Survivalist Prepping vs Supply Prepping

[Jake-prepper_hopeful]

I like the concept of both but it is survivalist that I use right now. I am on very small income and renting an efficiency apartment with my best friend and I have very limited supplies, I have a basic pack and I'm getting a pack rifle and takedown bow ASAP but other supplies will be what I gather through the process of gathering and bugging out to my location

 

[Gazrok]

3RD time??? 3RD time? roflmmfao! idk bout 3rd time but thatd be a great idea really, just make sure the gang isn't big enough where only a few guys pass from it n the rest come back looken for you. the most optimal defense is not for someone to have an offence looking for you lol. ill have to remember that when im out re-supplying my food.....let people I don't care about eat it first haha

That's why you use slow-acting stuff, that may mask as other symptoms, etc. By the time they make the connection (if they do at all), their numbers are at least lower when they come back, if they do.

The problem with giving to gangs is that they will not accept a small pack from you, they will want the whole lot so they don't have to come back to keep on collecting. It won't be worth the effort. They wouldn't care about you having some left. Unlike with the taxes with the government, you only give the gov't a portion of what you have.

Still can only carry so much, and the wise leader will like the idea of a possible resupply. If not, then the run and poison idea (if too large to fight and win decisively). No doubt it would suck to have to run, and have the place ransacked, but better than death (and some small satisfaction knowing what awaits the looters a few days from now...like stomach cramps, eventual death, etc.).

I can be a ruthless ******* when my family's safety is at stake. I'm sure I'm not the only one, so something these looters will have to consider and assess.

 

[psalm 7]

Ruthless yea . I'm live and let live when I can be but I've studied unconventional warfare for decades and have develpoed a defence stratagy that would make any threating parties wish they had stayed out of my sector .

 

[Krime]

I like the concept of both but it is survivalist that I use right now. I am on very small income and renting an efficiency apartment with my best friend and I have very limited supplies, I have a basic pack and I'm getting a pack rifle and takedown bow ASAP but other supplies will be what I gather through the process of gathering and bugging out to my location

there are so many cheap ways to get what you need, from Wal-mart to the dollar store, and if all else fails, ask people for stuff. like when you go to the doctor/hospital, ask for that half bottle of iodine or gauze etc. imho, if you're bugging out, the last thing you're gonna want to do is stop to get something (depending on the town/location). me, I live in somewhat of a city, I know that everyone and their grandfather are gonna be hitten up the stores etc, so I like to have what I need beforehand. if I can get out of this place while everyone is still frantically chasing down supplys, ill have a head start and be less likely to be wounded in the process.

 

[Gazrok]

When I've gone to the hospital, I've filled up one of those little bins. You get charged for it anyhow, might as well have it. Of course, if they happen to have some open drawers with supplies in them....

 

[jimLE]

thats when it pays to be a woman with a big purse..lol

 

[Krime]

you must understand, I used to be that basturd that broke into everything, cars, houses you name it. I was a theiven F'er I was. I left that life behind though so no matter how small, I don't steal anything anymore, try n do my best in life to be very honest. though the day may come again where my skills are needed.

 

[kay13]

I have read all of these replies and I see all the points made...for me and my family we do both kinds of prepping...natural medicinal plants are out there but if you don't know how to use and prepare them you will do more damage than good...seek the advice of a herbalist and learn the old ways....it could mean the difference of life and death for you and your family...mother nature has provided for us for centuries we have just forgotten how to use what she has givin us

 

[Overlord]

After our exercise at home, we realized that mainly supply prepping (based on supermarket items) is not the only way to go. We are now going to start beginning the plots and increase the number of plants we have growing in the condo (subject to building restrictions).

Will also increase the number of vegetables at the farm (we mostly have fruit trees like bananas, jackfruit, etc.) and put up a fishpond.

 

[Gazrok]

learn the old ways

Probably the best advice that keeps popping up in these forums...

 

[Myrrph]

yeah, thats a problem with apartments. no matter what u still need to find space below to farm. Its difficult to really farm in an apartment.

 

[Gazrok]

Yeah, but you can still grow some things. Like those hanging planters with cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries, etc. they sell on TV.

 

[kay13]

you can also grow plants such as peppers, tomatoes,beans, etc in pots ....growing such is container gardening and u can do it all year round

 

[psalm 7]

I have not put alot of thought into urban survival . But would it make sence to have enough prep and security you could lay low until the crowds have left to greener pastors . Surely the handfull that would do this could live off what is left then head in another direction if needed maby to predetermined bug out location . I'm reminded of the WW2 movie The Pianist about a Warsaw geitto suvivor that was left behind after it was cleared .

