So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

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dlbww
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by dlbww »

brianj wrote:
paulrobots wrote:I will be buying a vacuum type jar sealer. My oven, dry pack canning has been frustrating at best. It also takes too much time.
Let me warn you that vacuum jar sealers aren't necessarily easy to operate. I have a FoodSaver with the attachments to vacuum seal jars, I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I almost never get the lid to seal on the first try. The sealer is wonderful when I actually get a decent seal, but it can be frustrating to get that seal!
Just used my FoodSaver to vacuum seal four 1/2 gallon, wide mouth jars of organic quinoa. Never have a problem, easy, works great.

paulrobots
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by paulrobots »

lost ark wrote:We started raising angora rabbits. Rabbits are the most efficient of domestic livestock at converting feed into muscle (to make meat for those in the family who require a high protein-low carb diet--the rest of us will just do without). Yes, they are more efficient than chickens. They're quieter and require less space. My daughters do all the work of caring for the rabbits, and the rabbits support themselves and give my daughters a good salary (because the 10-week old kits sell for about $100 each). French angoras, the breed we raise, have a commercial body, meaning they are a size suitable for meat and average 8-10 lbs each. The coat is very easy to maintain and requires about 2 minutes of grooming per week. The fiber is the much softer and lighter than sheep's wool and about 7-8 times warmer. No spinning wheel is necessary to spin the fiber into yarn. The spinning can be done on a drop spindle (what people used for thousands of years before spinning wheels came along). And you can make a few drop spindles for about $6 and a half hour of work.
This is cool. Do ya'll live in a rural/farm area? Do you have other animals or just the rabbits?

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mirkwood
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by mirkwood »

Bought more rice today.

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iWriteStuff
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by iWriteStuff »

dlbww wrote:
brianj wrote:
paulrobots wrote:I will be buying a vacuum type jar sealer. My oven, dry pack canning has been frustrating at best. It also takes too much time.
Let me warn you that vacuum jar sealers aren't necessarily easy to operate. I have a FoodSaver with the attachments to vacuum seal jars, I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I almost never get the lid to seal on the first try. The sealer is wonderful when I actually get a decent seal, but it can be frustrating to get that seal!
Just used my FoodSaver to vacuum seal four 1/2 gallon, wide mouth jars of organic quinoa. Never have a problem, easy, works great.
I could never seem to get my FoodSaver to properly seal.... It would vacuum the bag shut, then somewhere in the heat seal step it would let a significant portion of air back in, effectively ruining the vacuum job. Tried adjusting it seven ways from Sunday and eventually just returned it to Costco. Maybe there's a step I'm missing?

lost ark
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by lost ark »

paulrobots wrote:
lost ark wrote:We started raising angora rabbits. Rabbits are the most efficient of domestic livestock at converting feed into muscle (to make meat for those in the family who require a high protein-low carb diet--the rest of us will just do without). Yes, they are more efficient than chickens. They're quieter and require less space. My daughters do all the work of caring for the rabbits, and the rabbits support themselves and give my daughters a good salary (because the 10-week old kits sell for about $100 each). French angoras, the breed we raise, have a commercial body, meaning they are a size suitable for meat and average 8-10 lbs each. The coat is very easy to maintain and requires about 2 minutes of grooming per week. The fiber is the much softer and lighter than sheep's wool and about 7-8 times warmer. No spinning wheel is necessary to spin the fiber into yarn. The spinning can be done on a drop spindle (what people used for thousands of years before spinning wheels came along). And you can make a few drop spindles for about $6 and a half hour of work.
This is cool. Do ya'll live in a rural/farm area? Do you have other animals or just the rabbits?
We are somewhat rural--10+ acres on the outskirts of town. Most of the rabbit buyers live in the city, but there are a few more rural homesteaders.

We also have chickens (doesn't almost everybody?) and three miniature sheep (raised for their fiber) that my daughters fully support with their rabbit income.

