SHTF Planning: 7 Ways to Use The Items Around You To Adapt and Survive

by | Mar 12, 2014 | Emergency Preparedness, Headline News | 215 comments

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    “It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most adaptable to change.”
    – Charles Darwin

    Editor’s Note: Being prepared for a disaster doesn’t necessarily require you spending thousands of dollars on gear. While it’s certainly a good idea to have reserve food stores, water sources, self defense armaments, and other supplies, it’s also important to keep in mind that all of your best laid plans can very quickly fall apart. Should that situation befall you the only option you’ll have left is to use that which God has given you, and one key gift we’ve all received is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.  It’s what makes us human. During a high-stress emergency we’ll quickly realize that random items, perhaps even trash, may mean the difference between life and death. In the following article Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition and author of The Prepper’s Cookbook highlights several mundane items that are easily accessible, but can be fashioned in various ways to help you thrive in the midst of crisis. From broken down washing machine parts that can be used for creating electricity to soda cans that will keep you warm in the middle of winter, necessity will very much be the mother of invention. 

    shtf-adaptIn a critical emergency, how quickly we respond to a disaster directly impacts how successful we are at coming out of the situation. Many of us typically go through a processing phase, or what many call the normalcy bias. This bias is actually a coping mechanism that occurs when we are trying to register and sort out a traumatic event or impending disaster. It is very natural to slip into this phase – but getting out of it is takes a little longer. The reason being is we are creatures of habit and resist change at every turn. When we begin to come out of the normalcy bias, only then do we open our eyes to the changes that have occurred in our lives; and we must react to them. Sometimes these changes are short-lived and sometimes, depending on the disaster, will be long lasting. Our military forces train for reacting quickly in a situation, and we must train for this as well.

    Having a plan and a supply of food is well and good. If you need a good place to start, I suggest using the 52 Weeks to Preparedness series. It’s the skills and ingenuity that will help you thrive and stay alive.

    As much as I do not like to spew doom, mark my words – after a disaster, times will quickly change, and the sooner we can adapt, the better our chances at survival will be. One of the first things we should do following a disaster (assuming the danger has passed and everyone is safe) is to begin to see how everyday items can be used as tools for off-grid living. A simple credit card or a busted cell phone can go a long way in surviving an emergency. We can easily find items around our home to promote our security and wellbeing.

    7 Ways to Use Items To Adapt and Survive

    1. Gravity fed water filter – Water is key to survival and your number one priority when all hell breaks loose. When you drink unpurified water, it can cause severe illnesses, even death. If you haven’t invested in a water filtration system, then you need to learn how to purify water for consumption. Here are instructions for the most basic type of water filtration system. It’s so easy to make, it’s an elementary school project!
    2. Rope – Rope or paracord can serve multiple purposes in off grid living. Read about the 50+ ways to use paracord toward surviving. One of my favorite uses is to line dry clothing.
    3. Busted motors – Essentially any motor with a copper wire can be converted into an energy producer. You could easily convert your washing machine into windmillto make power. This is an essential skill to have for surviving a long term emergency.
    4. Stationary bikes – Did you ever think that stationary bikes could help to promote your self sustainability? Attaching your wheat grinder to your stationary bike by a pulley will help you put the peddle to the metal and grind grains more efficiently. Here are few additional ways to produce energy using a bicycle.
    5. Passive solar heater – We tend to think of solar heating as an expensive option, but with a few 2×4′s and a stash of soda cans you can create a passive solar heater. This could be a life saving item if you find yourself living in a grid down environment in a cold climate. Here are some basic instructions for building this.
    6. Cellular phones – As mentioned previously, cell phones have many uses in a survival situation. If your phone is still intact, you can download survival programs now (some are even for free) to learn and practice in your free time. However, if your phone is busted during a disaster there are core parts that can be utilized towards your survival. Some of these parts are the speaker, LCD screen, metal divider, wire, circuit board and battery. Read more on how you can meet some of your basic needs.
    7. Biomass briquettes – Your trash could save your life. Biomass briquettes are a green fuel source and are comprised of compressed organic compounds such as corn husks, coconut shells, grass clippings, dried leaves, saw dust, cardboard or paper. Biomass fuel sources are equivalent to that of common fuel sources and can be inside or in outside settings. Learn how to make them.

    If you have any ideas you’d like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.

    ***********

    Prepper's Cookbook

    Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals. When a catastrophic collapse cripples society, grocery store shelves will empty within days. But if you follow this book’s plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply, your family will have plenty to eat for weeks, months or even years. Visit her web site at ReadyNutrition.com.

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      215 Comments

      1. Be versatile, be adaptive and keep a low profile. Get it now, learn it now and be prepared. Even then the odds aren’t going to be in your favor.

        • Adapt and get ready right now is important. Everyone should try to live life part of the time without any modern conveniences. Anyone that has lost power knows how different it is without electricity from the switch. Same goes true for the water that comes out of the faucet. What about when someone has to walk or use a bicycle to get somewhere?

          The shock of losing everything is going to be overwhelming for many and most. The danger with so many is that HABIT that most people get into that you come to expect something. I know people that freak out if the newspaper does not come on time. Others that go into a full panic mode when the power suddenly stops for no reason. You should see when a terrible thunderstorm comes through how scared people become. This is peanuts compared to what is coming.

          If each one of us can get into the mental state of going without, this shock will not be so intense WHEN SHTF with a vengence. Everytime you can do without and improvise like these 7 ideas, you will train your brain to get ready for what is coming that much better.

          • One advantage the poor have over the rest of the population– we ALREADY know what its like to be without modern conveniences. Maybe that’s why the Bible says last shall be first and the first shall be last.

        • Great stuff and there are tons more on line. Check out crazy russian hacker. Very funny and some cool life hacks. Also get the book sunsine to dollars… great cheap real world working projejects that can help you now. PRAY, PLAN, PREP, FORM TEAMS.

      2. I have LifeStraw! You can’t survive 48 hours without water! However, you can survive 3 weeks without PED-laden, infected bacon, seemingly fresh from your supermarket!

        • We don’t eat pork.

          • God declares you are FREE to do so, and so do his knights.

            • McGyver was ahead of his time,
              but that is what it will take
              to survive in the worst case.

