This weeks preps check-in

[Dave2001]

I got this bad boy ordered today.

https://www.amazon.com/Mazur-Instru...words=Mazur+Instruments&qid=1646104284&sr=8-3

Nice instrument, we have 2 of those on our hazmat truck and 4 Ludlums!!!!

 

[KateMTx]

The broadfork I saw advertised was used for turning soil easier if you don't have a tiller or a tractor attachment. Had some fierce looking fork tines. Step down on it and it's supposed to go in easy and flip the dirt over.

Growing up we had an old turning fork that had belonged to our great grandparents. It was great for "tilling" small areas of soil when needed. I wouldn't want to have to do a whole garden with it though!

Ash is strongly alkaline,it works if you have acid soil

We used to add wood ash to the soil because always used pine straw for mulch and it was pretty acidic.

 

[GaRp58]

I dump my wood ash on the garden almost daily. We mulch the trees each spring and add that too. Got rid of the walnut tree which has not produce in 4 years now and it was poisoning the ground in the corner of the garden. The grass and leaves are composting already and I got 20 lbs. of Nitrate/phosphate/potash type fertiliser as reserve...

 

[user 7704]

I am so hard on chain saw blades so I'm going to buy 2 more today.

 

[Illini Warrior]

I am so hard on chain saw blades so I'm going to buy 2 more today.

you all set on sharpening? - one of eazier things to learn

 

[user 7704]

I

you all set on sharpening? - one of eazier things to learn

My brother taught me how. Obviously, I didn't learn. My neighbor is going to give me a refresher course of this and cleaning firearms.

 

[user 6493]

I
My brother taught me how. Obviously, I didn't learn. My neighbor is going to give me a refresher course of this and cleaning firearms.

Robin I know men who have cut logs for a living and never mastered sharpening a chain,,,,, myself I can do well enough to keep the saw cutting

and just a note,,,, I won't let anyone put my chain on one of the electric grinders,the teeth get to hot and you can't use a file on them any longer

 

[GaRp58]

I won't let anyone put my chain on one of the electric grinders,the teeth get to hot and you can't use a file on them any longer

Good info GG, the other problem with the electric grinder and the teeth getting too hot, this tempers them and the teeth are brittle and break off faster and more easily than they should...you can see the change of color: if the teeth are turning from normal "silver" to blue or even gold, they are hardened and brittle and too hard to sharpen with a file just like grayghost said.

 

[Oddcaliber]

Picked up another shotgun in 20 gauge.

 

[user 7704]

Robin I know men who have cut logs for a living and never mastered sharpening a chain,,,,, myself I can do well enough to keep the saw cutting

and just a note,,,, I won't let anyone put my chain on one of the electric grinders,the teeth get to hot and you can't use a file on them any longer

I did have a neighbor used the electric sharpener in my 14 in electric saw blade. Thanks for info,

 

[user 7704]

I have found just buying a chain is hard. You start with 16" then you have 54, 56, 58 etc. Then you have a y54, y56,y58 or s54, s56, s58.

When I bought my first replacement chain, it was a 16", y54 and it was too short. I thought 16" meant 16". Then I bought a 16" y58 and it was way to long. Finally got a 16" y56 and it fit. I read about the spacing on the teeth, but 16" should be 16". IMO

 

[Flying lead]

On the side of the bar should be a small stamping that says the length of the bar and how many links. At least on all my sthil does. I don't know about the aftermarket stuff.
Don't forget to give the rakers on the chain a couple of strokes with a flat file

 

[user 7704]

The tree that i was struggling with Tuesday went into little logs in about 10 minutes. I cut enough today to split into about 50 burnable pieces. If i can ever get the big oak cut up that has been laying in my yard for a year, i will be doing good. The trunk bottom is probably 25-30 inches in diameter. My little saw doesnt need to tackle that.

