163 replies to this topic

[Mt_Rider]

Yea! A librarian AND the driver for the Library Wagon. AND children's books. It's all yours, Lori. I have hundreds of books..... At least we can use light-weight plastic {waterproof} tote containers to pack them instead of adding the weight of wooden crates.

So Micheal will be picking up "spare parts" from other's discards. [sounds like a pack rat like me. lol ] Can you make hinges for our cabin doors when we arrive? Those arm thingies to swing the cooking kettle into/out of the fireplace? MrMtR has some farrier tools [chaps!] and knows a bit about ...putting a shoe back on. A bit about correct hoof angles and such. We need some blank shoes in various sizes to bring. [Wonder, IRL, what size my horse wears...and I ought to have a couple sets, JIC ] And a BIG box of horseshoe nails. At least the oxen aren't shod.

Good website Micheal listed. Also on same website were these pages. The first 2 are pictures of tools. If you haven't looked thru the Lehman's catalog or visited antique shops, you might want to take a look at the tools. Many of us own/have owned a lot of what is pictured or have seen our grandparents use them.

http://library.think.../6400/tools.htm
http://library.think...6400/tools2.htm

This third one [copied here] is another list divided into categories. It lists the item and then the estimated weight. Sorry, the nice columns didn't transfer here.

http://library.think...supply list.htm

Supply List

Below are the supplies that a Pioneer family traveling west might take on their five-month journey by covered wagon. Pretend you are a pioneer and about to make a long journey to the frontier. Make a list of what you would take on the journey, keeping in mind that the wagon will carry 2,000 pounds. Compare your list with a friends.
Tools:

-ax 15 shovel 12 hatchet 9 hammer 7 hoe 3 anvil 150 grinding stone 75 animal trap 15 rope 4

Personal Items Pounds doll 2 jump rope 1 marbles 1 family Bible 2 books 2 hunting knife 1 bag of clothes 40 fiddle 2 snowshoes 8 rifle 10 pistol 7 first aid kit 3

Food Pounds flour 150 tea 10 salt 50 sugar 50 coffee 100 bacon 40 dried fruit 100 dried beans 100 cornmeal 10 spit peas 100 oatmeal 8 vinegar 25 pickles 50 dried beef 25 salt pork 5 assorted spices 5 barrel of water 350 vegetables 5

Household Goods Pounds coffee grinder 5 rug 40 bedding 20 mirror 40 dutch oven 70 butter churn 40 table and 4 chairs 200 piano 900 organ 2000 baby cradle 75 wooden bucket 10 bedpan 2 butter mold 1 rocking chair 50 pitcher and bowl 5 cooking stove 700 cooling utensils 2 stool 10 spinning wheel 80 lantern 4 clock 1 10 candles 1 set of dishes 40

{sigh}....guess I'm gonna have to leave the organ behind to save on weight.

They are predicting a 5 month trip whereas we are simply traveling for 60 days...hopefully.


MtRider [bringing the kitchen sink tho...aka: laundry tub ]

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Yea! A librarian AND the driver for the Library Wagon. AND children's books. It's all yours, Lori. I have hundreds of books..... At least we can use light-weight plastic {waterproof} tote containers to pack them instead of adding the weight of wooden crates.

Driver?
where you thinking lori would drive?
well thats out.
and the totes can be turned on their sides when we get 'there' as 'Library book shelves' until the school/Library/Church get built.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

So Micheal will be picking up "spare parts" from other's discards. [sounds like a pack rat like me. lol ] Can you make hinges for our cabin doors when we arrive? Those arm thingies to swing the cooking kettle into/out of the fireplace?

can do !

I done that kind of thing before. Even made some out of tin cans and nails(hinge pins) for smaller projects. S hooks, door handles, pot spiders,boot scrapers,etc. I'm your man.
I love making things for around the homestead here out of 'found' objects.


PS side bar-
when people ask me if I could time travel where do I want to go?
I always tell them just this side of the big moutains on the Oregon Trail with a empty wagon heading east. Why?
so I can pick up all that great stuff people left behind by the side of the trail and bring it home - to use!

