In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20
 
Well there are a gazillion conspiracy theories out there. I must admit, I am a Christian and also believe in the Shmeta, a 7 year cycle. This Shmeta year is extraordinarily biblical, 4 blood moons, star of Bethlehem, the biblical aspects of this year goes on and on, with many events to happen in September and soon after. This is not a blog to fear monger, just informational.
 
I have done a lot of research over the years on this, but am just getting started on the prepping, better late than never. Start off small and when you buy groceries, get a little extra to put away. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. You may want to consider stocking up on items for bartering. The thing I keep hearing of the most to invest in is gold and silver. Well, I don't have the cash flow for that and don't know of many that do. I am more concerned with survival over any financial investments. For those who can afford to invest in precious medals, turn that focus to food and water.
 
A quick word of warning when it comes to prepping. You need to keep it to yourself for 2 reasons. 1: you don't want everyone kicking in your door if the SHTF (bunny muffin hits the fan) and taking all of your resources. You can't predict the actions of a desperate and hungry person. 2: our government will put you on a list as a potential terrorist if you have a food and water supply of 7 days or more. That was from a speech given by Rand Paul and I have to believe him.
 
 
Let's get the "tough guy" things out of the way. With most preppers, the first thing that comes to mind is guns and ammo. That is on the bottom of my list, not to say it is not an important thing to have. It could be one of the most valuable. Here is my best advice.
 
Have a 12 gauge shotgun. I would recommend a Mossberg 590 Military Special with a bayonet lug. That is around $350 and considered the most reliable firearm in the world. Here is a link to the model bayonet I have, the M7 bayonet with the M10 sheath. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-spec-military-style-m7-bayonet-with-m10-style-sheath?a=1884227
 
I would recommend two different types of handguns. I would only choose a handgun that is concealable so you can blend in. A 357 revolver would be a good choice because it can accept 38 special and 38+P bullets along with the 357 mags. They are all common bullets and that is why I consider the 357 an all around good revolver. A decent 357 revolver cost around $500.
 
For a high capacity handgun, a pistol, I would have to recommend a 9mm baby Glock (G-26). It is the smallest 9mm Glock makes and accepts all 9mm clips Glock makes, including the 33 round clip. The G-26 is around $500. I like the gen 3 model the best. A downside with the Glock, you cannot use reloads. Of course extra ammo is a must, how much, well, I do not know.
 
If I had to choose an inexpensive assault rifle, but of quality, I would choose an AK-47. However, it can't be the cheap stamped steel version; it would have to be a higher quality with all milled parts. The price range for the AK-47 starts at about $350 and can go up to $1,000. You can easily get full metal jacket bullets rather inexpensively.
 
If you want an American, quality, low cost assault rifle, I would recommend a Reuger mini 14. This firearm takes the .223 bullets. The cost is around $500 and up depending on the options.
 
The last recommendation for a firearm, if you are looking for an elite assault rifle type of weapon, I would have to recommend this website: http://hdfirearms.com/ When it comes to firearms, it is not about how cool it looks or how expensive it is. It is how comfortable and confident you are with handling it. I have seen people at the firing range with the original Russian SKS, from the 1940s, with open sights and hitting the bull's eye without failure. It must be the authentic Russian model, not the Chinese knock off. When it comes to the AK-47 or Russian SKS, I do not recommend using American bullets. Use Russian or foreign military light armor piercing bullets, preferably Russian. Enough with the guns, not what this blog is about, just had to get that out of the way.
 
 
PREPPERS - PREPPING SKILLS
These are skills everyone should have, not because of "dooms day", but for self reliance. It is common sense to be prepared for any type of disaster. There are hundreds of different disasters that could occur from tornadoes and snowstorms to earthquakes and volcanoes. How well you are prepared can be the difference of life or death or whether or not you and your family will be made to suffer and for how long.
 