              • McGyver was a leftist ideologue, and despite his ability to make a fusion reactor out of tomato cans and an old watch battery, is one of those people not to be followed when true survival is at stake. His ideology will get people hurt or killed.

                Keep your McGyvers in the workshop, not in leadership.

                • Smokey — What leadership!!?

                  I don’t follow anyone.
                  I hope I’m not an exception!

                  • A jester without a king is nobodies fool.

                • Was there anything Mcgyver couldn’t fix/make/escape from as long as ha had some tin foil/wad of chewed bubble gum and a used prophylactic!

                  • ……..and a used prophylactic. That’s just fookin’ nasty…LMAO.

                  • Anyway, things are getting a little too exciting here at the PO’d property. Received a phone call from my SIL at midnight telling my wife and I that the MSP were searching our area for a man who fired upon a MSP during a traffic stop out on the highway about a half a mile from our house. Then we got a phone call recording from the MSP advising us to stay indoors along with description of the person. That damn Daulphine helo has been churning away overtop my house all night, casting a spotlight. I got to get my son’s 4 month old puppy outside to relieve hisself soon. Just my luck I’ll run into the guy and be forced to finish what they couldn’t.

                  • @WC,
                    And his Swiss army knife!!!!!!

                    I wonder how many people bought a Swiss army knife because of that show and then tossed it into the dresser drawer?

                    Props to Tess for another way to look at things we have around us. In a third world country very little is wasted, and since we’re headed that way…. just saying.

                    An electronic collection of Backwoods Magazine, and Popular Mechanics, and a few other magazines, might be the ticket to new ideas and ways to use what we have to survive.

                    Here’s an example that is WAY out there, totally outside the box, not practical on a small scale but it may get us to thinking: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/water/a-billboard-that-condenses-water-from-humidity-15393050

            • The Bible was hijacked by ruthless, unscrupulous men who used it to their advantage, changing parts here and there to fit what they needed to prosper materially… IMO. Pig meat is NOT good for your health, regardless of what it says.

              • Probably the damn Catholic Church, which used to burn people who didn’t go along with their beliefs, has the Vatican, a filthy rich hellhole which has its own corrupt banking system and is considered a “nation unto itself”, unaccountable to the city of Rome. My mom used to say the Catholic Church is the old place onthe hill the Bible talks about that is an abomination… is so. Probably “fixed”the Bible too, to fit their greedy needs.

            • God didn’t declare it, Iowa… a BOOK did.

          • @The Cookin’ Smart move, pork is contaminated. Gangster Banksters are inflating prices. War in Crimea, War in Syria, War in China. Silent-But-Deadly Hedge Funds Rolling in Hog Heaven Mud Profits. As for survival:

            1. Busted up cell phone is good for starting a fire if you have steel foam to coast on the positive and negative terminals of the battery.

            2. Compaction is the key to successful briquette formation with paper, cardboard, dried leaves, corn husks, glass clippings, or solid waste (containing nitrogen).

            3. Get a bike to pedal for 400 Watts of power here: http://www.econvergence.net/The-Pedal-A-Watt-Bicycle-Generator-Stand-s/1820.htm

            Good Luck!

            • You will burn too many calories pedaling to make electricity. Notg nearly worth it.

              • Agreed, let the wind do it… The grain grinder sounds like the best usage…

                And btw Mac…good to see you listed water first!

              • Still gonna do it. I repair and restore bikes for charity. This is definitely a great idea. Bikes powering the generator. Change up with others to provide for the need. Spinning in lower gears uses far less calories than large gears and you don’t tire so quickly. I’ve been riding bikes for 40 years so that’s what I do to maintain push and speed without wearing myself out. Generation with a bike does work…You don’t have to do it all day. You can go without until it is needed…

                • To clarify: You can set the gear ratio your pedaling by the diameter of the pulley or toothed gear your using to generate
                  the electricity… 🙂

                  • Still, a human athlete can oonly generate 400-500 watts for a short time, no matter what gear ratio. This waqs studied to death by the “human-powered flight” people. Normal humans are down in the 200 watt range.

                    BTW the most efficient machine for getting power out of a human is a rowing machine.

                  • 60hz gensets must turn @3600 rpm…just sayin

          • @The Cookin’ Mom,
            Even the Iraq soldiers, Muslims though they were, ate the pork MRE’s given to them by US soldiers after we stomped their asses and overran their positions in Kuwait. You will if you get hungry enough. And you won’t want to see your kids starve because of your narrow point of view.

            • Thanks Jasmine, the “kids” are young men in their mid twenties.
              We’ll be eating organic grass fed beef and Lamb.

              Ya’ll keep preppin’

              • Now that sounds good,,,
                Theres a place over here, Hailimaili general store, is a nice restaurant, they make an awesome rack of lamb with a black bean sauce, served on mashed potatoes,,
                Yum!

            • The cookin mom does NOT have a narrow point of view, its a SPIRITUAL point of view, in line with Our Creator. Your view is based on ignorance, greed, lack of compasson and narrowness, limited… etc.

              • Dern,she’s a meat eater too… (sigh!) wrong website.

          • Bless your heart!

        • Henry, I have both a Lifestraw and a Sawyer I’m going to be trying out on a camping trip in April. I currently have a Katadyn and it works great. I almost bought a Berkey last year until I heard about problems with the filters. If they solved the problems with the filters, then I might still get one. I tested my Katadyn on a camping trip in 2011 and fell in love with it, plus have a couple of spare filters for it. Plus Katadyn is made in Switzerland, NOT CHINA. That is one thing that definitely enhances its reputation.

          • 1braveheart, I agree on the NOT CHINA part. If one could feed the Chinese and Haitians together PED-LADEN INFECTED BACON AND PORK (with Szechuan sauce of course lol) for the sin of gluttony like Kevin Spacey’s character did in the movie Seven, I think it might be appropriate, at least for a momentary, fantastical laugh… Porky people are ubiquitous. Pigs, even uniformed, are atrocious. I am not buying pork and eating tofu instead, having plenty of protein, easy to store frozen, tasty, and easily combined with all foods.

          • 1braveheart,

            Get an Aquarain water filtration system. All of their products are made in the USA.

