Availability of potable water

Distance to population centers

Travel time from the current residence

Ability to utilize wind and/or solar power

Defense / security

Natural resources located on the property

Population density of the area

Weather

Taking a look at each of these categories in turn starting with:

Availability of potable water – This is absolutely one of the most critical elements to consider. Without water it doesn’t matter what else you have. You can have two years of food and a great group but if you are lacking in water then it compromises everything. Having at least two sources of fresh water is important, a well coupled with a stream or a catch pond provides you the ability to provide for the residence and the garden. Don’t overlook having a rainwater catch system also.

Distance to population centers – One of the great concerns among those leading a preparedness lifestyle is the coming of the urban horde following a disaster. To some it sounds farfetched but to others who know it to be true they understand the consequences of being where others can easily find you. It can be hard to strike a balance between being far enough out and being too far out. Some might say you can’t be far enough out but I disagree. If you are too remote then you can become a target as well once someone finds you.

A rule of thumb to consider is the tank of gas rule. Keep your retreat at least one tank of gas drive from the nearest large urban population center. This may not be practical but it is something to consider.

Travel time from the current residence – If you are not in a position to be able to live at your retreat location (which is optimal) for whatever reason then determining how long it will take to get there from your current residence is very important. If you can’t get to where your retreat is then what is the point? One concern is being to leave your home ahead of the horde that WILL clog the transportation arteries. Having a sizable portion of your goods, food and other items pre-positioned at the retreat can assist with this.

If your retreat is on the opposite side of the city from where you live can be problematic as well. Assuming you can leave early you may be able to avoid the bulk of the panicked driving that the masses will be doing. What if you can’t? How long will it take to reach your destination, how much fuel will it take and will you have to refuel along the way? How many different routes are there you can use to reach the retreat? If you have more than one you absolutely drive all of them prior to having to bug out to help you plan alternative routes.

Ability to utilize wind and/or solar power – It may be preferable to have the retreat off-grid for the sake of security as well as practicality. Having the ability to generate electrical power is a huge step toward improved self-sufficiency. In the long run and a preparedness lifestyle is about the long run, constructing a system that uses solar, wind and a generator is one of the best choices. Solar is an expense but it runs silently and can generate a sizable amount of power if you are able to install sufficient panels. Wind aids in power generation but is more of a supplemental element. At night when your panels are not able to create power the turbine will help to create power and add to the overall storage.

Looking at the topographical layout of the property to determine where the house is, the well and how a solar set up will best work for you takes time and attention. Solar panels should face south to attain maximum sunlight during the day.

Defense / Security – This is a difficult topic to talk about due to the incredible number of variables. How large is the property, what is the geography, how many in the retreat population, what are their skills, what is the level of group training, what weapons are available and so on. When I am scouting a location I am looking at the layout of the structures (or the probable layout if they haven’t been built yet), how the terrain affects visibility and possible fields of fire. I am also looking at what is the visibility factor, can the homestead be seen from the road or other nearby high spots? How much vehicle traffic is there on the nearby roads?

Will someone be living at the retreat full time or will it only be occupied during a crisis? That factor plays into how your items are secured during the potentially long absences. Could you install an alarm system that can alert you if someone is on the property? Yes but it could complicated due to distance, power requirements and communication infrastructure. Not insurmountable by any means.

Natural resources located on the property – Is there surface water on the location? If so is it a year round source? Are there mineral deposits? How many trees are there and are they a viable source for firewood if that is something that you have to contend with? Having a mix of vegetation as well as a mix of soil types can be beneficial to you.

Population density of the area – How heavily populated is the area surrounding the retreat location? This can be important because if you don’t have a group of sufficient size to adequately staff your location having good relations with the nearest neighbors could make all the difference. You need to take the time to at least find out who is around you and if possible what they do? Do they live there year round, etc?

Weather – This can play a major role in determining if the location can be become a long term retreat. If you don’t get any rain there might be hard to make the land self sustaining. What, if any, is the average snowfall? What is the average temperature in the summer and winter? This will help you establish what type of structure you will need or what changes might be needed to an existing structure. Check to see what the average rainfall in the area is. Has the area ever suffered a drought and if so how long ago and how long did it last?

