Preparedness for when

thriftwizard

You don't rustle 50 hens, several turkeys and bunnies and bantams at random overnight on a single night.

Hmmm - I think "rustle" is exactly the right word. I can see desperate starving people nicking a handful of chickens, or a turkey, or even a rabbit for the pot. But surely not bantams; there's more eating on your average pigeon. There was an incident near here not long ago where 50-odd Seramas were stolen one night & the plod, bless their cotton socks, basically put it down to hunger & desperation, not knowing that a top-grade Serama cockerel in all his feisty glory is about the size of a baked bean tin, feathers, bones & all!

There are other reasons why people steal poultry. Illicit boosting of your bloodlines is one (believe it or not - the Fancy still flourishes, and not always amongst the well-to-do) but sadly, fighting & betting is another. Or feeding other fighting animals, such as dogs. It's a dreadful fate for them, which doesn't bear thinking about, and sadly isn't always taken seriously by those who should be doing something about it.

Perplexed_Pineapple

GreyQueen wrote: »

...We're having a lot of thefts from the allotments, including several dozen examples of several different kinds of poultry in a single night. It's not little people, it's well-orangised banditry. You don't rustle 50 hens, several turkeys and bunnies and bantams at random overnight on a single night. And I expect we will be seeing produce theft in due course *sigh*

Ach well, can only keep on keeping on and hope that the geezers who were planning on lying in wait for the thieves overnight manage to get a few smacks in before Lawran Order gets involved to tap some wrists.

Turkeys?! Are you sure you have an allotment and not a zoo? :rotfl:
That must be a real worry, I don't think it is confined to allotments either, farmers around here have had thefts. Of course farmers do tend to have dogs and shotguns... that's why growing our own is more about developing skills and making ends meet now, if we have post-apocalyptic anarchy with or without zombies :eek: there wouldn't be much chance for productive horticulture until the dust had settled.

VJsmum

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

The worrying aspect is that a large proportion of retiree cash, removed from annuities, is likely to go into the buy-to-let market, and that this will further price our children out of the property market. Just another Ponzi scheme waiting to hit the wall of reality!

I am one of these. Using pension monies to buy buy-to-lets. But what do I do? Leave it there for the gubment to take or be proactive and take care of me and mine without relying on state aid should we lose our gainful employment? We know that if we both lost our jobs, we could just about survive on other income. I guess I can also justify it by saying that those houses will provide our children with a start up the property ladder.

Hello, I am back froml my holibobs, where a small SHTF situation has left me rather crippled for a while (an incident with me, a boat and a wet slippery jetty - who knew I could still do the splits:eek:). Am hobbling round like an arthritic 80 year old.

the_cake

Ouch VJsmum ! Hope you feel better soon.

[Deleted User]

Owwwwww!!! make sure you look after yourself VJsMUM and don't try to do everything you normally would, you'll heal much more quickly IF you rest up the injury and the housework will still be there when you're feeling more comfortable, it's very obliging like that pet!!! You take care, Lyn xxx.

mrsmortenharket

Hello all.
Sorry, I lurk & don't post too often.
I've started proper prepping today, I think.
I got a portable gas stove, gas, wind up lantern & some head torches. (B&M & Home Bargains)

Frey bentos pies were £1.19 in home bargains. I've bought a few.

What are he best foods to have in a shtf stocks?

Thanks all x

[Deleted User]

Things you can eat cold as well as hot like tinned peaches and baked beans. I have tinned meats, fish and pates and always have crispbreads and oatcakes with jars of jam, honey, peanut butter and tins of pulses, veg and fruit so if I have a heating appliance I can make warm stews from them. Tea bags and coffee are a must, cuppasoups and instant porridge along with powdered skimmed milk and some sweetener and of course some cheer up treats biscuits and chocolate and cheese biscuits too. Many other useful things but these few will be a good starting place, Lyn xxx.

mrsmortenharket

Thanks MrsLurchwalker.

I'm also going to start growing some veggies and fruit. I can kill a plant by looking at it, so all tips would be great. I've no idea what I'm doing, have never gardened properly before!

x

ALIBOBSY

Frugalsod wrote: »

That is a far more sustainable idea than most. My only potential concern would be rates. Would you be able to cover those?

We wouldn't see this as our main "job" so to speak, we both work self employed so would likely continue with the work elsewhere to cover the cash only type bills.

Ali x

[Deleted User]

MRS MH we all started at the beginning with the gardening and veg growing, just ask if you need information and we'll be very glad to help you out. Start with easy things and get a general veg and fruit book from the library, grow lettuces, radishes, runner beans (easiest the first time to buy some bean plants from a garden centre), leeks all are easy to get going and you need a successful crop of something in your first season to make you feel it's worth doing again, good luck, Lyn xxx.