I found this book at the library, and it got me thinking. Do I just want to "prep" to be ready for any eventuality, or is my preference that I learn skills to enable me and my family to survive through anything. Store versus grow. Prep versus skill.
Okay, I can't imagine living without toilet paper, so I'll store LOTS of that until I can figure out an alternative. Meanwhile, I'd rather prepare for things that could/might/maybe/will happen by learning how to take care of myself, just like our ancestors did not so long ago.
Have you read this book? It's by Linda Cockburn who now lives in Tasmania. She and her hubby and young son did a 6 month experiment in which they spent almost no money, just on essentials like utilities, medical expenses, etc. She admits they weren't perfect, but they did the best they could, and are even now striving to live "lighter" on the earth.
What do you think?
Showing posts with label Storing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Storing. Show all posts
Snowed-In Project: Filling storage buckets
Yes, we got lots of snow this week. In about 48 hours, we got a little over 2 feet of snow in the south part of Denver. Because I have a very old car (84 Chrysler) that doesn't even like to go in the rain, me and the Kid stayed home while Hubby drove his Bronco to work.
So... yesterday, after the Kid finished schoolwork, we started on a project. See... last week (or was it the week before?!?!) I found a bunch of gluten-free baking mixes on sale so I grabbed a lot. It was time to put them safely away.
I had previously ordered and received 26 4-gallon buckets with lids, so I started arranging things. Each bucket got a regular bread mix, a gluten-free bread mix, protein (lentils, beans, canned ham, etc.), a seal-a-meal bag of dried veggies, rice crackers, regular muffin mix, gf pancake mix, jello, pudding, chocolate chips, gf pasta, gf mac-and-cheese, onion and garlic powder, and whatever else I could fit in there. I added 3-4 bay leaves (coz bugs don't like them!) and 2-3 oxygen absorbers. As we filled each bucket, I made a list of contents, both for my inventory folder and a smaller to tape to the bucket, with the bucket number on both lists. We tamped the lid down tight, and stacked them in the closet.
I only did 8 buckets, but each would be good for 2 weeks, so that's 16 weeks or about 4 months! I haven't even gotten to the huge bags of rice from Sam's, and those buried tubs I can't get to (with lots of boxes on top because I still haven't finished unpacking) of beans, peas, lentils, pasta, hot cocoa, and all of the supplies I bought before we moved here last month.
We have a fairly large pantry, well, for the size of our home, so 3 weeks ago when I did the monthly grocery shopping, I filled it with canned fruits, veggies, soups, instant tea, tea bags, bottles of honey and vinegar, boxes of baking soda, and much more. We have enough to last just in that closet for about 5 months. But I've told everybody in this house that the pantry closet is OFF LIMITS ... NO TOUCHY!!!
The canned and other stored items that we can use right now are in cupboards and cabinets, and those alone will last about 2 months. These are the older products that "expire" in the next 6 months... like pancake mix, canned foods, juice, etc. I have the 100 pounds of baking potatoes and 2 bags of onions in the garage and those will last probably till Spring (I'll need more onions, tho).
For the next time we're snowed in, I'm thinking the Kid and I will make candles! Or, well, I guess I should do some unpacking.
Yuck.
So... yesterday, after the Kid finished schoolwork, we started on a project. See... last week (or was it the week before?!?!) I found a bunch of gluten-free baking mixes on sale so I grabbed a lot. It was time to put them safely away.
I had previously ordered and received 26 4-gallon buckets with lids, so I started arranging things. Each bucket got a regular bread mix, a gluten-free bread mix, protein (lentils, beans, canned ham, etc.), a seal-a-meal bag of dried veggies, rice crackers, regular muffin mix, gf pancake mix, jello, pudding, chocolate chips, gf pasta, gf mac-and-cheese, onion and garlic powder, and whatever else I could fit in there. I added 3-4 bay leaves (coz bugs don't like them!) and 2-3 oxygen absorbers. As we filled each bucket, I made a list of contents, both for my inventory folder and a smaller to tape to the bucket, with the bucket number on both lists. We tamped the lid down tight, and stacked them in the closet.
I only did 8 buckets, but each would be good for 2 weeks, so that's 16 weeks or about 4 months! I haven't even gotten to the huge bags of rice from Sam's, and those buried tubs I can't get to (with lots of boxes on top because I still haven't finished unpacking) of beans, peas, lentils, pasta, hot cocoa, and all of the supplies I bought before we moved here last month.
We have a fairly large pantry, well, for the size of our home, so 3 weeks ago when I did the monthly grocery shopping, I filled it with canned fruits, veggies, soups, instant tea, tea bags, bottles of honey and vinegar, boxes of baking soda, and much more. We have enough to last just in that closet for about 5 months. But I've told everybody in this house that the pantry closet is OFF LIMITS ... NO TOUCHY!!!
The canned and other stored items that we can use right now are in cupboards and cabinets, and those alone will last about 2 months. These are the older products that "expire" in the next 6 months... like pancake mix, canned foods, juice, etc. I have the 100 pounds of baking potatoes and 2 bags of onions in the garage and those will last probably till Spring (I'll need more onions, tho).
For the next time we're snowed in, I'm thinking the Kid and I will make candles! Or, well, I guess I should do some unpacking.
Yuck.
Safeway Specials for Storage
A blogger wrote about a special on potatoes this week at Safeway: 10 pounds for 99 cents. I bought 10 bags so 100 pounds of potatoes for under 10 dollars.
While I was there today, picking up the second set of bags of potatoes, I looked around. Here's what else I found for our storage:
- close-up toothpaste at 99 cents
- betty crocker brownie mix for 79 cents a box
- dial liquid hand soap for 99 cents
- cheerios for 1.67
- rice or pasta roni for 99 cents
- safeway canned beans for 89 cents
While I was in the baking aisle for the brownie mix, just above it I noticed that betty crocker has come up with gluten-free baking mixes: chocolate cake, brownie, and chocolate chip cookies. I got a chocolate cake and brownie, each for $3.70. My kid's birthday is coming up, so he'll get a tasty treat!
