Preparedness for when

Popperwell

Good to hear you had an enjoyable day Ginny and what you say is so true. It's done out of necessity not really for end of the world scenarios...

And a lot of what we discuss here is for support/knowledge and some of what we say is done with humour and tongue in cheek but we do need some reassurance...

I hope your next meeting allows a few more to join you as you suggest. Nice way to spend a Sunday...

[Deleted User]

I have just skim read 6 pages as I have been away in glasgow. Wow, I loved that city, the buildings, the crisp clean air, the friendly people with no airs and graces. Was so sunny and gorgeous yesterday up there and came back to grey and rain. We will be back to glasgow but longer next time

Gosh this thread is so informative and very interesting as well as funny in parts. I think it was PAH who wrote about lacto fermented turnips, well that is basically all it is. I have a special crock and simply slice cabbage very thin and layer with a little salt and a whole quartered apple.This makes sauerkraut. I get 3-4 good cabbages into my crock, then dh batters the cabbage with a cut-off granite rolling pin. The liquid comes out and covers the densely layered cabbage. Then I cover with 2 leaves and put a special stone on the top. Lid on, water in a groove to form an air barrier and then it starts to burp. It takes a couple of weeks and I then put it into jars and into a small second fridge at 10 degrees. It lasts ages, some a year so far. I also add other veg as they take my fancy, eg courgettes and carrots. I only use sea salt without any added preservatives and I use the fine salt not coarse. Costco have some

I just thought about emergency veg and alfalfa seeds are so worth keeping. I still use my 3 year old seeds for sprouting. It takes 4-5 days to make a lot of alfalfa sprouts, which are highly nutritious. You don`t need much equipment
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/134746

jeanniefaethecarse

Kittie Is your crock something like this I'm asking as I'm quite interested in experimenting with fermentation and would appreciate any tips. Thank you, Jeannie x

GreyQueen

grandma247 wrote: »

I did a fire safety course at work some years ago and a good tip we were given is if you have a double glazing window and the opening is too small and you have something like a bay window roof to climb out onto smash the corner of the window first as this is the weakest part of DG.

That's definately true; I've seen the notices on the coach windows which tell you to use the emergency hammers on the corners if need to break them to escape in the event of an emergency. Should you ever find yourself in the position of needing to kick a door in, the weakest points are just over and under the lock. Not that I'm encouraging larceny, just that one might need to escape from somewhere locked in a hurry.

Helen2k8 wrote: »

In a long term shtf scenario, I dunno maybe the benefits system goes tits up and we're all skinter than a skint thing... Well some of us are growing our own veg. Who is producing meat? There are growing numbers of people keeping chickens, for sure. I'm swotting up on rabbits; anyone else thinking this way?

When my Mum was a girl (late forties/early fifties, her country foster family used to raise rabbits for meat to sell at the market. The preferred breed for meat rabbits is New Zealand White. Grandma also used to have 50 laying hens for eggs which were collected once a week by the Sainsbury's lorry and 10 bantams for the household egg consumption which was mostly 3 residents and a changing cast of lodgers.

Bearing in mind she was a real no-nonsense countywoman, Grandman bought 6 goslings one year to raise for the Xmas market (5 to sell and one for the family). Five went off to market no worries but she'd got attached to the remaining goose and it lived as a pet.

My cousins have a flock of Light Sussex hens in their 2/3rs of an acre back yard and they have raised a few turkeys in times past (about 8). The standard turkey sold for meat is an all-white bird and they are beyond stupid, these ones literaly didn't have the sense to get out of the rain. It was much better when they got some black ones (Norfolk somethings?) which were more savvy about living in an outdoor run. They liked having a cabbage suspended from the pun to peck at and sort of use as a ball.

Cousin did say that it was brutally-hard on the hands dressing them out, though, and showed me her poor bruised paws.

Agree about hunky firemen; was taught a first aid course by one of them once...........:rotfl:

jackieb

rosieben wrote: »

I've deleted my two posts from earlier. I stand by what I said but I don't want to get into pointless arguments, we're all entitled to our own opinions

I wasn't arguing. But thanks for making it clear you thought my point of view was as good as pointless.

smileyt_2

ginnyknit wrote: »

hiya guys, just returned from the preppers meeting and had a fab time. Lots of sharing of ideas to suit each persons needs and certainly no doom and gloom - a lot of laughter though.

