Discussions
Reply to: What three firearms would you have for prepping? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 2 days ago
Home heating sans electricity?
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3
Posted 3 days ago
Reply to: The beginnings of a food forest… Posted 4 days ago

Hey Josh, as others have mentioned, you will need to consider disease, but also pests and animals, if your hope is to have edible fruit.  I have several fruit trees, and when left alone they do “fine” and produce a lot of fruit, but without a lot of water and soil maintance the fruit doesn’t taste good at all. And without intervention, bugs, deer, racoons, squirels, and other critters will eat it all long before it’s ripe enough for you to eat.  I have all but given up on my pear tree – it produces plenty of pears, but they taste terrible and are almost always maggot infested before they’re close to ripe.  That is, the ones the racoons don’t eat! Also, judging by your photos, I’d like to suggest checking your “compost mulch” which looks like it might be some recent food scraps from your kitchen.  You need to let that stuff process first and actually turn into compost, otherwise it will just rot and not do much good.  Plus, it will likely attract deer or racoons, who I promise will be smart enough to figure out how to get into your tree tube after their appetites have been perked with the snacks you’ve left them!  Get a bag of real mulch or compost from your local gardening store- you can get a couple cubic feet for just a few bucks. Also, if you want an unstoppable and hardy fruit plant, try blackberry bushes.  They are nearly indestructable, so much so they can be invasive and will take over your yard/hillside before you know it.  But boy do they produce with little to no maitainance.

PrimeDay prepping deals
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6
Posted 1 week ago
Reply to: Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: How do you filter air when the electricity is low or non-existent? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: What’s the best Prepping advice you have ever received? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: Are five-gallon water dispensers good for water storage? Posted 2 weeks ago

I too have a question about water storage. Over the years I’ve read conflicting information about stroring water that you bottle yourself compared to bottled water you buy at the store and stash away for an emergencey.  It’s been my understanding that sealed, store-bought bottled water, especially the better brands that package their product in a higher-quality ‘clear’ plastic, is better long-term, since the water was bottled and sealed under sterile conditions (this is according to the Red Cross).  But that contradicts The Prepared’s write-up, which advocates for purchasing water-storage containers and self-bottling.  I suspect the right answer is a little bit of both, but I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts are on this?  Seeing that you can buy a quality gallon of bottled water for a buck, compared to the storage options that start around $20, there’s an arguement to be made that bottled water from the store is the better, or at least cheaper, route.

Reply to: Need advice on my Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit Posted 3 weeks ago

What a great list!  One thing I’d suggest to add is a good pair of heavy-duty jumper cables.  I recently learned the hard way that the typical, cheap jumper cables you often find aren’t always up to the task.  Look for something that’s 6 gauge or thicker (and remember that when speaking of wire gauge, the lower the number the thicker and more heavy-duty the cable).  I see you have a portable power pack, and those are awesome, but if your car battery is completely drained, and your power pack is running low, it might not have enough umph to start your car.  Another suggestion, also learned the hard way, is to upgrade your tire-changing tools.  The lug wrench, jack, and other tols that came with your car will probably be on the cheap and minimal side.  While you are at it be sure you have a few basic tools as well (wrench, screw-drivers, etc). And finally, a head-lamp!  Changing a tire or any type of car maintanance at night in the dark is no fun, but a head-lamp will help immensly! *I recognize these aren’t necessarily ‘winter’ items, so it’s likely you already have all of this stuff covered.  I’ve had terrible luck with my automobile the past few months and have been forced to confront just how ill-prepared I was to deal with them.

Reply to: BIke Trailers Posted 3 weeks ago

I like the way you are thinking, but my guess is that 250+lbs for a bike trailer might be too much.  Starting would be incredibly difficult, and stopping would be extremely difficult and likely quite dangerous if you don’t have brakes installed on the trailer. A couple things to consider.  First, try dispearsing some of the weight over your front and rear wheels (handle-bar baskets, bike bags, and such).  Dispearsing the weight will make the physics work more in your favor.  Also look into trailers and accessories designed to haul infants around.  You won’t find anything that will carry 250lbs, but you might find something that can work for you.  Finally, there are companies and individuals that make custom bikes and trailers, and that might be the direction you need to go.  There’s a company in Portland called Clever Cycles that produces great stuff, their cargo bikes might be in line with what you are looking for: https://www.clevercycles.com/bicycles/cargo-bikes/ Another approach might be looking at something like a rickshaw: you’d be on three wheels instead of two, and sacrifice a lot of manuverability, but you could definitely haul 250lbs: https://www.pedicab.com/ That all said, I think it’s great that you are looking into this.  I don’t think bikes are discussed enough in the prepper community, but I believe they’d be an invaluable asset in a SHTH scenario.  No need for gas, no worries about gnarled traffic, road blockages would be much easier to navigate, etc.  If you’re in decent shape it’s not hard to cover 50+ miles a day if it’s not too hilly.  

