Living Off the Grid - Survival Techniques

[MargueriteBee]

It is hard, stardustaquarion, when family are sleeping, just do the best you can. I started growing food on the second storey balcony of my apartment last year.

I'm off now to go get some chicken wire for the garden.

[Swanny]

I reckon you should have this lot as a bare minimum


Kelly kettle
Lifesaver water bottle
Good knife
Food for free book by collins
Pack of cheap lighters or a flint stick thing

That should help you survive for a while

[PINEAL-PILOT-IN MERKABAH]

i got enough equipment in 2008 to be deployed in iraq lol.... still have it all , not got food yet. just need a bergen 120litre back pack incase i get homeless.
i have the food for free book and a lifesaver bottle. also got 10 water straws 40litre each. storm matches, snap glow sticks , knives , machettes.

[yiolas]

If things get rough, we might not always have clean drinking water.
I found these great videos describing on the fly water filtration and purification techniques.
From wildernessoutfitters . This guy is very thorough and informative.

He also has a whole series of wilderness and survival videos on you tube.

Water Purification Techniques
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ELBKBY-XY6w

Improvised Water Filter Part 1
https://youtube.com/watch?v=q99AN79ZNjs

Improvised Water Filter Part 2
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fmr9nWy0i0g

Blessings,
Yiola

[yiolas]

Posted by Vidya Moksha (here)
Hi MB, solar as in solar photovoltaic? for producing electricity you mean? I did this... would have reservations about doing it again.. on many levels...

Hi Vidya, just out of curiosity why would you be hesitant to use photovoltaics ?
I've been debating about them myself for years. I've don't think that I would consider them for two reasons:
1. They are very expensive
2. I just don't like the idea of have an electrical power plant and storage facility on my roof. Have there been any studies done regarding the Electromagnatic radiation coming from these things ?

I would consider looking into wind turbines though .

[HORIZONS]

Posted by yiolas (here)
If things get rough, we might not always have clean drinking water.
I found these great videos describing on the fly water filtration and purification techniques.
From wildernessoutfitters . This guy is very thorough and informative.

He also has a whole series of wilderness and survival videos on you tube.


Water Purification Techniques
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ELBKBY-XY6w

Improvised Water Filter Part 1
https://youtube.com/watch?v=q99AN79ZNjs

Improvised Water Filter Part 2
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fmr9nWy0i0g

Blessings,
Yiola

Very informative vids, thanks!

[yiolas]

Posted by MargueriteBee (here)
Just Goggle: hand pump wells and you will get several listed. I have to get two myself so I am checking these out. My family doesn't know, and doesn't want to know, anything about SHTF so I have taken it on myself to get them ready and I do have most everything already.

Hi MargueriteBee, Thanks for the suggestion. I guess I was looking in the wrong places. I googled hand pump wells and I found a plethora of hand pumps. The great thing is that they can be installed right next to your existing electrical pump and they do not cost as much as I thought they would. What a great find ! Please keep us informed if you decide on any particular one.

Thanks again, Blessings,
Yiola

[K626]

Posted by Swanny (here)
I reckon you should have this lot as a bare minimum


Kelly kettle
Lifesaver water bottle
Good knife
Food for free book by collins
Pack of cheap lighters or a flint stick thing

That should help you survive for a while

What no toys??!!

[xbusymom]

What no toys??!!

I got a 'Family 10 Game Center' - the classic tin-, added some card decks( reg. and a couple of specialty games) , a few extra dice, and a revolving card holder...

and you are good to go...

[MargueriteBee]

Make sure you have plenty of matches. I got the big kitchen ones and they work great for starting a fire. I put 10 boxes to a bag and vacum sealed them. I got two boxes for a dollar at the dollar store.

I would like to invite you all to a Group I started called, Life in The Country. You can find it in the groups list.

[Vidya Moksha]

Posted by yiolas (here)
Hi Vidya, just out of curiosity why would you be hesitant to use photovoltaics ?
I've been debating about them myself for years. I've don't think that I would consider them for two reasons:
1. They are very expensive
2. I just don't like the idea of have an electrical power plant and storage facility on my roof. Have there been any studies done regarding the Electromagnatic radiation coming from these things ?

