All things Prep!

[Brent S]

I've recently started a new hobby... right, because I have plenty of free time (not really). Anyway, I've started smoking meats. It is quite easy, and I managed to build my own smoker from a 55 gallon, steel drum with a removable lid.

Here's a link to an Ugly Drum Smoker (55 Gallon drum smoker): http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate-Ugly-Drum-Smoker/. It's fairly over-the-top, but it give you a good idea on what to do. Mine is MUCH more basic. I built mine for ~$65, and it works AWESOME!

and here's a link about making your own 'lump' charcoal: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/makinglump.htm. Super simple...

I like the idea of having a smoker for bug-in situations because it allows for variety. It also (due to slow-and-low cooking techniques) helps to tenderize/soften otherwise tougher meats. I recently smoked a deer ham (after soaking in a brine, then marinading), and it was as tender as a filet. You can also tune your temperatures down and use the smoker as a dehydrater, but it'll take some practice.

The CONs:
- it requires fire
- non-portable for bug-outs
- smoke will indicate someone is 'home'
- the smell is AWESOME, and it might attract non-preppers
- it requires fuel (wood) vice something else (like a solar oven/cooker).

Just a few thoughts.

I recently. Got a propane smoker for 100 bucks. I am new to smoking and have only done a rabbit in it so far, which turned out pretty good. I have a slab of ribs to try next (drool). I plan to get a large propane tank set in the yard soon, so decided to go with propane vs wood. I'm interested to learn more about smoking for preservation, but will enjoy it for everyday cooking as well.

 

[tcpipdhcp]

This is great! especially for a newbie prepper like me! Thanks!

 

[jimLE]

i forgot about this topic..

 

[tcpipdhcp]

I'm a bit late to the party, I know, but thought i'd let everyone know I thought this was cool

 

[jimLE]

i got a email from where i bought my seeds today.in which i went into their site,and started reading one of the blogs on survival.and they deffently make some good points there..

Creating a Well-Rounded Survival Plan: Part 1 — The Short Term
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/10/creating-well-rounded-survival-plan.html

5 Everyday Household Items for Emergency Survival
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/11/5-everyday-household-items-for.html

Must-Haves for a Barter-Based Economy
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/11/must-haves-for-barter-based-economy.html

 

[Brent S]

i got a email from where i bought my seeds today.in which i went into their site,and started reading one of the blogs on survival.and they deffently make some good points there..

Creating a Well-Rounded Survival Plan: Part 1 — The Short Term
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/10/creating-well-rounded-survival-plan.html

5 Everyday Household Items for Emergency Survival
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/11/5-everyday-household-items-for.html

Must-Haves for a Barter-Based Economy
http://blog.mypatriotsupply.com/2015/11/must-haves-for-barter-based-economy.html

All common sense things! Good links here. I think reading and learning as many ideas and skills is the most important prepping any of us can do. I don't know how many on this site ever watched the show Mcguyver, but that dude could do anything with ordinary household items. Yes it was Hollywood, but all the things he did were real and would work. Having some knowledge of creative fixes could make your life a lot easier in an extended emergency.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Here are some good resources for non-electric items as well as horse drawn equipment and sources for poultry. I've been buying from these companies for many years.

www.lehmans.com
www.cumberlandgeneral.com
www.pioneerfarmequipment.com
www.strombergschickens.com
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com

 

[Brent S]

Here are some good resources for non-electric items as well as horse drawn equipment and sources for poultry. I've been buying from these companies for many years.

www.lehmans.com
www.cumberlandgeneral.com
www.pioneerfarmequipment.com
www.strombergschickens.com
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com

I've seen lehmans' catalogs before, but the others are new to me. Thanks I'll check them out. The only problem is I'm broke! It's kind of like taking a kid to a candy store and saying you can look, but......

