Are there any preppers here on the mag?

[brown_thumb]

It doesn't matter how much ammo you have.

Only a ninja can stop a ninja.

Having seeds that can build soil fertility are a must.
Rye seeds,clovers,hairy vetch, etc. will be valuable.
Clovers and hairy vetch can fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.

I'll keep that in mind when I order my heirloom seeds.

 

[corky1968]

A lot of those soil building seeds are sometime listed as cover crops.
Without them a person trying to build a garden on raw land would have
a lot more trouble in a post war World.

Read up about cover crops here by downloading the free and nice 248 page pdf.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Google cover crops and I'm sure you learn why those seeds are important as well.

 

[brown_thumb]

A lot of those soil building seeds are sometime listed as cover crops.
Without them a person trying to build a garden on raw land would have
a lot more trouble in a post war World.

Read up about cover crops here by downloading the free and nice 248 page pdf.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Google cover crops and I'm sure you learn why those seeds are important as well.

Will do... thank you!!

 

[igrowone]

survival trick, eat wood
or rather the inner bark of some trees, you can make a flour of a sort from it
probably not very tasty, but it's been done
upstate NY - Adirondack was an Indian name for 'tree eater'

 

[bombadil.360]

Only a ninja can stop a ninja.

Hello Corky,

For some reason the first thing that came to mind when I read that is:

http://www.realultimatepower.net

Totally sweet!

 

[Kozmo]

Been lurking. This thread can bring a lot out in a person. Viewing our planet currently is a mouth full. The planet is dying. Carbon tax the shit out of global warming. Take out the big boys who pull the strings of our world governments. You want to prepare for the future? Then save the future. We don't need to live like cockroaches we can repair our planet(fact) and explore new ones. We must act now.

Much respect
Much love

Kozmo

 

[ronbo51]

Really, there will be no mountain man survival strategy that will succeed. There will be no game to kill. No fish to catch. No critters to trap. 300 million hungry folks will do that to an ecosystem. Granted, many will not make it out of the cities after the food trucks stop coming. They will wait too long and be left with horrible options. That leaves hungry nomads heading towards the mountains or the vast rural interior. What will they find? They will find well defended small communities of people who have honed their skills and are more than willing to defend themselves. The hoards will encounter roadblocks and signs saying "keep moving, nothing for you here". All the land is owned. It's not like you will be able to just find a nice spot and hunker down.
Even though I do not know many people, I know three different groups that are doing this. One in Indiana, one in Ohio, and one in Iowa. I assume it is happening all across rural America. Forward looking people know we are one crack of a twig snapping from the supply lines breaking and have committed time, energy, and resources towards being self sufficient to the highest abilities. A lot of these folks served in the sandbox over the last 25 years and understand tactics, defense and are more than willing to keep their families and small communities intact. All across "flyover country" there are millions of driveways that wind down tree covered lanes and lead to modest farms and homesteads. Yeah, some of them might be overrun over time. But most will not.
It's about systems in the end. Water systems (gravity, spring, solar pumps, irrigation, aquaculture. Food systems (fruit trees, year round garden, greenhouse, compost, small livestock) Heat (firewood, solar, biomass). When I bugged out in 1981 there were no solar panels, no leds, no lightweight camping and bugout gear. We lived 4 years off the grid. Kept things cool in the creek, used kerosene lamps, always a pot of beans on the wood cookstove. Worked all year to grow enough food and cut enough firewood to keep from freezing and starving. Today it would be so much easier with all the new technology. Good luck to all preppers. We might find out pretty soon if these skills will prove VERY useful

 

[Kozmo]

There sure are others in all of the states. Why? Because there smart. I admire people like Ronbo and Gypsy who have faced reality with cunningness. I'm calling out to everyone to cherish and protect each other and our future. It is up to all of us. Consume differently(palm oil is crushing our world horrifically); what you buy, what you eat, how you get your power. Vote for people who will fight climate change by ending fossil fuel subsidies, investing in renewables, leaving fossil fuels in the ground, supporting a price on carbon. Discover your climate impact and how you can offset it, by visiting: carbotax.org
If we don't all collectively look to each other, save this tiny boat in our vast ocean of a universe, and do these things now then we will collectively be lowering ourselves to cockroaches. The people who were so admirable with there foresight will have no one but themselves to look at and ask what could I have done to save myself, my planet from the desolation. I am no better. I am just as guilty. Help me. Help this planet so our children can discover new ones.

Take action

 

[coldcanna]

I don't see global warming ending Earth.... maybe making it much more difficult for mankind to inhabit, but this planet has been through numerous cataclysms before and reboots itself.

