# Mitch's Prepping Tips! 1. [Introduction](#introduction) 2. [Food](#food) 3. [Clothing](#clothing) 4. [Hygiene](#hygiene) 5. [Medicine](#medicine) 6. [Gear](#gear) 7. [Conclusion](#conclusion) As we all know, the current economic situation is very poor at best, and most like the start of the end. With that said, until The Lord calls us home, we have to get threw this. The purpose of this post is to share some tips and tricks that I have learned over the years, from growing up poor in the south, as well as from my studies. If you have any additional tips or advice, please email me (link on the bottom of the page). **Basic rules for hard times** - "Two is as good as one, one is as good as none" - always stock what you use and use what you stock. - "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", better to take care of yourself and not get sick, even if it costs more now. - "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best", plan as if things are not ever going to improve and act. If and when they do, you will have a better appreciation of what you have. - "The more you know, the less you need", skills are *very* important in hard times. Spend time learning them and practicing them. [🔝](#top)
## Food Everyone should be able to go for at least 3 months with no incoming food sources. That does not mean that you will eat steak each night. Knowing what to buy and how to cook from scratch is one of the best things to know to survive hard times. **Stock up** Make sure you have a chest freezer full of food if you can. Meat is the best thing to store for food. It is the most nutritiously dense, and complete food. It is also the most hard to come by in hard times. After that dry goods, canned good, etc... Stay away from mixes and boxed meals (hamburger helper, etc...). * Date the products * Do not buy anything you will not really use * Then make sure that you rotate them out using the oldest 1st Salt! Store lots of salt. It is one of the best, and proven methods of preserving food. Used in canning, pickling, and drying! Salt with color is best (pink sea salt, or Celtic). But *any* salt will do. **Related skills** - You need to know how to bake bread, make stews, soups, etc... from scratch. - How to garden if you live in a place that you can - How to regrow vegetables from the store indoors - How to preserve food without power: can, dehydrate, dry canning, pickle - How to make *Bone Broth* - How to identify wild edibles and use them (in your local area) - How to hunt, fish, and trap - You should have manual tools at home (grader, can openers, knives) - Pick up a camping coffee pot >Electric appliances are nice, but you should have a complete camp kitchen, and know how to use it. This will be useful for camping, bugging out, and power down situations. [🔝](#top)
## Clothing - Good set of boots, sneakers. - Plan for layers, have extras and keep them in good shape. - "When you buy quality, you only cry once" - Have a sewing kit for repairs and learn how to use it. [🔝](#top)
## Hygiene - Use baking soda for brushing your teeth, it's cheaper then anything else. You can add some essential oil to it for flavor (mint or cinnamon). - Stop buying shampoo, use soap. Shampoo is soap, you are paying for marketing. If you have dandruff, try Pine Tar soap. - Stop buying deodorant. You can buy zinc oxide powder a small bag will last you years. I fill a small tin and use a power-puff for makeup to apply. It will work until you shower it off. Long distance hikers use it. You can also use a water and magnesium hydroxide solution in a roll on bottle. Both are very effective and last a very long time. ## Medicine Check out the [medicine](http://crn.hopto.org/health.html#meds) section under health on my site. Also look at the supplements listed above it. ## Gear Every adult should own two things: A backpack setup for camping (inch bag) and a go bag. In addition to this one should also carry some basic items to make sure that you are ready for whatever comes your way. (this is often called EDC, Every Day Carry) Keep in mind that each level includes the items from the ones below it: Level 1 - Things you should always carry (EDC) Level 2 - Jacket and bag/pouch Level 3 - Go bag Level 4 - Back Pack (inch bag) Level 5 - Home **Level 1 - Things to carry** - Cell phone w/ GPS or Mapping feature - Comb - Lighter - Handkerchief - Weapon (Pepper spray, Stun gun, hand gun, knife) and training on how to use it. - Flash light - Multi tool (Swiss army knife of Leatherman) - Keys: House, car, work - Wallet: - 100 cash - ID/DL - Debit card - Insurance cards, professional license - Police card: Rules for dealing with police/law Police-cheat sheet **Level 2 - Jacket and bag/pouch** - Light jacket with hood and good for wet weather. Pick one with lots of pockets: - Gloves - Emergency blanket - Light stick - Pen and Paper - Matches (water proof) - Belt pouch: - Flash light - Leather man - Flint/Steal - Magnesium block - Emergency blanket - First aid kit - Wipes - Compass / maps **Level 3 - go bag** This would contain your clothes, papers, pictures, etc. How do you decide what to place in it? Take a sheet of paper and start a list. Pretend that you just had everything you own wiped out. You get to keep 100 things. What are they? Can you place your hands on them at a moments notice now? Like I said, you decide. Sample list: - Food: Hard tack, sardines, oatmeal, instant coffee and tea. - 1 pair of jeans - 1 long sleeve shirts, 2 short T's - 3 pairs socks and underwear - Soap (Pine Tar soap keeps bugs away and helps with many skin issues) - Vitamins and medications - Towel, wash cloth - batteries for devices (one backup set) Kit bag: - Tooth brush - Deodorant - Tooth Paste or whatever you use - Homeopathic remedies Create Your Own Natural Medicine Chest **Level 4 - Back pack** This again is going to be based on your location and skills. That