These are just the items I took advantage of that were on sale. If only I'd had coupons with me!
Hmmm... wonder what's up next?
While I was there today, picking up the second set of bags of potatoes, I looked around. Here's what else I found for our storage:
- close-up toothpaste at 99 cents
- betty crocker brownie mix for 79 cents a box
- dial liquid hand soap for 99 cents
- cheerios for 1.67
- rice or pasta roni for 99 cents
- safeway canned beans for 89 cents
While I was in the baking aisle for the brownie mix, just above it I noticed that betty crocker has come up with gluten-free baking mixes: chocolate cake, brownie, and chocolate chip cookies. I got a chocolate cake and brownie, each for $3.70. My kid's birthday is coming up, so he'll get a tasty treat!
These are just the items I took advantage of that were on sale. If only I'd had coupons with me!
Hmmm... wonder what's up next?
Organizing Supplies - non-food
As you know, we just moved. I thought I had carefully packed some of our supplies, but boy was I wrong. I can't find barely anything!
I'll admit that there are some boxes clearly marked as to the contents, but (1) anybody could read the box and know what's in it, and (2) it's mish-mash, with a large variety of contents. One box has a small supply of disposable latex gloves, a couple of mini sewing kits, long-lasting candles, some dried blueberries, etc. Just packed away and labeled, but not organized.
So... I've decided to re-organize. I still have lots of small and medium moving boxes from Home Depot that will work just fine. Each box will contain a single item or a group of similar items. For instance, one box will hold only bar soap. Another box will hold sewing supplies (a variety of sewing needles, thread, zippers, etc.).
And each will be given a "fake" name. Instead of writing "soap" on the box, knowing that the contents are heavy, I'll call it something like "art history books". A lighter box might be called "maternity clothes" or "baby toys" or "1987 vacation pictures". Names will be something most people, especially burglars, would prefer to just skip over.
I'll write the code names and corresponding actual items in a 2 small notebooks, one of which will go in my 72 hour kit, and the second will go in Hubby's kit.
= = =
Note: Writing the above got me thinking about our soap supply. We have about 40+ bars of various soaps, which I'll store in a small moving box and add more until it's completely full. Then I won't touch it. When I need soap, I'll just buy more. This is against the usual adage "first in first out" but since soap doesn't exactly expire, it makes sense. This will NOT apply to food!
Note: And still my mind is working more! Labeling heavy boxes some kind of "books" would work for us because we have 2000+ books, and many are usually on shelves. It would make complete sense for someone to pass through our home and see our many books, then find stored in closets, etc. many more boxes labeled "books". Use what makes sense for you.
I'll admit that there are some boxes clearly marked as to the contents, but (1) anybody could read the box and know what's in it, and (2) it's mish-mash, with a large variety of contents. One box has a small supply of disposable latex gloves, a couple of mini sewing kits, long-lasting candles, some dried blueberries, etc. Just packed away and labeled, but not organized.
So... I've decided to re-organize. I still have lots of small and medium moving boxes from Home Depot that will work just fine. Each box will contain a single item or a group of similar items. For instance, one box will hold only bar soap. Another box will hold sewing supplies (a variety of sewing needles, thread, zippers, etc.).
And each will be given a "fake" name. Instead of writing "soap" on the box, knowing that the contents are heavy, I'll call it something like "art history books". A lighter box might be called "maternity clothes" or "baby toys" or "1987 vacation pictures". Names will be something most people, especially burglars, would prefer to just skip over.
I'll write the code names and corresponding actual items in a 2 small notebooks, one of which will go in my 72 hour kit, and the second will go in Hubby's kit.
= = =
Note: Writing the above got me thinking about our soap supply. We have about 40+ bars of various soaps, which I'll store in a small moving box and add more until it's completely full. Then I won't touch it. When I need soap, I'll just buy more. This is against the usual adage "first in first out" but since soap doesn't exactly expire, it makes sense. This will NOT apply to food!
Note: And still my mind is working more! Labeling heavy boxes some kind of "books" would work for us because we have 2000+ books, and many are usually on shelves. It would make complete sense for someone to pass through our home and see our many books, then find stored in closets, etc. many more boxes labeled "books". Use what makes sense for you.
Keeping Your Valuables Safe, Part 6
As the last installment in our "Keeping Your Valuables Safe" series, today we're talking about making a special room for your special items.Creating a Safe-Room
Some people want not only a panic room (to safe-keep themselves in case of a "situation" but also to keep any valuables that don't fit in a small safe or cache. You don't have to build a special room, unless you want to. (For free downloads for building special rooms for either a "bomb shelter" or to use as a panic room, check out the FREE section at http://www.williams-et-al.com/ - It will be up and running by this weekend!).
Also known as a "refuge room", we're going to call this a "safe-room" - good for keeping people and their valuables safe. An extra line of defense before a criminal can reach you. These rooms can be quite expensive and elaborate, but a little inexpensive do-it-yourself work can make a room you already have capable of providing major protection.
Most important is locating your safe-room where you can reach it in a hurry. Since many break-ins happen at night, it's best to make your sleeping-area your safe room. Here's a few things you can do to make your bedroom to make it a safe-room.
Take off your regular bedroom door and install an "outside" door. Get a massive, solid-wood door with a heavy bolt/lock. Make sure the hinges are on the INSIDE of the room so that an intruder can't get the door off the hinges. And since most doors can be kicked in, reinforce the bottom 1/3 with a metal plate.
- Have either a separate phone line for this room (so that it can't be cut from the outside), or a cell phone dedicated for emergency calls only. Keep it charged. If someone breaks in, call 911 and once you've informed the dispatcher of your address, your name and describe yourself and where in the house you are, then don't hang up! They can listen and record the burglar's attempts to get at you. Be careful of what you say (like don't threaten to kill the burglar) but keep a running narrative of any information you glean about the intruder.
