Joined
·
238 Posts
by M.D. Creekmore on 03/08/2010
It’s a question I hear a lot from new preppers: “what should I buy first and where do I start?”
And while there are a lot of different answers depending on individual situations and needs, usually my recommendation to those starting out, is to start a food storage program, buy a good water filter and a dual purpose firearm for foraging and protection.
Food Storage Program
Let’s face it most people aren’t familiar with basic foods such as hard red wheat, whole corn, soybeans etc, nor are they conversant with their preparation. So I suggest, beginning survivors start out with foods they are familiar with.
Most canned foods off the grocers shelf have a shelf life of three to five years, make a list of everything your family eats for a week, then buy 10 cases of every non-perishable item on the list.
Even though canned foods have a limited shelf life you’re going to rotate so you’ll always have a fresh supply.
Say you start out with ten cases of chili. Mark each case from 1 to 10. You start with case number 1, when you finish eating it, buy another case and mark it as case number 11. Start on case number 2, when done buy another case and mark it as case number 12 and so on.
Water Filter
You probably already know a healthy person can survive for weeks without food (what a miserable way to die) but only a few days without water – so we won’t get into that here.
Unless you have a clean spring or well nearby you need a good water filter and even if you do have a clean water source a filter should still be considered, as your reservoir could become contaminated or unavailable.
I suggest two filters a Berkey for the home and a smaller filter such as the MSR Waterworks EX or Katadyn Hiker PRO for the bug out bag. If you’re more of the do it yourself type you could make your own Berkey type filter system. Don’t forget extra purification elements.
Foraging And Protection
Boy; is this ever a touchy subject? Everyone has their own unfaltering opinion as to what makes the “perfect” survival gun. If you dare disagree with their point of view, you’ll quickly be satirized, demonized and possibly sodomized by those in disagreement.
I’ve said it before there is no “perfect” do everything survival gun – as with most things there are positives and negatives to every choice, but some are better than others. So here we go. Are you ready?
If I were limited to only one firearm (luckily we aren’t) I’d choose a Remington 870 Express combo with 20″ smooth bore sighted slug barrel and 28″ vent rib barrel or it’s Mossberg equivalent.
With one gun we can take both small and large game and protect the homestead from four legged and two legged predators. It’s hard to beat that kind of versatility.
Wait… what about?
I am sure many of you reading this have other suggestions you consider essential for those starting out.
What do you think every newbie survivalist should have?
It’s a question I hear a lot from new preppers: “what should I buy first and where do I start?”
And while there are a lot of different answers depending on individual situations and needs, usually my recommendation to those starting out, is to start a food storage program, buy a good water filter and a dual purpose firearm for foraging and protection.
Food Storage Program
Let’s face it most people aren’t familiar with basic foods such as hard red wheat, whole corn, soybeans etc, nor are they conversant with their preparation. So I suggest, beginning survivors start out with foods they are familiar with.
Most canned foods off the grocers shelf have a shelf life of three to five years, make a list of everything your family eats for a week, then buy 10 cases of every non-perishable item on the list.
Even though canned foods have a limited shelf life you’re going to rotate so you’ll always have a fresh supply.
Say you start out with ten cases of chili. Mark each case from 1 to 10. You start with case number 1, when you finish eating it, buy another case and mark it as case number 11. Start on case number 2, when done buy another case and mark it as case number 12 and so on.
Water Filter
You probably already know a healthy person can survive for weeks without food (what a miserable way to die) but only a few days without water – so we won’t get into that here.
Unless you have a clean spring or well nearby you need a good water filter and even if you do have a clean water source a filter should still be considered, as your reservoir could become contaminated or unavailable.
I suggest two filters a Berkey for the home and a smaller filter such as the MSR Waterworks EX or Katadyn Hiker PRO for the bug out bag. If you’re more of the do it yourself type you could make your own Berkey type filter system. Don’t forget extra purification elements.
Foraging And Protection
Boy; is this ever a touchy subject? Everyone has their own unfaltering opinion as to what makes the “perfect” survival gun. If you dare disagree with their point of view, you’ll quickly be satirized, demonized and possibly sodomized by those in disagreement.
I’ve said it before there is no “perfect” do everything survival gun – as with most things there are positives and negatives to every choice, but some are better than others. So here we go. Are you ready?
If I were limited to only one firearm (luckily we aren’t) I’d choose a Remington 870 Express combo with 20″ smooth bore sighted slug barrel and 28″ vent rib barrel or it’s Mossberg equivalent.
With one gun we can take both small and large game and protect the homestead from four legged and two legged predators. It’s hard to beat that kind of versatility.
Wait… what about?
I am sure many of you reading this have other suggestions you consider essential for those starting out.
What do you think every newbie survivalist should have?
