NorthTexasWink
Songster
I'm enjoying the posters here! I'm new to BYC, but not new to most of the stuff here. It would seem my family has been prepping for generations, at least the way some folks define it. Not that uncommon down here in Texas though. My HE and I got together about 7 years ago and quit the rat race of full time jobs to work our own hours part time before I finally retired from nursing about 3 years ago. HE still works from home part time by his choice. After both of us getting away from the land and fledging our own chicks (5 children from our previous relationships between us and all grown), we are back to it, just in a smaller way.
We've fortified our home to improve security and defense. We have multiple defensive systems in place, both passive and active. "We are good" as well. We have a core group that we can count on and who all know what, when, where. We have the tools we need.
Gardens continue to evolve, as gardens do. Have a small greenhouse. Fruit and berries started. Abundant easily obtained pecans everywhere here, it is the state tree. Solar, gas generator, rain water - check, check, check. No wells allowed, as we are still technically in the city, so water storage and our seep spring will have to do for now. There are other ground water sources very nearby. Grey water system in place for part of the house, but can no longer get those permitted here either. I built a big Berkey filter system, but also can make a more sustainable water treatment system with what I keep at hand. Food stores amply accounted for including garden and new chickens. Mushroom farm been great for several years. Meat production starting with layers. I'd prefer ducks, but too noisy for us here.
We did purchase some dehydrated foods, like everyone else. And small Life Straws. Good for travel I guess. Made my own seed vault. Camping gear, bob, etc ready in case of need for quick skedaddle. Pets also accounted for, both bug in and bug out. I built my own large and small medical kits, which are probably overkill. What can I say after 30 years of nursing? Must have my tools of the trade. I also have so many ways to make various soaps and cleaning supplies you would faint. And we built so many concealed storage places into the house and other places you would be amazed. I even made a couple of Faraday cages from metal trash cans and keep our old tablets and such in there. I filled them with pleasure and reference books, offline maps, etc. I've got hard copy actual books for reference, skill refresher/learning, plans/blueprints, topographic maps, leisure. A small collection of board games, cards, dice, so on.
I sew, knit/crochet (not well), bake, can, freeze, dehydrate and ferment (but haven't made booze as such yet), make candles and toiletries, herbal preparations. We have alternate cooking methods in use and more available. Same with heating, as much as we need here. Wood is not now, nor will ever be, a problem in our lifetimes around here. Alternative cooling would be welcome, but I can't think of much besides a cool soak and shade. Ground is clay, so a root cellar won't be soon nor easy.
The next year or two should see us starting on cuy. That's guinea pig to most folks. Research it, its a South American staple. I lived down there a good bit and like it better than rabbit for the texture of the meat. Also do better than rabbits in my climate with less intervention and better feed conversion, do better on an all forage diet, quiet and not messy. Born eyes open, furred, able to eat and forage on their own. Tend to stay near home base as a colony without fencing. One animal harvests one serving, so little waste. Versatile product for a variety of cooking techniques. Fur can be tanned and utilized, though hides are smaller and fur coarser than rabbit. For some applications that might a good thing. Cuy are often prepared by singeing off the hair. The crispy skin is delicious, so no need to waste it either way.
New projects: Started a small pond to store some of the water from runoff and our seep spring. Marsh plants like cane, cattail, rushes, cress, water lettuce will live there as potentially useful additions. Hope to finish it this fall and stock a few bluegill perch. Aquaponic system seems too reliant on electricity for me, but perhaps some modified version might work. Also planning chicken tractor that can double later as a cuy tractor. Raising a few broilers might happen. I'll be starting my edible landscaping of the front yard this fall with currants, raspberries (thorny bushes also help with security), and garlic, plus whatever else strikes me as appropriate. Autumn is prime time in the garden here, so time will be at a premium.
It's almost overwhelming at times, the feeling that I need to get us all ready NOW, because something is about to happen! I don't remember feeling like this when I was younger, and understand I grew up during the age of community fallout shelters and school kids learning to duck & cover in the event of a nuclear attack. I can't say precisely when it started, but within the last decade or so. Am I nuts for feeling like that? Have I got early onset senility? Well, I'm sure my family is prepared better than most if something does happen, whatever that is. And much of the things I have done to be prepared, I would have done anyway. That's just how we roll down here.
