Well we made through Dec 21st 2012 and we're still here!
Now in all seriousness there are signs of the troubled times that lie ahead and all you have to do is turn on the news. Those that have known me for years know that I said that our economy could financially survive another Katrina well we have Sandy. The difference between Katrina and Sandy is Sandy hit the financial HUB of our country. 77 days since Sandy not a whole lot of relief has been felt for those individuals and the strain can be seen on the nations economy. How long did we hear we were headed for the fiscal cliff?
The Mayans were wrong but your should be kicking your prepping into high gear.
Here are some New Year's Prepping Resolutions.
*Bugging in or Bugging Out?
There are arguments for both sides but what I believe is you need to have not only Plan A but Plan B C D and E. If your bugging in or out you need to have alternate backup locations and plans. You may be over run by natural disasters or looters where will you go or do then to survive?
*Lists Lists and more Lists
I am the huge list maker. I have complete lists of food and water storage, first aid/medical supplies, and Security/Ammo/Hunting supplies. Each list also has the Want List which is supplies that need to be added. It doesn't matter how much food you have if you get an infection and have no antibiotics to fight it etc.
*Expand Your Knowledge Base
Make it a point to learn more. Take survival or first aid courses. Learn new skills from You Tube or take classes. For example if your food runs out and you have no idea how to hunt or garden then what?
Take some time to actually sit down and think about the prepping you need to get done in 30 days, 60 days, 6 months, 9 months, and for all of 2013. You will be glad you did. I have put a new page up called my How I Prepped This Week. It really helps to put your preps into writing to keep yourself motivated and on track. And who knows? You may get some great ideas from fellow Goddess Preppers!
Be prepared, not sorry
Showing posts with label BOB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BOB. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2013
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Mother Nature Provides The Lessons For Prepping Part 2
In November 2011 I published the first post of "Mother Nature Provides The Lessons For Prepping" and now in the aftermath of Sandy I wanted reiterate and update this.
Growing up on a farm you have to be a prepper. We canned, butchered our own meat, hunted, and of course grew our own crops. It's just what you did.. After Katrina hit that's when I kicked prepping into high gear, I seen that Mother Nature is not bias in race, how much money you have, or where you live. She can unleash her wrath anytime and anywhere and it amazes me on how (sorry to say but it's the truth) foolish and unprepared people are. Our own government says you should have at least 3 days of food and water in your house for emergencies. And it breaks my heart and angers me when I see people dumpster diving and standing in lines to just get fresh water.
It doesn't matter where you live..Mother Nature can hurl anything your way
I don't care where you live in this country Mother Nature can hurl anything at you...wild fires, earth quakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, flood, and blizzards. I live in Michigan and our weather is relatively easy compared to some other parts of the country. But I remember when I was young we had the "Great Blizzard of 1978". That blizzard brought the state of Michigan to a grinding halt for 2 weeks. People died and froze to death because they were unprepared. Thank god we had plenty of food, both wood and fuel oil furnaces, my mother had the good sense of filling the bathtub and anything that could hold water before the storm hit so we had water to drink, she also had plenty of oil lamps, we filled 55 gallon drums of water prior to the storm, and we had a creek running thru our property so all we had to do was clear a path with the tractors and break thru the ice for the livestock to drink after the storm. The only disruptions in my life was no TV or school.
So what can Mother Nature do to you?
Be prepared for what Mother nature can throw at you. Now I'm sorry if this offends people and it's my opinion and blog so I can voice it, but in both cases of Hurricane Katrina and Sandy I seen the satellite images and thought "this is a Monster get the hell out of Dodge!" and both times I seen people on the news laughing saying "it was no big deal and they were going to ride it out". That is just stupid and how many paid the ultimate price for that?
Nothing you own is worth your life or families life.
Now most of us myself included plans on bugging in when SHTF but I am not foolish enough to think that plan will hold together forever and situations arise where I may have to have the alternate plan. I have plans A, B, C, and D.....do you?
*What if your location is overrun by individuals wanting what you have?
*What if Mother Nature makes it impossible to stay at your location such as a wild fire or flood?
If you don't have backup plans start NOW! Here are suggestions for plan B, C, and D
Choose 3 different alternate locations. All must be within a 3 day walk because in the case of an EMP or mass ciaos you may not be able to use your vehicle. Bury cashes along the way so you don't have to carry 3 days worth of food and water. Bury them next to a landmark you will easily remember like a huge tree or road sign etc because in a critical situation you don't want to be scratching your head trying to remember where your cashes are. I like to use plastic tubs because they are fairly inexpensive and very easy to make water tight.
