Weekly Prep Thread, Feb 5-11, 2006

[A.T.Hagan]

New week folks. Looks like winter is finally going to start getting its licks in this month.

Picked up the first of my chicks yesterday and they passed the night in their brooder just fine. Built a seed starting box as well so I get start getting the spring garden plants seeded in.

What are the rest of you up to this week?

.....Alan.

 

[ShaveIce]

Hmmmmm......grabbed some more CR123 batteries....another Surefire light...tried to learn several new things....found a couple of collapsible water carriers...plan on making a "walk around" in one of the major home improvement centers to try and discover any areas I am "lacking" in.....ya'll have a good week...

 

[summerthyme]

Just hanging in there and making plans for spring... Trying to figure out what this crazy season is going to do, and plan accordingly.

The Snowdrops (small, white flowers) were BLOOMING in the front lawn, starting on January 27th. Now, granted, they're called Snowdrops for a reason- they're the first spring flowers and often will peek through the last snowfalls... but this is ridiculous!! My records show the earliest I've seen them before this is February 20th...

I'm watching for crocus foliage... when that shows up, no matter what the calendar says, I'll tap the maple trees. I saw a few "yard trees" tapped already down in town, but that's crazy... and if you tap too early, the tree heals itself and seals the hole up before the season really starts. With no snow cover on the ground, it will be a short season once it starts warming up for good..

I'm really debating spending some major (for us) bucks on a decent small greenhouse. I've had a PVC pipe and plastic one for a few years, and it's no more than a glorified cold frame... nearly impossible to keep warm once the sun goes down, so pretty useless for starting plants (or even growing out the tomatoes and peppers in the few weeks before our frost danger is gone) and I'm tired of replacing the plastic every few years. There are some pretty darned good deals on polycarbonate greenhouses, and with the price of greens, etc, in the store, it would probably pay it's way in only a few years growing just our own salads... if I could sell some extras, it could end up being a money maker. Going to think about it a little more.... but I don't see prices going down on them.

Gotta prune the apple trees and blueberry bushes the next warm spell, and think about getting the dormant oil spray on them soon, too.

Did some stocking up on things like wool socks, blue jeans and rubber barn boots... sales at this time of year make it only sensible to get some to have on hand. I did that last year with winter gloves and some Carhartt jackets- got them for about 70% off, and stashed them in my upstairs closet for later use. Hubby wears his chore coats until they are little more than rags, but eventually even he has to admit that they need to be replaced. I finally figured out it was better to have one on hand- bought on sale- than have to go looking for one at full price when he finally decides he needs a new one. LOL!

This is the waiting time... the last dead of winter "break" before things start warming up and getting busy. Once spring hits, there isn't time to take a deep breath for the next 8 months. Enjoy it now!

Summerthyme

 

[John H]

Home Hardware up here had a sale on Nimh rechargeable batteries and chargers, so I bought some AAA's and D's to supplement the many AA's I have on hand. Also bought another charger that will handle the D's as well as 9 volt batteries (future).

Everything is now rechargeable, except for the smoke and CO detectors.

I also have 6 deep cycle batteries already on hand.

Spent the last day bringing everything back up to full charge and enough gas to run the genny for a couple of hours a day for a couple of months.

After that, it's oil lamps and candles, although I doubt it will get to that. Most war zones in the last couple of decades (including Baghdad) have had rotating power for a few hours a day, which would allow for recharging.

John H

 

[Deep Blue Dragon]

Put in two plum trees and two pear trees we just picked up at the garden store. Today we'll put in the raspberries and two grape vines (varieties we haven't tried yet). Also got a blueberry plant; we've picked them at a nearby pick-your-own fruit farm before, but haven't tried growing our own so far.

Topped off the canned foods this week - all the kid stuff (Spaghettios, alphabet soup, Chef Boyardee, etc.).

I got some great bargains on Goya brand beans-and-rice boxed mixes that were evidently being discontinued by our store; also they had a few cases of canned yams at bargain prices (50 cents for a large sized can).

 

[Seabird]

I'm setting up to begin our spring garden in a few weeks. After last years trial with embedding screening a few feet down in the ground, I am looking for a screening that will survive better under the dirt. Being in a city setting, there are limitations to how much planting I can do.

There is a big chance that we will be moving by summer, and I really pray that a reasonable farm house will become available. With land, and even a pond or spring on it. I really miss our citrus trees in South Florida, and I want to plant more on my own land here in Northern Florida. Grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, and lemons. Plus a pecan tree, and pears.