Looking for a retreat is a huge undertaking and the factors I have listed above are not the complete listing of what you need to consider. This is about finding a location that could possibly be the difference between you and your family living or dying. Give it the time and attention the decision deserves, you and your family are worth it.

Workshop topics will include How to prepare on a budget, Building a first aid kit and much more. See below for the complete workshop listing.

Excitement and interest in the show keeps growing. We have more than doubled the number of vendors that were present at the Fall show and are still growing. We will have door prizes and several raffles for your choice of a silver one ounce coins or four silver quarters. Come and join us for a day of learning and some fun!

Workshop Schedule

9:30 – First Aid Kit needs

10:15 – Essential Oils

11:15 – Pet Care

12:15 – Long Term Storage Food

1:00 – Shortwave Radio

2:00 – If I can see you, hear you or smell you I will kill you

2:45 – Prepping on a Budget

3:00 – Bug Out Bags

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Patriot Seed Store                                            Wavecatcher

Homespun Environmental                              Dr. Roach DVM

Organics OKC                                                   Daddy Mac’s Farm

Shelf Reliance                                                   Simply Adapted

Cashion Home Improvement                         Copy Cats Cutlery

Survival First                                                    Free Mind Films

Truthistreason.net                                           Awesome Crafts

Double D Steel Targets

Something a group I was with for quite a while did was to practice the loading of our assorted vehicles and trailers with the actual goods and equipment we planned on taking with us. The goal of this was three – fold:

Determine how much space was actually needed

Determine how much time it took to load it all

Determine how much effort it took to load it all

At the end of the test we all got together and compared notes. I had asked prior to the exercise that everyone keep a list of how long it took, what three things went well and what three things didn’t go well. The results were pretty universal with a few exceptions.

The amount of space needed was much more than most originally believed. I myself was very much in that category, I was really surprised at how much space I needed and worse I didn’t have enough room to move everything we wanted to bring! Another item that was brought up by some in the group was that they didn’t have a written checklist of what supplies to pack and so that slowed them down.

The time factor was another big concern, nearly everyone who participate was surprised to discover how long it took to load their transport(s). Even the ones who had a large amount of their supplies pre-packed  such as in large totes found it took them longer than they expected.

Some of the positives that people reported were that having a written checklist of what they planned to take was a large help, having a trailer improved their transport capability and the loading exercise itself was good practice.

Some negatives from the exercise were: It took far longer to load than they anticipated, there was insufficient room to load up what they wanted to take, it took more energy to load out than they thought it would and not having a written checklist of goods hindered their progress.

So if you are planning on bugging out get out there and practice it and do it the right way. Don’t just grab empty tubs and say “okay here is our food”. LOAD the tubs and bags and gas cans and such and then time yourselves as you load up the vehicle(s). Write down what went right and what could have gone better. By conducting a test run or two now it could mean the difference later when time is critical.

Firearms are NOT, repeat NOT the be all and end all of preparedness. Do firearms have a role in preparedness, yes; I genuinely believe that they do. But it is not a primary role, firearms are a tool, they have their role and function within the context of survival the same as a screwdriver or spare set of lantern mantles. If you are having to resort to actually defending your family by firing on someone then things are really, really bad. The purchase of firearms by individuals seeking to add to their means of self protection has increased in recent times due in no small part to the televised pictures from events like the L.A riots and hurricane Katrina not to mention the uncertainty of the economy as well as the political climate. Many, many crimes are stopped or prevented due to presence of firearms held by those with the conviction to use them if necessary. Does this mean that merely “waving” a gun of some kind will magically protect you? Of course not, it can even lead to a worse situation.

For example, following hurricane Katrina there were many neighborhoods all over the gulf coast region where the residents banded together and formed armed watch groups to protect themselves and their property from becoming victims of crimes. This action saved a number of homes from being looted. During the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in the nineteen nineties many shop owners were able to keep their businesses protected from the mobs at times merely by displaying the firearms they had. Firearms can be an effective tool to deter crime.

