Everybody seems to focus in on stocking up on food, heat and other basics. How about skills? What about non-electric entertainment? What non-food items are people stocking up on that might not be on basic lists of what to get?

-- Karen Cook (browsercat@hotmail.com), September 10, 1998

Answers

Books : Square Foot Gardening The Encyclopedia of Country Living When There Is No Doctor When There Is No Dentist All types of camping equipment, wind-up radio and flashlight, inverter.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 10, 1998.

super glue, duct tape, lamp oil, hand tools (ax is crucial), bleach, candles, matches, trioxane fuel bars, several pairs of working-hiking boots, knives, gore-tex clothing, wool socks, caulk/sealant, lube oil, penetrating oil

-- Michael (mneedh@acxiom.com), September 10, 1998.

Boots, school books, lamp parts, garden tools, extra tools for barter wooden hammer and shovel handles, spare parts for tiller, truck and generator, nails.

-- Timothy Rebman (trebman@megavision.com), September 10, 1998.

Go to the hardware store and get a few rolls of chicken wire. Not only to keep chickens, but to protect your garden, build rabbit pens. Get a few pieces of 2x4 and 2x2 lumber. Maybe a few hunks of plywood...a good assortment of nails, lots of duct tape, rope, nylon chord, string and glue. Safety pins, needles and thread. Don't forget toilet paper!

-- hull stetson (stetson.hull@usa.com), September 10, 1998.

Book: Reader's Digest Back To Basics

-- Gina Decker (gngdecker@ckt.net), September 10, 1998.

Hand tools, leatherman (or equal multipurpose tool), home supplies (soap, toothpaste, cold water detergent, spray & wipe type cleaners, etc.)

Hint: For "chopping" wood, DON'T use a hatchet or axe. Use a crosscut, band or tree pruning type saw. An axe requires 10-15 times more effort, takes 3 times longer, and is much less safe than a saw. A 3" limb can be cut in two in 60-90 seconds with a 15" saw one handed, and no fingers or toes are left at the job site.

For example: Boy Scouts don't even allow the boys to even bring axes with them any more when camping.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 10, 1998.

How do you clean laundry without electrons?

Other than telling your wife to go do it, that is.

I assume it has something to do with clothes pins, laundry detergent, water, and clothlines, but I'm not sure about the details. Maybe extra washpans, scrubber(s), dirty laundry, etc.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 11, 1998.

Robert from GA, Lehman's has wonderful non-electric washers! I purchased their pressure washer that will wash about 8 adult shirts or 2 pairs of jeans at a time. It is small, lightweight, and all you have to do is turn the handle for a couple of minutes and the clothes are clean! It is an airtight drum. When you put in warm water, the heat causes the air to expand and builds pressure. That drives the soap and water through the clothing and combines with the agitation to "blow" the dirt out. What a concept, and it works! If Y2K ends up being "short duration", it will go off with my daughter to college. The cost is $49. Lehman's phone number is 1-330-857-5757. Call and get a catalogue. Also, for any of the other ladies who might be interested, they sell the "Classic Singer Treadle Sewing Machine" (cast iron frame) complete with cabinet for $299.

-- Gayla Dunbar in Texas (privacy@please.com), September 11, 1998.

I forgot to add: paper cups, bowls, plates, plastic silverware. Re the ax - my daughters Girl Scout leader cut her thumb with an ax.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 11, 1998.

A question Amy: given that when the troubles start we won't know how long or what impact (differerent things may go on/go off for different periods of time. (I grant that there is a probability that nothing will happen, in which case I would like to ask our favorite Uncle to share a re-dehydrated beer.)

Would it be better to use "Up" the plastic knives, forks, spoons, etc and save "wash" water, (not knowing how long either water or the utinsels would last), or plan some way to get a "replacement water" so washing could be done almost indefinitely. (Or at least my kids decided not to wash the dishes.)

Grey water can be re-used somewhat for watering the lawn in drout conditions, but black water is lost down the drain. Washing dishes (safely) requires the same clean water that could otherwise be drunk/used for cooking, but prevents it from being used for either.

So: should planning for dishes and utensils going to be "site dependent" in that supply of water (renewable or fixed), number of available dishwashers, and expected time frame be countered against the ease of disposal utinsels and "use once"/"throw away once" practice?

