New Prepper advice needed

[Candace Helstowski]

Hello I'm Candace. I'm from New Mexico. I'm preparing for anything that will bring a social and economic collapse. An EMP right now is my biggest fear. so here is the part of my prepping plan that is missing. What foods should I grow to sustain my small family and a group of people? I'm not just wondering about plants but animals too. My whole group have a purpose. My husband knows his way around a gun, I grew up on a farm in central Nebraska, my cousin is a combat specialist, his wife is a teacher, my father is an outdoorsman and hunter, my uncle works in a meat locker, and my mother is able to can foods. We feel we have a well rounded group. But need need a way to feed our group and any friendlies that may join us.

 

[Potter County Man]

In a lot of ways, you have too many people to feed and take care of.
In a emergency situation, it is good to have one person that is an expert on individual subjects and others in the group that has cross trained in those fields, so even with the loss of one member of the group, the group will just keep on going.

A EMP does not have the long term affects like a nuclear bomb dropped on the ground.
The worst part about it is that it would probably render most communications and electronics unusable - since it is all solid state.

With a group as large as yours, you are going to end up needing those meals in a bucket type deals - where you can feed multiple individuals - like slopping the hogs.

The downside to an EMP is that when the grid goes down, you have no banking system, no scheduled fuel delivery, the electric grid goes down, so you don't have electric to run the fuel pumps and without electronic cash registers most grocery stores would have to close and would run out of inventory in about 3 days.

Most Preppers plans for a 6 month hardship, so just figure out how many calories per a person you need and multiply it by 180 and that is how much food you will need.

Laundry detergent and potable water is two other considerations you must address along with sanitation needs. If your septic system is not designed to handle a dozen or more people, you are not going to be able to stay very long in your bug out place and will have to move from time to time.. I hope you are not planning on bugging in.....

It wouldn't be like a family reunion down on the farm, but more like trying to get as far away from civilization as you can get before your fuel runs out.
Your plan might take some tweaking to get it feasible.

 

[Dani]

Welcome Candace. It sounds like your network has a good start.

 

[getnready]

Welcome.

I suggest chickens and rabbits for a good food / protein source. Think about fruits and veggies that do well in your area. Dont waste time growing produce your family wont eat.

Each of those families you listed in your group should be stocking their own goods as each families needs are different.

Good luck!

 

[Brent S]

Hello I'm Candace. I'm from New Mexico. I'm preparing for anything that will bring a social and economic collapse. An EMP right now is my biggest fear. so here is the part of my prepping plan that is missing. What foods should I grow to sustain my small family and a group of people? I'm not just wondering about plants but animals too. My whole group have a purpose. My husband knows his way around a gun, I grew up on a farm in central Nebraska, my cousin is a combat specialist, his wife is a teacher, my father is an outdoorsman and hunter, my uncle works in a meat locker, and my mother is able to can foods. We feel we have a well rounded group. But need need a way to feed our group and any friendlies that may join us.

I really like the group you have, everyone has talents, you look like all yours are practical ones. The first question should be, what do you eat, Then what can grow in your area. If your in a desert like area a greenhouse can help help expand the variety of what you can grow. I like veggies like carrots and potatoes as there filling and have a long shelf like without referigeration. (I really want a root cellar). With the animals, I've started chickens and rabbits so far. It takes a little set up and practice initially but they produce meat and fertilizer and reproduce easily. I think I'm going to get a cow next but am considering goats too. I also have running water and am going to stock brim and catfish this spring. Just look at your environment, such as size of land, grass for grazing, water, etc. It makes more sense to get animals and plants that are suited to where you are than to work harder making it work for them. Also think long term, I planted some pecans that won't harvest for years, but are attractive and will be beneficial eventually. Fruit trees are a lot quicker return and will produce year after year. I hear about edible cactus? Oh and I gotta ask, seen any aliens? Sorry, couldn't resist! Stay safe.

 

[jimLE]

howdy .... and welcome to the forum and family...there's quiet a few knowledgable folks here that'll gladly tell ya what you need to know,or at least point ya in the right direction and/or give ya a good idea or 2..and by all means jump right on in with any replys you have on a topic.and start new topics if/when needed...

 

[Gazrok]

I suggest chickens and rabbits for a good food / protein source. Think about fruits and veggies that do well in your area. Dont waste time growing produce your family wont eat.

Exactly. Both of these animals are fairly low maintenance. I'd even add pigs to this list (plus they eat scraps).

 

[Clyde]

Hello I'm Candace. I'm from New Mexico. I'm preparing for anything that will bring a social and economic collapse. An EMP right now is my biggest fear. so here is the part of my prepping plan that is missing. What foods should I grow to sustain my small family and a group of people? I'm not just wondering about plants but animals too. My whole group have a purpose. My husband knows his way around a gun, I grew up on a farm in central Nebraska, my cousin is a combat specialist, his wife is a teacher, my father is an outdoorsman and hunter, my uncle works in a meat locker, and my mother is able to can foods. We feel we have a well rounded group. But need need a way to feed our group and any friendlies that may join us.

Welcome and thank you for taking time to join Doomsday Prepper Forums.com. Your presence here is much appreciated. We look forward to your posts, and hope you enjoy the community!

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have in the proper area, and I know you will get an answer, as he members on here are extremely knowledgeable and more than willing to help!

Thank you again for taking the time to join Doomsday Prepper Forums.com!

 

[eireguy]

Welcome . Look around some & I am sure you'll find what you're after

 

[Overlord]

A Warm Welcome! Feel free to ask around. Lots of good folks willing to help you. Have a 2nd cousin who lives in New Mexico. She is married to a Sioux Indian.

Roswell? Isn't that the famous place of UFOs, etc.?