What did you do today to prep...

[ChEng]

Yesterday, I downloaded the Survivor Library mentioned by SelcSilverhand (http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=52187.msg601680#msg601680). Be careful about downloading this, I mirrored the site with wget (wget --mirror --convert-links --adjust-extension --page-requisites --no-parent http://www.survivorlibrary.com/library-download into an empty subdirectory) and it is 153 Gigabytes - it took several hours.

I wasn't too impressed, there is a lot of stuff that is just too old to be useful for rebuilding civilization, or even just individuals. That said, there is still a bunch of stuff that looks promising - like the farming, etc. There is also a bunch of missing stuff that I think should be in any Survivor Library, such as "Nuclear War Survival Skills", "Where There Is No Doctor", "Where There Is No Dentist", etc. It will take some work to get the stuff that I want.

Today, I went to Walmart, and purchased stuff to make something like the food buckets from TwoBluesMama's BO Buckets (http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=24255.msg267722#msg267722). I got enough stuff to get most of the way to three meals each for the Mrs, and myself. Unfortunately, when I counted up the calories, it comes to just over 1100 cals per day, for each of us. I would rather not starve to death , so I still need to pad it out a bit. It also looks like I may be able to squeeze in enough food to bring it up to another day or two per bucket.

[Andy in NH]

Today I looked at my supply of N95 masks.
I haven't checked on them since; Zika in 2016? Ebola in 2014? Maybe since Swine Flu in 2009?
Anyway, the elastic straps aren't dry rotted and remain stretchy.

I also stored 25 bars of soap in a two gallon bucket along with two activated hand warmers.
It is the same type of soap we use everyday, so at some point it will eventually get rotated into the regular supply.

At an EMS class yesterday the instructor said that hand sanitizers should be at least 60% alcohol to be effective and to avoid the scented types.

[Carver]

Today, I went to Walmart, and purchased stuff to make something like the food buckets from TwoBluesMama's BO Buckets

I  did this same thing, but with some modifications. I used Gamma@ lids and filled a 5 gallon bucket with cans of food. 8 - 15 oz cans per layer separated by a cardboard disc. 16 cans plus room for a 3rd layer of shorter cans, like Spam and sardines, tuna fish.

All bags, bottles, plates, cups etc. went into soft-side bags.

[Stwood]

Today, I went to Walmart, and purchased stuff to make something like the food buckets from TwoBluesMama's BO Buckets (http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=24255.msg267722#msg267722).

Thanks for bringing that thread back out.

 

[Greekman]

On a whim I decided to do an article on PPE for my blog. So i had to break out all my PPE supplies and kits (i.e. in car. BOb etc). And you know, putting them back together is the worst thing. But had the chnace to make some standalone "giveway" kits.

Thing is that this weekend I also tore apart my BOB and kits for a major reorganization -in a novel way. Had to occupy the living room for this....

[ChEng]

I  did this same thing, but with some modifications. I used Gamma@ lids and filled a 5 gallon bucket with cans of food. 8 - 15 oz cans per layer separated by a cardboard disc. 16 cans plus room for a 3rd layer of shorter cans, like Spam and sardines, tuna fish.

All bags, bottles, plates, cups etc. went into soft-side bags.

Carver,
That sounds great (I'm going to mention it to my oldest son, who is doing some prepping,) but unfortunately, like Mama, I am partially disabled (two back surgeries and a wheel chair, surgery on both wrists and coming surgery for a torn rotator cuff .) I need much lighter buckets, plus I want Mrs. ChEng to be able to lift/carry the buckets too.

Thanks for bringing that thread back out.

 

Stwood,
That is one of my "classics" that I go back to over and over. There is a LOT of good information in back threads in this forum.

Does anyone know how strict our policy is for "thread necrophilia"?  I know that, in most forums, it is normally frowned upon, but there is so much stuff to which I wanted to respond. For example, I would love to add the results of my work to Mama's thread, but...

[ChEng]

...At an EMS class yesterday the instructor said that hand sanitizers should be at least 60% alcohol to be effective and to avoid the scented types.

Andy,
I had not heard that (although, with my skin it is normal for me to avoid scented anything on my skin.) Did the instructor say why to avoid the scented types?

[Carver]

ChEng:

I need much lighter buckets, plus I want Mrs. ChEng to be able to lift/carry the buckets too.

There are 2.5 gallon buckets with the same diameter and instead of two levels you could place lighter items on top of the cans, such as paper plates, towels, etc.

[ChEng]

ChEng: There are 2.5 gallon buckets with the same diameter and instead of two levels you could place lighter items on top of the cans, such as paper plates, towels, etc.

Hmmm, I have not seen the two and a half gallon buckets with the same diameter as the five gallon buckets, the ones that I've seen have smaller diameters.

