Prepper’s Blog

 

Spring Cleaning Prepper Style
Posted on April 16, 2013 by

I hate to tell you this, but it is time to spring clean. I know… I hate it too. But never fear, I have some great advice for you, if I do say so myself.

First, let me answer a few of your questions. Why should I spring clean? I’m glad you asked. Imagine this scenario: There has been a tornado, your house was not destroyed but it has been badly damaged. The entire town is in ruins. The grocery stores have been wiped out and you know it is only a matter of time before the looting starts. You and your spouse decide that is best to load up the minivan, taking your chances that you can make it around the debris, and head to your relative’s house in north Georgia. He has a drinking problem and likes to talk a lot, but it’s better than nothing.

Now here is where this story takes a turn. It is time to grab what you can and head outa’ dodge. You will either be able to put your hands on what you need OR you will spend your time scrambling through every room in the house looking for and deciding on what stays and what goes. You cry over old photos and accidently leave behind important documents.

You will be so much better off in an emergency type of a situation if your home is not cluttered with stuff that you really don’t use anyway.

So here’s the plan. Get rid of the things in your house that you have not used in the last six months to a year. Stage an area for your important documents and emergency essentials.

Consider the following:

  • Keep a well-stocked pantry. Check the dates on your cans and other perishables. Get rid of the stuff that is out of date.  Always incorporate a rotation system for your canned goods. Put the new stuff in the back and use the older stuff first.
  • Go through your clothes. Get rid of clothes that you have not worn last season. Keep warm clothing that could be worn outdoors in the winter. Keep wool socks and extra underwear. Keep sun hats and rain proof jackets.
  • Go through all of your paper documents. Create a binder with clear sleeves for all of the important stuff. Scan those same items into a PDF file and store them on a USB drive. Shred or burn other documents that you no longer need. You don’t want that stuff out there floating around.
  • Go through your memorabilia. You can’t take it all with you in an emergency situation. Take pictures of the things that you want to remember and put them on a USB drive or make a photo album. This works great for trophies and all of the little treasures that your children have made through the years. Then either part with your special items or store them in an area that is dedicated to things that you will not be taking with you in an emergency type of situation.
  • If you have a library full of books, put the important ones in a special area that you intent to keep in this situation. There may be a situation where you cannot rely on mapquest or google. There are some fantastic reference books available.
  • If you have small kids, make sure that you are mindful of their favorite toys, stuffed animals or blankets. Again you cannot take everything with you and a little normalcy is important for the little ones. A deck of cards will go a long way with the older kids and adults.
  • Have a go-bag packed and near an exit ready to grab and go.
  • Hold a garage sale or list a few items that you can part with on Craig’s List; you could raise money for that Berkey water filter that you have been wanting.

Ultimately your goal is to simplify. Not only will this help with your preparedness, but will aid in your overall happiness :-) . Now grab a few boxes and trash bags and get busy! If you read this all the  way to the end, you must think it is a good idea. Head knowledge does you no good if you do not act on it!

 

Spring is in the Air!
Posted on March 1, 2013 by

Spring is in the air! What can be better than baby sprouts pushing their way up out of the dark warm soil, stretching their tiny green leaves up to greet the sun. Nothing says “new beginning” like baby green leaves on old granddaddy trees… I love it!

Are you planning on gardening this year? if so, now is a great time to start! If you have never grown anything before, give it a try! Even if it’s cherry tomatoes in a container, you will be proud of your accomplishment! Every year, I baby my garden like a proud mamma  grinning at my power to create food… well God created food… I was just able to get it to grow! Yahoo!

Here’s a thought. You might want to practice. Gardening and canning is a lost art to many people. Not so long ago our grandparents used to do this kind of stuff as a way of life. It wasn’t that long ago, and I am afraid that if anything drastic would to happen and all of the Chick-Fil-As were to close down, so many people would would be helpless, not knowing what to do or how to do it. So if you practice now with a mini garden you will learn what works and what doesn’t  It is better to know that now instead of in a time when your life could depend on it.