[Amishway Homesteaders]

{sigh}....guess I'm gonna have to leave the organ behind to save on weight.

No problem as Michael is packing our 'hand cranked' record player and a stack of 78's so we will have some music on the trail.

[Mt_Rider]

Yea! A librarian AND the driver for the Library Wagon. AND children's books. It's all yours, Lori. I have hundreds of books..... At least we can use light-weight plastic {waterproof} tote containers to pack them instead of adding the weight of wooden crates.

Driver?
where you thinking lori would drive?
well thats out.
and the totes can be turned on their sides when we get 'there' as 'Library book shelves' until the school/Library/Church get built.

Oops....guess I read that wrong. Lori volunteering for librarian position..not driver. LOL So we still need Special Wagon drivers. See how complex these things can get? Especially if it's a "colonization" trip to a brand-new location without a town/community already set up.

lol on your collecting stuff and heading East. Use that time-machine to transport treasured antiques to our era and you'd have a mint.


MtRider [need drivers..... Help wanted. ]

[Amishway Homesteaders]

idea....................

Can we find someone who can't read but can drive? if they promise to drive the Library Wagon Lori and I will teach them to read (and write their name) along the way. Maybe someone homeless near the starting point of our trip? The rest of the company can take turns feeding them (drivers)
i

[Amishway Homesteaders]

idea....................

Can we find someone who can't read but can drive? if they promise to drive the Library Wagon Lori and I will teach them to read (and write their name) along the way. Maybe someone homeless near the starting point of our trip? The rest of the company can take turns feeding them (drivers)
i

Did You all leave without me?

nobody has posted for 4 days!

I have a photo I am tryiing to post that will let you know what we have been up too?

[Mother]

I was thinking the same thing Michael so have decided to post a part of my list instead of trying to get it all together. I sure wouldn't want anyone to leave me behind.

Those of you who know me probably will be amazed to have me say this but,,,,I'm glad we can bring along modern inventions. I have always opined that combining the best of both worlds (past and present) would be the only way to survive in today's world.



To get an idea of what modern items we might want to take I consulted with our 7 YO GS. Some of you will know that we help to home school him, teaching history and science two days a week. Last year we did a whole curriculum on covered wagon travel and living complete with outfitting a 1/12-scale wagon. We often had to make our own ‘to scale’ supplies so he’s pretty knowledgeable about what needs to go in them. He recommends that we bring along our small solar panels, gel cell batteries, and a few solar lights. Now I can think of all kinds of things we might use that set up for but he says that we need it because “it gets mighty dark in the wilderness and we might want that ‘comfort’”. (yes, he does talk that way and he’s more than just a little afraid of the dark). Now, admittedly, that solar set up might not last a long time, and it would have to be packed extremely well to make the trip but he’s right. So many people, especially those coming from an urban setting, have any clue how dark it can be at night in the wilderness. Have you ever looked out your window and NOT seen a light in the distance?



Most of us have flashlights and even, if you are like me, wind up ones that will last a long time into the future. We have lanterns and lamps but they are dependent on fuel. We can make all sort of lights as well, like the grease lamps or the vegetable oil lights but they also are dependent on fuel. Candles are also a possibility but they need substances as well and the truth be known, most of them are going to give a meager light at best in a vast wilderness of darkness. A good experiment is to go into a large totally dark room, devoid of ALL light sources. If the room is small like a bathroom or closet you will be perfectly comfortable with the light from a flashlight or even an oil lamp. If that room has a mirror in it, so much the better. BUT if you use a large room and you depend on say just a candle you are going to find that it’s pretty difficult to see farther than right in front of you. Now compare it to the only light in MILES!!!



Like AH, I have a ton of historic items to bring along but the first “modern” convenience I’m putting in our wagon will be that small solar system. Not just for comfort either. That light might prove invaluable if a medical emergency comes up in the future. I have a half dozen or better 12 volt items that could be used with the system but I’ll be very selective of those before adding them. I will be adding the 12-volt battery charger (we have a solar one for charging small batteries as well) and a couple of portable battery packs. That would allow us to make the light or whatever, portable. As our battery packs also have inverters we would be able to run some electrical (110) items as well. Even if the system didn’t last forever, at least we’d have it until we got more inured to the lifestyle.

