Fall and winter preps

[TheGrey]

Hi guys,

How is everyone doing? I'd like to start a discussion of what people are doing to prepare for fall and winter. As bizarre as this year has been so far, we could be dealing with more possibilities of civil unrest (although I have no idea what it might look like,) odd weather patterns (apparently the Sahara Dust storm is particularly bad this year,) a second bout of the pandemic, food prices rising, ammo prices rising, possible meat shortages, and possible fire danger going into the fall.

Is anyone doing anything different this year? I've been canning much more this year, and I discovered that pickled vegetables are pretty good.

[ray1970]

I will be as unprepared as I typically am.

Maybe you should adopt me.

[TheGrey]

I will be as unprepared as I typically am.

Maybe you should adopt me.

We'll draw up he papers in the morning. Have you had all your shots?

[ray1970]

We'll draw up he papers in the morning. Have you had all your shots?

Yep. Pretty sure I got all of my immunizations before I started school back around 1975 so I should be good to go.

On a serious note regarding the original topic, what sort of stuff should I be stocking up on right now?

[TheGrey]

Yep. Pretty sure I got all of my immunizations before I started school back around 1975 so I should be good to go.

On a serious note regarding the original topic, what sort of stuff should I be stocking up on right now?

Well, this is an extremely bizarre year thus far. I've gone to the store and seen no meat, so I've been stocking up what I can when I find it. Do you know any ranchers? Befriend them and get on their purchase lists for butchering their livestock- it's more expensive, but meat prices may remain elevated. Dairy- many cheeses can be frozen. Eggs are another thing. Did you know that you can freeze eggs? I have small ziploc containers that will hold 2 and 4 large eggs; I just crack them and scramble the whites and the yolks, and put them in the freezer. I also have 2 gallons of milk in the freezer; freezing it does no harm and upon thawing in the fridge, you just give it a good shake and it's good to go. Toilet paper, of course.

I've also been stocking up on cold meds, allergy meds, stomach meds/antacids.

Comfort foods, snacky stuffs, beverages for cold weather. Soups. Soaps. Good lord, Dawn dishsoap was a rare commodity for a while. Hydrogen peroxide. Isopropyl alcohol. Yeast. Flour and baking supplies. Even if you don;t use some of this stuff, I guarantee that you know someone who does. PET SUPPLIES. Man, Chewy was over a month behind on standing orders back in April and May. Stock up now on kibble or litter or whatever your furry buddy needs. If there's a whiff of COVID, I suspect there will be less hesitation to close everything down again. I SO hope I'm wrong.

Gardening stuff- if you're like us, we've started gardening (along with the entirety of western civilization, it seems) and have run into shortages there, too. As seeds and various soils and fertilizers come back in stock, grab them so you're not hampered early next year in February and March if you start seed indoors.

Holiday stuff. Try and get your holiday gifts and decor/foods/traditional things now- remember how Amazon limited what they would ship immediately? How Walmart was pretty much your only choice for purchases, unless you wanted to count on inconsistent shipping?

I know. It sounds like the sky is falling, right? This is just my list. And what I've seen of how this whole thing was handled has me relying on myself to take care of us, because our "authority figures" are far too busy virtue signalling to actually be stringing together the thoughts of every action resulting in reactions. I'm seeing that these reactions are having ripple effects that will take quite some time to smooth out.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well, this is an extremely bizarre year thus far. I've gone to the store and seen no meat, so I've been stocking up what I can when I find it. Do you know any ranchers? Befriend them and get on their purchase lists for butchering their livestock- it's more expensive, but meat prices may remain elevated. Dairy- many cheeses can be frozen. Eggs are another thing. Did you know that you can freeze eggs? I have small ziploc containers that will hold 2 and 4 large eggs; I just crack them and scramble the whites and the yolks, and put them in the freezer. I also have 2 gallons of milk in the freezer; freezing it does no harm and upon thawing in the fridge, you just give it a good shake and it's good to go. Toilet paper, of course.

I've also been stocking up on cold meds, allergy meds, stomach meds/antacids.

