Spags Unfiltered Group
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Most Overlooked ITEM in Preparedness
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Most Overlooked ITEM in Preparedness
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Fat, fat, fat, fat, so store GHEE! I think its always overlooked and is so necessary for brain function. Ghee is shelf stable and very very easy to make. I think everyone should be storing at least a few jars of ghee in their pantry.
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Very good idea. Also,learn to make butter. So easy.
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I just finished making butter. Can you store raw cow’s milk butter in the freezer? Know how long it will be good for?
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I do not know how long itis actually good for, but we gave used some that is a year old!
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You can pressure can butter which I have done. Not FDA approved but there is a great video Homestead Heart. Also you can can ghee.
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I’m going to have to watch. Yesterday was my first-time making butter. They want 10.99 for a roll and I have the raw milk to make it myself. I wish I would have started sooner. It is so easy.
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Yes! Everyone thinks survival is about carbs and startch it seems…haha.
Bean and rice and beans and rice…
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Neighbor raises geese for fat. She says goose fat has less flavor than other sources (like pig) so it can be used in things like cakes. PS…geese grow very fast!
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I have a breeding pair of geese. In another year I’ll start hatching them out.
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And Ghee lasts for years.
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With petroleum based items going into shortage, roofing tar/sealants. Whether for hurricane preparedness or other damage. Keeping your items safe and protected from the elements is important. This may not be available later.
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This is a valuable idea. Thanks for sharing!
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Hope I’m not being unrealistic, but what about birth control and classes on birthing? I have 2 MORE great grand children on the way and worry about this for the younger people still in their child-bearing years. (Thank Goodness I’m WAY past all that.) As a retired nurse, I’d recommend that anyone who is in their prime have someone in their community with experience in Midwifery and all that. It may come a time when a hospital is needed but not available for some. I hope every one who applies to the child-bearing age group has a plan! And even older folks should be knowledgeable on this in case of an emergency.
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This is a great point.
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OOh, Gooood answer.
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I don’t think you are being unrealistic at all! Very good point!
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Yes! I live in a major city in GA and we have ONE midwife who services the area and she only takes those with zero risk factors. I’d love to learn about midwifery or at least assisting without having to get a degree. A lady wants to open a birthing center, but she has to have a hospital agree to take emergency patients or she can’t open. Of course, none want to sign off.
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look into free birth and birth keepers. 🙂
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This is 100% a great point! Anything medicinal is going to need specialty training. I’ve heard numerous people in the community mention, take a first aid class, CPR class, and now to my list, a birthing class. 👍🏻
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I have a video on Crazy Dazes in YT where I talk with a local midwife who has caught hundreds of babies over 30 years. She is a wealth of knowledge. Renata’s Story. We are planning another video soon with more details on finding midwifes in your area and the process for young mothers to be to transition to having a home birth.
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☝☝☝☝
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I live in the Kansas City region and for those who see this sub-thread and want to have a jumping off point. The people that we used in both of our home births were:
Midwife Partners in Women’s Wellness, LLC
For doula (and yes, please utilize a doula as well if you can afford it) Dara Aldy is my recommendation. She and her husband are homesteaders on the Missouri side. Not only does she provide excellent experience and service as a support system, but she and her husband lead a post-partum preparation course so that people are aware of what resources they have and what they need to gather prior to the post-birth period.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Ken.l.wells. Reason: removing duplicate from a copy and paste error that this site is currently experiencing
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by
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👍
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Checking it out now!
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I hadnt seen that video yet but I was just thinking the other day how every homesetead community or family needs a copy of the Bradley Method.
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Calcium bentonite clay, epsom salt, sodium bicarb, tallow, hair ties, lye, yeast. All of these things have multiple very practical uses but few folks I know of store them as prep items.
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Great list! How do you store yeast?
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In the freezer. Take out just as much as you’ll need for the next couple of months, and put the rest back in.
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What about the folks who go to WalMart and buy those little packs of bakers yeast that come in what I call the condom package? Are those viable for long term storage?
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I keep some of those in the freezer to share.
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Here is my question to people that buy the small packets. Why? It’s more economical to buy a jar, or better yet the one pound blocks of Red Star.
