Do you honestly have what it will take to survive

[cajunlady87]

Okay, we were having a discussion in the chat box downstairs and I was asking questions which I hope will continue here. Dtucker complained of constant rain washing out her garden plants. CCMaMa said it's so hot she runs in the house with her groceries so her steaks don't rcook. I believe Renegade also said they were receiving lots of rain and keeping temps down. Thywar said this morning their temp was 61 degrees which was highly unusual, so much so he can't ever remember this happening. Hope I didn't forget others in on the conversation.

My question to CCMaMa was what would she do to keep cool if the power grid went down. Her response was to maybe go to a hospital where there would be power.

Some of us have the knowhow and financial status to equip their homes with solar power or have other means to create power. Others have fuel stored to last them quite some time.

Dtucker will try to salvage some remnants of her garden.

If the SHTF these will be true happenings we will be faced with. In a sense it won't even be like the great depression our ancestors lived through it will be so much worse. They weren't used to all the modern conveniences we are spoiled with today. In a sense they had it better than we will have because they had the true smarts to keep it together.

When I was younger my only consolation to cool myself at night with no breeze coming through our screened windows was to take a wet towel and wipe my skin to cool it down which is what I did for six weeks after Katrina. 

Our meals were meager, beans and rice, fried eggs and rice,  pork and beans and fried potatoes, mustard sandwiches, butter on bread, boiled potatoes with a slab of salt pork and when that was gone we drank the broth to fill us up.  Meat was saved for our Sunday meals.  Oh and one gallon of milk per month or mama made a pot of hot cocoa and homemade biscuits, now that was a luxury as both milk and sugar were scarce.  But we did have a garden to carry us along too and the soil was the richest  unlike that blackjack clay stuff I have now. Have you ever done any fishing, hunting or trapping in your life or do you just have ornaments for now and never tried using them?

So I ask again, what is your backup plan if the power grid no longer exists or  if your gardening just doesn't produce enough to feed your families.  Do you honestly think you'll survive?  Just food for thought. 

[angelhelp]

Count us among those with an excess of rain.

Gardening as a necessity is new to me. Just trying to prepare areas for planting seeds is a huge hassle with the extravagance of roots and rocks lurking just beneath the surface, and the seemingly endless gravel (assorted sized chunks) that begins about 6" down. I've never managed to recoup the costs of the seeds and other stuff; last year was the first time I ever had "several" zucchini, for instance. We count it a success when, for a couple of meals, we can eat our fill of something that grew in the garden. This isn't going to work post-shtf. Just having to be outside in the current weather slop is awful. Downpours keep taking out seedlings. Ticks are everywhere. Something's been biting me (but no one else) even in the house, raising hives the size of my handprint and itching intensely for days on end. I've ripped out weeds for as long as I can stand being outdoors, and still the ragweed's getting the upper hand among the raspberries and asparagus. Our house is flood-prone, another impediment to growing anything but poison ivy and other highly undesirable weeds.

For all the hot and sunny days we had before school let out, I seriously doubt that we could go solar thanks to these frequent episodes of endless gray. As far as fishing, I've done it, but the ponds around here all require restocking. I've read numerous warnings about eating fish caught in CT -- warnings about pollutants and advice that fish be eaten no more than weekly or, in some cases, monthly. I've never gone hunting. The only trapping I've done was in the house for mice (back when the resident cats were all geriatric).

[Lawdog2705]

We've been getting lots of rain here too and now we are starting our rainy season! I have never been bothered by the heat until this year. The humidity is so bad I can hardly stand to be outside for more than a few minutes. My poor dogs only get a few minutes outside at a time. I know my garden isn't big enough to feed us all and with this crazy weather, I've wondered if it would be too late late to plant some more. My squash drops every bloom after the flower closes. I should have fruit on the vine by now! Fishing and hunting won't be a problem, but I've never trapped before. I do love think we could make it, but I won't kid myself and think it will be easy. I know my daughter and her family would join us and my first concern will be the children yet realizing the adults have to be fit as well in order to care for the kids. Like I said, it won't be easy by any means.

