Nov01

First off, Let me welcome you to Surviving Prepper!

on November 1st, 2011 at 7:04 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

My blog is all about the everyday prepper and survivalist. As a disclaimer, I am not an expert or professional survivalist or prepper and none of the articles here are meant to replace/mend/bend/break laws, regulations, or medical practices. Please use discretion when reading this website. We assume no liability for any actions taken by the readers.

So why read us? Whether you believe a meteor will hit earth, the economy will collapse, or are just afraid for the next natural disaster, this site will help to give you tips, points, and news from the prepper world.

UPDATE
I would like to remind all of you that surviving is not pretty. From my experiences in the military and public services, there are some very, very bad people out there. When TSHTF, they will come out in droves. There will be some topics on here that are graphic and gruesome. I’m not here to make you feel better. I’m here so that we can all learn from each other and hopefully survive.

May03

May 3, 2012

on May 3rd, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

Good to be back and I hope you all enjoy the article sent in by Kevin.

May03

Across the Web

on May 3rd, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Posted In: Across the Web

Buy an Island CLICK

Reusable Glow CLICK

May03

Childbirth at Best by Kevin

on May 3rd, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Posted In: Health, Medicine

Childbirth is both exciting and terrifying. What we will discuss here is normal birth with few complications. Major complications need to be discussed in major detail per situation. The fact is that many women will have children during a SHTF timeframe. There is much more than just pushing. Whether you will be on your own or part of a group, someone must learn how to assist in the childbirth process. I assure you, it will happen. Let’s begin with the basics.

When dealing with a pregnant woman, these are the first questions that you need to ask:
-vaginal bleeding, tissue expulsed, amount
-pain, severity, radiation, location, duration
-vaginal discharge, color, odor
-current sexual activity
-last menstrual cycle (last period)
-prior pregnancies, hours of labor, complications, losses
-prior c-sections, other abdominal surgeries
-past pertinent medical history (diabetes, hypertension, etc), meds, allergies
-due date
-STD’s past and present
-prenatal care
-contraction times
-bloody show or water breakage

These questions will help a caregiver to determine the best course of action, but will also help the layman to deliver a baby.

With normal labor, you will begin with contractions. This will continue until the cervix is fully dilated. This phase can take between 7-15 hours. Contractions tend to begin short in duration and are farther apart. Contractions that are one minute or longer or are closer than two to three minutes apart mean that birth is imminent. Mother needs to be positioned one her back, with the back elevated around ten degrees. A pillow under mom’s rear will help. Whatever position of the legs make mom feel comfortable will be appropriate. Just make sure that both legs are equal to take pressure of mom’s pelvis.

By this time, the child is moving out of the uterus and into the birth canal. It’s very important to comfort mother throughout this process as much as possible. During this time, mom has an urge to push. This is when you will begin to see a presenting part, and in a normal birth, it will be the head. By this stage, you should be in sterile gloves, or at least cleaned washed hands, doused in hand sanitizer. Make sure that you have warm, clean blankets or cloths nearby along with a bulb syringe. This is so you can suck all of the fluids out of baby’s mouth and nose once the head is delivered. Having all of your items close at hand and organized is essential. Here are some items that need to be at hand:

-Clamps
-Gloves, both sterile and non sterile
-Bulb syringe
-Warm, clean blankets and towels and lots of them
-Warm, clean, sterile water and lots of it
-Emesis basin or puke bucket
-A place for comfortable and clean delivery. On your bed is probably not the best place since the bed will be covered in goop. Or have some sort of covering on top of the bed.
-At least one other person to help you if need be
-Sterile shears or scissors

If you can come across these and know how to use them:
-BVM pediatric
-Defibrillator/AED with pediatric settings
- Magnesium Sulfate
-Sterile gowns, mask, eyewear
-Epinephrine 1:10000
-IV supplies
-Oxygen with supplies

You will also need two umbilical clamps. This could be the sterile hospital type, or simply two strands of boot string. Once you begin to see the head, you MUST provide a support system. This helps baby’s head to come in a neutral position, while preventing the fast “canon shot.” Babies, especially in later pregnancies, can shoot out fast just like a canon.
Make sure to never pull on the baby’s head. Do apply gentle downward traction while someone pushes firmly down superior to mother’s pubic bone. Once the baby delivers the top shoulder, then release all pressure by everyone and tell mom to push. This will help to deliver the bottom shoulder. Baby should be facing either left or right. Once both shoulders are through the vaginal cavity, baby will deliver with normal force. Special notice needs to be applied as to the pressure you are applying. Too much can cause serious and permanent damage to baby. Be prepared that the baby will be very slippery. Use a firm grip without hurting baby.

Once baby is delivered, clamp the first clamp four inches away from baby. The second clamp will be six inches away from baby. Now cut the cord in the two inch section between the two clamps. Now bring baby to the chest of mom. Clean and cover baby and mom in warm blankets. Allow baby to suckle the breast if it is willing. This is very important. When breastfeeding occurs, oxytocin will stimulate the uterus into contractions.