We've fortified our home to improve security and defense. We have multiple defensive systems in place, both passive and active. "We are good" as well. We have a core group that we can count on and who all know what, when, where. We have the tools we need.
Gardens continue to evolve, as gardens do. Have a small greenhouse. Fruit and berries started. Abundant easily obtained pecans everywhere here, it is the state tree. Solar, gas generator, rain water - check, check, check. No wells allowed, as we are still technically in the city, so water storage and our seep spring will have to do for now. There are other ground water sources very nearby. Grey water system in place for part of the house, but can no longer get those permitted here either. I built a big Berkey filter system, but also can make a more sustainable water treatment system with what I keep at hand. Food stores amply accounted for including garden and new chickens. Mushroom farm been great for several years. Meat production starting with layers. I'd prefer ducks, but too noisy for us here.
We did purchase some dehydrated foods, like everyone else. And small Life Straws. Good for travel I guess. Made my own seed vault. Camping gear, bob, etc ready in case of need for quick skedaddle. Pets also accounted for, both bug in and bug out. I built my own large and small medical kits, which are probably overkill. What can I say after 30 years of nursing? Must have my tools of the trade. I also have so many ways to make various soaps and cleaning supplies you would faint. And we built so many concealed storage places into the house and other places you would be amazed. I even made a couple of Faraday cages from metal trash cans and keep our old tablets and such in there. I filled them with pleasure and reference books, offline maps, etc. I've got hard copy actual books for reference, skill refresher/learning, plans/blueprints, topographic maps, leisure. A small collection of board games, cards, dice, so on.
I sew, knit/crochet (not well), bake, can, freeze, dehydrate and ferment (but haven't made booze as such yet), make candles and toiletries, herbal preparations. We have alternate cooking methods in use and more available. Same with heating, as much as we need here. Wood is not now, nor will ever be, a problem in our lifetimes around here. Alternative cooling would be welcome, but I can't think of much besides a cool soak and shade. Ground is clay, so a root cellar won't be soon nor easy.
The next year or two should see us starting on cuy. That's guinea pig to most folks. Research it, its a South American staple. I lived down there a good bit and like it better than rabbit for the texture of the meat. Also do better than rabbits in my climate with less intervention and better feed conversion, do better on an all forage diet, quiet and not messy. Born eyes open, furred, able to eat and forage on their own. Tend to stay near home base as a colony without fencing. One animal harvests one serving, so little waste. Versatile product for a variety of cooking techniques. Fur can be tanned and utilized, though hides are smaller and fur coarser than rabbit. For some applications that might a good thing. Cuy are often prepared by singeing off the hair. The crispy skin is delicious, so no need to waste it either way.
New projects: Started a small pond to store some of the water from runoff and our seep spring. Marsh plants like cane, cattail, rushes, cress, water lettuce will live there as potentially useful additions. Hope to finish it this fall and stock a few bluegill perch. Aquaponic system seems too reliant on electricity for me, but perhaps some modified version might work. Also planning chicken tractor that can double later as a cuy tractor. Raising a few broilers might happen. I'll be starting my edible landscaping of the front yard this fall with currants, raspberries (thorny bushes also help with security), and garlic, plus whatever else strikes me as appropriate. Autumn is prime time in the garden here, so time will be at a premium.
It's almost overwhelming at times, the feeling that I need to get us all ready NOW, because something is about to happen! I don't remember feeling like this when I was younger, and understand I grew up during the age of community fallout shelters and school kids learning to duck & cover in the event of a nuclear attack. I can't say precisely when it started, but within the last decade or so. Am I nuts for feeling like that? Have I got early onset senility? Well, I'm sure my family is prepared better than most if something does happen, whatever that is. And much of the things I have done to be prepared, I would have done anyway. That's just how we roll down here.
Hi Auroradream! Sounds great. The more, the merrier. 