            We have the AquaRain model 404. We have been using our water filtration system since we got it in Feb. 2011. We use the filtered water for all drinking, making coffee and cooking. It works great. The water tastes good. Coffee tastes better with the filtered water.

            I clean out the inside of the ‘tank’ every couple months. We bought this one because it was bigger and came with 4 (cleanable and reusable) filters. You only need to use 2 filters at a time. It was cheaper to buy the extra filters this way. (The other 2 filters are still in the box.)

            Here is the link to the Aquarain website. http://www.aquarain.com/

            Comparison of Aquarain and Berkey filters
            The Aquarain filters are the same size (only better) than the Berkey.
            About 2/3 of the way down in the article, Grandpappy compares the Berkey and AquaRain.
            http://grandpappy.org/hwater.htm

            • Thank you KyMom. This is why I come to this site–for good info that helps those that are preparing for SHIFT.

        • Yea,, but how can you resist that bacony goodnes all crispy and tasty!
          everything is better with bacon!

      3. Well, it would be easy shoot down these ideas, but…
        the right thing to do is to take the ball and run with it. There is some good stuff here, use your imagination and be resourceful. It will be a required skill in SHTF.

        • Also, will somebody please check on Henry Hoggins, he doesn’t sound well. Ya Know?

          • LOL! Maybe he’s a quart low on bacon ?

      4. “It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most adaptable to change.”
        – Charles Darwin

        that is one of my all time favorite quotes

        you have to QUICKLY recognize that things have indeed changed
        and then QUICKLY adapt to that change

        SELCO says much the same thing
        a lot of people he knew didn’t survive
        because they thought things would quickly return to normal

        “Few days after that event s. hit the fan with real force, and nobody had illusions anymore that something temporary is going on or that things get back to normal.

        But point is that lots of people died in that short period before realizing that things aren’t the same. You can not still believe in good of people around you, but most people did. This ambulance event was one of many that ended with similar deaths.”

        http://shtfschool.com/security/true-nature-of-survival/

        • @Satori,
          You’ve made an interesting point with your post, and tossing in Selco who has been there adds credibility. Your comment reminds me that the SHTF event may not be defined and obvious like an EMP or solar flare take down of the grid. It may be events that are like a drunk stumbling down the street who finally collapses in the gutter. It takes awhile to happen, but eventually it does. Either way, it’ll be too late to do much when the collapse does happen.

      5. Over the years I have found a good heavy towel is one of the best things. Used as a shawl or serape under a light jacket, it does wonders, a ground cloth for sleeping on, a knee pad for changing a tire, neck scarf a zillion ideas. Lift up the carpet in your trunk and put one there, you won’t notice it until you need it.

        • I’ve been on board with the whole towel thing since I read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in high school. Another good read is The Collapse of Complex Societies by Tainter. It shows why failure to adapt is the reason all complex societies eventually return to their natural (simple) state.

      6. Knowledge is power!

        Gotta flex the muscle between yer ears to survive.

      7. Full Blooded Red Moon coming on Passsover April 14-15 2014. I will be able to finally mourn my Dad’s passing that day, what signifigance this impacts my soul! Sorry, this is as close as I get to Facebook.

        • Iowa, my condolences about your Dad.

        • Iowa,not exactly sure what you mean, but my Dad passed away on April 15 2001 which was Easter. Trekker Out.

          • What Iowa was trying to say is that he is brain dead.

            • Seems like a good place to use Wheaton’s Law “Don’t be a dick.”

            • @Yeesh:

              God Bless You 🙂

        • Sorry Iowa, I know what you are going through and know that no words from even loved ones can change or make it any better, much less from a stranger. But I know that with time it does get easier.

          This is the firs blood moon of four coming all on God’s feasts, this is the Tetrad I have been posting about.

          What section of Iowa are you in if the state was quartered up? I am West of Clinton.

        • @Iowa,
          Can you help me understand why you can finally mourn your dad’s passing on passover?

          So do you observe God’s feasts or Jewish hiolidays?

          http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/biblefeastscal.htm

          This one is coming up just this weekend and seems like one that all believers should observe, especially inlight of the times we are in….right?

          .02, Them Guys, Hunter & anyone else up on this, please join in here, I really want to learn more on this.

        • Iowa, eventually you will realize he is still with you, only in a different way/form… it does get easier. God Bless!

      8. The way things are going worldwide and what Our Warmongers are doing to each Nation one at a time. You had better adapt, like right now!

        • If things continue on it’s current path with no one backing down and they start lobbing Nukes in each others back yards. Something tells me we may not have to worry about preps. 😆

          • Yeah,and according to Paul Craig Roberts the neocons actually believe we can win a nuclear war with Russia– via First Strike… (neocons and liberal cons preside over US presidency).

        • Howdy, Ugly, and I agree. the ability to adapt to whatever curveballs life throws at you is the key to survival.

        • Why don’t we adapt OUR NATION?

          Time to make history.

          http //www.nationallibertyalliance.org/

          If we build a “Common Law” Grand Jury, the people will come.

          http //www.nationallibertyalliance.org/what-happend-constitution

          NEW YORK IS NOW FULLY CONSTITUTED.

          Florida looks like it will be second in the nation to be fully constituted.

          All of the original 13 colonies will be fully constituted.

          Then on to the rest of the 3142 counties nationwide.

          Connecticut is scheduled for next Saturday 3/15 at 10am in Hartford.
          Rhode Island is scheduled for next Saturday 3/15 at 2pm in East Providence

          Join us!

          Thanks

        • Has anyone noticed the horrible photo shop of the pics of the alleged Iranians on the missing aircraft??
          They have the same legs!!! fricking duh!!!

      9. I had a nine year old stranger come up to me and prophesy on my behalf yesterday, made me wish I was a good man. God Bless.

        • Get back on your medication, you are babbling worse than Obama.

        • I wish you were agood man as well, and add something worthwhile to the conversation. Until that time, keep your comments to yourself!

        • You can’t make a comment like that and nthen just leave us all hanging! Curiosity killed the cat………but satisfaction brought him back.

          Curious to your post and would love to know more details if you care to share. Pay no attention to yeesh and tim.

      10. WEATHER PREDICTION:

        Certain rules good to REMEMBER about this:

        Sky Brilliant yellow at sunset = wind. Pale yellow = rain
        Clear far away sighting = rain past or to come. Light cloud with
        indefinite edges = nice weather.

