22 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
KAM
KAM
14 years ago

As far as Pasta, I’d consider Orzo, which looks like a bulging grain of rice, but is pasta. It packs tighter than macaroni or penne.
I’ve packed some in small mylar bags with Oxygen absorbers, and it draws in nicely–like vacuum sealed.

TekkieFae
TekkieFae
14 years ago

About clothing post SHTF

I researched this topic a while back so I will share my thoughts with you all.

Knitting and crochet would be another good skill for creating clothing post SHTF. Easy to stock up on yarn now – it’s pretty cheap and everywhere. You can also unravel older items and reuse yarn. You could knit bags, belts, hats, etc. out of thin rope, even.

Sewing machines will take a LOT of power. There are some that are non-electric still, but they are pricy or rare from what I have found. Having both a sewing machine and a serger (overlock) would speed up production. (A serger cuts and wraps the thread around the edges as you sew. This really helps with working with fabrics that ravel easily.)

Having a good stash of clothes would help as you can make other things from existing garments, bedding, sheets, curtains, etc.

For example, you cold turn old t-shirts and garments into quilts, pot holders, coats, pillow cases, bags or sacks, scarves, etc.

At the very least, get enough supplies to mend and sew garments by hand, just in case. Needles and thread are very cheap.

Cloth things to think about getting ahead of time:
Cloth diapers
Cloth toilet wipes (reusable) or another alternative to toilet paper
Cloth menstrual pads and deva cups
Cloth alternative to paper towels
Extra fabric, yarn, towels, sheets, etc.
Manual laundry washing supplies (Washboard or wonderwash, clothing line or drying racks, buckets or bins, etc.)

For about $20 you can get enough supplies to make your own laundry detergent for many months. (Borax, Washing Soda, and bar laundry soap) Just google homemade laundry detergent and you will find many recipes. Works in machines and with hand washing.

You can also make softener. (I recommend this to everyone after researching the toxins in retail fabric softeners.)

I add my favorite scents or essential oils to a little salt and then that mix to the powdered detergent for a wonderful scent. (Can also help those with eczema.)

I suggest everyone try to hand wash some regular laundry to get familiar with the process. It can be quite fun and relaxing, and a great workout!

You can also put a load with soap and water in a sealed container in the trunk of your car before you drive to work. When you get home you only have to rinse well and hang to dry!

In a post SHTF scenario, you could barter:
Alterations and mending services
New clothing and accessories
Laundry services
Laundry detergent

About fabrics:
Spinning and weaving takes special equipment I am not familiar with, but I can tell you cotton grows very easily from seeds, and gives back more seeds inside each cotton ball. I think having livestock as well as cotton would be good – and if ever available I’d look into hemp fabrics.

TekkieFae
TekkieFae
14 years ago

About used School Busses
When shopping for my used school bus I found the shorter ones were MORE expensive than the larger ones. I was only looking for a larger one, however.
The large ones like mine WILL be too long for many RV spaces. Since I do not wish to live 5’ away from my neighbor in an RV campground, this was not a concern for me.

Here is my logic on why I live in a school bus:
School Busses are built TOUGH and for a lot of weight.
It is a faraday cage.
It would survive an EMP. (Carborated)
It can tow a trailer with my car and more supplies.
It is completely customizable.
It is the cheapest way to own your own home without debt. (3k)
As soon as the seats were removed, I could move in.
Since it is my home, I even got a homeowners’ discount on the auto insurance!
Extremely low cost of living, with many location options.
I can move to my bug out location with ease.

Issues to think about:
INSULATION! It is basically a metal can that transfers the heat or cold into the interior. Insulate every surface as much as possible.
The windows are a nightmare to work with.
Have a good mechanic setup – you won’t even be able to change a tire on that thing if you get a flat. I am not sure if AAA will cover my bus for towing.
The floor could very well be rotted out. You may need to tear it out and replace the metal and wood underneath.
TEST DRIVE IT! Although you may not need a commercial driver’s license (I didn’t in my state) driving a bus takes a learning curve.
I got my insurance through GM. You will need to see who will insure a bus in your area.
You will need to eventually have to get the title corrected to say motor home.

paul
14 years ago

Yes, you can definitely do better than mountain house! I actually lost my last MH meal perhaps too much TVP made my stomach turn??
My #1 go-to CHEAP backpacking meal is….Zatarain’s black beans and rice. I boil it up with a package of tunafish, add some dried hot peppers. Take it off the alcohol stove and put it in a pot cozy made from reflectix for half an hour…spoon that up onto tortillas. You will not be disappointed!

hawaiian
hawaiian
14 years ago

Looking forward to hearing a podcast dedicated to BOB foods, I just ordered some stuff from emergency essentials but I’m sure there’s a better way than lugging around bulky MRE bags without sacrificing nutritional and caloric benefits.