Now that baby is born, you have a second delivery on the way. It’s the placenta, or bag, that was around the baby in the womb. This can take up to 45-60 mins. Once the placenta is delivered, you need to massage the uterus until it is firm. This will stop bleeding. Just above the pubic bone and at the belly button is typically where your hands need to be. Start massaging and squeezing in circular motions. This will not be gentle. You want to really squeeze. Do this until you feel the uterus tighten up about the size of a grapefruit.

While it may not help you. It could help a future provider if you can give an APGAR score. Here is how it’s broken down.

A=Appearance
0=blue or pale
1= blue legs/arms, pink trunk
2=all pink

P=Pulse
0=none
1=less than 100
2=more than 100

G=Grimace
0=no response
1=grimace
2=coughing,sneezing,crying

A=Activity
0=limp
1=slow movement
2=active movement

R=Respiratory Effort
0= none
1=slow and/or irregular
2=good with crying or cooing

Some items that I would like to touch on would be minor complications. One such issue is that the “water never broke” or the placenta has not ruptured. If this is the case. you will have to rupture the placenta. Be careful that you do not hurt baby. Try to pull the membrane away from the baby and make a small puncture or incision. Then pull it apart with your fingers.
Another issue is when the cord wraps around the babies neck. If you see that the cord is around the neck when the head is out, try to slip your fingers between the baby’s neck and the cord. What you are trying to do is keep the airway open for baby.

Another scenario is a prolapsed cord. This is where the umbilical cord pops out of the vagina. Unfortunately, this normally requires a C-section. Unless you have a surgeon on hand, you’ll have to do the best that you can on your own. Keep the cord moist at all times. The cord is baby’s lifeline. If the cord begins to dry out, the baby cannot receive it’s life support from mom anymore. Try to keep the cord from being compressed, as this will also shut off the supply to baby.

Meconium is baby poop. It’s generally a dark green or yellowish color. This can mean that baby has already been stressed in the womb. Babies do not normally poop while in the womb. Babies can also inhale the meconium and die. This is where suction of the mouth and nose becomes especially important once the head is delivered.

Minor trauma may also occur to mom while in delivery. Soft tissues may tear as she pushes. Once the baby is delivered along with placenta, examine the vaginal and rectal tissues to see if there is any trauma. If minor, simple bandaging may be sufficient treatment. However, if the trauma is severe, sutures may be required. This can pose a problem to the non-health professional.
Always make sure that you are there for mom as well as baby. Mom may have a variety of emotions. Childbirth is not just a medical practice but also a psychological one as well. If family and friends are not nearby, YOU will be taking the brunt of the emotions. Be prepared that at one moment, she will hate you and love you at the same time. She will hate you for not making her childbirth easy, but will love you for helping her become a mommy. You also have to be prepared to take care of her emotionally if the birthing process takes a wrong turn. If the child dies after birth, during birth, or pre-birth, you will have to be there to comfort her. Understand your patient and her wishes. If she wished to have the placenta buried or tossed in the trash, do it. Your ideas may not match hers but her wishes rule during this time frame.

There are plenty of complications that can occur. Maybe I’ll write on them someday. Until now I think this is sufficient. Remember that birth is a natural process that normally doesn’t need any intervention. Hopefully you will have someone experienced in this should it happen. If not, you now have a head start. Children have been born for a long time without doctors. You can help just like a doctor would. There are plenty of things to prepare for in a SHTF scenario. Some will happen, some will not. I promise you that childbirth is the one that WILL happen.

Feb18

February 18, 2012

on February 18th, 2012 at 9:59 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I’ve posted the first accepted article. I hope you all enjoy it. I’ve also extend the $10 digital Amazon Gift Card through February. So get to writing about what you know and spread the word about us. The more we have, the more we know!

Feb18

Across The Web

on February 18th, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Posted In: Across the Web

Earthquakes in the Pacific NorthWest CLICK

Still recommending PrepperWebsite, lots of great INFO CLICK

Small Farm Info CLICK

Feb18

When the Levee Breaks…

on February 18th, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Posted In: Building Construction, Water

This is from a reader living in the USA…

Recently, our pipes broke. We were without water for three days. I always figured that if the TSHTF that we would have some pressure for a few days and I could stock up. I never figured on broken pipes that shut off water “right now”. We ended up buying gallons of water for drinking at the local store. Luckily, we had about ten gallons of stored water for other uses. Here’s what we learned.

Having drinking water stored is a huge plus. Magically our two kids wanted nothing to drink but water in the first three hours. It wasn’t available. Make sure that you have at least one gallon of drinking water per person readily available.

Our ten gallons didn’t last long either. Once again, magically, our two kids had to poop. Twice each in a five hour time frame. We have no problem letting pee sit in the toilet, but poop has to go! I wish we would have had at least twenty gallons on hand to start this trip.

After running to the store to buy a few gallons of drinking water, my wife informs me that we were to have stew that night. Back to the store to buy a few more gallons. We could have used stored water, but since we get city water, God only knows what was growing or fermenting in our containers.