 

[GaRp58]

I got my alcohol, butane, propane, diesel, gasoline and petroleum together to see how much I really have. Want more.
Got my german gasoline stove out and show the wife how it works and got it started for the first time in years.
Moved lots of the preps into the cellar and got plans as to how to camo it.
No diesel in the stations for 3 days now and am gonna get more baking powder, dry yeast and zip-lock bags if I can find them.

 

[user 7704]

We are going to have about 36 hours of record breaking cold Friday/Saturday. Son and I put some wood on the porch to have HOPEFULLY, one last fire this season.

My daughter is off to Hawaii next week so she is coming for lunch on Sunday. I'll keep the fire going for her enjoyment.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

We are right there with you getting a blast from far north. Ugh! I’m done with winter and really done with the cold. All the flowers I’ve just put on my deck rails will have to be put into the garage or greenhouse to save them.

 

[Oddcaliber]

Put another gun on lay a way at the pawnshop. Getting a 1911 this time.

 

[user 7704]

Stopped by the small, locally owned feed and seed to see when they would have garden seed. The were stocked so I picked up seed. Many of them I didn't need, but thought it better to purchase while I can. I also bought onion sets and seed potatoes.

I see many videos of growing potatoes in buckets. I haven't had much luck but I have never used real seed potatoes just old potatoes that had grown sprouts in the pantry.

How do you guys grow your potatoes?

 

[GaRp58]

I have three rows of potatos about 30 feet long each, normal planting, about 4 inches deep since it is still actually too cold. They will not freeze so deep, but will be able to start rooting and growing before the neighbors will. I tried the tower potatos but it did not work, I have enough settlings to try again for fun. I did grow a few in a bucket tho. Keep them moving and watered and potatos will grow almost anywhere if there is enough sunlight.
BTW: I got another fifteen liters of diesel today, more baking powder, dry yeast, flour for different kinds of batters and breads, noodles, brown sugar, sunflower oil, cheese, beans, canned meat, peanut butter and canned cherries for baking. Love it, Gary

 

[user 7704]

Sounds good. Do you grow onions? How do you plant those?

 

[GaRp58]

We planted the white and red onions, garlic, sweet peas and parsnips back in November. They go deeper than normal, so as not to freeze but get to grow good roots and wait for the first rays of sun already in Feb. They are all about 4-5 inches tall already.

 

[Brent S]

I restocked the pantry today but it really did not need much. I keep everything topped off routinely. Yes, everything is more expensive now but honestly I’ve been prepping for so long that I’m not really doing anything differently than normal. I did check the well house and made sure the heat lamp was on, also drained the camper to protect the plumbing. It’s going to hit 21 tomorrow night so I also brought in a big load of firewood inside and onto the porch. I’m ready for what is hopefully our last taste of winter.

 

[Amish Heart]

Hoping this week is our last of winter, too. I'm way sick of the cold. Just had more wood delivered though for next year. Four cords are now stacked.

 

[Cindyd]

This is a two in one prep question post..maybe I need to post the questions separate and in another thread..Please direct me if so..
#1: I am in the market for a water distillar...can anyone recommend a good one (recommended 7-10 people in a survival situation)? Or instructions on making a reliable one?
#2: Thankfully, I don't take any prescription meds (Yet! Other than once in a blue moon OTC ibuprofen if my back or neck is hurting). BUT, my partner takes a lot of prescribed meds, for such conditions as congestive heart failure, BP meds, serious post radiation/chemo related nerve pain issue meds (including narcotic pain meds), and on and on to the tune of approx. 12 various meds in total daily! Not sure how much longer he will make it even with current access to all the meds, but pretty sure is a very short timer if unable to obtain...(I kid him that I'll take him out behind the barn and shoot him)...but seriously, what, if anything, can we do for these individuals to prep for these serious health condition scenarios?
In the mean time, in keeping with this thread, I sent my son to fill up 30 gallons of the gas cans today ($138.00 bucks for that!), I have quite a nice start on garden veggies going. Making a run tomorrow for more basic food stocking and other items, the usual dried beans, rice, canned foods, batteries, candles, etc., etc...

 

[Amish Heart]

Nothing you can do about the meds, those are serious. Sorry.
Why do you want to distill water?

