Practical Prepping Protocol even if Poor

We are very spoiled as a society, and I can understand not being able to conceive of anything being different - we will always have our luxuries, our warmth, our technology - I think people who have been poor will be far better equipped to get through the mess we will have to contend with, because poverty teaches one to manage.

Whispering leaves, there are a lot of words and URLs not allowed on GLP, and likely you were trying to post one. Next time, please don't give up -contact me and we will work out which word it is.

Regarding land ownership, remember that some people do not have a cent in savings because it takes whatever income they have just to try to get through a month at a time, and no room for a payment in addition to rent.

Just saw this. Who can resist that picture? My last post made it, because it's short. I'm going to keep them that way just in case.

You mentioned that you'd like to do as my friend Joe did? You can do it. You only need someone to help you, if you have a physical problem. Clearly you don't have a mental one, so you already have an advantage most people today do not. Whatever you would do 'in a heartbeat' is what you ought to be doing because you'd be very good at it.

That really is a sweet picture - love it.

Length of post has nothing to do with it. You were trying to post a link when you were not allowed to post, right? Please tell me what it linked to, being careful NOT to post the link - and see if the name will post. Then we can figure out how you could do it.

I cannot recall what your friend Joe did - so sorry. Please refresh my memory.

So happy you are back!

I wish GLP would give us a list of any forbidden words. URLs are easier because there usually is a notice if you try to post one that's not allowed; then you just remove that and your post goes through.

Lots of Americans don't have a cent in savings! But renting, no matter how efficient an alternative it may be in the short term, is throwing money down the toilet, as preppers as a rule, already know. We can also explore more than one buyer going in together but you have to be careful who those people are and you have to know about the people running the county you're interested in. I'll go into that more in a later post.

Whenever we're in a large grocery store, we see plenty of people 'just getting by' but what's most interesting to me, as one of those myself, is what's in their carts. I knew there'd be bad results when schools stopped teaching 'Home Economics' in the 1970s. People spend way too much for most of what they buy because they didn't learn how to shop at home or school but as long as they're alive, their native intelligence will find a way if they try.

Cooking the basics does seem almost a lost art, and the basics are the biggest bang for the buck. Such a shame. And then what do they do when the basics is all they have, if they are fortunate enough to have even those. Worrisome. I hope they are Christians and pray over their food situation.

I totally agree with you that rent money is simply flushed. Makes me sick, but it's how it is for many of us.

A lot of us, including me, would not be interested in a go-together purchase, but for those for whom it would work, great idea!

I'm sure I fit most people's definition of a misanthropist but even I think that most people are quite a bit smarter and more resourceful than they think they are. We are all taught our perception of ourselves from birth by people who have their own ideas and expectations of us, for good or ill, including and especially our families, and they are always wrong. Americans, even now, are some of the most resourceful people in the world; there's good reason that 'American ingenuity' is a term understood by the whole world for many generations.

Do you suppose 'Christians' are the only people who might 'pray' over their food situation or do you believe that prayer won't work for them unless they are? lol! I can agree with the idea, though, minus the religious requirement.:) All you really need to tap into your potential is something, anything, that makes you shut up your internal dialogue that's telling you all kinds of lies about yourself and your reality, and that's just as true with some kind of creed as without one. I recommend Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now' - suitable for all faiths or backgrounds, to help with that.

Do I take you to mean here that you have no immediate family that you'd want to do anything with? Blood's still 'thicker than water,' when times are hard; even people who don't like each other much will stick together in a case of doom.

I knew there'd be bad results when schools stopped teaching 'Home Economics' in the 1970s.

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WOW are you correct WL!

I had a home ec class and I was shocked at how little other students knew.

One that stands out in my memory was a test question about straining jam thru a cloth because you fear a tiny chard of glass might have gotten into it.

I was the ONLY one who got it right by answering FALSE.

You don't strain it...you throw it away!!!

NEVER never never risk even a slight possibility of glass in the food!

And I was the only one in the class who knew that.

Even if the sugar idea was for fuel, allow me to present an idea for oil (lubricant). I once read how farmers would take the oil drained from a motor and put it in a pan. They would then elevate another pan above the full one and dip a length of rope between the two.

Capillary action would draw the oil from the lower pan into the upper pan, leaving behind any solid contaminants.

I haven't proven whether this works though I've wanted to do it forever. I don't know if the type of rope matters, or whether it removes anything other than solids but it is something to consider.

One thing I find amusing...if you watch a TV show like bonanza or gun smoke or little house...The life style they are living is what they called "every day life.

We would call it "SHTF" or "survivalism".

They had no electricity or running water & they did just fine...but they knew how!

Capillary action would draw the oil from the lower pan into the upper pan, leaving behind any solid contaminants.

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I'll bet that works...but today, there's one problem with it.

Today, motor oil is two-thirds lubricating additives...the oil itself is not good enough for todays high tech engines...you need the additives & they burn off with use.

Way back then that wasn't the case.