My bugout bag is only designed to keep me for 3 days and or to get me to my next cashe' or bugout location if for some reason I can't get to my cashes. I have 3 different ways to make fire, a few protein bars, first aid kit, water filtration tabs and bottle, a small fishing kit, hand gun, rope, change of clothes, knife, and across the back my bow and arrows. Now I know I'm going to get people saying you need this or that in your bag but I stick to what I have said it is only designed for 3 days of survival MAX. And if you have every prepper gadget known to man in your bugout bag you will NEVER be able to carry it for a long distance so therefore it's useless and may cost you your life. You want to move quickly and efficiently to get away from the danger.
My cashes contain individual wrapped protein bars, a couple cans of ready to eat from the can meals that are high calorie and protein. 4 bottles of water. Bullets. A pair of socks, because you want your feet dry and comfortable to carry you to your destination. A small battery operated radio because if possible you want to know whats going on around you and if anything is standing between you and your bugout location. Hopefully you have your locations stocked and ready for when you arrive.
I can't stress this enough "have alternate plans" .
Be prepared, not sorry
Growing up on a farm you have to be a prepper. We canned, butchered our own meat, hunted, and of course grew our own crops. It's just what you did.. After Katrina hit that's when I kicked prepping into high gear, I seen that Mother Nature is not bias in race, how much money you have, or where you live. She can unleash her wrath anytime and anywhere and it amazes me on how (sorry to say but it's the truth) foolish and unprepared people are. Our own government says you should have at least 3 days of food and water in your house for emergencies. And it breaks my heart and angers me when I see people dumpster diving and standing in lines to just get fresh water.
It doesn't matter where you live..Mother Nature can hurl anything your way
I don't care where you live in this country Mother Nature can hurl anything at you...wild fires, earth quakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, flood, and blizzards. I live in Michigan and our weather is relatively easy compared to some other parts of the country. But I remember when I was young we had the "Great Blizzard of 1978". That blizzard brought the state of Michigan to a grinding halt for 2 weeks. People died and froze to death because they were unprepared. Thank god we had plenty of food, both wood and fuel oil furnaces, my mother had the good sense of filling the bathtub and anything that could hold water before the storm hit so we had water to drink, she also had plenty of oil lamps, we filled 55 gallon drums of water prior to the storm, and we had a creek running thru our property so all we had to do was clear a path with the tractors and break thru the ice for the livestock to drink after the storm. The only disruptions in my life was no TV or school.
So what can Mother Nature do to you?
Be prepared for what Mother nature can throw at you. Now I'm sorry if this offends people and it's my opinion and blog so I can voice it, but in both cases of Hurricane Katrina and Sandy I seen the satellite images and thought "this is a Monster get the hell out of Dodge!" and both times I seen people on the news laughing saying "it was no big deal and they were going to ride it out". That is just stupid and how many paid the ultimate price for that?
Nothing you own is worth your life or families life.
Now most of us myself included plans on bugging in when SHTF but I am not foolish enough to think that plan will hold together forever and situations arise where I may have to have the alternate plan. I have plans A, B, C, and D.....do you?
*What if your location is overrun by individuals wanting what you have?
*What if Mother Nature makes it impossible to stay at your location such as a wild fire or flood?
If you don't have backup plans start NOW! Here are suggestions for plan B, C, and D
Choose 3 different alternate locations. All must be within a 3 day walk because in the case of an EMP or mass ciaos you may not be able to use your vehicle. Bury cashes along the way so you don't have to carry 3 days worth of food and water. Bury them next to a landmark you will easily remember like a huge tree or road sign etc because in a critical situation you don't want to be scratching your head trying to remember where your cashes are. I like to use plastic tubs because they are fairly inexpensive and very easy to make water tight.
My bugout bag is only designed to keep me for 3 days and or to get me to my next cashe' or bugout location if for some reason I can't get to my cashes. I have 3 different ways to make fire, a few protein bars, first aid kit, water filtration tabs and bottle, a small fishing kit, hand gun, rope, change of clothes, knife, and across the back my bow and arrows. Now I know I'm going to get people saying you need this or that in your bag but I stick to what I have said it is only designed for 3 days of survival MAX. And if you have every prepper gadget known to man in your bugout bag you will NEVER be able to carry it for a long distance so therefore it's useless and may cost you your life. You want to move quickly and efficiently to get away from the danger.
