Skills to know?

Britesea said:

Just found this VERY INTERESTING article regarding nixtamalization- why you want to use it, and how to do it using wood ash instead of the more common lime https://ronaldthomaswest.com/tag/wood-ash-process/

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Very interesting @Britesea ! That looks just like the corn I got from @CrealCritter last year.

That article brings up several thoughts for me regarding this thread, but most have probably already been said. The ability to grow, dry, can, and otherwise preserve and prepare foods WITHOUT the use of electricity or modern conveniences are all good skills to know. And also sanitation is very important. Do you know how to build a composting toilet. Do you have ways to sanitize tools,and medical gear? Do you know how to make water safe to drink and cook with?

Even in times of emergency that are short term, as in tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and blizzards, there are times when there is no power. Or heat. Or easily available fresh water. Having the ability to still provide food for your family is important.
The thing is, many people who think about "prepping" for any kind of emergency, often think of this as some far off idea. They often aren't actually prepared NOW for something happening where they might not have clean potable water or electricity or modern conveniences. If the freezer goes out, do you lose your harvest? How long could you survive in cold weather without the furnace? Is there enough canned food available at your house right now to make it not only through this year, but through another year of crops before you could grow more? And what will you feed your animals?

Most Americans are completely dependent on technology. Most are lost without modern conveniences, and would not be able to read a map, or use a compass, to tell direction by the stars or sun, would be unable to find food if they were lost in the woods, or would know how to make water safe to drink. It's sobering to think how many Americans would die within a week of no technology or electricity...

"No phone, no lights, no motor cars
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It's primitive as can be"

milkmansdaughter said:

If the freezer goes out, do you lose your harvest? How long could you survive in cold weather without the furnace? Is there enough canned food available at your house right now to make it not only through this year, but through another year of crops before you could grow more? And what will you feed your animals?

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This...and I agree, the time to be prepared for simple emergencies is now, as these types of emergencies arise all the time~just common sense to be prepared for such as those. Experience has taught me not to freeze foods here...power can go out for 2 wks at a time and did one summer not too long ago. The 50 CX birds I had in the freezer to can later were all lost to me. Hard work and a lot of money gone in 2 wks time. Now everything gets canned right away, if possible.

Everyone who had generators found out real quick and in a hurry that gas was hard to come by during that time, so generators are not a great solution for some regions.

Now, hardly anyone has enough food canned to get one through a year of eating...few have cellars that big any longer~or cellars at all, nor the jars to put up that kind of food, nor the space to store it. Most don't even have a garden that could provide all of that, so that's not truly going to happen for most people nowadays.

Most don't even have land enough to have livestock on hand to feed them for a year's time, but those that do have livestock....do you have a system setup wherein they can range for most of their food in warmer months? If not, the time to set that up is now and not when an emergency hits.

Are you growing food and canning it up all year? If not, the time is now if you want to have a variety of food that is not dependent upon electricity.

Do you have extra water drawn up and stored, a way to catch rain for watering of stock? Best time to do that is now.

Got a way to heat your home that doesn't depend on the grid? Good time to set up something and get in some wood or fuel that can supplement you through emergencies.

The best time to live like there is no electricity or running water is before there is no electricity or running water. Then you have a system in place, you are used to doing without those conveniences and a temporary emergency due to weather and such isn't a hardship.

creativetwinszoo said:

Most definitely likely to be lots of work in the house, which I do include towards everyone works. Most those who want to stay with us if a shtf dont do housework either, their very used to fast food and having someone else do the work


Unfortunately lot of folks dont believe kids can even pick up sticks, been laughed at for suggesting such things as picking up sticks, collecting eggs, throwing out scratch, helping weed gardens/plots, sweeping floors and matching socks and loads of things I haven't listed.... like young kids are completely capable of doing things but lots of people think they can't do anything chore related until 10 or 12 for some reason then complain they dont want to???? Like duh, you taught them not to, what'd you expect?

I dont even wanna get into the amount of folks who want a free ride when they can and are fully able to do at least minimal work

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Child down the road ASKS to be allowed to do chores and cooking when she is here visiting my GD. She says her GM, who she lives with "won't let her do chores or cooking b/c: "You are only a child once, so enjoy it." This kid is 12 y.o.!!!! My grands do not come here w/o being expected to do some chores. One grumbles, the other does so very willingly.

It cracks me up... in a sad way... when I see folks standing on a street corner, in all sorts of weather begging for money. IMO, if you have the energy to stand for any length of time, in the heat or cold of the day, wearing a back pack, holding the sign, you have the strength to get a job. Signs up offering work every where you go. Perhaps not paying a lot. Maybe panhandling pays better???? I would love to take a crack at revising the welfare system.

Lazy Gardener said:

It cracks me up... in a sad way... when I see folks standing on a street corner, in all sorts of weather begging for money. IMO, if you have the energy to stand for any length of time, in the heat or cold of the day, wearing a back pack, holding the sign, you have the strength to get a job. Signs up offering work every where you go. Perhaps not paying a lot.

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I agree with that stance, getting paid something is better than nothing.
When I was younger, more naive and able to i used to give a lot of cash to beggars on the road because well, clearly their down n out and needed help and then had a... eye opening experience is the best way to put it I suppose? found out that only a few of the people I was 'helping' actually really needed it the few that truly did were more than willing to get a hand up if it was offered, the rest... well most who just want handouts dont have a problem spitting on ya or cussing you out when you try to give them food, water or a place they can go for shelter and help instead of cash. Now I only offer bottled water, canned goods and a card to homeless shelters/faculties if I have them. There are a rare few I'll still give cash too but it's pretty rare, the money's best given to assistance shelters.

Someone I knew watched a guy who had been standing out in front of WalMart all day with his sign and his pathetic story, pack up and walk over to a new SUV and drive off. Since then, I don't give money to people I don't know.
On the other hand, I have given one family I know that works hard and is trying very hard to hang onto their house (the husband is 75 yrs old and still working!)... I have given them money when I knew they were completely out, plants for their garden when I had more sprout in my greenhouse than I needed, and recently I got hold of an absolutely free used chest freezer (the small type- about 7 cubic feet) that I gave them. When they tried to pay me for it, I told them to pass it forward.

@Britesea
Yeah its a similar story for why the housespouse doesn't give money anymore
That's awesome! I prefer the pay it forward approach too cause someone else later could be needing the help ♡

@Britesea : Your story about the panhandler could be repeated over and over ad nauseum in every city of every state. I will not give to a panhandler. Nor will I give to any telephone solicitor, no matter how sincere their plea, nor even if it's a cause I support.