We had been hiking earlier in the day. We were sweaty, nasty, and stinky. Bird baths still use quite a bit of water if you are familiar on how to do it.
Since we live on a very, very small piece of land in the country, we have decided to store more water anyway we can. Fifty-five gallon drums as a bed platform won’t work for us. We have decided to hide two liter bottles under the bed next to our stash of other prepper items. We have also invested in a few collapsible five gallon water tanks which are normally used for camping. We store these in big plastic tubs incase of leakage. We figure we can up our water storage to at least one hundred gallons.
If we would have had an outhouse or at least a cat hole dug, we could have saved many gallons. Yet on a small area like where we live, our neighbors surely would have called the cops seeing us poop in the yard. Don’t always plan for TEOTWAWKI, plan everything from the bottom to the top.

Jan05

January 5, 2012

on January 5th, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I’m currently working on the site and have some new ideas. I’m considering a Twitter and Facebook account if anyone is interested. Second, if you or anyone you know is having a hard time accessing the website, please contact me at admin@survivingprepper.com .
Also, for every week in January, I will be giving away a $10 digital Amazon gift card if I post your article. I’m running a little behind this week, so let’s hear from you freelance writers.

EXTRA: In the menu bar, you will find something that says ” Prepper WishList.” This is a list of all things that preppers need to have, want to have, and stuff that’s just awesome. Feel free to submit your ideas too!

Jan02

January 2, 2012

on January 2nd, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I’d like to wish everyone a happy New Year. For Mayan Prophecy believers, Happy Last Year on Earth. I really hope that this year will be better, and especially a better year personally. I’ve had a very rough year and I hope there will be much joy for 2012. I also hope that the world will cool down and the US will get its stuff together. Not likely however. That is why we have this site. I hope you like the post for today. I thought it was a good topic.

Jan02

Across the Web

on January 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 PM
Posted In: Across the Web

Ham Radios CLICK

Survival Bound CLICK

Survivor IQ CLICK

Iran and Latin America CLICK

Jan02

TEOTWAWKI Animals

on January 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Posted In: Animals, Food, Homestead

Animals are an important part of survival. Most think of animals to eat such as poultry and beef, but there are animals that produce more than meat… work. In this article, I would like to discuss some animals that will be of great importance in surviving. Let’s start with working animals. The first is the donkey.
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Donkeys can be used for many work scenarios. They can haul, pack, plow, and even carry people. Let’s start with caring for the animal. A working donkey will need about 4-7 gallons of water per day depending on weight, age, workload, and temperature. They will also need around 10 LBS of dry roughage, as well as a mixture of 3 LBS of grains. This will include barley, corn, and local herbs beneficial to a donkey. Make sure to change the feed slowly so as to no upset their digestive system. As normal, make sure that they have a clean , dry, warm place to relax and sleep in.
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If they are breathing heavily, this means that they are exhausted. Make sure that you brush them to remove dirt, bugs, and thorns. Also keep in mind that donkeys don’t wear shoes. Make sure to keep them off of paved surfaces as much as possible. Once a day their hooves should be picked. When using bits, be gentle due to their sensitive mouths. If you decide to use a team of donkeys make sure that they are of same size.
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When using your donkey as a pack, try and use pack saddles. Simply throwing packs over a donkey can cause injury. If using for plowing, make sure that you use a breastplate. This will relieve tension and injury from the neck. Donkeys can be used to haul, plow, and even ride. These animals are invaluable once TSHTF. Mules will be similar, but much larger. They are a combination of a male donkey and female horse.
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Horses will also be an important part of the survival animal. They are commonly used as a form of transportation but can also be used for work. As the donkey, they can be used to haul, plow, and ride.
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Horses need about 15-30 gallons of water a day. They will also need 10-20 LBS of roughage a day. Include other grains and minerals. Find out what is common in your area and what you will need to add extra.
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Horses are so common that I am not going to go into great detail. There are plenty of books out there to teach you the basics. Remember to shoe and clean your horses. Train them to be calm and acceptable to farm work. If you have other questions, there are millions of books, posts, and people to ask.
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Oxen are nothing more but working cattle. They are usually a castrated male, but could also be cows or bulls. These animals are great for plowing or pulling anything behind them. They are also known to be used to move old style churning equipment. An ox will need around 13-20 gallons of water daily. This will depend on temperature, size of the animal, and workload. You’ll want to feed around 6-10 LBS of grain per day. This could be a mix of corn, corn silage, oats, barley, and cottonseed. They will also need around 5-10 more LBS of hay. This will change. Keep an eye on your oxen. If they seem to fat/thin/bloated, you will need to add some or take away some grains/hay. Talk to people in your area as to what they have been feeding.
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Oxen will also need to be shoed for best results. When using your oxen, make sure that you have properly fitted all equipment to the animal. I recommend finding that equipment online now. It will be hard to find once the SHTF. When working with cattle, make sure that you are calm and patient with them. Turning a cow into an ox is not the easiest thing in the world to do.
While we are talking about cattle, I’d like to mention them in the food area. We all know that cows make steaks and milk, but this may not be the best option for all. A cow is a very large animal. If you do not have family size to consume a cow or do not have the means to preserve meat, I suggest smaller animals like a goat.
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Cattle for food and milk will take different amounts of water and food than an ox. For beef cows, make sure they have 6-15 gallons of water daily. For milking cows, they need 11-20 gallons. Feed for beef cows should be hay and straw with 6-12 LBS of grains a day. Milking cows will need 6-10 LBS of hay (bermuda, etc.) 4-6 LBS of silage and 1.0 LB of grain (16% protein) for 1.5 LBS of milk.
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Beef cattle pretty much just need room to live, eat, and walk. Dairy cows will need all of that as well as being milked at least twice a day. Once again, if you have a smaller area, smaller family, or weak means of preserving food, goats will be your best bet.
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Chickens are one of the best animals out there for TEOTWAWKI. They can provide food by means of eggs and meat. They can also provide pest control. Chickens are easy to care for and don’t take up much space.
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Chickens can go through half a quart of water a day. They like to poop in their water so make sure that it’s clean and raised off of the ground. Feed is the same way. The other problem you can have with feed is the attraction of rodents. Makes sure that you feed your birds only once a day. This will help prevent rats and mice from coming around. Feed them wheat, oats, barley, and corn. Also make sure that they have access to fresh greens such as kitchen scraps. They also need protein so give them bugs. Tossing in a few earthworms a week will help. They will have access to other bugs in their area. You can also give them crushed oyster shells, crushed chicken egg shells, crushed bone, and cooked fish. They will need around 0.3-1 LB of feed a day.
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In closing, there are many animals that you can keep on the property to serve you. Some will be for work, some for food, and some for pest control. I also recommend looking into guineas, ducks, geese, pigs, goats, sheep, and ostriches.