- Most indoor walls are made of 2 layers of sheetrock nailed to 2x4 wall studs spaced a foot or so apart. Easy to kick through. So... you need to reinforce parts of your wall, especially around the door or anywhere someone could kick through in an adjoining room. Consider paneling with a strong material such as plywood. Be sure to use lots of extra nails to make it more firmly attached.
- Consider using concrete since it also protects from bullets and is a bit more fire retardant! Make sure your foundation can support the weight of concrete.
- Keep your firearms and other valuables in the safe-room. If you need your firearm, you have access to it. Just don't shoot at the police! And when meeting police at the door, be sure to put your firearm away first. Note: You may be able to fire a warning shot through your bedroom door to the intruder but before it even comes to this, check your local laws to see if you can legally get away with this.
- Since you could be burgled while you are away from home, make sure you can dead-bolt and lock the safe-room from the outside. Obviously, you'll need to keep the key with you! This way, the burglar will have to waste time trying to enter the safe-room and will have less time to break into an actual safe you may have in the room.
A burglar alarm sounding in the middle of the night can give you a few extra seconds you may need to gather everyone in your safe-room and lock/bolt the door. Install an inexpensive burglar alarm with motion sensors or infrared detectors.
Consider keeping at least some of your extra supplies in this safe-room. Besides your valuables and firearms and ammo, keep some of your stored food, extra toiletries and bottles of water under the bed or in your closet. That includes your portable toilet too (if you don't have a bathroom connected to your bedroom).
Even if you can't do a lot of this, price out what you CAN do, then do it.
So... what have YOU done to create a safe place for your valuables?
Keeping Your Valuables Safe, Part 5
Pic to right: dog digging a hole for you!Here's today's double-installment for keeping your valuables safe.
What Kinds of Safes?
I'll admit it. I bought my little portable fire-safe from Wal-Mart about 15-20 years ago, and it's followed me from Florida to Texas to Colorado to Kentucky and back to Colorado. It looks like a safe, and would probably be the first thing a burglar would take. Boy, he'd be disappointed because I keep my son's father's picture in there (he's gone), a pretty rock my son found and gave to me as a gift, a copy of a will I wrote way before my son was even a glimmer, and various other non-valuable things.
Anyway, I'm the furthrest (fartherest?) person from consulting about what kind of safe to buy.... IF you want to buy a safe. Here's a few websites to check out:
- http://www.sportsmansteelsafes.com/
- http://www.deansafe.com/
- http://www.heritagesafe.com/
- http://www.libertysafe.com/
- http://www.safesrus.com/
Those are just a few websites I found by googling "companies providing home safes". If you have a preferred provider, feel free to list it as a comment to this article. You can do so anonymously!
More Alternatives to Actual Safes
I've been reading about alternatives, and have come up with a couple of suggestions. Besides what I mentioned in Part 3 of this series (pringles can, etc.), give these some thought:- Someone mentioned as a comment to Part 3 (I think) of this series to hide cash in a baby bottle full of milk, labeled "breast milk" and frozen. That will work great if there's other evidence of a baby in the house!
- Want a really safe place? Dig a hole on your property. Buy some PVC and coupling and ends, place your long-term items in it (ammo, papers, coins, etc.), seal it very well, and bury it. Be sure you tell one other person that you really REALLY trust (a life-partner/spouse) the location of this stash because if you die without doing so, the location will die with you. Note 1: Stay on your property... if you use a friend's land, the property could be sold and your digging priviledges will be gone. Note 2: No burglar will risk digging holes all over a person's property in the holes that they'll hit a hidden cache. Note 3: It's durn-near impossible for a fire to get into an underground stash. Note 4: Locate it out of your neighbor's sight so you can get back to it when you need to, then cover the hole with gravel and maybe plant a rose bush there, and at other places nearby to camoflauge the real location! Note 5: Bury your container with a thick level of rocks or gravel under it - this will allow rain water to pool BELOW the container and seep into the soil - and cover with several layers of tarp to divert moisture away.
- The most fire-resistant place in your home is the freezer. It's very highly insulated. Perfect place to keep papers. Consider using an old freezer as your "filing cabinet".
- Do YOU have any more ideas?
More coming... as soon as we can!
Keeping Your Valuable Safe, Part 4
Sorry about the delay. We're working to get this house ready for sale, and I'm about to pull all of my hair out!!
It occurs to me that I haven't really stated WHY I'm doing this series. We were at a local used book store where I picked up a book on home security with inexpensive safes. I got to reading it, and knew not only that I needed to put it into practice (as soon as we move to our next place!) but also let you all in on the info. I mean, we really don't have anything of value, and I haven't even touched a real gun (do toys count?) since I was a kid shooting b-b-'s.
This economy is horrible. Banks are failing. Doors closing. Everything getting worse... more expensive, less available, etc.
Put your stuff in a bank? Well, you could but be honest... in my humble opinion, they just aren't as safe as they say they are. If a bank or other financial institution fails, you may not be able to access your money or your safe-deposit box for quite a while. Having your jewelry, cash, important papers, etc. at home could prevent you from becoming broke in the blink of an eye. You won't have to wait around for the FDIC to get around to re-opening your bank.
Even if your bank is stable (and in this economy, can you really say that?), your bank doesn't stay open 24/7. You can only access your stuff on their time-table. What if you need it Friday night? Gotta wait till 9:00 a.m. on Monday... IF you're lucky.
What if you want to keep your firearms safe? Your valuable coin collection, or other valuables that are NOT covered by the bank's insurance? Bank vaults CAN be burgled.
Here's something I don't really want to type and put out there, calling attention to us, but I feel I must. Let's face it: although the USA's motto is "innocent until proven guilty", the government and the justice and legal system often turn it around, treating average law-abiding citizens like criminals. Legislation pushed through can suddenly turn our favorite firearm into an illegal item. What do we do? We could hide it hoping it will become legal again, or we could get rid of it while hoping we won't be caught before we can make that happen.
But a safe could also protect our stuff from snooping people... whether your nosy next-door-neighbor, a private detective sent by your boss, or someone from the legal system or government searching for any excuse to make themselves look good. These days, it's entirely possible to think that your house could be searched without a search warrant, especially if you surf through prepper blogs and websites, and receive militant magazines at your door. You'll be on a watch-list, no doubt.
