This weeks preps check-in

[Brent S]

My wife bought a new bug out back after Christmas. It's smaller than mine, but she can overload it easily. I need to get off my butt and rework mine.

It's an ever evolving thing. It really is good to swap out perishables in them. I have two plus yr old mre's in the boot of the car still. Those will go strait to the trash... I did get a pretty good backpack at Walmart a few days ago. On clearance from 42.00 to 7.00. I'm a sucker for a bargain. Bags are always good for storage anyways. My problem is I have so much crap there's no way I could carry it better than three or four miles.

 

[Dani]

I ran across a pic of him tonight when just a couple months old, . . . he will forever be Norm to me since he was a bottle feed calf, but he sure does taste good! Believe me, I shed some tears bringing this 900 lb babe in.

 

[jimLE]

it's a rainy wet day out.and no where to go,untill tomorrow.thats when i'll be doing my primary shopping for the month..so today,im sharpening some knifes somewhat...

 

[Mountain trapper]

Our last storm dumped a couple feet of snow, then freezing rain, high winds and back to snow again. We had one day this past week that got above freezing but still no sun. I've been spending 8-10 hours every day this past week trying to clear the road. Ran out of fuel yesterday for the generator and tractor and had to attempt driving out to get more fuel. Even with tire chains on, my truck slid off the road in a step narrow section. Luckily the snow bank kept me from rolling the truck over and down the hill. A couple hours of digging and I was back on the road again. The wife fly's in tomorrow morning for her monthly visit, but since we had more heavy snow today I had to leave the ranch early tonight. So needless to say I haven't done much in the way of prepping, but did have to dig in to some of my supplies. I'm looking forward to Spring, or at least a sunny day.

 

[SheilaT.]

Our last storm dumped a couple feet of snow, then freezing rain, high winds and back to snow again. We had one day this past week that got above freezing but still no sun. I've been spending 8-10 hours every day this past week trying to clear the road. Ran out of fuel yesterday for the generator and tractor and had to attempt driving out to get more fuel. Even with tire chains on, my truck slid off the road in a step narrow section. Luckily the snow bank kept me from rolling the truck over and down the hill. A couple hours of digging and I was back on the road again. The wife fly's in tomorrow morning for her monthly visit, but since we had more heavy snow today I had to leave the ranch early tonight. So needless to say I haven't done much in the way of prepping, but did have to dig in to some of my supplies. I'm looking forward to Spring, or at least a sunny day.
View attachment 6517

Tell me about it. Since Christmas we have had 4 days where we've seen the sun. Our default weather is fog, generally freezing fog, around here. I'm looking forward to spring!

 

[Kenprep1979]

Well ive been subbed to Battlbox for several months now .. Just got this months box couple days ago -sitrep " Camp Chef" pretty cool got a camp stove compact fuel can type, very similar to my MSR pocket rocket, got aReadyman card which becomes a skewer that you can attach to a stick for roasted dogs or w/e meat you happen to kill, multi compartment seasoning container, a telescopic skewer, and a recipe book for outdoors cooking tips and tricks. been a pretty good investment so far ! cant beat someone else doing your shopping using there gas and there time for only 25 bucks a month? ill take it ! soon as i quit being lazy ill take a pic of the last 4 months worth of **** ive gotten from them quite a bit of stuff...

 

[Brent S]

I finally got all the leaves from my 2.5 acre property picked up and put in the garden! I took the small mower and mulched them all down to a finely ground mulch that's about 4 inches thick over the entire garden. I'm hoping to till it in good tomorrow. I also started picking up the firewood and kindling from the fruit trees I took down. I decided to thin out some trees that I had planted too close to each other. Normally I would just drag the brush to the burn pile, but I'm taking a machete and making kindling out of most of it. I don't know if it's really worth it, but it feels good to not waste much of them. I do heat mostly with fire all winter, but am glad that I don't have to cook year round at least. Keeping up with firewood is a lot of work! Just imagining having to do it without the chainsaw makes me tired.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Picked up the lumber yesterday for the barn loft. It'll be nice to get started on a new building project. With the extra storage space I can start bringing home some of the stuff we have in the storage units in town.

 

[SheilaT.]

