Letter - Throwing foxes into the hen house?

CJ S.
Nelson, MN     11/06/2009 9:33 AM

special lead based "disincentives" robert r ------ I going to use that Thanks

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     11/06/2009 8:50 AM

Lentils are a good storage item because they cook faster than beans and the ones at Walmart can even be sprouted for bean sprouts. I tried a few out and dang it they sprouted! There is a huge amount of fresh sprouts in a pound of lentils! A funny story, a friend was down in Texas a few years ago when they had to evacuate for a hurricane and they decided to stay instead. The lady spent several days cooking up ham, potato salad and other yummy foods (here's the good part) IN CASE THEY LOST THEIR LIGHTS. Of all the foods to have on hand in the heat with no refrigeration! LOL People don't seem to realize that no lights means no way to cook, no way to keep warm or cool and no way to keep foods cool etc. We are so out of touch with things that help us to survive that it is pathetic.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     11/06/2009 8:18 AM

Only problem with canned food is the space needed to store it and the chance that just opposite of the freezer disaster--if it freezes you have a house full of broken jars and nothing to eat. We moved into this house in 76 and for the first time in all of those years our basement froze a couple of years ago!!!!!! Never ever thought that would happen! Luckily I didn't have it full of canned food. A person needs to keep a balance. A freezer, some canned and some dehydrated. Something will survive that way, maybe. Another good way of storing many things is to reuse the 2 liter pop bottles. I fill them with sugar, salt, rice and all kinds of dried things. Keeps the mice out of it along with moisture or whatever. robert r., how many people would be eating on that 400 pounds of food and how long do you estimate it would last? The Mormon people advocate a year minimum supply of food. With the size of the families many of them have it must be quite a storage system that they work out for all of that food. Another use for all of those grocery bags is to save them in a plastic bucket to be used if a whole family gets sick at the same time and an extra biffy or two is needed or for sick sacks.

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Kay P.
Eagle Bend, MN     11/05/2009 11:54 PM

Love the topic at hand...ways to survive without power. About two years ago, my freezer went haywire, and I didn't notice it for over a week. I lost a significant amount of frozen veggies and probably the worst was the venison and 1/4 beef, and a few pork loins that I hade managed to stockpile. I WAS SICK to think of all that money wasted because I put all my "eggs" in one storage basket. I don't freeze much food anymore, if I do, it's only short term until I either use it or thaw it for canning. It goes in jars. Canned foods don't need a fridge or freezer, and it doubles as a way to either stretch a food budget (like getting 7 meals out of a 10 lb Turkey for a big family), or being able to use tough but leaner cuts and let the processing of the canner take the tough out. I own two pressure canners and if I ever find another on a garage sale, I am going to get it. I made quicker work of the fruits from 48 tomato plants this year because I could stagger times and keep the canners going up and down constantly. That winter of 96/97 was a bugger. We lived out on Lake Brophy...down a long drive and got snowed in twice. The first time, we had to call a payloader to scoop out the drive. 3 days later, we had run out of tp, kleenex and paper towel. That was quite a year. Here is something not mentioned...and I take them camping for the "fresh" clean feeling. Baby wipes. They can be used all over the body when shower or bathroom facilities are lacking. A huge box of the off brand is around 8 bucks. Not like they will spoil. Other good things to stockpile are dry beans, peas and rice. I fill up (recycled) big glass pickle jars and label with cooking instructions. Pasta is another calorie counter and meal stretcher, and if kept in sealed container keeps well. I keep vinegar on hand for several purposes , and also rennet, for making cheese from raw milk. I've stockpiled lots of recipes for putting away foods, making sausages, etc. I've learned a thing or two from the local Amish community. It would be fun to challenge the family to a weekend WITHOUT power, it would be like camping...at home. LOL!

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Casey O.
Kerkhoven, MN     11/05/2009 8:24 PM

lol

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robert r.
Oakton, VA     11/05/2009 8:24 PM

It's been enjoyable to check in to see the progress. To share a bit. We divide our time between a home 14miles west of the White House and one in south Florida. I would much rather be compelled to "shelter in" in temperate Virginia or even Minnesota. I've found it preferable and easier to heat rather than cool a living space. We have a full stockpile of water, food, medicines and until the digital conversion, televisions that worked. Each time I do a grocery tour I purchase one large (non-scented) candle and an MRE. (meals ready to eat). Only the MRE age dates and are "generally' good for 5-6yrs. depends how hungry you are. And speaking of Depends . . . if you house a senior with "issues" plan ahead/ And speaking of "t"issues; Costco and other box stores offer a double pack of a product for folks with hemorrhoids (not me!) Tucks, extra large wipes...with no particular shelf life. After 5-7days without bathing-as we know it-a welcome addition. We camp; we sometimes use a folding potty chair. Direct indoor application-save all those plastic bags for "you know what." toss 'em out in the snow. We have been caught in major ice storms that shut down the nation's capital for up to a week. Really. I have retained a workshop of pre-cut and fitted 2x4's and 4mm plastic sheeting that gives me the ability to downsize our lower level by retro fitting into door ways and stairs and move anyone still at home into only one room. with a large fireplace. I maintain ~7cords of wood. To recap; 50gal of water, 400lbs of mostly canned & little dried food, a can opener,5 tanks of propane (outside ONLY!) Depends, Always, tampons, TP, 6 sleeping blankets, matches, medications-a-plenty, an emergency GO-PAK with documents. We sequester small bill currency and special lead based "disincentives" to ward off persons wishing to gain access to my cave. Let 'er snow.

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Like-minded extreme right wing lemming. I.
Bushland, TX     11/05/2009 7:29 PM

LL L. - lol! That would be very bad! Thanks for the reminder. Leaves of three - let them be.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     11/05/2009 6:13 PM

Butttttttt, you better know what kind of leaves you are using or you could be in for a nasty surprise that would make skidmarks on the carpet look good!

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Like-minded extreme right wing lemming. I.
Bushland, TX     11/05/2009 6:06 PM

Casey O - Don't drag the carpet unless it is an absolute last resort. You will end up with unsightly skid marks. For now, consider leaves instead. They make an Earth friendly substitute for T.P. Algore would be so proud.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     11/05/2009 5:52 PM

I had that happen to me with my phone. Now there is an old style still hooked up on the line just in case. Cellphones aren't any good if a person can't charge them either. Person needs something that doesn't need to be cooked at all like canned baked beans, Dinty Moore stew, tuna or some such thing that can just be opened and eaten until they find the camp stove or whatever. One thing I noticed is that people that have generators don't seem to really know the massive amounts of gas they consume. To just go along running the house like normal would take a tanker truck parked in the driveway!

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