For this to work firearm ownership MUST be coupled with the RESPONSIBLE and SAFE handling and storage of the weapon and its ammunition. There is NO excuse or justification out there that allows for the death or injury to someone else, especially a child due to the negligence of a gunowner. Owning a firearm is a serious matter and must be approached that way, always. It is important to remember that a gun is a tool, a mechanical device. Like with any mechanical device the potential for misuse if present, a screwdriver could kill someone if used as a weapon. Some states have enacted laws that will charge the parent(s) with a felony if a child is harmed due to negligence involving a firearm. Check your local and/or state regulations for more information on this.

For those who are thinking of acquiring a firearm for protection here are a few things to consider.

How comfortable are you with firearms?

How confident are you that you could use the gun against another person if necessary?

Do you have a secure place to keep the weapon(s)?

What is your level of training in handling, firing and maintaining guns?

Are there children in the home?

What kind of weapon do you need?

What are the local, and/or state laws regarding firearm ownership?

So what is the “survival arsenal”? It is a group of several firearms that cover nearly all the basic situations that a firearm might be called on to be used in. In my opinion the minimum firearms you should own are:

A quality pistol in one of the following calibers, 9 millimeter, .45 ACP, .357 magnum or .40 Smith & Wesson. Believe me when I say that that I know this statement will cause a ton of disagreement among the firearm conscious readers. What about this caliber, or why did he pick those…These recommendations are based on my experience and opinion. Does it mean that these are the only choices you should consider? No. It is a matter of personal choice but these four calibers are among the most effective in proven stopping power based on actual shooting incidents.

A quality semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle. A good example of this is the Ruger 10/22 rifle. It is compact, accurate, easy to shoot, a breeze to clean and best of all, reasonably priced. This is one of the most popular semi automatic rifles ever made and a must have weapon for many shooters. Countless numbers of shooters have been trained to shoot using this quality, accurate weapon.

A quality rifle. Notice I didn’t’ say a machine gun, or an assault rifle. A rifle that is well made, accurate, clean, loaded and in hand is worth more than the gee whiz wundergun that you have been eyeing at the local gun shop. A buddy of mine has a really nice lever action 30-30’ carbine that he loves. He shoots it as often as he can and is pretty good with it. He doesn’t want anything else so for him it works fine. Does it mean that if you have for instance, an AR style rifle that it won’t work? Of course it will but so will an 1898 Mauser or a Ruger Mini-14 both of which are much less expensive than one of the AR style rifles.

A quality shotgun will complete the quartet. Preferably purchase either a Mossberg or Remington. In the Mossberg a Model 500, it is accurate, reliable and reasonably priced. With the Remington a Model 870 is an excellent choice. Both weapons have been around for years and have proven themselves over and over. There are an astounding number of quality after-market accessories that you can pick up for these weapons that enhance their operation and usefulness. Both are accurate, easy to maintain with a cornucopia of ammunition choices. I have owned examples of both.

That’s it; those four weapons will provide you with a variety of means to handle nearly any shooting situation. If you notice there is one word that appeared in all four categories. The word is quality, buy once, cry once. Spend the money to get a quality firearm. Something to consider in this vein is that something that is expensive doesn’t mean it is quality and by the same token if something is inexpensive doesn’t make it a piece of junk. Stick with the name brands and don’t be afraid to ask questions, lots of questions. If you going to make an investment in something that could save your life, isn’t it worth doing some research on? I absolutely think so…

In addition shooting is a fun sport. Target shooting is something I deeply enjoy. The ability to, with skill place a bullet two hundred and fifty yards away on the exact spot that you want it is something that can’t be beat. It is the same kind of feeling a golfer gets when they get that great swing just right and the ball flies far and straight right down the fairway. One of the beauties of shooting is that shooting for fun, like golf or virtually any other sport is also training. The more you do something, the better you get at it.

What to buy in what order?

