Preppers R Us

realitykeeper

This thread is intended to discuss the merits of self sufficiency. Also, any preppers with ideas or suggestions about self sufficiency and general prepping for doomsday type scenarios please post here.

To get things started, here are my observations on foraging vs gardening. Each spring/summer time for the past few years I have tried my hand at foraging from nature. It eventually dawned on me that foraging just won`t cut it in a time of extreme scarcity. I have therefore started planting fruit trees, berry bushes and a vegetable plot. Obviously in cities there is not a lot of nature to forage from but even in the countryside, you can grow far more on an 8th of an acre than you could hope to gather by foraging the surrounding area.

A small garden cannot provide all your food needs but in a time of economic depression, it could make the difference between starvation and sufficiency.

Reliance on the water and electricity grid also makes one vulnerable. For example, if an economic depression, war, natural disaster or trade war were to prevent the importation of oil, people would either have to generate their own electricity/drill their own water well or go without. Same goes for food. Ireland is unnecessarily reliant on imported veg and fruit when so much of it could be grown here as a safeguard against disaster. Am I wrong?

Your Face

realitykeeper wrote: »

Am I wrong?

yes

Obi_Wan_Kenobi

I have always been interested in this , and how to survive for minimal expense in the wild.
I have a fantasy where I just feck off and move to a cabin in Alaska.

Of course this looks attractive now, but I'd say winters up in Alaska would just have me do a James Woods and say FFFUUUCCCCKKKK THIS !!!

umop episdn

I hated can't cook, won't cook... never wanted to be a green prepper

weisses

A whole forum exists on how to make tinfoil hats, and tips how to live in that reality

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1514

Chaos Tourist

Doomsday type scenarios? I don't think I'd want to be alive in a post apocalyptic world. That sounds grim. So maybe keep a few cyanide pills handy.

PokeHerKing

weisses wrote:

A whole forum exists on how to make tinfoil hats, and tips how to live in that reality

Yes wars, famines and economic depressions. Stuff of make believe.

weisses

PokeHerKing wrote: »

Yes wars, famines and economic depressions. Stuff of make believe.

2012 has past ... No need for shelters in missile silos .... etc, Nothing wrong with having a veg plot though

realitykeeper

Chaos Tourist wrote: »

Doomsday type scenarios? I don't think I'd want to be alive in a post apocalyptic world. That sounds grim. So maybe keep a few cyanide pills handy.

... but some people have responsibilities so that would not be an option. Besides, suicide is a sin.

Seth Brundle

realitykeeper wrote: »

A small garden cannot provide all your food needs but in a time of economic depression, it could make the difference between starvation and sufficiency.

I find having fruit trees and bushes allows me to just about keep going in those dark times when Tesco is closed!

Franz Von Peppercorn

If any major economic disaster happens then most of us are doomed. If society collapses we are doomed. What you need in those situations is not to be a good scavenger or gardener but belong to a gang with better guns or better weaponry than the other guys so you can raid them, a la the vikings or control then a la the Normans.

kneemos

Bugs,birds,fish,plenty of rabbits,cows,deer,the whole place is a virtual open air Buffett.

Alf Veedersane

kneemos wrote: »

Bugs,birds,fish,plenty of rabbits,cows,deer,the whole place is a virtual open air Buffett.

utyh2ikcq9z76b

Well after the recent snowmaggedon, it's doesn't take long to disrupt the food system, 2 weeks without delivery for any reason and the shelves would be bare. They were bulldozing shops and looting 4 days in, imagine 2 or 3 weeks without supplies.

realitykeeper

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

If any major economic disaster happens then most of us are doomed. If society collapses we are doomed. What you need in those situations is not to be a good scavenger or gardener but belong to a gang with better guns or better weaponry than the other guys so you can raid them, a la the vikings or control then a la the Normans.

but the more raiders (vs growers) you have, the less there is to raid. Besides, pillaging is a sin.

corner of hells

Mathew Large Snot wrote: »

Well after the recent snowmaggedon, it's doesn't take long to disrupt the food system, 2 weeks without delivery for any reason and the shelves would be bare. They were bulldozing shops and looting 4 days in, imagine 2 or 3 weeks without supplies.

I think you'll find the defence of those young men will contend they were looking at life from a doomsday scenario when they bulldozed that shop.

Wanderer78

realitykeeper wrote:

but the more raiders (vs growers) you have, the less there is to raid. Besides, pillaging is a sin.

I'm not sure if starving people would care too much about sinning

realitykeeper

kneemos wrote: »

Bugs,birds,fish,plenty of rabbits,cows,deer,the whole place is a virtual open air Buffett.

