepare for a disaster or an emergency, it is easy to overlook the need to maintain an adequate cache of common household tools. For some, having household tools means a hammer and a screwdriver of two. but really, is that going to get you by if there is no handyman available to call? . . . It is time to summon the inner Tim-the-tool-man.
We have now passed the half way point and are entering month seven of preparedness. By now you should be feeling secure in the knowledge that you are ready to beat the odds should a natural disaster or crisis appear in your area . . . . .
The gear and tools we are going to purchase this month are lifesaving and useful in many types of situations. Add to that an essential skill that everyone should learn and we have a two-punch whammy for seeing you through disasters, accidents, health care woes and more.
There are times when I just noodle for awhile. What I mean by that is that a get a notion in my head and rather than do a knee jerk response, I send the notion in to the far reaches of my brain where it may or may not surface again. Such is the case with the National Geographic show, Doomsday Preppers.
Last year, when the show premiered, I was excited, thinking that in spite of the title, preppers and those who embrace the family preparedness lifestyle could finally find some mainstream acceptance. After all, many have thought of us as “nut jobs” and most certainly, many of my big city friends refer to “Gaye’s little survival thing”.
But after that first season, I was disillusioned with the entire premise of the show. The participants were indeed portrayed as extremists and for the most part, a bit off. It was not that what they were doing was so bizarre – well maybe some of it was a little off the wall – but that each family portrayed in the show appeared to be laser focused on some future apocalypse to the exclusion of living a joyful life in the present.
The months seem to be flying by. And as each month passes, I feel a sense of relief that that except for a short burst of extreme winter weather, my household has not had to dig into our emergency supplies for sustenance. On the other hand, some unexpected personal emergencies have come up and with them, a renewed focus on being prepared not only for the big events in life but also the smaller events that can turn your world upside down. More about that on the Sunday Potpourri.
What are we doing in month five of 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time? In Getting Prepared Month 5 we are focusing on cleaning and personal sanitizing supplies and on taking steps to establish a neighborhood community of like-minded folks that are interesting in learning about preparedness.
This is going to be an easy month so let’s get started.
The cold days of winter are upon us here in the Pacific Northwest and whereas we have not seen any snow yet, the temperature is frigid, especially if your factor in the wind chill. Outdoor activities are limited to walks with the dog and not much else. Preparedness wise, this reminds us that we need to insure that we have adequate jackets, blankets and warm socks put away in our emergency storage container.
But wait. I am getting ahead of myself as I present Month 4 of 12 from 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time.
Month 4 Supplies & Gear:
A minimum of a 7 day supply of critical prescription medicines
$100 (or more) in Small Bills
Pet Supplies
Infant Supplies
Extra Storage Containers
Something often overlooked when putting together emergency supplies is an adequate supply of critical prescription medications. The reason this is often overlooked (or shall I say a victim of procrastination) is that collecting extra meds in darn tough because most insurance policies only allow a thirty day supply to begin with.
I have a lot of ideas for getting around this – ideas that I use myself. Here are two.
The holidays are upon us but alas, the task of successfully preparing our homes and families for an emergency is ongoing and does not end just because the calendar indicates a special day is coming up. Today, surrounded by the warmth and cheer of the December holiday season, I present Month 3 of 12 from 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time.
Let’s start with the supplies and gear.
Month 3 Supplies & Gear:
Canned fruits – 3 cans per person
Any foods for special dietary needs (enough for 3 days)
A large plastic tub or bin for storage of food and other emergency supplies.
By now you should have a good supply of basic foods put away including protein items such as canned meats as well as veggies. This month we add fruits as well. Why? Well for one thing, fruits add additional nutrients, variety and interest to your meals. But perhaps equally important, fruits add a touch of sweetness to daily fare. You may not think this is important when you are in survival mode, the sweetness provided by canned fruits can kick start sluggish and depressed appetites and bring a smile to the face of weary family members, especially children.
In addition, fruits add fiber – yes even canned fruits. It is true that in many cases, it is the fruit’s skin that contains most of its fiber content. And, since many fruits are peeled before they are canned, the fiber content may not be as great as fresh fruit. On the other hand, using peaches as an example, two canned peach halves contain 1.4 grams of fiber versus 2.3 grams for a whole peach. Not a bad tradeoff considering fresh fruit will be hard to come by in an emergency.
A couple of months ago I presented a calendar for family preparedness. In 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time, I laid out month by month tasks and was able to breakdown the overwhelming chore of preparing for an emergency in manageable and affordable chunks. Today, I explore Month #2 in greater detail.
But first, let me step back and remind you of one of the most easily justifiable reasons why you should prepared: unpredictable weather. Storms. tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and other wonky weather patterns can disrupt you, your home and your life in a heartbeat.
You don’t have to be a conspiracy theorist, a political dissenter or even a dissatisfied and disillusioned citizen to know that the forces of mother nature will – at one time or another – require you to tuck in and rely on your own resources to get by. If you are lucky, you will only need to get by for a few days but alas, the aftermath of some weather systems may require you to fend for yourself for a week or longer.
And so, in this month by month preparedness series, review your existing preparations and make sure these basics are covered. And if you are just beginning to prep, breathe a sigh of relief. The tasks in any one month will not be too difficult nor too expensive and, at the end of twelve months, you and your family will be prepared.
