Preparedness

[SolarMother]

I really think that while it's a good idea to understand that our future is uncertain (as all futures are), there is a bit of a risk here to turn into 'survivalists' who are so focused on physical survival that they lose the whole point of this all - which is learning and being aware enough and knowledgeable enough to deal the best way one can with whatever happens or doesn't happen.

I just think there is a fine line here - and I personally have no intention of living in a world where I have to eat grubs to survive - nothing against the grubs, of course - or living in a world where I have to kill other human beings to protect 'my stash' of sustenance. I mean, this is just my personal opinion, but death is really no big deal. So while it absolutely IS important to take reasonable precautions and to pay strict attention to reality right and left, I think this tendency to run into survivalist territory is a bit of a slippery slope. The most important thing, from my perspective, is awareness and while that can and does include taking care of necessities in times of uncertainty, this should not be a singular focus.

Our bodies are not ourselves. We must, as responsible individuals, do our best to arrange things so that we are here to help others when things get difficult - but I suppose I am just suggesting that a careful eye be brought to the subject of walking that fine line between common sense and obsession when it comes to what is ahead of us. fwiw.

I have no illusions when it comes down to the whole 'survival' question. If things get past a certain point, I'm going to die. No big. We all are at some point. I'd rather go out helping other folks get on with living as creatively as possible than 'survive'. Surviving is not living, fwiw. ( I don't mind eating bugs or grubs, not as long as I can find a way to make it work and taste good. ;D )

Basically I'm agreeing with anart, the only difference being I'd eat a grub or two.

I'm agreeing with you both. The only reason that I would want to be around after some catastrophe is if I could be of some help to someone. If it came down to being holed up somewhere counting down the days until my last can of meat was eaten...well I would like to be gone long before that.

I third that--mightily agree with you all. And, no grubs for me, thank you-- and I agree that unless there are others involved that need help, and if there is 9 or 10 feet of snow, well then that might be a good time to get out of Dodge too, that would be a catastrophe in my book.

 

[Bobo08]

meat in jars after the first pasteurization for the 0.5 liter jar - 60 mint (put my jar of water with temperature of 40C), boil for 60 mint in temp 80C. keeps a jar of meat one month in a cool place below 10 C.

The point of pressure canning at high temperature is to prevent botulism. I don't know if pasteurization can do that.

 

[Mikey]

Intercede for them in the cold and warming up the oven to 180 degrees. When the contents of the jar begins to boil, reduce the temperature to 140-150 degrees and bake 1 hour. Baking pasteurized better than cooking because the temperature is much higher than boiling water.

Boiling water can never exceed 100°C (at normal atmospheric pressure). Furthermore, the book I've read discourages sterilization in the oven, since the dry air will make the rubber seal (which keeps the jar's vacuum) hard and porous. A natural component of rubber is water and you don't want it to go away.

I wonder where you've got your instructions from?

 

[Lucius]

Intercede for them in the cold and warming up the oven to 180 degrees. When the contents of the jar begins to boil, reduce the temperature to 140-150 degrees and bake 1 hour. Baking pasteurized better than cooking because the temperature is much higher than boiling water.

Boiling water can never exceed 100°C (at normal atmospheric pressure). Furthermore, the book I've read discourages sterilization in the oven, since the dry air will make the rubber seal (which keeps the jar's vacuum) hard and porous. A natural component of rubber is water and you don't want it to go away.

I wonder where you've got your instructions from?

"Oven:

Intercede for them in the cold and warming up the oven to 180 degrees. When the contents of the jar begins to boil, reduce the temperature to 140-150 degrees and bake 1 hour. Baking pasteurized better than cooking because the temperature is much higher than boiling water. I assure you that the jars do not burst, you just leave the top 3 cm empty space

I will test all myself in next month with many different recipes for meat"

This description is to do in the oven

Doing in water from 80C- to 95C.

Instruction are from polish biggest forum about home made meat. Here
there are checked recipients ^^

 

[D69]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents.
I am not hiding that I am trying to figure out how to survive :D
The idea here is to convert my fears into a hobby by which I am learning a lot and this in turn protects - as C`s said - knowledge protects.
At the same time I am trying to figure out how to not only help myself during bad times, but how to save more folks - regardless the fact that at this moment in time, nearly everyone around me are laughing at all that grim stuff that is coming :)
heh I am kinda lonely here but I got used to it already - I still got this community , right ? :)
Worst case scenario ? - I`ll just watch and enjoy the show , I just wonder if they have computers in 5th

 

[Voyageur]

I think the key is to conserve your energy, not to submit
to fear and chaos, and to observe the universe for what
it is... and enjoy the show...

