Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Just days before I had planned to launch my new web-based mail order business, I came down with the flu.  (No, not that flu!) This is the first significant illness that I’ve had in about three years. So forgive me if the blog posts are a bit thin for the next few days. Despite this illness, I’ve just launched Elk Creek Company, on schedule.

Avalanche Lily Reports:

Dear Readers,

Grr!  I got the bug last night, (Thursday night).  I was hoping to avoid it, but I am surrounded by it, since, Jim and Miss Eloise came down with it first, on Tuesday, closely followed by Miss Violet, on Wednesday. 🙁

However, this week in light of the threat of Corona Virus popping up, we had to run to town for appointments and last weekend we went to the Gun Show in Post Falls. (Which was probably the source of the cold/flu).

I have not had a bad cold, either, in a few years. Hopefully, this won’t be too bad.  I am making everybody drink much and eat lots of fruit and green smoothies and take supplements and take steam showers, often to keep the chest congestion junk loose.

We made two trips to Costco, over last weekend and again on Wednesday, and other stores to stock up on  fruits and vegetables and a few more items to top off our stores of items to quarantine ourselves. I bought 20 pounds of lemons and squeezed fifteen pounds of the lemons and froze them into ice cube trays and put them into gallon baggies in the freezer.

I bought four bags of Costco sweet peppers and chopped and have frozen two of the bags, so far.

I bought cartons of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, grapefruit, and naval oranges to eat fresh. I bought 30 pounds of carrots: blanched and froze 10 pounds of them.  Bought large bags of spinach to dehydrate and make into spinach powder for smoothies. Still doing this as I write.  Also bought Power greens for smoothies.

I bought a large number of avocados to freeze.  I’ve never done that before.  I will wait a few days for them to ripen then will cut them up, freeze them on a tray then put them into a plastic bag.

I bought frozen strawberries and mango.  I still have a lot of frozen strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, broccoli, beans, etc and canned and dehydrated apples, and other foods.  But these purchases will keep us in fruit longer, if this is the last time we can get out to buy fruits and veggies.

We bought another case of canned tuna, salmon fillets and some cod and Costco organic chicken breasts which I froze. Our other chickens are not yet ready to butcher and won’t be for another month or so.  I bought extra organic sandwich meat and cheese for the kids and froze that, as well.

We bought some supplements that we hadn’t had on hand: Selenium, Magnesium Chloride, and Iodine.  These help alkaline your body to help kill off serious viruses.

I bought more grain for the chickens and four more selenium salt blocks for the cows and horses.

We had an appointment scheduled for this coming week that we had to cancel because of this crud we got.  We don’t wish to spread what we have to others.

This week, I decided to do a hot bed in the greenhouse. So I moved the soil aside and put fresh cow manure and straw in the bed.  But that was as far as I got.  I still need to get back out there to cover the manure with the soil and to plant seeds.

It might be a week before I get back out there depending on the intensity of this cold.  I don’t wish to aggravate it.  I want it gone ASAP: rest, fluids, lots of good nutrient packed foods!  I’ve been taking high doses of C, D3 5000, Zinc tablets that dissolve slowly, and Magnesium. And I’m chasing everybody else in the family to do the same!

Oh my goodness, I just sliced up two of Costco’s giant Ruby Red grapefruits, a half for each of the four of us and took my first bite.  It is sooo good, tasty-sweet.  You all gotta get some if you can. The girls and Jim are all raving about how good they are and want seconds.  Not until, I eat mine. 😉

You need to listen to Adapt 2030. He is saying that this Coronavirus is the trigger for the world lockdown of commerce and trade.  He is saying to look for the crash of China’s stock market beginning on Monday, which will cause the a domino affect for markets around the world leading to a worldwide Economic collapse.  He says to get your food now.  I am inclined to agree with him.  Tell your friends and family and pray.  We here at the ranch are ready to quarantine.  Are you?

May you all have a very blessed and safe and healthy week.

– Avalanche Lily, Rawles

o o o

As always, please share your own successes and hard-earned wisdom in the Comments.




70 Comments

      1. For those in the city, a handgun is a necessity as it can be available when a ‘long gun’ is not. This is bargain basement, and practical as it is a ‘carry gun’. As pointed out in the blurb, handling and shooting will not decrease it’s value. Personally, anything I have will be used, and is not an investment, it is tool, never to be sold. Why pay extra for pretty?

        Grab this now. It is less expensive than a shiny new one that requires registration in the big commie cities:
        https://elkcreekcompany.net/product/arriving-soon-sw-38-sw-5-shot-safety/

    1. Here is a link to Elk Creek Company. If you are going to be the big city, now is the time to make sure you got lots of firepower.

      https://elkcreekcompany.net/about-us/

      I like the Swedish Mauser, but this looks like the best value. IMHO, 7 x 57 is equivalent to the 7-08 in performance, and will hit elk harder than the Swedish Mauser, as it can use a 160 grain SP bullets. It uses heavier bullets with high sectional densities, and ballistic coefficients, similar to the 6.5×55, that set it apart from the 6.5×55 SE. Brass is unfortunately not as plentiful, and easy to find as 6.5×55, and bullet selection is limited, whereas there is a much wider range 6.5 mm bullet choices now available, as well as a broad selection of factory ammunition at competitive prices. The 7 x 57 is the better cartridge for hunting elk, and was extremely popular in Europe and Africa as the cartridge was effective on heavier game, yet produced a mild recoil. The 21 inch barrel will produce a flatter trajectory and faster bullet, than the 17.7 inch Swedish M94 barrel. If you happen to need one, I happen to have a brand new, and original M94 barrel for sale.

      https://elkcreekcompany.net/product/chilean-contract-1895-loewe-sporter-7×57/

  1. Sounds like some ”high octane” speculation, but there is good reason to expect that the teetering financial system could take a fall simply because of a world wide panic, and the ‘helicopter money” gets dumped to hold it all together ahead of a global reset, and jump to a crypto currency, or many crypto currencies. It could be worse, and WW3 starts. I do not know. But I will self quarantine soon, and at that point I really do not need money. I am spending what few pennies I have to top off critical supplies, mostly related to security. Security will be job one. I do not need any more food, but if I cannot protect it, what is the point.

    Night Vision is one thing most people to not have. I have the old PVS-4, and Photon RT with the 940nm infrared illuminator on an AR-15. Get 30mm rings that are 1 inch high for this rifle. This scope is well proven, and has been used to take countless hogs. The Photon is about $550 plus scope mounts. It is plenty good for 200 yards. Most people will not have night vision. The PVS-4 does not need an illuminator most of the time, but it is supplemented with one anyway for very dark nights and areas. This a .30-06 bolt gun that will use subsonic ammunition. What is lacks in rounds per minute might be offset with stealth. IR flood lights will be used remotely, 100 to 200 yards away to assist, so that illuminators do not have to used, and give your position away. These infrared flood lights will blind any one with PVS-14, but make it easy for me to see. It is not the best. You can do far better I hope, but it will work. Flash bulbs, IR chem lights and standard lights on trip wire etc, etc, etc, will also be used. Think shock and awe, total sensory overload….

    1. Auxiliary information to TunnelRabbits good advice. SurvivalBlog: JWR’s Recommendations of the Week: MARCH 22, 2017. See the link for: ~ DIY Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm~ = It’s an instructional YouTube video, that’s easy to follow; only 7 minutes long.
      People out in the boonies might need a relatively inexpensive alarm, right-now. There might be a villain sneaking around at night. A loud noise will start all the dogs barking.

  2. While it isn’t as healthy as eating it fresh, a rare and special treat around here (which is usually reserved for the holidays) is a half of a grapefruit, sprinkled with brown sugar, then broiled. Just absolutely yummy!