 

[jimLE]

here's some post/blogs from someone called calamity Janet.in which she touched base with one of my fave food groups.. pasta...in which i do have some boxes of mac n cheese.and other pastas...and most of what i go with..are idea pastas for people on a budget.

http://www.calamityjanet.com/s-is-for-spaghetti.html

and for those that don't know about them.knorr sides..they have pasta and rice sides alike..i've been buying for $1.00 each for the rice,and pasta alike.

http://www.knorr.com/product/category/245876/pasta-sides

plus.they have recipes as well

http://www.knorr.com/recipes/pasta/623998

 

[Brent S]

I don't care what kind of budget one has, not storing food is just plain stupid. Sure I would love to just go out and buy a load of buckets of mountain house, but the fact is I can't afford it. I can however afford to buy a couple extra things each time I go to the grocery. I'm really not too concerned about a twenty five year shelf life either. I figure if things go bad for that long then you're screwed anyways. Regular canned goods will last a good five years plus, regardless of the expiration date. As Jim said, dry pastas, rice, beans, etc. are all things that aren't too expensive and store well. Having a pantry with food in it may not get you through the apocalypse but it will help through a job loss, natural disaster or terrorist attack. I still think that for the budget conscious that a garden and canning is the best way to go. I have an investment in mason jars, and two pressure canners, but it has paid for itself many times over. Not only do I get fresh food each season, but it's cheaper, healthier and most importantly, tastes better.

 

[Gazrok]

Biggest key to prepping...

SUSTAINABILITY.

Stockpiling is great, but TRUE prepping involves the ability to have CONTINUOUS food and water. Without it, your days are literally numbered.

 

[jimLE]

because of this topic and another one,else where.i've started a new list of foods to buy.including water.and the foods im going with.are foods that we're low on.but deffently not out of.....


P.S. edit..one thing i plan on getting,when i find some that'll work.and at the right price..are mirrors for setting up behind my oil lamps to give off more light..

 

[Bugle boy]

a lot of these links are broken or point to non-existent websites. Can you or someone go back and fix them so that the info is available?

 

[jimLE]

here's something i mentioned in This weeks preps check-in
well,I'll be..mom is finally getting rid of A LOT of old clothes.i already have a bunch of room in my closet for preps now,plus we just dealt with clothes from the laundry-room..she's thinking of a floor type cabinet for food in that location.then another cabinet for food,where the home made shelves are,in which it'll be for food as well. .her bedroom closet will be next...then the hall closet..preppers paradise.all in all..freeing up lots of space for preps..

now here's what i accidentally failed to mention..
there were 3 or 4 shirts/blouse's with buttons.i used the scissor on my multi tool plier,to remove the buttons,and then added the buttons to my sewing kit..never know when a extra button or 2,will come in handy.i have a warm jacket in which i found on the side of the road last year..(washed n dried)only thing is.i had to add buttons to the cuffs of it.in which i had on hand,on account i saved some buttons from something else that had to be thrown away..

 

[Gazrok]

That's a good idea...removing buttons from old clothes.

 

[Brent S]

That's a good idea...removing buttons from old clothes.

We are really lucky to be alive and in this country at this time in history. We are all living so comfortably that it's easy to forget that times weren't always like this, nor will be guaranteed in the future. I think in a shtf or even just an economic downturn we will be recycling a lot more than just buttons. Brings to mind my father in law. He was a second generation cobbler. People used to fix things. When I have a pair of shoes that get beat I just chunk them. It's hard to even find a shoe repair shop now.

 

[jimLE]

I've been wanting to get a collapsible bedsisde/camping toilet. .with bucket n lid.bio degradable bags..and a diaper pail if the TP runs out.and the water stops flowing.
Just found one that i figure to be good for home use when the plumbing is froze up as well as camping. Plus it'll be good in a wrose case scenario
https://www.google.com/search?num=2.....0i71j35i39.t7q9A6q_iv8#imgrc=_LriANn6D7fJ9M:

 

[tmttactical]

I've been wanting to get a collapsible bedsisde/camping toilet. .with bucket n lid.bio degradable bags..and a diaper pail if the TP runs out.and the water stops flowing.
Just found one that i figure to be good for home use when the plumbing is froze up as well as camping. Plus it'll be good in a wrose case scenario
https://www.google.com/search?num=2.....0i71j35i39.t7q9A6q_iv8#imgrc=_LriANn6D7fJ9M:

A good addition, whether rural or urban. sure beat hanging your tush over the balcony.