In the meantime, I filled another large bin with enough canned/ dry food for one month for two people (bringing our total to twelve months worth in bins alone). We have stocked several months of food on top of that, rotating as we go. With hurricane season around the corner, we are making sure we are set for that, as well.

And we stocked up on another seasons worth of OTC meds and supplies.

Seabird

 

[Cardinal]

I am going to try my hand at canning the butter I bought. Went to a "save-a-lot" and got several pounds of butter for 2.29/lb, and an going to use my new canning jars

 

[dagnabit]

This is such a great idea. It brought me out of lurking!


I did a canning spree last week with broths and beans. This week it is soups, ethnic soups are the plan.


Bought 100 lbs of assorted flours, mostly ancient grains flours (spelt, millet and the like). (100 lbs in total LOL). Because of their higher protein content, I need to figure out how to best store them.


I should have thought about that before I bought them I guess.


edited: I found a recipe for canning margerine too. I am going to try both butter and marg next week and see how they fare.

 

[WalknTrot]

It's still the middle of the winter here and just getting chores done takes twice the time. Hauling hay and feed, filling water tanks, keeping the fences up and in between, snowblowing the driveway. (Tightened the belt, cleaned the plug and changed oil...ho hum.) Checking on all the critts is a hands-on event every day because of their heavy coats.

Gave the propane direct vent fireplace a good dusting and cleaned the jets and ignitor yesterday...it always works better. I think one tank of propane will get us through this winter! Picked up some loss leaders on my way home from work this a.m....always need canned veggies and cream of mushroom soup.

This weekend, I have to do taxes...next weekend I'll allow myself the pleasure of ordering seeds!

 

[FloridaGirl]

I prepped on fun stuff. Bought two decks of cards and a monopoly game, already have checkers and other board games. DH informed me today, we are going to Mississippi to check into a company that will build us a storm shelter. I think he has finally awakened. I will let us guys know what we find and what we choose for our property.

 

[Joey]

We had a power outage yesterday because of wind. We found out that most of my D batteries were old and wouldn't work The oil lamps worked good. So we need to restock on D batteries or find some good rechargable batteries. Sure missed not being able to get on the computer. I did open one the new decks of cards I bought last week, just to have something to do.
Mrs Joey

 

[Doc1]

Latest projects

I've been building a receiver hitch to install on the Bug Out Bus and modifying an old camper trailer that was flooded in Katrina for use as a utility and evacuation trailer.
The trailer was given to us by a friend and the mods involved completely dissassembling it to the bare frame and now, shortening it a bit to make it legal for Mississippi use. I'd better explain that. This trailer was given to us under a "bill of sale" transfer, without a title. In MS, trailers over 16' must have a title and as this one is a bit over that, it must be trimmed a little :-) Additionally, I'm replacing the salt water-ruined wheel bearings and decking it with treated lumber.
In addition to installing the receiver hitch on the bus this morning, I also managed to get two of the four sets of wheel bearings installed.
These projects always take a LOT longer than one anticipates. The hitch for the bus started life - for me anyway - as a junkyard Draw-Tite hitch of uncertain origin. I've heavily drilled, welded and modified it to fit...especially near the little decal that says, "Do not drill, weld or modify."
The trailer is a really important project, as it will allow us to carry our (heavy) listeroid generator and take even more with us in the event of an evacuation this hurricane season. It is also necessary to carry building materials as we rebuild on our property. Additionally, we plan to use the trailer to carry waste oil collection tanks to help reduce our fuel bills.
We're busy with a seemingly endless supply of prep and rebuilding projects, but the above is what I've been busy with of late.

Best regards
Doc

 

[Seabird]

Wow, Doc! Even though I've been keeping up with the progress of the hurricane victims, it always brings it back to center when you write in. I pray you and your family are faring well.

Are there any morsels of learned knowledge that you have attained through all of this? And was any of it a surprise to you, being a prepper?

I guess that's the part I want to know the most. What don't we know that we need to know?

Thanks.

Seabird

 

[NBCsurvivor]

FINALLY got my CFP90 backpack in from ebay(will be making it my new BOB...maybe).

The thing is HUGE!! Maybe too big. I don't know yet. I am going to play with it for a few weeks and see if it will work with me. I swear, I could fit two TB2K board members in there with their own BOBs!!