Dec18

December 18, 2011

on December 18th, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

So I am thinking about adding a new section to my website. I want to start a list of items that preppers should have, want to have, and probably will never have but would still be useful. If you can think of any items, send me an email at admin@survivingprepper.com

In other news, I appreciate all of the emails that I’ve gotten. If any of you have stories, articles, news links, product links, or anything else helpful to preppers, drop me a line.

7 days till Christmas

Dec18

Across the Web

on December 18th, 2011 at 9:57 PM
Posted In: Across the Web

Old, but neat stuff CLICK

Top Ten downloads CLICK

Wood Homes CLICK

Dec18

Prepper Group Structure

on December 18th, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Posted In: Prepper Groups

Some of us have a group of just a few people. Others don’t have a group at all. Some people that I’ve talked with have a very large group. Once you get into a group size of around five, you need to have some structure. A group with seven adults and three young children can be managed. It’s a lot harder if all seven adults are mechanics with little else to offer.
When selecting members for a group, you are obviously going to select some people because of family relationships and friendships. The others to posses certain skills that make your group functional. Here is a list of some of the skills that you may want to consider:

carpentry
mechanics
engineering
cooks specialized in old time cooking
gardeners, farmers, and ranchers
medicine, dentistry. and veterinary medicine
gunsmiths
veterans
bosses and managers

Once you have your selected personnel, it’s time to cross train others. Not everyone will be able to perform engineering perfectly, but some will pick it up quicker than others. Make sure that everyone is at least familiar with the other skills in the group, but select the best to act as alternates. This helps to ensure that you always have a back up. If your group’s medic kicks the bucket, you have someone else that can help fill his spot.
The next task is to organize your group with structure. You can’t have people just running around doing what they want. Or maybe you do. A republic won’t work for all groups. Some may not want a democracy wither. Some may desire to have a leader that makes all decisions. This is entirely up to you and your group. Regardless, here are some positions that will become vital to your group.
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Leader: This is going to be the person with the most knowledge about surviving and prepping. They also have to have a good sense of reason and character as well. This will be the person who helps leads the group towards the future. They will make suggestions and take in knowledge from the others. This person needs to be cool under pressure as well as a knowledgeable person. This person needs to have the least character flaws so that uniting the group can be done more easily. Trying to take orders from a liar and cheat will not lead to a strong united group. The leader’s position should be the only position that the leader has. This helps to reduce tension in the group. Would you want the leader to also be the Logistics Officer?
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Executive Officer: This person’s role is to not only fill in if the leader is absent, but also to be a gopher and advisor to the leader. This may not sound pleasant , but the less the leader is worried about small details, the more time they have to be focused on the task at hand. This needs to be a person that understands the leader well, as well as the operation. The Executive Officer’s (XO’s) position should be the only position that the leader has. This helps to reduce tension in the group.
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Logistics Officer: Having a boat load of supplies is great but accomplishes nothing if it is not managed well. Someone with an accounting or auditing background would be good at this position. Their job is to take inventory of all that is on hand and disperse it accordingly. They will understand what the group has, needs, and what the future worries will be as far as supplies.
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Operations Officer: This is the person that will plan out activities and daily missions. Whether it’s planting crops for a week or who’s turn it is to do dishes. This officer helps to reduce confusion in the group. Their planning and paper work is rough, but highly needed. The Operations Officer will work closely with the Logistics Officer. In smaller groups, they will also plan training.
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Training Officer: Training will be an important aspect for the future. This job entails inventing training scenarios for different skills and scheduling them in with the Operations Officer. This person also needs to maintain records of what has been practiced, when, where, with who, as well as recognizing what else needs to be practiced.
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Administration Officer: Since there will probably not be fax machines, copy machines, or computer networks, papers will be hand written and stored in a central location. They need to be in an area where various officers have access to them. This person can also act as the group’s historian by documenting any important news that the group thinks is necessary. Another important task that this person can perform is finances. Money may be worthless during a disaster, but things must be paid for beforehand and perhaps even in the future.
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Security Officer: A former peace office would be good for the civil side of things, but a well trained veteran or veteran with combat experience would be the best. This role includes constructing a security plan and working as the primary fighting force. This person will work closely with the Leader, Logistics Officer, Training Officer, Operations Officer, and Group Doc.
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Group Doc: While this person may not be more than a person with first aid knowledge, this is a very important role. This person needs to receive as much training as possible when available. They may also be the Group Shrink, Dentist, and Physical Therapist.
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Group Farmer/Rancher: Food will become so important, that many will die or kill for it. This person needs to be very knowledgeable with gardening and livestock. They will have to figure what type of soil is available, how much water, a source of fertilizer, local weather, planting zones, how much food everyone will need annually, and crop/livestock health. This person should hold only this job due to its importance.
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The above roles are pretty much one person operations. However there will be some tasks that should be shared if possible. This includes cooking, cleaning, working outside, and helping hands for whoever needs it. This model is based off a combination of military and business models. If your group is larger, you can add to it. If your group is smaller, you can always combine. Just remember, without order, there is chaos. If you are still looking for a group, I recommend PrepperGroups.com