Ann
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Ann »

lost ark wrote:
paulrobots wrote:
lost ark wrote:We started raising angora rabbits. Rabbits are the most efficient of domestic livestock at converting feed into muscle (to make meat for those in the family who require a high protein-low carb diet--the rest of us will just do without). Yes, they are more efficient than chickens. They're quieter and require less space. My daughters do all the work of caring for the rabbits, and the rabbits support themselves and give my daughters a good salary (because the 10-week old kits sell for about $100 each). French angoras, the breed we raise, have a commercial body, meaning they are a size suitable for meat and average 8-10 lbs each. The coat is very easy to maintain and requires about 2 minutes of grooming per week. The fiber is the much softer and lighter than sheep's wool and about 7-8 times warmer. No spinning wheel is necessary to spin the fiber into yarn. The spinning can be done on a drop spindle (what people used for thousands of years before spinning wheels came along). And you can make a few drop spindles for about $6 and a half hour of work.
This is cool. Do ya'll live in a rural/farm area? Do you have other animals or just the rabbits?
We are somewhat rural--10+ acres on the outskirts of town. Most of the rabbit buyers live in the city, but there are a few more rural homesteaders.

We also have chickens (doesn't almost everybody?) and three miniature sheep (raised for their fiber) that my daughters fully support with their rabbit income.

That is very cool!! I love self-sufficiency! Wish I were more self-sufficient. Hopefully I'll get there soon.

Ezra
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Ezra »

Ann wrote:
lost ark wrote:
paulrobots wrote:
lost ark wrote:We started raising angora rabbits. Rabbits are the most efficient of domestic livestock at converting feed into muscle (to make meat for those in the family who require a high protein-low carb diet--the rest of us will just do without). Yes, they are more efficient than chickens. They're quieter and require less space. My daughters do all the work of caring for the rabbits, and the rabbits support themselves and give my daughters a good salary (because the 10-week old kits sell for about $100 each). French angoras, the breed we raise, have a commercial body, meaning they are a size suitable for meat and average 8-10 lbs each. The coat is very easy to maintain and requires about 2 minutes of grooming per week. The fiber is the much softer and lighter than sheep's wool and about 7-8 times warmer. No spinning wheel is necessary to spin the fiber into yarn. The spinning can be done on a drop spindle (what people used for thousands of years before spinning wheels came along). And you can make a few drop spindles for about $6 and a half hour of work.
This is cool. Do ya'll live in a rural/farm area? Do you have other animals or just the rabbits?
We are somewhat rural--10+ acres on the outskirts of town. Most of the rabbit buyers live in the city, but there are a few more rural homesteaders.

We also have chickens (doesn't almost everybody?) and three miniature sheep (raised for their fiber) that my daughters fully support with their rabbit income.

That is very cool!! I love self-sufficiency! Wish I were more self-sufficient. Hopefully I'll get there soon.
People can starve on high protein low fat diet. The trick is to eat the brain of the rabbit. Which has lots of fat in it. Seems gross but we are talking about survival. And knowledge is power.

I would suggest to all people to get a wild edibles book and make yourself familiar with them. It truly is amazing how much there is to eat outside.

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FTC
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by FTC »

Made more detailed plans to just loot all the crap people leave behind when reality smacks them square in the face as they realize they can't take a one year food supply - much less a year's worth of water to go along with it - in their bug out bag and/or backpack, but they scramble out to the wilderness anyways, cause Mormom Prepper 'MURICA!!, and die in the chaos they'll encounter out there with all the other millions of rapidly starving wackos that thought they could pull off a Lehi.

lost ark
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by lost ark »

Ezra wrote:People can starve on high protein low fat diet. The trick is to eat the brain of the rabbit. Which has lots of fat in it. Seems gross but we are talking about survival. And knowledge is power.
This is absolutely true IF you are eating wild rabbits exclusively. If you are eating wild rabbits as part of a balanced diet (you have included fats/oils in your food storage, right?), you won't have any problems. If you are eating domesticated rabbits that you are feeding properly as part of a balanced died, you won't have any problems. And you can give the brains to the dogs.

IMHO, those plan to rely heavily on hunting rabbits and other game when society collapses are setting themselves up for failure. Game in many areas became nearly or completely extinct during the Depression. The Gadianton robbers starved because they hunted game to extinction. The results won't be any different this time around.

Ezra
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Ezra »

FTC wrote:Made more detailed plans to just loot all the crap people leave behind when reality smacks them square in the face as they realize they can't take a one year food supply - much less a year's worth of water to go along with it - in their bug out bag and/or backpack, but they scramble out to the wilderness anyways, cause Mormom Prepper 'MURICA!!, and die in the chaos they'll encounter out there with all the other millions of rapidly starving wackos that thought they could pull off a Lehi.
Looting... ya that will get you to heaven.

paulrobots
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by paulrobots »

Went to the range with a brother from the ward. We sighted in our ARs, then shot 9s and 22s.