I was recently asked this question and honestly it took me a moment to think about it. Not because I didn’t have an answer but the realization that I had to look at it from the perspective of someone who wasn’t coming from a background with firearms. My recommendation is to start with a quality pistol that you are comfortable with. This is where having a quality shooting range within a reasonable distance really helps. The ability to handle and fire a selection of pistols prior to purchasing the one you are comfortable with is a major plus. Another advantage of buying a pistol is that it is smaller than a rifle or shotgun.

If you choose to apply for a Concealed Weapons Permit (if your local jurisdiction allows that) then you are armed all the while not appearing to be. It is also easier to secure a handgun than it is a rifle or shotgun. Small safes are much less expensive than a full size unit. In addition the safe can be used to house important personal documents which should be secured as a matter of course anyways.

A quality pistol will likely cost you less than $600 dollars. I am sure some of you are saying “$600?! That is too much” Please note I said less than that. A good revolver can be had for under $350. After the pistol I would move on to the .22 rifle then a shotgun and finish up with the rifle. It allows you to slowly expand your battery of firearms while building up your experience and training as well as you add each new firearm.

It’s also important to understand that it is completely fine to be uncomfortable about owing or even just handling firearms. Not everyone is a “gun person”. By that I mean owing them, being around them a great deal while growing up, shooting on a regular basis. Firearms can be intimidating to those not familiar with them. So if you are not a “gun person” don’t despair or get to feeling intimidated by them. A pistol or rifle is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. YOU control it, not the other way around. When the time is right and you are comfortable with owning a firearm then you will.

If you or your partner is smaller framed then consider NOT rushing out to fire off a twelve gauge shotgun which I assure you is a handful. Start out with smaller calibers and work your way up to the larger ones. If you rush into it then the noise, recoil and such can keep you or them from getting to a comfort level which won’t allow the person to keep at it. Firearm training takes time and effort along with the right mental attitude. Fear isn’t always bad, it’s good to fear something enough to respect it but don’t let that fear overwhelm you.

This article is labeled firearms but it is important to remember that it isn’t just firearms that you can acquire and train with but also that these can pose risks to you. Don’t think a crossbow is much of a problem? Think again, hunters have used crossbows for centuries as hunting weapons and one big thing in their favor is that they are considerably quieter than a rifle. The same can be said of the use of bow and arrows. Modern compound bows are extremely accurate in the hands of someone who knows how to properly use it. Me personally I have no desire at all to be the recipient of a razor tipped broadhead arrow designed for the taking of large game animals. Talk about leaving a wound!

So the key to not to get locked into a certain mindset, a screwdriver can be used as a deadly weapon so awareness of what is going on around you is important.

You’ll here a variation of the following: “Well if something happens I know where I am going!” Then a dozen (think I am kidding?) people will be showing up at your house demanding (sometimes violently) that you share simply because you had the intelligence to stock up. There is NO incentive for them to stock up, you already have. “But I am family, you HAVE to help me” Again, real world experience speaking, not something to fill up this paragraph. Seen it, this DOES and WILL happen.

Another variation: “Well if something happens I know where I am going and I will take what I need” If you think for a single second that there are those out there that don’t feel this way then wake the hell up, right now. If you believe that Rob, who lives two houses over, that you know hunts would hesitate to shoot you because you are a nice guy to get at what you have because his kids are hungry you are solely mistaken. Or one of your other neighbors or a family member or, well you get the idea…Folks this is not fear mongering or me being dramatic to get you to do something these are examples from real life of what has happened to people.

People are not rational, ethical or overly moral when they are dirty, hungry and scared. Fear is a powerful motivator, especially when that fear is being driven by a mob mentality. One of the comments I make often to many of my like minded friends is that following a major event it wouldn’t be the criminal elements I would be most concerned about. I know they are out there, so be it. The ones I am most concerned about is a mob of hungry, once middle class, normally decent people coming up the street looking for food. There are a great many more of them than there are criminals. They are my biggest concern.

A mob mentality strips those involved in it of their decency, their ethics and their inhibitions. Toss fear and the lack of information into the mix and the situation will get even uglier. Doubt me? Ask yourself this question and be honest with your answer, it is day six following a large scale event that struck your area and you still have no power, no food and little water and the ability to get any of these things is basically none. What lengths would you go to get your kids something to eat, drink or get them warm? You might not like the answer you come up with but if you are being honest it will give you some idea what people are capable of.