Dec17

December 16, 2011

on December 17th, 2011 at 1:25 AM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I hope everyone is enjoying the winter. For some it’s brutally cold, others it’s a vacation from the heat. Either way, spend time with your family and SurvivingPrepper to get through this winter.

9 Days till Christmas

Dec17

Across the Web

on December 17th, 2011 at 1:23 AM
Posted In: Across the Web

A woman’s concealed holster (Christmas present for the wife ;o) ) CLICK

An option to sandbags CLICK

Baking bread in a wood stove CLICK

Popular Mechanics and Preppers CLICK

Dec17

Survival Supply and Demand

on December 17th, 2011 at 1:07 AM
Posted In: Economics, Employment

When everything goes south, there will be a stage of expensive buying, then buying with metals, then bartering. Once TEOTWAWKI comes, precious metals won’t matter much. When people are dying and starving on every corner, no one cares if you have ten grand in silver to buy some bullets. They will want food. What about after things take a return towards normalcy though? Silver and gold will have its importance in the rebuilding of society. So will bartering. A good old fashioned trading post may be your bet. If you are already well stocked in your survival supplies, then may I recommend capitalism for after TSHTF.
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Most people will be bartering beans, bullets, and band aids. However there will still be people out there that have these and are looking for more exotic goods. When the guy from down the street is looking for food, maybe he’ll be willing to trade for those “worthless” lithium batteries he has. The same batteries that someone else needs for their high tech night vision. By having a trading post, you will be acquiring things that you need, as well as starting commerce in your neck of the woods.
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Old time goods are going to become very important. People will be searching out antique hand tools as well as antique farm equipment. Old time medical and dentistry instruments will also become a gem to the right person. This also includes basics like gauze and dental floss. If electricity and batteries are few and far between, there will be a whole lot of people without the tools to do necessary tasks. Having soap that you’ve stockpiled or knowing how to make it also falls into this group.
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Another add-on to medical stuff will be things that most people won’t have access to. Glasses. Get a hold of as many glasses as you can. Since most people wear contacts, they are going to be in bad shape when they can’t see down the barrel of their rifle. Find common shaped glasses so that you can switch out lenses on either side according to the person’s eye strength. Another addition will be hearing aids and batteries. There are going to be plenty of elderly that will survive. They are still going to depend on certain items to get them through. Also, condoms. Condoms may not be a survival item that people will want to trade for, but hand them out to people you are afraid of causing harm to the future.
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Reading material is what will help most of us to get through. Gone are the days where remedies, tricks and tips, as well as techniques are handed down from generation to generation. Technical manuals on the trades and medical instructional guides will become gold. Some of the greatest treasure troves out there are Victorian and Amish old time living guides. Don’t forget to pick up some casual reading material as well for entertainment purposes.
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Kind of on the same subject, not every day is going to be fighting of hoards of bandits and working from sun up until sun down. Entertainment and relaxation will be just as important as guns and food. Keep stacks of games, cards, massage oils, toys, and stationary in your post. Pens, pencils, paper, and crayons will some of the most important items that you will carry to trade. They’re not only entertainment devices, but important for recording information as well as posting information.
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Some folks will still have moving equipment whether it be electrical, mechanical, or by brute force. keeping common spare parts and oils will be another hot item. Some items to keep an eye on will be ball bearings, gaskets, nuts/bolts, lubricants, antifreeze, and motor belts. Make sure that you are keeping common sizes and weights.
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With so many people buying frozen foods, fast foods, and other quick meals most people don’t have sufficient storage containers. Keep on hand all items to can food. You might also consider Tupperware or even two liter bottles for trading. Popcorn and cookie tins will make great barter items. Once TSHTF, vermin will become an increasing problem. Most will not be prepared.
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Out of all the items, I think clothing and footwear will be one of the biggest needed items next to food and water. So many people buy designer clothes with a few pairs of relaxed clothes on hand. Good work wear is hard to find in many closets. Having heavy duty summer and winter clothing will be desperately needed amongst the populace. So will footwear. A good steady boot for work and firm but comfortable shoe will be something that will be desired. Make sure that you carry both women and men sizes, plus some shoes for children, too.
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If you know how to reload and gunsmith, you already have a separate business. If you don’t, it doesn’t mean that you can’t carry the tools. You may have a retired gunsmith who is looking for tools and reloading equipment so that he can start his own business. You’ve now got a deal for reduced priced ammo…which you could also sell.
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Knowing how to garden is one thing. Learning how to seed save is a whole ‘nother beast. At least for me. Heirloom seeds will be an important part of the rebuild. If you can figure out the whole seed saving thing, you will certainly be on track for some big business. Make sure that you have seeds for a variety of climates and soils. A travelling salesman may just buy your seeds to sell to the next community. Not every community will be organized.
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There’s going to be a ton of stuff that people will sit around and sulk about not having. Things that were so readily available pre-SHTF. People will miss matches, lighters, toilet paper, paper towels, razors, shaving cream, tampons/pads, hand sanitizer, batteries, and the list goes on. While most people may desperately need new clothes, they may trade for five square of toilet paper. Simply to feel at ease for a moment. Other items will be booze and smokes. I don’t think I’d want to re-introduce these in my community, but if it works for you, we are all adults.
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So many of us are focused on adults. If you are a single adult, I understand. Those that are parents must have thought about their kids. However I never read much about the subject. Keep items for kids age one day to thirteen years old. Infants will be the ones that face the worst hardship. There are clothes, tools, and equipment for toddlers on up, but infant gear is hard to acquire. I hope you lose profits on these items. Kids deserve the cheap help.
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To wrap up my Trading Post idea, I’d like to say I hope this catches on. It will help to stir out American ideals as well as start commerce again. The main points that I would like to say is make sure that you have all of your own survival items first. Otherwise you won’t live long enough to see your trading post set up. Also if you plan on doing this, make sure you stock up on a large enough quantity as well as various “sizes” of whatever you are trading. Keep it quiet until the day comes, too. If I swing into your post, will you give me a ten percent discount?