Reply to: Heavy Duty Folders Posted 3 weeks ago
Reply to: Toilet when there’s no water? Posted 3 weeks ago
Broadcastify – listen to police and emergency scanners
1
7
Posted 3 weeks ago
Reply to: Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans? Posted 3 weeks ago
Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans?
5
8
Posted 4 weeks ago
Reply to: Not Sure What to Do Next Posted 4 weeks ago

I’m going to echo and double down on something John mentioned, and suggest focusing energy on your own physical conditioning. Getting in good physical shape is perhaps the one “prepper” thing we can all do that is gauranteed to pay off in the future, no matter what happens. Plus, exercise is not only good for your body but also your emotional and mental health, and I know we are all feeling extra stressed out these days. Plus plus, it doesn’t have to cost you much money. Jogging/power-walking and core-strength exercises can be done with no equipment. If you need motivation to get into a serious exercise routine, consider the possible senario in which you, on foot, are carrying a heavy backpack and one or both of your children to your bug out location.  And even if something like that doesn’t happen, being in good shape will benefit just about every aspect of your life. You really can’t go wrong!

Reply to: [Official discussion] Best first gun for preppers Posted 4 weeks ago

I appreciate the work that goes into an article like this, and I don’t want to come accross as dismissive, but I believe the suggestion of an AR15 or AR10 as a first gun is not sound.  If the discussion was hypothetically concerning the only firearm one could have, than I’d fully agree, and I understand that you allude to this a bit in the comment that a first gun is often the only gun someone purchases.  But even in that context it’s still something I’d caution against. Assuming the first time gun buyer is also a total newbie at firearms, starting off with an AR is like learing to drive on the freeway during rush hour.  Sure, if you have an amazing instructor and you will be dedicating a lot of time and energy into training it could work.  But that’s the rub- learning, and practicing with an AR, or any rifle, is difficult.  Most ranges, especially indoor ranges, don’t allow them, so the hours of practice that are required to master such a weapon are far more difficult to come by.  Now again, if a potential buyer has easy access to a location where they can spend hours of time practicing, then perhaps.  But that is simply not the case for most first time gun buyers, especially those living in urban and suburban areas. I am a real advocate for the idea of a training gun; a firearm purchased solely for the intention of learning how to own and operate a gun, especially for those who have zero background with guns. Safety and ease of use should be prioritzed, as well as opportunities for training and instruction. Once said purchaser has grown confident in their skills and comprehenstion, then make the bigger purchase of something like an AR.  The training gun then becomes a backup weapon, and something the shooter can use to help introduce other newbies to shooting.   That all said, thank you for the article and all the great work that goes into the site.  This truly is a valuable resource.

Home heating sans electricity?
8
3
Posted 3 days ago
PrimeDay prepping deals
6
6
Posted 1 week ago
Broadcastify – listen to police and emergency scanners
1
7
Posted 3 weeks ago
Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans?
5
8
Posted 4 weeks ago
Reply to: What three firearms would you have for prepping? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 1 day ago
Reply to: Home heating sans electricity? Posted 2 days ago
Reply to: The beginnings of a food forest… Posted 4 days ago

Hey Josh, as others have mentioned, you will need to consider disease, but also pests and animals, if your hope is to have edible fruit.  I have several fruit trees, and when left alone they do “fine” and produce a lot of fruit, but without a lot of water and soil maintance the fruit doesn’t taste good at all. And without intervention, bugs, deer, racoons, squirels, and other critters will eat it all long before it’s ripe enough for you to eat.  I have all but given up on my pear tree – it produces plenty of pears, but they taste terrible and are almost always maggot infested before they’re close to ripe.  That is, the ones the racoons don’t eat! Also, judging by your photos, I’d like to suggest checking your “compost mulch” which looks like it might be some recent food scraps from your kitchen.  You need to let that stuff process first and actually turn into compost, otherwise it will just rot and not do much good.  Plus, it will likely attract deer or racoons, who I promise will be smart enough to figure out how to get into your tree tube after their appetites have been perked with the snacks you’ve left them!  Get a bag of real mulch or compost from your local gardening store- you can get a couple cubic feet for just a few bucks. Also, if you want an unstoppable and hardy fruit plant, try blackberry bushes.  They are nearly indestructable, so much so they can be invasive and will take over your yard/hillside before you know it.  But boy do they produce with little to no maitainance.

Reply to: Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: How do you filter air when the electricity is low or non-existent? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: What’s the best Prepping advice you have ever received? Posted 2 weeks ago
Reply to: Are five-gallon water dispensers good for water storage? Posted 2 weeks ago

I too have a question about water storage. Over the years I’ve read conflicting information about stroring water that you bottle yourself compared to bottled water you buy at the store and stash away for an emergencey.  It’s been my understanding that sealed, store-bought bottled water, especially the better brands that package their product in a higher-quality ‘clear’ plastic, is better long-term, since the water was bottled and sealed under sterile conditions (this is according to the Red Cross).  But that contradicts The Prepared’s write-up, which advocates for purchasing water-storage containers and self-bottling.  I suspect the right answer is a little bit of both, but I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts are on this?  Seeing that you can buy a quality gallon of bottled water for a buck, compared to the storage options that start around $20, there’s an arguement to be made that bottled water from the store is the better, or at least cheaper, route.