 

[jimLE]

i believe it'll have every thing to do with the person(s)on hand (prepper),the urban area,the size of it.nearest town/city,the size of it.right along with the preps on hand.and how bad things are once tshtf happens..

 

[kay13]

I agree...also if you live in a area that is accustom to being self sufficient it will be easier providing that its not a hot spot...im fortune to remember the ways of my grandma and so forth....when the mines would strike for months and only one income we always had gardens and hunting and fishing and we always canned..plus we raised and slaughtered our own live stock and preserved....the main problem I have come across is its just me and my young kids and how to do it all by ourselves...i have items stored but running a descent size farm is hard with 1 adult only and the security needs

 

[jimLE]

have you thought about connecting up with other like minded ppl?

 

[kay13]

there is hardly anyone who preps ..if they do they are very secretive about it..majority of ppl here in this area think prepping is crazy....unfortunately for them...

 

[Myrrph]

we've been damaged by the DDP series on Nat geo unfortunately

 

[jimLE]

yeah we have..especially the group that said we're going after the preppers

 

[Myrrph]

opsec opsec opsec!

 

[Maverick]

'Supply Prepping' is short term, I would say short term is less then two years where as 'Survivalist Prepping' would be long term, since no one can really say how long short term would last it would be imperative to learn long term skills. I kindly touched on this subject, perhaps I should have posted my thoughts here instead of...

http://doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php?threads/keep-it-real-learn-the-old-ways.3955/

 

[Snowflake]

I wanted to start this thread to cover a common discussion among preppers and to help guide those who are unsure about exactly HOW to "Prep". Forgive me if this has been covered, but I'd like to see this become a sticky so that people can discern whats the best route for them and to see the merits about both styles of prepping. It's even asked in your profile whether or not you plan to "Bug out".... Personally I think it's best to be able to do BOTH, but finances, time, and other things come into play that may keep some folks from doing one or the other... I am by no means an expert on either, but would like to open this discussion to help ALL preppers, whether you be a beginner, intermediate, or advanced in your skills & supplies.

First I want to address what I see as weaknesses in the methods. There are definitely pluses to them, but there are also minuses to them, which is what I believe leads us to practice one or the other.

"Supply Prepping" is often what comes to mind in modern prepper circles. It definitely seems to me that in our modern society of consumption, that we tend to lean towards "Ready made" everything. Food, clothes, housing, tents, tools, and even ready made survival kits and first aid kits... People like to run down and hit the local store so they can buy what they need and store it in case they ever need it. The problems with this are many, in my opinion. First, what if you can't "Bug in"? Are you able to haul all of your food, water, and other supplies to wherever it is that you need to go? Many people would prefer to NOT have to go to the woods and hunt, build a shelter, and carry on that way. That is what I think makes people want to "Stock up".

"Survivalist Prepping" is what people often think of as "Old school" survivalist skill. Living off of the land and all the gifts that Mother Nature has provided us. There is without question enough bounty in nature to live a rather nice life, but we have gotten used to technology and modern conveniences. While even the most skilled survivalist will often say they would prefer a lighter or matches, it is good to know how to do this with nothing but nature and skill. Same goes for food and water. Would it be "Better" to have bottled water and pre-packaged food? Maybe so. Will you be able to heat it? Can you carry it if you need to evacuate your home? Some people don't think they'll necessarily be able to "Bug in", so they prepare to head out to the woods to make the best of it there.

Now personally, I think that having and knowing BOTH is clearly the best idea, but that's not always a possibility. Some folks don't have the money to store tons of food and thousands of gallons of water. Some folks don't have the time, or have health issues that would keep them from getting out to the woods and learning such skills.

I have come to believe that it is probably best to be able to hit the bricks and live in the wilderness if you have to pick one and both are truly viable options. Clearly I'm not an expert as I'm still working on honing skills for everything from primitive shelters and fire to trapping and foraging. I'm learning quickly that I'm better at that than I am at shopping at big stores for supplies though!

What's your thoughts on it? What do you think about both schools of thought, and do you prefer one over the other? Can you see certain pitfalls with one because of personal circumstances or due to the area you live in?

I'm really looking forward to reading your responses.

-Alabaster

Bug out every time...Only a pandemic might keep me at home and only if my group were infected. Otherwise I'm off.