Dec14

December 14, 2011

on December 14th, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I’ve made it through finals, and a cold, and am still fighting bronchitis. My other writers are gone for the month so I’ve been way behind.

I received an email about how my website isn’t very nice to read. They said that my posts are too graphic. My response is that I’m here to bring truthful help. Being a prepper is not always a picture perfect scenario. That’s why I’ve added a new section to the welcome post.

11 days till Christmas

Dec14

In The News

on December 14th, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Posted In: News

A new Farm Bill CLICK

More 1ST Amendment freedom lost? CLICK

Welfare Dependency CLICK

Dec14

Out of Sight

on December 14th, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Posted In: Building Construction, Gear, OPSEC, Safety, Security

We all hide stuff in our home. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to hide valuables from burglars or presents from the family. The difference is, kids know where the good stuff is. Ok, not quite. But you aren’t just hiding “the goods” from kids or burglars, but from everyday people. Your neighbor doesn’t need to know that you have a gun safe big enough to hide twenty rifles and a small tank. You also don’t need nosey family members seeing all of your stockpiled prepper supplies. The first area that I want to cover is where not to hide stuff.
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Burglars have learned along the way where typical hiding spaces are, which is why it is important to be even more clever. This goes much further than just money under a mattress. If you are going to hid things in furniture, make sure it’s not something that is also likely to get stolen such as electronics. Don’t hide stuff in books, bookcases, or behind/inside clocks/picture frames. Hiding stuff in clothing in a dresser is also a no-no.
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Hiding stuff in the ventilation systems isn’t a good idea either. Top spot for crooks to check. Also, beware of loose flooring. They’ll know to check there, too. Hiding stuff in your walls is a great idea if you know how to do it correctly. We’ll cover that later on. I’m sure many of you have seen the secret room behind a bookcase. You have? So have burglars. We’ll discuss this later as well.
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When it comes to hiding certain smaller items in your home, you have many options. If you are crafty in handiwork, or know and trust someone who does, you can really come up with hard to detect spots. Behind sheetrock is a good place, but it has to be done professionally. This will allow you easy access to the spot when you need to. It will also be done in such a fashion that it doesn’t appear to be removable. Too many people simply have sheetrock that is obviously removable thus advertising to crooks.
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Secret rooms are top notch. Having a safe room with a back door emergency hatch would be awesome. However, most of us in this economy don’t have the luxury to do such tasks. I know that bookcase doors are popular, but remember that they are popular to burglars too. Make sure if you go this route, that the bookcase can close and be secured without obvious detection. Whatever you do, don’t make the handle a book on the bookcase.
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Having false walls and shelves can really fool people. If you are skilled at carpentry, this could be your ticket. The best places for these are old furniture in the attic or basement. The basement is probably one of your best places to put in false walls to create whole rooms down to hiding spaces. Also, try hiding stuff that has been waterproofed in drains or fake drains in the floor.
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When it comes to safes, a lot of us have them. But you may as well leave your stuff out. That’s because most people don’t know the tricks to safes. I don’t care if your safe weighs 600 pounds, a group of druggie losers will get it out if there is time. You need to bolt your safe not just to the floor or wall, but both and in a corner of a room. This maximizes security by having it bolted to three sides and very difficult to cut through the wall. You also do not want to have your main safe out in the open. I recommend putting a 2-3 rifle safe in your master bedroom or den/office. If you have some money to spare, make it a really cheap safe with some old junk rifle in there. Throw in some phony paperwork and junk jewelry. Crooks will focus in on this instead of the huge safe hidden in your basement or walk-in closet. Just make sure your real safe is concealed.
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Another item is all of that prepper stuff you have stockpiled. If you are just starting out, it’s not difficult to hide or explain away all of your stuff. An example is have a ton of home canned food in your pantry. Explain how you over planted your garden so you decided to save extras. Hide extra supplies in closets, rafters, covered garage shelves, and in sheds. However, once you get to the point that you are well prepared for TEOTWAWKI, you will have to find more room. A great idea is to have an underground storage. Doesn’t have to be big or fancy either. Just dig it out and place a tool shed over the opening. This way friends, family, and neighbors won’t see your five year food supply and enough medical equipment to start a MASH unit.
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Every home his different, as well as where that home is and the type of people that live in it. You may have older children that are trustworthy enough not to tell anyone. Or you could have snot nosed young ones that blab everything. Take a look around your home. The first places to hide that come to you are not the best. Think of off the wall areas. Have a plan on how you will hide your items and who will know. Make sure that you also have an “in case We/I are dead, please read” note so that your loved ones will know that you hid things and where to find them.

