Posted: 1/22/2013 1:12:18 PM EDT
|
hey, i'm new to the prepper world and i have a few questions. I have a head start on weapons and ammo.
1. What is the best way to begin storing food, should i go can goods or mylar bags filled with rice and bean? 2. How long will the mylar bags keep rice and beans edible? 3. i'm located about 1/2 block off of a large source of water, should i really be concerned about long term water storage outside of 2 wks drinking water? 4. what are other things i should be stocking up on in case of SHTF? I know these may seem like stupid questions to veteran preppers but i have to start some where. I have no outside sources from where to glean this info, so please take it easy on me. also how do you talk to people about this without them thinking you are a complete crack pot? most of my family thinks i have lost it. thanks guys |
|
To get started, most all of your questions can be answered by going to Google and searching...
"AR15 mylar food" for example. Just preface with "AR15" [no quotes] add a couple keywords as I have done in the example above, and you will find several months worth of reading on all sorts of prepping questions. Here's another to search, try it and you will find many answers. ---ar15 drinking water--- Much info is also available about prepping and how to relate to family and friends. Just search. Most everything you can think of has been hashed out to the extreme and is easily found. Good luck!!! |
|
Do you have a generator? If not, buy a generator! Save up and buy a real high quality one (Honda, Yamaha) if you can because these consume very little fuel and make very little noise. But any generator is better than none...watching coverage of Hurricane Sandy really proved that for me. With a good generator you can run your refrigerator, heater, some lights, and other things that can make life a lot better for you in a crisis/disaster situation.
Anyway, here's the one I went with... http://imageshack.us/a/img7/44/generator2l.jpg Good luck. |
|
Welcome aboard, bigd440.
We stocked up on canned goods and dried goods for our first two week supply. Then we added to it. We didn't start mylar'd beans, rice, wheat, or popcorn until we were in our 5thyear of prepping. Kick off your initial supplies of what you normally eat. Then store what you eat and rotate it be fore it goes bad. Find a way to cook and heat up your food and a back up heat for your home/ or shelter. Learn as you go. Sometime several years back, I learned to make bread & tortillas. Then moved to home canning. Then we bought a generator. Chill out and ease down on trying to convert the masses to your new religion. Make a list of things you need and work on it. Ask questions and someone will be along to give you some answers. |
|
Quoted:
Welcome aboard, bigd440. We stocked up on canned goods and dried goods for our first two week supply. Then we added to it. We didn't start mylar'd beans, rice, wheat, or popcorn until we were in our 5thyear of prepping. Kick off your initial supplies of what you normally eat. Then store what you eat and rotate it be fore it goes bad. Find a way to cook and heat up your food and a back up heat for your home/ or shelter. Learn as you go. Sometime several years back, I learned to make bread & tortillas. Then moved to home canning. Then we bought a generator. Chill out and ease down on trying to convert the masses to your new religion. Make a list of things you need and work on it. Ask questions and someone will be along to give you some answers. this. start simple, and don't let it overwhelm you. one way to present it to family/friends is as a cost savings (buying in bulk) or health benefit (gardening/canning - who knows what the veggies in the stores are contaminated with or how long they've been on the shelves?). or just don't present it to them. (plenty of examples of the value of opsec in this forum... "when shtf, I'm coming to your house!" uh, no. you're not, not unless you're critical to my survival. some folks will disagree with me, and that's ok, but I haven't stored enough for my whole neighborhood.) read "Alas, Babylon." If they want to read it, too, let them borrow it. it's an old one, but there are a lot of simple lessons in it. if they get to thinking after they read it, they'll talk to you about it. if they don't, that's ok, too. welcome to the madness. 
|
|
OPSEC #1
As for water, have a way to filter it. I like the gravity systems like the Berkeys, Katadyn Gravidyn and Ceradyn systems, or a Monolithic filter. And +1 on the canned goods. I spent alot of $$ before I figured that one out. Listen to the advice here. As for talking to people about it... don't. Just go about your business and get what you need to get, do what you need to do. Wait for an opportunity to present itself, but always consider OPSEC. |