Posts Tagged: things everyone can do

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Do you know how…..

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

To do low tech projects?

Do you know how to construct a fence, properly?

How about make silage? Properly compost? Build an oven? A furnace? What about an outhouse?

There are thousands of things that most of us used to know how to do, at least back when we lived on producing homesteads. Some of us still do, but the majority of us have little or no idea on how to go about living without specialists. One of the hallmark concepts of preparedness is self-sufficiency, but there’s no way most of us can get exposed to the realities of living in a low tech, or no tech lifestyle without moving (and accepting the issues of living there) to a third or fourth world nation.

There are some options to learning other ways to back up our modern systems – look around your area for re-enactment societies, steam and old technology museums and projects, technical museums (aviation, automotive and the like). Visit antique stores, estate and farm sales. Pay attention, carry a notebook (or a camera like I do), and find those amazing and unique solutions to age old issues. I can guarantee you’ll find some alternate ways of doing things, and some ideas that will amaze you. Since you’re reading this on the ‘net right now, take the time to go visit some of these sites:

(and be prepared for literally thousands of pages of usable information, take the time to process some of it. Then experiment with it, and get used to being creative in problem solving…)

The CW3D list
Practical Action dot Org site

-Greg

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Posted in Greg, Preparedness, Why we Prep | 2 Comments »

Basic Preparedness Strategy

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Basic Preparedness Strategy

This is the document that I used for a recent podcast about a forming basic preparedness strategy. It was taken from a correspondence that I had with a friend of mine, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It’s only one example of how to go about creating a strategy for getting better prepared. Adjust and modify for your needs.

Start with the current analysis of what you feel is the most likely situations or events that threaten your well being and safety (see previous podcast on Threat Analysis  ).  This Threat Analysis covers those circumstances and events that we need to make sure that we can cope with; either through physical preparation, mental preparation, or both.

Brief note on the threat analysis.  It was mentioned before, but I want to say it again, just in case I failed to properly explain it before.  The Threat Analysis is just a thinking tool to get you started.  There is little to be gained by making up a separate plan for each threat that you identify, as most situations have a common denominator that you need to provide for.  Things like food, water, shelter, warmth, safety, defense, etc. are needed in most situations that last longer than a few hours.  But there are some threats that have special conditions that you’ll need to address, and that’s where listing the threats comes into play.  Go over the list and check to make sure that you can handle anything that isn’t covered by the basics.  For example, radiation or a cloud of toxic chemicals.  You can be exposed to both either by accident or design, but you should be prepared to handle them.  The Threat Analysis list is exactly what you use to identify these sort of things.

Okay, onto a basic preparedness strategy.   (more…)

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Data, Files, and Important Documents – Back It Up

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Back it up, is a term many of us have heard and most often relate to computers and the data or information held on them. This term, or more importantly, idea of backing up and keeping copies of important information applies to any critical document we have. Many people have or have access to multi-function printer devices that integrate scanners. How many of us have used that scanner to copy birth certificates, wedding documents, Social Security cards, and, well you get the idea. Scan this stuff and go wild. Storage space is cheap, and with the advent of cheap usb flash drives, easy to place copies of it all in different locations.

Things that I have scanned:

Birth Certificates
Wedding documents
Insurance documents
Vaccination records
Vehicle registration
Professional Certificates and Licenses
College Transcripts/Degrees/Diplomas
and others, be creative!

I keep multiple copies on flash drives and update them as needed. I keep one in each of my and my wife’s “Fast-Packs,” one in the house in an out-of-the-way location, and one off-site. Have fun and go crazy!

Mike@PrepCast.info

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FUD – Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Cutting through the FUD. FUD is a term commonly tossed around on many internet forum and chat sites. It stands for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt, and is commonly used when untrue information is is used or given as a reason for compliance or as a basis for decision. Really, it’s a term used when misinformation is used to prompt others into action or inaction by reason of fear, Uncertainty, or Doubt. This term is most commonly applied to governmental agencies. The California DOJ is notorious for handing out contradictory or just plain wrong information. Head on over to www.calguns.net for all the evidence you could possibly want.

The term needn’t be applied to just the government, but to large corporations, marketing campaigns, and even politicians. Heck, parenting and childhood decision making is often based on FUD and its greatest characteristic is that of a lack of information. Just think about it and you’ll come up with many things in day-to-day life that FUD can be applied to.

Now to bring up a little older topic that may have floated out of view…The failure of the GPS satellite network. It has gotten some people worried and was a big deal for a couple of days on the news outlets.

I’m not worried.

Why? Just how integral is GPS to today’s military and commercial industry. Most of the military’s systems are linked and dependent upon GPS, as is large commercial interests. I cannot see the military letting such a useful and integral system fail or degrade to a point of disuse. I’m not going to get into the conspiracy stuff. That’s for other sites.

FUD – Learn to cut through it.

Mike@PrepCast.info

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Mindset, focus, and tunnel vision

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

One of the things that commonly happens to people is they become inundated with news, viewpoints and other media. They become inundated to the extent that either A: They “overprep”
or
B: They give up.

Folks, when you’re prepping, have a plan. Don’t take too big of a bite, even though you see how much you have to do. Don’t become overwhelmed by everything. Take your time, and do it right.

Mindset for preppers is critical, and it’s part of the prep lifestyle. We need to realize how the body and mind react to stress, and how those reactions figure in our daily lives and interactions with family, friends, and colleagues. It’s all too easy, as many of us that have been doing this awhile see, to let preps take over your life. Unfortunately, that usually leads to issues within family or job. So approach prepping with an eye to the long haul, don’t just jump into the deep end. Take a look at the Capability Checklist – note how it takes you through basics first, and then builds on those basics. Focus on the basic goals, or, if you’ve already gotten those done, then start working on the others. Note that it’s ok to take a break too – if it’s too overwhelming, take some time off. Do this with the knowledge that you’re already better off than most of the folks around you!

Matter of fact, sometimes it’s prudent to just turn the TV off, don’t listen to the radio, ignore the newspaper, and go smell the roses. Take a walk in a nice area. Go see a movie. Plan a vacation. You get the idea…take a danged break sometimes!

Another issue that we see quite a bit is tunnel vision. Everyone, and it might be more critical for preppers, needs to have some kind of backup and a sympathetic ear or three around when times are stressful. For many of us, this will be on one of the many survival forums out there, and for some of us, we’ve actually got networks of like minded folks we can actually talk to. We need to have someone that’s in the same long term prep mindset, to back us up. Someone to bring us back to a realistic viewpoint when we start getting tangled up in ideas or projects that dominate our time a bit too much.

It’s yet another argument for developing that network of friends.

-Greg

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