Canning up the Honeyville bulk food (pics)

[Cokebottle]

Nope, I'm sticking it out here. My preps are really based around what CSACANONEER said: the weather can trap people in their houses for a long time, especially up here. If the town were to stop plowing the snow for any reason (bankruptcy, lots of equipment failures, whatever) then we could literally be trapped in the house for 6 months (that's how long we have snow on the ground)

Weather wouldn't be a concern here. Even in the worst storms it would be possible to hoof it from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs unless PCH is washed out at Seacliff.

But being in a metro area, I would be assuming a bug-in simply because hoofing it is going to be the only way to get anywhere. 4wd isn't going to get over or around fallen overpasses and the roads will be impassible with the abandoned vehicles. Hell... the roads are impassible with what seems like abandoned vehicles on a normal Friday evening (I get off an hour early on Fridays and typically get home 30 minutes LATER than normal!)

So I'm assuming that we'd be forced to bug in simply because the only way to bug out would be on foot.
As far as for how long... in a metro area like this, I think anything that hits the fan for more than 30 days is going to result in Katrina-like evacuations/relocations or (I shouldn't say it) FEMA camps.
Anything short of nuclear war is going to be relatively localized (as in, an 8.5 earthquake or meltdown at San Onofre would be localized to California and perhaps Vegas) The government would not stop functioning, and would be taking steps to maintain control.
I don't see us being given the option to remain behind "for our safety"

Water: Not a concern for me since we have snow and springs that run year-round near the house. I've heard that the bare minimum is 1 gal/person/day.

40 gallon water heater plus a stack of Arrowhead jugs, just the two of us, so we're set for water for 20-30, unless SHTF in the middle of August when it's 100+... without AC the water wouldn't last 10 days.

P.S. - A lot of the Donner Party died just a few miles downhill from me. You know, down where the snow doesn't get half as deep.

Sounds like a good reason to have a big family

[dustoff31]

I did see anyone mention condiments like spices, hot sauces, A1, sugar. I have been told that the French developed their sauces to cover up the taste of the meal. And Asian and countries South of the border used chiles and curries to cover the taste of meat that is about to go bad.
How do you keep spices from losing it's favor in long term storage?

Seal them up in mylar bags just like the grains. (Smaller bags, of course) I'm not betting on a 20 yr storage life though.

Or just grow most herbs. You can grow all the common ones like parsley, thyme, dill, chives, basil, etc., in a very, very, small area. Even a window box. You can even buy kits, at Home Depot/Lowes, comes with dirt and everything. Just water and watch.

[GrizzlyGuy]

Donner party didnt have these.

LOL, those are great. Some of my friends have them for their quads and I might have to pick up a set for next year. Way too much fun has been reported. They still have problems in deep powder as RenoDeano discovered when he was alone and 8 miles from the trailhead.

If things get too bad, my wife and I can always ski down to I-80 and hitchhike. Either that or wait for the snow to melt down a bunch so that we can use the phone cable as a zip line:

[mstlaurent]

There website is MUCH higher priced than the store. I was comparing the website prices which are as much as 40% higher on some items. The store is dirt cheap. You never mentioned the prices on the store being cheaper.

I did.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=5052801#post5052801

But that's water under the bridge.

[mstlaurent]

I can't really see or imagine a situation where you'd have to be 100% self sufficient for a year purely depending on what you have stored, even water. I also can't imagine anything that would drive me away from my home, even if it was badly damaged in a bad earthquake. If it's a fire and you have to flee, well all you have to do is get away from the fire area and find a motel or a camp ground, but even then, eventually you'll be allowed back in your area. Things will have to deteriorate to a point of no return before civil unrest gets so bad you have to flee, but then...flee to where, for what? (Not asking you, these are questions I ask myself). At that point, I believe we'll have enough advanced warning over time to make better preparations than bugging out on a moment's notice. Foreign invasion? Not likely. Zombies...all they want is a little love...
I think the worst scenario is financial collapse where markets and gas stations are no longer useful, and we may even face utilities failing. That could get ugly, but I don't think for a year and we'd be no better off in the boonies.
JMO

Actually, it's very simple: You move somewhere where the chances of natural disaster are low, you buy a house that has a well, and you install an alternative power system (solar, wind, hydro, etc.). Then you can hold out for at least a year. If you buy enough land and learn how to farm, garden, and hunt, you can hold out for a very long time.

[Foulball]

I guess you can't answer a few simple questions without talking down to someone? Are you really that miserable a person?
I imagine it's good that you're self sufficient, because with your attiude, I'd tell you to take a hike.

