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:
I’m finally back into my normal springtime routine at the ranch: writing and editing in the mornings, and ranch work in the afternoons. This week, I dropped a dead-standing red fir that measured about 24″ across, at the butt. I also dropped a healthy white pine that measured about 22″ across, at the butt. That latter was much too close to where I plan to erect an outbuilding, next year. Limbing them and cutting rounds to stove length was time-consuming, even with a sharp chainsaw chain. My kids helped me drag limbs to slash piles. I’m giving those limbs the full summer to dry. The piles will be touched off–after some rains–most likely in October. I should mention that in the past, I did some spring slash burning, but found that getting them started required too much “Woof.” (Dyed Off-Road Diesel.) So now I do nearly all of my slash and garden waste burning in the fall.
Our life here in the midst of the pandemic is remarkably similar to as it was before. We just have far fewer trips to town, and no face-to-face Bible study meetings. That is what I really miss.
As usual, Lily has a far more detailed report than mine. Sorry that my portion is often written in the terse Joe Friday (“Just The Facts…”) style.