After a little digression with the last couple of posts, I'd like to resume the narrative thread I began earlier, regarding the actual logistics of a hypothetical Event.
So, let's say the time has come to Bug Out. There's a lot of good advice out there about stocking your car with tools, gasoline, etc., driving in a convoy to avoid brigands, and so on. All of which is outstanding, unless the Event was of an electromagnetic nature (EMP attack), and now virtually nothing works. This is why I put bicycles on my short list! If you happen to have horses, that's great, as long as they don't get sick, hurt or hungry, and as long as the sound of thundering hooves doesn't alert every opportunist within earshot to your presence, trajectory, and destination.
Bicycles are inexpensive, quiet, require no fuel, and are relatively easy to maintain and repair. Whether you're looking to get through a massive traffic jam, roads blocked by debris, or dealing with the aftermath of an EMP, you can count on a bicycle to see you through. A couple of spare inner tubes and a hand pump, and you're pretty well set. Of course, a bicycle offers no protection against any sort of violent attack, but it's the old strength vs. speed question. Would you rather be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in your Silverado while your city comes apart at the seams, or would you rather rely on stealth and maneuverability to avoid hot spots and get the hell out of Dodge?
Don't get me wrong, cars are great, and I'd much rather drive the 170+ miles to my hideaway with family and supplies than bike there, but it seems to me that any type of cataclysmic event is likely either to render cars unusable (for any one of numerous reasons), or to put so many people on the roads that cars will turn into death traps. A few years ago, facing a major hurricane, the authorities of a Southern state ordered a mandatory evacuation of thousands of residents. Those residents dutifully piled into their cars ... and sat on the highway for hours, many of them running out of gas in standstill traffic, while the weather got worse and worse. Thankfully, the hurricane wound up losing strength and nobody got killed, but the lesson learned was that our nation's infrastructure can not accommodate mass evacuation, even for an emergency as slow-moving as a hurricane.
Now imagine what the outbound traffic in your city would look like if a suitcase bomb went off at a football game!
Anyway, let's say you manage to bicycle to the destination you've prepared, dealing with whatever weather is going on, and avoiding or fighting off looters, rapists and assorted weirdos. Now what? Let's say you have some food and supplies (and that they haven't been found and looted by anyone else). How long will they last? The answer is, not long enough! This is why it's a really great idea to take up gardening as a hobby, RIGHT NOW. Hunting is fine, as long as you know what you're doing, but I tend to think that I'd like to stay as close as possible to my family and my hideout after a major Problem, and I'd also like to keep gunfire and other attention-drawing behavior to a minimum. I like things that are quiet and inconspicuous, so I recommend that anybody who considers himself a hunter invest in a good hunting bow, and learn how to use it. Along the same principle, I recommend that absolutely everybody, regardless of age, physical condition or infirmity learn the basics of agriculture.
The more you learn about how to raise your own food under optimal conditions, the more likely you are to be able to figure out how to do it under less-than-optimal ones. Now, even dedicated survivalists can't grow more than 80%-90% of their own food (and that's with years of preparation, building up orchards, etc.), but if I have any motto it's that "Something Is Better Than Nothing." If you can make your canned food last longer by growing some veggies, then that's a success. And there are some things that you can do to make it more of a success. Here are a few:
1) Use a greenhouse. No matter where you are, or what season it is, a greenhouse will allow you to grow more produce, faster, than you could otherwise. It doesn't have to be fancy either: PVC pipe and plastic dropcloth are cheap. Put 'em together, and you've got yourself a nice, fully-scalable greenhouse. Start small - maybe a 3' or 4' cube that you can put over some freestanding containers or a shelf of seedlings. I'll post some sample pictures soon, but there are plenty of designs available online. One tip: A layer of plastic on both the inside of the frame and the outside will leave an insulating cushion of air in between that will drastically help moderate temperatures inside the structure.
2) Unless you're looking for amber waves of grain, you can grow a lot of beans, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, and assorted veggies in containers and raised beds. Furthermore, water is precious. You'll need less of it if you cultivate plants in containers or raised beds, and you'll also have less trouble with weeds.
3) Herbs aren't just for hippies. If TSHTF, there's no access to meds. But, guess what, most medicine comes from plants anyway. Herbal medicine can be slower and and less effective than commercial pharmaceuticals, but it's also gentler, surprisingly powerful, and a whole lot better than nothing. Invest in a good book on herbs - one that gives you the culinary and medicinal use of many common herbs, as well as guidance on cultivation and preparation. Find out what will grow in your area, and if you have any specific medical conditions (hypertension, angina, etc.), find out what herbs can be used to treat it, and make sure you have some of those seeds on hand. Ideally, start growing some herbs now, get used to using them, and start learning how to identify and use them.
The moral of this drill? Something is DEFINITELY better than nothing.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Gardening & Medical Supplies
As it gets closer to seed-sprouting time, I'd like to mention an outstanding book I recently purchased and read: "All New Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. The book is designed for the casual gardener, but - as his own website, http://www.squarefootgardening.com - states, the system of ultra-high efficiency agriculture that Mr. Bartholomew has developed is ideal for subsistence farming. Here's a quote from his website:
"SQUARE FOOT GARDENING
THE MOST PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS GARDEN
During a time of crisis, when we may be living on what we can produce, it will be important that gardening have the features of Square Foot Gardening:
• Easy to understand. Does not require extensive training or years of experience
Anything to make gardening easier or simpler should be done. This is especially true for beginners, but even experienced gardeners will benefit from easier methods.
• Requires much less effort; No Heavy Digging, No Tilling, Very Little Weeding
There will be much to do. Having LESS to do in the garden will really help!
