This weeks preps check-in

[DrHenley]

One of the important things you don't see anymore was a big ceiling exhaust fan that blew air from the house up into the attic. My grandmother's house and my parents' house both had one. The attic didn't get blistering hot, so even though there was no insulation between the attic and the house (just dead space between the attic floor and the house ceiling), you didn't have heat radiating down from the ceilings in the house. And there was a good breeze blowing throughout the house.

 

[KateMTx]

One of the important things you don't see anymore was a big ceiling exhaust fan that blew air from the house up into the attic. My grandmother's house and my parents' house both had one. The attic didn't get blistering hot, so even though there was no insulation between the attic and the house (just dead space between the attic floor and the house ceiling), you didn't have heat radiating down from the ceilings in the house. And there was a good breeze blowing throughout the house.

We had one of those fans growing up and it could be run on a small generator, unlike an air conditioner so we could cool the house even if the power went out.

 

[Brent S]

I’m covered fairly well with being able to function without electricity now with being able to keep food cool and dark in the root cellar to help it last longer. having a wood stove to heat and cook on is good too but having the stove in a place you can use it in the summer is important too. I placed it on a porch so in the winter I close all the windows and open the porch up to heat the house, and reverse it in the summer. I still have three things to work on here, a solar hot water heater, a 110v pump for the well and a solar system to run the 110v circuits in the house. It all takes time and money, and when you have one you don’t seem to have the other! Life is a balance but the best we can do is keep heading in the direction we think is wise.

 

[Doreena]

One of the important things you don't see anymore was a big ceiling exhaust fan that blew air from the house up into the attic. My grandmother's house and my parents' house both had one. The attic didn't get blistering hot, so even though there was no insulation between the attic and the house (just dead space between the attic floor and the house ceiling), you didn't have heat radiating down from the ceilings in the house. And there was a good breeze blowing throughout the house.

A whole house fan like they used to have has its benefits but also drawbacks. Obviously, it requires some electricity to work but also it brings in whatever is outside inside—- humidity, pollution, dust, pollen, etc. another similar solution if your house isn’t already built that doesn’t require electricity is to incorporate a “chimney “ that naturally ventilates the hot air. Auburn’s architecture department created their Rural Village for low cost housing incorporating this technique in at least one of the homes. The residents were apparently happy with it. Another solution is to control the recovery air by installing a filtering unit, which of course uses electricity again, but if you are concerned with air quality, it may be the way to go (ERV or HRV). It works well with a well insulated house, where the other methods basically create a large hole in your house’s conditioned space.


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[Maverick]

I use mister (mist) lines just on the outside of the porch (where we set the most) we have ceiling fans on the porch that draws the air through the mist. I makes things a little more comfortable, I reckon that can be done with the bedroom window with a window fan on low setting, I find water drawing through the mist cooler than using a swamp cooler.

 

[Illini Warrior]

an attic venting fan can be set up temporarily for the summer if you have a fold-down stairs for attic access - a 20"+ fan across the opening will create a positive pull thru-out the house - makes one hell of a difference especially if you have additional attic fans operating also ....

 

[Brent S]

I have 4 grandkids visiting this weekend so I had to kid proof the house from sharps and anything with gunpowder... got me to do some much needed deep cleaning too. I have three mowers, two riders and a self propelled walk behind. Both riders are broke down and the self propelled one stoped self propelling. I don’t think the weed eater is up to the 2 1/2 acres here.... oh well, at least the house looks good.
I had to order a new propane regulator for the portable generator. I ordered it almost a year ago and it never worked on propane, only gas. They finally got the part in, and charged me shipping even with warranty. My advice is don’t buy a duramax generator.

 

[Maverick]

I think I mention this a couple of years ago, duramax generators are not highly thought of here in fact most consider them paperweights or Columbia river boat anchors

 

[Brent S]

I think I mention this a couple of years ago, duramax generators are not highly thought of here in fact most consider them paperweights or Columbia river boat anchors

On gasoline it runs pretty smooth, we will see if the new regulator fixes the propane issue. As far as reviews go, 90% of them are bad. When the overwhelming majority is bashing something, it’s probably wise to take heed. Everything in life is a trade off though. Sure I would like the comparable Honda generator, but at almost three thousand it’s a tough choice when this was three hundred. I probably have 15 hours on this unit and will see if it holds up down the road or not.