 

[KateMTx]

I started my container gardens this week but now it's cold again! Fortunately nothing is really sprouted yet. I have a raspberry plant and blackberry plant I put in big whiskey barrel pots which are plants but they should be okay. They won't start making fruit for a year or two but will be nice to have once they are ready. I am doing tomatoes and cucumbers as well as some herbs. I am thinking of getting a strawberry plant too. What else is good for container gardening? Previously when I did it I did not have a private outdoor space and I just put my pots in the walk outside my front door but they were often knocked over by people walking by. Now I have a small front porch which is fairly shaded on the east side and a small back patio with no shade on the west side of the apartment.

 

[Cindyd]

Nothing you can do about the meds, those are serious. Sorry.
Why do you want to distill water?

Spirits, fuel alcohol, water, antiseptic? So I'm told, and seem to see recommended on many prepper lists of "must haves"...I suppose I'm following what Ive read...I admittedly am ignorant of lots of things I see recommended as things one should have..tend to follow/rely on others advice and what I read, when it comes to prepping lists of the "must haves"..I thought distilling water was the best way of cleaning water...I suppose I can boil it..what is best way?

 

[EastenerWesterner]

This is a two in one prep question post..maybe I need to post the questions separate and in another thread..Please direct me if so..
#1: I am in the market for a water distillar...can anyone recommend a good one (recommended 7-10 people in a survival situation)? Or instructions on making a reliable one?
#2: Thankfully, I don't take any prescription meds (Yet! Other than once in a blue moon OTC ibuprofen if my back or neck is hurting). BUT, my partner takes a lot of prescribed meds, for such conditions as congestive heart failure, BP meds, serious post radiation/chemo related nerve pain issue meds (including narcotic pain meds), and on and on to the tune of approx. 12 various meds in total daily! Not sure how much longer he will make it even with current access to all the meds, but pretty sure is a very short timer if unable to obtain...(I kid him that I'll take him out behind the barn and shoot him)...but seriously, what, if anything, can we do for these individuals to prep for these serious health condition scenarios?
In the mean time, in keeping with this thread, I sent my son to fill up 30 gallons of the gas cans today ($138.00 bucks for that!), I have quite a nice start on garden veggies going. Making a run tomorrow for more basic food stocking and other items, the usual dried beans, rice, canned foods, batteries, candles, etc., etc...

Same boat on the meds. The ones that ”treat” the disease will be out in a month. She fights with the insurance company every month for the 90 day supply the Dr wrote. HCQ is one of them.
The ones that give the most relief are fortunately are available for a script she can write, so we have some backup.
Put some stabilizer in that gas.

 

[Cindyd]

Same boat on the meds. The ones that ”treat” the disease will be out in a month. She fights with the insurance company every month for the 90 day supply the Dr wrote. HCQ is one of them.
The ones that give the most relief are fortunately are available for a script she can write, so we have some backup.
Put some stabilizer in that gas.

Oh boy! Sorry to hear for you and yours as well..it is a scary scenario! He is always calling the pharmacy or doctor office due to some screw up anyway with the meds...there's no stockpiling scenario here and don't know of any natural herbs/remedies to address ALL his afflictions...I suppose we do the best we can to hang on whatever the situation..if/when it comes to that

 

[EastenerWesterner]

Oh boy! Sorry to hear for you and yours as well..it is a scary scenario! He is always calling the pharmacy or doctor office due to some screw up anyway with the meds...there's no stockpiling scenario here and don't know of any natural herbs/remedies to address ALL his afflictions...I suppose we do the best we can to hang on whatever the situation..if/when it comes to that

With mine being DVM, I told her to research the substitutes our dog can get or how to wean herself off when SHTF. Fortunately she is pretty good in her field, but won’t go against the specialists of her disease.
Her condition is a rare orphan type disease, but we are close to one of the 2 research facilities. Sorry we kinda got a leg up on your situation, so I know how scary it is for you.
I do some herbalists, one who treats some of the elite, but she won’t go for that.