Otherwise known as the "get up and get ready for winter" approach, repeat as long as you want to live.

And I'm not sure what all gets filtered out. Surely it is a product that is reduced from the original so if you expect it to run a high performance engine then you will be disappointed but to get the rototiller or tractor to go another season...

Otherwise known as the "get up and get ready for winter" approach, repeat as long as you want to live.

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Funny you should say that...it snowed all friggan day today.

I snow blew & shoveled TWICE. Roof raked. Broomed off the truck TWICE, warmed it up & took it for a spin (I was spinning my wheels even in 4 wheel drive).

Now it's gonna get to 10 below zero tonight.

People are so isolated from the threats of winter these days. A major storm blows through and everyone stocks up on milk and eggs. Back in the day you stocked up in the fall for however long winter tended to last in your neck of the woods. No running to the stores. Just read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Yes, that very same one.

There wasn't a Walmart to run to in the face of a winter storm, no last minute dash to avoid some minor inconvenience. You were either ready or you died.

God speed to you, may the snow be fluffy and light to shovel!

may the snow be fluffy and light to shovel!

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It was! It was 10 degrees today which is cold enough to keep it light & powder.

Thanks :)

But after I was done, the snowplow came by...I'll have to deal with the mouth of the driveway in the morning.

For about a year now I've really been getting the message to dig an underground shelter.

That feeling went away for a while...but it seems to be comming back with a vengence!

It's like the idea is hounding me.

Oh I hate this!

Last Edited by Mental Case on 02/07/2019 11:22 PM

Recommended reading.
[link to westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com (secure)]

Do you have the space and opportunity? Wish you had started when first prompted. Remember you need an innocent place to put the removed soil - start raised bed gardening. Dig up a gardening plot.

Prisoners have done it by making bags of fabric, tied inside their pant legs, with a string to a "trap door" on the bottom of each bag. Just walk about, while pulling the string slowly.

They do that to you every time! What a shame!

Check out the link I just posted as "recommended reading" to get an idea of what to prepare for.

Nuclear war is well down on my list of concerns. However, just reading the titles of threads today should make everyone be in a big hurry to complete whatever they must do.

Others are feeling it just as I am - we are nearly there - so near it is now day by day.

Talked with someone the other day who believes they have two years, or maybe six, as their "crisis" is only who is president. Scary business!

That totally avoids all the things that are REALLY happening, and happening right now!

If you don't want to consider any of the immediate possibilities, and by "you" I mean anyone, sit down and have a little time alone with yourself to think about no stores are open, not one. NO gas station. Water stops running in the sinks. Power has been out twelve hours and no end in site. There you sit - thinking you had a month or six months or two years, and you have not prepared for RIGHT NOW. The power is gone, stores are gone, shopping is gone, gas is gone, and what you have in your home or bugout location is ALL YOU WILL HAVE. That's really how it is going to happen - nothing whatever to do with who is elected when, or any other political scenario.

Now you face it - you are stuck with what you have. How long will you have water to drink? How long will you eat? How long will you protect yourself? Do you have enough gas to drive to wherever you planned to go? Do you have the tools you need for whatever you might need to do? What about ways not to use the toilet in your place - are you prepared for that? What about heating water and cooking - is that something you were going to buy later? How are your shoes? Great, and comfortable and warm and weather proof? Or were you going to buy those next month?

I can go on, but I hope you see the point. It is NOT six months from now, a year or two from now. I need it to be, as well, because I cannot afford all that I need, especially food supplies, without stretching the purchases over a considerable period. I have never seen the urgency so great, the need so immediate, so like many others, I haven't taken time to do all I should have been doing all along. Hope you all are in better position and can acquire RIGHT NOW everything you believe you will need.

Please, people, face the need today. The time length we want is not possible - face what is happening today, and how many people are saying it's today. It certainly isn't just me!

Last Edited by Pooka on 02/08/2019 12:11 AM

I'd read something the other day which, though ever so simple, made such good sense I wish I'd thought of it! Dry skin will crack. Cracks let in germs. UhOh!

[link to www.backdoorsurvival.com (secure)]

This is home=made skin "salve" using things we have at home except possibly for tinctures. Sounds like very useful stuff that I might make! Price is far better than anything we buy, ladies, for moisturizing our faces.

Last Edited by Pooka on 02/08/2019 01:47 AM

I'm curious why I am the only one posting tonight. Everyone else bored with the subject? Out prepping hard and fast? Moving to cabin or wherever?

Hope nobody else is sick!

Just busy with life Pooka, kids had games last night. Meetings this morning, etc etc. Oh and I got your PM but cannot reply until I upgrade again ;)

I'm still here and have been doing more reading than posting *grin* Constantly in a state of learning. Definitely not bored with this subject cause there is a plethora of information to read on prepping, survival and general well being for when one is in the dark.
If the scenario goes into darkness I have spoke with family to do this on the first day and that is to take as long as needed to rewire ones thinking. In other words everyone will need to take the silent time and meditate. It will help with the panic issue immensely.
Some won't feel the effects right away but it will creep up come a few days down the road.But this silent time will be a good time to really look for your inner peace to be able to get through the days ahead. Is this easy? Absolutely not.