 

[KateMTx]

I have 4 grandkids visiting this weekend so I had to kid proof the house from sharps and anything with gunpowder... got me to do some much needed deep cleaning too. I have three mowers, two riders and a self propelled walk behind. Both riders are broke down and the self propelled one stoped self propelling. I don’t think the weed eater is up to the 2 1/2 acres here.... oh well, at least the house looks good.
I had to order a new propane regulator for the portable generator. I ordered it almost a year ago and it never worked on propane, only gas. They finally got the part in, and charged me shipping even with warranty. My advice is don’t buy a duramax generator.

Once when the lawn mower broke when we were growing, my brothers and I cut the grass with machetes. It's not a solution I recommend.

 

[Brent S]

Once when the lawn mower broke when we were growing, my brothers and I cut the grass with machetes. It's not a solution I recommend.

I feel that if shtf the lawn is going back to Mother Nature. I couldn’t care less about a manicured lawn even now but don’t want it to look like a jungle either.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I feel that if shtf the lawn is going back to Mother Nature. I couldn’t care less about a manicured lawn even now but don’t want it to look like a jungle either.

On my last few homes I had acres of manicured lawns surrounding the house. On my new house I'll have a couple small patches of lawn, the rest is used for grazing.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I feel that if shtf the lawn is going back to Mother Nature. I couldn’t care less about a manicured lawn even now but don’t want it to look like a jungle either.

On my last few homes I had acres of manicured lawns surrounding the house. On my new house I'll have a couple small patches of lawn, the rest is used for grazing.

 

[Brent S]

On my last few homes I had acres of manicured lawns surrounding the house. On my new house I'll have a couple small patches of lawn, the rest is used for grazing.

The amount of expense and energy spent on having nice looking lawns blows me away. People are strange. I like to keep it from being a jungle but why would I want it to look like a golf course? I did cut down a lot of natural trees to make room for the edible plants I’ve put in but if not for that I would have left it naturally wooded.

 

[JackDW]

I have 4 grandkids visiting this weekend so I had to kid proof the house from sharps and anything with gunpowder... got me to do some much needed deep cleaning too. I have three mowers, two riders and a self propelled walk behind. Both riders are broke down and the self propelled one stoped self propelling. I don’t think the weed eater is up to the 2 1/2 acres here.... oh well, at least the house looks good.
I had to order a new propane regulator for the portable generator. I ordered it almost a year ago and it never worked on propane, only gas. They finally got the part in, and charged me shipping even with warranty. My advice is don’t buy a duramax generator.

Brent, since this is a prepper site, this may be an opportunity to work with your neighbors and get to know them. I have some fantastic neighbors. When I had an issues with my mower, my neighbors showed up and mowed my lawn for me. I have did the same thing for my neighbors. While they are on vacation or unable to care for their property, I do it for them. When one of the neighbors riding mower broke, the one across the street took it to his house, purchased the carburetor rebuild parts and fixed it. He would not take money, not even to reimburse for the parts. My next door neighbor had a stroke a couple years ago and his wife tries to take care of things. The weekend, I will complete the Generator Shed and move their generator into it getting it out of the weather (with only a tarp over it). Again, just the neighborly thing to do.

So, do you have a neighbor you can borrow a mower from? And in the future, you could return the favor.

 

[Mountain trapper]

The amount of expense and energy spent on having nice looking lawns blows me away. People are strange. I like to keep it from being a jungle but why would I want it to look like a golf course? I did cut down a lot of natural trees to make room for the edible plants I’ve put in but if not for that I would have left it naturally wooded.

Yes a nice lawn and landscaping is very expensive to keep up. And ours was maintained like a golf course, in fact I had a putting green, a driving range and an area for trap shooting and a koi pond and waterfall. We had nice homes that needed nice landscaping, and at the time we had the money for it all while still putting our prepping plans in to play.

 

[Illini Warrior]

Brent, since this is a prepper site, this may be an opportunity to work with your neighbors and get to know them. I have some fantastic neighbors. When I had an issues with my mower, my neighbors showed up and mowed my lawn for me. I have did the same thing for my neighbors. While they are on vacation or unable to care for their property, I do it for them. When one of the neighbors riding mower broke, the one across the street took it to his house, purchased the carburetor rebuild parts and fixed it. He would not take money, not even to reimburse for the parts. My next door neighbor had a stroke a couple years ago and his wife tries to take care of things. The weekend, I will complete the Generator Shed and move their generator into it getting it out of the weather (with only a tarp over it). Again, just the neighborly thing to do.