But to that point the solution lies at the problem.. people need to consume less and produce more things themselves at home. I dunno how I feel about carbon tax because on the surface its "hitting the big guys" but that price goes to the consumer which means food, housing, heating, transportation to work, ect is more expensive for everyone in the middle class who is already struggling to put food on the table.

 

[geneva_sativa]

One really awesome thing about this movement is that so many people are looking at ways to exist in a sustainable way, and already are in many cases.

And also the convergence that is bound to happen. . . after so many years of consumer based perpetuated separation lifestyles. . . into the creative kind of communities that our forebears enjoyed.

 

[Jellyfish]

One not-so awesome thing about this movement is the dog-eat-dog mentality it fosters.

 

[Kozmo]

I don't see global warming ending Earth.... maybe making it much more difficult for mankind to inhabit, but this planet has been through numerous cataclysms before and reboots itself.

But to that point the solution lies at the problem.. people need to consume less and produce more things themselves at home. I dunno how I feel about carbon tax because on the surface its "hitting the big guys" but that price goes to the consumer which means food, housing, heating, transportation to work, ect is more expensive for everyone in the middle class who is already struggling to put food on the table.

That's right. So they have a tax shift. Income tax slides into carbon tax. That is how and why people will change. Not because they have to think about it but because its makes sense. Stop subsidizing "them" stop using them. As far as global warming ending Earth, no. Earth as we know it,(preppers please stand up) yes.

 

[brown_thumb]

One not-so awesome thing about this movement is the dog-eat-dog mentality it fosters.

Agreed. I would never steal others' goods no matter what the personal cost. I would probably resort to begging if I failed my own family but not just for myself. If I'm not prepared then I've sealed my own fate. That stated, if I am prepared and others come to forcibly take what they want... I'm prepared for that too.

 

[Weird]

One not-so awesome thing about this movement is the dog-eat-dog mentality it fosters.

Even quantum physics has established the observer effect. A logical conclusion would seem that our actions effect our reality, and thus the basis of them the basis of a new reality.

Someone mentioned a positive byproduct is local sustainability which I agree.

However the real problem lie in the acceptance of the them versus us delusion, which is similar to the flat earth movement. It is humanity against itself and our perpetual survival relies on us overcome the later not believing in the former.

 

[Capt.Ahab]

Been lurking. Thought twice about posting but here are some of my thoughts, off the top of my head so to speak. FWIW.

AlphaRubicon member here. Ive been a member for about 8 years.
Ive always believed and seen from personal experience that nobody survives a disaster alone. You WILL need like minded people with different skills to survive and thrive .

You will need to be able to provide more than a few moldy MRE's and a rifle to your group.
Practice your skills, learn new ones,update your plan, rotate your supplies.
The greatest tools you have to survive are your mind and skills,not your rifle and some Spam and beans.

Hiding in your basement can make you a rat in a cage if you are not properly prepared. But that may be your only option.
Bugging out with a pack and rifle with some beans and a water bottle but without a plan and nowhere to go makes you a refugee.

Plan on being a predator and living off others? You wont last long. Human nature is to swiftly eliminate predators, be they four legged or two.

Have you ever tried putting on a gas mask and using a drinking tube?

Two National Guards knock on your door. You have 10 minutes to gather what you need and leave. Have you planned on what to take? Papers, Passport? Food? Baby supplies? Medications? Or are you going to run around freaking out grabbing all sorts of useless stuff that wont do you any good?

Have any cash put aside? Maybe a couple ounces of silver or gold? Your credit or debit card wont be worth shit if there is no power and the banks are closed and no ATM machines are working. The gang down the block took the front off the ATM last night anyhow.

Yeah you have a rifle or shotgun. Blasting a rabbit or a pigeon with your .308 isnt practical. Its a waste of ammo and may alert others to your presence. How about a sling shot or pellet gun?
You may need to be quiet while out hunting rabbits. Know how to make a dead-fall trap? A snare? Rat traps will be valuable for both keeping pests at bay and supplying some protein.
So you shot a deer and it's 70 degrees outside. Know how to preserve it? Do you have enough salt stored? Know how to smoke the meat or make a home made food dehydrator? Know how to tan the hide?
Know how to make a solar oven?


If you work a distance from home, how are you going to get back if something happens? What if it takes you two days to get back? Do you have what you need in your vehicle or office?
What if your family gets separated and communications are down? Cells are not working. Not even a land line. Does everyone in your family know where to meet? If not at home,where? Do you have a drop location where family/group members can leave messages for each other?