        Thick clouds with well-shaped edges = wind. If the birds fly low
        = will rain and wind.

        Brilliant stars = nice weather coming.

        When rain comes first without wind then = a long period of bad
        weather with high wind and heavy rain.

        But when wind comes first and is followed immediately by rain
        then fine weather will follow at short notice.

        ANOTHER INFALLIBLE WEATHER signal is the appearance of Cumulus
        Nimbus cloud, a foreteller of thunderstorm. While a greenish
        light in the sky preceding a thunderstorm is almost certain sign
        of heavy hail.

        *Admin Edit: Length reduced and linked to source*

        Read the rest here: http://priveee.dyndns.org/EXTRA/Plus/pdf4/Survival/Weater%20Signs.txt

        • The Weather Rock is 100% correct, 100% of the time.

          Place your Weather Rock outside and check it daily.

          Reading your Weather Rock
          Rock dry – Fair
          Rock wet – Rainy
          Rock swaying – Windy
          Rock has shadow – Sunny
          Rock no shadow – Cloudy
          Rock white – Snowy
          Rock bouncing – Earthquake
          Rock under water – Flood
          Rock flashing – Lightning
          Rock missing – Tornado
          Rock difficult to see – Foggy
          Rock sideways – Wind storm

          Your Weather Rock also indicates the seasons
          Rock cold – Winter
          Rock wet – Spring
          Rock hot – Summer
          Rock covered by leaves – Fall

          • +1 six.

            • 6 pack,make a great box with instructions and market the “Weather Rock”!Remember the pet rock in the 70’s,that guy made millions off of it in the 70’s,imagine the value(inflation)now,really,get marketing/first copy writing the “Weather Rock”,and then get mye a expensive thank you gift for leading you to the path of finacial freedom!

              • I think somebody already beat me to it, but thanks for the thought, warchild, I appreciate it.

          • This is awesome! Thumbs up six pack!!

          • SIXPACK, Thats hilarious !
            I read with all seriousness till i got more than half way down the list.
            First cup of coffee this morning LMAO , DUH.

          • Seems like your chugging to many bud lights Sixpack. Or is it really Joe Sixpack?

            • It’s Jane Sixpack, and I don’t drink beer.

              • HUH?? Your a girl!?!?!?

                Weather rock is a real good one 🙂

          • Hey sixpack, the two red thumbs you got are from people with rocks for brains

            • Maybe we could get both of them to stand next to the barn and look out for intruders, they could just shake their heads to alert us that someone’s coming…

        • River-Rat nice weather indicators and then there’s Oregon and all that goes out the window.

          If it’s spring it will rain and spring is from February to the end of June with a little winter mixed in and maybe a few sun breaks.

          The past two days we’ve had very nice sun breaks. It a teaser to get you excited about gardening and I’ve been falling for it. I now have a bunch of starter seeds planted and the early greens in the ground.

          I like para-chord and have made a few bracelets, I have some that I braided in some wire for making a snare. When ever I go off pavement they are one of the items I take. I keep some in my rigs and on my back packs. The thing with para-chord is that it’s a preplanned item that you need to pick up and take with you and falls more into the survival gear category and not the adapt category.

      11. LIST OF TOOLS TO BUILD A CABIN

        2 axes
        2 hatchets
        crosscut saw (6 ft) and handles
        peavey, or cant hook
        sledge hammer (8 lb)
        2 steel wedges (5 lb)
        froe
        spade
        mattock
        hand saw
        rip saw
        compass saw
        brace
        auger
        3 auger bits (3/8, 3/4, 1 1/4)
        2 drill bits (1/8, 1/4)
        drawing knife
        jack plane
        framing chisel (1-1/2)
        tape line
        2 ft rule
        steel square
        pocket level to screw on square
        T-level
        plumb-bob
        chalk line
        crosscut saw file
        2 triangle files (7 in. and 6 in. slim taper)
        mill file (8 in)
        whetstone
        50 ft rope (1 in)

        • @ River-Rat
          What is a mattock?

          • A mattock is similar to a pick axe.

          • The invulnerable “mattock” is a cross of a pick on one side of the head and a 4″ usually flat/sharpened steel blade on the other.Is a great root burrower/removal toll among many other uses,is not to be confused with Matlock,a iconic tv lawyer.

        • LIST OF TOOLS TO BUILD A CABIN

          Shopsmith
          Generator
          Compressor
          Nailgun
          Beer Cooler

            • I LIKE it.

            • Pallets are wonderful!…Ive built lots of buildings and things out of them over the last few decades…oil em down good and they last as well as anything!..gittin real hard to find too…

          • Now we’re talking.

          • Dave,you missed beer to fill the cooler,you should make a notation in say the door&window schedule on plans as a reminder.You forget nails for the gun/gas for the generator ect. no big deal,tomorrow is another day.You forget the beer though when crew up in your remote cabin are with views,well,I wouldn’t want to be in your work boots!

        • When i built my cabin 40 years ago or so, i used not even half of all what you mentioned. back then no one was trying to empress. just get away.

          • OK Anon,am a bit confused(nothing new!)but empress?!

            em·press
            noun \ˈem-prəs\

            : the wife or widow of an emperor

            : a woman who rules an empire

        • How about doing it old school,,

          broad axe
          chisel
          pail

          Im just sayin

          • KULA , old school = sharp stone
            just sayin..

            • Thats real old school!
              Knew a guy in Co who built a cabin with a couple whip saws an axe, a bowl adze and some basic carpenters hand tools,, was rustic but comfortable, chink with mud and grass, roof was hand split shingles, he made doors window shutters and tables with hand sawn boards, floor was smooth stones hand set,,, about 20×20 i was amazed, this was back in 91, in my mind an original prepper!

        • A real Boy Scout knew how to build a cabin with nothing more than an axe and a whetstone to sharpen it.

      12. The end of this month I will reclaim my sanity by getting rid of my television for ever. I will adapt to being normal again.

        • Bravo! WTB maudy

          • @maudy frickett

            My TV has been gone 3 years this May 2014, Life has been a lot less distracting.

        • mind makes a good sticky note board.

        • Is my cat’s urinary tract health important?