If you are a master gardener, you go you! Great job! Maybe you can find others who are interested in learning so you can pass on your knowledge. The more people are self sufficient, the less you will have to worry about them begging at your front door steps in the event of a long-term emergency situation. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Let’s say nothing ever happens, sheeew, I hope that is the case. You will always benefit from a garden by lowering your grocery bill and by having fresh health food.

Oh, and make sure you are using non GMO seeds. That way you can harvest the seeds for next year and you won’t grow a third eyeball in the middle of your forehead from eating genetically altered foods. Be sure to check out our large Baker Creek Heirloom seed collection here at TruPrep.  All of our Baker Creek seeds are  non GMO Heirloom seeds assuring they will give back year after year!

Happy planting!

 

Sequestration Sale!
Posted on February 28, 2013 by

Since the world as we know it may soon end due to sequestration cuts according to many people out there, TruPrep has decided to help you prepare by offering a Sequestration Sale!  From now through Sunday, March 3 enjoy a 2.3% discount (the same deep discount as the sequestration cuts) on ALL in stock products.  Stock up now while there is still time!  Simply enter code SAVE23 at checkout online or mention this sale at any of our retail stores.

Start Shopping Now!

 

Adairsville Tornado Recovery Update
Posted on February 25, 2013 by

Here you can see our most recent load of donations to be taken to the Adairsville Tornado Recovery effort!  Thanks go out to everyone who has donated to this cause!  Although the media has moved on to the next attention-getter, the recovery is still ongoing for Adairsville.  We  have been told they are wrapping up the cleanup effort and are starting the rebuild phase of the recovery and they are still looking for volunteers and donations.  For more information on how you can help, check out our information page here http://truprep.com/help-adairsville/.

 

Heirloom Seeds Have Arrived!
Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Its that time of year again!  Time to start thinking about that spring garden and what you want to plant this year.  We have received over 130 varieties of Heirloom seeds from Baker Creek so we have something for everyone!  Check out our selection online or in one of our retail stores!

About Baker Creek Seeds:
Baker Creek carries one of the largest selections of seeds from the 19th century, including many Asian and European varieties. The company has become a tool to promote and preserve our agricultural and culinary heritage. Baker Creek and their seeds have been featured in The New York Times, The Associated Press, Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart, and many others.  They also work extensively to supply free seeds to many of the world’s poorest countries, as well as here at home in school gardens and other educational projects. It is their goal to educate everyone about a better, safer food supply and fight gene-altered, Frankenfood and the companies that support it.  All Baker Creek seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO, non-treated and non-patented. Baker Creek boycotts all gene-altering companies.  They work with a network of about 100 small farmers, gardeners and seed growers to bring you the best selection of seeds available!

February Newsletter
Posted on February 18, 2013 by

The TruPrep February Newsletter has been sent out.  Be sure to check it out here and sign up for our mailing list if you haven’t already.  Among other things, we are happy to announce that Heirloom seeds are now in!  Be sure to check them out online or in one of our retail stores!

 

 

 

See us at Disaster Preparedness Expo on March 9th and 10th in Gainesville, GA
Posted on February 18, 2013 by

We are happy to announce we will be at the Disaster Preparedness Expo at the Georgia Mountain Center in Gainesville, Ga on March 9th and 10th.

USDPE was created to gather Preppers, Survivalist, and just those who want to be prepared for any eventual disaster or emergency. Together we form a society that mentally accepts the belief that; ” Preparing for every uncertainty is nothing more than adjusting your attitude towards being a survivor, not a victim.”

Preppers and survivalists understand that there may come a time where the government, or those in political power, may be unable, unwilling, or slow to respond, and you and your family’s survival will be in your hands alone.

For more information, check out www.usdpe.org.

 

 

 

 

New Year’s Resolution
Posted on January 23, 2013 by

If I set my 2013 New Year’s Resolution according to my accomplishments in 2012, I would resolve to again gain more weight, spend more money and generally lose track of time. Seriously, where the heck did 2012 go? Instead, I think I will set more ambitious (yet attainable) goals.