Does this indicate that renewable water sources (solar stills or cleaning runoff/cistern/pond water/creek water) become as important inplanning as "heat"?

-- Robert A. Cook. P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 11, 1998.

Skills: Am brushing up on my spanish because this is an increasingly bilingual society and you never know when you're going to need to communicate with someone. Also am brushing up gardening skills. Stocking car repair books. Don't forget board games for bored kids and adults. Musical instruments, etc. Crayons, art supplies.

More serious items: Tarps, pet food and supplies, film for camera, canning jars and canning equipment (presuming we have some way to power up the stove), solar motion detectors for security reasons (we're in DC), fire extinguishers, don't forget pads and tampons (and yeast infection meds), deodorant crystal stones are a great idea -- you can get them at health food stores and each one lasts for about a year (don't drop it though).

-- Anne Gilson (abgilson@aol.com), September 12, 1998.

We bought a portable, solar heated shower ($20), water purifing tablets and sterno, a Britta water purfier, extra filters, a mag-lite (to start fires), rope (don't know why...exactly...), extra blankets, kerosene lantern, shovel, saw, (have tons of hand-tools already) extra parts and oil for a gas generator (cheap 5000w kind, hope we don't have to rely on it for more than a season...and spareningly at that...), and plastic sheeting ...

Sigh...

-- Okum (ws000@aol.com), September 12, 1998.

You bought rope because you a) you know will need it, b) you can't make it yourself c) without power, food, lights, transportation, (infrastructure) and a working national economy, nobody else can make it if TSHTF d) you will eventually find a need for it, even if you don't know what that need will be now, and that need is likely to be an emergency, e) you want to hang out your clothes to dry f) you want your spouse to hang out your clothes to dry g) you need to tie up your dentist to a tree. (See other thread)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 12, 1998.

Canning, Herb Gardening and plant identification, insect control. As far as supplies not mentioned: Fishing line, hooks, equipment; children's tylenol, pedialyte, ipecac (for barter or to help out friends & neighbors); Physicians Family Reference guide (to help diagnose problems that I can't fix); LOTS of Socks and underwear; A couple of spares of shoes; Bug traps and spray; Wax paper, aluminum foil (lots) and plastic wrap and baggies; LOTS of garbage bags (for sanitation, trash and storage); Pup tent (put it up in the house, crawl inside to conserve body heat); Antacid, antihistimine, (aunt Flo); Co2 Detector; solar battery recharger, Nicad batteries; Handheld egg beater, Fire Extinguishers; Particle board or plysheet and other wood to cover windows or build small items if needed; Good hunting knife and Fillet knife. There's always more....and you will never be completely prepared for everything. If some crazies try to pull a nucl, bio or chem (salivating at the thought of the US being crippled and ripe for the picking) then the best preparation is to be ready for YOUR checkout date at Hotel Earth. Right Arcy and Pastor Chris?

-- Kay P. (Y2Kay@usa.net), September 13, 1998.

Don't forget to take a CPR (cardio-pulmonary resusitation -- sp?) course. The Red Cross offers them. It could come in very handy. Also basic first aid course would be a grand idea!

-- Anne in DC (abgilson@aol.com), September 13, 1998.

hand saws, managing mules on the farm, hiding vital supplies in plain site, Shotguns 101, wrassling with the 18-month-old nephew on less than 3000 calories a day (tall order), foraging, creative woodstove fuel if need be, low-energy high-mileage bicycling, watching Bob Vila-type stuff, manually-propelled lawn mowers (remember them?), Martha Stewart's Daily Y2K Tips, Dr. Ruth's....oh never mind..., figuring out how to be a computer consultant when no computers even work, reading granddaddy's diary really carefully (he was a farmer), rigging a way to play CD's on Gramma's victrola, learning how to sing and whistle better as backup

Seriously, the old folks used to get by just fine on a lot less than what we consider the basics. Talk to them. One of my clients is a guy who's 81 years young, was part of the 2nd wave that hit Omaha Beach on D-Day. Talking to that dear ol' guy for an hour is like a year of college. At least.

-- John Howard (pcdir@prodigy.net), September 13, 1998.

