Share your knowledge & learn from experts
Because prepping and community go hand in hand
Non-toxic stuff
Chris Cox - December 1, 2023 Hello all!
I’m in the process of looking for front seat and trunk organizers for my vehicle. As a reader of Shanna Swan’s Countdown (I found it here first!) I’m looking for non-PVC stuff that won’t off-gas in a hot vehicle in summer, and make me sick in the long term. Of course, nylon does this, but I understand that PVC is much worse.
Lo and behold, it doesn’t seem that I can find any of these nylon car organizers that aren’t PVC lined. For that matter, basically all potential BOBs seem to have PVC lining, too.
So here it is: can you find anything nylon/tactical/MOLLE/Lord-knows-what that *doesn’t* have PVC? Inquiring minds want to know! 😐
Read MoreNews for the week of 2023-11-27
The Prepared Support - December 1, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-20
The Prepared Support - November 27, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreRecommendation for bugging in or out in Taiwan
Patrick - November 25, 2023 I live in Taiwan and prepping for bugging in, I also have bug out options but with two kids I am limited. What do you think I should prioritize? Trying to figure out if I forgot anything obvious…
Read MoreDoes anyone have any experience with the Snakestaff Systems ETQ (Everyday Carry Tourniquet)?
Thumper - November 24, 2023 Does anyone have any experience with the Snakestaff Systems ETQ (Everyday Carry Tourniquet)? I saw a video last night from PrepMedic reviewing it, and was wondering if any of y’all had one.
Link to website:
https://www.snakestaffsystems.com/buy-now/etq-every-day-tourniquet
Read MoreEmergency drills
Ebuleo - November 20, 2023 Hey all,
My wife and I are lucky to have family who are also prepping. We are a group of ~10. None of us have military experience. We are all super isolating so we can spend time together and we would like to run some drills as a group. We currently run fire, and GTFO dills at our individual homes. Do y’all have any ideas of drills we can run to be a better team under stress/attack?
Read MoreFifth National Climate Assessment and Being Prepared
Carolyn - November 20, 2023 This week the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) was released. This report can help people prepare for changes coming to their neighborhood. The report stated that at this point, every region of the United States is experiencing climate change. (https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/#overview)
I’m part of a team working to analyze the studies behind NCA5, and look for sound corroboration (or lack thereof) in its conclusions.
Our ultimate goal is to present the information in regular language to help people and communities get ready for what’s ahead in their part of the country.
Different kinds of disasters will hit different places. The NCA5 not only helps folks understand what kinds of serious events they can expect, but also how frequently those events are likely to take place.
It also presents a longer view. No matter where you live, your climate is actively changing. Here in Colorado, we are still enjoying the lovely blue-sky days of fall. It’s delightful until you look at the Front Range and see almost no snow on the high peaks. And it’s the middle of November.
The USDA reports that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is changing to look like Virginia does now. (https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=96088b1c086a4b39b3a75d0fd97a4c40)
So much of the time, prepping is about surviving an immediate catastrophe. Or it’s about some dystopian science fiction world.
As I study the NCA5, it dawns on me that preparation is about anticipating change. The change can be bad, or it might be good; in any case, things are different now, and change is continuing to accelerate. We must be able to grieve our losses and then turn to our different world and figure out what to do next. Preparation is always about flexibility, and sometimes, it’s about rolling with the punches.
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-13
The Prepared Support - November 19, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreInteresting non-lethal self-defense tool – Self-Defense Whip
Bigwig - November 19, 2023 I was looking for a non-lethal self defense tool to put in the bug out bags for family members. Although some are trained in martial arts, they were more about learning the katas than the actual fighting. I was looking for a self-defense tool that wouldn’t require a lot of training. I settled on of all things a self-defense whip based on the following criteria:
Simple to use/minimum training required. Doesn’t require physical contact (like a knife or stun gun) Not as easily grabbed (like a baton or stick) CompactI know that no weapon checks all the boxes, but this one peaked my interest. Not sure why there isn’t more discussion on these types of weapons. I also watched a video of some martial arts experts trying it out on each other (https://youtu.be/zWvEuK9DDtY). I’ll be packing this along with the pepper spray.
