09/08/2024
I had some nice private comments about my bug out bag food preps and I thank you. I was also asked if I was afraid bad people would come and take away my supplies because I write about them on Facebook. Not really. Most of my FB contacts are out of state. And those near me I trust AND I help them with their own preparations. So there’s no reason to steal mine.
I have been asked what essentials I keep in my home should I need to bug in. Think back to the killer days of Covid dear friends and make it worse. Assuming you have running water half the battle is won. If you don’t you’ll need plans to capture water, disinfect it, and store it. Minimum amount, three to four months worth to start. Hygiene comes next. Bottles of alcohol for scrubbing down with, hand sanitizer, large body wipes. I like Dr Bonner’s Soap. If need be you can also wash dishes and clothes with it. Great product. Get spare toothbrushes and toothpaste. Hydrogen peroxide also helps to reduce mouth germs. Watch your mouth foam with cleanliness! Disinfecting your outer clothing with sunlight and air is used by the military and also saves water. Un**es though deserve soap and when possible hot water. You can alcohol to that water. Yes it is possible to use drinking alcohol but only use 180 proof or Everclear. And for heaven’s sake don’t use the good scotch.
Witch Hazel is great for cleansing your face after a dusty day. My wife makes glycerin based soaps so we always have about a dozen bars. It’s a fun holiday project especially if you use essential oils. Lemon and lavender are my personal favorites.
Overstock on your OTC meds. This includes dental repair products. To deal with an abscess please please please purchase herbal capsules of Echinacea and Golden Seal. Get a LARGE bottle. No B.S. We used this in our starving student days and it never let us down. If you want to learn how to use it effectively contact me privately. Because my wife is an EMT and a nurse we have at least three professional medical packs. Get a first aid kit and then tailor it to your needs. If you’re clumsy like me pack a lot of bandages. And take a first aid class. You won’t regret it.
As for food, well a crisis is no time for trying new things. And if you’re going to be cooking over a propane stove think KISS. Keep it simple, stupid. This is when spices became important. Get as much as like. Don’t forget vanilla. I make my own using vanilla beans and spiced rum. If you’re drinking powdered milk add some to it. The flavor improves immensely. You can by shelf stable milk on Amazon. This is common in tropical countries where refrigeration is rare. Keep it in your fridge until the power dies.
For veterans who remember choking down powdered eggs from the Civil War (you can tell from the blue box and the words ON TO RICHMOND! TAKE NO PRISONERS! U.S. Grant.) choke no more. Most of the backpacking meals with are good. The huevos rancheros from Alpinaire is arguably the best. The Garcia family has never gotten out of the starving students mindset. So our pantry has the requisite rice and beans, canned tomatoes of various types, canned corn and carrots, refried beans, Spam, corned beef, corned beef hash and roast beef hash, corn bread, Bisquit, brown and white sugar, canned squash, Velveta, mixed vegetables, pasta out the w***o, spaghetti sauces, real taters, Tang, tuna and canned chicken breast, Cambell’s soups, soy sauce, Ramen, hot sauce, ketchup, onion soup, canned stew, flour, lard, canned butter from beautiful New Zealand, (gotta give a plug to NZ. My eldest daughter lives there.), wine and liquor for trade and enjoyment. Of course there’s more but your eyes are probably failing by now. So if you were able to get through this all I thank you. I have one more topic on lighting to bore you with but that’s for another day.