My cashes contain individual wrapped protein bars, a couple cans of ready to eat from the can meals that are high calorie and protein. 4 bottles of water. Bullets. A pair of socks, because you want your feet dry and comfortable to carry you to your destination. A small battery operated radio because if possible you want to know whats going on around you and if anything is standing between you and your bugout location. Hopefully you have your locations stocked and ready for when you arrive.
I can't stress this enough "have alternate plans" .
Be prepared, not sorry
Monday, January 23, 2012
Walking The Talk
This post may ruffle some feathers with some but I'm hoping this turns on the lightbuld for others. I know plenty of people that spend countless hours watching You Tube videos, on the prepper boards, and email lists. They have the expensive bug out bag with every top of the line gadget known to the prepper world. They have a stockpile of weapons and ammo that could outfit a small army and just as much food.
But they haven't spent 1 minute putting it into practice.
I met a husband and a wife that were so proud of their bug out bags and these bags had everything you could imagine in it. I asked the wife if she had ever actually carried hers because I'm a pretty good judge of weight and that thing came close to out weighing her. She said "no" so I asked her to put it on and walk across the parking lot and back. She barely made it. If she can't carry it...then it's useless.
You have to have more than a plan.
One man I talked to said he was going to bug in as long as possible then he was heading to this state forest. I asked him "Have you ever spent any time there? Do you know the area? Where are your water sources? Any possible threats?" He just looked at me and said "No but I can make it there" Don't be foolish, have a plan. If possible have your bug out location stocked and ready to go but if that's not possible spend some time getting to know your bug out location. Take you BOB and spend some weekends there and see if its actually going to work for you. Find your water sources, practice building a shelter and fire.
What are you going to do when the cans run out?
I have heard so many preppers say "I'm going to live off the land, I'm going to hunt and fish" I then ask them "Do you know how to field dress what you kill?" and the answer I usually get is "Well no but it can't be that hard" Believe me it's very easy to ruin good meat and possibly making yourself ill by cutting into the stomach or intestines and contaminating the meat. Another thing I ask them is "How are you going to kill it?" and they look at me like I'm stupid and they say "I'm gonna shoot it". Why would you want to waste your precious ammo along with risking your safety by letting others hear the shot? I am not going to waste my ammo shooting a squirrel or rabbit when snares work just as well and they don't risk my safety. As far as bigger game learn to use a bow, it is a challenge but that knowledge comes in handy to have.
Put into practice what you have learned because you don't want to learn the hard way after SHTF.
Be prepared, not sorry
But they haven't spent 1 minute putting it into practice.
I met a husband and a wife that were so proud of their bug out bags and these bags had everything you could imagine in it. I asked the wife if she had ever actually carried hers because I'm a pretty good judge of weight and that thing came close to out weighing her. She said "no" so I asked her to put it on and walk across the parking lot and back. She barely made it. If she can't carry it...then it's useless.
You have to have more than a plan.
One man I talked to said he was going to bug in as long as possible then he was heading to this state forest. I asked him "Have you ever spent any time there? Do you know the area? Where are your water sources? Any possible threats?" He just looked at me and said "No but I can make it there" Don't be foolish, have a plan. If possible have your bug out location stocked and ready to go but if that's not possible spend some time getting to know your bug out location. Take you BOB and spend some weekends there and see if its actually going to work for you. Find your water sources, practice building a shelter and fire.
What are you going to do when the cans run out?
I have heard so many preppers say "I'm going to live off the land, I'm going to hunt and fish" I then ask them "Do you know how to field dress what you kill?" and the answer I usually get is "Well no but it can't be that hard" Believe me it's very easy to ruin good meat and possibly making yourself ill by cutting into the stomach or intestines and contaminating the meat. Another thing I ask them is "How are you going to kill it?" and they look at me like I'm stupid and they say "I'm gonna shoot it". Why would you want to waste your precious ammo along with risking your safety by letting others hear the shot? I am not going to waste my ammo shooting a squirrel or rabbit when snares work just as well and they don't risk my safety. As far as bigger game learn to use a bow, it is a challenge but that knowledge comes in handy to have.
Put into practice what you have learned because you don't want to learn the hard way after SHTF.
Be prepared, not sorry
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Physical Toll When SHTF Part 2
THE BIGGEST PREPPER CHALLENGE
As we discussed in the first part of this series when SHTF the physical demands of daily life are going to increase and if that day were to come today are you physically ready? If your answer like mine is "no" then I want you to participate in this challenge with me. It doesn't matter how much ammo or food we have stocked if we physically can't meet the demands to survive. Can you physically carry your BOB for miles? What about chopping wood for days on end?