So broadcasting to the world that you are prepared is a bad idea. Low key, low profile. So what are some ways to do that to still buy what you need and keep it in the family? Space permitting in your home, put the bulk of your supplies, equipment in a non traditional area such as the basement (if it is dry), in tubs under the beds or the spare bedroom closet. One friend of mine and his wife stored some items in containers under their couch. Out of the way, out of sight but easily accessible. This keeps it out of view from casual visitors. I get a laugh out of it every time I go over there, how many people have sat on that very couch not knowing they were sitting on supplies…

The truth is most people won’t prep but they will remember that you do. Don’t brag about how long you can survive in an event, don’t talk up your new purchases, and don’t do anything that brings the light of attention onto you and your family.  Have a discussion with your children, what goes on in the house stays at home. My ex-wife and I used this rule with our kids. It is not anyone else’s business what we bought or stored. The neighborhood kids were not allowed in my garage at all since this is where we store large amounts of our supplies. We used the line, “it is not a play area” line to aid with this. When service people come to your home, restrict their movements, keep doors to rooms they are not in closed. What you have is YOUR business, no one else’s.

Why do I have both criteria in my definition? It’s an easy question for me to answer. Why would you try to link up with those who are not of the same mind set and not actively working on improving their situation? You don’t because they will only be a drain on your resources which are already committed to providing for you and yours. Resources following an event, especially if it is a severe one and/or covers a large geographic area may be scarce to non-existent depending on circumstances. What you have on hand might be it, the sum of what you have to survive on for an extended period. Why have someone else with you who is only draining those resources with little to nothing for you to gain in return? Simply because he is a nice guy or you are? Sorry, that is not nearly a good enough reason for me. Not when it is a choice between them and my group/family.

Remember, the preparedness lifestyle at its core is about the safety of your family. Networking is another way of increasing your options. Since you’re either currently expending time, energy and money on preparedness or planning to doesn’t it make sense to do it working with those who are doing the same? You learn from them, they learn from you. How much is it worth to you to have someone telling you not to buy a certain brand or type of equipment because they did and it was a piece of junk? You can consolidate your money with others (in the right situation) to buy in bulk so that everyone saves money.

Does what I am telling you mean you can’t talk to your neighbor Ray who is a good friend but refuses to prep? Of course not but searching out and finding others who feel as you do is something that you must do if you want to not only survive but survive and thrive. There is a world of difference between the two.

I’m going to warn you in advance it isn’t easy at times especially when you are first moving into this phase of prepping. There is no great national preparedness test given to our citizens (oh how I wish!) which is then graded and the results sent out. Chances are if you take a careful look around you might already know folks who are quietly living a preparedness lifestyle. Parents, grandparents (never overlook resources), friends, acquaintances from church or work, fellow members of civic groups, local faith based community organizations, Red Cross chapters and yes, internet sources.

A few words on that last one. The internet is an amazing place full of information, some good and some terrible, entertainment and fascinating people. It also unfortunately has its share of liars, thieves and predators. Tread wary when dealing with people online. People can say they are anyone while online which is how many children are enticed away from homes and schools to meet their “friend” which can lead to abuse or worse.

One very tried and proven method of dealing with folks via the internet is to do it slowly. Use the different search engines to look for preparedness groups, forums, etc. Visit these sites as much as you can. Once you have found one or two you like focus you attention on those. If you are paying attention you will see who posts often, who posts good information and who is a manure spreader (there are LOTS  and LOTS of those). Be cynical about what you read and see there. Avoid the “well I know this should work” or the “this is what I heard” types. If they themselves are not out there doing it, actually putting action to their plans, avoid them. Begin to talk to those that seem to have their act together.