And, remembering that we all have our part to play in the process, after all we, each, decided to transit here at the particular time in the grand cycle to see it unfold, and LEARN our lessons. :)

Well ditto both these thoughts; the path is not set in definable ways for each, osit. Perhaps it will be surviving in a collinear community, paying off a karmic debt, waking up in a cave to a red sky as the C's once said, or some kind of inconceivable realm transit - lessons indeed. :)

Edit: while reviewing session July 16 2009 concerning Dance, as in the Crane Dance, came across this quote which was from Jeep to add to this thread further. Here is what caught my attention in relationship to this thread, even though this applied directly to others at that time:

A: You have your work cut out for you. You have a choice of futures. What will it be? A dark star or paradise restored???

 

[doublea1535]

The IRS was nice enough to give me some of my money back, so I am investing pretty much all of it in preparedness items. Our list, in order of priority goes something like this:

• Freezer - we went with a small 5 cubic feet one on sale for $150.
• Volcano stove and 2-3 20lb tanks - this thing looks pretty cool. Can burn propane, or you can take out the burner element and use it for charcoal or wood. If the gas runs out, and there is not 9 stories of snow to contend with, hopefully I can scrounge up firewood, in the form of odds and ends. They have a special right now where you can get a lid for free, which converts the unit into a convection oven wannabe. $150. Also propane can run indoors (obviously) so it might double as a heater.
• Lots of food to put in freezer - haven't bought it yet, but I imagine upwards of $500 for meat (all organic, grass fed) and then another $300 for already canned goods. We eat mostly meat at my house, but I am going to be sure to stock up on some veggies and fruit. Love fruit, gotta have it.
• Water distiller, extra filters for our Berkey, and water jugs. I haven't decided on which distiller to get yet. I definitely want a fire driven one, so I don't have to rely on electricity. There doesn't seem to be many options for these, but I am currently looking at the Clear Choice that is on sale for $150. We don't own a home, so we can't use the 55gal drums, so will go with 5gal ones that are more portable.
• Winter gear. Going to buy some serious winter boots, jackets, gators, gloves, and stock up on base layer. We have always used Smart Wool baselayer which works very well, but a word to the wise, don't mess around with anything other than the mid-weight stuff. The micro- or light-weight stuff will wear out too quick (after a year or two). Probably won't be able to afford it this year, but I want to get snow shoes and poles, since cars don't work so well if the tires can't touch the ground.
• Vacuum sealer. Looking at the FoodSaver® V2450 model, since I don't think we need the hose attachment, although it looks useful if you want to invest in the jars/lids that go with it for dry storage. $129
• Pressure cooker. I think I want to get a weighted gauge versus dial gauge since the dial gauge needs to be checked/adjusted/replaced every year. And of course lots of jars to go with it. Pretty much only going to use it for meat since we don't have a garden, but when summer hits I am going to swing by the farmers market and stock up on tomatoes and green beans, since those are the only vegetables we really like in this house.
• Some commodity items. All I can think of so far is soap and tobacco. Maybe bullets, since I imagine those would be in demand as well. Between those items and food, I am hoping we have some stuff worth trading for if we need to. I was going to use the vacuum sealer to make pouches of tobacco that include papers and matches. I was going to put the matches in their own bag, and then inside of the tobacco bag to prevent scent seepage.
• More food, if we have any money left over and as we go. Definitely want to stagger the food, so there is always food that is not very old.
• This summer I want to start a bug farm. Going to start with meal worms, since I have read they are very easy to work with. Only problem would be having a continuous food supply for them, so I might need to stock up on food for them if we can't move into a house by then. If we can move into a house, I was hoping to start a small greenhouse, sufficient for some fresh fruit, a small amount of vegetables, and whatever works best for grub food.

We already own lot's of blankets. 3 really nice soft wool ones, and 6 of the scratchy army surplus kind. That way at least we can get a good (read: warm) night's sleep if nothing else, or for EE. Plus we need to stock up on cat food, as I would hate for our 3 little friends to die.

As I have started to buy this stuff, I had this feeling that I won't even need it, one way or the other. I know the C's have said that in the end-days people will run around doing 3D-centric stuff, while our 4D destiny awaits. While I am betting on something big happening, most likely the Wave, I think it's best to hedge my bets.

Either way, it's gonna be one helluva ride and part of me can't wait. :D

 

[SolarMother]

Ignis.Intimus

As I have started to buy this stuff, I had this feeling that I won't even need it, one way or the other. I know the C's have said that in the end-days people will run around doing 3D-centric stufff, while our 4D destiny awaits. While I am betting on something big happening, most likely the Wave, I think it's best to hedge my bets.