          • It depends how you cook em

          • Yes,is very important to your cat and should be to you if you care for your cat.

          • Really, a friend tells me his cat has tourettes syndrome.

        • Will there be a “death” moment with funeral/reception at home afterwords?

        • Maudy–why wait??

          • Perhaps he is reloading and waiting for the perfect round.My guess is though he is tied to some bundled contract with a early shutdown penalty,would hope am right about first thought.

          • My television won’t let me.

        • I don’t watch mmuch tv, except for Nascar adn UFC and then we use TV for movies…love movies. We also use smart tv for home schooling purposes and Netflix for kids.

      13. tip for the day
        this is actually geared towards non-preppers, or those just beginning. number one = clean water. most don’t think about it much, but they do have a reserve. if you find yourself turning on the tap with no response, I would suggest immediately turning off incoming main water valve coming into the house. then remember the 40 to 80 gallons you have in your water heater. there should be a tap on the bottom for clearing the water heater every so often, use that for a time of need, just use it wisely.
        the reason to shut off main water valve… to stop any type of contamination.. whats in you water heater is good to go. any other thoughts on this would be welcome, I’m always open to an eye opener.

        • When the water quits, time to move. 40 gallons is only a bandaid. No water is a gaping wound and must be remedied quickly.

        • Unfortunately, I have to share my hot water tank with the mindless boob next door. I can’t count on that, unless there was a way to cut her off from it. She’s the type to wash her damn car with the last of the water….oh, woe is me…

          • Maybe use a plastic trash bag and a string

            • For what, the water or her?

          • There should be a shut off on top of the water heater. Turn it off and uses the drain at the bottom as needed. She wouldn’t have a clue as to what happened.

        • Get a water bob. They have them at Amazon. It’s a liner for your bathtub that holds 100 gallons.

          I have one of those but I also have 1500 gallons of water in my basement. That’s enough for a gallon a day for 4 people for a year.

          • For those on a tight budget with no local natural water hell,any old plastic milk jugs ect. filled with water would help in that it buys you time/same with soda bottles ect.,store a few gallons in cubby holes ect.You say rent and thus cannot have a rain water catch system or large storage every bit helps.The bob would be good for renters but remember,you hear a bad storm coming take a shower then put in place and fill that bob,even a no warning problem if filled quickly will probably catch local pressure still on system you have your own well,probably not a renter but either way learn how to tap it manually if necc.

            • Don’t store water in milk jugs. It’s dangerous. This is from ready dot gov:

              If you chose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them.

              • Hmmmm.,my hot water and soap along with a few drops of bleach in water not enuff according to ready.gov(i.e. homoland security),well,would take my risks over not having any water.Those without other options well,choice is yours.

              • Well,wash with soap and water,then a drop of bleach or two each gallon should be fine.Or,those that would rather listen to homeland security that don’t say drink soda,well,you will a bit thirsty that much quicker.

              • Those soft drink bottles leach chemicals into the water unless they are kept very cool. Had stored water in my car that tasted like benzine having been there for a month or so in summer. Better type of bottle is the kind used for tomato juice or V8. Milk jugs burn great in my woodstove though.

        • @db427….Just make sure your tank has been flushed out every year or so . As they age, sedimentation and rust will pile up at bottom of tank ……Prepp On ….mm

      14. The Army has a saying “Adapt and Overcome”. That’s the mind set, but the warrior brothers also have a skill set to complement the mind set. One of the very basic conditions is to be in good physical shape. I personally keep my EDC with items that have multiple uses. We have all heard that necessity is the mother of invention and articles like this one open up our ability to see from a different perspective.
        OK, here is my addition to the list: Screens from windows can be removed and made into a small fish/minnow trap. Can be used for food or bait for bigger game.

        • Two liter bottle minnow trap:

          Cut neck off 3/4 way up bottle

          Flip neck end and insert in bottom part

          Make 2 holes opposite through all four layers of cut end

          Tie some wire or string through both holes.

          Drop some bait in and some gravel

          Tie string to center of previous string and put trap in crick hole

          Come back later for minnies.

          If you forgot to tie off trap to rock or branch, go home, get shovel and dig some worms.

          • I used stale bread in the minnow pots to lure them in when I was a young’un.

      15. you know, there are so many uses for alcohol….

        • Alrighty then.

        • You da man 🙂

      16. Learn how to make a solar still to make clean drinking water.

        The best simplest one I’ve heard of is: dig a foot or two deep hole about 3 to 4 feet in diameter in a swampy damp area. Place a clean catch pot/ cup in the center. Stretch a sheet of clean plastic over the hole and use sticks or rocks around the edge to hold the plastic in place. Place one small stone in the center of the plastic directly over your catch pot/ cup. That stone will make it sag in the center.

        When the sun hits it, it will get warm inside and evaporate moisture in the pit, or contaminated water you poured in. Clean condensate will form on the plastic and drip into the cup. One of these can provide all the drinking water one person needs each day. It can make almost any water safe.

        Once you make one, you’ll see exactly how it works. With a bit of ingenuity they can be enlarged and even made more permanent with discarded glass pains or the plastic stretched over permanent frames.

        Water is critical to life.

        Very important. Get all your survival info in print form. During our last local disaster, the power was lost hours before the full force of the storm even arrived. Within an hour the phones were dead, and the Internet. Cellular service lasted about six more hours, then it was all gone for eleven days. Yes I had a generator, cooking tools, heat, & refrigeration, but we were isolated. There was no going to the Internet to look up a how-to article. Even that battery powered radio found few stations with power.

        As that storm closed in, it was obvious that the preparations previously made, were it! We were now on our own. Information is the number one tool after you have water.
        You can grow food with information.
        You can forage for edible plants, with information.
        You can fish, hunt and trap with information.
        You can dry or can food with information.
        But this and more information must be available to you.
        In a true SHTF situation, even if you have a library or the Internet, to actively seek survival information could make you a target.

        • But after two years of drought it’s kinda hard to find damp soil!

          • You got a point, you do need a source of dirty water to make clean from, but a solar still like this can process urine, brackish water, even naturally toxic water contaminated with things like heavy metals. That dirty water can be put into trays in the pit if the ground is too dry.

