How self sufficient are you ? Honestly ?

[Soundguy]

I am beginning to wonder if you ever bother to read what people post. You are very quick to condemn. .

i'm guessing maybee not.


might be some of that projection thing going on again

hey wait.. maybee technology has made him useless?

 

[tungularafishcamp]

I think keeping a lot of canning supply ( rims, seal, jar) would be a good thing too.
We just got some of the reusable tattler seals. I will try them next year.

Not familiar with those seals. We do a lot of canning n that is the one hitch having to buy new lids all the time:thumbdown:

Just googled them, they look good, think I will order a trial pack, thanks:thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

It is difficult to decide how dependent it is smart to be on complex technology. On the other hand, the more access to and use of technology you have, the better your chances of surviving would be my guess.

Anything electronic can break. With schematics, replacement parts, diagnostic tools (which can fail too) and training and practice, you could fix most problems. There are a lot of co-dependencies in that process which means it is more risky to rely on. Things needing batteries would be a weakness. You could have a solar powered VOM. An oscilloscope would be a nice thing to have if you have to maintain electronics.

Even the simple things wear out and break. Spades get worn to a nub if used enough, ax heads can split, shoes wear out, clothing disintegrates. Once the high tech clothing is gone, without a loom and wool or cotton, I think you are down to skins and leather. Same for shoes. You need to shear, comb and spin wool before making clothing. It is easy to overlook how much older basic technology is needed to supply the simple things that may get taken for granted.

There should be a good supply of scrap metal laying around for the taking. With a forge, hammers and anvil of some kind, tools can be made or repaired. Not sure about fuel for the forge, some coal would be nice I think.

 

[Egon]

I think keeping a lot of canning supply ( rims, seal, jar) would be a good thing too.
We just got some of the reusable tattler seals. I will try them next year.

Forget the canning and all the manufactured goods involved. Think pemmican.:thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

Forget the canning and all the manufactured goods involved. Think pemmican.:thumbsup:

Is that with or without flies? :laughing: Well, it's all protein.

Watching Preppers the other night, I was wondering how many would be killed by botulism. Hot water bath canning of low-acid foods would be the thing that worried me. A good pressure cooker would be worth having.

Egon- Do you know if black smithing can be done with just a bellows-fanned hardwood fire? Or, does coal and coke make life much easier, maybe a fluxing agent too for welds?

 

[Rob-D]

Is that with or without flies? :laughing: Well, it's all protein.

Watching Preppers the other night, I was wondering how many would be killed by botulism. Hot water bath canning of low-acid foods would be the thing that worried me. A good pressure cooker would be worth having.

Egon- Do you know if black smithing can be done with just a bellows-fanned hardwood fire? Or, does coal and coke make life much easier, maybe a fluxing agent too for welds?

We've been canning for years with no problems. Lots of books on how to do it, just don't take short cuts.

 

[crash325]

Is that with or without flies? :laughing: Well, it's all protein.

Watching Preppers the other night, I was wondering how many would be killed by botulism. Hot water bath canning of low-acid foods would be the thing that worried me. A good pressure cooker would be worth having.

Egon- Do you know if black smithing can be done with just a bellows-fanned hardwood fire? Or, does coal and coke make life much easier, maybe a fluxing agent too for welds?

You can use charcoal it works fine, Just does not last as lone as coal. Even hard wood can be used. I have an old hand cranked forge, but a bellows or most anything to blow air is fine.

For flux plain old "Borax" will work fine. Boric acid crystals may work better, but have never tried them.

 

[Gunny]

Not familiar with those seals. We do a lot of canning n that is the one hitch having to buy new lids all the time:thumbdown:

Just googled them, they look good, think I will order a trial pack, thanks:thumbsup:

Don't worry about just buying a trial pack, go ahead and get what you need, I've used them for two years now, they work great. You also want to get some extra rubber rings, they're cheap and I've had to replace a few of mine where one of the girls used a knife to pry the lid off and cut the ring. Lehman's also have reusable lids, but the cheapest place I've found any of them was on EBay. I plan on buying another 96 this year so I can ramp up the canning.

Another good trading item I've heard bandied about was 22LR and shotgun shells One fellow I talked to said that he thought 22LRs would or could be the new small change for transactions.

 

[Egon]

Is that with or without flies? :laughing: Well, it's all protein.

Watching Preppers the other night, I was wondering how many would be killed by botulism. Hot water bath canning of low-acid foods would be the thing that worried me. A good pressure cooker would be worth having.

Egon- Do you know if black smithing can be done with just a bellows-fanned hardwood fire? Or, does coal and coke make life much easier, maybe a fluxing agent too for welds?

Black smithing, in survivalist mode, can be done with hardwood. On the Northwestern tip of Newfoundland an old Viking settlement has been found and replicated. They worked bog iron with wood for heat. Please note that my Smithing knowledge is quite limited.

The pemmican comment was made with an extended and universal upset in mind.
No access to manufactured products.:thumbsup:

 

[EE_Bota]

During the Iron Age, huge areas of Europe were nearly cleared of forest according to a documentary I saw recently. It is a series called something like "The History of Us."