More coming.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

must be a brain dead monday.............

camera wouldn't upload photos &%^$#*&%!!!
so I made a copy and scanned it in.
Now I can't find out how to put a scanned image up???

C:\Documents and Settings\IBM User\My Documents\My Pictures\wagon trip
I know it's here soewhere?????????????????

sorry folks

[Mother]

Trying to list things Mt_Rider suggested. I'll add more about what we are bringing along soon.

Skills:

As skills go, I have a few, but am more jack of many trades than master of one. (I suspect that Michael is that way as well) (by the way, I just caught the connotation of the assumed names AH, LOL)

I have a lot of years in teaching open fire cooking. I have also taught pioneer daily life skills, including making "do" with what we have, Herb lore and usage, food preservation in the past, old ways of producing light, staying warm, doing laundry, cheese making, and more.

DH and I and our kids did wildlife rescue (27 years of doing it) and the knowledge of wildlife habitats, how they react in given situations (not always possible as they can be unpredictable), and etc might be valuable.

I have some Fiber crafts knowledge (knitting, crochet, weaving, knitting board, spool weaving, and more).

I have knowledge and skills in small livestock handling and rearing, especially the old ways, and have some knowledge in herbal remedies for them.

I have lots of gardening experience, and some wild crafting knowledge.

I also have organizational and people handling skills, as it’s what I did for years for a living.

I have also, as part of a life long love of pioneer living and a desire to learn first hand what it took to do so, lived for months at a time as our pioneer ancestors did. That is, without electricity, with no running water except what ingenuity rigged up, with only wood heat and cooking, and etc. They did NOT have it easy!

What I DON'T have is the physical ability to carry out some of these skills as I did in the past. What is it they say about those who can do; and those who can't teach! I'm probably closer to the teaching end than the doing end.

DH will be a great asset but in ways not specific most likely. He is a jack of many trades and can repair almost anything. He is a good make do carpenter. Even at our age (retired) he can outwork many younger than he. His middle name is Ingenuity, LOL. He is also a very good hunter.

Hopefully we'll have family coming with us. DD can do almost everything I can plus she is excellent with numbers. GKs are all versatile and willing to help. One GSIL knows hunting inside and out. SIL can handle any farm livestock there is and can not only drive teams but also can farm using them. He can repair almost anything, including farm equipment of the old fashioned kind.

DS #2 (#1 is in Thailand and won't be coming along) can do almost anything with metal, mechanics, and he is named after his father's middle name. LOL

Youngest son is an excellent and avid hunter and sportsman, welder, mechanic etc. His children, while young, are all willing workers. DDIL has an active mind and can shoot as well as any in the family.

I hope there are some things in this list of abilities that will make us good trail mates and useful members of our new community.

Edited by Mother, 19 October 2009 - 03:24 PM.

[Mother]

AH Michael, I hope you get it soon. Now you have me curious.

[Mt_Rider]

Yes....if anyone is still working on The Perfect List....go ahead and post a partial and then later, Quote Yourself to be able to bump forward any additions/edits as you work on the list.


Remember, this isn't just fun and games with our Conestoga Wagons. InRealLife, any of us may have to load up our Chevy Suburbans or Dodge Dakotas or whatever and really do an "immigration". Not to get gloomy but, remember all the "conestoga wagons" on our highways during the Great Depression? Cars and cars with families camping out and looking in new regions for work. THIS is the modern application of our somewhat fanciful list-making. To KNOW what useful resources you already have and what you might want to purchase towards your preps.

OK back to the Wagons Ho UNreality......

Sorry for the absence. I've been hit with my MS Fall Fatigue Thing [my personal name for what happens for an unspecified period of time nearly every fall for me and many others with MS]. Auuugggh! SOOOoooooo fatigued that I feel like I'll pass out when I stand up. I can take short breaks to feed myself or even quickly put supper in the oven/crockpot. But yikes! [MtRider is not a happy camper right now....and it's very fortunate that she loves reading...devouring books right now to pass the time required to be laying down.] Anyway, I might be able to do some computer work from the couch now that I have a laptop. But so far....I keep falling asleep.


