Dynamics of a Survival Group Part 1

I have several emails regarding forming or joining a survival group so I am going to do a series to address the different dynamics and issues that you should consider when you think about forming or joining a group.

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Mind Sets

I think this is probably the hugest component of a group. I have seen many groups implode due to dictatorship attitudes or what I like to call "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians syndrome". One or a handful of people seem to have all the power and dictate the rules. Whenever you have that type of environment it is just a recipe for disaster. 

I have seen groups that require their members to have 2 years worth of food, a list of weapons and ammo along with a $10,000 membership fee and store ALL of this on this one person's property! Why on earth would you hand over all your preps this way? For $10,000 right now there is listed a property of 3.5 acres 40 miles north of me with a lake 1 mile away and it's very secluded. Granted 3.5 acres is not alot of property but with good property management you can store and grow alot of preps along with some of the best hunting in the state. If you have correct management your space you could maximize 2 families and provide for them.

Suggestion: If you want to form a group and want to purchase a larger chunk of property go to a lawyer and form a Hunting Club. I have seen people do this all the time. You form a club and if for some reason a individual wishes to leave the club the other club members can buy them out, require they find some to buy in and must be approved by the group, or walk away and forfeit their share. This also puts the entire group on a level playing field because you are all equally invested.

When looking for a group of forming one EVERYONE needs to have a valuable skill set to bring to the table. They also need to have the right mind set. I have seen a group that has a doctor and a ex Army Ranger that are given card Blanche in the group and don't need to prep because the group is expected to provide for them because they have such special skills! To me that is absolutely ridiculous! 

The group needs to function as a cohesive unit. Everyone has a job and yes you need leaders but not dictators. I will take a hard working, loyal, and willing to learn individual over a walking ego that thinks he is privileged because believe me when SHTF this self privileged individual will become a source of constant irritation and won't be worth it.

And a huge mindset I look for is the willingness to share their skills with the group. If I see a person that thinks they are going to keep their skills to themselves because they think that makes them invaluable and not teach anyone in case you lose them that proves to me they are selfish and have no regards to the survival of the group and I have no use for them in my group.

What are the needed skill sets?

These are the skill sets that I look for when adding members to my own group.

* Military - Of course you need this. This person knows how to set up a  security perimeter, firearm knowledge etc.

* Hunter/Gatherer/Scavenger - This person or I recommend you have 2 or 3 of these because they always are sizing things up and are little hoarders. They will gather and haul back everything because there has to be a use for it. They know if your hungry enough you will eat anything. A large cricket contains 9 grams of protein. They know how to set snares, run a trap line, hunt, track and field dress anything they kill.

* Farmer - This is a given.

* Livestock/Rancher - If you can find a person that can do Both Farmer and Rancher you have hit the jackpot

* Veterinarian - If you can find a Veterinarian prepper count your lucky stars because they can also double as your Medical person. I know a vet that on a hunting trip one of his buddies fell off a ledge and broke his arm and he set it.

* Medical - Now here you don't necessarily need a doctor but a nurse or paramedic is fantastic.

* Mechanic - In a scenario not involving an EMP you are going to want one of these

* Einstein/Engineer - These are the people that see a need and can come up with a contraption to solve the need.

* Heart - This is the person that doesn't have any of the above skill sets but has the heart to learn because canning, gardening, livestock tending can be taught.

Be prepared, not sorry

To Survive...It Will Take A Village

Most preppers are a very solitude lot...we don't want anyone to know what we have, where we are, and we protect it to the death. After having a conversation with a dear friend that is also a prepper his advice is spot on...

If you think in WROL you will hold on to what you have on your own you might as well give up now..

There is no way 1 or 2 people can do it all. Security, hunting and gathering, tending to livestock and gardening, preserving food, and all the everyday tasks that will come with this new frightening life.

It will take a village to survive

If you watch Doomsday Preppers like I do, look at the ones that you think will be successful in surviving a collapse...Southern Prepper 1 has aligned with Engineer 775 are a fantastic example of a team/village coming together to survive. I have been given permission by Southern Prepper 1 to show this video. Take a look it really has such good advice. Thank you SP1!

I urge you to take that time right now to find that village so that you may survive. I currently hold Meet and Greets to find that village. Now in honestly you will encounter those people that really are not serious. They have watched a episode or two of Doomsday Preppers and have that sense of panic which will wear off in a couple months when they understand how much time and dedication it takes to prep.

Don't show your hand until you are absolutely comfortable

Personally it takes along time for me to be comfortable with someone to even share where I live. Take your time getting to find and know your tribe. Spend some weekends camping and practicing skills with your potential village members. Evaluate how their lifestyle and goals align with yours..

*How do their skill sets fit into your village
*What do they bring to the table in skills and preps
*Do their philosophies in survival, life, and religion align with the village
*Most of all what is their personality...will it work within the village

I can't stress enough to look for that village now so that you may be comfortable with each other. These are the people you are going to entrust yours and family's life to.

Be prepared, not sorry

Prepper Recycling

Growing up on the farm my mom was and still is the Queen of recycling, even before it was cool! She croqueted plastic bread wrappers into rugs...yes rugs! She would also take a rag clothes and do the same thing. They actually lasted a long time and when then had had it they were tossed.

Mayo jars will also support some canning lids. Seeds like melon, flower, and herbs were stored in baby food jars in the basement.
And of course rag clothes were also made into quilts.

One of my favorite things which I have just started is getting my garden started indoors. I absolutely love this because it is so cheap and easy. I take my 2 litre soda bottles and turn them into self watering starter grows for my veggies. You cut the bottle in half and and I poke holes in the cap and the plant draws water as it needs it.

How would you like to say goodbye to your power company?

For about $160 dollars you can start generating your own power. I will be putting out a step by step DVD soon on how to build this but with a $20 alternator, a $10 piece of PVC and cap, a $40 converter, and 3 car batteries at $30 a piece... you can start making your own power.

Be prepared, not sorry

Home Remedies 2

Cuts

Like I said I grew up on a farm and home remedies were everywhere. My Granddad farmed with teams and he told me that when they would get a cut he would chew some tobacco and then place it on the cut and wrap it and as it dried it would draw the poison out.

When summer hit I would be barefoot from June until September and when you do that on a farm you are going to step on rusty nails. My Grandma used the same concept on me as my Grandpa did with the horses except she used bread and milk. She would soak the bread in milk and tape it where the wound was (usually the bottom of my feet) and let it dry. Now granted my mom was not so secure in the home remedies and would always run me to the doctors for a tetanus shot.

Earaches

A home remedy I have discovered on my own was I had a son that suffered from frequent earaches. The doctors wanted to put tubes in his ears but I heard nothing but horror stories on that so that was not going to happen with mine. My Grandma when I had earaches would heat up some olive oil and place it in my ears along with a hot water bottle placed on the ear. With my son I used olive oil along with a hair dryer set on low blowing into the ear. My son never had ear tubes. (becareful on the temp of the oil not to burn inner ear)

Cold Cough

In the earlier post I gave you my Grandma's recipe for cough syrup and now I will give the additive my Dad did. If you have ever noticed if you have the nastiest cold if your outside you don't cough? Why is that? I have no idea but when my kids or myself had a cough I would give them a shot of the homemade syrup and make sure it was COLD..either I reduce the heat to their room or I would drive them around in a cold car. Now be sure I do the same to myself.

Cough/Sore Throat

I talked about cough remedies earlier and the key is the Lemon. Something about that lemon stops that cough and sore throat. The other is honey. I tend to suffer from a sore throat all winter but honey in tea works for me.

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Be prepared, not sorry