[dtucker]

I was thinking about this very thing this afternoon looking out the window at the rain. I may have a plan to salvage some of it but it will take some more money and probably another full day in the garden. I'm not even sure it's a good idea.
I already have one drain ditch at one side. It has helped some.
I am considering putting at least 2 more.
The forecast is calling for rain all this week.
Now this might be the crazy part. Putting a tarp over most of the garden while it is raining and finding some way to either keep the water or run it into the woods. Then removing the tarp when the sun is shining.
Some of the plants are doing good and producing but they do not taste right. I have tons of beautiful jalapeno peppers and they look good but are not hot at all. The squash are growing but are tough. The tomatoes are rotten before they even turn red. I have one plant that is loaded down but they are not any good.
I hope we are not living in the same place next year but if we are I will be growing a container garden.

[woodyz]

I have had a lot of rain as well. 32" last week and the chance of rain above 50% every day this week. It is ridiculous but I have decided to try and make it a lesson or training exercise.

What I mean is we had draught for three years until last year, which although wet wasn't like this.

So I trying to keep this in perspective I need to learn from and plan for this situation.

We don't depend on a garden, or our livestock right now, they are an experiment, a training exercise. I planted and failed during our draught but I learned from it by planting some things anyway, trying different methods and different planting to better understand what I could do to play out the hand I got. Now it is the same with the wet. Everything has too much water because I started out using the lessons I learned in the draught to trap and hold the water, which I do not want to do now.

I have good drainage in two raised beds. Anything I plant has to be in a created bed, there is no tilling this rock hard clay and iron. At the same time the water runs off of it like rock. So we had cut down trees and left the trunks as water diversions, trying to channel and control where it ended up. That works fine. This year with my thoughts on draught I made two raised beds behind the downed trunks, thinking I would slow down and trap some of that run off. We the flood has all but washed them clear out.

We had several loads of wood chips from the tree companies hauled in last fall and I noticed the piles we have not spread or incorporated into somewhere else are doing a good job of slowing down and turning the water when they have help so they are not just washed away. So rather than dig a trench above my raised bed I put down a two foot wide foot high mulch/chip hill. And it held pretty good during todays rain. So I am going to work with that and rebuild the two beds.

Like I said, I don't depend on what I raise now so it is a good time to experiment and practice what to do, if the crops I replant are late and don't have time, it isn't any big deal right now as long as I can use this flood to learn how to get something from it before I need to.

That's how I am approaching it. Its all proof of concept (like I say).

We already collect almost 300 gallons of water in barrels and another 300 in a cistern, plus our well and ponds/tanks. All of our livestock is now watered by automatic water systems off of the roof.

So I was frustrated for a while, but I decided to look at it as a good opportunity to learn more about what will work and what will not. I am behind where I wanted to be by July due to weather and health but its no big deal.

I have rabbits and ducks running out my ears and two more free range does with new litters again, on mama duck is sitting on 15 eggs again and baby quail have been hatching out all day. I've got the meat part down, I don't like the water situation in the two run pens but it has to stop raining to fix it. Right now I just keep piling dray straw on top of the mud and if it ever starts to dry out it will make good compost.

I have to figure out how to raise enough plant matter for them and us. During rain like this I have been thinking I could put in a gravel base, layer 4" or 6" PVC pipe inside the run pens so the runoff water runs through it and do some hydro planting in the pipe. They can just eat it as it grows. Then when/if the rain stops, fill the tubes with soil and plant them. We tried one area where we closed in a run like a green house this winter and just planted winter wheat on the ground, then we let the birds on it a week and off it a week. It was working but the winter wasn't really cold enough and it stayed too humid in there. So we need to work out a way to ventilate it like a greenhouse.

So that is my answer to this op. I don't know if I will or do or not. But I am going to keep practicing and learning and working with my proof of concepts on smaller scales so if I need to I at least will give it my best shot.

Practice! Eat only your stores, using only off grid systems for a week. Shut off your water and AC for 12 hours each day, force yourself to get used to washing dishes and clothes and taking baths only at specific times and using a minimum of resources. Do it now while you can always just rehit the switch when it gets to be too much. Then the next time do it a little longer. Put the kids in a tent on the screened porch with a box fan, tell them its a campout. They can always come in the house if they need to. Everyone will have a better Idea about what to expect if it becomes a have to, practice and learn now, before you have to.

We were in the process of redoing the AC duct work under the house and in the attic when I got sick and my son went on OT, so we got a room AC for each room and we are working with no central air and the room unit on only when we are in that room. It has its drawbacks but the one month we have been doing it the electric bill was 15% less than this same time last year. Not a good test yet but we know we could hold up in a couple of rooms and just cool or heat them for a while. We will finish the central unit after he gets off shut down but we tried an alternate way to see how we could live with it, now we know we could in a pinch.