I am preparing for the Six Nations. After many years practice I now have the perfect preps. A locked door, dinner in the slow cooker, an undisclosed quantity of beer and sufficient Pringles and dips to keep me thirsty enough to drink all the beer throughout the arduous 6 1/2 hour stint of Rugby.

 

[Marv.Schmitz87]

I love my food saver! Got done vacum sealing a truck load of perch filets from the last Ice fishing trip.
I don't know how I lived without one for so long.

 

[Brent S]

I love my food saver! Got done vacum sealing a truck load of perch filets from the last Ice fishing trip.
I don't know how I lived without one for so long.

They are the best way to preserve food. I have a freezer full of ready to eat meals for when I'm feeling too lazy to cook.

 

[Brent S]

I am preparing for the Six Nations. After many years practice I now have the perfect preps. A locked door, dinner in the slow cooker, an undisclosed quantity of beer and sufficient Pringles and dips to keep me thirsty enough to drink all the beer throughout the arduous 6 1/2 hour stint of Rugby.

Sounds like the perfect evening! I'm not even a sports fan, but everything else sounds like bliss.

 

[Brent S]

Well, I got the main garden tilled in today. My arms are still vibrating and I am sure to pay for it tomorrow! I'm excited to get onions, potatoes and peanuts planted soon. W Greg Miller gave me the confidence to plant the peanuts here for the first time. I'm hoping they produce well as they seem like an ideal prepper food. And besides I just really like hot boiled peanuts!

 

[WGregMiller]

Brent - I just told my wife you've been tilling, and she's pissed at me. And you. And she wants to get started on her $:&@)/&&:!!! garden. Just to let you know, if a short yankee that can say y'all shows up at your door, be afraid.... lol.

 

[Marv.Schmitz87]

Well, I got the main garden tilled in today. My arms are still vibrating and I am sure to pay for it tomorrow! I'm excited to get onions, potatoes and peanuts planted soon. W Greg Miller gave me the confidence to plant the peanuts here for the first time. I'm hoping they produce well as they seem like an ideal prepper food. And besides I just really like hot boiled peanuts!

Good luck on your garden. No tilling to be done around here for another couple weeks. It's snowing while I'm typing this...

 

[WGregMiller]

We should be ready in a couple weeks. No snow, but it was about 70 here today until it rained and the front blew through... it's about 45 now, I think.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Today was a beautiful sunny day. High temp was around 29 degs with very little wind. I was working on the barn loft when the wife thought I needed a break. With such nice weather she wanted to look for a new location for the garden. We strapped on our snow shoes and went for a walk. There really isn't any hurry, we're still about 3 months away from being able to plant anything.

 

[SheilaT.]

Brent - I just told my wife you've been tilling, and she's pissed at me. And you. And she wants to get started on her $:&@)/&&:!!! garden. Just to let you know, if a short yankee that can say y'all shows up at your door, be afraid.... lol.

I feel your good lady wife's pain! I'm impatient too and feel exactly the same.
Oh and Brent, you might want to duck and cover if a short Englishwoman is standing with that Yankee

 

[Brent S]

Brent - I just told my wife you've been tilling, and she's pissed at me. And you. And she wants to get started on her $:&@)/&&:!!! garden. Just to let you know, if a short yankee that can say y'all shows up at your door, be afraid.... lol.

Tilling was the easy part, now I still need to hoe rows... Why do we like to grow things anyways. All I can say is if you show up I will share some muscadine wine with ya, right after we finish the hoeing!

 

[WGregMiller]

I'll pack her bags when I get home!

 

[Brent S]

I'll pack her bags when I get home!

I started early today, and just quit about 40 minutes ago. And I still didn't get to making rows in the garden! I have way too many projects around here! It's still too early to plant anything other than onions at least. I wouldn't be suprised if we see one more snow this season. I am planning to go by the feed and seed tomorrow and see if they have potatoes and peanuts yet. I am eager to get the outside garden started soon.

 

[WGregMiller]

It was around 70 over the weekend here and then a cold front came through. 50's for the next few days then back to near 70. My sinuses aren't happy.

I've actually hoped for more cold than we've had - it helps keep the mosquitoes beaten back. Last summer we had some that'd try to drag you away...l

 

[Brent S]

It was around 70 over the weekend here and then a cold front came through. 50's for the next few days then back to near 70. My sinuses aren't happy.