Bob in SC
Bob in SC
14 years ago

An interesting fact… Historically Dividends have represented 3 to 4% of the annual 10% average return in the stock market.

There are a couple of good fund choices in this area.

One is a group of stocks called the Dividend Aristocrats. To be included on this list they have to have raised their dividends for 25 consecutive years or they are booted from the List! Currently there are 43 of the S+P 500 stocks that make this list. Most are names you will recognize and banks only represent 7% of this Index. They do better in down markets but underperform in better times. The symbol is SDY

Another similar Index is the Dividend Achievers. They cull this list from 3700 stocks and a few more than 200 companies make the list. They are required to have increased dividends at least 8 out of ten years with no interuption or decrease (not exactly 100% sure, but I’m close). This symbol is DAA

Hope this helps.

Candee
Candee
14 years ago

Prescott Bush is the one who supported the Nazis so people can look it up quicker

Bob in SC
Bob in SC
14 years ago

Good luck with CIM. They cut the dividend in 2008 temporarily and have lost 80% of its value in two years, while the market rebounded fully. Not something I want to touch… nothing about it. I’ll take a broadly diversified mutual fund/etf containing 43 companies like Exxon, Walmart with a minimum 25 year record of raising dividends over any REIT.

Bob in SC
Bob in SC
14 years ago

I don’t own SDY or DAA, but currently own 30 globally diversified stocks with only 7% invested in five small/mid cap mutual funds.

ETF/mutual funds mentioned are a valid alternative and less risky than single stocks, and closer to the spirit of the advice Jack was offering.

Bob in SC
Bob in SC
14 years ago

I don’t disagree with your opinion…

You mentioned Dividends…

The Dividend Aristocrats ETF (symbol=SDY) is as good option as any.

I’ll take a diversified equally weighted 43 stocks with a minimum track record of 25 years of dividend increases over chasing a high yield of a three year old REIT with a poor track record.

Good luck!

rich hutchins
rich hutchins
14 years ago

From stats I have seen, index funds & their brethren index ETF’s generally outpace managed funds in their category. And no one has consistently beaten the market over all 10 year periods.. If ‘ the smart guys’ can’t do it, why would be be able to ‘beat the market’? Most people buy high & sell low. Broad indexes, gold, cash, food, skills. My investment for the future.

rich hutchins
rich hutchins
14 years ago

A diesel schoolbus can be switched to bio-diesel – if wanted, or if standard diesel becomes scarce due to disaster. WIllie nelson runs bioD, a band here in NY runs their school bus on biod from used fryer grease..

Donna
Donna
14 years ago

FYI on clothing and repairs: find and refurbish an old treadle sewing machine if you can. I have an 1878 Reliable that I use for all my sewing needs now. Having a supply of threads and other sewing staples on hand will pay for themselves over and over if you can’t get them!

Checkout Treadle On’s Sewing Machine Maintenance and Repair Shop pages. They provide the information you need to select, restore and use treadle and hand crank machines.
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/index.html

Iohazard
Iohazard
14 years ago

Love the show wish I had more time to listen.

You mentioned that you didn’t know if you could trust boiling water in a zip-lock bag.

Last time I went backpacking I transfered some mountain house from a two serving bag to two FREEZER SAFE ziplock bags. I was able to simply dump the boiling water in the bag to cook. Once it’s done you can eat out of the bag and when you are done just zip it up and there is no need to clean a pot. It was very convenient since we were just cooking over butane instead of a campfire.

Anyways it’s called “ziplock” cooking and has online following. The trick is freezer safe bags, but I would probably check the brand myself each time at home before I committed. I think it worked out great and will do it next time I need to pack light.

Foxy Huntress
Foxy Huntress
14 years ago

I change sale tags in our local food store & YES the prices are going up…each month!
Grow your own veggies…grow that garden & save!