 

[PilotFighter]

Saturday morning went to a friends house and picked up 2 truck loads of bunny pooh. Spread it all over the garden. He raises more than 200 rabbits. Then went by another friends and picked up 6 trays of broccoli plants I had started in his green house. Got the bunny pooh tilled into the garden, and got over 200 broccoli plants set out today.

Went to see a new doctor last Friday under my new health care provider. Turns out the doc was a former flight surgeon who was on the Nimitz the same time I was. He fixed me up good on my meds. Made sure I had a script for my prednisone and blood pressure medicine for 2 years worth. I got a years worth of both already filled. Fixed me up with a few months worth of other goodies as well for hard times if needed.

 

[wasabell]

PIcked up some Morton Lite Salt for the re-hydration solution from another thread. Printed and taped the recipe around the container for easy reference.

Also picked up an assortment of dried beans and lentils. I made some "10-bean" soup kits, and put some of each type separate in zip bags. I made enough for about 10 batches of soup-4 servings each. For about $5.00.

Got a new realtor for our acreage for sale. Previous one made too many errors on the website, and left them there for two weeks. We fired them, and hired another. He's already told us about a house that's about perfect for us....not like we're buying right now.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Canned up 8 pints of chicken breasts last week-will probably get another 5 lbs tomorrow to put up as well. Not really buying too much as I don't have any more room, but did find space for a dozen jars of dry roasted peanuts bought on sale, buy 1/get 1 free. Also got another 2 12 packs of toilet paper. Spent some time this afternoon picking up downed branches from some of these thunderstorms we've had lately and broke them all down for the firestarter box. New garbage disposal installed and the patio is now completely painted and ready for the final redo to make it a more comfy area to spend some time.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

So far this week:
- Bought another 20L fuel tin for the new car, which is diesel. To be put in the shed with the other one I bought a few weeks back which is full of petrol for the other car I have.

- Got a replacement inverter back from the supplier, the original 1000W one failed after running overnight on a test.... good thing I didn't wait until I needed it. The new one will be getting a soak test this week as well. Probably something to remember about electronics - they generally have a "bathtub" shaped failure curve - high in the first 10% of average life, low for the next 80%, high in the last 10%.

- Ordered a 1GB MP3 player with a FM transmitter built in and car charger - that's
about 300 songs. One must have music to accompany TEOTWAWKI, you know.

- Transferred the TB2k prep threads to my ageing vaio picturebook, which is stored in a metal case, in my tin shed out the back. Also got all of the technical briefs from this group and put them on the laptop too. Never know when you might need that kind of info.

- Got my NukAlert and Dosimeters from Shane. I live in a remote area of Australia - it's a 10 hour drive from here to the coast, and there's about a total 30,000 people in between here and there. So odds are pretty good that nothing's going to happen here soon. But I still have bad dreams in the style of On The Beach on occasion, so that why I've got them.

- Got a small 3 person tent, a string hammock and a few more tarps. You can never have enough tarps. The tent also distracts my wife, so I can pass off more purchases as "camping stuff" . Bit hard to pass a nukalert off as camping gear though.

- After a big branch from the neighbour's tree fell onto the shed last week in a storm, have been going around and tidying up the yard, removing branches and anything generally loose that can fly about - it's the wet season here now, and the storms can be ferocious.

So all that and probably a bit more now I've started my days off ....

 

[BerkshireGrl]

A few days ago, I went to my local market where they sell lots of muffins along with breakfast, and asked about the plastic buckets that the muffin mix comes in. Asked if they had xtras, they said take as many as I want. Went in their back room, they must have had at least a hundred plastic buckets wth tops! I took only 10 but they said I can have more whenever I want! Big score!
Now I can start using my new foodsaver and start packaging up the 20 lbs of rice and 50 lbs of beans I got yesterday. Little by little, I'm getting more put away.
I finelly ordered a wind up radio online too. Should be here in a few days. It's one of the radios with a cell phone charger on it, I'll have to let you all know how it works. Have heard some people say it doesn't work with all phones, but we'll see.
Also ordered 3 lbs of dried elderberries online so I can make some elderberry tincture and have some for back up too. I just read Canada Sue's thread on Curevents about the bird flu hitting her town (fictional) but boy it really kicked my ass to get going with some more preps. Should be going to Costco in the next week or two to stock up some more. Just waiting for my refund to come...
Happy week to you all. Love to read this thread. You all give me ideas and reminders of what I still need to do. Next on my list...solar battery charger and batterries...thanks for the reminder!