Prepping used to be a standard lifestyle. We have become so dependent on government, big businesses, technology, and the power companies. In the past, 90% of the populous lived in rural areas. Now it is the opposite. I can't imagine what it would be like in the city if the power were to go out for 2 weeks, especially in the northern states during the winter. If everybody had some form of investment in preparing, it would not be much of a problem. The way society is today, we need to ask; What will you do for clean water or food? We have seen the government fail; remember the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? It would be impossible for the government to aid and protect us all if there were a big disaster. Such as, what if the New Madrid fault line were to become active like it did many years ago? I believe that was the worse documented earthquake in the US. It went off for days. The epicenter was in the part of the US where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas meet, and the effects were felt all the way to New York. The quake caused church bells to ring. It was so intense, and went on for so many days that people began to fall to their knees believing it was the wrath of God and began to repent. Do some research on the Madrid fault line, you will be shocked. For those in the west, what if the Yellowstone super volcano erupts? That could potentially take out 1/3 of the US.
 
It is not a matter of if; it is a matter of when a disaster happens. Currently, we are overdue for an EMP from the sun. This event has been documented as occurring every 100 to 150 years. The last time it happened, it destroyed every electronic device on earth. Even items that were not connected started smoking and burned up (telegraph equipment, etc.) If that were to occur today in America, it is estimated that up to 90% of the populous would die within 2 weeks. Our power grids are very fragile. It could take 5 to 15 years to replace depending on the amount of damage. The main elements of the power grids are very complex, made in China, and takes years to have just one made. Our power grids are not adequately protected in this country.
This will give you an idea as to how fragile the power grids are.
 
Our entire country is extremely fragile in many ways. We have our lowest food reserves and lowest water reserves. Clean, safe drinking water is becoming more difficult to access. not to mention a full economic collapse, we are not immune to that. We could be in the same predicament as Greece not long from now since the global currency is in the process of being changed. Surely there will be some type of financial crises. If you ask me, the economy looks worse than ever, just being masked by the petro dollar and that can only last so long.
 
Prepping will have different requirements for each individual or family. I will be focusing on my plan. I live in a rural area. Many people discuss "bugging out". I plan to hold down the fort. I feel that bugging out during a crisis can be dangerous for many reasons. This is not to say that for others, it may be the best choice.
 
WATER: That is the most difficult essential item for most to prepar for. There are many that take it to the extreme in storing water for a crisis. The average person requires 1 to 2 gallons of water per day minimum. This is only for eating and drinking.
 
I am fortunate when it comes to the issue of water. I have a newly installed 5" hand pump deep well that has been approved by the health department as potable (safe for drinking). My water storage is safely underground.
 
We are already in the beginning of a major water crisis across the entire country. At least referring to the cities and water treatment plants, not to mention the intense droughts in the west. Also, Flint, Detroit, and cities in Ohio, the water that they are receiving is not considered safe to drink and does not comply to federal laws. In other words, it is potentially poisonous dirty water. The problem is only going to get worse. Within the next 5 years it is expected that water prices will double across the nation. Here is a worthy article to read over. This article will give an idea of how serious and expensive this problem is for our nation. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/drinking-water-systems-imperiled-by-failing-infrastructure/ar-AAeNjqY?li=AA54ur#image=1
 
Here is a disturbing article concerning the water supply for Flint, MI. They have been poisoning people and manipulating the test results. Expect this to be carried out across the country. Greed has taken over! http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/10/08/lax-water-system-oversight-manipulated-data-lead-to-public-health-crisis-in-flint-researcher-says/
Here is a video where it is taken to the extreme when it comes to water storage. Not saying that you should go to this extreme, but everyone should have an adequate supply of clean water stored. He provides many good tips. nutnfancy has a wide range of videos from firearms to food when it comes to survival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcE5x3X6TQ4&feature=youtu.be&t=1m35s
 