Comfort foods, snacky stuffs, beverages for cold weather. Soups. Soaps. Good lord, Dawn dishsoap was a rare commodity for a while. Hydrogen peroxide. Isopropyl alcohol. Yeast. Flour and baking supplies. Even if you don;t use some of this stuff, I guarantee that you know someone who does. PET SUPPLIES. Man, Chewy was over a month behind on standing orders back in April and May. Stock up now on kibble or litter or whatever your furry buddy needs. If there's a whiff of COVID, I suspect there will be less hesitation to close everything down again. I SO hope I'm wrong.

Gardening stuff- if you're like us, we've started gardening (along with the entirety of western civilization, it seems) and have run into shortages there, too. As seeds and various soils and fertilizers come back in stock, grab them so you're not hampered early next year in February and March if you start seed indoors.

Holiday stuff. Try and get your holiday gifts and decor/foods/traditional things now- remember how Amazon limited what they would ship immediately? How Walmart was pretty much your only choice for purchases, unless you wanted to count on inconsistent shipping?

I know. It sounds like the sky is falling, right? This is just my list. And what I've seen of how this whole thing was handled has me relying on myself to take care of us, because our "authority figures" are far too busy virtue signalling to actually be stringing together the thoughts of every action resulting in reactions. I'm seeing that these reactions are having ripple effects that will take quite some time to smooth out.

Holiday stuff for us is a non- entity.

As for everything else. Have 1/2 a hog at the processing place this weekend, should see that end of july. 1 lamb on order, expected date for that is mid sept, to early oct. We've already been stocking up on canned goods, dehydrated items and ALWAYS checking before purchase EXPIRATION DATES.
Here's a thought for canned items as well as say pastas, etc. Look for a non, working refrigerator, they make great dry storage units. Keeps vermin out as well as semi controlled climate w/out no electricity.

Finally got a small 8500w running generator w/ electric start. Wired in to panel with an A/B switch. It's nothing that will power a whole house, just enough to power the well and keep the freezers & frige's going.

We keep 2 bags of dog food on hand, in plastic containers with lockable lids

Regarding ammo. I'm trying to get back to my component inventory i had when in CO.

Here's something, iirc, posted in the Mormon cannery thread. Speaking with 2 different LDS canneries. The story is the same. No date to reopen to the public, possibly sept, maybe later, if at all. I believe they've circled the wagons and decided to "Provide" for their own, until further notice .


Now food for thought. Based on talking with a few people who work for gun manufacturers GFL if there's something you want, but don't have. More orders for guns than production has coming off the line.

In CA their CCW permits are based on the whim of the CLEO. Some counties are very gun friendly, issuing permits to those who have taken a ccw class.
Tulare cty where the daughter & S-I-L live, sent her paperwork in last week. I asked what the wait time was for approval, 2-3 months.?
Um no dad we're told 5 month minimum, due to what seems to be everyone able to, applying for a permit. In CA of all places

The last item one should be concerned with is the presidential election. I doubt anyone is going to be happy with the results. As the D's have laid the groundwork that trumps already fixed the election. Thank you Joe Biden. .

Pity those living in large urban areas.

[Gman]

You'd better get clearance from a dentist beforehand.

... Or see if he has an extended warranty.

I'm still trying to grasp that it's summer already.

Is it too late to put up the Christmas lights already?

[Mazin]

You'd better get clearance from a dentist beforehand.

... Or see if he has an extended warranty.

I'm still trying to grasp that it's summer already.

Is it too late to put up the Christmas lights already?

Naw man hanging lights is what July is for.

I finally got a working deep freeze in and I'm working on filling that. Have about 100ga of water and will hopefully start working torwards a generator next month along with some more of the 3p's. I also need to stock up on some dry and canned goods but other than that im good so far......until i think of something else that is.....maybe a new winter coat (added to the list).

[Justin]

Naw man hanging lights is what July is for.

I finally got a working deep freeze in and I'm working on filling that. Have about 100ga of water and will hopefully start working torwards a generator next month along with some more of the 3p's. I also need to stock up on some dry and canned goods but other than that im good so far......until i think of something else that is.....maybe a new winter coat (added to the list).

What are the 3P's?

[HBARleatherneck]

What are the 3P's?

My math might be off, but I always went with the 6P's.

Prior planning prevents piss poor performance