If you have "questionable" material about "how-to" do or make something, or other controversial or highly-watched topics, you might be subjected to an eventual long legal battle. Which you won't win. Do you have any of these questionable materials/publications? You could hide them to avoid such problems, even though you've done nothing illegal.
Disclaimer: We are NOT suggesting that anyone do anything illegal.
More coming soon.
It occurs to me that I haven't really stated WHY I'm doing this series. We were at a local used book store where I picked up a book on home security with inexpensive safes. I got to reading it, and knew not only that I needed to put it into practice (as soon as we move to our next place!) but also let you all in on the info. I mean, we really don't have anything of value, and I haven't even touched a real gun (do toys count?) since I was a kid shooting b-b-'s.
Why Hide Anything?
This economy is horrible. Banks are failing. Doors closing. Everything getting worse... more expensive, less available, etc.
Put your stuff in a bank? Well, you could but be honest... in my humble opinion, they just aren't as safe as they say they are. If a bank or other financial institution fails, you may not be able to access your money or your safe-deposit box for quite a while. Having your jewelry, cash, important papers, etc. at home could prevent you from becoming broke in the blink of an eye. You won't have to wait around for the FDIC to get around to re-opening your bank.
Even if your bank is stable (and in this economy, can you really say that?), your bank doesn't stay open 24/7. You can only access your stuff on their time-table. What if you need it Friday night? Gotta wait till 9:00 a.m. on Monday... IF you're lucky.
What if you want to keep your firearms safe? Your valuable coin collection, or other valuables that are NOT covered by the bank's insurance? Bank vaults CAN be burgled.
Here's something I don't really want to type and put out there, calling attention to us, but I feel I must. Let's face it: although the USA's motto is "innocent until proven guilty", the government and the justice and legal system often turn it around, treating average law-abiding citizens like criminals. Legislation pushed through can suddenly turn our favorite firearm into an illegal item. What do we do? We could hide it hoping it will become legal again, or we could get rid of it while hoping we won't be caught before we can make that happen.
But a safe could also protect our stuff from snooping people... whether your nosy next-door-neighbor, a private detective sent by your boss, or someone from the legal system or government searching for any excuse to make themselves look good. These days, it's entirely possible to think that your house could be searched without a search warrant, especially if you surf through prepper blogs and websites, and receive militant magazines at your door. You'll be on a watch-list, no doubt.
If you have "questionable" material about "how-to" do or make something, or other controversial or highly-watched topics, you might be subjected to an eventual long legal battle. Which you won't win. Do you have any of these questionable materials/publications? You could hide them to avoid such problems, even though you've done nothing illegal.
Disclaimer: We are NOT suggesting that anyone do anything illegal.
More coming soon.
Keeping Your Valuables Safe, Part 3
This is the next installment in this series. Today, we're talking about hiding places and safes. You need ... something. Think about it this way: you've taken the time and money to collect something of value: gold coins, stacks of negotiable cash, jewelry, etc. Now you need to protect them.
Most burglars will spend LESS THAN 6 MINUTES in your home. They only have time to search some of the "usual" places. They'll look in jewelry boxes, sock drawers, under the bed, and in the freezer. They head straight for the bedrooms because they know most people tuck away money, jewelry, and other items of value beneath lingerie, socks, and other top-drawer clothing. Next they head for the kitchen cabinets and drawers.
You can find a small fire-proof safe at almost any local general store, like Wal-Mart or a home improvement store. I have a small one that usually is kept in our safe-room, and holds safe a few things that I really don't want to do without, including my son's birth certificate and a cameo pin that my grandmother left me when she passed. But even a small safe is hard to effectively hide. Basically, if someone sees a safe, it screams "I have valuables - take me with you!" Hiding Places for a small safe could include:
Note: You need to understand that there are very few places that a burglar WON'T find your stash. A burglar has two motivations: (1) to steal as much as possible, and (2) to do it and get out as quickly as possible. If a burglar can't find something quickly, he will begin to tear apart the house to find something... anything! Leave a decoy little stash of cash in a top dresser drawer or in the freezer where it can be easily found and taken, leaving the rest to hide another day.
Another way to decoy is leave an envelope in a drawer near your computer marked "“Bank Safe Deposit Box” on the outside and with a list of items on the inside. This will tip off the burglar that your most valuable items are stored at the bank and will discourage him from tearing up your house looking for them.
Make sure another adult knows where you've hidden the valuables.
More coming...
BUY A SAFE ... or ... GET HIDING!
Most burglars will spend LESS THAN 6 MINUTES in your home. They only have time to search some of the "usual" places. They'll look in jewelry boxes, sock drawers, under the bed, and in the freezer. They head straight for the bedrooms because they know most people tuck away money, jewelry, and other items of value beneath lingerie, socks, and other top-drawer clothing. Next they head for the kitchen cabinets and drawers.
You can find a small fire-proof safe at almost any local general store, like Wal-Mart or a home improvement store. I have a small one that usually is kept in our safe-room, and holds safe a few things that I really don't want to do without, including my son's birth certificate and a cameo pin that my grandmother left me when she passed. But even a small safe is hard to effectively hide. Basically, if someone sees a safe, it screams "I have valuables - take me with you!" Hiding Places for a small safe could include:
- your crawl space
- the floor of your closet with lots of junk and boxes blocking it from view
- cover with boxes of Christmas ornaments on top, or buckets of bolts and nuts and screws on top
Don't want a safe? Some police recommend that you hide your valuables right in plain sight! Here are some examples:
- a false back or bottom to a drawer, especially taped to the bottom of the BOTTOM dresser drawer
- a phony "book" safe - only if you actually have other books that match!
- place your small valuables in a baggie or seal-a-meal, place it in a large popcorn tin, then fill the tin with unpopped popcorn kernels
- same principle - place your valuables in a well-sealed baggie or ten, place in an empty powdered detergent box, and top/hide with powdered laundry detergent. Don't fill it all the way, leave the scoop in there, and don't use for your actual laundry needs.