I resolve to have more fun with my family, to take better care of myself because I only have one me, to laugh more and to shake off the little irritating things that life throws at me. Also I resolve to better manage my money and to stick to my budget (Yeah… I hate the “B” word too.)

Sometimes I find it difficult not to spend my entire paycheck on prepping stuff. I am around it all day long and there is always something else that I want. I also have to be careful with my time because it is easy for me to get caught up on YouTube or some other site for hours. The truth of the matter is, it can get a bit overwhelming. So I figured out a simple solution (and I suggest this for you too): I have made a list of the survival items that I want to purchase (in order of importance) and I have put aside a part of my budget every month for the things on my list. That way, little by little, I am insuring my family’s survival… just in case.

Overall, 2012 was a good year for me, but sadly, not for everyone. 2012 had some doozy natural disasters. According to Tim MacWelch in his article entitled “The 20 Worst Natural Disasters of 2012” posted on www.outdoorlife.com, “2012 will go down in the history books as having some powerful and even record breaking natural disasters. Thus far, the year has seen super storms like Hurricane Sandy, epic droughts, month-long wildfires and unprecedented weather like the June 2012 Derecho.”  This article is laid out like a disaster yearbook with pictures that you might feel like you could walk into and experience yourself. Now, I didn’t personally experience any of these natural disasters, but it doesn’t mean I won’t in the future.

So I will hope for the best for 2013, and at the same time I will plan for the worst. I will laugh more, play more ping-pong and put up more food. I resolve to do all of this starting January 2nd! (I have a feeling I might be laid up with the cocktail flu on the 1st.)

Happy New Year!

The Mayan Calendar Had a Flip Side
Posted on December 24, 2012 by

Well, it turns out that the Mayan calendar had another side. Apparently, it just needed to be turned over to reveal the following years. That side is actually a kitten calendar if I’m not mistaken. Regardless, this is bad news for me… I have a feeling that the credit card companies are expecting payment at the end of the month for all of the debt that I racked up in anticipation of the end of the world. I guess I should have thought that through a bit better.

But all joking aside, we here at Truprep weren’t surprised to see the dawning of a new day. Quite frankly, we expected it. So you might be wondering, “Well, won’t this hurt business?” Heck no! Business has been booming. Being prepared for emergency situations is just common sense. If someone came to you and said, “Hey, I heard that from now on out no one will ever be snowed in or lose electricity in the winter.” or “Hey, I heard that because the stars are aligned just right, no one will ever experience another flood. Yahoo!” If someone staked these ridiculous claims, you would look at them with your head cocked to the side as if to ask what they have been smoking. News flash: DIsasters happens. Thank you, Captain Obvious. The million dollar question is “When and Where?” If I could answer that, I would be a rich woman!

So, yes, business is good and only getting better. This is because people like you are waking up, not relying on others for survival, and have the desire to be self sufficient. Good for you.

Happy Post-Mayan Calendar Survival Day (I am totally going to push to have that recognized as a National Holiday!)

Overwhelmed?
Posted on December 11, 2012 by

Overwhelmed with all of this “prepping” stuff?  Heck, all it takes to get overwhelmed is a trip to YouTube!  Well don’t worry… I’m here for you. Take my hand, let’s look at this together. Let’s break this down into a more simplistic approach shall we?

Simplicity: what a beautiful word. Simply look at what you need. You need air, shelter, water, and food and in that order. If you look at the Survival Rules of Three, you can last about 3 minutes without air, about 3 hours without shelter (depending on the environment,) 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. So let’s look at this in order. (Assuming that you are going to stay in your home, I have put “shelter” at the end of the list because you already have a roof over your head.  If you are homeless, I suggest that be your priority)

Here we go.

3 minutes without air. Yeah… you’re screwed. Moving on.