So, do you have a neighbor you and borrow a mower from? And in the future, you could return the favor.

you need "know" all your neighbors - analyze them for assets and deficits >>>> while playing your cards close and never revealing your flush prepper hand ...

an impromptu MAG for a serious SHTF could be the answer for many bug in preppers - joint neighborhood cooperation in the beginning of the SHTF to get thru the initial worst ...

another reason to familiarize yourself with the neighbors is THEIR bugging out - opens the opportunity to discuss some immediate trades and possibly an agreement to property manage while they are "gone" ....

might sound devious in the light of normal times to be intending to use neighbors for your own survival >>>> get used to it - there's not going to be a SHTF boot camp to give you time & practice to get survival cunning ...

 

[Mountain trapper]

The flooring is being put down in the house now. The hardwood is completed in the living room, dining room and kitchen. They're working on the tile in the bathroom's and the showers. The lower cabinets have been installed but we had to move some electrical wires before installing the upper cabinets. The solar electric system has been producing plenty of power to run all the tools, lights and aircompresor for the construction guys and the refrigerator, lights, TV and AC in the cabin.
The last load of hay is sitting on the trailer waiting to be put away. I have room for maybe 3 more ton in the barn and the rest will be stacked outside and covered.
A couple weeks ago I installed two electric gate openers. One of the gates is up near the shop and I wired it to 110 volts inside the shop. It also has a deep cycle battery for a backup.
The lower gate also has a deep cycle battery but it's wired to an 85 watt solar panel. I also added a solar motion sensor light that will light up the area in the unlikely event that someone comes up here at night. Most likely the cows and wildlife will be setting the lights off at night. It's really nice to just push a button to open these gates and not have to get out of the car.
The most important thing I did was to set up a "swimming pool". It's actually a large livestock water tank and it's set up adjacent to the cabin deck and BBQ area. The wife is coming home on Friday too.

 

[Brent S]

Brent, since this is a prepper site, this may be an opportunity to work with your neighbors and get to know them. I have some fantastic neighbors. When I had an issues with my mower, my neighbors showed up and mowed my lawn for me. I have did the same thing for my neighbors. While they are on vacation or unable to care for their property, I do it for them. When one of the neighbors riding mower broke, the one across the street took it to his house, purchased the carburetor rebuild parts and fixed it. He would not take money, not even to reimburse for the parts. My next door neighbor had a stroke a couple years ago and his wife tries to take care of things. The weekend, I will complete the Generator Shed and move their generator into it getting it out of the weather (with only a tarp over it). Again, just the neighborly thing to do.

So, do you have a neighbor you can borrow a mower from? And in the future, you could return the favor.

I’m in the country and the places are pretty spread out here. On one side a guy has a vacation house and it’s empty mostly. The other property has the son living there since the father went into a nursing home. The father was a decent guy, but the son is a POS. I really wish I had decent neighbors, working with people is a lot easier than working against them.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I’m in the country and the places are pretty spread out here. On one side a guy has a vacation house and it’s empty mostly. The other property has the son living there since the father went into a nursing home. The father was a decent guy, but the son is a POS. I really wish I had decent neighbors, working with people is a lot easier than working against them.

My nearest neighbor is about 5 miles away, and there's 2 more neighbors with about 600 acres separating them. We get along great with them all and they're welcome here any time. None of them have kids living at home. Their adult kids are great too. I hired one of the son's to do the trim work in my house. A contractor wanted $15,000 to hang doors and put in the trim. This kid asked for $4,000, actually less because I'm trading half a beef, and he put the shelves in the closets and pantry too.
I suspect that our neighbors are preppers too, but we don't talk about it.
I think most of the people living in this area get along together very well and will help each other out in time of an emergency.

 

[Brent S]

My nearest neighbor is about 5 miles away, and there's 2 more neighbors with about 600 acres separating them. We get along great with them all and they're welcome here any time. None of them have kids living at home. Their adult kids are great too. I hired one of the son's to do the trim work in my house. A contractor wanted $15,000 to hang doors and put in the trim. This kid asked for $4,000, actually less because I'm trading half a beef, and he put the shelves in the closets and pantry too.
I suspect that our neighbors are preppers too, but we don't talk about it.
I think most of the people living in this area get along together very well and will help each other out in time of an emergency.