I do have a gallon-size Zip-Loc bag with paper plates and napkins, it might go on the bottom (we'll have to see how things fit.) A pack of plastic utensils will be added, along with a metal serving spoon. I would also like to have some cooking-type thing like a buddy heater (rolled up cardboard in a tuna can with wax poured over the cardboard) with some kind of stove, candles and fire (matches, lighter, etc.) We each have a stainless steel mess kit, so that takes care of cooking utensils.

[Carver]

The nice thing about buckets is the handle and that they are very stackable. In 4 stacks, 4 high, you can store an incredible amount of portable canned goods.
I also use smaller buckets found in the paint department of hardware stores and here's a 2 gallon bucket at Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/United-Solutions-2-gal-Bucket-in-White-PN0115/300233663

Alcohol stoves burn very hot and last a long time, are easily homemade but you have to be careful as the flame is 99% invisible. The fuel is also very easy to store either in the rubbing alcohol or the fuel additive containers.

I admire you're adapting to your situation.

[Stwood]

One of our groceries has 3 gallon buckets, same size lid as a 5. They have a bakery and all their icing comes in those buckets.
Might ck yours.

[Carver]

One of our groceries has 3 gallon buckets, same size lid as a 5. They have a bakery and all their icing comes in those buckets.
Might ck yours.

Icing sounds better than pickles, I'll never try to use those again for food.
Here's a nice article on stoves: https://modernsurvivalblog.com/preps/stoves/

[Stwood]

Ohh the pickle smell. 
I use the 80oz pickle jars for sugar storage. After the first round of new storage, and having that lingering smell of pickled sugar, I started putting 2-3oz of bleach in a newly emptied jar. Leave it in there for a couple of weeks, giving it an ocassional swish in the jar. So far............

[Redman]

Odd, I use the 80 oz jars for temp storage of chicken stock and BBQS until I have enough to can. I haven't noticed any pickle smell or taste from the jars after washing out with soap and water when first emptied. Lids get washed also.

[Stwood]

Odd, I use the 80 oz jars for temp storage of chicken stock and BBQS until I have enough to can. I haven't noticed any pickle smell or taste from the jars after washing out with soap and water when first emptied. Lids get washed also.

Hmmm. Different soap maybe? Texas pickles? 

[ChEng]

...Alcohol stoves burn very hot and last a long time, are easily homemade but you have to be careful as the flame is 99% invisible. The fuel is also very easy to store either in the rubbing alcohol or the fuel additive containers.

I admire you're adapting to your situation.

Carver,
Thanks.
I tried to make some of the alcohol stoves from aluminum cans. The tops did not fit on the bottoms very well (yeah, I did make the holes in the tops for air to escape.) So, I am going to try again, this time I will place the bottoms into the freezer to contract them a bit, and place the tops into the oven to expand them a bit (or vice-versa.) That should do for the fitting.

The alcohol stoves should be better than the buddy heaters for cooking. From my research, I will probably use the fuel additive, but for long-ish term storage I will double seal the additive in my vacuum sealer before putting it into a bucket with food.

[Stwood]

Stwood,
That is one of my "classics" that I go back to over and over. There is a LOT of good information in back threads in this forum.

Does anyone know how strict our policy is for "thread necrophilia"?  I know that, in most forums, it is normally frowned upon, but there is so much stuff to which I wanted to respond. For example, I would love to add the results of my work to Mama's thread, but...

Other than some of the new spammers like to post in old threads to try and hide (can't hide from Bill  ) I don't think theres a problem posting old threads here.

[Redman]

Pretty sure Mr. Bill has indicated that it is not frowned upon which is a good reason old threads do not disappear. Valuable information.

[Knecht]

While looking for an entirely different article in a museum magazine from 1960's, I found an ethnographic article about old ways of lightening homes in early 20th century Slovakia. Some remote villages and mountain shepherds used surprisingly medieval ways to lighten their homes, up to WW2 era (when some old ways made a revival, due to kerosene shortage). I need to test some of the ways myself, will let you know how it went.
My flu is gone, so I continued working on my medieval bedroom project, getting more experience in beam joinery.

[Redman]

Looking forward to your posting of results.

[Knecht]

Hopefully I won't forget. Feel free to remind me. But don't expect too awesome discoveries, most of the ways described will produce lots of smoke and take some effort to make and also demand some care when in use. The author says that usually there was either a senior or a child on duty to care about the light source, which was generally something on fire... a person was needed to clean the end of the burning piece (breaking off the already burnt material, to provide clean and bright flame), also to change the burning material before it faded out, plus to keep an eye of yet another open flame in pretty much all.flammable interier and building. Luckily these village houses usually had packed dirt for floor, so at lest that was a safe enough place to let the burnt pieces fall.
I've read quite a bit about Slovakia in this era and I'm still amazed by the poverty and the overall behindhand situation there, namely in the rural areas...when Czechoslovakia was formed after WW1, they finally begun to catch up with modern era and yes, with much of our help and support...and yet even today you find many people there who won't say a good word about us, thinking that we had better mind our own business.