But I am mentally still creating my list.

Just wait for some "adventures" I have planned for WagonsHo participants.


MtRider [gotta go lay down again....quickly..... ]

[Annarchy]

People: Annarchy & DH
Skills: Knowledge of cows, chickens, pigs, gardening, campfire cooking, hunting & fishing, free diving, 1st aid, DH is also a weapon expert,

Added: artist, crochet, & accountant. (Jews Harp for me & a harmonica for my DH)

Animals and supplies: 1 ferret, leashes & 10 lbs food, after that he can eat his natural small critters.

Added: Anyone needing to remove small rodents can barter with us. (15 lbs.)

Kitchen: Lg. Double boiler, 2 cast iron frying pans-1 sm, 1 lg., 2 sm pots for boiling. Sm BBQ, (if I have room, a BBQ smoker.) Coleman cook stove w/fuel, muffin pan, casserole pan, and bread pan, a set of silverware, knife block, utensils ......

Added: Remove smoker & coleman cook stove w/fuel, due to room constraints. Can do the same with my sm BBQ or a pit. Removed the knife block but keep the knives, 1 ladle, lg. sieve spoon, 1 serving spoon. Added my Haro. (15 lbs)


Health/sanitation: Lots of cotten towels, (more later)

Added: 1 Case of TP, 1 sheet & 5 towels cut for wash clothes, 5 tubes of toothpaste, 4 toothbrushes, 20 bars and 1 liter of liquid antibacterial soap. (15 lbs)

Medical: 1st aid kits, snake bite kits, sting & poison relief kits, sheets for bandages, & a pair of adjustable crutches.
Added: 3 1st aid kits, 2 sheets for bandages.

Shelter: 8 Sleeping bags-warm, cold & freezing weather, a tent.

Added: Remove warm weather sleeping bags, added 2 med/sm wool blankets, 1 down comforter and 1 blue jean quilt. 3 rollup foam bed cushions.

Clothing: At least 15 Jackets-warm, cold & freezing weather.

Added: Removed most of the jackets. Kept: 1 waterproof drover, 2 windbreakers, 2 down jackets, 1 thick sweater.

Daily Clothing:
For me: 2 broomstick skirts, 1 pair of overalls, 3 pair of jeans, 8 t-shirts, 2 bras & 8 pair of undies, 6 pair of warm socks. 2 pr of tennis shoes, 2 pr of boots, 2 pr of moccosins (1 cold- 1 warm), & 1 pr of sandles.
For DH: 3 pair of jeans, 6 BDU sets, 10 t-shirts, 10 pair of undies & 10 pr of socks, 2 pr of boots, and 1 pr of sturdy shoes, 1 pr of flipflops.
(Fits in 2 suitcases.)

Tools: DH's tool chest with most everything for the home and for weapon repairs.

Added: Hand drill & bits, & 2 saws with whet stone for sharpening things. 1 hoe, 1 rake, 2 spades, 1 hand trowel & spade. 5 fishing poles, 2 tackle boxes, 1 re-curve & 1 compound bows and arrows. Several hand guns & rifles with some cases of ammo.

Lighting: 2 Coleman fluid lanterns, 5 Gal of fluid, 10 lbs candles.

Added: 25 Bick lighters, 5 boxes of matches, 2 magnesium fire starter kits, 3 small led lights, 1 solar flashlight. Will assist in candle making when necessary.

Food/water: 120 gal of potable water & 100 gal of non potable. ((@8lb/gal=960lbs)+ (x 8=800) Total 1,760 lbs of water!!?)

Added:
1 Case of each (store bought):
canned chicken
canned tuna fish
canned vegetables
canned fruit

50 lbs beans, 50 lbs rice, 5 lbs dried meat/jerky, 10 lbs mixed nuts, 5 lbs dried blueberries, 5 lbs oatmeal, 3 lbs dried milk, 1 lb creamer, 10 lbs instant coffee, 25 lbs flour, 25 lbs sugar, 9 Pkg yeast, 1 lb baking pwd, 1 lb baking soda,


2 mountain bikes, and DH wants to tow the ATV for recon activities and bring the generator.....
I’ll have to add this up later but wanted to update my list. – Still working on it…. Since our weight limit is now 2,000! I’ve gotta re-evaluate the water…

[Amishway Homesteaders]

So it only took 2 hours but I did it!

