61 replies to this topic

[Canned Nerd]

Congratulations on getting started. Just try to do one thing each day if you can. It's nothing to stress over. Food & supplies you get now are items you don't have to spend higher prices on later. Other than that we don't know what is before us in the future as far as emergencies or disasters. I live at sea level and could be wiped out in a second by a tsunami wave and all my supplies instantly gone. We never know.

Yes, make a BOB for your child that is 200 miles away. It can always be used by someone else if circumstance dictate.

[Stephanie]

chefddr, It sounds like you're making some strides towards your goals and making some good decisions too. That's great. Being a part of the LDS church will certainly provide you with some good resources and information as you strive to set aside provisions for your family.

Before we bought our place here I had to get creative when it came to self-sufficiency. We didn't have a place for a garden, so I started planting in containers. You can do potatoes, cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, just about anything! We have several threads in the Urban forum about container gardening.

[gapeachylady]

My husband is retired military, so we shop at the commissary every two weeks. I will start buying a lot of things now that I know how to proceed. Instead of one or two cans of tuna, I'll buy 3 or 4, and doing things like that will at least get me started. I've seen them hold case sales, and next time they have one, I'll take advantage of it for a change. I'm new to this, so I've been reading a lot of the posts in my spare time, and getting ideas. I'll also be going online to find out storage life for different foods, and other ideas. I started with some basic things and printed them out so that we will have them ready when we need them. This all takes a lot of investigating, thinking and planning. Making lists is important so that I can keep things straight. Now I need to find a place to store everything I get. Guess my extra bedroom is as good a place as any.

I've read that a lot of people store wheat, etc, but think I will probably stick to baking mix, etc for breads...just keep it stored in tight containers and rotating it before expiration dates if need be.

Everyone is being so helpful. I feel confident that soon I will be ready for any emergency or situation. Money is always an issues, but told hubby that as we have a little cash, I will spend it on supplies. I don't have to go into debt just to get some items each payday.

[cheles2kids]

Gapeachlady, I came to the realization that most new 'preppers' seem to go through stages. Well, at least I did.
I used to pick up a couple extra items that would be on sale, and then I began adding 6 extra.
Now?
I just buy a whole case of whatever it is and be done with it.

But I think sometimes that a person can feel so overwhelmed by it all, especially if you've looked at those wonderous long-term food storage pantry pictures around the web.
It almost makes a person want to quit before they even get started.
But I had to keep telling myself to just start somewhere and it would begin to accumulate and it does.

Now I'm noticing that more & more that when I go shopping, I'm shopping to add to my stockpile.
I don't have to buy my regular groceries as well as extras for my stockpile.
My plan is that if I keep at it, I will eventually never have to shop except for going to the local Farmer's Market to buy fresh veggies, or to buy something on sale at an exceptionally low price.

I think stockpiling, prepping, food storage, whatever you want to call it comes in stages and we just learn what works best for us, as we go along.
At first I would buy extra canned items or cleaning supplies.

But now, I'm buying extra shelving units and getting into dehydrating, and just recently I also started with ordering some #10 cans of items.
I also am looking into putting some food away with the bucket & mylar method.
I have plenty of buckets, I just have to get my mylars & oxygen absorbers, which I've been putting off ordering.

I sooo miss shopping at our military commissary!!
We are retired Navy and I was like you, I would go every 2 weeks.
I don't think people sometimes realize how much money they really save shopping there, until they no longer have one close to you.
I know I sure didn't.

Good Luck to you in your stockpiling adventures!


Michelle in middle Tennessee

[gapeachylady]

Cheles or Michelle,
You are so right about this prepping going through stages. At first I just kind of read, thought and never really did much. I just bought some lamp oil, matches, little things like that. Then as I saw things getting worse around us, and heard all the 2012 predictions, I began to make lists and buy other things, but just one or two at a time. Now I'm buying more and feeling like I need to do it soon.

Last night hubby went online to find some ammo...and had a hard time finding it. Finally we found some that we need, but the prices have almost doubled. I told him that it doesn't matter. We NEED to start stocking up on that in case we need to find food or protect ourselves. I followed a link given to me on here and found out that people all over the world are prepping...I thought we were the only ones..LOL

My list of things to do, and buy grows daily. I even found a website that sells hybrid seeds, so will order some and put them away. I'm going to do the bucket and mylar bag thing too...am planning on four, baking mix, rice and some other things. I'm hoping that by the end of summer I'll have a good start and will keep on as long as we can.

Retired Navy huh? Hubby is retired Air Force. Yes, the commissary is a lifesaver sometimes. There are a few things we can get cheaper at walmart, but only a few things. Shopping for two weeks is also a help with having some things on standby..but I want to get things like spam, canned chicken, etc that we don't normally eat, but would if there was no electricity per se. Hadn't thought too much about cleaning supplies, but the dollar store would be a good one for that. I also want to buy a few more oil lamps. We have about 5 and use them in power outages, but would like to have a few more. We also have lanterns and now I need to add batteries to the list. Do you make lists or just buy on impulse? There is just so much info to remember and so I have a notebook I'm using.

I saw that you're in Tenn. What took you there? Are you originally from the area, or what? I love the areas there I've been to.

Well I'm going surfing to look up some things for prepping. Take care

[Mt_Rider]

by gapeachylady

I even found a website that sells hybrid seeds, so will order some and put them away.

Peachy? Was that a typo? Cuz if you want to be able to gather the seeds and replant them to grow true, you are wanting "heirloom" or "open-pollinated" seeds. Hybrids won't grow true to the parent plant and you can get some real weirdo-non-productive results.