Skills...How about negotiation and compromise? How about patience and tolerance. These are often the hardest to learn, but have proved to be the most valuable.

Entertainment...We have a house full of books, the kids have lots of games, and play musical instruments, there are plenty of drawers and closets that could be straightened up.

When preparing, don't forget - there are experts everywhere. I have plenty of them where I work. When I wanted to know about heating and firewood, I asked the guy who runs a sawmill as a hobby. (He heats his home with the scraps.) When I wanted to know about the effects of power fluctuations and failures on appliances, I asked our Electrical Controls Engineers. When I wanted to know where to get silica gel to protect stored items from moisture, I asked the girl who makes dried flower arrangements....

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), September 13, 1998.

If you are preparing for the "Dark Millinum" ie. - no power, then food PRODUCTION should be a high priority. Hand gardening tools, tilling ect. will be in great demand. Old newspapers can be had almost free, and are excellent for weed control and mulch (inks are now soy-based, and non-toxic). Another item I have not seen on any thread is "diatomaceous earth". D E is the organic gardener's secret weapon. It is earth with silicates in it from prehisotric diatoms (little critters). It is an insecticide, non-chemical, stores literally forever, and is safe for animal and human consumption. The FDA has approved it as a food additive, and it is already in toothpaste and mineral supplements. I am also using it directly in my dried grains to deter bugs; don't have to worry about washing it out later. It's about $10 for 10 pounds, which goes a looong way, and can be had at older feed stores or "farmers merchantiles".

A couple of books on organic gardening wouldn't hurt, and if y2k turns out to be a dud (fat chance!), then you can at least enjoy a hobby that will give your pamily high quality food and help protect what's left of our natural environment.

Seeds too, can be kept in your freezer for several years if need be. They are cheap insurance!

Lon Frank

-- Lon Frank (None@thanks.com), September 13, 1998.

Don't forget matches.

-- Anne in DC (abgilson@aol.com), September 13, 1998.

After reading some responses yesterday, it occurred to me I didn't see any mention of "Baking Soda". It can be a substitute for alot of things, besides it being a great leavening agent.

-- Jim Hale (James.hale@gte.net), September 13, 1998.

We forgot razors - us ladies don't want hairy armpits - eewww!

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 14, 1998.

Bicycle parts -- lots & lots of bicycle parts. Will be buying spare tires & tubes soon. I figure I can barter parts & repair work for all sorts of stuff.

All manner of hand tools, gardening & otherwise.

We already have lots of books. I need a few boxes of pencils & some of those "composition" books. I'm already keeping a journal of Y2K & more immediate concerns/ideas.

Lots of other good ideas up already; I need to see if any of those ring my "oh yeah" bell.

-- Larry Kollar (lekollar@nyx.net), September 14, 1998.

I am learning to train horses, vet animals myself, and how to grow an orchard. We are stocking up on fencing, posts, chicken wire, hand tools such as a brace and bits, lots of antique farm equipment.

When my grandsons (ages 2 & 5) visit they are quite able to keep themselves occupied without lots of toys and luckily the 5 y/o is still young enough to think that cleaning the barn is fun.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), September 14, 1998.

Amy, us guys types would love you girl types anyway.

(As long as there isn't a bowl game on TV that is.)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 14, 1998.

I'm gonna go to SAMS and buy 100 pounds each of beans, rice, and corn and pour them into some brand new garbage cans i bought for storage. That should handle foo. Then I'm gonna go and buy some 50-gallon industrial barrels and fill them with water. Next i'm gonna buy all your basic survival stuff (machete, axe, windup flashlight /radio, tough boots, hegienic equipment, camoflauge gear). THEN I'm gonna go buy myself a 12 gauge shotgun with a case of ammo to protect my supply. You never know how desperate some people might get when food runs low. Generally, I'd prepare for WWIII if I was you. Then I'll buy myself a nice tent

-- Jose Segura (josesegura@hotmail.com), September 14, 1998.

Jose, I know this thread was more about non-food items, but since you talked about storing food, too, here is a great place to learn about a safe way to store food:

http://www.survival-center.com

Look under "Food Storage", it has lots of helpful tips. Good luck!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), September 14, 1998.