I read the links you posted.
Very concerning issues indeed.

The one that stands out the most is the invasion from southern border. Knowing our own gov is behind this makes me seethe. but it makes me want to stock up on ammo even more.
My thought on this is.. how will all these peeps house and feed themselves now cause of the gov shutdown and the free dole cannot be given out at this time. So how are these people to survive on our land? California going to take care of them? Then there is the disease factor. Typhus is rearing it's ugly head. Not a good scene at all.

Iron dome is concerning but if it's for protection then I am all for it. The question there is who are we protecting ourselves from?

Military travelling with generators?.. I believe that is awesome cause at least they are thinking ahead or as one poster put it they are replacing the ones that got damaged in a fire?

As a side note I thought of 2 things I had not seen added before or if so is worth repeating.
Make sure you have fire extinguishers on hand.
And you had mentioned earlier about how would we signal? Learn Morse code would be the universal way. there is also a way to signal with a mirror using the sun. Would have to look more into that one.
Sign language would be another.

Preparing to die well, should be part of every human's life, be they rich or poor, or be they in peace or war. You will face what you did, what you bought what you sold who you lied to, the life review. Although you might now panic or get scared, karma give zero fucks. Use this time to radically and rightly alter your entire belief system, and discard 90% of the bullshit you got told. Be ready to be flexible, useful, be ready to learn new shit and to live, knowing death is every hour away, with hop for the future.

I don't know if this is what you mean, but I bought 3 of those Retevis handheld HAM radios from AMAZON, I keep them stored in mini faraday cages. They are pre-programmed to some popular prepper channels, then we have scrambled family channels. My son has one at college, my in-laws have one and I have one. I think they were $30each

None of us are licensed (put that on the list) but the rules are "in an emergency, no license is needed"

FYI...

I will look into those. Thank you~

Any way to communicate will be a great thing for we don't know what to expect when/if this all goes south.

I was thinking if one didn't have these devices. Not a lot of people think of that and will have to use more primitive ways. But then again the people that should be paying attention to all this thinking "that will never happen" will not be taking heed anyway and we become somewhat of an echo chamber.

still here

This is a very good idea. She uses more beeswax than I do but that just keeps it from melting into a liquid when it gets too warm so I suppose you can alter it to your own climate. I have an alternative method, nothing fancy, just time-consuming, that I do at home. I started making them on a woodstove, simmering herbs into oil with a combination of some I bought and some I picked in my own area.

When I got grid power, I started making salves in a small crockpot that I don't use for anything else. It works fine! I put in about 4 cups of oil - measurement is flexible depending upon what herbs I want to cover and what size pot I have, of course. I like coconut, olive, jojoba (helps it penetrate) and avocado oils and in a pinch I've even used lard. Any combo of those to make that amount, enough so you can steep dried herbs in them at least a day and cover the herbs with the oil.

One I always make is for healing cuts, burns, rashes or any annoying skin condition and generally have this stuff in the house. This is safe enough for cats and dogs (even if they lick it off sometimes) and it turned out to be a pretty good skin cream too:
Softeners and healers: calendula, chamomile, marshmallow, comfrey,(a little goes a long way)rose petals.
Disinfectants: sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, golden seal (a small amount of powdered root, in 1/4 measure to other herbs)
Any kind of mint is fine and it has anti-infammatory properties. I use the dried or fresh plant, never the oil.

Most essential oils are IMHO, way too strong for a salve except in the tiniest applications and can be absolutely toxic to cats and dogs and that's why they're not added in this salve. Lavender is especially toxic to them so I don't use that in any form with a salve I might be using for them too. Since I must be frugal, one salve for everybody is what I most often make.

I keep silk or muslin or both for straining the herbs out - it takes forever but just cover it with a cloth to protect the virtues and go away till it's done. You must squeeze with all your might here to get the oil out when it's drained all it will. After I dump those herbs off the cloth, I put the cloth aside to soak in vinegar and water for a while to loosen the last of the oiled herbs. Then I strain and bottle that soaking solution and keep it for my own quick skin toner! Waste not want not.

For all that strained oil, I might add about 1oz beeswax, which is sold in 1oz pellets (they look just like little hockey pucks) You have to rewarm the oil, a little, to melt the wax. Last, as it's cooling, I'll add in some drops of vitamin E, which helps preserve it, and if I have it, some myrrh gum or benzoin, which do the same thing and also disinfect.

Finally, the place to use essential oil - even so, much diluted with a carrier - is as a concentrated rub, used as you would a strong liniment. A chest rub for congestion and coughs, a sore muscle rub, tiny bits on the temples for headaches. You rub it until it's completely soaked into the skin. Think: Tiger Balm, by Prince of Peace. No worries about your dog trying to lick that off because they run from the smell of it.:)