Preparedness for when

Cappella

MrsLurcherWalker: how about making sock puppets to keep children and grandchildren entertained in dismal times?
Or pair them up with other odd socks to wear with wellies or boots - any footwear where you can't see that they're odd socks.
Or cut them into strips and use them to crochet bags out of. A crochet hook takes up very little space in a grab bag and can be used for many things. I always carry one in my purse
If you pop them on your hand they make brilliant dusters - not that I envisage doing much dusting in an emergency situation - and if you use your emergency scissors to open them out they serve as wash or cleaning clothes as well.
Odd socks can be very useful also attached to trees to mark a route for your family to follow
Sorry, that's my lot. Will ponder deeply to see what else I can come up with.

Ah! You can grow micro greens and cress on damp socks: and sprout seeds in them if all else fails.

GreyQueen

An adjunct to thinking about sound from bags or their contents, is thinking about reflections. Luckily, most modern rucksacks have nylon clasps and fittings and these are commonly matte black.

If I ever have cause to junk a worn-out bag or garment which has sprung toggles, elasticated cords, drawstrings, webbing bits and those snap buckles, I make a point of removing them. Have a couple of sandwich-bags full of them in my sewing stash and they are regularly used to refurbish or alter existing bits of kit. Their weight and volume is neglible, so one might want to think about having a very small amount, say a bank bagful, of these with you as emergency repairs.

[Deleted User]

Good point GQ some of mine have reflective strips in the front and straps, good for being seen in the dark but possibly lethal if you're trying to hide!!!

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Good point GQ some of mine have reflective strips in the front and straps, good for being seen in the dark but possibly lethal if you're trying to hide!!!

My BOB is a 35 litre daypack in grey and a muted green - many of this type are rather lurid and my holidaying daypack, another 35 litre, is grey and vivid yellow.

You might want to consider the additon which lives in the top pocket of the BOB; a plain black ruckie cover. It adds extra waterproofing and also makes the bag harder to see, particularly if wearing dark clothing.

nuatha

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

How sad am I? ever since suggesting odd socks as packing material I've had a mind (such as it is) running round trying to find uses for odd socks
...
Any other whacky ideas spring to mind???

Wearing them, apparently its trendy again. You can pay through the nose for packs of odd socks (why?)

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Good point GQ some of mine have reflective strips in the front and straps, good for being seen in the dark but possibly lethal if you're trying to hide!!!

Black gaffer tape. Useful stuff in any case, but will sharp cover reflective strips.

jk0

nuatha wrote: »

Wearing them, apparently its trendy again. You can pay through the nose for packs of odd socks (why?)

I'll always remember I pointed out to a workmate years ago that he had odd socks on. He said: 'They're not odd. I've got another pair like this at home.'

[Deleted User]

Another spare sock use, jolly useful for 'nipping' the top 4 leaves from nettles without getting stung if you're foraging for food!!!

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Another spare sock use, jolly useful for 'nipping' the top 4 leaves from nettles without getting stung if you're foraging for food!!!

If you're feeling peckish, Lyn, arrange to come and visit me and you can graze your way around the allotment where I have mucho nettles coming over the fences from other people's plots. You can eat as many as you like!

[Deleted User]

Nettle Soup Viking Style will make a convert of you GQ!!!

milasavesmoney

http://www.purposefullysimple.com/100-modern-homesteading-skills-to-master-or-at-least-try/?utm_source=Post+Updates&utm_campaign=a9461827ae-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a2f6e3b5a5-a9461827ae-123754037

I thought this would be a good list to look at for gauging skills needed for survival long term. Not every thing would be required but it's the start of an interesting list of what would be needed for a community of people to survive. Add or subtract anything you feel needs to be improved. It's geared toward homesteading so some things are to that end.