 

[Rayden]

Here's this

 

[BillMasen]

I've been wanting to get a collapsible bedsisde/camping toilet. .with bucket n lid.bio degradable bags..and a diaper pail if the TP runs out.and the water stops flowing.
Just found one that i figure to be good for home use when the plumbing is froze up as well as camping. Plus it'll be good in a wrose case scenario
https://www.google.com/search?num=2.....0i71j35i39.t7q9A6q_iv8#imgrc=_LriANn6D7fJ9M:

This is ours

 

[Dracos]

I've recently started a new hobby... right, because I have plenty of free time (not really). Anyway, I've started smoking meats. It is quite easy, and I managed to build my own smoker from a 55 gallon, steel drum with a removable lid.

Here's a link to an Ugly Drum Smoker (55 Gallon drum smoker): Ultimate Ugly Drum Smoker. It's fairly over-the-top, but it give you a good idea on what to do. Mine is MUCH more basic. I built mine for ~$65, and it works AWESOME!

and here's a link about making your own 'lump' charcoal: How To Make Lump Charcoal - The Naked Whiz's Ceramic Charcoal Cooker. Super simple...

I like the idea of having a smoker for bug-in situations because it allows for variety. It also (due to slow-and-low cooking techniques) helps to tenderize/soften otherwise tougher meats. I recently smoked a deer ham (after soaking in a brine, then marinading), and it was as tender as a filet. You can also tune your temperatures down and use the smoker as a dehydrater, but it'll take some practice.

The CONs:
- it requires fire
- non-portable for bug-outs
- smoke will indicate someone is 'home'
- the smell is AWESOME, and it might attract non-preppers
- it requires fuel (wood) vice something else (like a solar oven/cooker).

Just a few thoughts.

In my community Dracos smoked turkeys are better than gold, silver, or paper money. That's why I'm going to Texas when the weather clears.

 

[Dracos]

A good addition, whether rural or urban. sure beat hanging your tush over the balcony.

Many sights say put a bag in your toilet ,When it gets full hike down your apartment stairs walk one mile and bury it. HAHAHA No one s going to do that. They are going fling it off their balcony.

 

[Dracos]

I recently. Got a propane smoker for 100 bucks. I am new to smoking and have only done a rabbit in it so far, which turned out pretty good. I have a slab of ribs to try next (drool). I plan to get a large propane tank set in the yard soon, so decided to go with propane vs wood. I'm interested to learn more about smoking for preservation, but will enjoy it for everyday cooking as well.

Propane will never do as good a job as I can do can do. Just like robots will never paint a Master piece.

 

[Brent S]

I can’t argue that smoking with hardwoods is better for flavor than propane. Propane is just way easier for cooking during the week and when busy. The propane has trays over the burner, one for the water and one for sticks. I usually use apple sticks. I’m still working on pruning all my fruit trees here and will save a box of them just for smoking. The Apple seem to be the best branches But I have plumb, cherry and pear too.

 

[BillMasen]

The only stuff over here I know that gets smoked a lot is Gammon and Ham, and of course Kippers.

 

[Brent S]

Lots of times I will smoke ribs for just a little bit and then finish up slow cooking In the oven. That way I get the flavor and ease of not having to tend the smoker. Now that I’ve discovered the instapot though, there is no better way to cook ribs or most meats. Quick, easy and tender. Most kitchen gadgets aren’t worth having but the instapot for cooking and the air fryer for reheating are awesome.

 

[Inmarinen]

The only stuff over here I know that gets smoked a lot is Gammon and Ham, and of course Kippers.

show your house and your work, anonymous troll ... you are a simple chatterbox who deceives the Americans ... you have nothing

 

[Amish Heart]

Lots of smoked meat around here. Brisket and turkey are two of my favorites.

 

[Amish Heart]

Hey Bill. The whacked Russian guy wants to know where you live. He's giving you three days to tell him. Then you're a troll and he leaves.
Ha Ha.

 

[Illini Warrior]

because of this topic and another one,else where.i've started a new list of foods to buy.including water.and the foods im going with.are foods that we're low on.but deffently not out of.....


P.S. edit..one thing i plan on getting,when i find some that'll work.and at the right price..are mirrors for setting up behind my oil lamps to give off more light..

in regard to that light refracting using mirrors >>> if you can cut glass - the 12" X12" mirror tiles are cheap usage cut to fit inside a picture frame