- behind the grate at the bottom of your refrigerator (if you have one)
- a water bottle
- an insulated coffee mug (kept in the kitchen)
- working wall-clock safe
- soda or power-drink can (empty, clean, remove bottom, fill, replace bottom, and keep with similar items where it won't look out of place)
- ditto with a peanut butter plastic jar, canned fruit, pringles can, etc.
- underside of trash cans
- hollow out the bottom/inside of a large candle - the size of a baby-food jar. Place your valuables in the jar, screw on the lid, and stick into the bottom of the candle. Keep it on your coffee table on a decorative stand or plate, and light from time to time. Be careful to not let it burn too far down or you'll reveal your hiding place!
- paint can - who's going to open up a paint can with splatters to see if it has paint or coins?
- toys in a young child's room - with all of the stuff in a child's room, it would be difficult to do a quick search in such a room.
Don't use these places:
- something taped to the back of a picture - too obvious!
- the fake frozen dinner or ice-trays
Note: You need to understand that there are very few places that a burglar WON'T find your stash. A burglar has two motivations: (1) to steal as much as possible, and (2) to do it and get out as quickly as possible. If a burglar can't find something quickly, he will begin to tear apart the house to find something... anything! Leave a decoy little stash of cash in a top dresser drawer or in the freezer where it can be easily found and taken, leaving the rest to hide another day.
Another way to decoy is leave an envelope in a drawer near your computer marked "“Bank Safe Deposit Box” on the outside and with a list of items on the inside. This will tip off the burglar that your most valuable items are stored at the bank and will discourage him from tearing up your house looking for them.
Make sure another adult knows where you've hidden the valuables.
More coming...
Keeping Your Valuables Safe, Part 2
Did you read yesterday's article? (http://colorado-preppers.blogspot.com/2009/05/keeping-your-valuables-safe-part-1.html). Did you make your list of items you can't insure but want to hide? Er, keep safe?
Next, let's reduce the risk of being burglarized. When you leave home, whether it's for 10 minutes or 10 days, make it look like you'll be right back.
REDUCE THE RISK
Next, let's reduce the risk of being burglarized. When you leave home, whether it's for 10 minutes or 10 days, make it look like you'll be right back.
- Leave the TV or radio on, louder than usual if possible. We set the TV on one timer, and have the radio go on after the TV shuts off.
- Close all curtains so anyone watching won't know whether someone's moving around or now.
- Set a timer for lights. Have your living room light come on and turn off at different times than the kitchen light and the bedroom light. These lights should be seen from the street. To figure out the pattern, someone will have to stake out your house for at least a few days, risking someone seeing their vehicle out in the street.
- Take your phone off the hook. That way people won't know whether you're home and just not answering your phone, or what.
- If you'll be gone even one day, don't let your newspapers and mail pile up. Have a neighbor pick them up, or cancel/hold them.
- Never EVER announce you're leaving on a trip, whether in a blog or in the newspaper (like a honeymoon). That practically invites people to come and shop in your home.
- Get a sticker or decal that lets the criminal know you're armed and dangerous. Try the NRA - for a small membership fee, you'll get a decent decal. You don't have to keep the membership, if that's not your thing.
- Install motion detector lights at all entrances. There are some cheap ones that run on solar charges. You might not be home, but the light going on might catch the attention of someone passing by the house.
- Trim shrubs around the immediate perimeter of your house. Install thorny rose or blackberry bushes, and other prickly plants. Be sure to keep a little area clear for you to escape in case of fire.
- Check your locks. If you have a flimsy lock, you need to have it replaced with a good solid deadbolt that will take some time to break past.
- Check your doors. Those with glass panes are a bad idea for two reasons: (1) they allow people to see in, even with curtains, and (2) they can be broken out and a thin arm can easily reach the lock from that broken-out pane. Replace with solid doors and, if possible, cross-bars.
- Check your windows. Double-pane windows means someone has to break through 2 layers of glass to gain entrance. Caulk around the edges so it will be harder to remove the windows themselves. Ask your local home improvement store for special locks and other ways to prevent people from gaining entrance. DON'T nail the windows shut tho because of the safety problem presented by fires.
Don't advertise what you have in your home. When bringing your newly-purchased guns home, be sure to wrap them in a blanket before lifting from your vehicle. Never brag about what you have because there is always someone listening.
If someone breaks into your home with no knowledge of when you'll be returning, they won't know if they have 10 minutes to look around or 10 days. They'll be working "under the clock". They'll have to check the bathroom and the basement to make sure you aren't home before they can start looking around. They'll miss things that are hidden, and won't bother following around with breaking into even a cheap safe.
Anything you can do to make their job harder will reduce your losses and might even make them decide it isn't worth the chance of getting caught breaking into your home at all.
More tomorrow...
Keeping Your Valuables Safe, Part 1
Whether you have gold coins to hide or an "outdated" rifle or a nice stash of ammo, you need to give some thought to a safe place to hide these things. Do you have a gun safe? A hidden crawl space?
Have you even thought about it?
Have you even thought about it?
WHAT TO KEEP SAFE?
Sit down and make a few calculations and mental guesses. How often do you think your home will be broken into? Will it be just a punk looking for drug money? Will it be a professional burglar after your Civil War musket? Will it be an officer with a warrant and safe-cracking-know-how?
Will the perp have an entire week to leisurely examine every nook and cranny? Will they have a long weekend and the cover to pull up a truck and just take everything two strong men can carry? Will they have only a few moments stolen while you are in the shower or dropping off the kids to soccer practice?
Make a list of what you really don't want to do without, what can't be insured by your homeowner's policy, and what you don't want others to know about. This could include those gold coins, that civil war musket, a lot of real jewelry, etc. Maybe even your bullet mold, barter items, etc. Don't include the plasma TV, a fancy stereo system or other things that can be insured and don't have a unique sense of value.
More coming tomorrow...