I would consider looking into wind turbines though .

Wind is a good option, as is micro hydro, both these energies will charge a battery through the night while you sleep.

Solar. its expensive and inefficient and it needs the sun to shine in order for it to work. Im sceptical about some of the predicted earth changes but if it isnt sunny for whatever reason then you have no power. Battery life is an issue. You will get 5 good years from a good set of batteries, with the next 5-10 years giving average or poor performance. Its just not worth it. Unless money is not an issue and you dont ever need to rely on them. I would guess a small panel hooked up to a 12v light system might be ok, but there are solar lanterns as well and the new led lights are pretty amazing too.

My panels were away from my house, as were my batteries, so that's no real issue. Running any electrical wiring is always an issue in terms of electro magnetc radiation effects, but this can be localised, and best kept away from sleeping areas etc.

Candles are good for light. little solar chargers are good also for small batteries and small devices, but there is a large investment for little return on a bigger system.

If I were doing it again, as of today, I would look for wind and water power but would have 2 generators to do most of the work, the small silent ones are great for bits and bobs, and a bigger one to run larger power tools etc... but then again I am also liking the idea of going back to hand tools, what's the rush? Im tired of the noise and danger and expense of power tools. ....then again, , a small chainsaw is really handy for all sorts of things, including building.

[Vidya Moksha]

Posted by Swanny (here)
I reckon you should have this lot as a bare minimum


Kelly kettle
Lifesaver water bottle
Good knife
Food for free book by collins
Pack of cheap lighters or a flint stick thing

That should help you survive for a while

I cant argue with this list maybe a machete - but a good one, not one of these 10 quid rubbish jobbies from the outdoor centres. And, I would always include a sharpening stone, these water ones are great. You can build shelter, but a tarp or a bivvy bag is worth it. Add MMS and a small backpack and you are away

[Vidya Moksha]

I hope this doesnt break forum rules on advertising, obviously I have nothing whatsoever to do with this company.. except I couldnt find a better water purifier on the market for my needs so I bought one

[Swami]

Ibota Waterfilter - Cheap, fast & in use around the world



More info:
http://www.ibota.org/component/optio.../lang,english/
http://ilovemyanmar.org/news/update...._id=1264534723

[annemirri]

Posted by K626 (here)
What no toys??!!

K626,

You will have no time to play,
and you will be so exhausted after all that work you have to do yourself
by hand without any help ...(do not count on your possible partner to do it all for you!)

I am myself very well prepared, I spent my childhood in middle of Finland (and here I mention it again) and I had to learn to grow my own food, vegetables,
pick wild berries even for school, mushrooms...

My other grandmother lived off grid,
and I have very fond memories of her and my mother taking us children to a lake to wash all the laundry by hand,
putting the fire under the huge black cauldron,
rinsing the laundry in the crystal clear waters, hanging it on the line to dry.
Since that time I have loved the smell of clean crisp sheets without any hint of artifical smells.

And I used to love to watch all kind of survivor programms ! I learned a lot.
(my children say that I am so crazy and competitive one that I would definitely win all those survivor games.)

and I am good at knitting (form of meditation) and making clothes , cooking,
and chopping wood !

A few years ago when I lived in Scotland off grid, without electricity or central heating,
I began my days by making a fire to get some hot water...washed all laundry by hand.

What I learned there is that one needs in order to survive
a clean spring for water, some land to grow wood, a forest to pick up firewood,
some wild berries...a good sense of humour, a lot of stories, some wine to keep the cold away ,
and a few people to talk to,

and many many books...if you run out of firewood.

in our medicine cabinet we kept and keep only plasters,
as we all have the power to heal ourselves.

a.

[blue777]

quote
n our medicine cabinet we kept and keep only plasters,
as we all have the power to heal ourselves.

IF SO WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES IF WE CAN HEAL OURESELVES?
LOL
BLUE

[annemirri]

Posted by blue777 (here)

IF SO WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES IF WE CAN HEAL OURESELVES?