being said this is a sample list to work from: - Food and Water for three days - First Aid Kit - Disaster Plan with location and contact information of emergency services - Maps and compass - Emergency shelter such as tents and tarps - Supplies for the building of fire including a lighter, emergency matches, Fire Steel - Cooking supplies (Kelly Kettle) - Bedding such as warm blankets or sleeping bags - Medicines - Tools and survival gear (Fishing / Hunting) - Pet Supplies - Radio (Weather/AM/FM at a minimum) - Lighting (LED Flashlights are best) - Water purification (See: Cooking supplies) - Signaling (whistle, signal mirror, flares, etc) **Level 5 - Home** - Garden >Every home should have a garden. Especially if you have kids. It will help them learn that food from from plant and is not made in one. It is also a big part of being able to support yourself. It also has the side benefits of saving money on food, and eating healthier. >Knowing how to live without fertiliser and pest control is important. You can do this indoors without smell if you have to in the city. >If you are in the city you can window garden. Window Farms Below in the sources section are links for "Urban Homesteding", they are worth looking into. This is just to give you a taste of what you can do: - Chickens/rabbits/goats >This is based on how much you want to put into it and also the place you live. Laws come into to play as well. - Electricity >Think what you NEED verses what you want. You need to power/charge you radios and cell phones. A generator is nice, but long term fuel will be an issue. I like to think out of the box on this one. - Get an inverter for you car and use it as a backup device. - Purchase a 12 volt battery (gel or auto) - Add a 12 volt auto adapter kit - Purchase a solar panel (small one available from auto parts store or camping supply) - Make sure all your devices have auto chargers, and you are good - Gas If you can have your home put on gas for cooking/water heating/cloths drying it will save you money and can be used without power (cooking). Having a tank is better then a utility run. A large tank can be buried in most yards and not be an eye sore. - Water A simple water collection system and some basic storage are a must. You can use the Kelly Kettle to boil. For home I would also recommend a Big Berkey - Self defense Do not be a victim. The police and other law enforcement only get involved AFTER a crime. Owning a weapon and NOT knowing how to use it is VERY dangerous for everyone. - Learn to carry a gun and take a course. - Or take a basic self defense class or martial arts - Buy a stun gun and read a good book - Purchase a shut gun and join a range and take lessons - Older folks like myself can also carry a cane. This make a very good weapon, and people see it as a weakness (big advantage), plus you can take it places other weapons would not be allowed. **Be prepared** Every person should at a minimum read a book on the following topics, training would be better if possible. - First Aid (See my books page) - Self Defense - How to start a fire - Basic cooking - Simple gardening - Hand sewing [🔝](#top)
## Conclusion - Read the Bible every day and prey. - Read to educate yourself on related topics. Many books are free, thanks to the internet. - Start a garden, even indoor window garden. - Learn Linux, stop paying for software and being spied on. - Come up with a home exercise routine. - Make a 'get home' bag for your car. - Learn how to repair, reuse, and repurpose [DIY](http://crn.hopto.org/links.html#diy) - Basic auto servicing (oil change, replace tires, etc..) If you are stuck home due to lack of funds, virus scare, or what ever, use the time. If you have lost your job or laid off (me), then use the time to better yourself. Become more self reliant. As we all know we have the plandemic going on, what most folks are unaware of the what it is covering up. A global meltdown of our economic markets and monetary systems. It is also another excuse to put us back on a feudal system. The consequences of all this will make the depression of the 30's like child's play. I pray that the Lord Jesus will call us home soon, but we know not when that hour shall be. So we must keep the faith, stay in His Word, and pray. We also are going to change our standard of living in a very large way. Some of you are going to have to learn new skills very quickly, or get plugged into the "system". ### What not to do Do not rely on government services as much as possible. A time will come when they will be overwhelmed and will not be able to help. Or they will want to control you and take away your freedom, something they are already doing. Do not stand out, blend in as much as possible. This is called *grey-man* skills. You do not want to attract undo attention to yourself or your family. ### Going forward - Now is the time to acquire as much as you can without drawing attention to yourself. Stock up, on food, medicine, books, ebooks, etc... - Seeds, lots of seeds. Grow lights (LED) and tools that do not require power. - Keep you car topped off, don't let it get low on fuel - Travel without your phone, and turn off the GPS in it. It will be used to track you and record what you say. Just keep that in mind. - Technology is a double edge sword, it needs to be handled with care. I know that this all sounds scary. But look how quickly things have changed. Many have been caught off guard, don't let it happen again. Even if things go back to "normal", plan as if it won't stay that way, it will not. **Additionally** - Read the King Jame Bible, the only source of truth in this world. - Get rid of the T.V., all it does is push a narrative. - Get out of debt - Eat real food, mostly meat and real fats and salt. Focus on you health! - Start reading and educating yourself. - Take responsibility for **you and yours**. [🔝](#top)