Will the perp have an entire week to leisurely examine every nook and cranny? Will they have a long weekend and the cover to pull up a truck and just take everything two strong men can carry? Will they have only a few moments stolen while you are in the shower or dropping off the kids to soccer practice?
Make a list of what you really don't want to do without, what can't be insured by your homeowner's policy, and what you don't want others to know about. This could include those gold coins, that civil war musket, a lot of real jewelry, etc. Maybe even your bullet mold, barter items, etc. Don't include the plasma TV, a fancy stereo system or other things that can be insured and don't have a unique sense of value.
More coming tomorrow...
What Foods to Store In Case of a Pandemic
I've written a similar post before (at our www.survival-cooking.com blog), but considering the health situation of today, it bears repeating here. Please note that this 2009 H1N1 (Swine) Flu is mild at this time. It is spreading quickly, but loss of life is quite light compared to "regular" seasonal flu.
Besides water (1 gallon per person per day for drinking, cooking, cleaning, etc.), the following is suggested for one person over age 8 (to prepare and eat healthy meals for ONE year):
- 150 pounds of wheat berries
- 25 pounds of flour
- 25 pounds of cornmeal
- 25 pounds of oats
- 50 pounds of rice
- 25 pounds of pasta
- 50 pounds dry beans/peas/lentils/soybeans
- 40 cans tuna
- 40 cans ham
- 10 pounds dried turkey dices
- 10 pounds dried chicken dices
- 10 pounds powdered eggs
- 40 pounds applesauce
- 30 pounds dried banana chips
- 50 cans fruit cocktail
- 50 cans pear halves
- 50 cans peach slices
- 50 cans pineapple chunks, tidbits or slices
- 40 pounds of fruit juices
- 30 pounds corn
- 30 pounds green beans
- 30 pounds dried carrots
- 40 pounds potatoes
- 20 pounds dried potato flakes
- 10 pounds dried onion dices
- 10 pounds dried garlic granules
- 20 pounds tomatoes
- 60 cans tomato paste
- 50 pounds powdered milk
- 12 cans evaporated milk
- 2 pounds dried milk items (sour cream/butter)
- 1 pound baking powder
- 4 pounds baking soda (cleaning & cooking)
- 1 pound yeast
- 5 pounds salt
- 5 gallons vegetable oil
- 5 gallons vinegar
- 2 quarts of mayonnaise
- 1 quart ketchup
- 5 pounds honey
- 30 pounds sugar
- 24 jars jams/fruit preserves
- 2 pounds flavored gelatin / instant puddings
- 4 pounds hard candy
- 4 bottles mustard
- 4 jars pickle relish
- 12 bottles salad dressing
- 5 pounds boullion/broth-maker
- 5 pounds peanut butter
- 12 bottles multi-vitamins
This should give you a good start to feeding one person for an entire year. Cut in half for younger children. Be sure to check out www.survival-cooking.com for recipes and information about providing healthy nutritious and fun meals for your family during confinement, and start practicing today!
Also, make sure you have a way to cook this food. Have you come up with alternative cooking methods just in case your utilities go out?
Note: Some people believe there's a possibility they could be confined (quarantined) due to the swine or bird flu pandemic for 3-6 months, and some people believe that there will be many waves of the flu which could last a year or two. Use your own judgement.
Be sure to include a lot of the following list too. Great to spice up ordinary meals, or when you don't have a way to cook. These foods store well and don't need cooking:
Beef jerkey + Canned beef stew + Canned chicken and dumplings + Canned seafood (clams, shrimp, tuna, oysters, crab, salmon, kippers, etc.) + Canned soup + Canned spaghetti sauce + Canned veggies + Canned and jarred fruits + Cereal + Cheese (jar or box) + Chicken salad kit + Chips + Chipped beef + Crackers + Deviled ham + Dried fruits + Dried veggies + Granola bars + Ham salad kit + Instant gatorade and other instant drinks + Instant hot cocoa + Jarred salsa + Juice box + MREs + Nuts and Seeds + Peanut butter + Protein bars + Protein Drinks + Protein Powder + Rice cakes + Spam + Summer sausage + Tuna salad kit + Vienna sausages
Just FYI... the following are non-food items that you'll need during quarantine:
Tissues, toilet paper, paper clips, baby wipes, diapers, hand lotion, powder, can openers, blankets, socks, first aid kit, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, triple antibiotic ointment, ace bandage, heating pad or hot water bottle, multi-vitamins, sewing needles/thread/pins, fabric, velcro, defense items, pain relievers, prescription medications, duplicate eye glasses, duct tape, bed linens, towels, plastic baggies, tin/aluminum foil, paper, pens/pencils, reference books, novels, school books, board games, decks of cards, allergy medicine, flatware, fire starting equipment, water purifying items, body sanitation items (portable toilet, etc.), rechargeable batteries, mosquito repellent, sunburn cream, sunscreen, tape, staples, stapler. You'll need to clean and sanitize your home regularly so stock up on those items. Be sure to stock up on N-95 respirator masks, disposable gloves, foot cover/booties, goggles, hand sanitizer, cough medicine, etc. You also need a grinder for the wheat berries (hand-grinder preferred in case you lose electricity).
Did I miss anything?
Keeping You Busy - Are you Prepared?
Info on Homeschooling in Colorado
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeedserv/homeschool.htm
Even if you don't homeschool, what would happen if you were confined with your school-age children while the bird-flu rages in your town. Three, four, five months, and your kids (and their classmates) will be so far behind that most will be repeating a grade. Nothing your kids did. Just lack of time in a classroom.
So get a jump:
Get a few simple musical instruments, like a recorder (flute), drum, keyboard, guitar, etc. Try to dollar store, thrift stores, yard sales. Remember to get some music instruction books and sheet music. Teach the family basic music and a few simple songs.
Gather reference materials (several suggested below). They don't have to be new or even current. Pick a topic a day, and research/discuss it completely. Have the older kids write a report.
Play scrabble, requesting increasingly harder words.
Stock up on a variety of workbooks, miscellaneous grades, miscellaneous topics (language arts, spelling, math, science, history, writing practicing, etc.