Growing up on a farm and participating in high school sports, 4-H, and FFA I was in great shape. I continued to work out and up until a year ago I was running 5-7 miles 4 times a week with strength training 2 times a week. But like many people I had a injury and my workouts stopped, I gained weight, and started the mind games with myself saying "Oh I will start working out again next week" and next week comes and I justify not working out by telling myself I have too much work to do around the house or working overtime at work.
Excuses stop now
I love to run and used to run half marathons. It's funny how you can love to do something but sabotage yourself from doing it! One of the best marathoners in history (the penguin) when asked what is the hardest part of training for a marathon answered "getting out the door". He's totally right because once those shoes are on and your out the door the excuses stop and the hard part is over.
In training for half marathons I learned these guidelines which you will need to apply to this challenge.
1. Start slow and gradually work up - Starting any new physical regiment go to your doctor first and get a checkup to make sure your healthy enough to start your challenge. When you start your challenge start slow and work your way up. If you overdo it and are sore or injure yourself you are setting yourself up for excuses and failure.
2. Schedule your workout time - This is a must to ensure that you have that time for your workouts and also cuts down on the excuses. I work nights so I like to run in the morning after work. It's cooler at that time and it also helps me unwind and sleep better during the day.
3. Find a activity you enjoy - This an important component to your challenge. Find something you love to do. I love running, a friend of mine loves her Zumba classes. Let's face it if you don't like doing the activity it will seem like work and a chore and you will find excuses not to do it.
4. Set a goal and reward yourself - When I decided to take up running I set my ultimate goal of doing a half marathon but I had small goals all the way in my training. My first was a 5k and upon completing that I rewarded myself with a fleece running vest I had been wanting. The next goal was a 10k which I rewarded myself with a Columbia ski jacket that I wanted. Then the half marathon was actually the reward. I signed up for the Pacific Shoreline Half Marathon which is held at Huntington Beach California. It was a great weekend trip with 30,000 other runners, a beautiful hotel room that overlooked the ocean, a health expo, and the run was breath taking along the beach with bands every mile. Goals and rewards will keep your motivation up.
5. Make your workout social time - Most of my running time is done on my own but when I was living in Dallas every Saturday morning I would meet my girlfriends at White Rock Lake and we would run the lake (9.2 miles). It didn't even feel like a workout because we were too busy talking about our week, dating, etc. then on Sunday we would meet for yoga with brunch afterwards. Believe me workouts are way less painful when sharing with friends.
The Physical Prepper Challenge - Foundation
The three basics we want in this challenge are
Endurance
Strength
Flexability
When SHTF you will need all three of these elements so setup your Prepper challenge to include these.
My challenge will be structured this way.
Endurance - Running 4x's per week
Strength - Weight and resistance training 3x's per week
Flexability - Yoga 2x's per week
I will be making a Prepper Challenge page where we can share our workouts, goals, and experience. Keep in mind that these will apply to the physical demands of the WROL like carrying your BOB, gathering firewood, building shelter, etc.
Will you be the Biggest Prepper?
Be prepared, not sorry
As we discussed in the first part of this series when SHTF the physical demands of daily life are going to increase and if that day were to come today are you physically ready? If your answer like mine is "no" then I want you to participate in this challenge with me. It doesn't matter how much ammo or food we have stocked if we physically can't meet the demands to survive. Can you physically carry your BOB for miles? What about chopping wood for days on end?
Growing up on a farm and participating in high school sports, 4-H, and FFA I was in great shape. I continued to work out and up until a year ago I was running 5-7 miles 4 times a week with strength training 2 times a week. But like many people I had a injury and my workouts stopped, I gained weight, and started the mind games with myself saying "Oh I will start working out again next week" and next week comes and I justify not working out by telling myself I have too much work to do around the house or working overtime at work.
Excuses stop now
I love to run and used to run half marathons. It's funny how you can love to do something but sabotage yourself from doing it! One of the best marathoners in history (the penguin) when asked what is the hardest part of training for a marathon answered "getting out the door". He's totally right because once those shoes are on and your out the door the excuses stop and the hard part is over.
In training for half marathons I learned these guidelines which you will need to apply to this challenge.
1. Start slow and gradually work up - Starting any new physical regiment go to your doctor first and get a checkup to make sure your healthy enough to start your challenge. When you start your challenge start slow and work your way up. If you overdo it and are sore or injure yourself you are setting yourself up for excuses and failure.
2. Schedule your workout time - This is a must to ensure that you have that time for your workouts and also cuts down on the excuses. I work nights so I like to run in the morning after work. It's cooler at that time and it also helps me unwind and sleep better during the day.