Mostly it was for fun and to get out and enjoy the last of the sunshine, but you never know.

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FTC
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by FTC »

Ezra wrote:
FTC wrote:Made more detailed plans to just loot all the crap people leave behind when reality smacks them square in the face as they realize they can't take a one year food supply - much less a year's worth of water to go along with it - in their bug out bag and/or backpack, but they scramble out to the wilderness anyways, cause Mormom Prepper 'MURICA!!, and die in the chaos they'll encounter out there with all the other millions of rapidly starving wackos that thought they could pull off a Lehi.
Looting... ya that will get you to heaven.
Once they've abandoned their homes to wander thru the wilderness with their Lehi fantasies, I consider them dead. So I'm just recycling at that point. =))

Ezra
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Ezra »

FTC wrote:
Ezra wrote:
FTC wrote:Made more detailed plans to just loot all the crap people leave behind when reality smacks them square in the face as they realize they can't take a one year food supply - much less a year's worth of water to go along with it - in their bug out bag and/or backpack, but they scramble out to the wilderness anyways, cause Mormom Prepper 'MURICA!!, and die in the chaos they'll encounter out there with all the other millions of rapidly starving wackos that thought they could pull off a Lehi.
Looting... ya that will get you to heaven.
Once they've abandoned their homes to wander thru the wilderness with their Lehi fantasies, I consider them dead. So I'm just recycling at that point. =))
Why don't you just prepare?

I had a buddy who had similar ideas. To live off scraps or take from others. He was planning to do this while knowing it's going to hit the fan.
If your not prepared. Why do you think the left overs of others will be what you need to survive. It's stupid and not very well thought through. City's will be the place where the most looting gangs are going to be. Unless your planning on being the boss of the gang. Your going to get killed by those gangs.
You will find plenty of people with very very forceful socialists ideals during those hard times. And if your neighbors know you have things don't be surprised to find that soon you won't.

kennyhs
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by kennyhs »

iWriteStuff wrote:
dlbww wrote:
brianj wrote:
paulrobots wrote:I will be buying a vacuum type jar sealer. My oven, dry pack canning has been frustrating at best. It also takes too much time.
Let me warn you that vacuum jar sealers aren't necessarily easy to operate. I have a FoodSaver with the attachments to vacuum seal jars, I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I almost never get the lid to seal on the first try. The sealer is wonderful when I actually get a decent seal, but it can be frustrating to get that seal!
Just used my FoodSaver to vacuum seal four 1/2 gallon, wide mouth jars of organic quinoa. Never have a problem, easy, works great.
I could never seem to get my FoodSaver to properly seal.... It would vacuum the bag shut, then somewhere in the heat seal step it would let a significant portion of air back in, effectively ruining the vacuum job. Tried adjusting it seven ways from Sunday and eventually just returned it to Costco. Maybe there's a step I'm missing?
Is this the same step you miss when your candidate never gets elected? ( just yanking your chain ;)

kennyhs
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by kennyhs »

mirkwood wrote:I'm good to go. I follow any promptings I receive. I had one two days ago and followed up on it.
Do tell.

kennyhs
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by kennyhs »

Older/wiser? wrote:So I started this thread to get an idea on just what kind of preparations some of you are doing. If you really think the elections might change things, how are you backing up your beliefs so to speak. Other than food storage which is a given, what talents or ideas have you
Come up with to make your situation improved. I believe in trade and barter, a friend down the street does all his hay mowing with his Belgium horses just for this reason. Last year I felt the need to get some Nubian goats and all the trimmings (pasteurization machine,hand milking machine etc.) . So following this train of thought, I am curious as to what others think the needs will be and what they are doing to make themselves able to survive in a "Venezuelan type collapse ". I live in a rural community and realize most don't , but ideas
For individual prep come through the spirit , so how do you solve your prep problems?
Great thread! I have a 2 year supply and a 2,000 gallon tank of water that can be pumped into the house. We live by a lake so I have ways to purify the water. I would suggest keeping a mating pair of rabbits, lots of meat fast! Water is your biggest concern.

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mirkwood
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by mirkwood »

kennyhs wrote:
mirkwood wrote:I'm good to go. I follow any promptings I receive. I had one two days ago and followed up on it.
Do tell.

At this point I don't remember. Probably to pick up some food or non food items. Most likely more food.

paulrobots
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by paulrobots »

Tried the vacuum jar sealer. It worked well. I filled 5 pints with mini snickers bars. :D Did make one big mistake, I let my kids see me do it!

