I finally got around to watching the three episodes of Doomsday Preppers that I recorded on my DVR!  What an excellent series!  If nothing else, it will serve as motivation to drive on with the work of getting prepared.  Some of those families are incredibly prepared.  They’ve developed ideal retreats.

Each episode has four different segments with a different family or group.  Most of the time is spent reviewing the preps the family has made, with the last couple of minutes spent critiquing their efforts.  At the very end, video clips are played that the preppers record a couple of months after the filming.  They talk about any modifications they’ve made since hearing their evaluations.

You can definitely do worse than these shows for information about what you need to do to become prepared.

In one episode, a guy blew most of his finger off!

I’ve been working on setting up a garden box, a.k.a. a raised bed.  I plan on posting a complete step-by-step article once I get everything completed.  But I just wanted to comment on the fact that it’s going to cost me $200-$250 dollars to fill this thing with dirt!

I used 2″x12″s to make it, so it’s a relatively simple calculation to estimate cubic feet (because it is roughly 1 foot deep).  It’s more or less 120 cubic feet.  Things that are purchased by volume for constuction are usually measured in “yards”.  This is actually cubic yards.  It takes 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft., when measured in feet, to make a single cubic yard.  That’s 27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard.  So I’ve determined I need 4.5-5 “yards” of “bedding soil” as they call it to fill the box I made.

My wife and I went price shopping yesterday.  We made another interesting discovery.  Most of the landscaping supply companies around us cater to the professional landscapers, not the do-it-yourselfer.  Most of them were actually closed yesterday (Saturday)!  We only found one open yesterday.  The price he quoted me was $38.50 per yard, and $45 to deliver.  Around $250 delivered.  I found another place on the web that quotes $33, but I don’t know if I’m close enough to them for them to deliver to me.  I’m waiting on a call back from one other place.  It’s a small, hole-in-the-wall place.  I’m hoping I can offer him like $200 to deliver.  We’ll see.

All I can say is that this thing better give me many many salads and veggie dishes for years to come!

I’ve been recording and watching a series called Addicted to Money.  It is running on WealthTV.  I’m currently only at the beginning of the second episode, but I’m really appreciating it.  Apparently it is a series dedicated to discovering and exposing the causes of the global economic crisis.  So far, it has all pointed to easy credit and massive debt, coupled with unbridled greed of the banks and the sellers of the sub-prime derivatives.

I would highly recommend watching this for a much clearer big picture perspective of what’s happened, where we are now, and with any luck, there may be good ideas about how to successfully go forward.

Never the less, shows like this make it pretty clear that those of us who have developed a prepper mind set are apparently some of clearer thinking members of society!

Until next time!

Conventional Wisdom

One of the absolute “must haves” is a knife. Not just a knife, but as many and varied as you can afford (within reason). In a worst case scenario, knives will be some of the more valuable commodities you should have on hand. I’m sure conventional wisdom would be to buy the best quality that you can afford. I guess that’s probably true, for at least the one or two on which you will always want to be able to rely. That being said, they can get pretty costly. A good basic knife, folding or straight, can easily cost $50.

The Ozark Trail Knife

I’m going to suggest something that goes a little against conventional wisdom. Stock up on as many as you can of the highest quality but cheapest priced knife that you can find. Wal-Mart sells a good pocket knife that fits the bill. It costs $1.00. It is the Ozark Trail serrated lock blade pocket knife sold in the camping section.

Ozark Trail Chinese Knife in Package

It’s got about a 3 inch stainless steel blade, with a plastic handle. I carry one everyday and it does the job for my day to day activities. The beauty of this knife is that it performs well, and is so cheap that I don’t care if it breaks or I lose it! By the way, I’ve lost 2 or 3, but haven’t ever broken one.

The other great benefit, also because of the quality and price, is that you can afford to stock up on these. In a SHTF scenario, you’ll need backups. They would also be a great barter item, and how many of your friends and family won’t have even a single knife of their own? And no, the band-aid isn’t because I cut myself!

Ozark Trail Chinese Knife In Palm

Until next time!