Everything in moderation, but experiment with out you might need to do every once in a while. There is no failure, your not in a life or death situation yet so any failure is just a new oppurtunity to work it out for the next time, but it won't be as big of an unknown, you will have a better idea what to do when what if.......

[graf]

Gardens are great when available. In a SHTF scenario you may not be home and be stranded trying to get home, so many assume they will be home and be prepared. Over the last few years I have been increasing my knowledge and dirt time regarding wild edibles and medicinal plants. Many provide more nutrients and vitamins than garden produce, being in Michigan with season change it makes it interesting. I have also increased my knowledge and dirt time regarding trapping, snaring, fire building from scratch, shelter from scratch. Many folks will say "I don't have the time to do that", its all about priorities, make time, knowledge is easy to carry, and can't be taken from you.

When I'm working in different areas some 60 miles from home I'm vigilant to find areas of edibles, cover, water sources, I also carry a get home bag, communications, security, navigation. Once home I have supplies to sustain me and family.

[cajunlady87]

Thanks for the replies, I enjoyed reading them all. Not only is it a great exercise in you realizing your strengths and weaknesses but it also gives those who may be experiencing the same problems something to think about.

As was mentioned now is the time to take charge of the problems than later when your life may depend on it.

Hopefully others chime in and maybe have suggestions as to how they have addressed similar situations.

[missasip]

As you all know, I've been prepping a long time and in 4 different states. WY, CA, TX and MS.

This fall when I have time again, after building the shack, I'm going to get busy again with my garden. But I'm going full blown boxed raised beds from now on.

I've done double dug beds, tradition row gardens, elevated beds with a Troybilt tiller and boxed raised beds.

By far the boxed raised beds have produced the largest crops, the most weed, moisture and bug controlled crops for my experience. I have a friend who is gonna cut me some full size 2x12s ( no treated wood in the garden) and I will start them this fall, if all goes well. At one place I lived not far from here, I used raised beds for several years, as the garden spot was low and always wet. Perfect place for boxed raised beds. I had some of the best produce ever, with water standing nearly all the time.

I plan to have between 12 and 15, 12 foot long, 4 foot wide beds. I had 5 at the other place and I want to double up. I have a fairly good sized compost pile I’m adding to all the time and along with some topsoil I have, that is what I’ll build the beds with.
I only had the row crop garden here because I had room and a tractor. They have been ok, but are so susceptible to the weather, bugs and weeds. Have to use 3 or 4 times more fertilizer.

For a survival garden, I think the boxed raised beds are the only practical way to go. The initial work and expense, the first go around is high, but then for 4-7 years, it’s just so much easier and productive. Yes, you will have to change out boards every few years and recycle your soil, but one can set up a plan and stick to it, he/she will have a successful, high producing, healthy garden.

Just my thoughts.

Jimmy

[woodyz]

Several times in my life I have been convinced I was about to die. An event was occurring that I did not believe I would live through.
Sometimes survival depends on more than luck, skill or preparation. Sometimes survival requires the will or determination to live, despite the situation.

One incident, my second stroke, I would like to share. First some background.

I had had a heart attack, heart surgery with valve replacement and three bypasses in 2006. At the same time I had had an Aortic aneurysm in my Aortic arch found and repaired.
I would not describe the recovery from the surgeries as easy, but I would say recovery was easier than I had thought it would be. Even so, I never got back to where I had been and understood I never would.

In February 2007 one of the bypasses collapsed and was repaired with a stent.
I had an artificial heart valve installed with plastic parts and as a result most take a blood thinner every day to keep my body from forming blood clots on the artificial surface of the valve.

I had my first stroke related blood clot in 2008. A small clot formed on the valve and went into my optic nerve. The process and symptoms were new and strange to me, I knew something was happening but I didn’t understand what. I had a series of incidents with numbness and pressures as the clot moved from my heart into my brain where it stopped in my optic nerve. So my lasting symptom was only vision related. I had bright objects in my vision where the blood flow was blocked and the nerves were dying. It took three days to determine I had a stroke not an eye problem. The stroke took my left side vision in both eyes, I still have center and right side vision. The first consequence was running into a door jam on my left side and falling backward into a table where I crushed the two lower ribs on my right side upward into my liver. The biggest consequence was in driving. Not seeing to the left is a problem. What used to be the normal blind spot to the left we all have, becoming a blind spot two car links ahead and behind, to the left. Take heart, I drive, I learned to compensate by moving my head instead of my eyes.