Here is our wagon all ready for the trip!




This is a wagon one of our Amish Friends made for a Auction. Wish it was for us!

So now we will need to load it up . Hope to add more photos as we pack things up seeing we own most of what we will need.

[Mother]

OHHHHHH I AM envious AH. That's a really nice wagon. Can you give us the dementions on it? It looks as if the gentleman was standing inside he'd touch or almost touch the top. It really is a falacy that most settlers used a conestoga wagon to travel across the west.

Most were lucky they could afford a farm wagon with a make shift cover over the top. Surprisingly enough, especially later in the migration, some people traveled in buggies with wagons coming behind but it wasn't the best way to travel and most of them ended up in the wagon or walking eventually. Buggies were just not meant to stand up to that abuse.

Anarchy, that's a great start to the list. Water is truly a heavy item and as Mt_R says we're to have a water wagon following us we can hedge a little on that but.........what if something happens to the water wagon??? She DOES promise us some adventures. I believe I'll at least add a barrel to the outside of my wagon and keep it full as well. We're bound to find some water along the way....I hope.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

OHHHHHH I AM envious AH. That's a really nice wagon. Can you give us the dementions on it? It looks as if the gentleman was standing inside he'd touch or almost touch the top. It really is a falacy that most settlers used a conestoga wagon to travel across the west.

That 'gentleman' is ........................... ME! LOL

and this is a smaller one that they might use in reenactments and / or Parades?
But it is COOL! We got to follow it back to the shop one day and I tell you it brought back some memories of all the stories we have read.

But you are right as he (Amish Carpenter) started with a farm wagon and built it from that.
<--- does this look like the guy in the photo? LOL

[Mother]

Hmmmm, Are you sure, your posts don't look old enough to be that picture!!.

[Mt_Rider]

Hey, I think this "Quote Yourself" idea works well. So I'm finally getting to update my packing so far. Added items are marked below. Anarchy, I can see you are putting a lot of thot into this. I'm impressed that you are estimating the weight. I tend to see in "mass"...as in: what can I fit in this space. And I'm so good at it that I can pack very dense .....and HEAVY! <---see why I'm using oxen? ....MtRider adding a couple more oxen to her team... :rollingeyes:

Participants: MtRider & MrMtR

Skills:
chiro/health care/herbal/acupuncture/First Aid
knowledge of horses [& donkey], goats, ducks, dogs, cats....including some vet care.
gardening experience
minor canning experience
campfire cooking experience
some wildcrafting experience
lead women's Bible study..& dh knows Greek
some hunting/fishing
some constructing of shelter/building


Animals:
I'll chose an OXEN team for our wagon. Sturdy, strong, steady.....(are they as dumb as they seem?)

1 horse,
1 donkey,
------and equine tack, brushes/hoof picks, blankets, water buckets, packs & saddlebags

a dozen ducks in a cage strapped to the side of the wagon
------water dishes, buckets of feed for layers, egg cleaning "buff" glove, waterglass concentrate and bucket to preserve without refrigeration,

4 Nigerian dwarf milk goats-does [need to breed them before we leave...or Steph, is your buck a dwarf/mini??]
------5 gal bucket with birthing supplies, picnic basket with normal milking equipment, minerals, some grain/alfalfa for milkers, hoof trimmers,

guardian BIG DOG
-------Dog's BOB, harness, collar, lead rope, chews, bed cover (can be stuffed with dried grass for her to sleep on),
Added: Small, waterproof tent....in case of rain and the already-wet dog is NOT sleeping in our tent!

cat has to come for rodent control when we get there
-------Cat's BOB and carrier, food, dishes, string toy,......and earplugs cuz she'll be howling her unhappiness the whole way.
ADDED: I use a halter-type [not neck collar] and leash. More secure for slippery cats. Also have a small, pop-up, net tunnel thing for her to stretch her legs but would need watching.