I am not affiliated with any companies who make these products.
Read MoreWhat are your softcore preps?
Kira - November 18, 2023 Even though flashy crises are more fun to talk about, a prepping mindset has a big impact on day to day life. Do you have any creative everyday/non-SHTF prepping that you’re particularly happy about?
For example, I finally got tired of never being able to find new heads for my razor (yay supply chains), and I am not shaving under my arms with my Leatherman, so I started to use a metal razor. It can use any razor blades (which can be resharpened) instead of proprietary ones only, it means I have a pile of spare blades (safely) stored, and I’m not worried about it breaking anytime soon.
I’ve also moved towards wearing more durable and easily repairable materials like leather and using mechanical pencils and refillable pens instead of disposables. This won’t save anyone’s life, but moving away from disposables feels like prepping to me because it increases resilience both materially and financially in the long run. In the short run, they’re just nicer to use.
Even in the more traditional EDC, my bike (hex key) multitool sees more use than my Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife, but that’s probably because I’m still in the Ikea stage of life.
All that said, do y’all have any creative softcore prepping tips?
Read MorePrepping for self-managed abortion post-Roe v. Wade
MariaC - November 13, 2023 In the event that Roe v. Wade is repealed in the U.S., access to abortion will fall to the state level to legislate. Many people with uteruses will very quickly have a much more difficult time accessing healthcare that allows them to end a pregnancy.
Therefore, pro-choice preppers who want to understand self-managed abortion care may be interested in learning how to gather materials, build local community networks of support, and access information about how to perform different kinds of as-safe-as-possible self-managed abortions for people with uteruses in your community.
I’ve been doing a little research about this and wanted to share what I found.
This is obviously a topic that can get super politically charged. I’m not interested in having those conversations. If this prep isn’t something you’re okay with for any reason, you don’t have to do it. I’m sharing information in case somebody else can benefit from it.
Books:
Handbook on a Post-Roe America by Robin Marty Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup M.D. A Cooperative Method of Natural Birth Control by Margaret NofzigerWebsites & articles for information:
An academic journal article (no paywall) detailing how to purchase safe, effective abortion pills online as a U.S. based consumer, including a chemical composition study of what was actually in those pills Women on Waves, providing information about the safety of abortion pills and on how to access self-managed abortion How Activists Can Prepare for a Post-Roe World video lecture on how to spread the word about self-managed abortion within your community Self-Managed Abortion with Pills how-to video lecture & information Investigative journalism article from 2018 on networks of people learning to provide at-home abortion services as a form of civil disobedience — full of great information and search terms to mine in Google Guide to performing a menstrual extraction with a homemade Del-Em device r/Childfree sourcing information about healthcare providers who will provide seterilization services in the U.S. and many parts of the world An overview of abortion laws by U.S. state, to help forecast which states might protect access to abortion if Roe v. Wade was repealedAffordable Plan B and pregnancy tests to add to your prep kits:
My Way Emergency Contraceptive (3 Plan B pills for $15 USD on Amazon) Pregnancy test strips (50 count for $15, $0.30 each, on Amazon) Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-06
The Prepared Support - November 13, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreLead blanket
Judy - November 11, 2023 I am building a tiny shelter along the lines of a trench with a roof and then layered dirt and tarp on top. Would a layer of lead blanket (0.5mmpb lead lined x-ray protection) between the dirt cut down much, if any, on gamma? Thank you!!
Read MoreThe best faraday cages and sleeves
Chris Cox - November 10, 2023 Hello,
There are a number of Faraday cages and bags for sale at a wide variety of price points, but it isn’t clear to me which ones are good. Does anybody know what company makes a quality laptop bag at a fair price, for example?