[Andy in NH]

Andy,
I had not heard that (although, with my skin it is normal for me to avoid scented anything on my skin.) Did the instructor say why to avoid the scented types?

I believe he said they didn't have the recommended alcohol content.
Smelling good was their primary purpose.
YMMV.

[sams]

I did have some preps but there were stored in different part of the house and there was no order to it, but after 24h binge reading on CoronaVirus and 1500$ I have set up my 3 month food supplies, dry goods and some canned goods, water, medicine.

But still if the scare pass I would still be able to consume the food on daily basis since none of it expires before Jun 2021

[Stwood]

I did have some preps but there were stored in different part of the house and there was no order to it, but after 24h binge reading on CoronaVirus and 1500$ I have set up my 3 month food supplies, dry goods and some canned goods, water, medicine.

But still if the scare pass I would still be able to consume the food on daily basis since none of it expires before Jun 2021

  Good deal on the prepping. I gave you some karma.

[Stwood]

Several months ago a good friend that had moved to the city, went to a auction that had a massive collection of mason jars. He called and wanted to know if we needed any.
Don't really need anymore at this stage, but told him if they were cheap to get a dozen boxes.

Well after having them lumped by 2 others from the city, they arrived home today.
Didn't do a exact count as some boxes are not mason boxes and have more than 12 jars. But I think it's awful close to 12 dozen jars, mostly regular mouth quarts and a few pints.
Jars averaged $0.17 each which I though was a good haul. No bands or lids.

[antsyaunt]

Several months ago a good friend that had moved to the city, went to a auction that had a massive collection of mason jars. He called and wanted to know if we needed any.
Don't really need anymore at this stage, but told him if they were cheap to get a dozen boxes.

Well after having them lumped by 2 others from the city, they arrived home today.
Didn't do a exact count as some boxes are not mason boxes and have more than 12 jars. But I think it's awful close to 12 dozen jars, mostly regular mouth quarts and a few pints.
Jars averaged $0.17 each which I though was a good haul. No bands or lids.

Good deal!!

[Redman]

Several months ago a good friend that had moved to the city, went to a auction that had a massive collection of mason jars. He called and wanted to know if we needed any.
Don't really need anymore at this stage, but told him if they were cheap to get a dozen boxes.

Well after having them lumped by 2 others from the city, they arrived home today.
Didn't do a exact count as some boxes are not mason boxes and have more than 12 jars. But I think it's awful close to 12 dozen jars, mostly regular mouth quarts and a few pints.
Jars averaged $0.17 each which I though was a good haul. No bands or lids.

 

[Knecht]

Made and successfully tested a peg plate, a handy tool to make pegs for beam joinery and timeberframing. Several holes from square to round, that you hammer pieces of split wood through to shape their crosscut. Always good to have another tool that helps you to build stuff by yourself.

[ChEng]

As I mentioned a few days ago, I am working on making something like TwoBluesMama's BO Buckets. Some of the ingredients in my buckets are few of the $1.00 packets of tuna from Walmart.

Last Sunday, a friend had come to Church directly from work, and did not have time to pick up breakfast. Luckily, Mrs. ChEng, our son, and I had enough food to give her a bit of a decent breakfast (ya know that "Luck favors the prepared".  ) So, anyway, yesterday, Mrs. ChEng and I purchased an additional few packets for our EDC (Every Day Carry.) The Mrs. picked up a couple of the flavored packets, but was not sure that she would like them. So. I got a couple of the plain tuna packets, but kept the flavored ones to test.

Today, we had the tuna packets with several different kinds of crackers to see how they taste. The Lemon-Pepper Tuna was a little bit strong for me, and too strong for the Mrs. We both liked the Ranch best. I'm looking forward to trying the Ranch-Bacon, but our son says that you can't really taste the bacon.

Any way, it was a nice experiment, and a nice lunch with our son while his wife was at work. We're all looking forward to more experiments like this, and now we have some proven good ideas for our EDC, and for my BO Buckets.

[Carver]

Made and successfully tested a peg plate, a handy tool to make pegs for beam joinery and timeberframing. Several holes from square to round, that you hammer pieces of split wood through to shape their crosscut. Always good to have another tool that helps you to build stuff by yourself.

That's the kind of project I like, making rounds out of squares; very cool.

ChEng: we also are fans of those tuna packs, other fish varieties too. Spam@ also sells singles but very expensive and so easy to make with a vacuum sealer but I don't know if they have to be refrigerated. I load up on those little mini-packets of various condiments when I visit food bars. Ketchup, mayo, mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, tarter sauce... we've got a jar filled with them.