3 days without water. You need to plan on needing approximately 3 gallons of water per person per day (yes, you could get by with less, but 3 gallons would be comfortable.) You will need water for drinking, cooking, rehydrating your freeze dried foods, washing up dishes and for personal hygiene. (You might be in survival mode, but you still need to brush your teeth if you plan on keeping them. And you might want to wash your clothes at some point.) So if you have a couple of cases of bottled water stashed away, that’s a good start! Figure out how many days of water you need by multiplying the number of people who will be relying on it by 3 (don’t forget the pets!) and that is how many gallons of water you need per day.

Water need: # of people x 3= gallons needed per day. (Note to self- Add calculator here to figure how many gallons needed for different amt of people and different durations)

Here are some options: 1) Store water. 2) Purify water. 3) Both. (You sure can’t make it.) If you are storing water, you will want to use food grade containers and you should refresh it about every six months because things can start growing in there. Simply water your garden with it and refill your container to keep it fresh. You can even add a teaspoon of bleach to five gallons of water to keep out the yucky stuff.

If you want to purify water from a lake, stream or a stagnant puddle, you can do that too! We at Truprep feel that the Berkey System is the best out there for purifying water. You can put yucky water in the top (yucky seems to be my word of the day) and it comes out the bottom drinkable. No boiling or additives needed. If you do not have access to a body of water, you can put a 55 gallon water barrel under your down spout to catch rainwater to filter.

Okay. Freeze. This is A#1 important. You do not need to rush out and stock up on toothpaste and toilet paper if you do not have a water plan. Okay? Got it? We are simplifying here… water first.

After water, you need food. Here again you have options. You can store up some regular store bought canned foods, just be sure to use them up in a year or two. You can still eat it after that time frame but it will not maintain its nutrients after the stamped date. I rotate my cans; I put the new stuff in the back and use the stuff in the front first.

Something else you can do is store freeze dried foods. Freeze dried foods can last up to 20 to 30 years and will maintain its nutrients. Just make sure that you store it properly. It likes dry, cool and dark environments.

Here is another one for you: mylar bags and food grade buckets with oxygen absorbers. Mylar bags are great for putting up dry foods like this bread recipe. Food grade buckets are handy for putting up 50 lbs of rice, beans or sugar. Check out this video to see how it’s done.
If you are a do-it-yourself-er, you can do some canning. If you have time for a little garden, putting up food in mason jars can be very rewarding!

Okay, Freeze again. Let’s review: First comes water and then comes food. Got it? Okay, let’s move on… but not if you are getting overwhelmed. You can stop right here and then come back once you have your water and food started.

Shelter comes next. Under this category you would consider the following:

  1. Lighting and Heat = Fire and flashlights.
  2. Security – Weapons might be needed to defend your family in times of panic, but try to use that as a last resort. First start by securing your home. You can place a dowel rod at the base of your sliding glass doors so they cannot be forced open. The same can be used for windows. See how to here.
  3. Good Hygiene will help to keep you healthy, and that is important in a situation where you might not have access to a doctor.
  4. Speaking of not having access to a doctor, make sure you have access to a good First Aid kit
  5. Go-Bags (sometimes called a “Bug-Out-Bag”) are important to have in case your home is no longer an option, like if it is on fire. Yes it would be warm but not ideal living conditions. If you needed to hit the road, it is much easier if it has been planned ahead and prepared for. (by the way, this might be something to consider out of order. Remember that this list is a great guideline, not engraved in stone. There is some wiggle room here.)

So lets recap with some How-To advice if you are new to prepping and overwhelmed:

  1. Set an amount in your budget that you want to contribute to emergency preparing
  2. Spend your money in the most important categories first:
    1. Water
    2. Food
    3. Shelter (the order below can be mixed up a bit if it gets your panties in a wad)
    4. Light and Heat
    5. Weapons
    6. Hygiene
    7. First Aid
    8. Go-Bags

I hope this has helped simplify things for you! Remember, this is a basic overview. If you see something out there that I did not cover (which you probably will,) simply look to see what category it falls into and see if you need it before the other things listed before it.

Happy Prepping!

Amy