Why We Have to Prep

We need to prep because for a few generations we have had life pretty darn good, and forgot the how to's of real living. All of the dirty work or any hard work has been removed from our presence and we are soft.

For most of us, it was our great grandparents generation that understood how to live. They worked very hard to make life better for their children. This is where the problem began. Now there is nothing wrong with working from dawn to dusk to make a dollar, as there is nothing wrong with wishing to make life better for our children.

What is wrong is that this goal of removing the hardships actually has a downside, as when times get tough only despair, grief and emotional stress happen. We have no clue how to live without. Now you know that this is the truth. When the power goes out what happens in your home? When someone loses a job what happens?(unemployment) When you have only flour, sugar, Crisco and a few spices what can you make(you should be able to make a sweet treat, a bread, with water a white gravy to name a few).

Do you understand what I am saying?

We have to prep because we have lost skills.

Once again, we have to prep because we lost skills.

I remember thinking I was amazing because I made "homemade bread" from frozen bread dough. Don't take this wrong, there is nothing wrong with frozen bread dough(well not in the big picture). What is wrong is that we have no idea how items are made, what they are made of, and most importantly how we can live without it or make it ourselves. That is the problem.

Do you rush to the doctor when someone in your home gets the sniffles? Do you take your car to have the oil changed because you don't even know how to? Then it is time to prep in earnest. Basic doctoring has been lost thanks to the big drug companies. They count on us acting like the doctors are GENIUSES and therefore we are too dangable ignorant to treat simple ailments. For colds and flu- newsflash stay home, rest, and drink lots of fluids.

Prepare to live like our great grandparents did, as they survived the multiple depressions of the late 1800's and the Great Depression of the early twentieth century. I know that if our nation continues on this slope to economic ruin that many Americans will be at a loss. Remember this, the Great Depression was made worse by a government not the people. This time the people and the government will stretch things out for much longer as ignorance takes time to overcome, and while people learn the skills they need, there will be much failure.
(c) Double Nickel Farm
Jennifer

Prepping 101

If you are new to prepping, sometimes it is overwhelming to know where to start. The first thing to remember is this: prepping is a mindset, it prepares you to handle a crises. Once you mentally start preparing for what if's and what could happen, you then begin accumulating "prep items."

The three main prep items to cover are food, clothing, shelter. Then you have medications, toiletries, and safety items such as weapons. Why consider items such as weapons? Well in times of natural disaster-sadly looting happens, and you cannot expect the government or local police to help initially as they will be busy with critical issues such as infrastructure and life saving measures. There are other important reasons to maintain weapons but I will not address that issue in this post.

I recommend a three month food and water supply(to start). To create a list of what you need, I suggest you make a three month menu(of foods that you eat) and stock up on those items first. Do not forget foods that require no cooking- such as canned or dried fruit, crackers, peanut butter-in case you have no electricity. Make sure you have a hand can opener instead of an electric can opener. The food you buy comes with a date on the item, and I recommend then adding a second date in permanent marker of when you purchased the food.

By the way, do you have charcoal and matches for your grill(even if it is a propane grill as you can disconnect the propane when it runs out and use charcoal(or wood-as we use mesquite exclusively in our former propane grill).

Another item to consider is lighting-such as flashlights, candles and oil lamps. I was surprised to discover the solar lamps one puts outside will be perfect in the house at night.

This is an introductory to prepping. Here are some items I have in my prep for long term storage:
1. 250 lbs rice
2. 250 lbs beans(pinto, lentils, navy, kidney, red beans, lima beans)
3. 25 lbs of salt
4. 250 lbs of flour
5. 75 lbs of pasta
6. tomato sauce-great for base of many things-200 cans
7. oats-75 lbs
8. honey 30lbs
9. white sugar 200 lbs
10. cane sugar 50 lbs
11. molasses 5 jars
12. powdered milk-3- 5 gallon buckets(in addition to milking goats)

This is not complete but it gives you an idea of what I have. I began with the LDS food storage calculator(here) and catered the list to my family's needs. For example, we do not really like flavored gelatin(jello) so I do not really have much jello in storage. I do have some, as I mix it with cake mixes to make swirl cake sometimes, but not five pounds worth.