Either way, it's gonna be one helluva ride and part of me can't wait. Grin

I know what you mean. We have been doing the same thing over the last few years in general , and now adding meat, freezer, same commodities as you, off grid house (a better one built for only 13K!), wood stove (a better one) but the difference is now we are doing this organization with the possibility of hopefully helping others, whereas a year ago our mindset was more towards 3D saving our own skins or survival, so to speak, and having a community that wanted to do that with us. That was our 3D-centric running around doing stuff for the end-days your spoke of.
Sure feels a lot different now, and I agree with hedging our bets--being as prepared as we can be for whatever the heck happens on the way to 5/4D!!

 

[Ca.]

Sun Power

'PHOTOVOLTAICS'
http://www.californiasolarcenter.org

Electricity from the Sun

The Sun is our greatest energy source: powerful, lasting, reliable, and available all over the world. Every hour the sunlight that reaches the earth is greater than the amount of energy used by every person on the planet in an entire year.

Photovoltaics, a versatile and flexible technology, can be designed to meet almost any need in practically any location. In space and in air, on land and at sea, photovoltaics produce energy when and where it is needed.

The term photovoltaic is derived by combining the Greek word for light, photos, with voltaic, named for Alessandro Volta, a pioneer in the study of electricity. Thus, a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell is one that converts sunlight - as opposed to sun heat - to electricity.

PV cells perform this conversion without any moving parts, noise, pollution, radiation, or maintenance. PV cells are made of a semiconducter material, typically silicon (from beach sand, an abundant resource), which is treated chemically to create a positive charge layer and a negative charge layer. When sunlight strikes a PV cell, an electron is dislodged. These loose electrons are gathered by wires attached to the cell, forming an electrical current. The more cells, the greater the current and voltage. A number of PV cells laid side-by-side form a rectangular module; several modules together form an array. PV modules sold commercially range in power output from about 5 watts to 300 watts, and produce a direct current (DC) like the current from a car's battery.

PV systems are already part of our lives. The smallest systems power calculators and wrist watches. Larger systems provide electricity for water pumps, highway signs, communications equipment, satellites, mobile homes, medical purposes (to power medical equipment, water purifiers, and refrigerators holding vaccines), navigation buoys, streetlights, and even for lighting homes and running appliances.


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses this solar-powered buoy to collect weather data off the coast of the United States.
STAND ALONE APPLICATIONS
Stand-alone photovoltaic applications, whether for remote buildings, service applications or island power supplies, represent about 90% of installed PV power today. Stand Alone PV systems provide power when and where it is needed, without the need for a utility grid. Batteries are included to provide energy storage to operate loads during the night and during cloudy or stormy weather. The solar module(s) recharge the batteries when average or good weather returns. PV modules and batteries are sized to meet the power requirements of the particular load. If Alternating Current (AC) power is desired, as in an off-grid remote home, a DC-AC inverter is required. For most Stand Alone applications, a PV system is the most cost-effective alternative to providing power. There are over 25,000 homes in California today that are off-grid and powered primarily by photovoltaics.

Direct Connected Systems get the job done without the need for batteries. Solar module(s) produces DC current that is immediately used by a DC motor load. As sunlight rises and falls, current and voltage rise and fall, and the motor speeds up and slows down proportionately. There is no storage, the motor does not operate at night, and operates slowly during cloudy or stormy weather. Solar water pumps used in the Sahara are an example of this type of application.

GRID TIED APPLICATIONS
Grid-tied photovoltaics are the new frontier. Buildings consume vast amounts of energy: more than two-thirds of the energy used in the United States goes to heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. Photovoltaic materials can be integrated into every building, new or old, to harness the Sun's energy to generate electricity. Grid tied PV systems are wired into buildings that are connected to the Utility Grid, hence the term grid tied. Energy produced by your PV system can be used directly in your home or business, or if there is an excess, flow out through your meter, providing power to your neighbors. In many States, you receive a credit for this excess power, to be used later, at night for example, when you need power from the grid. This is an arrangement called Net Metering and helps to improve the economics of a grid-tied PV system. Batteries are generally not required since the utility grid acts as a huge 'battery' in this application. An exception would be to provide power for critical loads, during utility outages, which would require a small onsite battery bank.

http://www.cookwiththesun.com

"International Solar Cooking Fish Fry with the Sun Black Cast Iron Pan Fresnel Lens"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_j4Izj4Kd0

"Small Scale Solar Powers Rural Africa"
http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/energy/small-scale-solar-powers-rural-africa-.html

"Testing the Sun Oven Solar Cooking Device"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mshcPEn7MyE&feature=related

"Cooking with Sunshine"
http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/energy/cooking-with-sunshine.html

"The Modern Survival Mindset"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzbmgVlFxjQ

 

[suelarue]

I saw this link on Dr. Mercola's site yesterday and thought it was useful. It shows a map of natural gravity fed water springs throughout the world where you can bottle the water yourselves. You can also submit locations to be added if you know of a source that is not already included.

