Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

I saw an interesting video a guy built his own small windmill that turned an alternator that charged 2 batteries

 

You are absolutely correct. If SHTF in one way or another and you have to do a bunch of physical work having all the preps in the world wont help if you keel over from a heart attack. Some stuff I can’t help like being diabetic but that doesn’t mean I can’t try. I’m still doing pretty physical work every day so that helps.

 

Lots of good ideas. From a long-term perspective of being prepared and surviving major changes in society I believe the following are necessary.

1. Get guns and lots of ammo.

2. Get out of the city and suburbs where your resources are controlled and eventually fought after.

3. Get land Where you can grow and hunt for food. Have your own water source. Land with trees that can be used for heat source and to cook.

 

I like it, and am trying to figure it all out now including a solar power unit for the pump so my Wife can water her plants

 

I completely agree and share this outlook. This has been my philosophy for a while. There are many others though that have to stay in an urban environment either due to financial constraints or work. Hopefully some of us who have done this for a while can share ideas with them as well.

 

My favorite is the preppers on TV, overweight, heavy smokers, caffeine addiction, etc. Not going to make it long without creature comforts.

Here's a good guide for learning food prep:
https://nchfp.uga.edu/#gsc.tab=0

Sounds like this was mentioned in terms of having a tight-knit community, but I think people skills, especially being able to de-escalate tense situations are underrated skills. People talk about guns and ammo a lot, and staying away from others, but people are everywhere, and you can't shoot your way out of every situation. (Most likely ends up with you dead with a bullet in your back).

 

To me, having a reliable group of people is the only way this will work. The problem is finding them and finding ones close enough. If they’re 20 miles away chances are slim they can get to you or you to them in time to help depending on the situation. This isn’t always an easy topic to discuss with people especially without giving away information on your own circumstances

 

I think the Amish are the only ones truly prepared for whatever could come our way. To Casper's points, I just don't think there's any way to make it work without a tight-knit community who are all on the same page - not long-term at least. I don't think the majority could fathom living off the land truly. Most kids (and adults) these days wouldn't make it 3 days without a fastfood or delivery meal. So while food/water are necessary, it'll only take you so many days without a community around to contribute/barter resources.

 

We try to also stock some extra for bartering. It’s not always easy as we are still trying to build our own supplies but I can say stuff from the dollar store is a cheap but efficient way to do this plus most things come in smaller quantities. Hell even like travel oral care kits are good to barter with.
The biggest quandary for me, well one of them, is what to do about neighbors who don’t prepare

 

@Vabunch i just started this thread last night you may enjoy it also idk what your thinking is on the topic

 

I think thats why its such an important thing to have a plan BEFORE things turn bad. Some people may choose to leave the suburbs completely and head towards the woods/somewhere remote. Others may have plans to stay in their area/suburbs to ride it out. I think unprepared neighbors/community would be the majority, which potentially leads to a dangerous position for the minority who have prepped/have supplies. I'm of the opinion that no amount of guns/ammo stockpile is going to be enough for an 'end of the world' type disaster - I just don't see many people shooting everybody in their community besides their own family to try and survive. Its just not realistic. On the opposite hand, guns and ammo are a major bartering tool if stuff really does get bad.

I guess all I can really say is don't wait til the world is ending to figure out how to talk to your neighbors lol.

 

Honestly, this is a really incredible talking point, and idk if I've ever really heard anybody talk about how to properly deal with this, other than "stockpile guns/shoot everybody."

What would people include in a "starter kit" to get your unprepared neighbor on-board last minute when things have already gone south? Veggie seeds so they can start a garden, basic rainwater collection instructions using extremely common items, etc?

I feel that helping your neighbor/growing a community that can trade and thrive is more realistic than killing everyone..

 

You have to survive. Guns and ammo can/may play a role. I dont have as much as some, but definitely have those categories filled. You can only carry/haul so much and even with vast stores of munitions it wont matter how much you have if its just you vs many. Large stores could help creat a fighting force but honestly would come in very valuable as a trade tool.

 

Bartering, especially with ammo, reminded me of a book, where 22lr rounds basically became currency. It was either One Second After or Alas, Babylon.

For fun, everyone should read those two and The Road for a thought exercise on how people anticipate this situation can go. (Mild spoiler: it ranges from kind of bad but manageable, to really fucking bad).

One Second After is kind of realistic for a short term scenario, I think.

Since these are fiction, I wonder what real world scenarios we can learn from. Probably earthquakes and other natural disasters, where government aid is slow to pick up.

 

I will not barter guns and ammo. All I can see it doing is showing people you have an excess which may drive them to trying to take it

 

One section nd after is pretty good need to finish it

 

Im nowhere prepared as i want to be but im prepared enough to get me where I need to be

 

Well said sir. Also seems like a good situation to be in. I have similar if I can make the trek before things go completely downhill. It will be a bit of a hike for me and the family, but that is part of our overall plan of action.

 

Well now I’m just a bit jealous that doesn’t happen often I’d love to have more land and with accessible water