 
FOOD: Food storage is not difficult, or expensive, even for someone living in an apartment. It can get expensive if you choose to purchase freeze dried goods, which can last 20 to 30 years and no refrigeration is necessary, until opened for some items. Even meat is available freeze dried. If you are fortunate enough to have the money to invest, you can get everything you need in freeze dried form here: http://shop.honeyville.com/
 
 
I for one do not have the finances to invest in freeze dried foods. I fall into the category of the mid to low expense investment. I have decided to start preparing my own dried food supply. I have invested in 2 essential tools to begin my journey. The first item is the Excalibur food dehydrator. I have the Excalibur 3920TB Food Dehydrator which is a 9 try unit with a built in timer. It has good customer reviews and was reasonably priced (through Amazon.com). Excalibur makes smaller units with just as good of ratings. The next item I have invested in is the FoodSaver V3240 Vacuum Sealing System and also the FoodSaver Kit wide-mouth jar sealer, regular sealer, and accessory hose. The FoodSaver investment cost under $150 with the jar sealing accessory kit. I highly recommend the FoodSaver equipment for all marijuana growers. From now on I will be vacuum sealing all of my jarred buds for optimum freshness and longevity.
 
The opportunities are endless for long term storage of food which are affordable and efficient. To start, buy dry goods in bulk, like at Sam's Club or Costco. A 50 pound bag of rice can be purchased for under $20. Check out this video where the guy stores 50 pounds of rice in canning jars.
 
Another example of storing dry rice for long term using mylar bags: This is part 3, and it shows how oxygen absorbers are used.
 
 
There are other methods, like mylar bags, food grade buckets, etc. I like the glass jars because rodents cannot get into them. However, as the saying says, "don't put all your eggs in one basket", it may be wise to use all methods. What if the jars get broken, from an earthquake for example?
 
Oxygen absorbers are also good to have on hand when preparing foods for long term storage. With certain methods, you may wish to use oxygen absorbers in addition to vacuum sealing. There are many videos on YouTube that show many different techniques of long term storage of foods. As I learn more, I will add it to my discussion.
 
The food dehydrator is great for long term storage of foods as well as making simple, healthy snacks for anytime. Dried fruit are transformed into simple, healthy snacks that last a long time, do not require refrigeration, and taste like candy!
 
Along with the food dehydrator I also purchased The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook by Tammy Gangloff, Steven Gangloff & September Ferguson. I plan to invest in other books for a more diverse viewpoint on dehydrating and storing food. There are some awesome recipes for "instant, just add water meals" that can be prepared utilizing dried meats and vegetables. Just imagine the space you can save, not only for long term food storage, but even for daily use!
 
It is time for a lifestyle change. Buy organic fruits and vegetables, no more pre-canned preservative ridden food from the grocery store. Yes, canned goods are not all bad to have around and good to stock up on by means of prepping. Most canned goods can go beyond the printed use by dates as well. Either way, I plan to change my ways to a more healthy way of life and it begins with food. In the end the equipment will have paid for itself. Buying in bulk, preparing food for long term and short term use provides less waste and can save a family well over $1,000 a year in food purchases alone.
Here are a couple of videos showcasing the use of freeze dried and dehydrated food and long term food storage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gothlufqKA4&feature=youtu.be
 
Christy Jordan has a lot of great videos on dehydrating foods. This video is about dehydratig ground beef. You must be careful with storing any meat, it must be fat free. The fat will cause the meat to go rancid no matter how dry the meat is. Dehydrated ground beef can potentially store for 2 years or longer without refrigeration.
 
 
FUEL: I am only planning to store 10 gallons of treated gasoline. I probably should store more, but space is a concern. I don't want to put all of my reliance on gasoline or electronically operated equipment.
 
Heat for the colder climates. I haven't done too much research on this. Currently I burn wood for heat. I purchase a season supply of wood every spring. The wood burning stoves do not require electricity and that is a plus.
 
 
More to come as I get more involved...