    Hope y’all are feeling better very soon.

  3. Thanks for the tips on Costco goodies, Lily! I’m making my drive down there on Wednesday. I hadn’t thought of freezing lemon juice, brilliant! Sorry to hear your family got hit with flu/colds. I haven’t been sick in 15 years but somehow caught the cold bug that was going around up here right before Christmas. I fought off the worst of it with colloidal silver, herbal immunity boost tincture, and vitamin C.

    Last night our church had a meeting for interested members to discuss getting ready for the Corona virus epidemic, and covered quite a lot of diverse aspects. I did some research and bought a SilverGen colloidal silver generator online today, seemed like the best choice. I will be donating CS by the quart to community members/families who want it.

    I’m also buying some wraparound ‘safety’ glasses which have a sort of foam seal around the eyes, in case I have to go out in public, as viruses can enter through the eyes and ears as well as the nose.

    Remember to get some cash out of the bank; you can get a strap of new (non-contaminated) $1 and $5 dollar bills at the bank, although sometimes they don’t have them on hand that day.

    Getting more vitamin C and Sambucol elderberry syrup. More batteries.

  4. At the first sign of a cold or flu, I start taking elderberry and echinacea. Haven’t had a bad cold or the flu in twenty years. Just got a large supply of elderberry from Vitacost at a great price.

  5. I’m 5 weeks away from hopefully closing on the house I’m buying. Given the current situation with the corona virus and all of the uncertainties surrounding it, I sure wish I was already in it. It’s hard to prep in my current situation. At least I’ll be back in VT in 2 weeks! I’m going to do all of the arrangements I can in advance of the closing to order firewood(for the wood stove I still need to acquire), arrange to fill the propane tanks etc. The day of the closing, if everything is still functional here I need to hit the ground running to catch up with essentials. I won’t be able to do anything about tilling up a garden until the snow has melted and the soil moisture is ok so probably not until late April up there.

    In the meantime I’m doing what I can. Ordered my garden seeds which have mostly arrived. Discovered that Fedco was already sold out(in January!) of some of my favorite varieties that I really depend on. Evidently the poor weather and crop losses meant not just that they didn’t have some varieties to sell at all but that they were also really short on supply of even the stuff they sell tons of every year. Luckily Johnny’s still had some so I ordered those there. Ordered seed potatoes which won’t ship til mid-April; hopefully the mail/UPS is still operational then. Can’t wait to be able to save my own seed potatoes once again(garlic too).

    Acquired some more N95 masks; I use them to do work on the house, when applying dusty amendments such as lime, Azomite etc and of course they can be effective in protection from germs such as the corona virus etc. so they will always come in handy.

    I bought some LED 4′ shoplights for $15 each to use for seed starting. Picked up some seed flats at a great price. Really am starting over again; left so much behind for the new owners when I sold my farm.

    Hope the Rawles family is on the mend soon!

  6. This week I received orders to re-stock nutritional support like vitamins, natural medicine such as herbs, antibiotics and antivirals which have been used during illness last year. Also replenished individually wrapped hand sanitizer, colloidal silver and more spray bottles. The delivery folks have been dropping packages at my farm gate so often I got fast food gift cards to give them for the repeated trips they make to the country.

    While I have all types of pandemic supplies on hand, I received a new type of face mask called “fightech dust masks” Monday of this week. They have a replaceable activated charcoal filter that is advertised rated N99. I really like them. Once you get used to having a mask on your face, they are comfortable. When I ordered them they were $23.99 each. I went back to Amazon on Thursday check the info for a friend and found Amazon advertised “only 10 left in stock” and the price was $35.99. Today, Saturday they are out of stock. How’s that for supply and demand?

    Earlier this week I met a Chinese lady married to a local man. She is from Beijing, China but has lived in the states for years. She has cousin who lives in Wuhan, China. Of course we talked about the coronavirus and what is really happening in Wuhan. She said that the Chinese government is NOT reporting all the cases of the virus; only those cases logged in at the hospitals are recorded. The cousin said about 80 doctors and nurses have already died; they just dropped dead in the hospitals. If the people / patients were not signed in they were not counted. All the hospitals and clinics are closed and only those currently inside are receiving some oxygen, IV fluids and Chinese herbal teas to make them comfortable, because there is no cure. All the other sick folks are sent home and some are dying in their apartments. Many more are fleeing to the country-side to get away from the city and are carrying the virus with them. Now there are thousands of people spreading the virus outside of the quarantine area and more people dying, which are also not reported.

    Her cousin told her about 90% of the stores and shops in the quarantined areas are closed, stores can only be opened with a special government permit; no transportation of any kind is allowed. No vehicles are allowed on the roads, except foreigners and health workers. The only way others can get around is by walking. Only the cousin goes out to stand in line to get food in order to limit exposure for his wife and baby.

    We do not live in a high population area, but it does not take much for this virus to spread. I have read (natural news) that it can stay on some surfaces like carpet and upholstered items for several weeks and can live on boxes, clothing, hard surfaces for up to 5 days. Also read that it could possibly be spread on amazon boxes, mail, and other frequently handled items. I do not trust CDC, WHO, government officials, etc., to tell us the truth, so I am grateful to have the internet to research the truth.

    Have a safe and productive week.

    1. The estimates that I’ve read are a four day to five day viability for the virus on the surface of an envelope or box. But even that is cause for concern. Got gloves, Lysol and a spray bottle?

  7. Re: Amazon Associate.
    Since we live in a rural community our resources locally are very limited. Our closest Sam’s club, Costco, Barnes and Noble (type) and the likes, are over 140 miles away, sadly, these large chains put the mom & pop stores out of business and now Amazon is really putting the pinch on these larger store chains. As much as I dislike it, it’s the cost of doing retail in today’s marketplace. (we do have several chain thrift stores which I frequent regularly)

    I do, out of necessity, lots of shopping on Amazon and 99% of my purchases are through the link here on this blog (obviously, any items deemed politically incorrect by the amazon purchasing police, I go directly to the manufacturer, many of whom also advertise on this site).

    I’m glad my ‘out-of-town’ purchases are able to benefit someone.

    1. Agreed Rucksack Rob. Miss the mom and pop stores but love that I can shop from home. Years ago we decided to buy used or barter whenever we couldn’t make it ourselves. Still AMAZED at how much we still purchase new. Way more than my parents did 50 years ago. Been pondering this for some time now, but have no better answer.

      For example: when we needed a movable bookshelf, we searched the local thrift shops, priced out making one (no suitable wood in our storage), and asked around to see if anyone wanted to get rid of an extra. The used one was more costly than new and in pretty sad shape. The wood was way expensive in our rural area. Sadly, no one was looking to downsize. We bought a two pack off amazon for less than the one used bookcase and they are solid wood with flimsy backs. No one can see the back as it is against the wall. Reminds me that fabric is more expensive than new clothing for the most part…if one were buying new clothing, not used. Crazy world we live in, isn’t it? Hard to teach life skills to the next generation when skills are reduced to hobbies. Just my thoughts on this upside-down world we live in.

  8. I’m not a doctor and this should not be construed as medical advice but I deal with cold and flu thusly.
    Get a drip coffee maker and put a good handful of high menthol mint ( like apple mint or chocolate mint) in the filter basket to make a full pot. Pour an 8 oz. glass and add a heaping teaspoon of honey-lemon jelly. Quince honey is available commercially and will do in a pinch. Drink a glass every half hour until you’ve used up a pot. Then make another pot of the mint tea and with the honey lemon jelly, keep sipping it through the day.
    As I understand it, both cold and flu are intestinal diseases. The histamines developed there are what cause the congestion. The pectin in the jelly helps ease the intestinal inflammation, the menthol helps to clear the lungs, the honey gives a bit of energy and the lemon keeps it drinkable. You won’t be able to exert yourself but it can make it more comfortable to sit quietly and read.
    You must over-hydrate. This will keep you going to the bathroom but it’s a small price to pay. I know you probably don’t have these things on hand but it’s one of our preps. I suspect the liquid pectin in the jelly is the most important so any jelly made with liquid pectin that keeps you drinking the mint infusion should work. Go with God.