In March of 2009 I had spent to morning working outside getting a garden ready, the temperature was high 80’s and the humidity was almost 100%. I was hot and tired and needed a drink. I went into the house and as I moved from the living room into the kitchen it seemed as if my legs turned to rubber and were trying to bend the wrong direction, I grabbed the wall as the felling moved to my face and entire body. I lay down on the cool floor and felt myself slip away. I decided this was it, I would just let go. Then I remembered it was my wife’s birthday. If I was going to die I needed to wait at least until it wasn’t her birthday. Except I had let it get a little far, fighting to reverse my decision to give up was harder than I would have thought. It was as if I had to mentally and then physically restart everything I had allowed to shut down. Obviously I was able to do it.

But what I want to make a point of is that the only reason I survived is because I willed it to be so.
Determination and the will to not quit may be the only survival skill you will have left. Never give up, never quit. Eat dirt, drink piss, never quit.

[woodyz]

Same subject, different example.

I was watching several videos of USMC Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Dakota Meyer, (it’s not new) and it always reminds me of a common denominator I have noticed with all of the highest tier Medal recipients I had the privilege of knowing.

Always some background first.

There are only just over 3400 total MOH recipients. Most of them received after death. So the chance of meeting any of them alive and getting to know them should be pretty unusual. If a MOH recipient decides to stay in the service after receiving the award, they get to pick their duty station. Four Marines, who received the our nation’s highest awards during the Vietnam conflict, chose to serve at MCAS El Toro, while I was there. Small base, easy duty, 8 miles to Laguna Beach, Ca. But it was also the main duty station for the Western White House Presidential Security team under former President R.M. Nixon. So these four MOH recipients chose to serve there. One a Marine Corps Sgt. Who left the Marines and reenlisted several years later, one SSgt., and two Corporals who were twin brothers.

Everyone was very humble about their incident. Everyone felt they had failed to accomplish whatever they were trying to do during the incident. Everyone continued to fight after being wounded. Everyone stated they just did their job. Everyone stated anyone in the same situation would have done the same thing, and, everyone saved multiple lives because of their direct action.

The Sgt. and SSgt. both insisted they were just at the wrong/right place at the wrong/right time.
The Sgt. had stopped to use the bathroom and knowing the trail was a big bend had cut across to catch up, found himself in the middle of and killed all nine members of an ambush team waiting for his team. Wounded twice by 7.39x62 rounds and once by grenade fragments, only losing one man from his team.

The SSgt much the same, walking point, got a little too far ahead, his team was ambushed and in coming back he was behind, actually among the ambush party, one of his four wounds from an M16 (friendly fire ain’t friendly)

The two brothers were separated. One pinned down with some other marines, one trying to fight his way to his brother. The pinned down brother standing and taking fire away from his charging brother. Everyone in their group wounded but none killed, fifteen enemy killed and four prisoners they didn’t know existed saved.

This is the survival tip;
Every one of them had decided they would die by the action they were going to take, and were willing to do so, if it was what it took to achieve their goal. Every one of them never gave up, never quit, not when they had decided to die, not when they were wounded, and exhausted, never quit, never gave up not until they discovered there was no one left to fight and they were still alive. Don't stop fighting, don't stop trying, don't stop surviving, do whatever it takes.

[woodyz]

Have you ever noticed that humans have made it so difficult and complicated to “survive” in this world? It’s a vicious cycle. You go to school, and try really hard, so that you can get into a good college, and then you try really hard at college to get a good job, and then you try really hard at your job, so you can make money. And then your kids do the same thing. And everyone just keeps on doing this and no one even stops to think WHY they’re doing it anymore. Everyone just does it because it’s what you’re supposed to do. And like, before, when the human race had just started, the goal was to just SURVIVE. People just lived. I mean, that’s what really matters, right? Survival. Because after you die, it doesn’t matter what college you went to.

DYLAN

[woodyz]

It will happen



Keep a sharp knife and a sharper mind



ID that tree



One more just because

[woodyz]