Are you ready to get started with Month #2 preps?
Last month I laid out a calendar of prepping, 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time. Today, I explore Month #1 in greater detail. But before getting started, I want to go back in time and have a chat about what I like to call the Survival Mindset.
The Survival Mindset is a frame of mind whereby daily life is focused on the pursuit of of independence and self-reliance. This focus is done in a non-obtrusive way to the determent of no one and the betterment of everyone. It is a lifestyle and a commitment to preparedness and to courage. To optimism and to family values. Ultimately, it is the will to live and to survive with the knowledge that you have done the very best you can to protect yourself and your family from danger and the woes that come from living in complicated and uncertain times.
What I have just described is the Backdoor Survival and SurvivalWoman mindset. And while I would like to think that it is the very best description out there, I am not arrogant enough (well, maybe just a little) to think that what works for me will work for everyone. But – and you know how I like to do this – whether you are an experienced prepper or a newbie that is just beginning to get your toes wet, you need to think about your own personal Survival Mindset and move to a survival place that meets your own needs.
Nuff’ said. I don’t want to lecture and surely, you are here to learn about Month #1.
And if so, what do we do about it?
For many of us, prepping has been our mission and our passion for one year, two years, or perhaps even longer. It started with storing some extra water. Next was food and first aid supplies. Ultimately we set up defense systems and evacuation routes to insure our safety in the event of a disaster, be it a natural, man-made or even a politically motivated apocalypse.
We have read the books, watched the DVDs, compiled resource manuals, and purchased gear. And still we are compelled to do more. So I ask, is being prepared an addiction, an obsession, or a chore? Can we call it quits if we had to? Do we know when enough is enough? Or are we hoarding? And what is the difference between prepping and hoarding?
These are tough questions which I will not even try to answer since the context of each may differ for different people. I will, however, offer up some definitions so that you can come up with your own answers and your own conclusions.
Addiction: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.
Obsession: a compulsive or persistent preoccupation, idea, or feeling.
Chore: a routine or minor duty or task.
Hoarding: a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation or future use.
My answers? Habit forming. Check. Compulsive and persistent? Check. Routine task? Check. A hidden accumulation that is carefully guarded? A definite check. Oh boy – four for four.
Why store wheat? That has always been a question rolling around in my head. After all, I have never eaten raw wheat and to the best of my knowledge, wheat had to be milled, ground and otherwise processed before it could be come usable.
On the other hand, my education in all things preparedness has taught me that wheat – or more specifically wheat berries – is one of the cornerstones to serious long term food storage. Oh boy. What’s a gal to do?
How to Live on Wheat
A couple of weeks ago I contacted John Hill, the author of “How to Live on Wheat” and asked him if he would be willing to provide me with a review copy of the latest version of his book. (At the time I did not realize that he was almost a neighbor here in Washington State.) What a guy! I had a book in hand a few days later and I was off to the races. Yesterday I sat out on the porch and read his book cover to cover – an easy read – and I now get it.
Being a night owl, I watch ABCs Nightline following our local news at 11:30PM. Imagine my surprise (and disgust) when I saw that the Bernie Madoff family was pitching about $100 bucks worth of advice and a set of emergency contact numbers for $750. And if you are a big spender, for an additional $250 you get a go-bag.
According to the Black Umbrella web site, here is a description of the $750 kit:
Basic Family Preparedness
Up to 4 go cards
A family reunification plan
A family communication plan
Prepackaged go bags (priced separately)
So what is in that “Go Bag” priced separately at $250? Eye goggles, a PVC raincoat, batteries, a first aid kit, a radio, four aluminum, personalized, emergency contact cards, and a giant black Sharpie marker. There’s more. If you go to the Black Umbrella web site you will see that all of these so-called custom go bag emergency supplies are off the shelf items sold through Amazon.
Say what????
This week I took a break for my hands-on effort to get myself ready for anything and everything that may happen in this world. With ten weeks of plans and projects behind me, I simply had too many preparedness projects that were started but not quite complete. Time to get cracking, S.W.
For those of you joining me on this one week at a time missive, I want to remind you that we are all very human. So don’t be hard on yourself if you started something but did not quite finish. After all, one of the reasons I write this blog is to share and commiserate our profound humanness.
Anyway, getting back on track, last night I cheated. Instead of reading Cormac McCarthy’s book, The Road , I watched the movie. I wrote about the book a couple of weeks ago when it was recommended to me by a fellow cruise passenger. But time was of the essence; I simply wanted to learn the message of The Road now.
Well, let me tell you something. It is dark. It is depressing. And it is a must see on many levels. So what is The Road about?
From the ash-covered, post-apocalyptic remains of Appalachia, a Father and Son take to the road in search of a better life. Hope is waning, the Father’s health is failing, and the journey is impeded by nomadic bands of cannibals. The movie is an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, set in a fictional near future in which the world has been virtually destroyed although we are not quite sure what caused the destruction.
The information in this article, Baking Bread and Why You Should Do It, has been updated and incorporated into an all-new, enhanced article. Simple Comforts: How and Why You Should…