  9. Praying that everyone is feeling much better on the Rawles Ranch and everywhere – and that the “usual” kind of bug going around has passed!

    Avalanche Lily’s frozen lemon juice cubes is great — and reminded me of a couple related ideas to share! Broth can be frozen in cubes for soup. Pie fillings can be frozen in emptied pie tins and then placed “ready to go” in pie tins for easy baking.

    Our own efforts are geared toward shoring up every nook and cranny in the pantry. We are monitoring conditions, and preparing to self-quarantine for the duration.

    Stay well. Be safe everyone.

  10. I did nothing. I went nowhere. A chronic pestilence kept me out of play for a week.

    So what’s that got to do with preps? Annie Oakley and I were just fine staying home. I would rather have had my impacted wisdom teeth removed again than to have had to travel this week.

    My point: Preps are not just for TEOTWAWKI.

    1. Sorry to hear you were ill. Sometimes I think being still for a short while is good for us. When I am forced to be still I start out fighting it tooth and nail. But if I quit fighting it, I feel it is positive. Recharges something in me. I don’t know if that is your experience or not.

  11. Mrs. Rawles, we have an avocado tree in our yard. One year a big wind broke off about 1/3 of the tree when it was full of avocados. We had too many avocados even after inundating our neighbors. We froze the remainder after cutting in half, removing the skin and sealing in vacuum seal bags. After thawing, the texture was ruined and the result was unpleasant. Let us know if you have any success and what your method was. Thanks!

    1. Hi Jim,

      Well the plan is to use the frozen avocados in smoothies, in which case, texture won’t matter. I can’t imagine that a thawed out avocado chunk will be as nice as a fresh chunk of avocado. 😉 Maybe for Guacamole, it will be fine, too???

      Blessings,

      Lily

      1. Avalanche Lily! What’s your favorite smoothie recipe? No hurry… Praying that everyone at the Rawles Ranch is feeling much better very soon! Just thought this would be fun. Smoothies are a great idea, and the flavor combinations are endless.

        1. Hello Telesilla of Argos,

          I don’t really make separate recipes, but I do have a base of ingredients: avocado, power greens, a frozen lemon cube, tablespoon of olive oil, apple, sometimes coconut milk.

          Lately, I have been mixing it up with strawberries, raspberries: red and black, mango, peaches, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, grapes, baby carrots, oranges.

          I am intolerant to bananas and blueberries, so I do not add them.

          Sometimes I add a little bit of everything. Sometimes, I go with just strawberries, avocados and coconut milk. This week, I made one with just Power greens, mango, lemon, oranges, Avo and cucumbers. We tend to like our smoothies sweet and creamy. Avocados really help make them creamy if we choose not to use coconut milk. Sometimes I add a little bit of Himalayan salt to enhance our mineral intake. I have added almond butter and cooked oatmeal, at other times, but it didn’t go over too well with the family. 🙂

          Blessings,

          Lily

          1. Delicious combinations! Thank you for sharing these ideas… Looking forward to making smoothies, and will experiment with freezing avocados so we can enjoy those through the winter months!

            We also very much enjoy coconut milk (and now have another use for it with the smoothies!) We use it in a Thai style soup the base of which is coconut milk and a spicy Thai peanut sauce. We toss in kale, onions, carrots, sliced or cubed squash, water chestnuts, and more.

            Hope everyone at the Rawles Ranch is feeling much better or will be soon!

          2. Dear Avalanche Lily,

            It has never occurred to me to use the avocado pits for anything other than sticking some toothpicks into the pit, suspending it in a glass of water (only partially wet), and letting my daughter see how it sprouted. I had no idea I could do anything else with an avocado pit! Will you please keep us all updated on how to use the pit? Waste not, want not. Or… “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” 🙂

            When I lived in the South (and had all those tropical fruits in my garden), we had a little guinea pig who was quite spoiled and spent afternoons outside in the backyard underneath the ginger bushes. We made sure he came inside to his cage at night. He adored his bath time twice a week with baby shampoo and lavender oil. (The little guy stunk to high heavens, despite changing his litter every other day.) And, he ate his weight in baby carrots. Each time he heard the refrigerator door open, he would squeak incessantly until I brought him a treat. But I never thought to give him the avocado pit to clean up…Darn. He would have loved that! He was a great little rodent and we loved him.

    2. When I freeze guacamole, I place a piece of Saran Wrap directly on top, squishing out any air, and then seal the container and pop into the freezer.

      1. Grits in Montana! Do you squeeze any lemon or lime juice over your avocados before freezing the guacamole? Do you notice any changes once thawed — or need to make any adjustments for flavor or texture when you’re ready to enjoy it? We’ve never frozen avocados or guac, and are wondering about this. Sounds like a very good idea!

        1. Dear Telesilla, I do add lime! I’m kind of a purist with my guac. Just a tad of salt, fresh squeezed lime juice (key limes, if I can get them, or I have also substituted calamondin juice), and mashed up avocados. That’s it! I make sure to squish the air out of the Tupperware container by placing the Saran Wrap touching the guac, put the lid on the container, and then I just freeze it. If any of my crew wants chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, etc, I add those items after the guac has thawed.

          I also freeze overly ripe bananas the same way, with lime juice and a bit of lime zest. Then when I am ready, I thaw and use it for banana bread. it will be all soupy when it thaws but it doesn’t matter for banana bread, and the lime adds a wonderful zing! Another thing I do is mix overly ripe bananas and green-ish bananas to make up banana chutney. (This works with overly ripe mango and green mango, too. You need the combination of both ripe and green to strike the right flavor and consistency, IMHO.) Regardless of the fruit I use, I always add in some slivered almonds to my chutney for extra texture. Chutney is so easy to make and just yummy on fish, chicken, or even atop a veggie curry dish. I still make it here in Montana because my daughter considers it a “comfort food” from her childhood. 🙂

          Previously I lived in the subtropics and managed to tuck a loquat, avocado, papaya, guava, lady-finger bananas, calamondin, and mango tree into corners of my postage stamp sized garden. Invariably I would be inundated with fruits of one kind or another, necessitating a bit of creativity to use it all. I now enjoy experimenting with all the wonderful fruit the good Lord blesses us with here in my Montana garden. This summer I am hoping to experiment with some of the wild plums I planted and see if plum chutney is a winner. It will either be fabulous or a fiasco… I’m not sure which! 😉 I also am hoping to make up some strawberry horseradish sauce from my perennial beds. I know the combo sounds horrendous but is so luscious! Even my “plain meat and potatoes, hold the spice please” husband likes it.

          1. Hello GritsInMontana!
            Thanks so much for sharing the tips and ideas! I do like the idea of the purist approach to the guac with the option of adding extra “goodies” to the mix on thawing. A nice way to make and store homemade guac when the avocados are just right will be terrific!

            Chutneys are the BEST. We like to make an apple-cranberry chutney with onions and even mustard seeds, and serve it over a nice slice of ham and a sweet potato served with butter and brown sugar on the side. Such a treat!

            BTW… I do love the idea of strawberry horseradish sauce. That sounds like a WOW!