Please remember that if you have women or babies that you need to have items to take care of menstrual cycles and diapering. This is so important that in a time of crises that you have the needed items so no undue stress is added to an already stressful situation.

If you have any questions and wish to take it to an email level please email me at penofjen(at) yahoo(dot) com...and put in the subject New Mexico prep question.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Jennifer
(c)Double Nickel Farm

Challenge Update

In my previous post I offered a challenge to preppers to see if their preps were enough. The challenge was in a way to see if you could survive on less and live off what you have. So far on the challenge all is going well for my family and I. The kids have had two activities(yesterday, and this afternoon) that they have had to go to, but aside from that all is great.

We have been using up any perishables from the fridge and are enjoying simple activities to keep us content. We are readers and we do not have cable or satellite TV so we have no loss on that...

When a crises occurs what will you do? Will you be able to handle the children without the television? Will they be able to function without the television? Will you be able to use the food storage you have on hand or will you be scrambling to find a cookbook to assist you in making bread from wheat(that you must grind first).

This challenge may not have given any feedback, but I promise you this is one of the things as a prepper you need to do BEFORE a crises arises.

Do you know where the flashlights are? The matches? The batteries? The meds? The needs of a baby? Can you grab items quickly if you need to leave the house? Do you have a prep kit in the car? Do you have emergency cash in the house, the car, and the wallet/or purse? Do you have a planned destination for all family members if something happens- earthquake, tornado, hurricane, wildfire? Have you prepped enough on making several things from scratch that you could do so in a crises? Can you make water potable?

Now back to the challenge! Do you see why it is important to not only prepare, but to experience the prepping skills before the crises? We are the most advanced nation technologically on the planet and because we are, we are without some skills that many worldwide have. We need to get real, get back to basics and learn to apply the prepping we have.

Jennifer
(c) Double Nickel Farm

Trial Run: Challenge

Today is the day for a trial run of your prepping. This challenge is serious and you should take this serious as it will be a precursor for what is coming.

From the moment you read this post for seven days do not go to the store. Do not buy anything. Aside from work and business(or school for your kids) do not go anywhere.

What first? Well bring out the ration chart...or for this, you will be using only foods on hands right now. So what meals will you eat? By the way, use up as much of the foods in your fridge as you can...as this is something in a crisis that really happens- loss of foods that are in the fridge and freezer. For this drill you can check the internet for 10 minutes a day, what sites will you check? Do you see how this challenge will work?

Now the biggie, ration your utilities for the week. Eliminate most of the items that are plugged into the walls. Use only 50 % of your lights. By 7 pm no lights. Can you do this? Are you ready? Can you and your family deal with this *fake* scenario?

Here is what is happening at my house and the meals we have eaten so far, as I am on day two(although I did get on chat last night).

Monday:
~Breakfast: arroz con leche {using milk in fridge, rice from pantry, and spices} home made bread into toast.
~Lunch: Bean enchiladas, dried apricots
~Snack Ice cream...use up perishables during this week.
~Dinner: Rice and chicken casserole{ rice, cream of chicken soup, canned peas, 1/2 pound of shredded chicken} canned peaches

Tuesday:
~Breakfast: arroz con leche leftovers.
~Lunch: Ramen noodles and pb and honey sandwiches(homemade bread)
~Dinner: Spaghetti and crushed meatballs{4 cans of tomato sauce, 1 can of tomato paste, spices, 1/2 pound of ground beef, 4 slices dried bread, 2 eggs, spices} frozen corn, cucumber slices with lemon juice.
~Snack/dessert Pineapple upside down cake{1 can pineapple slices, flour, butter, brown sugar, spices}

For us, as we have a well, we are drinking water. The moment a crises occurs plan water at the top of the list. Fill every container if you have none stored or have no well...

~things to pass the time- play a board game, read or create skits(my kids love to do this)
IF YOU REMOVE THE TELEVISION NOW- when a crises occurs you will not feel like life is over. TV is an unwelcome guest in all of our homes. TURN IT OFF. Cherish the time with your family now.

Go to bed earlier and let your body really rest.

The time to see if you can handle a crisis of any sort is not during the crisis. Prepare now. Remember grade school and the fire drills? This week I challenge you to have a prepper drill with your family. The way things seems to be heading sooner, rather than later these drills may be extremely valuable.
Jennifer
(c)Double Nickel Farm

Now What?