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I think they are likely purchased by first time bread makers, who are then familiar with them because they are easy to buy and find at Wally World, Kroger etc. So then they put some back in a cabinet only to realize later that they actually have expiration dates on them. I mean, yeast is a live culture and when you wrap it in Mylar, I can only imagine it lowers the life span of that yeast. Yes or no?
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The blocks are wrapped in Mylar as well. I think as long as it stays dark, dry, and cold it’s dormant and unaffected by the lack of oxygen. My wife has tried explaining it to me a dozen times, but bread isn’t my lane so I could be wrong.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Barred-Rock-or-Brahma. Reason: Big thumbs, small screen
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by
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Straight from the Red Star Page:
‘BULK’ YEAST INFORMATION and STORAGE TIPS
The 16oz and 32oz packages of yeast are part of our industrial product line and typically used in bakeries or foodservice. The package is vacuum-packed and should be hard like a brick prior to opening. Once the package is opened, the yeast is free-flowing and must be stored airtight and cold to maintain its leavening power. You may store it in an airtight container, or many people store it in zipper freezer bags, squeezing air out of the bag to the level of the yeast, then sealing the bag. The yeast should be stored in the freezer.
Since it is so dry, it will never freeze solid.
For best results, dry yeast should be used at room temperature before using. Prior to use, measure or weigh only the amount you need and bring to room temperature for about 20 – 30 minutes. Immediately re-seal the bag or container and return the remaining yeast to the freezer.”
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Good info, thanks. Last time I was getting some yeast I just got a bottle, but that’s still quite expensive relative to the bricks. I didn’t know what to expect from the brick so in a hurry I just went with glass bottle again since I was familiar with that, but next time I will try out the brick.
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Have you ever made wild yeast? I have been wanting to try it but never have. I’m not fond of sour dough starter but this is not supposed to be sour. It’s just a thought in case we are not able to get yeast in the future. There’s also a recipe using raisins and water that is quicker.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/wprm_print/23448https://www.weedemandreap.com/wprm_print/23448
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There are ways to keep your sourdough starter sweeter and less sour. You just have to keep up on feeding it. The longer you let it go the more acetic acid builds up and the more sour it becomes.
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I buy both. I buy smaller items for bartering in case I need it or to give away to family and friends.
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This list is so detailed, so many ideas. I have to agree with alot of these, the water issue and having a basement both for sure! I also agree with the simple things like fabric, clothes, sock, shoes because lets face it they WILL wear out eventually you can only patch or mend so many times.
I also think that people way over think things and they run out and buy a bunch of “cool things” just because someone told them to. Pay attention to the things you use every single day, week, month without fail and then make sure you have plenty of that. How much do you use of that in a month, then multiply that by a year or two or what not. What can you do without?
Water I think is everyones biggest issue. My family included! We were on well water for 10 years, I learned to conserve so well. My husband and oldest child have the hardest time with this because water is on tap…until its not. We will have to be like the old timers wash dishes in a dishpan, do you have a couple? Use the dishwater to water plants that need watered, reuse the rinse water to wash a load of clothes. If the water is in a dishpan you will find it is easier to reuse it so then you will. If its brown flush is down if its yellow let it mellow, or better yet if its yellow go outside or in a bucket so that you can use it to water with. You wont be bathing every single day…get use to that now! Some people will absolutely flip their crap over this alone…Ive got one in my house that will be in for a rude awakening, sometime 2 or more showers a day. Find an alternative now! Do you have natural water on your property you had no clue about, we found a natural spring had no clue it was there. Have a hand pump or way to get water out. Barrels or buckets to catch rain.
Dont always think about stuff you need to buy i think that is a big trap. If you have to leave you are only taking what you can carry. Knowledge is BIG! Learn what you can, while you can!!
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I would say long term sanitation infrastructure is a big one. It’s not sexy at all but super important. We will be on septic at our place and can use our cistern water to flush but I’d like to get some back ups in place also.
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Absolutely agree
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Another one is cooking fuel.a lot of people think cooking over an open fire is a viable long term option but it’s really not. It’s extremely inefficient. Even a little rocket stove is a huge upgrade.