          2. A search inspired by GritsInMontana’s strawberry horseradish dish lead to a fun gourmet find… Anyone interested might look up: “Pecan Encrusted Shrimp with Strawberry Horseradish Sauce”

            If we must self-quarantine, cooking good food (from easy basics to sophisticated gourmet dishes) will be a source of healthful nutrition, wholesome activity, and more.

          3. Dear Grits In Montana,

            Hi there!! So, today, I followed your example, and poured key lime juice (that I had frozen into cubes and thawed) over half of my prepared avocado chunks and froze them on a tray covered with Saran wrap. Then the second half of the batch I turned into Guac, with just the avo and lime juice, and froze it in the ice cube tray covered with Saran wrap. Both will be used mostly for smoothies. They froze nicely and didn’t oxidize at all!!!! Yeah! I put them in plastic baggies and returned them to the freezer. I will be definitely doing more of this in the very immediate future!

            So now I have a question. What do you do with the Avocado seed? Do you eat them or use them in any way? Do you know of anyone who eats them? I have heard that they are really good for you, but I just haven’t yet gotten into one to try it. Currently, I have them in a plastic baggie in the fridge.

            We have two small pets in the rodent family who loved cleaning two of them up. I’m still waiting to see if they’ll chew into them… I know if I composted them our resident Red Squirrel population will enjoy them.

            May you have a blessed week,

            Lily

  12. I feel quite confident in saying this virus in and of itself is not going to bring about global economic collapse. It’s the same fear monger as everything from Nostradamus to Y2K. Is China’s economy taking a hit? Of that, I have no doubt. I made that comment to my wife last night. Will some airline stocks suffer? Most likely. I am suspicious of the absolute hype of this virus that has such a low mortality rate, at least as what is being reported. So either everyone is lying about the lethality of the virus or it’s being over hyped thanks to the 24 news cycle. Please don’t place yourselves in a financial pitfall preparing for the “end” due to this latest scary bug. Now as far as the government using it to implement something far more scary, I do have some concerns. I’ve already expressed to family that should they deem the virus such a threat as to make a vaccine mandatory we’ll be heading for the hills, so to speak. Also, be careful with taking excessive amounts of Vitamin C. While not as dangerous as some vitamins in quantity, it can contribute to kidney stones. Not pleasant if you’re trying to avoid emergency rooms. As always, just use common sense and good judgment.

    1. Thank you for that post – finally some common sense! Far too often people are in a panic over things that fizzle out. I agree that this virus won’t collapse the global economy. These are scare tactics. Every year there are flu viruses that pass from Asia around the world and we’ve been just fine.

    2. JL,

      I view what is happening now as a Cat 5 hurricane near Cuba with multiple storm tracks. Would you suggest listening to the forecast that Predicts it misses the US shore or would you fill up you car and fuel tank, get a few cases of water and check on and top off your preps (assuming you were in it’s path)? Collapse? But could it spark a recession or greater? Point is none of us have crystal balls to see the future we know that this flu spreads fast. In one moth it has infect more than SARS did in a year. The good news is that the meat amity is lower than SARS BUT 25% are critical case. If each critical case needs a ventilator as the case count goes up and hospitals run out of vents, you will see the death toll climb. I believe the current limits on entry of people outside of the US are to try and stop, more likely to slow, the wide spread of this flu until a vaccine can be developed. As the normal flue season ends all eyes will be on if this flu does dormant or if it continues. If it continues past normal flu season look out.

      I understand what you are saying, there is a lot of fear mongering out there but as the old saying goes, a stopped clocked is even right twice a day. I would not discount this flu having dire consequences but I would take much of what you see and hear on the internet with a grain of salt.

      1. 3AD Scout,
        Sure, I’d fill up my gas tank and maybe grab an extra case of water. That’s what I’m saying. For this “crisis” I bought a box of N95 mask, as I had used my previous box, and 2 boxes of gloves. Stuff I use around the house regularly anyway and less than $40 spent. But when people start talking about global economic collapse there are some who will spend everything they have getting ready. My other point would be that if we’re all preppers, shouldn’t you already have what you need? You’re not going to get any notice before an EMP, surprise nuclear attack, alien invasion or whatever. More importantly, enjoy life now. Take a vacation, go out for a nice dinner occasionally, etc. We get one go around so put a few things away for your peace of mind in preparation for a potential emergency and then live your life. Odds are you’ll be gone from this earth long before an apocalyptic event happens.

        1. JL,

          Gotcha. Spending beyond your means is NEVER a good idea. Those who max out their credit cards thinking their will be a financial collapse need to consider that collapse may be a slow collapse, not a sudden even. You may still have to pay the bank bank or risk losing your home and preps to a foreclosure. I think back to listening how my great-grandparents were able to keep the family farm during the Great Depression unlike so many others. They said paying the taxes was the one thing they feared as getting cash was difficult. For that reason I cheap so precious metals to be able to pay the property taxes for 2 years. The good news is now that we moved our tax bill is MUCH lower. Stay safe and I hope your right about this.

  13. I have heard that this year’s flu/cold season is awful. Wishing y’all the best in your recovery. I am still on restriction to the house except for the daily doctor visits that end in 2 weeks (4 weeks total). I’ve been restricted for 6 months (with a month off over Christmas) and let me say that it was really difficult to adjust to even with the ability to be out and about in the woods. Having something to keep yourself entertained is paramount. I even started watching shows on the internet (we don’t have TV and haven’t for 25 years). I so appreciate electricity and internet as I was definitely not prepared for longterm isolation psychologically. It was more difficult than I expected, and I’m a home body who likes to be at the house in the woods! Just wanted to point this out for readers’ consideration. Thankful for my family and the dogs for company.

    I reassessed the amount of protein in our pantry and bought more for storage – both canned and freeze dried. I also bought bags of peas and dehydrated them. I found a package of dried chocolate milk for those who like chocolate in our family to try. Interesting idea.

    With the warmer weather, we’ve not been having as many fires thus conserving our cut and split wood. The abundance of snow acts as a nice insulator as well. Although I miss the fires, it seems prudent to save our wood as I know we do not have enough for more than this season stacked at the ready.

    I also braved the store with mask and gloves to stock up. Usually a family member goes shopping with a list, but there are just somethings that I need to see to purchase. We can sleep easy knowing we are fully stocked with food, sundries and Duck tape. One thing I did buy were Christmas tins at absurdly discounted prices. They make nice storage containers.

    Finally, there are things that can be done to minimize bringing infections into the house as some of my family work outside the house. I will say they are a pain, but work! We go through a lot of bleach wipes as everything that arrives at our house is wiped down. Packages and letters are handled with gloves, boxes wiped down or just opened outside and not even brought into the house. Everyone who enters after interacting with the public strips and tosses their clothing right into the washer (no laundry basket use for us) and showers. Counters, drawer knobs, chairs and such are wiped down daily. We wash our hands lots, use hand sanitizer, cover our tooth brushes, do not share toothpaste tubes, have our own drinking mugs, dishwasher everything to sanitize, etc. Definitely changed the way we live, but I did not get sick even when the family did…except over Christmas when I went out. Lots of good info on the internet.

    Wishing everyone a blessed week.

    1. Dear PJGT,

      Hmmm, isolation is something we should all talk about, especially for women. Sometimes I feel very Isolated and lonely, even though, I too am a homebody. It’s worse when the weather is terrible outside (Thanksgiving through second week of January is the worse time for me) and I don’t have any projects that I can do. Our isolation is voluntary, really, but if we had to quarantine for real, we are more prepared for the loneliness than most folks, more used to being alone for long stretches of time. I thank the Lord that we do have internet and phone access to friends and relatives. I spend a lot of time on the phone with my mum.

