The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

[Deleted User]

You can put out a tarpaulin and collect dew, you can tie plastic bags over branches and collect transpiration water from the leaves, you can dig a hole, put a waterproof bowl in the centre of it and peg a waterproof cover over the bowl and with a stone in the centre to weigh the sheet down to a 'cone shape', water from the ground condenses out on the underside of the waterproof sheet and the stone weight on top makes the water run down and drip into the bowl, and these are just a few ideas, there are many other ways of collecting water that you can make safe to drink. They all take time though and you have to use an awful lot of bags on the branches to even get a cup full.

Pyxis

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

You can put out a tarpaulin and collect dew, you can tie plastic bags over branches and collect transpiration water from the leaves, you can dig a hole, put a waterproof bowl in the centre of it and peg a waterproof cover over the bowl and with a stone in the centre to weigh the sheet down to a 'cone shape', water from the ground condenses out on the underside of the waterproof sheet and the stone weight on top makes the water run down and drip into the bowl, and these are just a few ideas, there are many other ways of collecting water that you can make safe to drink. They all take time though and you have to use an awful lot of bags on the branches to even get a cup full.

I remember learning that in the Girl Guides! :T :T :T

An alternative is stock up with those water-purifying tablets, although the water would have a bit of a chlorine taste, but better than imbibing bacteria!

DigForVictory

A good hearty boiling will sort a lot of the mischief, although you loose a percentage of the water in the steam, and it rarely hurts to filter anything obvious out first.

My scouts were remarkably willing to sacrifice a sock to the delights of sand & gravel if the outcome was going to be something we could make hot chocolate with.
Us leaders, ever intrepid, made tea first, (to check it was safe, you understand) & having assured ourselves it tasted fine, we encouraged our scouts to crack on.

Purifying tablets, a milbank bag, and proper waterfilters are all available but for storing water the rigid containers have a much better ability to last & to stack without puncturing etc. Be picky over them being BPA free - it's not much difference in price & it's quite a lot more peace of mind. Be prepared to buy in stages if finances don't permit buying loads at once, but do be sure you have *enough* water.

According to the United Nations the minimum amount of water required for drinking, cooking and maintaining proper hygiene per person per day is a minimum of 50 litres.

If you can raise the water containers/jerry cans/however up off the floor, this makes tipping them easier and also gives space to put a cup, pan etc under the tap more simply. Even a couple of pallets lift helps!

I confess I am not making the UN standard but there are 4 of us & we want to live in the house too - a Mormon I asked smiled sweetly & explained his father had a double wall - filled with water. I forgot to ask how it was refilled, or cleaned and checked, but I was trying to focus on food storage & not asking the boring questions about polygamy, politics & seriously, no caffeine? In the event, I expect we'll peg a tent groundsheet & direct the rainwater to where we have storage for it - most days of the year are cooperative that way.

DigForVictory

Just to clarify my "good hearty boiling" is in fact UN recommended

Scientific research tells us that waterborne pathogens (bacteria, protozoa, and viruses) are killed or inactivated at high temperatures. According to the World Health Organization, a water temperature of 158°F (70°C) will kill 99.999% of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in less than 1 minute.

Since we know that water boils* at 212°F (100°C), this means that by the time water has reached a rolling boil, it will be safe to drink. For an added margin of safety, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend boiling water for 1 minute just to be sure.

So, tea optional for the CDC...

GreyQueen

:eek: Barbarians!! Tea is never optional, tea is the very rod and staff of Life Itself. Should I ever be seen to refuse a cuppa, anyone who knows me would summon the emergency services asap, as I would clearly be very ailing and not long for this world.


Have added another couple of packs of ibuprofen to the stash (on separate shopping trips). I'm prone to outer ear infections and they're just the thing to treat that.

DryTheRain

Zentimes wrote: »

I started my soil sprouts yesterday! I have 3 containers with sunflower, red clover and beetroot seeds on a dark shelf (I've used black paper to block out the light). Will be 4 days there, then out on a windowsill for a few more. I'm excited to see how they'll turn out (and more importantly, taste!). I've cleared out a seldom-used kitchen cupboard and I should be able to store my supplies there for ease of access.

How exciting ZT, let us know how you get on. I am still thrilled and amazed that it's possible to grow food without a garden! Besides sprouts I planted chives seeds a couple of days ago, am hoping for a nice crop come summer. Found this guide on youtube too, might be worth a try.. http://https://youtu.be/23gT5g4k400

Zentimes

DryTheRain wrote: »

How exciting ZT, let us know how you get on. I am still thrilled and amazed that it's possible to grow food without a garden! Besides sprouts I planted chives seeds a couple of days ago, am hoping for a nice crop come summer. Found this guide on youtube too, might be worth a try.. http://https://youtu.be/23gT5g4k400

Gosh that method produces an awful lot of tomatoes! :eek: Looks like a nice, easy method though, the only caution I'd give is don't use garden soil, which contains all sorts of unknowns, use a sterile compost. That's what the soil spout guy recommends anyway. :cool:

Chives will be very nice to have! I am going to plant some Tiger Nuts today, hopefully will be able to plant out by late April. Still looking longingly at my dwarf runner bean and cucamelon seeds but I think it's a wee bit too early to plant them, will give it another couple of weeks. Gorgeous weather right now is very deceptive but very welcome nonetheless!

DigForVictory

I'm back in from planting out some supermarket herbs (everything I grow from seed & put out gets massacred by slugs - this year my nurtured seeds will live indoors!) & it's distinctly foggy. Warm enough to dig in a T shirt, not to stand in one, so I'm back inside, hands scrubbed, my fleece snuggled back into & most of the first pint of tea where it ought to do the most good. Less than 5% odds of rain so I may venture back out with a watering can but will warm up my back muscles first!

Awed at that youtube video but I got tomato seeds in my Thompson & Morgan lucky dip so will have a bash at that next year!

Pyxis

Did a bit more stocking-up this morning.

My favourite loo rolls had gone down in price so I got another 2 x 16 packs. They've gone down so much that I might go back tomorrow and get some more, especially as I have a money-off voucher for the store. Never mind that I've already got ten months' supply! :rotfl: :rotfl:
I am terrified of running out! Acartohygieiophobia. Yes, that is a word!


Regina kitchen towels had gone down too, so I got three packs of those. (I like my kitchen towels strong and sturdy! I did try some cheap ones once, but ended up using tons of the stuff as it was so thin and disintegrated so quickly, so it wasn't cost effective).

Plus a few more tins and jars for the stock cupboard.

I've got a pretty good stash of most of my essentials now, but will keep topping them up when prices allow!

DryTheRain

I love reading the gardening stories, it speaks of peace unity and order.. something UK plc is sorely lacking right now (shoehorn alert!) And I really like that you can enjoy a slice of that in an urban environment.... ok breaking news WA rejected in HoC, default departure date a fortnight today...