            In a total drought situation it may be necessary to pull water out of the air with a precipitator. A dehumidifier, or air conditioning unit can be rigged to pull water out of the air. It may be more practical however to relocate until the drought subsides.

          • There’s always the Bear Gryllis (sp?) option…

            • Note: Drinking your own urine is strongly not advised. A species waste products are waste products for a reason.

              Not to mention… just ew.

          • put some vegetation in the hole and it helps immensely. ANy vegetation, grass, weeds anything

          • Try watering the lawn first 🙂 lol

      17. The best folks can do right now especially those on a tight budget is think about how many different uses items you already own have with a little improvisation,or,you can be like me and when evil finally rears it’s ugly head just go down trying to take as many of the evil as you canI.I refuse when things start getting ugly sitting and watching/wondering will it continue,evil must be met head on/full steam/and start to take the battle to evil,fuck it,have just had it.That said,will have enuff patience/thought to make sure my being cannon fodder is worth it.

      18. -that line coming from Darwin, I must say he was spot on.

        Here are some other words of wisdom from beyond our years but still applicable to today and tomorrow:

        Winston S. Churchill — ‘Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.’

        He also said to ‘Never, never, never, ever give up.’
        (bottom line- You are not defeated when you lose. You are defeated when you quit.)

        Many are shrugging their shoulders and saying what can ‘I’ do against the beast? Who can oppose it? You can.

        “It is the attitude of a man that determines his altitude.”

        “If you think you can, you will. If you think you can’t, you won’t.”
        (We are our own worst enemy.)

        “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”
        (visualization of victory is paramount to success)

        “Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
        (don’t make excuses- make it happen)

        “Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit”
        (every cloud has a silver lining…but only if you look for it)

        • If you believe Darwin’s theory, homosexuality is an evolutionary dead end.

          • WHICH IS WHY THE HOMO’S AND LEZBO’S IN WASH DC WANT TO LEGALIZE 3 PARENT FAMILIES .

            ;0P

            • What’s the deal? I heard this week that some bitch married her bitch. Well, what I think I mean is some chick married her dog.

              Does this mean I can marry a chicken and have 100’s of dependents for tax purposes?

              • In case, better marry a rabbit and can then have 1000’s of dependants

                (The FSA is already dependant on you but you can’t claim them as a deduction on your 1040…)

          • That’s damn funny… Good on u Really.

        • Those are good quotes but I have to add some of my own:

          “It isn’t over until she gets the restraining order.”

          “You don’t lose until you quit–or get fired.”

        • The problem
          is not the problem.
          The problem
          is your attitude
          about the problem.

      19. Grab a backpack and make a 72 hour survival bag for your vehicle. Even if you are not out away from home, you may have to leave in a hurry. Cover the six major areas:

        Water: Bottled water for use as-is or to fill a Hydration bladder.
        Food: Ready to eat storable food items for three days per per s on.
        Energy: Fire making tools (camping matches, etc) small flashlight w/ batteries.
        Shelter: Rain gear, cold weather gear, pancho, dry set of clothes, etc.
        Security: Whatever you are comfortable and can legally carry for self defense.
        Misc: knife, paracord, plastic zip ties, pocket survival kit, first aid kit, bug spray, compass.

        • Thats a good list , my bag includes sterno and a
          Henry AR7 rifle as well .

          • Ha! I knew you weren’t telling the truth when awhile back you claimed that you lost all your guns during a canoe trip out on the lake. That Henry floats!

            • OOPS

            • Not with a 300 round mag lol

              • The ammo sank it in the box, all fixed

          • Cameo or black

        • OK, let’s say you have the 72 hour survival bag. Where do you go? If you don’t have a large stash of supplies somewhere else it won’t do much for your long term survival.

          We don’t have bugout bags. We’re bugging in. If we’re forced out of our home our survival chances drop to near 0.

          • BARN CAT, mine is to get home , i dont plan on running away. Just get home .

          • Barb Cat–I have 2 totes and another satchel of things in my car–only for an evacuation for our safety.
            Like a chemical truck turnover, etc.
            Never say never.

        • Preplan,with you except the legally carry with you,just stash well in pieces if necc.,you need it then the legally carry part is out the window.I just carry my hunting knapsack which has basics covered along with some “security”.Going out of state on road just put in appropriate extras of clothes in Mollee “Adventure Bag”!I am sick of the bug out bag phrase.

        • PrePlan, you forgot hiking boots…good ones.
          Some don’t think of those and you are NOT gonna get far in those dress shoes.

          • Jay Jay,

            I do carry hiking boots and a change of clothes, plus a lot of things that are too lengthy to post. Not that I would necessarily need it all, but when it’s time to hike home, I can discard what isn’t required for the specific task/emergency.

      20. I think I’m going to try the solar heater! Thanks Mac!

        • I have tried that solar heater trick. It wasn’t worth the effort. Nights when you needed it, there wasn’t any sun the day before to warm it up. Might do in a desert, but not in places that have cloudy winters.

        • n.o. ;0p

          A Great Redneck Campfire song.

          Hahahahahaha!

      21. Adapt to the situation at hand and survive. Well lets see if you can why dont we? Maybe give it a try this weekend and test yourself to see how you do.

        Try eating a food that disgusts you all weekend. Go to sleep but have someone or an alarm clock wake you up every 2 hours( someone has to keep guard). Shut off your power yes I know its the middle of a blizzard, well it is up here.

        Run everywhere you go, no walking. Every time you go thru a door drop and do 10 push ups. Carry 20-30 lbs on you at all times, even when you sleep.

        Use the opposite hand for everything if your a lefty tie your left hand up and vice versa, even your watch goes on the other hand.

        Never walk past a window every window must be used as an obsticle, duck, crawl, avoid detection.

        Theres a couple of suggestions for ya to just try it out and see how adaptable you are. Sucks does it not?

        • Sounds rough, but ya know I think I’m gonna try some of these. Probably not all, cause ya know I’m old and lazy, but I like a challenge.

          • Eh,camp a bit ect.I will be damned if I ruin a weekend at home while things still chugging along though,will be plenty of it sucks doesn’t it time when man made/natural disaster hit.

        • Eat all the chocolate in the house, recover from the coma, wait four hours before you get more.