      Concerning this cold/flu. Only Jim has had a real temperature. He and Miss Eloise started out with a cough, immediately. Miss Violet and I, started with the runny nose. I have slightly achy muscles and have had some weird sharp pains in the thigh, but no joint pain, and slight chills and sweats. Mostly we just feel ick with the burning nose and eyes, and headache, so far. We all slept a lot yesterday through the rain and wind storm power outage. We never use the generator. It is set aside for real emergencies, like emergency surgery during a long term power outage. Power came back on around 3AM Pacific time. Since we had slept most of yesterday and through the night, we have been up since then, posting comments and catching up on the news that we missed, yesterday. Jim is fielding orders and transactions with the Antique guns. It feels like it’s time for another nap. I will check in later.

      Blessings,

      Lily

      1. Lily,

        I can’t stand winter since I can’t be outside doing things I want to do and enjoy. The days are short and “gloomy”. You should try getting a full spectrum light and put it in a room where you spend much of you day.

        Hope every is feeling better there.

        1. Dear 3AD Scout,

          We do have a full spectrum lamp that is kept on all day. My mood always dramatically improves the minute we get real snow during that time period. I am a person who loves outdoor winter activities when the conditions are right: sliding, ice skating, Cross Country Skiing. But, in the past few years, the snow isn’t arriving until January. This year the snow arrived and now it is mostly melting. By February, we often have a few more sunny days and much more daylight and snow.

          🙂

          Lily

      2. I know from reading first person diaries that isolation was a real problem among pioneering women. Being a decedent of one, I try to remember their strength and lean on it.

        The value of social gatherings and celebrations cannot be measured, nor can they be forgot during times of duress. Quarantine, which is what I’m effectively up against with avoiding a secondary infection, limited that social gathering. My dear friends across the country became my social group via phone calls. Even with my awesome children coming home and caretaking, it was rough. These last 2 months are easier to bear as I’ve discovered what to do to pass the time, and could see an end in sight. Having an ending date is amazingly encouraging.

        A couple thoughts on what to do in quarantine and what I found for me. I rarely read fiction, yet I craved cheerful fiction I could loose myself in. I have plenty to read in the house, but nothing light and fluffy. I’ll be getting some of these types novels at the library sale. Also, I found that magazines of interest were a lifesaver. I’ll be picking up some and saving them for reading and rereading if needed. A notebook to jot down ideas and keep lists was really helpful. I organized the house and sorted every cabinet and drawer as well as the basement storage. I would make lists and loved checking them off as I completed them. A large package of small note cards allowed me to send notes off. Finally, I tried new recipes that I saved and found when organizing my recipe notebooks. I’m putting together pantry recipes and adding ingredients for the pantry should I be in this situation again but unable to send someone shopping.

        I would have liked some small wood projects and definitely need to put up an antenna to be able to use my ham radio from the house.

        I have some sewing projects that I could have done if I’d felt better; however, I am not much of a crafter and would need to stock some fabric for making quilts or something needful. I did some shopping when I could get out to do just that. I’m sure there are lots of projects that would entertain, but I’d have to have had the supplies on hand. We have to drive 1.5 hours just to buy sewing supplies. I haven’t knitted since I taught my daughter years ago and thought I might buy some knitting supplies to make wool socks. Just store with the instructions and sufficient supplies. Supplies and instructions are key to being able to do things – especially should there be no electricity.

        It did cross my mind that I was woefully unprepared for birthday or Christmas gifts for the family without shopping. Children, especially, need to have celebrations. I’m thinking on this.

        No sense in wasting any experience. I was surprised at the ache of isolation as I’m not given to high emotions and dislike crowds, but they were there and I need to prepare accordingly. Just wanted to share so others might think on this as well. Even homebodies have a lot more social interaction and more free time in today’s world.

    2. The psychological effects of isolation is a very important topic (even for people who don’t have a lot of contact with people in numbers). What we imagine about such an experience, and the reality of it, may be very different. Understanding it and preparing ourselves in every way possible is a key part of any broader preparedness strategy and plan.

  14. Not much in the way of preps this week. Spent a day clearing out a huge briar patch in my north pasture in preparation to enlarging the pasture this spring. Didn’t see Br’er Rabbit…

    When I built my house I designed the chimney so it would be super easy to access and clean. I clean it twice each year and today is halfway through the winter so today is chimney cleaning day. It only takes 15 minutes and that includes ladder setup and take down. For anyone still designing their house, this is something to keep in mind. If your chimney isn’t easy to access and clean, you probably won’t do it frequently enough. A friend of mine had a chimney fire last year and if you’ve never experienced one, well, it’s more exciting than skydiving. He said his chimney is so hard to clean he just kept putting it off…for four years.

    As a fan of history and biotechnology, it’s been extremely interesting watching the coronavirus epidemic unfold in China. Unfortunately, there’s been way too much misinformation to wade through as well. There are currently 143 cases outside of China so now perhaps we can finally begin to get some accurate mortality rate info which is probably the single most important piece of information we need right now. Hopefully, it will turn out to be fairly low. Even if it is low, or never becomes epidemic here, I think the epidemic in China will affect us economically either via supply chain or market turmoil, or worse, so we should be preparing for that.

  15. This week we had one of the twin granddaughters at home with the flu. Lysol spray and wipes, along with a lot of hand sanitizer, were the order of the day!

    My wife has really been looking at the Coronavirus, and it’s got her more on the preparedness train than anything else. Our monthly shopping trip is this week, and she has been vigorously going through our preps, and working with me to fill the gaps. Not that she hasn’t before, but there is a greater sense of urgency this time around. We’re both thankful that we’re in a more rural area, and away from the potential craziness. I’m very careful when I’m working, since I’m around people now more than she is

    Walmart had some food grade bucket lids on close out, so I bought them all. I also found N95 masks at Lowes, a 20 pack of them for $20, so that came home with me, too. Gas got cheaper locally, so I took our gas cans and filled them up with non-ethanol Premium and Sta-bil.

    Unfortunately, our oldest son and his girlfriend aren’t taking this near as seriously as we are. That whole ‘young and invincible’ thing. They’re still buying into the ‘it’s no worse than the flu’ nonsense. However, the boy is more apt to prepare for things than she is, simply because he has grown up with that mentality. He does have his BOB ready in case he has to make his way here, though, so we’re planning to have the both of them here, if they can make it. Our shopping trips this week have that factor built in.

  16. Working on the east wall of our basement this week with the joint compound and sanding. Thought I was getting a soar throat but probably just some dust from the sanding even though I was using a mask and goggles. Elderberry syrup to the rescue. It really works if you take it right away. I have read that it is not only a preventative but also a curative. Pricing cabinets and countertop to install on this wall for a ‘dry bar’. It will be nice to be able to make coffee or tea while working the radios so we don’t have to go up and down the stairs. Our knees are not what they used to be. We consider this part of the overall basement project a luxury but well deserved with our age and all the hard work we’ve done since moving here.
    Received an order from Vitacost. They had a 20% off special going on so we ordered double of our regular supplements.
    I too had tried to preserve avocado but even when adding lemon juice it still turned brown after packaging and freezing. I’ll have to check out YouTube. It seems like there is always someone who knows how to do things on YouTube. That’s how we were able to fix our dryer.
    We cleaned out the coal stove in the basement as well. It looks like we may get a storm this weekend. Our wood is in upstairs and ready also.
    My experiment with the carrots seeds went well. Most of them sprouted. They were the Fed-Co Red Cored Chantenay from 2016. I keep my seeds in the basement in a dark area throughout the year. I was very surprised and happy.
    I’m about to finish up my first knitting project. I am left-handed and just learned how to knit a hat with the help of….yes, YouTube!
    Prayers to the Rawles family for a quick recovery. Give yourselves an extra week after feeling better before going to town to prevent a relapse.
    Also, prayer for our country and safety for our President and the continuous web of evil that God will prevail.
    Have a blessed week everyone.
    NM

  17. Hello Everyone,

    Just a heads up. As of 8:45 AM Pacific time, we lost power to a very strong wind and rain storm. We are not sure how long we’ll be without power… Therefore since we post many of these comments/moderate them, some of your comments may not get posted for awhile. We will be turning off our UPS very soon.