MtRider [just checking]

[gapeachylady]

Mtrider,
yes, they are non hybrid, Heirlooms seeds. Sorry about the mistake. My fingers didn't work on that one..LOL

[Mt_Rider]

OK, you got the good ones then!

Sounds like you are making great progress on your prepping!



MtRider

[ROSARYCHAPLET]

What has worked well for me is the 'if you need one, buy two' philosophy. I have slowly built up my peanut butter, apple juice, toilet paper and the other necessities of life with 4 kids in this fashion.


Hope I've helped!

because if my income limitations any time i buy something cheap i get two or more as well. i'm always on the look out for coupons, sales and the like.great thing to have is product coupon, store coupon and sale!!!

[cheles2kids]

Do you make lists or just buy on impulse? There is just so much info to remember and so I have a notebook I'm using.

I saw that you're in Tenn. What took you there? Are you originally from the area, or what? I love the areas there I've been to.

Well I'm going surfing to look up some things for prepping. Take care

Oh gosh yes, I have lists upon lists. Teheheheheheeee!!!
I keep an ongoing list that I add to as I remember things that I need to purchase, and then an ongoing food storage list whenever I use something or need to begin a stockpile of a certain item.
I try to keep this list more on a montly basis.

It looks kinda like this:
ITEM AMOUNT NEEDED STORE
mayonnaise~4 jars~~WM
olives~6 jars~~WM
toilet paper~2 packages of 36 double rolls~~Sam's Club

etc. that way I know which place has the best price and how many I need to get to a certain point.

On some items I'm completely stocked for 6 months, others, only about 3-4 months.
So I'm trying to bring everything up to a 6 month supply and then make sure that I have enough variety as well.

I've just begun to put away some #10 cans for longer-term storage, so my goal is to keep an ongoing list of what I have and what I want to order for each month on these items as well.

When I go shopping my grocery buggy really does look funny, 'cause I'll have like 4 jars of taco sauce, 8 bags of sunflower seeds, 4 jars of mayonnaise, 4 packages of feminine pads, etc.
Not your typical grocery buggy by any means!

As for where we are in Tennessee. We are West of the Cookeville, TN. area.
Yes, we are both originally from Tennessee and were stationed in Jacksonville, Florida when his retirement time rolled around.
He got offered a job with the Army Corps of Engineers and here we are.

Tennessee is a beautiful state, especially in and around the Eastern part of the state. The mountains are sure beautiful in the Fall when all the leaves are changing colors that's for sure.

Sorry to have gotten off topic there.
My apologies to everyone.

Edited by cheles2kids, 21 April 2009 - 11:59 AM.

[Karla]

Hi aussiemama,

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Here's the link

http://www.ldscatalo...o...1&langId=-1

I just got the starter kit myself, my first order from there.

this link no longer works,

[sendee]

Hi aussiemama,

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Here's the link

http://www.ldscatalo...o...1&langId=-1

I just got the starter kit myself, my first order from there.

this link no longer works,

Karla, if you go to ldscatalog.com, then look under the "Home and Family" section, then "Self Reliance", you will see the things for sale, like cases of wheat and rice. Hope this helps.

[themartianchick]

How nice, Sendee! Your first post is one to help someone else! Hope to read more of your posts now that yhou've come out of "lurker" mode!

[ma & pa steel]

sweet booked marked site will order some when tax check comes in

[sendee]

How nice, Sendee! Your first post is one to help someone else! Hope to read more of your posts now that yhou've come out of "lurker" mode!

Thanks, Martianchick. It's good to be on. I have never actually ordered from the LDS website but I've heard that it is a wonderful resource. I'm blessed to have lots of LDS neighbors that are willing to take me to the local cannery with them so I can get what I need. That is an awesome benefit for me. I've also borrowed their can sealer for the #10 cans a few times. It is really easy to operate and makes quick work of a sack of wheat or flour or whatever.

[arby]

bump

[jlcarey1]

Mother, thank you for posting this...this was a great reassurance to me! It feels like it has been so whirlwind crazy for me. I got curious about an alternative news station, so I started listening to it. And so quickly, it convinced me that it is in the best interest of my family to prepare for WHATEVER. I don't know if all the things they talk about are true...but what if they are?? I want to be prepared if they are! So thanks for the encouraging words!!

[Mother]

You are welcome, Jl. And welcome to Mrs. S. I'm glad you started to pay attention to what you were hearing. Even if none of what we hear happens, it is still prudent to be prepared. We cannot predict the weather, especially lately, and we cannot always predict adversity. Prepping is a process and a life style. Oh, did I mention that it might be addicting There is such a good feeling to being ready for what comes along in life.

[jlcarey1]

I agree totally about the addicting part....just starting out and already I am in love with my tiny stash of beans and rice and water, lol. I am so excited for my new storage area in my basement I can't wait for it to be finished! And all day long I mentally plan my BOB's, my veggie garden, canning, etc....yes, I am hooked! Thank you so very much for this forum! You all make me feel not quite so crazy!!

You are welcome, Jl. And welcome to Mrs. S. I'm glad you started to pay attention to what you were hearing. Even if none of what we hear happens, it is still prudent to be prepared. We cannot predict the weather, especially lately, and we cannot always predict adversity. Prepping is a process and a life style. Oh, did I mention that it might be addicting There is such a good feeling to being ready for what comes along in life.

[Mt_Rider]

...."not quite so crazy", eh? No, we're all crazy. But we are also foresighted, thoughtful, able to plan ahead, disciplined enough to save for tomorrow instead of having to enjoy it all today...... Yeah, solid people who talk about gardens, goats, TEOTWAWKI, and such.

MtRider [....Pssst, I'd say she'd caught the bug. ]