I popped the seal on some of my oven canned cereal as well as a vacuum sealed jar. My unscientific opinion is the vacuum sealed jars are harder to open and have a bigger pop.

paulrobots
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by paulrobots »

Processed 40 quarts of applesauce from two bushels. I still have two bushels left and my back is killing me.

Want to buy egg powder next time I've got the spare cash.

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harakim
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by harakim »

I stopped preparing for a month or two. Now I am again at full speed. I'm getting ready for something like a call out. If I have to leave my house, I am not that prepared. In addition, I'm getting lanterns, books, home school supplies and some odds and ends I put off. If I get through that I'm going to buy medicine and medical supplies.

Silver
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Silver »

I bore my testimony to a coworker.

In November I'm going to clear some land on my my dad's place in the woods where we can either build a small structure or make a garden in the spring.

Older/wiser?
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by Older/wiser? »

I've always been independent and find great peace of mind in knowing our cupboards are full, the bills paid ,propane tanks filled and 4 pallets of pellets tucked away. I have always relied on the Lord for guidance and help in my life and have learned how much He wants us to be 100% reliant on Him. That doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing. Being prepared has nothing to do with money the desire and commitment to do these things , he always opens the door. Years ago with a young family we struggled as many do. I knew we needed a good wheat grinder as I had purchased wheat, I could not afford a wheat grinder $300. For the purchase was out of reach , I had looked at them and knew I wanted and All Grain wheat grinder 3/4 Dayton motor thick stones. I told the Lord I was trying to prepare my family and don't have the money could He please help me. So as Saturday approached I noticed a Yard sale sign down by Davis High , so I decided to go. I stopped in found a few things, the parents had passed away as I was leaving the thought came ask if they have a wheat grinder. I was embarrassed but I asked, the woman said, well I don't know let's go look, in their food storage room she pulled out a box, opened it and there was a brand new All Grain 3/4 Dayton motor Wheat grinder. It took my breath away, did I dare ask how much, she replied $5.00 sound ok. I couldn't run fast enough I felt guilty but hey when the Lord answers prayers you just say thank you. It got to be quite amazing I would take inventory, and discuss with Him our needs and sure enough it would be there from water barrels to water purifiers always new and top of the line. You learn to trust the little whispering , so if I never use any of it doesn't matter my faith has grown as I rely on Him. Did you know the canneries are not going to be caring bulk foods or can anymore. I asked why and was told the church was going to use the space as just a storehouse in case of emergencies. I bought some sprouting lids and have been doing alfalfa sprouts , 2 tab. makes a quart full of fresh sprouts, if I can't have lettuce in winter I can always make sprouts.

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harakim
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by harakim »

God has helped me with my preparations as well, many times. This year has been a year of realizing how much he does for me in prepping and in all aspects of life.

freedomforall
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by freedomforall »

Since the OP question is somewhat ambiguous, I'll say that I am praying for stumbling blocks be placed in Hillary's way so she will not become our POTUS. I, for one, have had enough of lying Presidents and candidates wanting to take high office. I pray with all my soul that criminal activity in government come to a halt. Trump has exposed much of what we read about in the Book of Mormon concerning secret combinations and their criminal activities. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make comparisons; to connect dots, and send our prayers to Father. If we don't, he'll assume we don't care about freedom and liberty, or who takes office. The righteous must feel after God and implore his help.
Who knows, a tyrannical government just might come and take all our storage and sustenance and leave us with nothing. Does anyone consider this possibility?

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skmo
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Re: So if you believe things might "Hit the fan " what are you doing?

Post by skmo »

What am I doing? Repenting, and otherwise, not giving much of a damn.

Having been raised in Alaska and the Colorado mountains by parents who grew up during the Depression, being prepared for difficult times has been pretty much ingrained into me. I have food storage, I rotate and use it as I can. I have tools and know how to fix things, and beyond a desire to get re-baptized and start getting some callings to fulfill, I've pretty much stopped caring about what the frig happens to the rest of the world.

I share the gospel when and where I can, which is very little since my world largely consists of my wife, my dogs, and my ward members. I have a decent home on 5 acres in very rural areas, and truth be told, I really can't express how little I actually care about most of the rest of the world any longer.

I did what I could to try to make it better. I'm content to let it continue its slide into whatever it's going toward.

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