 

[Worrier King]

For $300 I scored 20 rough hewn 24' 2x8 beams, plus another 1/2 dozen slightly shorter beams, and just under 1000 lineal feet of 1x8 planking from a renovation of a house built in 1902. It all goes in a secluded cabin in the woods thats being built, off paper, no government, no bureacrats, no bankers and insurance men involved. The only "connection" to the democrat/republican $$$$$ beast is the property taxes of $130 a year, which to me seems fair.

5 friends in my local MAG have also bought property in that area, and have either completed, are building or in the process of planning their SHTF residences.

I should have mine done by summers end.... if we have that much time left.

This is pretty much the final step of a long term plan.

 

[Dinghy]

I found 3 bags of Cripin apples in the clearance cart today. I'm going to dehydrate all of them this time. I did one bag the last time I made applesauce and they taste really good. Decided it would be good to have some done both ways. I also got a cantalope to dry and see how we like it, that's if I can keep it away from hubby long enough to get it in the dehydrator. Our store has small cans of pizza flavored ravioli on clearance, so I got 10 of those so far. They are even good cold! I found some more Tupperware storage containers at Goodwill and have put them to use. The mice get in my cupboards and eat my spice packs and pasta, so I have to put them in containers. We never used to have this problem before, but they have been terrible the last year or so. My daughter moved this weekend and gave me some things she didn't want to drag along. I got a nice sleeping bag and some more gauze pads and a few nice warm jackets.

 

[homemakerof6]

Preps !

Just ordered a case of Garlic Tabasco sauce to go with the rest of my preps !

 

[Pearl]

I transplanted a pomegranate tree last weekend to a permanent spot, and will do the same to a valencia orange next weekend. Next project is to get the boards for a raised bed, to be situated between the 2 trees.

Then it's tax time! That's a weekend by itself. Only good thing about that is, the refund will go to pay off a debt. So, it's indirectly a prepping job.

Pearl

 

[hd5574]

Have added some Danish canned hams to the list this week~ they make great bean soup and of course the tinned Danish Butter cookies ~ I have had them both in my preps for years and that kind that of cookie stored in a cool dry place lasts about for ever or at least longer than I can resist opening them.

In addition we will restock anything we used since the last run and as always add paper products that are buy one get one free sale.

hd5574

 

[gillmanNSF]

I did a canning spree last week with broths and beans. This week it is soups, ethnic soups are the plan.


Bought 100 lbs of assorted flours, mostly ancient grains flours (spelt, millet and the like). (100 lbs in total LOL). Because of their higher protein content, I need to figure out how to best store them.

Also picked up an assortment of dried beans and lentils. I made some "10-bean" soup kits, and put some of each type separate in zip bags. I made enough for about 10 batches of soup-4 servings each. For about $5.00.

Wow, must be bean and grain week! Either that or great minds think alike.

Ancient grains, huh? I found all kinds of neato grain at a local co-op, like farina, assorted bulgar wheat and barleys, quinoa, and all kinds of assorted stuff that I wouldn't know what to do with.....so I bought some anyway in order to add variety to my pantry. Got some Split Red Lentils, Anasazi beans and some hand-harvested Wild Rice (Manoomin) from northern Minnesota, at 9.99/lb., I only got a pound. I Also topped up my split peas, yellow split peas, brown rice and sesame sticks.

I found some great online recipes for cream of wild rice soup, red lentil and spinach curry, yellow split pea and pumpkin soup, and braised Anasazi beans.

After two weekends in January eating homemade split pea soup and then last weekend's lentil and brown rice soup, I'm in a leguminous kind of mood!

I also purchased some air tight acrylic containers, at Bed, Bath and Beyond (your budget) for grain/bean/rice storage and for show. Open cupboard shelves in the kitchen are looking rather snazzy.


I figure I better know how to cook and prepare a variety of soups so that I won't be stuck with the same old pinto beans and white rice.



ps, I'm a Veteran Member!!! I'm a veteran member!!!

 

[barb43]

ps, I'm a Veteran Member!!! I'm a veteran member!!!

Oh, so that's what a thousands posts will getcha, eh? Congrats, gill!