    I had to go out and feed the animals. While out, I walked down to the river to get a gentle airing out. The temperatures are 51 degrees and wind gusts were so strong that one gust literally almost lifted me up off the ground. Wow! The warm wind and rain is very rapidly melting all snow here.

    I scared up a Buffle Head duck on the river that tried to take off into the crazy wind gusts and fell to the ground and jumped back into the river. I felt bad about that, but hadn’t even seen it in the river until I saw the flash of white hit the ground and jump back into the river.

    Here’s hoping for a speedy resumption of power services.

    Blessings,

    Lily

  18. Seems a somewhat rough year for viruses in general. Not just coronavirus. JWR and family’s story of not getting very sick for years and then getting nailed pretty good seems to be repeated in this comments section and in the experience of many I personally know.

    For myself, I am pretty sure I got actual influenza, as opposed to just a nasty cold, this year. I think that is a first for me for some time. Not real serious or anything. The worst part was that it felt like someone went after my joints with a ball pean hammer but I recovered in adequate time. But I had a flu shot which may have been ineffective or may have mitigated it. I don’t know. Seems like many others had similar experiences.

    Traveled for work for part of the week which increasingly aggravates me because I get little done those weeks. I did make it into my reloading room/office and did a clean out and reorg. Very unexciting but ncessary. Will be continuing that through the weekend.

    1. We experienced the same thing… Serious joint pain associated with an otherwise relatively subtle virus for us (mostly fatigue, occasional minor chills, some congestion but not severe). The worst part of it for us was the joint pain. There was also some muscle pain similar to the joint pain (sharper, not the usual flu-ache, but sharper pains). We believe it has mostly passed, but it does seem to “cling” a bit. None of us is 100% recovered yet, but we pray we are nearing a point of restoration and wellness. Prayers for everyone. Be safe. Stay well!

  19. Blessings to the Rawles family – we pray you will heal soon.

    All – Please read the following.

    https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.27.20018952v1.full.pdf+html

    For those that would rather have a video breakdown of the above publicaiton:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmrm0mk5928

    At an early stage of an outbreak – no one can be sure of the accuracy of info.

    My biggest observation, really, is that the reported numbers and severity do not match the action taken by the Chinese communist government.

    To the communists, nothing is more important than power and money, and the quarantine of 55 million people and shut down of many businesses and schools even in non-quarantine zones directly challenges both of those things.

    I therefore suspect that the true severity and numbers are much greater than is being reported.

    I have heard accounts that the chinese are labeling death certificates “pneumonia”, “severe respiratory distress”, “fever”, and other things- and not associating any cases not directly gene sequenced tested as associated with this virus.

    Of course, the testing is complicated and expensive and they don’t have the bandwidth to test thousands of pts in the manner in which it is currently done- which is a research type method, currently.

    The incubation period is between 1 and 14 days, with 10 days being typical until onset of symptoms.

    There is another 10 days or so of disease progress until death or improvement.

    So the timelines are long here….

    Since I view the current world economy as very fragile I suppose my largest worry is that this virus, even if not a huge deal in and of itself, causes enough economic turmoil as to disrupt the economy sufficiently as to cause a larger chain of events to precipitate… such as credit defaults ….

    With the remote, but still statistically possible event of global supply chain interruptions, I have tried to think out six months to a year on what I might need and order that now…. just in case. And little down side as I will need/consume it regardless

    Remember – since this is FULLY confirmed to spread even when patients are asymptomatic – and can take up to a max of two weeks to become fully symptomatic (about 7-10 days average) our understanding of how wide-spread this is in the US and other non-china locations is about a week or 10 days delayed….

    Remember, Jim likes to say, “panic early and avoid the rush”.

    If you are buying food and sanitation items that you will use ANYWAY, then the only thing lost in buying months or a years worth now of those things that are shelf stable, is the interest you might have earned on that money.

    I would suggest now is NOT the time to buy “storage food” (dehydrated etc) but instead buy what it is you consume on a daily basis anyway – but several months to a year’s worth… now.

    And, another re-post of Jim’s link on what to do to prepare for a pandemic:
    https://survivalblog.com/asianflu/

    God bless you all.

  20. Many folks who plan to bug-out have ‘trigger event’ lists. A pandemic would certainly be on mine. The next 7-14 days bears close monitoring.

    And call me a conspiracy nut but any informed person today would take notice of the virus appearing just 30 days before BREXIT. If you think Trump was politically sabotaged upon taking office just wait until the knives come out for BREXIT.

    1. Most conspiracy theories are based on events that have happened in the past and are well established in accepted history. Most are not unreasonable.

      I don’t know if yours is right or wrong. Time will tell. But it is not unreasonable.

      I have a personal one though. I believe that if Trump is acquitted on the impeachment charges soon they will find something else to “trump” up. Pun intended. If this fails, and he wins reelection, an assassination will be attempted.

      I believe this goes along with Brexit because I believe control of foreign trade is central to their hate for Trump. From NAFTA to the aborted TPP certain people have been getting very wealthy at the expense of working men and women. Trump, an unlikely champion of the working people, has however been the first in many years to fight this and the Brexit movement is similar in Britain.

      Anyway that is my conspiracy theory. Hope it is wrong.

  21. I went to an Auction at a hardware store that was closed. I Spent 7 hours there on Saturday. Started sorting through all the hardware and other items I purchase at auction last Saturday. I bought 2 peg board wall sections (about 4’x5’ each) full of National Hardware inventory. Items included various types and sizes of hinges, corner braces, mending plates, barrel bolts, eye screws of various sizes, ceiling hooks, and cup hooks, hasp. I won the bid on a section that had quick links, snap links, swivel hooks. I also got some vinyl tubing, 100’ of 1/2” black plastic tubing, an analog hanging scale that was used for weighing nails, a new Collins 4lb Blacksmithing hammer, 4 boxes of staples for my staple gun, 3 cabinets full of grease fittings, roller chain links, clevis pins, set screws and hairpins. A Collins pick mattock, a made in the USA shovel, 5 Chicago belt pulleys of various sizes, a new chalk line and 3 bottles of chalk. As part of my winning bid on the wall section was all the peg board hooks and the the pegboard displays that is commercial Grade peg board.

    I made a trip to Walmart and stocked up on anti-diarrheal medicine and other OTC flu medicines. Also picked up some boxes of electrolyte drink mixes.

    Spent some time organizing the prep supply room in the basement. But the best thing I did this week was started an exercise routine using a treadmill and free weights.

    Was extremely busy at work this week with contingency planning in case we start to be affected by coronavirus. Had to place a few orders for supplies and of course some are on back order until this week. we already had contingency stock of N95 masks and such. We learned our lesson back in 2000 with 9-11 and the anthrax attacks N95 and tyvek suits were very hard to come by. What is so funny is when I procured those contingency stocks many thought it a waste of funds, funny how a little flu can make people change their minds about stuff.