Kitchen:
--Lots of cast iron...but I don't have any larger fire pit dutch ovens for the communal kitchen. Fry pans to share tho.
--Family [manual] grain grinder...with 4 attatchments: grinder, veggie slicer/dicer, meat grinder, grain cereal flaker.
--Backup grinder
--Apple peelers
--Food mill
--Sauerkraut bucket/pounder/net cover
--Sherman [the tank] canner....all implements, and a tote full of salt, pickle spice, canning lids, etc. And all canning jars padded with all my towels and sox stuffed inside.
--Stock pots - I'd select the SS ones if I had no room for the enamel ones [they chip/rust].
--Two wooden box set of kitchen storage. Like the back end of a chuckwagon. Custom made for me loooong ago. Stuffed with the basics of flatwear, utensils, camping pot set, spices, etc.
--bakeware: bread pans, muffin pans, etc
--mebbe the long, fold-up table?
--Hmmm....thinking of the weight... can I afford to bring the coal/wood kitchen stove that resided in my garage? I think it would be EVER SO useful when we got there. [I can see that we won't have room to sleep in the wagon bed at this rate.
--ALL of my kitchen knives.
--I think I'll forgo the "china" that the ladies usually insisted on. Or even Correllware. I'll opt for my several pie plates, 1970's tupperware glasses [indistructable], and a couple of modern insulated hot beverage mugs. [Bring Your Own Mug around the nightly campfires!] [I might try to sneak in a pair of authentic German steins for use when we're settled...and not as likely to break them.]

Added: [leave the steins...I have serious weight issues..lol ]
--trays to my dehydrator [going 'solar'] and the 2 collapsing sweater dryers for same purpose
--THE KITCHEN SINK...as promised. Actually a laundry sink with take-off legs. It's not heavy.
--scrubbie pads, wash cloths, scrub brushes
--Dish soap


Health/sanitation:
Bathroom---
--small pop-up tent [no floor] and bedside commode chair [use with container or without]
--unisex urinal [when ya gotta go.... ]
--Yep, gonna bring TP...unless the weight is too much, but esp. for traveling.
--lots of squares of cloth and a "diaper pail" for washable T.P.
--disinfecting wet wipes for traveling
--5 gal black collapsing shower bag with spray nozzle
--concentrated shampoo/conditioner/body wash [need only tiny bit]
--backpacking towels [very small but huge absorbency ]

Medical:



Shelter/Sleeping:
--8-person canvas tent [now or on arrival]
--several small tents [worst come to worst..one could be a goat miking shelter]
--plastic woven tarps
--cordage: ropes, twine,etc
--sleeping bags, sheets, pillow
--inflating bed/foot pump



Clothing:



Tools: [tool freak here....look out, oxen! ]
--2-way radios [yea 21st century]
--solar/wind-up radio-light
--solar battery charger
--



Lighting:
--wind-up head lamps [they are very good!]
--assorted shake lights
--all candles, wrapped in wax paper and try to keep from melting
--oil barn-type lantern


Food/water:
Water.... We have the water wagon but I'll have
--our 2 3 gallon jugs (spigots)that I can actually lift/carry for transporting from that wagon.
--Designate one 5 gal [gasket lid] to be strapped on the side for grey water use and automatic clothes washing as we jog and juggle along.
--Plenty of personal water bottles.
--Collapsing 5 gallon jug.
--Several (stacked together) buckets/other containers for livestock watering-5 gal to small
--Collapsible silicone round cake pan for big dog
--Camelbak-type thing
--Multiple canteens

--AND a big kettle/dipper for boiling water to purify if needed or just for hot water
--Also have Katadin Pocket Filter/refills but I'd save that if boiling was available. Water purifying tablets in EDC {every day carry} in case of crisis/lost/whatever. Coffee filters/cloth to pre-filter water. Non-disposable coffee filter from [now unusable] electric coffee maker.

Food: I wanna bring it ALL! How much does 150# of wheat weigh? {poor oxen} Some whole grains would be used for seed when we get there too.