Picked up both brown and white rice for a penny an ounce, which sounded like a pretty good deal. Along with a few cans of portabello mushroom pieces (they seemed kinda pricey at .79/can, but there's only 1 place i can find them - and i definitely want some on hand). Found bags of the dogs' favorite biscuits at 6 lbs. for the price of 5, so brought home a couple extra bags . . . gotta think of the pooches too!

 

[securitysix]

Recieved a case of 7.62x54R from sportsmansguide for the new Mosin.Can never have to much

 

[rhughe13]

I just found a bunch of Keto canned dried good for $1 ea. I looked on google and it seems they are all discontinued stuff. Should I go back and purchase all of them or not?????????? There were no expriration dates on the cans. Could I assume they are good for 10-20 years. Does anyone have any personal experience with Keto brands????

Keto

Ketato Bacon/Cheddar/Chives Flavor
Cinammon Raisin Bread
Vanilla Pudding
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

[Beetree]

Ya'll put me to SHAME!

You are all doing so well! Thanks be to God for folks like you! You're gonna keep this ole world a going! KEEP it UP!
I did get my elderberries in the mail and they look like little fried dots. How anything good can come out of them I do not know. However I went to the store and bought some vodka in a GLASS bottle mind you. Now I have the berries and the Vodka. Good Vodka, I might add! I am gonna make some tinture.
Got me some rattlesnake beans too and fixing to plant. Got them from Elba, Alabama! Supposd to be real good. Winter garden did very well and have vacuum packed many green things. I want some rabbits! But city folks can't do the rabbits and chickens. At least I might have hope with the Vodka and Elderberries!

 

[Mushroom]

We have been working on the new room for about 18 months now and have finally got it to the place were we can install the glass in the windows this week. DH will be painting this weekend so it will start to look good. He needs to start looking for doors to install on the porch and then we can start moving our stores in.DH will have a nice sunny room to work on his airguns as well.

This week I dehydrated another 20 lbs of frozen mixed vegetables for soup starter. They jarred up into 6 quarts of dehydrated veggies. They are all labled and vacuum sealed and ready to store. We also cut up 2 packer trim shoulder roasts. I made 5 quarts of concentrated broth out of the fat and gristles that were cut off. We ground the rest and made hamburger rocks flavored with onion and garlic powder. We got them into 7 quart jars all labled and vacuum sealed. Now I am looking around to see what else I can jar up. lol.

We did some shopping this week and got some canned soups and fruits to fill in what had been used. I got another double pack of peanut butter forgetting that I already had 3 upstairs and 3 more downstairs. Oh, well, the kids love the stuff so I will give them some. Swiss cheese memory can get expensive sometimes.

I ordered some more herbs to fill in what I am low on. Ordered some powdered lemon powder to make the water taste good. Found some chocolate coated coffee beans too. Now to find a place to hide them so DH doesn't pig out on them and wire himself up too badly. On to next week.

Mushroom

 

[Jmurman]

I went to the range a few days ago to break in a new pistol. This one will have to go back to the factory for a new front sight post.

Yesterday I added a few thousand rounds of .22 from Chinamart. I also upgraded a couple of my Mini- Maglight flashlights to LED.

Picked up some more rice and beans on the last shopping trip. I just keep adding each and every time I go to the store.

 

[Nuthatch]

Re: KETO
I don't know this priduct, but consider opening a can and testing it, then go back and get them if you like them, cause thats a great deal.

Got my order from herbalcom.com that I mentioned last thread. Got here in 6 business days. The product is good.

Snowing today so we are having a budget talk to plan for the year and I may work on my receipts for taxes. Plus we have a movie or two to watch.

Started a re-read of "Earth Abides" last night too. Dang, that's a good book.

 

[TerriHaute]

Now that we're caught up on expenses (including unexpected replacement of the furnace), I'm back in major prep mode. Whatever it is that's coming is close, I can feel it, and so as soon as payday comes next week, I'll be moving into high gear prep mode.

Thanks to the tip on another thread, I loaded up on the 4/$1 canned veggies at Meijer this morning, and also on canned fruits, which were 4/$2. I bought several toddler entrees that don't need refrigeration and #4 disposable diapers to have on hand for the grandbabies, who are growing like crazy. I also bought the fixin's for another big batch of scotch broth mix and put them in the freezer for a few days to kill anything that might be waiting to hatch. I'll mix it up in a few days and package it in quart-sized ziplock bags.

My seed orders all arrived this week, so I'll be starting some of slow-growing plants, like onions and peppers in seed trays this week too.

Terri in Indiana