      22. A potent threat of major earthquake off California’s northern coast

        http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-triple-junction-quakes-20140312,0,2124861.story#axzz2vpsyiF8q

        “If a 9.0 earthquake were to strike along California’s sparsely populated North Coast, it would have a catastrophic ripple effect.

        A giant tsunami created by the quake would wash away coastal towns, destroy U.S. 101 and cause $70 billion in damage over a large swath of the Pacific coast. More than 100 bridges would be lost, power lines toppled and coastal towns isolated. Residents would have as few as 15 minutes notice to flee to higher ground, and as many as 10,000 would perish.

        Scientists last year published this grim scenario for a massive rupture along the Cascadia fault system, which runs 700 miles off shore from Northern California to Vancouver Island.”

      23. Be adaptable to a quickly changing situation.
        I think people should be prepared for several SHTF situations that may occur back to back using up stuff that has been stored.

        Still, self protection will be paramount……..

        Be safe…….every one……

      24. Hell,just get a large knapsack,set of clothes in for season/a multitool knife/small first aid/clean water straw3-4000 calorie bars/you then at least have options.The world ends as we know it will just take my hunting pack if folks no matter who they are killing/abusing people,will have no govt. issued license to hunt then,doubt I will need/last more then 72 hours with this attitude butas I have said before,am OK with that.

      25. Since the majority of americans are clueless, uneducated, easily led astray, it would seem the only thing they will (make) will be a mess in their pants. Hysteria will prevail, and then massive theft, looting, burning, etc. For most it will be a painful and terrifying end. Sorry, I call them as I see them!!

        • If the pooper is a vegan/vegetarian, they could always take the poop out of their shorts, mix with grass, dry it, then burn it for fuel = adapt.

      26. Only Kalifornia would parole Manson murder, sell pot, be broke, moon shine for a gov., have Feinstein bitch about NSA spying on “her”, Pelosi and expect the rest of the country to buy their world. F.U.

        Happy Cows… Fruit & nuts You need water?

      27. I was once surrounded by 10 horny bikers. They wanted to have their way with me. I threw my blond wig on the smallest biker and we had our way with him. That’s adapting!

        • Nuts! Did you have a Viagra prescription?

          • Shirley, taquila. Same thing.

            • Don’t call me Shirley.

              • “Picked a bad day to stop drinking”

              • I think one of the funniest scenes in that movie was the full body condom scene

      28. I like the idea of converting a washing machine motor to generate power. But after watching the vid , it seems a little to complex for me.
        BUT , I think maybe a car alterator would do the same ?

        • SOME washing machine motors are DC and could be made to generate DC, but there is usually a controller in that circuit. Not sure you could figure out the controller to get the power. The controllers are what usually fails in the first place.

          • THAT is the truth. Motors without commutators aqnd brushes will last almost forever, it’s the solid state electronics that die.

            And I suspect that those “DC” motors ain’t really DC, they’re 3-phase AC permanent magnet motors that would need some way to rectify the output if you wanted to use it to charge batteries. Better to start with a car alternator which has the diodes built in.

        • Your correct hammerhead.

      29. Tools and hardware.

        Straight slot screwdriver
        Philips #2
        Claw Hammer.
        Vise grips.
        Chisel
        Brace drill.
        Torque tips with holder/adapter.
        Cresent wrench.
        Small metal awl.
        Wire cutters
        Channel lock pliers.
        Needle nose plies.
        Small wire brush.

        Nuts, bolts, screws, nails, washers of all sizes.

        You need this stuff to build stuff.

        • You need multiples. Things tend to get misplaced and ware out.

        • Great list….. here’s another thought I acted on – already had a full set of DeWalt’s 18 v. power tools (drill, saw, impact, etc.), so I bought extra batteries, a small solar panel with adapters and the stuff to charge the batteries. I tested the solar set-up and it works very well. Nothing at all wrong with having all the hand tools but the power tools are quicker getting the job done.

          • Do the same thing. Can charge all cordless tools with solar.

      30. IF this is correct:

        http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914904579434653903086282?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304914904579434653903086282.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

        Then the Malaysan airline is sitting in some hangar and there are 200+ hostages. Look at the arc of this map, Pakistan is in it. I say they should also be looking at east Africa, the Middle East especially Yemen, and the Philippines.

        IF they find no debris then besides the bizarre explanations, this is the most logical reason why the airline has disappeared. Terrorists waiting to use the airplane in a terror attack and perhaps use the hostages for blackmail and/or ransom.

        • I read yesterday that they are calling for a 9 off the coast of N. California. Your expertise is better than any article. Just wonder what you make of it?

          • @ Shootit. There is a danger of the Cascadia fault going off. The 6.9 and then the 5 pointer does show some tension building on the southern Juan De Fuca plate. I am still saying Alaska and the Aleutian Islands is much more prone to a 9. In fact the Aleutians are capable of a super mega quake that of the Chile 1960 one that was 9.5, or a little larger. The precursor quakes are showing previous major quakes aimed at the Alaska area. The Pacific Northwest in the past 12 precursor quakes have shown 3 pervious major quakes in the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver Islands region.

            The precursor quakes are pointing to something bigger than normal. The spring time yields larger earthquakes also. I am looking at the northern Australian plate big time from Indonesia to Samoa, even including India, China, and Burma region. I am very concerned about Central, South America, and the Caribbean. I actually think Southern California is in more danger than Washington and Oregon. As more precursor quakes occur, it should become clearer. The strange quake yeserday on the northern Antarctic plate had 6 previous major quakes in the past. Caspian Sea, Tiawan, Mynamr, Vanautu, Andreanof Islands, Alaska, and Java. I have been watching this very closely. Again, yes there is a danger until about March 25.

            • Did you used to, or currently still do, hangout on survivalistboards?

              • @ BJ. Huh? I comment on this site period. I am just like everyone else looking for answers with this about the Malaysan airlines. The earthquake angle I have spent hundreds of hundreds trying to figure out how to forecast earthquakes. The theory I have about using precursor outer plate boundary earthquakes to forecast major earthquakes is accurate, about 87%, not perfect YET. I measure and plot out plate movements on a three dimnesional line using a globe to try to narrow down where the next major quake is cooming. I don’t understand what you are saying “hanging out” on survivalist boards.

                • I was just curious, because your posts remind of a few different people that posted a lot on survivalist boards when I hung out there.