Actually Problemchild is very pleasant in person. He has a lot of credible experience and knowledge that would be VERY helpful in an emergency situation. His online reply's can be blunt, but he's a good guy to have on your side.

[xrMike]

If you have a pool, as we do, that water is great for bathing, washing clothes, etc.

Any reason you can't drink it too, assuming you filter/boil it first?

[9-12]

Actually, it's very simple: You move somewhere where the chances of natural disaster are low, you buy a house that has a well, and you install an alternative power system (solar, wind, hydro, etc.). Then you can hold out for at least a year. If you buy enough land and learn how to farm, garden, and hunt, you can hold out for a very long time.

Like a lifetime? Used to be that's all (you) had. I would have no problem with that, but it's a lot of work. Daily existence is full time.

[9-12]

Any reason you can't drink it too, assuming you filter/boil it first?

Chlorine and acid.

[Joewy]

As long as you can continue to chlorinate it you will be fine. But as soon as you stop it becomes just like any other surface water source. Things start to grow in it, animals piss in it. So on and so forth.

[Joewy]

Good rule of thumb for water is 1 gallon of water per person per day, plus bathing, washing clothes, etc.

That gallon per day includes water for cooking, such as re-constituting freeze dried food. You can get some of that water by using canned goods.

Your water heater will be good for 40-50 gallons, depending on size. Just don't forget to turn off the water supply to the house after a big quake as you don't want contaminated water to infiltrate your tank.

If you have a pool, as we do, that water is great for bathing, washing clothes, etc.

A high quality water filter like a Daulton will allow you to make clean, safe to drink water from quite a few sources as long as it isn't contaminated with petroleum.

Something to think about.

Im sure you could survive on one gallon per day just sitting down and staring out the window all day but experience tells me that one gallon is not enough. You would be shocked if you realized just how much water you really do use. If you count in all the coffee, sodas and other beverages that you drink every day I wouldnt be suprised if that alone exceeds a gallon. The big problem is that peoples bodies are used to being hydrated. You will want more and more. Any sort of event will require work and hard work at that. If you plan on one gallon per day you will get nothing done then eventually die of dehydration.

Pool is great if you got one.

[mstlaurent]

Like a lifetime? Used to be that's all (you) had. I would have no problem with that, but it's a lot of work. Daily existence is full time.

On what I described you couldn't hold out for a lifetime. Your power system will break down at some point, so you'll need to replace anything that runs on electricity with something hand-powered, especially your well pump.

But on the other hand, I don't anticipate any disaster that will be so severe that I will have to hold out for a lifetime. Honestly, I don't see anything that will make me hold out entirely on my own for more than a couple of months. But if we enter a period of hyperinflation we may find it hard to buy food for a year or two, much like it was in Wiemar Germany, or Argentina back in 2001. Having a supply of non-perishable food is a good backup for that.

[Casual_Shooter]

In another thread, there was talk about bugs in grains. e.g. pull out the flour to make cookies and notice all the little creepy crawlies in the container.

The thought was there were eggs in the product to begin with and they hatched.

Is there a similar risk with this type of food? Or are there precautions one can take to minimize the risk. In the other thread, they talked about freezing, but with the quantity you have, I would imagine that would be tough to do.

[mstlaurent]

In another thread, there was talk about bugs in grains. e.g. pull out the flour to make cookies and notice all the little creepy crawlies in the container.

The thought was there were eggs in the product to begin with and they hatched.

Is there a similar risk with this type of food? Or are there precautions one can take to minimize the risk. In the other thread, they talked about freezing, but with the quantity you have, I would imagine that would be tough to do.

You pack the grains in air-tight containers with oxygen absorbers. No oxygen = no bugs. Freeze dried foods are generally vacuum packed, no problem there either.

[9-12]

On what I described you couldn't hold out for a lifetime. Your power system will break down at some point, so you'll need to replace anything that runs on electricity with something hand-powered, especially your well pump.

But on the other hand, I don't anticipate any disaster that will be so severe that I will have to hold out for a lifetime. Honestly, I don't see anything that will make me hold out entirely on my own for more than a couple of months. But if we enter a period of hyperinflation we may find it hard to buy food for a year or two, much like it was in Wiemar Germany, or Argentina back in 2001. Having a supply of non-perishable food is a good backup for that.

I know...I was just thinking that not too many years go, there was no power and people survived just fine. Comfort becomes secondary in that situation. It's pure survival, but do-able and even within a certain level of comfort. Well pump? That would be a bucket....