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