I've actually hoped for more cold than we've had - it helps keep the mosquitoes beaten back. Last summer we had some that'd try to drag you away...l

Living in the south does have some drawbacks. Mosquitos the size of birds, lack of air conditioning being possibly fatal, alligators bigger than the average canoe..... No matter what though, I think about artic dude and snow banks 6 feet high, and I know I'm where I belong! We had one good snow this year. That was enough for me. I just hope we don't repeat what happened last year. We skipped spring and went straight into hot and dry summer. My garden suffered, the front creek dried up, and the a/c never got shut off for three months straight.

 

[WGregMiller]

Living in the south does have some drawbacks. Mosquitos the size of birds, lack of air conditioning being possibly fatal, alligators bigger than the average canoe..... No matter what though, I think about artic dude and snow banks 6 feet high, and I know I'm where I belong! We had one good snow this year. That was enough for me. I just hope we don't repeat what happened last year. We skipped spring and went straight into hot and dry summer. My garden suffered, the front creek dried up, and the a/c never got shut off for three months straight.

Same here. My sister in law and step brother in law live in Maine. She sent pictures last year and the snow was over 6 feet high. They had shoveled out trails through it. They can have it!

We had about half an hour of spring last year as well. Everyone's gardens took a hit as did crops. My cattle farmer friends are running out of hay because of last summer's crappy yield. It sucked.

 

[SheilaT.]

I think last year would have been a good year for Pumpkins and Sqaush over here as summer seemed to go on forever but I didn't have a garden growing then. As I'm further north now, I'll be erring on the side of caution and waiting an extra couple of weeks before doing anything, oh and watching when the others do things at the allotment. There are a few who have been growing for many years so I will take my cue from them.

 

[Brent S]

I think last year would have been a good year for Pumpkins and Sqaush over here as summer seemed to go on forever but I didn't have a garden growing then. As I'm further north now, I'll be erring on the side of caution and waiting an extra couple of weeks before doing anything, oh and watching when the others do things at the allotment. There are a few who have been growing for many years so I will take my cue from them.

Good idea. I have a neighbor down the road that always has a great garden. I think a bottle of muscadine wine and an introduction is due. I'm learning more every year now but could use some good tips from those that have allready learned..

 

[SheilaT.]

Good idea. I have a neighbor down the road that always has a great garden. I think a bottle of muscadine wine and an introduction is due. I'm learning more every year now but could use some good tips from those that have allready learned..

You never stop learning when you garden. You'll not just get ideas, but maybe even make a friend and at the very least have someone to barter excesses with. I love swapping too much of this for some of that.

 

[Dani]

I have been working in the garden lately. Transplanted 192 Black Simpson, which I did end up losing 2 and 24 early cabbage. We have had record highs all year, yet I know we still have a couple cold snaps coming, never fails around Easter. The planting bug is hitting me big time, especially when I see all the rows I have built up and ready to be planted!! Did get some beets, radish, swiss chard, broccoli and cauliflower planted and have already started to come thru. I may just have to give in on spring crops and cover when needed. It wont be the first time. I have more carrots that are ready to pick, but I will wait till Monday since I will be working tomorrow and I will need at least half a day to process. Put in a pass thru for my goats to go into the middle pasture since hunny took half my goat pasture to put my milk cow and her calf in. It has a pulley style gate that I can open in the morning and close up at night. It didn't take long for them to find the opening, now just to train the little babes. . . When I went to feed this evening, I just call Billy Goats, come on babies, and they all come running, but 3 of the babes missed out on seeing the others go thru. I went ahead to the barn to grab feed, 2 figured it out but little Karen needed help so I went thru the middle pasture to help her find the pass thru. It shouldn't take them long to learn, but it is so sad when they put their little heads thru the fences trying to go thru thinking they have crossed over yet haven't really. I have been so enjoying all those little babes though. Every time I go out to feed, I go babysit for my moms ! DJ is my snuggler every time

 

[jontte]

did a re-org of my food preps,did the same with my vest ( that pack-mule kind ) got the pockets finally set in a way nothing is in the way of the bang-bang thingy

 

[jimLE]

i thought you fixed that backfiring on the vehicle..LOL