Read MoreSome chores are better than others
RedneckContributor - November 10, 2023 I’m sure we all have chores we don’t really care for. The thing I dislike the most, which I did Sunday, is cutting the bottom pasture in the heat of the summer. The feel like temp was around 110 and I was out in the full sun sitting on a hot diesel tractor. Being on a homestead, especially when the wife is off caring for her 100 year old mom & 102 year old aunt, well there are plenty of chores & lots of animals to feed.
One chore I love this time of year is taking the dogs out for a final bathroom stop before bedtime. We currently have 8 dogs living with us. This time of year is special around 8:30 at night. The sun has set but it is not yet dark. The sunset has faded to muted colors of normally salmon pink & light blues. It is still warm out but not oppressively hot. Actually, rather nice. And at this time of day, as I sit on the back patio overlooking the back of our property, waiting on & watching the dogs , I get to watch the bats perform their acrobatics as they hunt down mosquitos. They put on quite the show! Kinda like watching the bald eagles… it feeds my soul. With it seems like the whole world going to hell, it is nice to just slow down and appreciate nature. The time of evening I’m talking about:
Anyone else have some chores that you really enjoy?
Read More
GunkBoiNews for the week of 2023-10-23
The Prepared Support - October 30, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreDYI Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke
Hardened - October 30, 2023 Facing the worst air quality in recorded history (and my air purifier temporarily inaccessible in storage) I built my own today using Eric’s COVID Air Defense System kit, also known as a Corsi-Rosenthal Cube. It works for wildfire smoke as well as for Covid.
I followed these instructions to build it: https://encycla.com/Corsi-Rosenthal_Cube
I was able to have the MERV 13 filters delivered the same day by Instacart so I didn’t have to leave my apartment.
Read More
News for the Week 2023-10-30
The Prepared Support - October 30, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreDocumenting Important Information – Big Book Of Everything
Bigwig - October 28, 2023 Lately I have been updating my ‘important information’ document which my family can use in case something happens to me. It contains information on financial accounts, insurance information, location of important items, etc. Recently I came across The Big Book of Everything which has a nice list of information to collect. While I don’t use it, it has given me some ideas on other things to include in my document.
What resources have you found useful?
Read MoreHome security
Claire - October 28, 2023 I just had a break-in in my community. Any recs for protecting doors and windows? And would any of these double as protection from storms? For example, impact-type film over the windows.
Read MoreGame that we don’t usually hunt and eat, but could and would…….
Winston Smith - October 22, 2023 Hunters/trappers usually eat pigs, deer, moose, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, ducks, doves, quail, geese, and various game animals in different regions.
But there are some animals that are not traditionally consumed, but in an emergency, would be gladly eaten and enjoyed for nourishment and taste. A quick rule of thumb is that you can eat just about anything with fur, feathers, or scales as long as it is properly prepared and cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria and other pathogens that would make us sick. That means most mammals, birds, and reptiles are fine to eat, although palatability is never guaranteed. But the hungrier you are, the better all foods will taste. The wrong plants we eat can harm us more than animals.
Alligators: Alligator meat has been described as having a mild flavor and a firm texture. It tastes like quail, with a mildly fishy flavor, and is often chewy, depending on the preparation. Alligator meat is lean meat that has high protein and low fat content. It is regarded as a healthy food. Alligator tail meat is white in color and tender.
Bobcats (cats): Bobcat (cat) meat is very similar to that of lean pork. It holds many of the same textures and flavors that pork holds. It’s mild, lean, and tender when cooked correctly. At first, the meat is chewy, but then surprisingly light and soft. There’s a certain delicacy to it, almost like fish. It’s not particularly heavy, rich, or strong like dog meat, and the addition of the herbs can give the meat a menthol, licorice quality that makes it taste clean and warm.
Birds: We normally don’t eat songbirds or endangered species, but in a SHTF disaster, they’d end up on the menu. Sparrows and Starlings are small but edible and plentiful. It’s been said that crow tastes like wild duck and Mockingbirds have an earthy aroma, and the dark meat is rich, slightly sweet, and flavorful.
