What are you doing to prep

I have a blog and post in a another survival site so will not do another one here,
check out my blog if you will http://wildernessreturn.wordpress.com/
I am not selling anything, will help you out if I can, it is my roadmap in the making towards an end goal. Soon I will be posting more there and some here as well.

I am prepping for 10 with a long term goal of having a years supply of food. I planted a huge garden this year but it's been many years since I've had a garden so I am honestly not expecting too much (so I will be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed!) I live not far from a huge pick-your-own farm so that's my backup if the garden fails miserably. My goals this year are to build raised beds into the garden and do some of the structural work that the garden requires for easier usage like rain barrel water collection and soaker hoses for each bed. I want to plant some of the beds with long term perennial plants like rhubarb - which I already have growing in several other spots - asparagus and strawberries. I am hoping to purcahse a small used greenhouse so I can start plants next year. The gro light in my diningroom didn't work too well this year but again I learned a few things and next year will be better.

I just finished fixing all the fences for my larger animals so they are enjoying their first spring on lovely green grass (and I don't have to pay for hay!) We had both sheep bred last fall but both of them had miscarriages. I was disappointed but I think I've figured out what the problem is - cats/hay - something called toxoplasmosis. I need to find a solution before next winter when we're back to hay.

The chickens are fun and provide us with eggs and more eggs - we went a little overboard with the number of chicks we got this spring but we have a good customer base of friends that buy the extras so we are getting close to breaking even on feed etc.

We have ducks...because the ducklings were cute last summer and my daughter and I couldn't resist! Well - yes - but they also keep the fly and bug population under control and provide us with eggs as well. There are several of them setting on eggs so many we'll have duck'a'la'orange this fall.

Our main focus this summer is a long list of projects around the farm that will make our lives easier. There are some changes we need to make in the barn, a shed to be built, generator installed, and we're looking into a personal solar setup for emergency purposes.

I also have a blog - address is in my sig line. I don't post as often as I should but I hope to get back to it regularly soon.

I have been reading like a mad women, my brain is going to burst with info, have knowledge of what to do to live off land but hope not to have to use it, I like my creature comforts. We have over the years been able to feed our self's family of five and the farmers markets for a living, but not now. So we are moving out of our Ontario hydro (rip off) driven home to an off grid sustainable one. I'm a dehydrator master, every thing from herbs to vegetables. I like to make soup mixes that you can add meat or what ever to, this keeps pretty much forever. We support all our local growers for items we don't do here, like beef from happy cows and potato's. My kids and I are looking into cross bows for hunting. Don't care for the load sound of a gun. Hubby can do that. and amo cost to much. Have chicken right now for eggs, and after we move , sooner than latter I hope , we will go the full home stead, me mad as my friends say I should of been born in the 1800. except with out the dress.

Hey Beth,
for guns, you might want to get a .22 ammo is cheap and it is really the best to learn on at first. the .22 is also very quiet and could be used for very small game.
For Cross Bows, you might want to look at the cross bows that are not full of pullies and such. There are some very good recurve models, they are a little more bullet proof for taking a beating and can withstand being dropped, kids do those sorts of things.

We just move our 20 x 30 green house to a place were it flat and deep soil. We are going to grow right in the ground in the GH. All plant all the cool weather plants like Swiss chard, cabbage, spinach, greens, peas etc that will grow through the winter only stopping its growing in jan feb and as the sun returns for longer days it will all start growing again. A friend is already doing this in a small pvc pip green house.

1. Information storage ( copies of all useful documents and a record of all accounts, policies, contact numbers etc) in a fire safe in an off - site location. Copies of wills and power of attorney with a relative out of town.

2.Buy Water and food at every pay cheque with a focus on what we actually eat and is it on sale

3.First aid and medical ( one family member has an ostomy and you sure do not want to run out of those supplies 😉 ). We are working on getting a year's worth of extra ostomy supplies in place. Very expensive. Insurance plans will reimburse for the costs but not for what they deem to be in excess of a usual rate of use.

4. Contact plans with all relatives and decision tree on where to go if our community is unsafe. We are in a smallish city, we have relatives in a smaller community where they have a history and connection to many people, so that is the most likely spot. Another family member has a more remote cottage but we are not equipped or experienced enough to be solo. Plus, I think there is safety in numbers if you have kinship an/or common self interests.

5. Emerg car kit as I am on the road in a rural area for work.

6. Physical fitness.

7. Education of family members. Teens resistance to emergency preparation = I tell them it is my job to teach them life lessons and they can fire me when they are 18. One has moved to a campus so that is a new situation we have to address next.

Hello BillyRubin ... Glad to see someone put - Physical Fitness and Education in their prep list .. They are at the top of my list.
In my home I keep a well stocked cold room of many canned goods and vac sealed bags all dated and consumed in a FIFO system. Have a 2 month supply working on getting it to about 6 month, using a FIFO system will make sure everything is fresh if ever SHTF.
I also make sure my First Aid supplies are up to date.

I just purchased a kerosene indoor heater for when the power fails in winter. It is on sale at Canadian Tire this week. Also purchased shelving units to store everything. More water, pain killers, toothpaste... items that are on sale and will be needed. Also went to a army surplus store and got a great bug out bag and a knife, was able to talk them down in price.

Hridika,
go to the Courtice Flee Market, there is an Army Surplus Store outlet there. Jim is the owner and he is a buddy of mine. He has some great prices and has a full store as well. If you do not see what you are looking for, just ask and he might be able to bring it in the following weekend.

Also at the flee market, there is a booth that has some decent quality knives, so take a look and talk to Sal, he is a buddy of mine as well.

kijiji.ca is the first place I start for searching for any item, lots of great deals there.

Just wondering if this Courtice army surplus outlet at the Flea Market is still up and running, I live 20 mins away from it and I never peaked my nose in to see what they got. I thought it was just old useless junk, but as they say, " One Mans trash is another Mans treasure ".

Regards,

.