Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

I think I understand the nature of your question, and hunger will hone peoples senses - but let me ask a counter question: how often do you smell what your neighbors are cooking now? Yes, When the grill gets fired up and the meat is tossed on, I can smell it. Cooking indoors whenever possible would be the best solution - keeping in mind that we presumably no longer have the convenience of an electric range so you gotta be careful about combustion byproducts. Solar and an induction cooktop are a pretty efficient alternative.

So many of these scenarios are dependent on unknown variables - what has already happened, what is anticipated to happen in the near future and so on. Are these people that are looking for food contributing to the benefit of the group in another way? The ant and the grasshopper fable certainly applies, but someone has to cook, and clean the dishes, and tend the garden, and keep watch, and and and...

 

There are ways to do underground refrigeration. You dig. I have no experience but this was done long ago and there are survivalists that do this type of thing. Drying the meat would be another way to preserve.

 

That would old be ideal to me yes

 

This also assumes you're in a climate that allows for this - not all do (or at least not to the same degree). I was considering some sort of root cellar setup for us as we are terribly limited on storage space and would like to store things we grow (like onions and potatoes). A little research showed me that my area is just too warm for it to work all that well. Minor improvement over just storing in a cool/dry/dark place above ground but nothing like what you get with a root cellar in other areas that will maintain temps in the 35-45deg range.

 

If I kill a deer in that scenario I will can it over a gas stove

 

That would be my plant to cook in garage if possible. At some point may have to resolve myself to cooking outdoors over coals but cross that bridge when I get there.
As far as feeding others? There’s no right or wrong, to me it’s an individual decision.

 

This is what I wanted. Pretty much a think tank “war gaming” different scenarios. You never know when a different perspective will open your eyes to different possibilities.
Of course talking about different tools and stuff and how they can be used helps a lot to

 

Just eat out of the can. Who's trying for a Michelin star when society collapses???

I work in the field a lot. I've eaten unheated can goods right out the can many times.

 

One of the reasons we can a good bit

 

I listened to an interview with Jonathan Hollerman the other day and picked up a couple of his books "Survival Theory" and "Survival Theory II" and there is a lot to be learned in those books.

 

I’ve heard about them but never looked through one. Are they more a read and learn or set aside as a resource guide

 

I think they are more of read and learn books (I have not finished getting through them yet). I have found that Mr. Hollerman destroys a lot of common beliefs concerning life after a major event. For example, in his work with analyzing the preparedness of military bases, he found that they were not hardened against EMP, only had a day of so of fuel for backup generators, very limited food stores, etc. I believe he thinks that many service members will simply leave and go to their families rather than stick around and "help" with restoring order.

I am going to do a phone consultation with him in the near future (he also does a lot of consulting on site consulting) so I can pick his brain.

 

From what I understand we are supposed to have national food storage places as we are supposed to have fuel for the millitary hopefully that could be mobilized to take care of troops

 

All I know is I may not be as prepared as I'd like to be for any given situation, but I'm fully prepared to not be expectant of any sort of governmental relief. I know you were moreso referring to military members being cared for, but I think the same train of thought still applies to those guys and gals.

 

If any of you are looking for an optic and have an astigmatism I would suggest checking out the Swampfox “Blade” and “Raider” both are 1x and available with green illumination I think you can get the Blade with Amber also both offer red. I’m impressed with both but the Raider has almost unlimited eye relief the only thing I e found is further out the bullet rise compensator doesn’t work well.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/raider-1x20-micro-prism

 

I have a couple of camping stoves and several 20lb propane canisters on hand. Could stretch that out for quite a while if I had too!

 

Need to get one of the refill valves. You can charge up 1lb bottles from bigger bottle

 

For folks with an astigmatism your best bet would be an etched reticle..these are good choices as well.
https://www.primaryarms.com/rifle-scopes/brand/primary-arms/focal-plane/prism-scope

 

I've been looking at this one:
https://flameking.com/product/refillable-1-2/

 

I converted my generator to propane 10 years ago. I buy an extra 100lb tank every few years and stick it in the shed. I don't have to screw with gasoline cans, fuel stabilizer, or waiting in line every time there's a hurricane, plus I can hook the grill up to them if I really need to. Propane also keeps the generator carburetor impeccably clean.