                  Not sure why your so defensive about it?

                  • @ BJ. Not defensive, I was also just curious because I was wondering whom out there was thinking like I do. Really, I just didn’t understand.

        • Somali pirates take to the air instead of shipping lanes?

      31. water filters? forget such, you need to know how to dig a well to groundwater, how to do that easily and efficiently, how to read the ground to know where ground water will be a metre or so below and having sufficient water already on hand till you have accomplished this. a permanent supply from a small well , good pure water better than from any filter, and if you feed murky water through a filter in no time it will clog to a trickle and stink. even tap water from Adelaide, south australia is enough to stench out a resin ion or carbon cartridge within 5 days of use so what would more sediment laden water do to filter cartridges etc. Dig a well in the right ground and you’ll have it dug in 12 hours and gallons of fresh water every day thereafter except in summer the water table drops so you need to be ready for that too as well as have the right gear to easily dig as well as having experience in this work , the average guy cant dig or shovel for more than five minutes or his hands be full of blisters and his tongue hanging out of breath.

        • Be careful there. Just because water comes out of a well doesn’t not mean it’s safe to drink. Ask me how I know that…

          If nothing else keep some gallon zip locks or clear plastic bottles of around 16 ounces. Fill with water and put in the sun for 6+ hours, more if the sun is weak. The UV rays will kill the organisms. It won’t do anything about contaminants.

          If you suspect the water is chemically contaminated then a distiller is your most readily available option although that’s not 100% either. If the chemicals volatilize at the same or less temperature than the water does for your altitude then you’re just distilling them right back into your end result for no gain other than killing any bio contaminants swimming around in it.

        • Water table on the Ogallala Aquifer is dropping like Obama’s approval ratings. It is now 1500 feet+for a well in the rolling plains of Texas.

      32. My idea is to try and have at least two of everything. The old saying 2 is 1 and 1 is none. All the above items are good to have or to use.

        With what is coming if you don’t adapt you will not survive. When TSHTF we will go from the 21 Century to the 19th Century in about 3 days or less.

        If you don’t have any idea how to make a camp and where to make it. You might want to learn today. Don’t wait for tomorrow, it will be too late. A lot of what you are going to have to do is like camping out. I know this is making this sound too easy but it is the easiest way for me to explain it.

        I know most of us here have stuff to last for month if not years, but if you start in thinking you will only use this stuff and thing will get better and you will have a chance to go back to normal life PLEASE DON’T.
        Start right away thinking that you are almost out of everything and start to improvise and adapt.

        Water,. Food, Fire, Shelter, Protection. The big 5. If you can figure out a way to have them all the time you will be OK.

        When TSHTF happens. I Pray that God gives you the Wisdom of Solomon!

        AIM SMALL MISS SMALL
        Sgt.

        • On a side note,just read EP Armory was also raided though now allowed to reopen,so fucking nice of the govt.I believe the whole Ct. thing along with declining economy has brought out 80% builders to a point govt. worried.That said,shut all 80% businesses tomorrow with #D printing and plans all over the net mirrored that horse left the barn ages ago.

      33. To all White shtf plan community! “Diversity means white Genocide”Its time to stand up and do SOMETHING before its too late. Get behind the THE WHITE MAN MARCH !! March 15 th in whatever capacity you can.
        I will try to link to the video. Watch it and respond. I f it is lost in moderation go to rense.com and look under the heading white man march.

        • Eh am not really white,kind of a beige color that darkens in warmer weather,really the only white people would be albinos I believe.

      34. Another HACK write pushing a personal agenda, who by the way……….. owns website to make money.

        Its about on par with crazy Daisys.

        censor censor censor…. look at all in moderation… take time from my day on bogus shit….
        censor censor censor

        • She may be crazy but she’s mine.

          Come home.

          • Daisy is crazy and a liar.
            Daisy writes herself a selfie book ànd bills herself as an organic farmer!!!

            did she just go out and remake herself all over again?
            crazy Daisy. Who is she really?

      35. “That’s the good thing about being president. I can do whatever I want.”
        -President Obama

        He ignores the Presidential oath…
        The Presidential oath: “I shall faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States” and “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

        Obama threatens vetoes of bills requiring him to follow the law

        “The American people deserve to know exactly which laws the Obama administration is refusing to enforce and why.”

        Washington Examiner

      36. Google, China, The NSA, And The Fourth Turning

        “The world is not sliding, but galloping into a new transnational dystopia. This development has not been properly recognized outside of national security circles.

        It has been hidden by secrecy, complexity and scale. The internet, our greatest tool of emancipation, has been transformed into the most dangerous facilitator of totalitarianism we have ever seen…”

        Zerohedge

      37. In short, be MacGyver!

      38. For those trying to “deprogramme or deschool” the kids

        I came across this educational resource the other day, and had an “aha” moment.

        http://www.windmillweb.co.uk/KIDSTUFF/index.html

        It’s an old fashioned electronics correspondence course for children that encourages independent thought, and encourages the budding creative inventor. It lasts a year and children get a mystery parcel every months containing a project.

        It will appeal to every child who has ever thought “how does that work?”, followed by “what can I make/do with that?”. OR every parent who wants to foster that essential survival skill in their offspring.

        An ideal antidote for the spoonfed igeneneration methinks. A great practical course for homeschoolers or schooled children alike, as it teaches how to learn rather than just absorb the indoctrination like a good lil sheep.

        Just thought I’d throw it in here. It’s a British product but they ship to the US and Canada. It’s more than I usually like to pay for a resource, but on this one occasion, I think it’s worth the investment.

        I’m on a constant hunt for genuinely useful educational resources and would appreciate it if other homeschoolers could also point to useful stuff as and when they come across them.

        Since I’ve thrown out a high cost idea, I’m gonna balance it with a free one. amblesideonline.org is a great source of free quality classic literature that is listed by age/grade suitability for homeschoolers. We find both the booklist and free e-books incredibly useful.

      39. another key item – buy a small lathe and learn to use it – get a little 500$ guy from harbor freight or grizzly. you can make or fix ANYTHING with a lathe. while waiting for the apocalypse get some stuff rigged up to run it off human, water or wind power in case of electricity failure. it’s a fun and easy tool to use.

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