Tell me about it !
Like my son was born with heart failure (TOF) had an open heart surgery at the age of eight months. I was told that it is almost impossible for him to grow to be a grown man without another operation. He is now 14 and two weeks...and I have been on hold last thirteen years fearing the day that he will have a new operation, as I do know the risks too well,
(and I do have feelings as I am a mother after all that, although I am not a humble person...)

But - perhaps a miracle, last September the cardiologist said that he is doing so well with his heart that it is most likely that he will never need a new operation.
Wait and See.

and ... you know how the mind creates illnesses ? right ?

A little bit over a year ago, I told my children that I may get cancer soon as everywhere I look there is something about cancer...breastcancer...
So, one morning I woke up and my other breast was twice as big as the other one !(laugh)
I waited a few days, I thought that it is some kind of infection, but it hurt so much that I could not sleep...
I went to see a nurse, she gave me very strong antibiotics, ate them all, nothing happened, no help,
I went to see my GP...
He was really worried that I have that fast growing breastcancer,
meaning that I will be dead in a few months (dark humour here) and refered me to a breastspecialist in nearby hospital.

I was so ready to die, just like that. As I know that it is better outhere than here...
but my children...they were so sad.

So,w hen I finally after a week went to see the breast specialist, my breast was fine.
It kind of healed itself. And I decided to live to be 98!

Hope this helps!
a.

[samvado]

IF the grid goes off-line due to a CME (google michio Kaku on that, some excellent videos on Youtube) the grid MAY go down worldwide and everything containing a metall coil of any kind will just burn out. That would be EVERYTHING, from water pumps to Electric generators, starter motors in cars, all phone and radio, all computers and as a result we are back in ca. 1820 minus the self sufficiency of that time.
Of course photovoltiac wont work either. Nothing will work that is based on electricity. So forget about flashlights :-)

it is a quite probable scenario, IMO much more probable than an extended war. It happend in 1857 last, but has been with us always (as recorded in history as northern lights in southern countries)

the primary thing you will need is CLEAN water, dirty water is almost everywhere.

this little toy makes drinkable water out of a sewage tank. one cartrige is good for 50.000 liters. consider it as insurance.

http://www.katadyn.com/en/katadyn-pr...atadyn-pocket/

I have NO stakes in the product - of course ...

***** and just realized Vidya had beaten me to it ***** cheers Vidya !!

[K626]

That looks cool and Swiss made means it is quality.

[yiolas]

The way I see it, what ever is coming our way, it is time to get organized.
I personally believe that it we are on the threshold of a universal shift in consciousness and entering a trans-dimensional reality.But we must first be able to survive the coming upheavals and prepare for the insuing disruption of goods and services.
This can be undertaken within the framework of the 6 main categories below. The extent to which one prepares depends on if they are preparing for the Short Term: A few days to a month Medium Term: 1 – 6 months Long Term: 6 months to indefinitely

We must also keep in mind that we should prepare equally for in-house survival and maintenance as well as for evacuation/on the road circumstances.

Survival Supplies, Preparations and Skills
1-Water

• Supply of Bottled Water
• Water Storage Tank(s)
• Proximity to water source
• Methods of collection, filtration and sanitation

2-Food

• Supplies of canned, dried and packaged food
• Seeds and Hand Tools for growing food
• Equipment and methods for cooking storing and preserving food
• Book w/local edible plants
• Instruction booklet for canning and preserving food
• Books on homesteading, hunting and fishing

3- Shelter

• In- house safe room or other refuge area for shelter from EMP’s, solar radiation from solar Flares, Hurricane Force Winds, Flooding, extremes in temperatures
• Fire starting equipment and techniques
• Light weight camping equipment and protection from the elements if on the road
• Tool Box with all the necessary hand tools and supplies for building and repairing

4- First Aid and Medicines

• Well stocked first-aid kit and book
• MMS and Colloidal Silver
• Book on herbal medicines and remedies

5- Communication and Transportation

• Means of transportation – mechanical or otherwise
• Means of communication – mechanical or otherwise
• Crank up, solar or battery operated radio and short-wave radio

6- Community Connection

• There is safety in numbers w/in a service to others community setting

Please feel free to add and expand to this outline with suggestions and links.