Im sure PAH will tell more but Im now very tired after a 6.30 wake up by DGS shouting Grandad!Biscuit! Met some very interesting people from all walks of life and none of them were loonies at all. Most of them were prepping mainly against financial distress - a common theme- and some just in case the SHTF. From a care worker on the 16th floor of a tower block to a couple who lived in the wilds renovating a property and make a lot of what they need themselves. Of course our PAH and the irrepressable Smileyt were there. PAH is very organised and gave me ideas of how to do that myself much better. Smileyt was full of sensible ideas and info and made me cry laughing as well.

Then Smileyt dragged me to Abhakan, screaming ' No smiley we must resist the craft shop!!' we were actually thrown out of there but only cos it was closing not cos we were bad :rotfl:

One point, well made, you dont only need water for drinking in a crisis but for much more so it doesnt actually matter if its out of date for washing hair or rinsing clothes etc. We regularly get the water cut off here due to a dodgy main and it wouldnt take much for that to happen for longer periods.

ERM EXCUSE ME!!!!!! It was Ginny who dragged me to Abakhan and she made me buy some sparkly beads!!!! :rotfl: Anyway, we will be doing it all again sometime in November if anyone else in the north-west would be interested. As an added incentive, there is a large Aldi and a Go Outdoors shop nearby, in addition to the very seductive and addictive Abakhan ......

D&DD

*plots the quickest route to Manchester*
Aw sounds like you all had such a great time what better way to spend the day!

Churchie priceless indeed so pleased to hear he has a suitable placement and is still gorgeous XX

I love hearing your stories of how everyone pulled together when they've had hard times..it's how it should be isn't it?
Where I live, yes, there is what people would call 'social deprivation' BUT whenever there has been an incident eg a family losing their belongings in a fire the community steps up and tries their best to help.
It may not be like it all the time here but just sometimes, it restores your faith in human nature..

Blimey I'm sounding a bit profound all of a sudden GQ I need more caffeine!

born_blonde

I've made jerky in a Westphalia dehydrator and it worked really well.
I used one of those joints from the Co - op, ready to roast beef, but only when reduced.
Freeze, slice thinly, marinade overnight, dehydrate.
Eat
Good plan - didn't last long.
Tasted good though!

prepareathome

Oh born blonde I have a reduced price beef joint in the freezer and the wesfailia dehydrator as both you and grandma spoke so highly of them and I love it so will get it out and see if I can cut it up frozen, not sure about that if not will put whole thing in a marinade over night in fridge and then slice and dehydrate tomorrow mmmmmmm

Today was great meeting up with Ginny and Smileyt and the others, next time will ensure I have money to spend at the stores. Was so interesting hearing others situations and seeing both the good and bad in all of them, even the guy living 16 stories up has some good pluses going for him in that situation.

I was like Mother Noah sitting there doing my knitting and chatting and drinking tea lol. We chatted(or I did) about so much, different situations we were preparing for,but in general, herbs and uses, lateral thinking - a must for every prepper being able to make one thing do the job of 10, like the tool the guy on doomsday prepper invented, bet we all could do that quite easily.

One guy had, had stocks hit hard times so they saw him through and now he is on better financial footing so starting again, a guy after my own heart as happened to me to often, but each time boy was I glad of those stocks, we got through the bad times and came out without a pile of debts and never did without food or power.

Who knows what is a head of us so a few stocks,rotated can do no harm to anyone.

Kittie glad you liked Glasgow, my home town and nothing would get me back there couldn't stand it when I lived there and no better now I am afraid and now dad has gone I doubt will be there again although do still have a married brother there and some friends from school days. Its year this weekend when I was last up clearing out old family home for last time. Funny was a beautiful weekend then as well.

Right payback is hitting me so off for a hot bath to ease the aches. Storm is raging around us and lights keep flickering so wind up lantern will accompany me and might light some tea lights for relaxation.

Stay safe and warm this awful night everyone.

elona

PAH

Glasgow was my home town as well and I had similar feelings about it.

DDs love Scotland when they have visited there but are beginning to realise the shortage of opportunities etc.

Treated myself to Lidl pjs at around six pounds for a pair yesterday on way back from hospital to go with towelling robe at M and S sale. Need to do a proper food shop as things are slipping with hospital visits and builders in house. Still no firm diagnosis and every test seems to raise more questions but at least they are investigating thoroughly even if dd thinks she is feeling fine.

Hugs to all who could use one.