Yes, during Argentina`s economic crisis, people hijacked trucks carrying animals and slaughtered the pigs on the street. People who had been middle class had to look for food in the city dump. On the other hands, other Argentines took to producing something in order to barter it. That is a source of hope. Ireland produces far more meat than it can consume (which would present a difficulty if the system of trade were to be impeded for any reason). Also, distributing and preserving meat would be a challenge if oil imports are disrupted for more than a few months. The Irish cannot live on meat alone, most fruit and veg are imported.

realitykeeper

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I'm not sure if starving people would care too much about sinning

Perhaps not but stealing is still a sin.

wexie

Obi_Wan_Kenobi wrote: »

I have always been interested in this , and how to survive for minimal expense in the wild.
I have a fantasy where I just feck off and move to a cabin in Alaska.

Of course this looks attractive now, but I'd say winters up in Alaska would just have me do a James Woods and say FFFUUUCCCCKKKK THIS !!!

Yeah if you're going to do something like that I'd suggest perhaps doing it somewhere you're not likely to be snowed in and frozen 6 months of the year.

Wanderer78

realitykeeper wrote:

Perhaps not but it is still a sin.

I'm not getting at what you're saying?terms such as 'sin' are only truly used to strike fear into society, they are effectively meaningless, particularly in this context, people would do almost anything to stay alive in such an extreme situation, even murder.

JohnnyFlash

I heard a few sniffs of it makes you high for about 30 seconds and causes your butthole to relax.

Benjamin Buttons

realitykeeper wrote: »

Perhaps not but stealing is still a sin.

"Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death forever."

—John 8:51

corner of hells

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

I heard a few sniffs of it makes you high for about 30 seconds and causes your butthole to relax.

Erm , are you in the right thread ?

corner of hells

corner of hells wrote: »

Erm , are you in the right thread ?

Preppers / Poppers

This thread inspired me to go through OP's other threads.. What a trip.

corner of hells

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Preppers / Poppers

Oh , sweet Jesus.

J Mysterio

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Should open an underground restaurant and call it Warren Buffet.

Twenty Grand

You can't live off the land anymore

Impossible since near every acre is farmland.

Prepping is all well and good but if you're not well-armed you're just providing for someone else.

Feisar

It doesn't have to be a TEOTWAWKI type situation. One should have enough resources to survive for three days without outside help. I.E. have enough food and water to survive. Like look at the run we had on bread and milk after a shake of snow!

AlphabetCards

Aye, in every war and conflict, targeting civilians and disrupting an economy have been the primary method of bringing an end to conflict. The cyber wars that will inevitably take place will involve countries targeting their enemies means of providing their citizens with running water, distributing food and providing continuous gas/electricity services. Couple that with everything else that is on the IoT, we will have a Clausewitz-sequel situation of imposing ones will on the enemy.... The citizenry of a country will rip each other to shreds in an attempt to survive - all without the enemy country flying a single drone overhead, or putting a single boot on the ground. If the enemy play their cards right, they could play enough games so that the citizens blame their own government, and welcome the intervention of enemy forces as benevolent overlords.

So yeah, I reckon prepping and the knowledge of living by independent means is a vital set of skills.

As you can see, I'm ever the optimist

Alf Veedersane

realitykeeper wrote: »

Perhaps not but stealing is still a sin.

The Bible also said 'man cannot live on bread alone' and storm Emma proved otherwise.

Are we allowed to quote posts from other forums on here? My jaw is on the floor reading OP's prior posts.

Benjamin Buttons

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

The Bible also said 'man cannot live on bread alone' and storm Emma proved otherwise.

Check and mate.

The lack of bread wasn't the main problem generally, it was the lack of Brennans bread specifically.

John 6:51

"I am the living Brennans bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this Brennans bread, he will live forever; and the Brennans bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."

realitykeeper

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I'm not getting at what you're saying?terms such as 'sin' are only truly used to strike fear into society, they are effectively meaningless, particularly in this context, people would do almost anything to stay alive in such an extreme situation, even murder.

Very well, stealing, murder etc are wrong (if you don`t like the word sin). One of the advantages of prepping is that if a worst case scenario were to arise, you would not necessarily have to choose between doing what is wrong or going hungry, in order to survive. Also, if everyone steals and nobody produces, that is a zero sum game.

Outlaw Pete

Careful of the wild potatoe seeds.

Chris.

realitykeeper

Twenty Grand wrote: »

You can't live off the land anymore

Impossible since near every acre is farmland.

True but even it that were not the case, it very difficult to get enough food from nature. A good unspoiled stretch of seashore would be your best chance of getting a square meal. However, if hoards of people tried foraging from the seashore, there would not be enough to go around. Prepping leaves less to chance.

Graces7

Interesting.

I lived many years on a North Sea island with a goat for milk and cheese, hens, geese, ducks for eggs and a very large vegetable garden. Baked all my own bread etc and kept stocked with all that was needed. Mainland shopping once a month;they delivered.

Now I am on a small offshore island and again keeping stocks carefully and starting "foraging"' ; there will be wild fruit in abundance and locals eat winkles and mussels,, and I need to find which kinds of seaweed are edible.

Some vegetables already.

