Return to Preparedness Nuggets Index
Go to Access to Catholic Social Justice Teachings
Preparedness Nuggets
A Cyberbook of Practical Wisdom for Daily Living
Part the Sixth
Countdown to Year 2000 Shopping Guide
----------------------------------------------------
PLANNING GUIDE
Countdown to 2000:
A planning guide
Take inventory: Where are you right now in terms of preparation? List all assets, including tools and skills. Set goals: Where do you want to be in 2000? Do you want to be ready to be totally self-sufficient, is it okay to merely have a stockpile of essentials, or will you just wait and see what happens? Set your course to meet those goals: Subtract what you have from what you want to determine what you still need. Make your plan: Decide how you're going to get what you need in the next 18 months. Set priorities (triage). Concentrate on the most important or essential needs first. Set a timetable for yourself.
Suggestions:
If you are in the city and you're totally convinced that is NOT where you'll want to be in December, 1999, get out now! If you wait, for any reason, it could be too late. If you're in the country but don't have a working homestead, start building one now. In most parts of the country it's not too late to start or expand a garden: July/August is the best time to plant crops to be harvested in fall. (See list of fall crops on page 109.) Construct rabbit and poultry facilities, and stock them. Acquire the books you'll need for advice, now and later. Plan to save seeds from open-pollinated crops. While getting seeds next spring might not be a problem, spring 2000 could be a different matter: you'll need the experience for next year's harvest.
Preserve food, from your own garden if you have one, or from farmers' markets if you aren't that far yet. Get the equipment and information you'll need. Better to have failures now (and learn from them) than when they could be critical. If at all possible after all the above, get out of debt. In any event do NOT incur more.
If you are already comfortably situated on a working homestead with everything you need in place, check closely to see if you missed anything. Now is the time to start gathering less-essential goods that will add to your security and comfort. Be sure to rotate stores to keep everything as fresh as possible. Consider adding to your stores to help those in need. Make any repairs, replacements or additions you might have been putting off: if you're going to need a new roof in a few years, get it now instead. If you've been meaning to get a tetanus shot, get it now. If you need dental work or new glasses, take care of it now. Don't put off what you can do today.
And if nothing happens...? So what? If you get your life in order and live it the way you say you want to, you'll have Y2K to thank!
------------------------------------------------------------
BOOK ON FOOD STORAGE
I just received a great little book on Low-Cost Family Food Storage, by A. L. Evangelista,
It's available through Amazon.com. For a very reasonable price, I might add.
NOTE FROM ROBERT WALDROP: you can purchase this book via my cyber-bookstore; it is on the simple living page. Go to Simple Living Bookstore Page
------------------------------------------------------------------
EZEKIEL BREAD
Combine the following whole grains:
2 1/2 cups hard red wheat
1 1/2 cup spelt or rye (Biblically spelt was used, Ezekiel 4:9)
1/2 cup barley (hulled barley)
1/4 cup millet
1/4 cup lentils (green preferred)
2 T. great northern beans
2 T. red kidney beans
2 T. pinto beans
Stir the above ingredients very well. Grind in flour mill. Measure into large bowl:
4 cups lukewarm water
1 cup honey
1/2 cup oil
2 T. Red Star Yeast
Set aside for 3-5 mins. to allow yeast to grow.
Add to yeast mixture:
2 t. salt and the fresh milled flour from above mixture of grains
Stir or knead until well kneaded about 10 mins. This is a batter type bread and will not form a
smooth ball. Pour dough into greased pans. You may use 2 large loaf pans (10 X 5 X 3) or 3
med. loaf pans or 2- 9 X 13 brownie pans. Let rise in a warm place for one hour or until the
dough is almost to the top of the pan. If it rises too much it will over flow the pan while baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 mins. for loaf pans and 35-40 mins for brownie pans.
*For fasting divide bread into 8 equal parts weighing 1/2 pound each. Eat a 1/2 pound cake and
drink a quart of water every day.
This is a very sweet, moist, cake-like bread. You may also add fruits and nuts or use the flour made from this mixture in other favorite recipes. This healthy combination of grains and beans is worth experimenting with. Combining grains and beans make a complete protein. *For fasting, I do not alter the recipe.
-----------------------------------------------
Y2K CPR
There is a news article about Pat Boone volunteering to be Y2K spokesman at the webpage listed below. On this page there is also a phone number where you can get a free booklet called Y2KCPR, and can order larger quantities for 20 cents each.
http://nt.excite.com/news/bw/980804/y2knet-pat-boone
I find the best daily "y2k news" sites are :
http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/latest_.cfm
http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Tech/Year_2000_Problem/
http://www.year2000.com/y2karticles.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
ONE GUY'S SHOPPING LIST
Food:
Dried beans, peas, and lentils
6 cases Power Bars/Survival Bars
Rice, Pasta
Peanut Butter
Powdered Juices, Gatorade, Iced Tea, Milk, Cocoa
Powdered/condensed milk, cheese
Canned/Dehydrated Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, Tuna
Flour
Vegetable Oil/Lard
Spices, Salt, Pepper
Whole Grains (Corn, Barley, Millet)
Sugar
Multi-vitamin/minerals - you can buy now with expiration dates of 01.