Dec02

December 2, 2011

on December 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

I know it’s been awhile, but I have gone back to school and am nearing finals. I apologize. Now, if you are thinking of getting us a Christmas gift, just refer us to all of your friends and help to get us well know. The more people that we reach, the more information we have to put out. Thank you all for the emails that I have been getting. I hope that I am catching up quick enough!

Dec02

In the News

on December 2nd, 2011 at 11:25 PM
Posted In: News

Primatene Inhalers disappearing… CLICK

Cooking Oil into Biodiesel CLICK

New Prepper Website. (Kinda like Drudge… but for Preppers) CLICK

Maybe the “American Redoubt” isn’t as great as thought CLICK

Dec02

Being Psychologically Prepared

on December 2nd, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Posted In: Education, Health, Medicine, Safety, Security

Gear and guns…the essentials of TEOTWAWKI. So your physical needs are met, how about your emotional, mental, and spiritual? The fact is, in any disaster, you have to have a layer of mental and emotional protection. Watching your kids eat canned soup instead of fast food may actually be rewarding. Yet, what about watching your kids jump up and down, half frozen, just to generate a little heat? Your wonderful spouse that is on dialysis, may or may not be around when things get back to normal, if they even do at all. How will you handle burying your neighbors, your spouse… your kids?
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The first thing that you should do, is realize possible scenarios along with the emotions they present. Check out survivors books ranging from kids dying in accidents to spouses dying in wars. Pick up a broad spectrum. This will help you to identify signs and symptoms of mental distress. Imagine a person in your home who has tied you up, and is raping your five year old child, then eats them. If you think this is too off topic for you, you may not be ready for TEOTWAWKI. Trust me, whatever gruesome act you could imagine, someone has out done you ten times in real life. We live in a sick world.
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I also recommend some psychology books on how to deal with delicate situations. Some how-to topics should include: Rape, Murder, Suicide, Mental Illness, Fatal Illnesses, and all forms of abuse. While some group members will rely on the medic, nurse, doc, or shrink to help with this, some people will not have a group. I recommend studying everything for yourself. Just in case someone else can’t help you.
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Realize what your personal limitations are as well as everyone in a group or family. I posted in one of my news topics about a discussion of cannibalism in SHTF scenarios. I personally think it’s gross and morally wrong, but if it was the only thing left to eat on earth, I would probably do it to save my family. Put yourself in those shoes and imagine what you would do… honestly.
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You also have to be ready to face humanity on a personal level in TEOTWAWKI. I have a sister that I truly love dearly, but if TSHTF and she comes knocking, she’s on her own. My immediate family comes first and those that cannot or will not contribute will be left outside. Luckily (or maybe unluckily) I have a cold heart when it comes to logical decisions. The only room for emotional override of those decisions is with my own immediate family. Are you ready to kick family to the curb? What about starving orphans at your door? Will you take them all in and kill everyone in the process? Will you not let anyone in and just take care of yourself? These are questions that need to be raised. As for me, I have my groups that will be allowed in and those that won’t. As far as strangers passing through, they will be dealt with on a case by case basis according to actions and supplies.
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So many of us are taking the time to prepare physically, and some mentally, but what about emotionally where it really hurts. This is an area that no one can tell you how to respond. It’s in your heart….and your cache.