Raccoons: Despite what you might think, raccoon tastes pretty good when cleaned and cooked properly. Like dark meat chicken or turkey, though it is greasier and more tender.
Snakes: You can eat just about any snake, but the most popular snake that people most often choose to eat in the wild is the rattlesnake. Its diet is mostly rodents, plus insects, and smaller reptiles. The meat has an earthy or gamey taste similar to alligator meat, with flesh that’s white and a little rubbery to the touch.
Turtles: Almost all turtle is edible except the lungs, gall bladder, skeleton, skull, and nails. The legs and tail are particularly esteemed, but remove the skin before eating. Snapping Turtles are good eating, but they can be a bit of a chore to clean. Turtle meat has a firm texture and tastes a bit like chicken.
Opossums: Native Americans enjoyed eating opossums before Europeans or Africans arrived, and they introduced the animal to early colonists. Possum meat tends to have taste similarities to that of squirrel and rabbit meat. The taste is a gamey meat and greasy.
Horses: Horse meat is healthier than beef: it’s lower in fat, higher in protein and has a greater proportion of omega-3 fatty acids. Mexico, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Poland, and China are nations where many people eat horse meat without a second thought. While meat from younger horses tends to be a bit pinkish in color, older horses have darker, reddish-colored meat.
Coyotes (dogs): Coyotes and dogs are not known for being edible in the U.S., but when properly handled and prepared, it can taste just as good as lean beef. Dog meat is consumed in South Korea, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Switzerland, and Vietnam. Each year, around 4 million cats and 10 million dogs are believed to be slaughtered in China.
Rats/Mice: In many places around the globe, rat provides much-needed sustenance. As long as it isn’t diseased, it could provide needed nutrition. While rats seem gross to eat in the US there are many countries that include rat meat in their regular diets: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, parts of the Philippines and Indonesia, Thailand, Ghana, China and Vietnam. As long as the rodent has been sufficiently cooked through at a high temperature to kill off the many pathogens it may contain, it is safe to eat.
Wild Boars: Wild boar is very lean and low in cholesterol. Wild boar is an excellent alternative to beef and pork for those who want food that is good for them without sacrificing taste and quality. Wild Boar is high in protein. They are a good source of monounsaturated fats and zinc.
My trapping boxes contain 20 Conibear body grip traps, 20 wire snare traps, 10 rat traps, wire, a pack of clothes pins, and misc. items: all for trapping small game.
Read MoreSanitation when the grid/water is down
Open Space - October 22, 2023 After the winter storm excitement in Texas last week, I realized there is very little on prepping sites about sanitation. Without water pressure, many in Texas lacked flushing toilets and showers. There was a nasty story from a hospital in San Antonio about transferring patients because all the toilets in the building were overflowing.
We were caught a bit off guard – we usually fill buckets of water to flush toilets right before a tropical storm or hurricane (if we don’t evacuate). In this case we didn’t think of it, and I didn’t want to use up stored drinking water.
Aside from breaking down and finally buying a generator to keep our well powered, I’ve been looking at simple composting toilets. These look incredibly easy to set up. Might be worth an article here at some point?
The best information I’m finding is from the RV/Marine community who don’t want to deal with black water tanks. Anyway – some food for thought and discussion…
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-10-16
The Prepared Support - October 21, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreSolar Water Distiller
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/02/solar-stills-help-people-obtain-clean-water-using-the-power-of-the-sun/?fbclid=IwAR1wkHu59qTQJ2dhLd6SQbhdeRLbNpUgUYGTjhctV59JxnE5Vl3nUQUdfxA
http://www.watercone.com/product.html
I post this in hopes someone in the plastic manufacturing field will see the value in a Solar still … no Filters no moving parts 100% pure drinking water easily stacks on top of each other .. Glenn
Read More