Visit your thrift stores, used book stores, and garage sales. Grab every classic novel and reference book you can find. Assign one book a week - Wuthering Heights, Little House on the Prairie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.
Involve the whole family in menu planning and cooking. Discuss nutrition, balanced meals, sodium, nutrition requirements, colors, variety, presentation of food, energy-efficient cooking methods, etc.
Fill a couple boxes with art supplies: construction paper, magazines, stickers, glue sticks, glitter, scissors (safety and regular), glue, art instruction books, crayons, paint markers, etc. Make collages, paper mache', paintings, pictures, etc.
= = =
You can keep the kids and yourself entertained, while keeping minds occupied. Make it fun.
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeedserv/homeschool.htm
Even if you don't homeschool, what would happen if you were confined with your school-age children while the bird-flu rages in your town. Three, four, five months, and your kids (and their classmates) will be so far behind that most will be repeating a grade. Nothing your kids did. Just lack of time in a classroom.
So get a jump:
Get a few simple musical instruments, like a recorder (flute), drum, keyboard, guitar, etc. Try to dollar store, thrift stores, yard sales. Remember to get some music instruction books and sheet music. Teach the family basic music and a few simple songs.
Gather reference materials (several suggested below). They don't have to be new or even current. Pick a topic a day, and research/discuss it completely. Have the older kids write a report.
- Get a set of encyclopedias.
- We just got the "Big Book of Everything", 2005 edition. It has sections on "Universe", "Planet Earth", "Life on Earth", "People", "Countries", "History", "Science & Technology", and "Arts & Culture". It's got lots of little facts about almost everything, from space landings to the longest bridge to communism, etc.
- Get a big dictionary, thesaurus, language dictionaries.
Play scrabble, requesting increasingly harder words.
Stock up on a variety of workbooks, miscellaneous grades, miscellaneous topics (language arts, spelling, math, science, history, writing practicing, etc.
Visit your thrift stores, used book stores, and garage sales. Grab every classic novel and reference book you can find. Assign one book a week - Wuthering Heights, Little House on the Prairie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.
Involve the whole family in menu planning and cooking. Discuss nutrition, balanced meals, sodium, nutrition requirements, colors, variety, presentation of food, energy-efficient cooking methods, etc.
Fill a couple boxes with art supplies: construction paper, magazines, stickers, glue sticks, glitter, scissors (safety and regular), glue, art instruction books, crayons, paint markers, etc. Make collages, paper mache', paintings, pictures, etc.
= = =
You can keep the kids and yourself entertained, while keeping minds occupied. Make it fun.
Hoarding Food is Illegal...
... at least, that's what I've been reading. According to some sources, USA federal government has laws on the books, since Clinton, about stashing food. Some local/state governments too.
I'm curious - Mormons require a year's worth of food to be stored. Would they be exempt for religious reasons? If so, are there any other religions that would be exempt?
Here's a few links about food hoarding regulations:
Personally, we buy lots of rice, but not just to store because prices may rise later. We buy it because I grind it into flour to make foods for my gluten-intolerant child. And we use the rice to make rice milk for my lactose-intolerant Hubby. And, we just like to eat rice. One 25-pound bag now lasts us just a little over 1 month.
So, if someone storms our house and sees six or ten 25-pound bags of rice in our pantry, would we be accused of food hoarding?
We don't mind sharing if we can, but ...
Thoughts?
I'm curious - Mormons require a year's worth of food to be stored. Would they be exempt for religious reasons? If so, are there any other religions that would be exempt?
Here's a few links about food hoarding regulations:
- http://www.dailypaul.com/node/46795
- http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/apr/23/americans-hoard-food-as-industry-seeks-regs/
- http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1918/feb/14/hoarding
- http://yellowroad.wallstreetexaminer.com/blogs/?p=15
- http://www.drudge.com/archive/107012/americans-hoarding-food
- http://www.gov.ph/news/default.asp?i=20602
Personally, we buy lots of rice, but not just to store because prices may rise later. We buy it because I grind it into flour to make foods for my gluten-intolerant child. And we use the rice to make rice milk for my lactose-intolerant Hubby. And, we just like to eat rice. One 25-pound bag now lasts us just a little over 1 month.
So, if someone storms our house and sees six or ten 25-pound bags of rice in our pantry, would we be accused of food hoarding?
We don't mind sharing if we can, but ...
- family comes first.
- it's ours to give, and not anyone's right to take.
Thoughts?
Buy Food Now Before Prices Rise More
Prices for food basics like wheat, rice, and beans (among other things) have risen so much these recent months. And now, prices in grocery ads says they are "fixed" until April 2009. Wondering just how much grocery/food prices will increase as of April. We will be stocking up between now and then, but meanwhile, take a look at the following links:
- http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/27/why-food-prices-could-rise-9-in-2009-and-how-kellogg-could-prof/
Why food prices could rise 9% in 2009 - http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article5511830.ece
Enjoy low food prices, they are not here to stay - http://www.foodnavigator.com/On-your-radar/Food-prices/Credit-crisis-could-lead-to-rice-price-rise-warns-IRRI
Credit Crisis could lead to rice price rise - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/business/27food.html
Food prices expected to keep going up - http://odeo.com/episodes/23869812-BizDaily-Food-Prices-13th-Jan-2009
Food prices (audio from the BBC) - http://www.philly.com/philly/living/pets/Pet_food_costs_on_the_rise.html
Pet food costs on the rise
Make your lists of your basic foods needed. Be sure to stock up on your basics. Get that membership for food clubs now. Buy in bulk there and everywhere else.
Is Your Car Ready for the Winter?
As yesterday's post noted, this Winter has been weird. But as we Coloradoans know, we're still going to be blasted (probably in March) with a huge traffic-stopping car-burying blizzard. Is your car ready?