 

[alabaster]

kay13's point about "The old ways" is exactly what draws me to survivalist prepping. There are plenty of reasons to "Hoard" food, water & other things, but there is still something to be said for being able to live off the land ON THE GO. Having a garden, livestock, and a well is awesome, but if you aren't a good stretch from the urban areas, you will have a tough time. If you are able to get out of Dodge, then you can boogie to the sticks and you'll know what to do along the way AND when you get there. I can see the value in both, but in these times of "Urban sprawl", it seems to me that most of us are better suited to a light duty bug in with a serious plan to get us out of harm's way.

My $.02...

 

[Gazrok]

I have not put alot of thought into urban survival . But would it make sence to have enough prep and security you could lay low until the crowds have left to greener pastors . Surely the handfull that would do this could live off what is left then head in another direction if needed maby to predetermined bug out location . I'm reminded of the WW2 movie The Pianist about a Warsaw geitto suvivor that was left behind after it was cleared .

Problem with that, is that you'll have to lay VERY LOW, as gang rule will likely be the norm, with armed thugs looting and pillaging everything in an urban area. Any sign of habitation, and they'll break in, loot your supplies, and likely take the women, etc. It will NOT be an ideal situation. Only those that can hide from them or join them will make it in the cities, simple as that. In rural areas, distance will be your friend, preventing large groups from venturing out with limited supplies to unknown rewards. Not to mention, rural folks tend to be ARMED and well-practiced at USING them. If I were a gang leader, I'd stick to softer targets, and those close to home base.

 

[psalm 7]

When you look at frountier life or even 3rd world life today you see folks willing to stand and fight for what they have to make a living with . I could see bugging out to regroup , reload and come up with a plan to take back whats mine and make the thugs wish they had of went ealsewhere . I have camped out for a couple of weeks at a time . I mean camping on the ground with a camp fire and what I could carry in . Thats close to a bugged out life and with a choice between standing and fighting for my home or a small camp site its a easy choice . Trouble will find the bugged out as well as the homesteader .

 

[Gazrok]

you must understand, I used to be that basturd that broke into everything, cars, houses you name it. I was a theiven F'er I was. I left that life behind though so no matter how small, I don't steal anything anymore, try n do my best in life to be very honest. though the day may come again where my skills are needed.

No worries. I think a well-prepared prepper HAS to think like a criminal in order to identify weak points in the plans. We have to consider the "enemy" as someone (or a group of someones), that can be smart, armed, and desperate, and assume they have no moral compass whatsoever, when planning our defenses.

 

[backandbeyond]

Growing food is hard, problematic, and not at all necessary for me now and perhaps never? But I see the sense in having the infrastructure for it, water tanks, an area of decent soil. I have installed a couple of big tanks and my backyard faces the sun so it would be easy to strip the grass off and convert it into a corn and potato patch if necessary but for now I am happy with keeping a year or 2's supply of needed nutrition packed away.

Many things we have been preparing for may never come to pass, this is just the nature of insurance, which prepping basically is. It's a balancing act and I don't want to waste too much money or effort in areas that may not be required. Water tanks are ok, they are cheap and come in handy now for the yard, the same with storing food long term. This saves me money long term as long as I rotate it through. But growing my own food now would be a total waste of time and effort since I can earn enough money in one hour of part-time work to buy a weeks worth of basic food. The day may come, but it's a long way off for us down here in Australia.

 

[Brent S]

Growing food is hard, problematic, and not at all necessary for me now and perhaps never? But I see the sense in having the infrastructure for it, water tanks, an area of decent soil. I have installed a couple of big tanks and my backyard faces the sun so it would be easy to strip the grass off and convert it into a corn and potato patch if necessary but for now I am happy with keeping a year or 2's supply of needed nutrition packed away.

Many things we have been preparing for may never come to pass, this is just the nature of insurance, which prepping basically is. It's a balancing act and I don't want to waste too much money or effort in areas that may not be required. Water tanks are ok, they are cheap and come in handy now for the yard, the same with storing food long term. This saves me money long term as long as I rotate it through. But growing my own food now would be a total waste of time and effort since I can earn enough money in one hour of part-time work to buy a weeks worth of basic food. The day may come, but it's a long way off for us down here in Australia.

I agree that economically growing food isn’t really worth it. Yet when you factor in nutrition, flavor, satisfaction and the exercise, it is a worthwhile endeavo.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I agree that economically growing food isn’t really worth it. Yet when you factor in nutrition, flavor, satisfaction and the exercise, it is a worthwhile endeavo.

We're starting to calculate the economics of having a garden. We have to pump water 1/4 mile to reach the garden. Running a 12kw generator on $4.40 gallon gas may not be worth it any more. When gas was a little over 2 bucks a gallon it was borderline. Now with the promise of fuel going much higher we probably won't have a garden this size any more.