Ya, I'm gonna git me some vittles to hoard from dem der wild broncos what bail out of dem der cities. Den I'm gonna git me a real mean piece what shoots silver bullets at dem wild broncos. Maybe if I gits hungry enuff, I kin eat dem broncos. Ahhhh Soooo!

-- Ahso (Ahso@yaya.com), September 14, 1998.

I found a good herbal in a bookstore the other day, now I'm looking for seeds. Unless you know how to make birch bark tea, I'd recommend asprin, and if you're female and not post-menstrual, better think about how to deal with that. (Mom told me that she used to use rags and wash them out, and I had to do that when caught out in the boonies once - UGH!) A good first aid kit is a must, but it's only as good as the user. Think about things you'll be able to use for barter, extra food comes to mind. Also, refillable lighters with fuel, extra blankets, coats, mitts, hats, etc for those of us in colder climes. I plan to brush up on my knitting and to buy yarn - entertainment and things to barter all in one swell foop! Thanks for all the ideas, y'all.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), September 15, 1998.

"Ahso" must not be from Denver.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 15, 1998.

It was mentioned in a post above "seeds too can be kept in your freezer for several years." This is true, but you must remove most of the moisture from the seeds before freezing them. Too much moisture in the seeds and the cells will rupture. Just place your seeds in a jar with some silica gel for 4-5 days at room temp. Then you can freeze them. :-)

-- none (none@none.com), September 15, 1998.

Thanks for the correction on seeds in the freezer. I've never wanted to keep them for years, so have never put any in the freezer, myself. I was just passing on info from the feed store guy. Again, thanks; maybe this is one lesson I won't have to learn the hard way.

-- Lon Frank (postit@here.com), September 15, 1998.

I am an RN in Labor & Delivery, so some of my focus is on being able to care for women in my area. I'm buying a full set of midwifery supplies, as well as stocking up on IV and IM syringes, IV setups, sutures, and other medical things that I have access to. (I know lots of cooperative docs). Some other "female" needs: what will you do when the tampons and pads run out? Rags? Yuk. You can ask your doctor to fit you for a diaphram (normally used for birth control) and use it like a tampon. Buy several. You do need to be willing to take it out and wash it out several times a day. They also make "menstrual cups" that are used the same way. These last a long time. And speaking of birth control . . . better stock up on whatever method you choose! The condom and diaphram are good choices, since you may not be able to get more pills, shots, or IUD's. Do some reading and planning now, before it's too late. Also, you potential expectant moms . . . breastfeeding will probably be preferred since access to formula and water might not be easy. Good luck to all you women!

-- Mary (Beachyfe@hotmail.com), September 15, 1998.

Mary, what an excellent post! You covered some things like birth control that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else. Might be a good idea for anyone considering getting a tubal ligation or vasectomy anyway to go ahead and do it now. I'm not talking about having the surgery out of fear, just if they were thinking about it anyway, now might be a good time. Thanks!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), September 16, 1998.

Gayla.... Do you live here? You must be an IT professional!

-- ahso (ahso@yaya.com), September 16, 1998.

No, ahso, my husband is, but I'm not. I am working on it, though. I'm also doing my best to get out as much information as possible to all of the new people who find their way here everyday. The old saying goes "Knowledge is Power", but to me, knowledge may very well be survival. I certainly don't know the answer to every question asked here, but if I can help direct people to a source that might help them, it is well worth my time.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), September 16, 1998.

I forgot to mention wind-up clocks. Even if it comes to TEOTWAWKI, there will be a transition period where it might be nice to have some kind of idea about what time it is. I plan to see if I can find a winding watch in a pawn shop.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), September 16, 1998.

Tricia, Ahso bought cheap watch at Wal-Mart for $7.00 back in 1994. It still keep very very goooood time! It run on teeny weeny battery. Never have to replace battery yet! You don't need "wind-up" watch. You get cheap one from Wal-Mart, or maybe two. <:o ahhhh soooo

-- ahso (ahso@yaya.com), September 16, 1998.