What happens if it starts snowing after you get to work, and keeps on snowing. People come in from lunch, brushing big flakes from their coats, and shivering from the sudden drop in temperature. You sneak a listen to the radio news report, or a friend texts you that it's a roaring blizzard out there. At 5:00, you leave your desk, ready to go home, to find over a foot of snow already on the ground. You de-ice the locks and windows, brush off the snow, and warm up the car. Seatbelt firmly buckled, you slowly pull out from your parking space, nearly side-swiping the car next to you. Crawling along. Nearly sliding on your bald tires through the streetlight because the plows haven't been through yet. You try to get on I-70 or I-25, but traffic is stopped. Oh no, you have a quarter of tank of gas. You forgot to go to the bathroom before leaving. You have your lunch box but it's only got those crackers you didn't feel like eating at lunch. Nothing to drink. Just the push-in lighter for heat. And your forgot your scarf, hat and gloves this morning.
You get the picture.
Prepare NOW!
What happens if it starts snowing after you get to work, and keeps on snowing. People come in from lunch, brushing big flakes from their coats, and shivering from the sudden drop in temperature. You sneak a listen to the radio news report, or a friend texts you that it's a roaring blizzard out there. At 5:00, you leave your desk, ready to go home, to find over a foot of snow already on the ground. You de-ice the locks and windows, brush off the snow, and warm up the car. Seatbelt firmly buckled, you slowly pull out from your parking space, nearly side-swiping the car next to you. Crawling along. Nearly sliding on your bald tires through the streetlight because the plows haven't been through yet. You try to get on I-70 or I-25, but traffic is stopped. Oh no, you have a quarter of tank of gas. You forgot to go to the bathroom before leaving. You have your lunch box but it's only got those crackers you didn't feel like eating at lunch. Nothing to drink. Just the push-in lighter for heat. And your forgot your scarf, hat and gloves this morning.
You get the picture.
Prepare NOW!
- Pack a roadside emergency kit. Road flares, battery jumper cables, de-icer, etc.
- Check your ice scraper - if it broke last Winter, you should replace it today.
- Place a first-aid kit in the car. Bandages, antiseptic, aspirin, etc.
- Pack a little lunchbox with juice boxes, granola or protein bars, dried fruit, etc.
- Do you have a child? Include a few items like diapers, toys, music.
- You need heat: there are many little devices you can buy, or pack a few tealight candles in a coffee can with lighters or waterproof matches. In an enclosed area, those tealight candles can provide some heat. Test it before you have to absolutely depend on it.
- Kitty little in the trunk will not only provide some weight to reduce skidding along on the ice, but is also great to sprinkle under tires to provide traction.
- Pack some blankets, socks, mittens, and other warm clothing items just in case you need to go out to move snow. When you come back in the car, change in something warm and dry.
What did we forget?
One Person's Trash is Another's Treasure
How many times have we heard that little phrase? You see a pile of discarded wood at a construction site and you pick it up. You see a brick lying by the side of the road, and you grab it. People leave an old chair or dresser by the curb and it fits perfectly in your car.
There's a part of Colorado that has an Annual Bulk Trash Pickup Day in the Spring. People leave all kinds of things on their curb: furniture, kiddie pools, lumber, and many more garage-sale type items. For a week or two before the pick-up day, people drive by in their trucks and grab what they want. Whatever is left by the time the dumptrucks get there, goes to the dump.
The earliest people grab scrap copper and metal for their resale value. Last year, we found enough cut lumber to build raised beds for our garden. And kiddie pools and planter-pots, again for the garden.
Perhaps the area where you live has a similar program. If not, maybe you could start one. It sure did benefit us.
There's a part of Colorado that has an Annual Bulk Trash Pickup Day in the Spring. People leave all kinds of things on their curb: furniture, kiddie pools, lumber, and many more garage-sale type items. For a week or two before the pick-up day, people drive by in their trucks and grab what they want. Whatever is left by the time the dumptrucks get there, goes to the dump.
The earliest people grab scrap copper and metal for their resale value. Last year, we found enough cut lumber to build raised beds for our garden. And kiddie pools and planter-pots, again for the garden.
Perhaps the area where you live has a similar program. If not, maybe you could start one. It sure did benefit us.
Catching Rainwater in Colorado is Illegal
Rainwater harvesting is the catching and/or gathering and storing of rainwater. Usually it's practiced to save resources, especially in an area where rainfall is limited. It is used for drinking and other domestic use, watering livestock and plants, and to replenish ground water levels. Rain and snow are "caught" in some object, and stored until use. In some places, this is the only source of water. Humans have done this for thousands of years, but it seems to be illegal in Colorado.
According to: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06702.html, laws severely restrict the harvesting of rainwater. Basically, if a person captures rainwater, he's stealing it from the people who have the legal right to take the water from the watershed.
So, when we have a torrential downpour (albeit not too often), if you dare to put even a bucket under it to catch the rain to water your roses, you are breaking the law. What happens if you've bought your retreat and your only water is the well left from the previous owners, which runs dry in drought years?
Here's what we do NOT suggest ;)
According to: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06702.html, laws severely restrict the harvesting of rainwater. Basically, if a person captures rainwater, he's stealing it from the people who have the legal right to take the water from the watershed.
So, when we have a torrential downpour (albeit not too often), if you dare to put even a bucket under it to catch the rain to water your roses, you are breaking the law. What happens if you've bought your retreat and your only water is the well left from the previous owners, which runs dry in drought years?
Here's what we do NOT suggest ;)
- Some people get inexpensive 50-gallon food-grade drums that were used to carry some liquids. They are heavy-grade plastic containers, and dark enough to discourage the growth of algae which can clog pipes. They place the drums near/under the drainspout (esp if convenient to the garden). Then they cover it with a fine screen to prevent leaves or bugs from getting in there. This is generally used in the garden, by dipping in a watering can or bucket to use. Then it gets cleaned regularly (with bleach) to prevent contamination or settling. Surrounding the collection container with a pretty fence with a gate is a good idea - it reduces the exposure to sun to the water won't boil or become too hot to handle.
Here's a link (http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/rainbarrel/make-a-rain-barrel.html). I like this (http://www.friendsofwater.com/Water_Catch.html) link too.
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