Nov27

November 27, 2011

on November 27th, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

So we’ve had some tech mess ups, but oh well. I’ve been receiving emails and I am very grateful. If you have expertise in a specific field, please let me know. I would love to get expert advice! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

Nov27

in the News

on November 27th, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Posted In: News

Second Depression?? Click

Interesting tax interpretation.. Click

Who’s the enemy?? Click

Nov27

Keeping Your Mouth Shut

on November 27th, 2011 at 8:47 PM
Posted In: Building Construction, OPSEC, Security, Self Defense

I have a bug out location…but a select few know where it is. The last thing I need is having 6 families of 4 show up to my spot because “I have food.” Operational Security is known as OPSEC. This means saying what you need to, to the people that need to know. As far as everyone else, zip your lip.

Before you even buy your special property with all of the security measures like tall trees and bushes, and four strand high barbed wire, shut up. Don’t advertise your security measures. I know someone with an old rotten barn on the outside, but has a concrete secure treasure garden inside. If you have outbuildings, use some for storage units.

This helps to reduce mass theft. The way that you want to spread your load is by daily usage. If you have three outbuildings, put X numbers of food, water, medical supplies, and simple clothing in each one. In case of an overrun, you can run to a variety of places that have the same stuff. Also make sure that you camouflage each one so it acts as a barn or grain mill. This makes a less vulnerable target.

When it comes to weapons, make sure you scatter them in places that normal folk wouldn’t look for them. If you have the money, I would suggest an addition to a basement, or even an underground extension in a bedroom closet. Once you are developing your BOL, keep it a secret. When TSHTF, people are going to be looking for a safe haven. If you advertise to the world that you have supplies, then expect the consequences. Loose lips sink ships is a great phrase. I have plenty of people that I care for but only a specific few that I would invite to survive TEOTWAWKI. The rest will just feed off us till we die. Sorry, but life isn’t always fair.

Nov13

November 13, 2011

on November 13th, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

Sorry for the delay but we’ve had some technical difficulties. We hope that everything is back up normal and right.

Nov13

In the News

on November 13th, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

Israel and Iran…. CLICK.

A little off the wall, but interesting…. CLICK

Nov13

Home Security

on November 13th, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Posted In: Homestead, OPSEC, Safety, Security

Most people know that the best security in SHTF scenario is in the country. I’d like to focus a bit on the terrain and physical structures for security. Where I live, there are gently rolling hills. This makes for a more difficult terrain to cross. It also helps with first entry. In some of the hills where I live, they plowed straight through them for streets. This means that some people have a 3-6 foot climb to get into someone’s property. Unless they use the driveway. This helps to provide a choke point at least on one side. For people that don’t have this luxury, you can always dig a 3 foot deep ditch by 3 feet wide. While having it all the way around the house may make people suspicious, you can at least put it on the sides that face a street. Having it all the way around makes it look like a moat. Might as well fill it with alligators. Yet on the sides that are on roads, simply tell people that you are afraid of erosion. The next item is blocking the view of your home from the rest of the world. Make sure that you at least have a 3-4 strand barbed wire fence around your property followed by some shrubbery. Thuja Green Giants are great. However there are many options between trees and bushes. Talk to a local landscaper to find out what grows well in your area. Should you have 1-4 acres, this isn’t to expensive if you do the work yourself. Anything above that and you are looking at considerable dollars. Planting a cross between trees and bushes may not completely block the view to your property, but it will sure help. Depending on the type of bushes will also help deter predators. Certain berry bushes are full of thorns and very difficult to pass when they are fully grown. Just make sure that you trim them and kill of the offspring. Otherwise you will have berry bushes growing everywhere. If your property is large enough, you may have your perimeter border as well as a living area border. Some folks put an additional fence around there house to include a front and backyard. I recommend a chain link fence. You can tell people that it gives your kids and/dogs/cats an area to roam free from predators. The benefit of having a chain link fence around your living area is that you can attach a second tier to the first to give you double height. On this second tier, you could attach razor wire. In the event of TEOTWAWKI, you could also add barbed wire and razor wire around the base of the first layer. I also like the idea of having either brick or stone around the bottom portion of a house. This would help to absorb bullets and shrapnel. I also recommend having sandbags laying around. Keep some always full and leave plenty of empties too. Burlap is great, but can decompose. I recommend the acrylic or polypropylene sandbags. Line these up around your house from ground level up to 3-4 feet. Another idea is to guard your windows. It can be quite fashionable to have window shudders on your home. When your shudders are in the open position, you only see decorations. On the back side, there could be heavy duty metals that could help in a hurricane, tornado, or even bullets. As far as roofs, I recommend that people get a fire resistant roof. Certain metal roofs are great for the topic, but difficult for firefighters to open in order to ventilate your house in a home fire. Weigh your options. Always have a safe room. This doesn’t have to be the rich persons hide-away room from burglars. Pick a quick access room such as a bedroom or basement that has reinforced windows, doors, and walls. Live to fight another day.

I hope this gives you some insight on your home security.

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Nov03

November 3, 2011

on November 3rd, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Posted In: Admin Notes

Hey y’all, glad to see you another day. I’ve already started to receive emails, so I will be slower to respond the more emails I get. I’d appreciate it if you spread the word around about this website so we can get some expert opinions in here. Let’s help each other out!

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Nov03

In the News

on November 3rd, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Posted In: News

The economy just gets worse CLICK

Kind of neat CLICK

What are we allowed to teach? CLICK

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