And am stocking now week by week for the winter; everything I cannot get or do without. An islander who does not do this is a pain in the unowot! We get cut off frequently and unpredictably in autumn through late spring

When I was first here I was 5 months with no electricity and I managed fine. Solid fuel stove ie turf

It is about sensible organisation. Knowing that there are many things you cannot forage for.

Not going all gung ho about it and overidealising

I love it... and next year will grow more..

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

weisses wrote: »

A whole forum exists on how to make tinfoil hats, and tips how to live in that reality

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1514

The problem with the internet is that anybody can post their opinion, no matter how ignorant or naive it may be.

preparing for the unforeseen is quite a smart move and to consider that your needs will be always be provided by others if there happens to be an emergency, is incredibly naive irresponsible.

A bit of snow hit Ireland and people acted like the world was about to end. Mostly from those who live day to day. Laughable really.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Ayla Slimy Clarinet wrote: »

The problem with the internet is that anybody can post their opinion, no matter how ignorant or naive it may be.

preparing for the unforeseen is quite a smart move and to consider that your needs will be always be provided by others if there happens to be an emergency, is incredibly naive irresponsible.

A bit of snow hit Ireland and people acted like the world was about to end. Mostly from those who live day to day. Laughable really.

Even if you don’t live day to day you can best live week to week. If civilisation breaks down most people are doomed. Grace has a chance on her island but not much.

Graces7

Ayla Slimy Clarinet wrote: »

The problem with the internet is that anybody can post their opinion, no matter how ignorant or naive it may be.

preparing for the unforeseen is quite a smart move and to consider that your needs will be always be provided by others if there happens to be an emergency, is incredibly naive irresponsible.

A bit of snow hit Ireland and people acted like the world was about to end. Mostly from those who live day to day. Laughable really.

Well said! By autumn I will have enough to last at least three months for myself, the cats and the dogs,, And preserves galore.

In a small setting you do have that responsibilty also to your neighbours .. Yes they would always help but far better to be prepared .

I have made ONE major mistake here and that was running out of gas, and the big grins on faces were a sight to behold..

Feisar

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Even if you don’t live day to day you can best live week to week. If civilisation breaks down most people are doomed. Grace has a chance on her island but not much.

"On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero" to quote Fight Club.

What I'm saying is eventually society will collapse so no harm in trying to be ready. Now the fantasy of heading to the woods to thrive on the fat of the land is exatly that, pure fantasy. Miost of us will perish but no harm in being as ready as possible.

And maybe it won't be the end of the world, maybe the grid will be down for just a few months. It'd be good to have the structures in place to survive that.

Graces7

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Even if you don’t live day to day you can best live week to week. If civilisation breaks down most people are doomed. Grace has a chance on her island but not much.

You know not whereof you speak!

The people of this island not only survived the Famine but were able to support mainland communities with the crops they grew. We have fuel .food, water, and can go on indefinitely . A simple life such as was lived here in the past.

Bees for honey already... renewable food sources of sea and land.

We live season by season. The men are out turfcutting and hay making, and livestock renews itself

Alf Veedersane

Graces7 wrote: »

You know not whereof you speak!

The people of this island not only survived the Famine but were able to support mainland communities with the crops they grew. We have fuel .food, water, and can go on indefinitely . A simple life such as was lived here in the past

Yeah but if the reason for us having to be self sufficient is a war resulting in the island being bombed, you'd need more than an alternative to le spud to survive....

Graces7

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Yeah but if the reason for us having to be self sufficient is a war resulting in the island being bombed, you'd need more than an alternative to le spud to survive....

No one mentioned bombs?

Who would bomb us out here? Nowhere near any strategic sites or towns or even villages..

You are stretching reality to suit your arguments..

Actually too we were spared the Blight here ..

Alf Veedersane

Graces7 wrote: »

No one mentioned bombs?

Who would bomb us out here? Nowhere near any strategic sites or towns or even villages..

You are stretching reality to suit your arguments..

Actually too we were spared the Blight here ..

War was mentioned in the OP. They'd probably bomb there to send a message: you survived the famine but not us.

That's how I'd roll anyway

Graces7

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

War was mentioned in the OP. They'd probably bomb there to send a message: you survived the famine but not us.

That's how I'd roll anyway

Then it makes no sense to talk re preppers as that is not what prepping is about. A pity as it was getting interesting until that .

Feisar

So that's my three day kit, fairly minimalist however I've something to sleep on/in/under, grub, the ability to boil water and chlorine tabs if I can't.

I went out for a few nights a year back and brought the kitchen sink, the above is the refinement of that. It's lacking First Aid I know, that's something I need to add and also gain some skills in that area.

J Mysterio

Graces7 wrote: »

No one mentioned bombs?

Who would bomb us out here? Nowhere near any strategic sites or towns or even villages..

You are stretching reality to suit your arguments..

Actually too we were spared the Blight here ..

Where is 'here'?

wexie

J Mysterio wrote: »

Where is 'here'?

1937 I think