That’s a great resource to have.

 

[Celeree]

Almost done with the trench to lay the electric line to connect from the pole to the house, then it's moving time. We will be roughing it somewhat since we didn't get some things done like we wanted, but want to be out there more than those things done. It'll be like roughing it but with power. Plumbing isn't done yet, so water hose outside. Solar shower bag to heat in the sun for showers, water jugs filled from hose for other use. Still using the compost toilet until we decide on septic. Kitchen will be a bit until it's ready so washing stuff outside in tubs. Stuff like that.

Getting some things from the garden, so far things are growing pretty good out there. Can't wait til next year and a bigger better-planned garden.

 

[KateMTx]

Almost done with the trench to lay the electric line to connect from the pole to the house, then it's moving time. We will be roughing it somewhat since we didn't get some things done like we wanted, but want to be out there more than those things done. It'll be like roughing it but with power. Plumbing isn't done yet, so water hose outside. Solar shower bag to heat in the sun for showers, water jugs filled from hose for other use. Still using the compost toilet until we decide on septic. Kitchen will be a bit until it's ready so washing stuff outside in tubs. Stuff like that.

Getting some things from the garden, so far things are growing pretty good out there. Can't wait til next year and a bigger better-planned garden.

Wow it's really coming along. At least you have the electric hooked up. That can make life a lot more pleasant even if the "facilities" are on the rough side.

 

[SHTFPREPPER]

I stumbled on 2 large piles of freshly cut/harvested red wheat spilled on a rarely traveled road near my place. Shoveled all I could into buckets and empty mineral tubs before I was forced to leave for my granddaughter’s 4H livestock auction. Ended up with 20 bushels. Most won’t need to be cleaned of rocks/gravel. Am going to try to go back this weekend and pray it’s still there so I can get the rest. Weeds were already growing up higher than the stubble in the field, so I know nobody’s coming back for it. If it’s too rocky/dirty, l’ll use that as supplemental poultry food and use the “good” pristine stuff for bread etc.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I woke up to the smell of smoke this morning. I rode up the hill and looked around. Couldn't see any smoke so the fire must be a long way off. Fire is the only thing that really worries me here. We've only had about 1/10 inch of rain since the end of May and everything is dry and dusty.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I've spent the last 3 days looking for one of our bulls who went missing. None of our other cows are missing, just the bull. I've ridden for miles looking for him. I've covered over half of the fence line and can't find any breaks. It's possible that he's in the heavy timber somewhere and I just haven't stumbled across him yet. About a week ago he quit hanging around the cows for some reason. The neighboring rancher already moved his cows off the mountain and our bull wasn't with them. I'll go out again this evening and check around the water holes.

 

[KateMTx]

I've spent the last 3 days looking for one of our bulls who went missing. None of our other cows are missing, just the bull. I've ridden for miles looking for him. I've covered over half of the fence line and can't find any breaks. It's possible that he's in the heavy timber somewhere and I just haven't stumbled across him yet. About a week ago he quit hanging around the cows for some reason. The neighboring rancher already moved his cows off the mountain and our bull wasn't with them. I'll go out again this evening and check around the water holes.

I hope you find him soon!

 

[Mountain trapper]

I hope you find him soon!

Thanks. I just got in. Couldn't find him yet but I did come across a bunch of range cows north of here just about dark. He could be with the range cows. I'll search again in the morning.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Still can't find my bull. I looked until dark again last night and covered a lot ground. There's thousands of acres of rough, steep and heavily timbered country around here and he could be anywhere. I'll keep looking for him but I may have to wait until Fall when the ranchers round up their cattle and hope that he's with them. That still doesn't guarantee that I'll get him back, they could just rebrand him and keep him.

 

[Charlescann]

Still can't find my bull. I looked until dark again last night and covered a lot ground. There's thousands of acres of rough, steep and heavily timbered country around here and he could be anywhere. I'll keep looking for him but I may have to wait until Fall when the ranchers round up their cattle and hope that he's with them. That still doesn't guarantee that I'll get him back, they could just rebrand him and keep him.

Good luck, I hope you find your bull soon!

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