Take your time; establish a regular e-mail correspondence with them. Be ever so slow in giving out vital details of your personal life to them. The next step is usually exchanging phone calls with many folks preferring to give out their cell numbers rather than their house number. Then after all that if you feel comfortable with it set up a meeting in a mutually agreed on neutral spot like a city park, library or restaurant. Then you can really start the process of getting to know them. If they are the genuine article then the security steps will not deter them. It is only through demonstration that you can really start to get a handle on who a person really is and they can see the type of person you are. Do they follow up and do what they say they are going to? Is their work ethic a good one? How do they treat their children and yours? It is though their actions, not just their words that they need to be judged on. Can they be counted on to be were they said they would when they said they would be there? Are they drinkers or smokers? The reason for the last question is if there is a disruption in the normal ability to restock those items it could lead to inter-personal issues. Every seen a drinker or smoker go through withdrawals? Not pretty to watch.

I could tell you of a number of true stories about those that I know and are acquainted with that have benefited from being properly networked. Stories of how folks showed up following an east coast hurricane to assist. This help driving in from three states away paying the costs out of their own pocket to help cut up downed trees, repair homes and such simply because a forum member asked. Or how a group of like minded friends gave up time while on a camping trip because they found out that another member who lived nearby was in need of help clearing up some storm damage. This same member had a number of family in the area that he had on many occasions helped out and none of them were willing to come over when he really needed it. The reason that this occurred was because the members of this particular group had taken the time to get to know each other and to prove themselves worthy of trust and respect. My daughter was visiting friends in a state some distance from home. I sent one of the members in that area I had dealt with previously an email asking if it would be alright to give my daughter their contact information just in case. He immediately replied yes and supplied me with a whole series of phone numbers for him, his work, his wife, etc. Fortunately it turned out not to be needed but I can’t tell you how much better I felt knowing that my daughter had reliable help a phone call away.

At that time I hadn’t met this man in person but through interaction via the forum with him and seeing how he treated others I was comfortable with him. Networking is a very important part of life; you do it now with your job and in your home life. You talk to friends to found out who a reliable mechanic is, to seek out competent legal help, find the best place for groceries and more. So all you are doing is focusing your questions. Once again let me caution you about giving away information regarding your preparedness. I don’t believe I can overstate the importance of maintaining a low profile in regards to this. Word of mouth travels much, much further than you might imagine. Caution and awareness will serve you well in this search. You don’t want to be associated with someone who just says they do this or that, if they aren’t walking the walk so to speak by storing food, water, doing training now when something bad isn’t going on why would you expect them to suddenly shift gears and do it when something bad is going on? More than a little late at that point. Is this person the kind you want to trust the safety of your family to? Not me thanks…

Remember to take your time and while doing your search bear in mind that there is likely folks out there that are looking for good, dependable people as well.

One way of reducing that feeling of frustration is having an accurate way to measure that progress you are making. What that way is depends on each individual point of view. The  thought I am putting across is that the concept of progress needs to be examined by all of us in this lifestyle.

A very smart person that helped me through a difficult time in my life told me that what I was after was small victories. The big victories would be too few and too far between to sustain me so concentrate on the small victories. Prepping is the exact same thing. At the end of the week for example you sit down and look at all that you got done that week…went jogging twice, read five different prep related articles, put another five gallons of treated gasoline away – that’s not a bad week at all!

You combine those weeks with the occasional big victory and your progress really stands out. Bear in mind that some weeks you will simply not be able to do much in the prep mode. That is life and that is reality. The single most important aspect of measuring progress is to be consistent, keep at it. Slow and steady really does work.

The notion does seem counter-intuitive I know. With world events the way they are and so on it feels that slow and steady isn’t enough but it is. Better to take your time and do it right than rush and miss something important or worse spend your hard earned money unwisely. I often state that preparedness is a lifestyle, not a fad, not a weekend project and I truly believe that. Being more self reliant helps to bring on a sense of accomplishment, pride and confidence.

I mentioned above that there was an underlying reward to what we do. To me that reward is exactly what was just covered, confidence. To be able to say that you have a plan in case of… or to have the ability to provide warm food during a severe storm, etc is very rewarding indeed.

So understanding what progress is and how you measure it is in your hands.