Seeds for Gardening:
Eggplant, Tomato, Green Pepper, Squash, Spinach, Lettuce, Green Beans,
Radishes
Herbs to grow indoors in a sunny window:
Basil, Parsley, Oregano
Toiletries:
Soap, Shampoo, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Fluoride Rinse, Deodorant,
Disposable Razors, Combs, Hair Brush, Sanitary Pads (good as pressure
bandages), OTC pain relievers and medications you use now.
Warm, Waterproof, Windproof clothing. Think wool, Gore-Tex, Thinsulate,
Polarfleece. Spare pairs of shoes/boots, gloves, hats, socks,
underwear. Lots of that stuff is on sale now that it's summer time. If
the power goes out in January lots of people will be cold.
Equipment:
Some type of water filtration/purification and storage system. I'm
using a Katadyne(tm) water filter/purifier.
Can Opener
Food-Grade Airtight Containers
Camp stove and Coleman Fuel (White Gas)
Meat Grinder
HD Aluminum Foil, Oven Roasting Bags, Dutch Oven
Solar Oven, Solar Water Still
Hammer, Roofing Nails, Wood Screws
Hacksaw, Blades, Wood Saw
Hatchet, Chisel/Wedge
3' Crow Bar, 10" Wire Cutters
Good sledge hammer (short handle)
Tow Chain/Straps
24" or 30" Bolt Cutters
CO Detector, Smoke Detector, ABC Fire Extinguisher (2)
Duct/100 MPH Tape
Thick, clear plastic to repair/insulate windows
Sewing materials (needles, thread, patches, fabric)
Solar Lights
Paper, Pens, Pencils
Medical/First Aid Kit
Candles, Matches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAPER GOODS
Toilet Paper
Kleenex
Dinner Plates
Napkins
Plastic knives, forks, spoons
Reynolds Wrap Foil
Ziploc Bags - Sandwich
Ziploc Bags - Storage
Rubber dish gloves
Latex disposable gloves
Paper cups
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Soap Bars
Liquid Hand Soap
Liquid Hair Shampoo (Adult)
Liquid Hair Shampoo (Child)
Toothbrushes - Adult
Toothbrushes - Child
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Deodorant - Mens
Deodorant - Womens
Shaving Blades - Womens
Shaving Blades - Mens
Shaving Cream
Mouthwash
Astringent
MEDICINE
First Aid book
First Aid Kit
Cough Drops
Children's Aspirin (Pain Reliever)
Adult Aspirin
Pepto Bismo
Multi Symptom - Tri Cough
Cold & Allergy
Feminine supplies
Peroxide
Alcohol
Kaopectate
Prescription Drug supply
Vitamins
FOOD/SUPPLIES
Coleman metal dinner plates (to hold cheap paper plates)
Dutch Oven
Grain Mill (non electric)
Dish soap
Hot pad holders
Clothes soap
Various food spices
Scrub pads
Thermos (wide mouth type for cooking food)
Electrolytes
Eliminating food list here, as I still don't know what to buy yet.
TOOLS/EQUIPMENT
Gas Cans
Rubber Mallet
Hammer
Nails
2 cycle oil (if you have a chainsaw)
Stabil gas treatment
Shovels
Wood saws
Work gloves
Wood Ax - Large
Wood Ax - Small
Pry Bar - Large
Pry Bar - Small
Rope
Heavy duty bolt cutters (just in case)
HEAT/LIGHT
Propane Tanks
Coleman lantern
Coleman stove or backyard BBQ
Coleman lantern mantles
Butane lighters
Flashlights w/batteries
Flashlight bulbs
Candles - 7 day type
Matches - Stick type
Sterno cooking fuel cans
Bags of charcoal
Charcoal Starter tube
Lamps - Aladdin kerosene type
Kerosene
Gasoline
Generator (if you want to use this)
Newspapers for starting fire
MISCELLANEOUS
Wind up or solar type radio
Water buckets
Clothes washing buckets - 15 gallon galvanized type
Metal bucket - for charcoals/ashes
Clothesline
Washboard - for clothes
Clothes Wringer (hand crank)
Clothespins
Bicycle tube repair kit
Bicycle tube (spare)
Bicycle tube hand air pump
Bike rack for carrying supplies
Tire pressure gauge
Disinfectant/Cleaner
Sponges
Watering can - (for do-it-yourself shower)
5 gallon paint bucket w/lid - emergency toilet
Trash bags - 33 gallon size
Trash bags - 13 gallon size (for toilet bucket)
Toilet seat
Ant spray concentrate
Sprayer/Pumper - 2 gallon size
Portable push vacuum
Fire extinguishers
Guns & Ammo (if desired)
WATER
Bleach - 1 gallon (5.25%) - to purify water (4 drops/qt. - 2 teaspoons/10 gal - =BC cup/55)
Children's pool - rigid wall type - 6 ft. diameter =3D 200 gallons (for washing)
Pool water testing kit
Water chlorinating granules (for pool)
Pool tarp - 11 x 16 ft.
Water can - 5 gallon size
Water bag (collapsible) - 5 gallon size
Water/gas funnels
Water Filter
55 gallon water drums (for drinking)
Water pump for drums (hand type)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION & ITEMS
Pray in all manner of ways constantly
Prayer with every preparation performed
Prayer for continuous discernment
Rosaries, Scapulars, Medals, Prayer cards
Devotions, Novenas