• 5 times more productive than conventional gardening
Few families have enough land to be self-sustaining. Therefore, high production in a small space is needed. The Square Foot Gardening method is at least 5 times more productive in the same amount of space as conventional row gardening.
• Uses much less water - Each plant is given just enough
Water may not be flowing from the tap, and may even have to be carried long distances by hand. Using a minimum amount of water will be important.
• Uses fewer seeds. No seed goes to waste
Seeds may not be easily available. None will go to waste through over-sowing.
• Is not dependant on fertilizers. Your own compost provides the nutrients
Commercial fertilizer may not be available. Compost is renewable and sustainable.
• Does not require a tiller or other expensive tools
Gasoline to run a tiller may not be available, nor may other garden tools.
• Can be done anywhere - Soil is not an issue
Traditional gardening usually takes several years to “condition” the soil. Square Foot Gardening uses an easily prepared soil mixture that replaces “bad soil”, providing excellent results immediately.
As an essential part your preparedness program:
Learn and practice Square Foot Gardening - begin today
During a time of need, many people will be digging up their lawns to plant gardens, only to become frustrated with the results. Please don't be one of them - PREPARE NOW"
I find it interesting that a mainstream gardening author would specifically mention a "time of crisis" during which soil, water, and fertilizer may not be available for extended periods of time. Also worthy of note is that Mr. Bartholomew has started a foundation that has been successfully teaching his "Square Foot Gardening" system to people on the verge of starvation in Third World countries, to help them to supplement their diets. Definitely something worth checking out for anybody interested in growing some of their own food (which, really, should be EVERYBODY).
Earlier today, I read an old post on vikingpreparedness.blogspot.com/ regarding medical supplies. The point of the post was that anyone who thinks having 10,000 rounds of ammo is a good idea needs to consider that if you were actually to need that ammunition, somebody else is likely to be shooting at you, and you should have an appropriately scaled cache of medical supplies. I agree completely, and I recommend purchasing some supplies from www.med101store.com. Unlike other medical wholesalers - who offer thousands of items at decent, but not great, prices - med101store only offers the most frequently needed, quickly used items (bandages, gauze, tape), at extremely deep discounts. For example, a roll of cohesive bandage will cost you about $5 at your local pharmacy. On med101store, you can buy a case of 36 rolls for $25. They also offer free shipping to business addresses, which is nice if you don't mind having stuff sent to your office, and they'll ship to residential addresses for a small flat rate ($3.95, I think).
By the way, I have no affiliation with any product, service, or vendor I endorse on this blog. These are all my genuine, unsolicited (and uncompensated) opinions.
"SQUARE FOOT GARDENING
THE MOST PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS GARDEN
During a time of crisis, when we may be living on what we can produce, it will be important that gardening have the features of Square Foot Gardening:
• Easy to understand. Does not require extensive training or years of experience
Anything to make gardening easier or simpler should be done. This is especially true for beginners, but even experienced gardeners will benefit from easier methods.
• Requires much less effort; No Heavy Digging, No Tilling, Very Little Weeding
There will be much to do. Having LESS to do in the garden will really help!
• 5 times more productive than conventional gardening
Few families have enough land to be self-sustaining. Therefore, high production in a small space is needed. The Square Foot Gardening method is at least 5 times more productive in the same amount of space as conventional row gardening.
• Uses much less water - Each plant is given just enough
Water may not be flowing from the tap, and may even have to be carried long distances by hand. Using a minimum amount of water will be important.
• Uses fewer seeds. No seed goes to waste
Seeds may not be easily available. None will go to waste through over-sowing.
• Is not dependant on fertilizers. Your own compost provides the nutrients
Commercial fertilizer may not be available. Compost is renewable and sustainable.
• Does not require a tiller or other expensive tools
Gasoline to run a tiller may not be available, nor may other garden tools.
• Can be done anywhere - Soil is not an issue
Traditional gardening usually takes several years to “condition” the soil. Square Foot Gardening uses an easily prepared soil mixture that replaces “bad soil”, providing excellent results immediately.
As an essential part your preparedness program:
Learn and practice Square Foot Gardening - begin today
During a time of need, many people will be digging up their lawns to plant gardens, only to become frustrated with the results. Please don't be one of them - PREPARE NOW"
I find it interesting that a mainstream gardening author would specifically mention a "time of crisis" during which soil, water, and fertilizer may not be available for extended periods of time. Also worthy of note is that Mr. Bartholomew has started a foundation that has been successfully teaching his "Square Foot Gardening" system to people on the verge of starvation in Third World countries, to help them to supplement their diets. Definitely something worth checking out for anybody interested in growing some of their own food (which, really, should be EVERYBODY).
Earlier today, I read an old post on vikingpreparedness.blogspot.com/ regarding medical supplies. The point of the post was that anyone who thinks having 10,000 rounds of ammo is a good idea needs to consider that if you were actually to need that ammunition, somebody else is likely to be shooting at you, and you should have an appropriately scaled cache of medical supplies. I agree completely, and I recommend purchasing some supplies from www.med101store.com. Unlike other medical wholesalers - who offer thousands of items at decent, but not great, prices - med101store only offers the most frequently needed, quickly used items (bandages, gauze, tape), at extremely deep discounts. For example, a roll of cohesive bandage will cost you about $5 at your local pharmacy. On med101store, you can buy a case of 36 rolls for $25. They also offer free shipping to business addresses, which is nice if you don't mind having stuff sent to your office, and they'll ship to residential addresses for a small flat rate ($3.95, I think).
By the way, I have no affiliation with any product, service, or vendor I endorse on this blog. These are all my genuine, unsolicited (and uncompensated) opinions.
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