Having an up to date inventory provides you valuable information of several different types as well as other information. Doing an inventory:

1. Means that you now know how much you have. This provides you the means to put together a buying plan.

2. What condition your overall stocks are. You may find out that you have more of something that you thought you did but two of those items are not working because they need new batteries, insert new batteries and problem solved.  It also allows you to better organize what you do have.

3. Gives you a feeling of better control. If you now know what you have and what condition it’s in that can help with piece of mind. The times we live in are stressful enough, wouldn’t it be nice to have a bit less stress?

A few suggestions regarding inventory. Don’t try and do it all at once It can be a very involved task, try doing one area of the house a day or break it down by inventory category such as food, fuel or medical supplies. Get the wife/girlfriend/kids involved and make it a family project. Make sure to write it down, doesn’t matter what format you use just ensure it is written, don’t try and trust your memory because it will fail you.

Once you have it written down and those numbers organized it is much easier to keep it updated. I do an inventory every third Saturday of each new month. Takes me about half an hour. I print out a copy of the spreadsheet and go shelf by shelf noting any additions or deletions. Then enter those changes on the spread sheet and save. I leave the hard copy of the inventory on the clipboard until the next month so that I have a written copy handy.

How an inventory helps with your buying plan works like this. Since you are now able to look over the hard numbers of what you have you can better determine what you don’t have. Then what spending you are doing in regards to your preps can be focused, I call it “targeted spending”. If medical supplies are a weak area then say 80% of this months prep buying goes toward that. Not all of it because you want to keep increasing the other areas as well. Now you have more supplies in one area that helps to bring that one category closer to what the levels of the others are.

Keep at it and it becomes simply something you do regularly. Inventory is a great tool to keep in your preparedness tool kit. Stay safe.

More and more people in America are waking up to the fact that having more food, water and such on hand is a good idea. There is a growing sense that being more self reliant and better prepared is the right lifestyle to adopt. It is important to point out that it is a lifestyle, not a fad, a weekend project that you can quickly finish up and be done with. It is about making substantive changes in your thinking and actions.

This way of thinking isn’t universal in its acceptance. But here is the question that you need to ask yourself and answer objectively: Its now twenty minutes after the end of a serious incident such as a tornado, earthquake or blizzard. What are you going to do right now to make sure that you and yours are safe and provided for?

It is YOUR responsibility to take of you, not the government, not FEMA, not the church or any one else, YOU.

This is part of an ongoing series discussing preparedness issues. This segment will deal with one of the key areas of self reliance, food and water. For the purpose of this discussion food and water are considered equally vital because one without the other is self defeating. In order to survive the human body must be nourished and hydrated. Failure to do either for the appropriate length of time and the body will slowly cease to function, that is an unequivocal medical fact. No hype, no spin – fact. Without nutritious food and clean water we cannot long survive.

The struggle to grow enough food to survive goes back to recorded history and beyond. Working the soil to enrich it, planting, fertilizing, weeding, irrigating then harvesting is a full time occupation that millions of people around the world do every day. The methods used to accomplish this can vary widely. From the small hand worked plots up to the large corporate farm which might have thousands of acres of crop land under cultivation all which is worked with Swiss clock like scheduling to maximize land use.

During the time of the Great Depression a much higher percentage of people grew gardens, raised livestock and poultry to meet the needs of their own families. Family groups were also usually much closer together geographically which allowed for support of all types. Today neither of these factors are the same. More people now live in urban areas than ever before and do not have the ability to grow sufficient food to live on. A telling number is that depending upon whose figures you use only one to two percent of the US population feeds the rest of us!

Often times the food we purchase comes to us from a significant distance away including a sizable percentage from foreign sources. Here is an example; wheat is harvested from a field in Oklahoma. It is then transported to a grain elevator and from there to a mill. The wheat is ground into flour then sold to a bakery who turns it into dinner rolls. The rolls are packaged and shipped to a distribution center. From there they are sent to a retail outlet in say, Mobile Alabama. If there is a delay or break anywhere in this supply chain then there are no rolls on the store shelf.