3. Find a activity you enjoy - This an important component to your challenge. Find something you love to do. I love running, a friend of mine loves her Zumba classes. Let's face it if you don't like doing the activity it will seem like work and a chore and you will find excuses not to do it.
4. Set a goal and reward yourself - When I decided to take up running I set my ultimate goal of doing a half marathon but I had small goals all the way in my training. My first was a 5k and upon completing that I rewarded myself with a fleece running vest I had been wanting. The next goal was a 10k which I rewarded myself with a Columbia ski jacket that I wanted. Then the half marathon was actually the reward. I signed up for the Pacific Shoreline Half Marathon which is held at Huntington Beach California. It was a great weekend trip with 30,000 other runners, a beautiful hotel room that overlooked the ocean, a health expo, and the run was breath taking along the beach with bands every mile. Goals and rewards will keep your motivation up.
5. Make your workout social time - Most of my running time is done on my own but when I was living in Dallas every Saturday morning I would meet my girlfriends at White Rock Lake and we would run the lake (9.2 miles). It didn't even feel like a workout because we were too busy talking about our week, dating, etc. then on Sunday we would meet for yoga with brunch afterwards. Believe me workouts are way less painful when sharing with friends.
The Physical Prepper Challenge - Foundation
The three basics we want in this challenge are
Endurance
Strength
Flexability
When SHTF you will need all three of these elements so setup your Prepper challenge to include these.
My challenge will be structured this way.
Endurance - Running 4x's per week
Strength - Weight and resistance training 3x's per week
Flexability - Yoga 2x's per week
I will be making a Prepper Challenge page where we can share our workouts, goals, and experience. Keep in mind that these will apply to the physical demands of the WROL like carrying your BOB, gathering firewood, building shelter, etc.
Be prepared, not sorry
Monday, September 5, 2011
Why Your BOB May Not Save You
This past Labor Day weekend of rustic camping with my boyfriend and his sons inspired this post. Now mind you when I go camping I bring everything but the kitchen sink. Medical supplies (including supplies for toothaches) my own supply of firewood, bathing and hygiene supplies, toilet paper for the outhouse, and the list goes on. Basically the whole back of my truck was filled for a 3 day camping trip not to mention Scott's truck was also.
We had a great time and upon packing up this morning Scott uttered the words that inspired this post...
"You know if we had to bug out we wouldn't even have a tenth of this stuff"
On the way home my mind was trying to wrap around those words and all the scenarios that ran through my head. Go to any survival board, You Tube, or survival blog and you will find endless information on the best type of BOB's to have, what you should have in it, etc. But the consensus is it should have 3 days of supplies in it to get you to your bug out location.
Ok you made it to your bug out location now what?
Most people have given more thought to whats in their BOB then where they are bugging out to and what happens when they get there. Some don't even have a bug out location but they have a BOB? If you don't have supplies stashed at your bug out location how do you live past the 3 days of supplies you have in your BOB? What if you can't go home for weeks or months or perhaps not at all, is your BOB going to save you?
With the contents of your BOB could you last weeks or months?
Unless you are a hardcore survivalist your answer like mine is going to be "NO" so you need to have a plan. A bug out location that has food and supplies to sustain you for months and those supplies have to include a way to purify water, and hunting and fishing supplies. You have to have the answer to these these questions and the answer has to be for MONTHS
Shelter
Water
Food
Be prepared, not sorry.
We had a great time and upon packing up this morning Scott uttered the words that inspired this post...
"You know if we had to bug out we wouldn't even have a tenth of this stuff"
On the way home my mind was trying to wrap around those words and all the scenarios that ran through my head. Go to any survival board, You Tube, or survival blog and you will find endless information on the best type of BOB's to have, what you should have in it, etc. But the consensus is it should have 3 days of supplies in it to get you to your bug out location.
Ok you made it to your bug out location now what?
Most people have given more thought to whats in their BOB then where they are bugging out to and what happens when they get there. Some don't even have a bug out location but they have a BOB? If you don't have supplies stashed at your bug out location how do you live past the 3 days of supplies you have in your BOB? What if you can't go home for weeks or months or perhaps not at all, is your BOB going to save you?
Unless you are a hardcore survivalist your answer like mine is going to be "NO" so you need to have a plan. A bug out location that has food and supplies to sustain you for months and those supplies have to include a way to purify water, and hunting and fishing supplies. You have to have the answer to these these questions and the answer has to be for MONTHS
Shelter
Water
Food
Be prepared, not sorry.
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