Preparations 1

Alright! So the crap continues to hit the fan and suddenly there is even more interest in the preparations we've been at for over a year. Well, better late than never. I have many of these sites listed at the very bottom of my blog, but I'm going to put some in this post as well to make sure that people see them.

Let me also be very clear about why Jason and I have been doing all this preparation. I am an absolute firm believer in God. I believe 100% that he will take care of us during whatever is to come and one of the ways that I think he does this....is to give us the wisdom ahead of time to prepare. If you have more faith in your Gov't to feed/shelter and protect you and your family than yourself.....don't bother reading the rest. There will be bread lines for you and your family to stand in and FEMA camps for you to rest in!

First and foremost......get some personal protection (guns/ammo). Good luck finding ammo,but if you search hard enough and are put on waiting lists for certain kinds, hopefully you'll get it before its taxed to $%^* and back. Be sure that whatever you get....YOU KNOW HOW TO USE! And for goodness sake, try it out. Meaning, guns are like jeans. You've gotta try them out and see how they fit in your grip and feel to hold. You need to feel 100% comfortable holding it and so confident in how to use it.....that there is no hesitation. Once you have a gun for personal protection, I would consider getting a rifle, etc for hunting. Even if your not a hunter by sport.....you may become one out of necessity.

Next...food. I think storing in bulk first is wise. One of the best ways to do this is in #2 buckets with mylar bags. The place with the best price for both lids and bags that I have found is:
https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/
You will find the #2 5 gallon bucket with rubber gasket lids there. If you want even more convenience....get the gamma seal lids. The mylar bags are inexpensive and really a necessity for long term storage. (We're talking 15-20 years!) They come with and with out ziplock tops, but either way....heat seal the top. I wouldn't waste my money on a $100 clam sealer....use a good ole' fashion iron! If you wanna see a great video on how to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7_cTn6YpE
This guy has fantastic videos on SEVERAL subjects and explains things very well.

After you think you've stored enough bulk items, I would move on to canned items. Even though they have expiration dates....according to the Hormel website....canned items are good almost indefinately if stored in a temperature controlled environment.

Another thing to consider while storing up food is how to harvest your own...meaning GARDEN. I know its a bit of a foreign concept to my generation, but having the ability to grow your own fruits and veggies is important. And learn how to can your food....you may not be able to immediately eat all that you've grown and it doesn't need to go to waste. FYI......If you think you might wait until you HAVE to grow your own food before you start it......Gardening is an extreme sport!! and takes takes time and EXPERIENCE! We need to know, not only how to put a seed in the ground and make it grow, but also about our own regional soil makeup, what it needs, stock up on that! Stock up on seeds......harvesting seeds from the food you just grew......not as easy as you might think.......it is an art and takes much expertise.

Next......water! Water stored in smaller (gallon) amounts are great and very useful. You can find many youtube videos on how to make purified water. Basically a few drops of bleach per gallon of water. It will store for 1-2 years. I would consider also investing in larger drums (food grade only). The are pricey brand new, but I have found them on Craigs list for cheap.....they used to have Rockstar Energy Drink, etc., in them, but it doesn't matter. They are food grade! Rinse them out and fill them up. I might consider getting a few more to make rain barrels for your garden. Remember, if municipalities are down for any length of time due to cival unrest, etc. you are going to have to have drinking water and water for your garden so you don't loose your crop.

I could go on and on about many things to consider, but here are few:

If your a female and shelves are empty or hyperinflation makes a box of tampons $40.....whatcha gonna do? Have daughters? Here's a thought: Reusable pads: http://www.lunapads.com/
There are several styles and websites.....find what you think you would use.

Soap......it's cheap now and easy to stock up on.

Wash clothes.....mostly because toiletpaper takes a lot of space to store :)

Medicines

Extra eye glasses

Toothbrushes/toothpaste

Detergent

Basically, what do you and your family use that if it were unavailable or way too expensive to buy.....can you store it up right now?

Alright, you probably have more than enough to digest right now. I'll blog later about how you might prepare your food if there were no electricity for awhile....always more to consider!