Now what? Well we sit and wait as the circus begins in the Senate.

While you wait, I recommend investing some of your money into food products.

I am buying a hand powered grain mill for my first prep in reality(as I am well prepared foodwise)
Next I am spending all my surplus money on more prep items.
Not just foods, in case you are wondering.

Enough is enough, and now that we understand that the government is not of the people, for the people,

WILL YOU WAKE UP????

We're Headed for a World of Inflation

Click here to read the article.

My advice is and will always be the same, Now is the time to prepare. Now is the time to have a food supply on hand to hold you over when you are paid the same wage and groceries cost 50% more than they do now.

If you are new to the prepping, I would suggest buys that get you the most for you dollar, such as dried legumes, and rice. Canned goods next, and dried foods thereafter. Do not minimize comfort foods, but be wise and first put up three months* worth of foods first.

Do not forget that our own president has told us that bad times are coming? Did he say this exactly? No, but he told us that in order to get out of debt we need to spend more money. That is all one needs to know- as this has placed us on the fast path to an economic meltdown.

*I should add that I do not believe that you should stop your food storage once you reach three months worth of storage. I just think that before you buy snacks etc, one should have three months of real food first. Then buy comfort foods, candles and icing etc. I recommend having at least 1 years worth of food storage and seeds to enable you to grow your own foods if necessary.


Buy foods you eat and use your storage in your food rotation.
Jennifer

Some Thoughts

If today life changed as you know it what could you do?
Could you live for any amount of time off of what is in your home/property?
Do you have the means such as seeds and the know how to grow your own foods?
Do you have the skills to treat medical conditions of a various assortment?
Do you have the skills to create your clothing
Can you heat your home without electricity?
Can you protect your loved ones and your home?

These are just thoughts that have been swirling around in my head.

With my woodstove I create ash which is a key ingredient in making soap. I also use the ash to put in my compost pile(when it is cool) which adds nutrients to the soil.

I recommend at least six months of food storage which will get you through to the next growing season, but to be honest, shoot for at least one years worth of food, that you use and rotate out. From these foods you will have labels from canned goods that can be saved as fire starters, and the cans can be used for many things. One thing is to make a votive holder for a candle, as lighting will be important but it will be as important to maintain safety and not burn your home. Tin cans can have the top and bottom cut off and can be laid flat to be used as shingles for a coop, doghouse, or other animal structure. These will add up. You can also make tin can stilts from the cans, as well as teach children telephone. Prepping is all about preparing and using all that you have in every measure.

Items that make it into your trash can should be assessed before it gets tossed. You see the phrase waste not want not, really comes into play.

I am wondering if a bad growing season happens, are you prepared? Do you have any other means of food?

For me, living on the farm provides a surplus of foods from meats, to eggs, to even milk and making cheese. We also have native plants here that can provide foods. Unlike areas that are green, living in the desert requires more planning and acquiring of skills. I studied the local Indian tribes and what they ate to help me make plans for edible foods from the wild.

This post may seem to be a bit rambling but you get the idea, we must prepare for all scenarios, by preparing ourselves. Playing what if's now will prepare you if and when a crises arises.

Money Saving Prepper Tip

For those who are preppers and have chickens I have a simple low cost tip that we use on the farm. We use paper shred for the nests.

Simple yet serves its purpose quite well. The shred is free from a local business and it composts quite well.

Another extremely important thing to note about the shred is that it has no mites on it. If you use straw or hay bedding you may have to purchase dusting powder for your flock. Since we switched to shred we have noted almost no mites! Amazingly simple, but prepping should not be a chore but a lifestyle towards a goal of living on less but with far more skills.

Jennifer

Comments?

I disagree with this poster.
I suggest that a prepper may have lived life like this before prepping.
But once you begin prepping, life and attitude changes.

As a prepper this poster should say:
When you are in deep trouble
Say nothing, and pull deep from within your prepping
As you are prepared for EVERYTHING
ANYTHING
and a little bit of nothing.

How I Beat Spam on my Farm Blog

I had terrible problems with Spam on my farm blog, until I did a few things.
I removed all anonymous comments.
I required typing in the word verification code.

I have not had any more spam in the past three weeks.

Life is grand again!