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Yes, lots of primitive types out there who have never actually done things primitive. I know one dude and his family who I know could do the primitive life and be fine.
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I used to buy 5 or 6 cans of sterno every single payday.
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I know some folks with like 8 kids who think foraging is an option….makes me crazy. It might help a little but it takes a crap load of calories to feed that many people and calories are scarce in the wild.
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Wood cook stove. I set up an outside kitchen with a wood cook stove and gas stove. Mostly used for canning, but would work great in a grid down situation.
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Such great ideas. Thank you everyone!
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This is a great thread to keep track of and it’s been helping me write a list of things I need. So thanks for all your info.
The one thing that I need to consider is that here in the Land of Oz carrying any sort of weapon will land you in jail – straight up (So, most of you are blessed to be able to do that). They have limited the carrying of blades to one’s that are as long as a person’s thumb, and it must be work related. And guns, yeah that ain’t happening over here at all – you can’t have semi-auto anything, nor pump action shotguns, and magazines are limited to less than 10 rounds. That said, I have a small go bag that has knives and a hatchet in it along with medical gear – which I take when we travel anywhere beyond our normal area.
We have invested in some decent cookware (pots etc) that can be used over a fire should the need arise.
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It has become a fantastic place to make a list from.
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Emergency dental repair kit!!!
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I hear a rumor that we will be giv9ng one away at the Midwest Preparedness Festival later this month….
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I know this question is more for long term event scenario, but in a storm type event…. My husband works in power industry and knows for a fact that “supply chain issues” are going to result in a decrease in the power companies ability to come back online after a storm emergency. Many here might be off grid but if you are not, look into a generator and plenty of fuel so that any fridge or freezers can stay cold. We also installed a transfer switch so that we can run certain breakers in our house and garage with the generator (i.e. ceiling fans and chargers for battery tools). After going thru multiple hurricanes, sleeping under working fan after a bust a$$ day of storm cleanup is heavenly.
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I remember one year in GA there was an ice storm that took out much of the power for about a week or so depending on where you were. Like many our home was all electric so cooking, heating and food storage where the initial concerns. We were fortunate in the fact that we had a kerosene heater on hand and camp gear like a cooking stove and sleeping bags. Our only real issue was getting kerosene. We kept some on hand but by weeks end were almost out. With so many businesses that were either closed, out of kerosene or having electric pumps for their kerosene that weren’t operable it made getting some a challenge . After hunting for a bit I found a store that thanks to a large generator was open and they had kerosene. Needless to say there was a long line. As I was standing there in line I said somewhat aloud to myself “hell I hope they don’t run out of kerosene”. The gentleman in front of me turned around and said “hell I hope they don’t run out of ice”. I found that a little funny considering it was an ice storm that caused the issue so I asked why he needed ice and he explained that it was to cool his food of course. That’s when I told him how we had empty our fruit and meat bins in our fridge then filled those bins with some of the free ice from outside thus making our fridge an old fashioned ice box. As the guy stared at me with a blank look I realized that others had turned to hear what I was saying as well. The gentleman then said “I’m an F’n moron thanks for helping me out!” He then turned and walked out shaking his head along with most of the folks in line.
For me that was a funny but sad moment. I realized then the most valuable asset to have in an emergency is simply common sense. Too often people lack that and even those who do often lose it when challenged by an emergency or unexpected struggle. My neighbor for instance piled himself and his family into a poorly insulated RV because it had a generator. When I pointed out that the same generator was strong enough to run most appliances in his home he seemed surprised. I also had friends tell me how they huddled together under blankets and ate cold food. All I could think about was how many times I’d camped with them and how much freaking camping gear they had in their garage. Seriously.. they had sleeping bags, camp stoves, camp water heaters, camp heaters …. you name it. Yet they huddled under blankets eating cold food and fearing what was ahead.
My point in my ramblings though is simply this. Planning is great, preparing is great.. but all the planning and prepping in the world is useless if you lose your head along with common sense.
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Entertaining and informative! Yes indeed! Thanks for your experience!
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😊😊😊
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