Anyone concerned about filtration devices for water might want to call for a Harmony catalog. They were formerly called eventh Generation. They have a water-cooler filter (looks just like a water cooler) that filters 6 gal/24 hrs. supposed to filter out 95% chlorine, lead, aluminum and pesticides and 100% giardia, cryptosporidium and sediment. The cost is $109 and extra filters are $45. Each filter is supposed to filter 2500 gal. To get catalog call 1-800=869=3446. Their service is very fast. Enjoying all the good posts for months now... Kitty in Chesapeake, VA

-- Kitty Felton (kittyfelton@webtv.net), September 18, 1998.

Anyone concerned about filtration devices for water might want to call for a Harmony catalog. They were formerly called Seventh Generation. They have a water-cooler filter (looks just like a water cooler) that filters 6 gal/24 hrs. supposed to filter out 95% chlorine, lead, aluminum and pesticides and 100% giardia, cryptosporidium and sediment. The cost is $109 and extra filters are $45. Each filter is supposed to filter 2500 gal. To get catalog call 1-800=869=3446. Their service is very fast. Enjoying all the good posts for months now... Kitty in Chesapeake, VA

-- Kitty Felton (kittyfelton@webtv.net), September 18, 1998.

Good quality hand lotion or cream would be nice to stock up on. This is needed when you work with your hands a lot, especially during the winter months. It's also great for dishpan hands. :-)

-- F. Brown (gobigred@lycosmail.com), September 18, 1998.

Fishing gear, fillet knife, skinning knife, sports watch & extra batteries, WD 40, Polaroid & film, a bug out bag with EVERYTHING you might need for 72 hours and about a thousand more things on a list that never ends.

-- ron banks (phxbanks@webtv.net), September 18, 1998.

To the F. Brown person: if I have no intention of getting dishpan hands, do I stil need lotion?. (Not that as a guy I'm allergic to dishwater or anything..., but I figure that's why God made kids.)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 18, 1998.

How about a loom? You know, for weaving cloth, rugs , etc. Even if Y2K turns into a non-event (my gut says low probability), you would still have a good and maybe profitible hobby! Also, how about learning how to prepare, dye, and spin wool?

Karen

-- Karen Shirer (kgshire@aol.com), September 19, 1998.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

Might be a good idea for anyone considering getting a tubal ligation or vasectomy anyway to go ahead and do it now. I'm not talking about having the surgery out of fear, just if they were thinking about it anyway, now might be a good time.

On the other hand... if you had been considering sterilization, and then found out about Y2K, it might be an excellent time to reconsider. What if you ended up being the only survivor from your current extended family, and then you met the ideal mate?

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 25, 1999.

absorbing this site like a sponge. Hello. Just happen to stubble onto this site and just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth. I also stubbled onto a site that talks/teaches survival tips, etc., you mite find it connected to this: http://www.survivaliq.com/survival/survival-use-of-plants-sl.htm I found another website that tickles my fancy with: http://www.backcountry.net/arch/at/9602/msg00187.html and http://www.weblife.org/water.html I was trying to learn about freezing water as a purifier after going through thefiltering process. I wondered if this was a sure way of getting good drinking water. I learned from playing with the web that I should be using vitamin C and maybe placing some Walnut Tincture in my water could stop a case of E Coli attack (you know from eating bad food/or fruit). Thank God Ilearned to make Walnut Tinctures. Because husband just ate some fruit at work and felt his stomach cramping afterwards. I took my natural book out and read for him to take some of the Walnut Tincture and his stomach should feel better. Also some kitchen spice like Turmeric and fennel will help him feel better. Some of you folks out there need to check the web how to make Collidal Silver too. This is like a backup immunity aid for one to use all the time not just for bad life threathening events of our world. Read Hilda Clark's books you will enjoy how she got thrown in jail over telling common people how to heal themselves and not place all your trust on our medical system. Sometimes you need to take charge of your own health and happiness. It cost three cents for 1 gallon of Collidal Silver to use extensively for everything if you think about it. Sorry if I'm too lengthly here, I'll cut it short now. Does anyone know about How to do freeze dry methods? Maybe I can incorporate this someway too.

-- Newly Sage (emenow@ev1.net), November 06, 2002.

D & E is good to put into beans and dry products for preserving. It's not expensive. It's good for deworming and for insect pests. Goood if you have children/pets around house you don't want to harm while trying to do various tasks above like killing various bugs ...

-- Newly Sage (emenow@ev1.net), November 06, 2002.