--Grains: Wheat, Oat, Barley, Rice, more rice, sweet rice, white flour, popcorn, baking mix, oat bran, gluten,
--Legume: Beans, lotsa beans, yellow&green peas, alfalfa for sprouting,
--Oils: Shortening/lard, liquid oils, olive oil, salad dressing, mayo
--Sugar/honey/molasses/jams/peppermint sticks [lots]
--Salt: Iodine, non Iodine, sea salts, seasoning salts
--Powdered milk (augment goat's milk)
--Baking Cocoa powder
--Vinegar and mother of vinegars
--Baking soda, baking powder, beef gelatin,
--Fruits: dehydrating all in my fridge/freezer. Have some dehydrated apples. Raisins, Plums, dates, apricots, craisins,
--Veggies: dehydrate any in my freezer. Have done quite a bit. {NOTE TO SELF IRL: Get more carrots/onions/peas for dehydrating!} Dehydrate the "rootcellar" veggies [beets, carrots, taters, cabbage, collards (still in garden)] Instant taters..yuk.
--Packets of dry soup mixes
--Spices: These are light-weight but all those glass containers are not. Must repackage for the trip. Including bouillon.
--Meats: make jerky outta most of it in freezer. Put cured/smoked bacon/ham in bran? Meats in foil packets. Tuna in cans? Mebbe some of the home-canned meats/stews? WELL-padded? Heavy. Mebbe just pack ammo and get fresh?
--Energy bars, nuts, jams, crackers, candies, gorp, .....for eating on the trail
--Pasta, Ramen, Asian noodles (bean thread, yam thread, rice thread, etc...very light-weight and expands!), mac&cheese boxes {to augment in dire case of fatigue},
--Cereals/Crackers: Eat them while they are still good.
--Peanut butter [plastic container, not glass]
--SweetBabyRay's
--Hot cocoa mix [lots...I don't drink coffee]
--Coffee [DH does]
--Teas [herbal and caffeinated]
--Protein shake mixes [chocolate, of course]




Hunting and Gathering Food:
--Small inflatable boat, oars, life jackets, etc
--Fishing equipment
--Hunting equipment
--I.D. books for wild edible gathering


For when we arrive:
--glass oil lamps
--seeds: garden veggies, herbs,
--rootstock: rhubarb, potatoes for sets [purple and white], yarrow, gooseberry/currant,
--live potted plants: aloe, mint(s),
--more towels/bedding/cloth/
--Grma's sewing machine (old and hope someone can convert to a treadle)

gotta go milk...will continue packing later....

MtRider

Edited by Mt_Rider, 22 October 2009 - 12:13 AM.

[PureCajunSunshine]

Oh boy! ohboyohboy! This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen on the internet! Great idea for this forum!!!

But wait! What? No cookwagon? (Back in the old days, did a wagon train have one of those?)

If so, maybe I can get over this snakebite in time to rustle one up, if'n someone hasn't already beaten me to it.

Y'all wanna hire an authentic Creole/Cajun cook? I can cook beans just as well as a Texan, I guarantee.

And mais cher! Lookit the size of that beignet!




I do Jambalaya and Gumbo pretty good too.





Oh, I can hunt real well too. I might hafta bring my long range rifle, though. Me and this snakebitten leg won't be hauling nowhere far...

[Mother]

PCS Yeah,,,,I'm so glad to see you here. Nope, most wagon trains did not have a cook wagon. Each family usually cooked for themselves but often on a communal fire. They did, however, share in the spoils of the hunt and often shared what they had with each other as a way to lighten the cooking burden. Often those who were ill or injured had help from all the rest.

I'd be glad to have you cook for us PCS but I don't want you to over do it. Still, if we do have meals together we're going to need some big big big pans. I've got a 30 inch (four or five inch deep) heavy steel fry pan, a 16 inch plain Dutch, a 14 inch footed Dutch with flanged lid, and a couple of nice deep SS turkey frying vats I'd bring along if we had a wagon designated for that heavier stuff. I've got some really big wooden bread bowls, and some nice sized SS bowls too. (Got to have biscuits, right?) Just saying,,,,if we DO

PCS is going along!!!!!