I thought this would be handy information to have in case the water utilities are not functioning.

http://www.findaspring.com/

 

[Ellipse]

Solar oven can be build from old TV parabola and aluminum paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ti95tEffhA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYM4sMpM2QU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwlsrFNutjI

 

[KTC]

TO do or not to do. I am being pulled like a game of tug-o-war. And it seems to me, many of us are feeling the same (please share with me otherwise).

I'm questioning, if I listen to my 3D survival instinct, I want to fill the house with everything that is listed throughout this topic to ensure my family's well
being during the coming days/month/years, by which time my husband would have left me anyway because he thinks I'm crazy to even administer the notion of mass food restrictions, chaos and major uphieval of life as we know it.

Or, do 'I sit back and enjoy the show', practice EE and quietly prepare mentally and emotionally? My husband will be none the wiser and we all catch the wave and live happily ever after in the next dimension.

We have our little patio vege patch, have saved some seeds, ordered silk sheets and leave I my cell phone at work. We cook with coconut oil, use colloidal silver for healing, enjoy a meat rich, organic diet and have a cyclone kit ready.

I wonder if I put much more energy into 'preparing', it will take away from precious time spent with my husband and our beautiful little boy. I don't want to consume myself with the fear that arises when I think about surviving and the energy that goes into dealing with it.

Maybe I am a little bit in denial, maybe I don't understand, but here I am, reading this forum every night, catching up on the latest SOTT articles and learning as much as I can about this massive, more than I ever imagined, how did I stumble upon this event.

Just had to share that with you, since my husband doesn't hear me and I'm sure most of my friends are asleep.

ps any suggestions on how to best prepare my 18 month old son? I read him the Prayer for the Soul a few times when he goes to bed. Is he more prepared than me anyways because he hasn't been disillusioned so much??

 

[doublea1535]

We have our little patio vege patch, have saved some seeds, ordered silk sheets and leave I my cell phone at work. We cook with coconut oil, use colloidal silver for healing, enjoy a meat rich, organic diet and have a cyclone kit ready.

I wanted to suggest that if you live in a cyclone-prone area, you might want to think about taking your cell home with you, to have on-hand in case of an emergency. We always pop the batteries out of our cells as soon as we leave work. They can't do any harm without any juice. Many of the cell tower sites are equipped with battery or generator backup, allowing them to operate for a short period of time following a power outage.

 

[Skyfarmr]

Something we have discussed with friends is urging neighbors to be prepared for any type a disaster which might disrupt the food/electric/water supply. Seems better than keeping a gun to protect your stash; if most everyone is prepared then there would be less of a chance of having to share dwindling supplies with those who didn't prepare... which would be a tough dilemma to find ourselves in. My friend's daughter lives in a Mormon community in Utah and whole communities have been prepared for years, keeping pantries well stocked, wood piles well stocked, as well as water, medicine and ammunition. Every family is expected to stock their own supplies for long term survival, which would seem to strengthen the community rather than tear it apart by those desperately in need.

We've seen glimpses of how localized disasters turn panicky citizens into looters...looking out for number 1.
It may be wise to get to know neighbors better and plant the seed of preparedness, thereby depriving 4D STS of ITS food.

Where we live (upper Midwest/USA), I would think the recent articles regarding FEMA and the New Madrid Earthquake and the real possibility of a disaster involving 7M people would be enough to get people thinking seriously about preparedness without having to go into depth of what else is coming our way (ie. being labeled a Henny Penny..."the sky is falling, the sky is falling!" )
For those not familiar with this fable, here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sky_Is_Falling_%28fable%29

 

[Ca.]

"The Modern Survival Mindset"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzbmgVlFxjQ

In the video i posted above, it discussed number of good ideas, of living with in ones means, and preventive measures to make one less likely to fall victim to the coming chaos through preparation.

But near the ending, a firearm displayed. I am not sure what the intention was, and assumed it was for taking game in the relation to food.

Unfortunately the use of fire arms tend to be part of the survivalist movement. Though its does not take a stance of why it was shown, it could be seen a number of ways, and misunderstood by forum members, and or guest.

I believe it is important to state that i don't advocate the use of firearms, and believe nether does this forum.

I thought it is important to stress that guns have never been the answer. Though lightly talked about, for use as personal protection if, lets say a criminal breaks into a house, to commit violence toward a family, then perhaps it possibly could be justified.

I also feel that it is a personal decision.

And if i did have to take game, i think i would resort to a sling shot.

Please excuse the misunderstand, if it was assumed that i was advocating that forum member's, or guest use these implements of destruction, other than for self preservation in the face of life, and death. I pray no ever has to be confronted with such a situation. Thanks.