Ever tried loading and firing your handgun or rifle with one hand-your "off " hand?

If you have lots of dried food put away, have you calculated how much water you need to prepare that food? If you have stored water, have you stored it correctly? How are you going to cook those beans inside if there is no power to your home? Are you going to gas yourself with the wrong fuel source?
When was the last time you checked those Sterno cans in the basement. If it's been a while I can bet they are dried up and no longer any good.

If you are holed up what are you going to do to pass the time? Do you have books to read, games to play, a pack of cards ?

If you have children you have another whole set of contingencies to consider. How will you keep them busy?
Toddlers? Do you have enough diapers? If you have reusable diapers, do you have enough water to clean them?
Yeah. You have beans and SPAM. How about toilet paper? Wiping your ass with leaves, your hand or a corn cob sucks.
You have no power, no water in your home or shelter. You cant go outside for a period of time. What are you going to do with human waste if you are holed up?

Medical supplies? Do you know how to suture? CPR? Set a broken bone? Apply a tourniquet?
What are you going to do if you are attacked, survive, but your wife or child has a gunshot wound?
What if your wife has a cut in her leg from a old piece of wire or nail that has now gotten infected? What happens if YOU are injured and cant help the people who depend on you for their survival?
In those scenarios , wouldnt it be good to have someone in your group with more than basic first aid training who you know you can trust ?

DO you have items stored away for barter? Cigs? Candy? Nips of booze? (lots of alcoholics will be jonesing hard if SHTF) Medical supplies? Fuel? Tampons? ( lots of uses for tampons, more than just what they are made for) Matches/lighters etc?
Remember, the skills you have been practicing will also be valuable in a barter situation.

Be aware. So many people go through life in a fog. Do you live near a chemical plant? Do you know what they make? Are you ready for that immediate threat should that plant "pop" or is attacked?

Do you live near a nuclear power plant? Think about it. Are you going to go into town and wait in line for some FEMA official to hand out the iodide pills? What if they run out? What if you go and there are none? I dont want to be anywhere near that crowd.

Are you prepared to defend you and yours? Know how to make an early warning system around your home and shelter? You may think you can put up some string and a few tin cans but have you ever actually done it? Know how to make an early warning device or booby trap from a rat trap and a shotgun shell?
Know how to post sentries?
Once again, survival by numbers. You wont be able to do it alone.

Are you keeping yourself in shape? As the movie said, Rule #1 is cardio. You cant expect to survive if you are unhealthy.

And as I've said here before. Be prepared to give up the weed. You will need your mind sharp and clear. I'm not planning on running around stoned if SHTF. No way.

I could go on and on. Being prepared isnt something you put on the shelf and wait for. Being prepared is having a plan, skills and supplies with a network of people who have the skills, supplies and manpower you lack.

Even without a membership our home page has tons of links, reviews and articles pertinent to this discussion.
Medical info, Primitive survival, Bug out vehicles, Communications, Fuel storage, etc. etc.
http://www.alpharubicon.com/index.html

There are tons of resources on the 'net with good advice. Some govt sites also have good recommendations concerning food storage, water storage etc. The time to learn and prepare is now. Not tomorrow.

 

[brown_thumb]

I used to take all those things into consideration and, in fact, I was planning to be fully prepped soon after I bought this place. However, after getting ripped off for $15,000 by a cheating contractor and soon after that no longer being able to work, those plans fell through. These days, beyond having a couple weeks of food and water plus some protection, I don't care anymore.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

that's the spirit to have ^

 

[bombadil.360]

The other day we watched 10 Cloverfield Lane, cool movie, thought of you all.

 

[MJPassion]

I feel for anybody that lives in or near any metro areas if/when shtf.

If yall can't see the shit coming before it hits the fan you'll more than likely be screwed & become part of the mass exiting hordes.

I really feel sorry for folks that live in metro areas like Austin, TX where the military is constantly "practicing maneuvers" within & outside the city using ordinary citizens to practice with. Those folks are being conditioned to accept martial law with no fight.

Look at the way your city is laid out too.
Phoenix, AZ, for example, is laid out with 3 potential prison systems. They interlock with each other & are outlined with raised highways, specifically the 101, 202 & 303 loops... How difficult would it be to wall up the under sides of these raised highways such that nobody would be allowed out?

Capt. Ahab has the best post so far in this thread. Strictly my opine.

 

[RckyMtRdnk]

At least with all the poison and preservatives in our food, when I am eaten by cannibals, i will give them diarrhea.