  22. We’ve been preparing to do more gardening closer to the house on several large decks so we’ve been scrubbing them down, washing out all pots and putting in new potting soil – the old goes on the garden near the front door. Also got some flower pot caddies so we can wheel them around to get more sun if need be. Lowes had plenty of masks of all kinds. Shoppers were all calm and looked to be working on home projects too. The grocery store had a few extra customers who looked like they were getting ready to host Super Bowl parties rather than prepping. Most of the biggest preparedness companies are very low on freeze-dried food in #10 cans, including, get this, the 4-person, one-year supply for about $32,000! Meats were backordered for 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. Placed a Gurney’s order. Also noticed Lowes had lots of plant stock like figs and kiwi fruit and thousands of seeds out so there is still time to get supplies like that if it comes to that. Added a few buckets for toting things and another Sawyer water filter. Still getting rid of useless stuff too. We want to be really focused if it becomes necessary without knowing where anything is. The flu is very bad in our area, especially the children. We have been blessed so far. Playing out scenarios as to quarantine. It would be a real challenge. Maybe we would all have to post what we did each day and that would help us stay sane! Prayers for you all and our beloved country. We so appreciate all you share and all we learn from y’all.

    1. We noticed the same… My husband was near a Costco and stopped in to bolster some of our supplies. He didn’t see anyone else doing what appeared to be “preparedness level shopping” (smaller, more routine types of purchases appeared to be the order of the day). I made a run to a more local chain grocery store for non-Costco kinds of “shore-ups”, and it was very much the same. The sensation was strange for both of us… In some ways it was comforting to see people smiling and shopping and planning for the national fun of Super Bowl Sunday. In other ways the disconnect between the behaviors of the people and what is unfolding in the news was terribly disturbing.

  23. Lily, I enjoy reading about your food acquisitions at Costco. I know many lefty folks who also sing the praises of Costco. Apparently that store chain treats their employees well as they sell the rest of us good deals.

    Re: THE FLU…I was brought low by that nasty virus three years ago and then pneumonia. Since thin, I drink at least one, often two, cups of ginger root tea every morning. I chop the root and boil it. Sometimes, I gasp at how strong it is. The sensation calms within twenty minutes. I figure that strength is part of the protection. Other times, I dilute the tea.

    Some folks like to add apple cider vinegar to the brewed tea, others choose honey (always local).

    I just bought two heaping handfuls of ginger root today. Would hate to run out any time soon.

    Carry on

    1. Could you be a little more specific how you prepare it? Do you chop it fine or just in chunks. How much ginger do you put in how much water? How long do you boil it or do you put boiling water over it and let it steep?

      1. Friend JBH,

        Today, I chopped the ginger very fine. Friday, I cut bigger chunks. My mood and time available are factors in the size and amount I cut. I seldom, if ever, use a recipe for anything. So, as our fellow correspondents like to say, “your mileage may vary”.

        The most important thing IMO, is to get it done and drink it. Steeped or boiled or whatever works for you.

        When the tea becomes weak after many boilings, I toss the ginger in a blender with some apple cider vinegar, garlic, turmeric, and miso (probiotic). Once liquified, I add the mix to my vegetable stews. Getting every little benefit from that powerful ginger.

        Carry on

  24. Hello All,
    This week I received in two bottles of Clove oil that I ordered ( I had checked several stores but couldn’t find it among the essential oils) I ended up ordering it online from A store called the Fruitful Yield that specializes in healthy foods, supplements, ect.
    Also received my first order of Tattler lids and rings after being inspired by the article that was posted here last week about them.
    Went and renewed my FOID card (Illinois is sooo bad) and found out that they are backlogged oh, about 70,000 new and renewals because this state is in such disarray and so corrupt. The gun shop told me I MIGHT see my new card in about 3-4 MONTHS! And they only have 2 or 3 people processing the applications
    Yay state of Illinois! Way to go morons.
    I’m so disgusted with this state but cannot move right now due to Mom and Dad and being their full time caregiver
    Also made food for the week for mom and dad
    Cleaned out the supplies of masks, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer at Walgreens even though I don’t really need them (no one else at the store was getting any and the cashier didn’t seem to think this was weird having me pull up with the cart loaded up with these items) I will put these away for potential neighbor/family needs.

    Ordered 2 Maxpedition packs from L.A Police gear for 1/2 Price so I’m stoked about that .

    Starting over on my indoor greenhouse, I kinda scorched everything running back and forth to Mom and Dads this week.
    Practice makes perfect!
    I will try planting again next week .
    Have been listening to Ice age farmer podcast in the car going back and forth to Mom and Dads, thanks Lily, it is very insightful!

    Also in the process of reading the book “Three Seconds Until Midnight “ recommend by This site, I’m only 20% into it but so far it’s extremely interesting!!

    Have a great week everyone

  25. Besides, Once a Marine; Always a Marine’s, experiences. WebMD has information about ~Ginger: Possible Health Benefits and Side Effects~

    Ginger grows in China, India, Africa, the Caribbean, and other warm climates. The root of the ginger plant is well known as a spice and flavoring. It’s been a traditional remedy in many cultures for thousands of years.

    Are there health benefits?
    Ginger is a common folk treatment for upset stomach and nausea. There’s evidence that it helps.

    Ginger seems to aid digestion and saliva flow. Studies found that taking ginger could reduce nausea and vomiting in some pregnant women.

    But pregnant women should be careful with ginger. Some experts worry that it could raise the risk of miscarriage, especially in high doses.

    Ginger seems to help with nausea caused by vertigo as well. There’s mixed evidence about whether ginger helps with nausea caused by motion sickness, surgery, or chemotherapy.

    Ginger does seem to help with painful periods. In one study, more than 60% of women felt that ginger lessened pain.

    There’s strong evidence that ginger may ease osteoarthritis pain. It may also help with:

    Rheumatoid arthritis
    Muscle and joint pain
    Headache

    But more research is needed to know for sure.

    Lab and animal studies have found that ginger may, theoretically:

    Lessen swelling
    Lower blood sugar
    Lower cholesterol
    Protect against Alzheimer’s disease
    Prevent blood clotting
    Clinical evidence shows evidence that ginger may be helpful in lowering blood sugar and blood pressure.

    Some people apply ginger compresses to the skin for pain. We don’t know if this works or not.

    Optimal doses of ginger have not been set for any condition. Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely from maker to maker. This makes it very hard to set a standard dose. Ask your doctor for advice.

    Can you get ginger naturally from foods?
    Ginger is a common spice and added flavoring. Many people drink ginger teas or soft drinks.

    What are the risks?
    Side effects. In small doses, ginger has few side effects. High doses of ginger — more than 5 grams a day — increases the chances of side effects. Ginger on the skin may cause a rash. Consumption may cause:

    Gas
    Heartburn
    Upset stomach
    Mouth irritation
    High doses of ginger — more than 5 grams a day — increase the chances of side effects. Ginger on the skin may cause a rash.

    Risks. Ginger may raise the risk of bleeding. If you have a bleeding disorder, it may not be safe. Always tell your doctor about herbal medicines you take, including ginger

    Interactions. If you take any medications regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using ginger supplements. They could interact with blood thinners and medications for diabetes and high blood pressure.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does regulate dietary supplements; however, it treats them like foods rather than medications. Unlike drug manufacturers, the makers of supplements don’t have to show their products are safe or effective before selling them on the market.
    ****************************************************

    FYI: I don’t take Ginger. But, I do know a woman that used Ginger [Purchased as chunks at a Health Food Store]. This statement seems to be true for her experience. =

    “Ginger seems to help with nausea caused by vertigo as well. There’s mixed evidence about whether ginger helps with nausea caused by motion sickness, …”

    “Ginger does seem to help with painful periods. In one study, more than 60% of women felt that ginger lessened pain.”