Reply to: Need advice on my Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit Posted 3 weeks ago

What a great list!  One thing I’d suggest to add is a good pair of heavy-duty jumper cables.  I recently learned the hard way that the typical, cheap jumper cables you often find aren’t always up to the task.  Look for something that’s 6 gauge or thicker (and remember that when speaking of wire gauge, the lower the number the thicker and more heavy-duty the cable).  I see you have a portable power pack, and those are awesome, but if your car battery is completely drained, and your power pack is running low, it might not have enough umph to start your car.  Another suggestion, also learned the hard way, is to upgrade your tire-changing tools.  The lug wrench, jack, and other tols that came with your car will probably be on the cheap and minimal side.  While you are at it be sure you have a few basic tools as well (wrench, screw-drivers, etc). And finally, a head-lamp!  Changing a tire or any type of car maintanance at night in the dark is no fun, but a head-lamp will help immensly! *I recognize these aren’t necessarily ‘winter’ items, so it’s likely you already have all of this stuff covered.  I’ve had terrible luck with my automobile the past few months and have been forced to confront just how ill-prepared I was to deal with them.

Reply to: BIke Trailers Posted 3 weeks ago

I like the way you are thinking, but my guess is that 250+lbs for a bike trailer might be too much.  Starting would be incredibly difficult, and stopping would be extremely difficult and likely quite dangerous if you don’t have brakes installed on the trailer. A couple things to consider.  First, try dispearsing some of the weight over your front and rear wheels (handle-bar baskets, bike bags, and such).  Dispearsing the weight will make the physics work more in your favor.  Also look into trailers and accessories designed to haul infants around.  You won’t find anything that will carry 250lbs, but you might find something that can work for you.  Finally, there are companies and individuals that make custom bikes and trailers, and that might be the direction you need to go.  There’s a company in Portland called Clever Cycles that produces great stuff, their cargo bikes might be in line with what you are looking for: https://www.clevercycles.com/bicycles/cargo-bikes/ Another approach might be looking at something like a rickshaw: you’d be on three wheels instead of two, and sacrifice a lot of manuverability, but you could definitely haul 250lbs: https://www.pedicab.com/ That all said, I think it’s great that you are looking into this.  I don’t think bikes are discussed enough in the prepper community, but I believe they’d be an invaluable asset in a SHTH scenario.  No need for gas, no worries about gnarled traffic, road blockages would be much easier to navigate, etc.  If you’re in decent shape it’s not hard to cover 50+ miles a day if it’s not too hilly.  

Reply to: Heavy Duty Folders Posted 3 weeks ago
Reply to: Toilet when there’s no water? Posted 3 weeks ago
Reply to: Have the wildfires made you rethink your plans? Posted 3 weeks ago
Reply to: Not Sure What to Do Next Posted 4 weeks ago

I’m going to echo and double down on something John mentioned, and suggest focusing energy on your own physical conditioning. Getting in good physical shape is perhaps the one “prepper” thing we can all do that is gauranteed to pay off in the future, no matter what happens. Plus, exercise is not only good for your body but also your emotional and mental health, and I know we are all feeling extra stressed out these days. Plus plus, it doesn’t have to cost you much money. Jogging/power-walking and core-strength exercises can be done with no equipment. If you need motivation to get into a serious exercise routine, consider the possible senario in which you, on foot, are carrying a heavy backpack and one or both of your children to your bug out location.  And even if something like that doesn’t happen, being in good shape will benefit just about every aspect of your life. You really can’t go wrong!

Reply to: [Official discussion] Best first gun for preppers Posted 4 weeks ago

I appreciate the work that goes into an article like this, and I don’t want to come accross as dismissive, but I believe the suggestion of an AR15 or AR10 as a first gun is not sound.  If the discussion was hypothetically concerning the only firearm one could have, than I’d fully agree, and I understand that you allude to this a bit in the comment that a first gun is often the only gun someone purchases.  But even in that context it’s still something I’d caution against. Assuming the first time gun buyer is also a total newbie at firearms, starting off with an AR is like learing to drive on the freeway during rush hour.  Sure, if you have an amazing instructor and you will be dedicating a lot of time and energy into training it could work.  But that’s the rub- learning, and practicing with an AR, or any rifle, is difficult.  Most ranges, especially indoor ranges, don’t allow them, so the hours of practice that are required to master such a weapon are far more difficult to come by.  Now again, if a potential buyer has easy access to a location where they can spend hours of time practicing, then perhaps.  But that is simply not the case for most first time gun buyers, especially those living in urban and suburban areas. I am a real advocate for the idea of a training gun; a firearm purchased solely for the intention of learning how to own and operate a gun, especially for those who have zero background with guns. Safety and ease of use should be prioritzed, as well as opportunities for training and instruction. Once said purchaser has grown confident in their skills and comprehenstion, then make the bigger purchase of something like an AR.  The training gun then becomes a backup weapon, and something the shooter can use to help introduce other newbies to shooting.   That all said, thank you for the article and all the great work that goes into the site.  This truly is a valuable resource.