With the widespread use of the JIT (just in time) supply system grocery stores like so many other businesses no longer maintain large stocks of goods in the back of the store. For the business it reduces the amount of on hand inventory they have to have so it reduces operating costs. JIT allows them to resupply every few days to keep on hand amounts up. The key to this is a complex tracking system that automatically reorders items as they are sold. This system isn’t foolproof, if there is a disruption in deliveries the store is not able to replace certain items or if something triggers a larger than average shopping rush such as a storm or other event stock will be depleted quickly with resupply not possible for several days or longer.

All of the previous points brings us to the central question. How do we acquire the food/water in order to stockpile and replenish what we need to consume? There are several methods available; the most common is to purchase commercially prepared food from a variety of sources. Another is raising it yourself using greenhouses, gardens or hydroponics. An important point to remember we cannot store enough food for us to live on indefinitely. At some point we must grow more food to replace/supplement what we have stored. This is one of the most overlooked concerns among those who live a preparedness lifestyle. You cannot stockpile a lifetimes worth of food, you must prepare an infrastructure to grow additional food. This entails having a supply of non hybrid seeds, fertilizer, the tools to work the soil for production and willingness to work hard. Gardening or if you will farming is hard, hard work. Doing it in order to survive under conditions far less than ideal would be even more challenging.

For water it a different story, here in the United States the overwhelming majority of homes have municipal water plumbing that delivers potable water at the turn of a faucet or spigot. As with food there are a variety of governmental agencies at several levels charged with ensuring that the water that is provided to the general populace is clean and safe to drink. Water is bulky and hard to store long term. One method of obtaining more is to have a high quality filter. This can help you to purify the water you need from a variety of sources.

Adding to your food supply isn’t as difficult as you might think or as costly. The key to this is consistency. Each time you make your regular grocery purchases you add a few items. If you normally buy three cans of green beans, buy four. Add an additional pound of rice and beans to your cart. As you do this on a continuing basis the amount on your shelves and in your pantry increases. Soon you have added a full week’s worth of food and so on. One way to ensure to proper rotation of your stored food is to use the FIFO method; this means First In First Out. By placing the older product to the front of the shelf you are using it before the one purchased more recently. This helps to maintain quality and saves money since you are not forced to toss out something that was accidently shoved to the back of the shelf and lingered in the darkness for too long.

One very important factor to remember and this can’t be overstated is to only buy what you already eat regularly. If you are in a post event situation that is not the time to try and give your system a whole new menu. Your body will be under stress already due to the situation, a radical departure from what it is customarily used to will only add to the stress which could result in digestive irregularity. Test out various recipes and meal ideas now to see if you like them or if the food agrees with you. If it does – great! You’ve added another meal to your repertoire and expanded your own capabilities but if you don’t like it or if the meal doesn’t agree with your system that too is a learning experience. Better to find out now what does and doesn’t work. Also make sure that the meals you do like you can still prepare post event / without grid power.

In a post event environment you may be struggling with having no municipal power and water available as well as dealing with cleaning up from a major storm or other disaster. Your body MUST have nutrition that it is able to process and turn into the energy you will need to do what is required.  There is a psychological factor to consider as well. Consider this scenario; a major storm has rolled through your area leaving some serious damage behind. Your home is still standing but there is a threat of flooding and some large trees are down near your house that need to have some large limbs trimmed to avoid damage to the house.

The power grid is down and will be for some time. Authorities are doing everything they can but the devastation is over a wide area and resources are stretched beyond thin. You’ve been working steadily for most of the day trying to protect your home, your hands and arms are aching and sore, you are tired and know that there is much more to that still must be accomplished. Your spouse / significant other tells you to take a break and offers you a bowl of warm stew heated over the propane camp stove and a bottle of water. The smell of the stew takes hold and you realize how hungry you are. Finding a reasonably shady spot you get off your feet and begin to eat. The taste of warm food in your mouth reduces your stress, your body takes in the fuel it needs to keep itself going. Savoring the bite you close your eyes and lean your head back as you chew. What is that moment worth to you? How much longer will that warm, tasty and nutritious meal keep you going? Hard to say but certainly much longer than if you didn’t have it. An additional facet to consider is the psychological aspect. Eating helps keep us going and it reinforces an element of normalcy into what is now a very unnatural situation.