Below is an example list of personal items you could start gathering now. Ideally, this should be a coordinated effort within a family unit or community in order to save money and space. For example each person doesn’t need a grain grinder (see the list under community). Many of these things we pick up as our budget allows and we hit estate/garage sales. Please email me anything you think is missing here. A great deal will be personnel needs, but the majority we take for granted and I’m sure I forgot a great deal.
- Heirloom Seeds/bulbs (crops you can collect viable seeds from each year as opposed to hybrids). Vegetables, Grains, Green manures, Animal Feed, etc… You should already have some sort of garden in the ground. Garlic, potatoes, onions (bulbs or roots to be stored and planted). Get your fruit trees planted if you already haven’t.
- Farm Animals: Obviously something you can’t stockpile, but eggs, milk and meat will be a necessary protein source. Start researching heritage breeds today.
- Clean Water source. Bottled and/or a well/spring not dependent on electricity (gravity feed or solar pump). Purification if needed. Water containers large and small. Hand pumps and siphons.
- Food (quick): Canned goods for short term food source of supplement from garden. Tuna is a good protein to store as are nuts. Crackers, peanut butter, popcorn, jerky, …easy to store foods for immediate needs.
- Lighting: Candles, wicks, wax, molds, lamp oil, lamps, solar/rechargeable power flashlights
- Protection/Hunting: Guns, extra ammunition, knives, slingshots, fishing line, hooks, nets, etc… Think about what gun will serve dual purposes and have a cost effective stock of ammunition that will last. Think about making shotgun ammo with kits that used to be popular. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food).
- Dry Goods: Rice, beans, wheat, cornmeal, oatmeal, . Any dry good that will serve as a staple. Be sure to store them in airtight containers. We store them in plastic airtight food grade 30 gallon apple juice barrels we get for $15 bucks.
- Baking: Baking soda, baking powder, salt, powered milk, sugar, honey, flour, yeast, garlic powder, dry mustard, and spices. Cooking oil, lard, etc… (Till you learn how to render fat from you pigs…LOL)
- Preserving foods: Canning jars, lids, rings, wax, steam canner and pressure canner for preserving food. Vinegar for preserving. SALT. This will be a huge trading item. We stockpile at least 100#s at all times and live near the sea. Sulfur.
- First Aid kit (very well stocked…this is a long list) conventional and herbal. Required personal medications, extra glasses, etc.. Sulfur excellent for many things.
- Heating/Cooking: Matches, lighters, Cookstove (preferably wood/solar/etc… because propane WILL run out) Chain saw, chains, spare parts and stockpiled fuel. Seasoned firewood and tools to work it (saws, axes, wedges, etc…)
- Hygiene products: toothpaste, straight razor (brush, strap and sharpening stone), female products, portable toilet or ability to make outhouse. Toilet paper, etc…
- Cleaning/Sanitation: Washboard, tub, soaps (like Dr. Bronners that can be used on you, dishes and your clothes), bleach, Borax, clothe pins, clothe line, etc… Sanitation is paramount and something we take for granted with soaps.
- Clothing: Extra clothes, including jeans, socks, thermal underwear, jackets, rain coat, work gloves, extra work shoes, etc…(buy good quality that will last for a long time)
- Handy Devices: Grain Grinder (no-electric), butter churn, apple peeler,
- Blankets, sheets, towel (durable high thread counts)
- How to books: For example: Canning, butchering, finding water, raising chickens, etc…
- batteries or preferable rechargeable with solar system
- Writing paper, pencils, etc…
- Duct tape
- Tarps
- Backpacks
- bicycles
- Icechest
- sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, sleeping mats
- mousetraps (keeping varmits out of your food stock)
- Glues, gorrilla glue, super glue, wood glue, etc…
- still adding…
3 Comments
Write a Comment»The only thing I would add is some sewing supplies and maybe patches. Also boots.
Maybe I missed it, but a stone to sharpen axes, machetes and such.
And Duct Tape – good for every thing and anything as long as it lasts.
I would be less concerned about farm animals, as mung/soya and other bean crops substitute for protein and oil seeds and olives would substitute for fats. Why take 10kg of plant material to make 1Kg of animal protien or fats when you don’t have to. Most domestic animals are too vulnerable to predation to survive in a post apocolyse community. Wild rabbits and rooks/crows are more likely to be a good source of protien, but to hunt, I’d be more inclined to take a composite crossbow, not a gun, because it will be so much easier to make arrows than bullets.
One of the important things is what to do about immunisation. Polio, measles mumps and rubella and other preventable diseases are likely to become epedemics without vaccines. Smallpox may reappear.
Most of these ideas were examined during a UK TV prgramme called “Survivors”, which is must see for anyone thinking about post apocalypse survival.