  26. i feel woefully unprepared for this virus and such i’ve been prepping for about 20 years now and only have supplies that will last me about 6 months. i don’t
    ‘t have much in the way of medical supplies 1 duffle bag full of stuff. i am ready though to do a lockdown at a moments notice. i wish i was not in a urban area but thems the breaks…everyone keep safe

    1. Wally… We understand and believe many among us will confess the same. No matter how prepared we believe we are, we wonder if we are truly ever prepared “enough”. Many are geared up to lock down, but can anyone say honestly that they haven’t experienced the twinge that comes with wondering… What if this is “it”? Have I or we forgotten something? This is where what we tried to imagine and prepare for meets the reality unfolding before us. It’s uncertain for everyone. Among your advantages is that you are mentally prepared to shelter yourself. We hope you won’t underestimate the importance of this in addition to the physical supplies you’ve gathered thus far. Remain steady. Stay well. Be safe!

  27. I’m tuning in late to this today, but in regards to flu prevention we have in our med kit oil of thyme, oil of oregano and olive leaf extract to begin taking as prevention for virus. My daughter had her husband and three children down with the flu last season and remembered I left her with oregano oil, so she began taking it in water (4 drops/8 oz. water). She remained flu free. The negative with taking oregano oil is it will kill everything in your gut, so replace the flora with probiotics. I went into town the other day to replace our dwindling supply of fresh veggies and fruit, while there stopped at the post office to pick up mail and packages. The thought of the corona virus infecting the mail and boxes has me rethinking how careful I am, but every time I went into a store and came out to the car I applied hand sanitizer I make of 15 drops of thieves oil into a small glass spray bottle filled with witch hazel. I will also cup my hands to my nose and mouth before it dries to get this into my nose and lungs. Once home I have for years, soaked my smooth skinned fruits, tomatoes too, in a vinegar water solution for 10 minutes before putting them away in the refrigerator. Another preventive and health drink I have been making is haymakers punch. 1 tablespoon grated ginger, juice of one lemon, 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons or more honey, 1 quart of water. Mix or shake, cover and put on shelf for 48-72 hours to ferment. I’ve been drinking one glass in the morning before coffee for years now. As for flu/colds, we remain free of these for many, many years. No flu shots for us either. Prayer is our 1st line of defense. By his stripes our infirmities are healed. Jesus went to the whipping post for us already and took upon himself all the sins and sicknesses of the world for us. He conquered death and lives. Satan likes to screw with us, but by his stripes we ARE healed and we live. Our prayers are ones of praise and thankfulness for this. Prayer is one of the best preps in our arsenal. Another prep we have accomplished is putting in our order for 3 cherry trees, one plum and one pear. We paid the extra money for mature trees due to our age. These will round out our fruit tree orchard. I look forward to receiving these and getting our orchard planted. I also spent part of the day reading from The Holistic Orchard to find out that our preparation of the raw land was the right thing to do. We dug 10, 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep holes. To these we added decaying tree trunks, branches, twigs and leaves followed by the soil. We covered these mounds with pine chips/bark and let them set for one season before we planted our apples and peach tree into these mounds. I have also been composting food scraps and also weekly during the spring/summer I’ve been spraying the trees and other fruit bushes we have planted, with a tea made from minerals and worm castings. I will add milk sometimes too to this tea. The ashes from our fires will be spread in the spring before budding. Every hole I have dug is always double dug to add decaying trees, leaves and soil mixed into the hole and topped with compost and sprayed with the mineral tea. As for a vegetable garden, I’m holding off as I came across a U-pick down the mountain a short drive where I picked up my apples and veggies last season to put up in jars. I’ll continue to go to them this season to put up more as the thought of gardening vegetables is more work than this ‘oldster’ has in them. Be well all.

  28. Looking forward to SHTF.
    2 sides NEED change. 1) Those who desire freedom 2) Those who desire domination.
    SHTF can’t come soon enough, and I fear that it won’t. The globalists know that when their depopulation event/s take off they will need to act quickly against dissidents (those who desire Freedom). Hopefully there are enough Dissidents worldwide that understand the need to DESTROY as much grid, communication,air & highway infrastructure as possible, including all the biotech labs,bridges,hydro dams,windfarms,solar farms,etc… If not, the globalists will proceed with evil when the smoke clears. We may also see God settle it all soon. Is it safe to say that He would like Change also ?

  29. Any thoughts on the proposed dump of radioactive waste water from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster into the Pacific Ocean? We didn’t see the possible timeline for this, only the suggestion that adopting this decision was likely based on the history of this authority. Also… Any experts among us who might like to comment on the success rate for filtration of some of the radioactive elements, and the risk of those that remain in addition to some perspective on the overall risk of such an action? Clearly this kind of “dump” is a bad idea in any event… Just wondering about the overall picture, relative risks, etc.

    1. I wonder about this too. Seems like an extraordinarily bad idea, doesn’t it? I worry how far this radiation will travel and what implications it will have for not only Alaska and our west coast fisheries but for the poor who live in places like the Philippines. They are so dependent on the ocean for their protein sources…I worry this could be catastrophic for them.

      I quit serving my family any Pacific fish 3-4 years ago and recently stopped eating large fish (tuna, etc) from *any* ocean (because of the propensity for toxins/pollutants to accumulate in larger fish). I still purchase canned sardines and anchovies (small fish). On a recent trip to Spain, I had an anchovy dish that was so good, and it inspired me to try to recreate it. I sauté whole canned anchovies with olive oil, garlic, and some arugula (if I have it), then toss over pasta or spaghetti squash, and top it all with a few “fire flakes” (aka dried red pepper). It’s good and healthy too! Nowadays, I mostly just enjoy fishing in our local river and serving my family fresh trout seared in a cast iron skillet.

      1. Hello GritsInMontana!
        You may already monitor or may be interested in this site:
        https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

        We have been concerned for sometime about seafood safety, and the Fukushima Daiichi disaster and proposed “clean up” only adds to those concerns — really for everyone around the world. There are no good options.

        Great thoughts about the incorporation of small fish and locally sourced trout too! We have grown out our own trout and live near a number of trout farms. As temperatures continue to cool with the coming GSM, we may be able to do more and more of this. Really looking forward to it as we enjoy trout on the grill — and in a heat-cooked form of ceviche!

        We’ve also discovered canned mackerel (Wild Planet brand), and hope to try this in a recipe for fish cakes. The expiration date is reasonably long, and so this works as a relatively shelf-stable protein source for our pantry.

        So many thanks for the fun sharing of ideas! Wishing everyone a restful evening and a wonderful start to the new week — even in the face of all the tougher news!

  30. To all at the Rawles Ranch: Get well soon! We love your expert advice and commentary, and we’re all thankful that you provide this website for those of us who are survival minded and freedom minded.

    Today I ordered six more bottles of Sambucus elderberry syrup — only $18 or so on Amazon. I take 3 teaspoons in the morning, and 3 in the evening. I also take an elderberry gummy at lunch — for obvious reasons, I don’t want to bring syrup to work.

    A cure for this coronavirus may have been found: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-02/thailand-sees-good-result-from-using-drug-mixture-on-coronavirus?utm_medium=social&utm_content=business&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter

    My problem for prepping is time. My commute is about 90 minutes total per day. Sometimes I work overtime — very lucrative, but that eats into my spare time. Then there’s taking care of the house, growing the garden, buying groceries, cooking, etc., sleep, and, God forbid, enjoying life once in a while. (Finding a like-minded woman is also high on my list.)

    I know that prepping is a journey, not something to be done all at once. And I’ve done a lot already: https://survivalblog.com/southern-california-prepper-m-j/

    Still, more spare time would be nice. Comments welcome.

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