Preparation Suggestions

[Aaltrude]

Make sure you have plenty of stored water, particularly in dry areas, and if you use a water filter ensure you have a good supply of spare filter cartridges.

[Katee]

Can't add much to the excellent suggestions people have put down.

I've not done it yet, but this is in planning stages for me. We've excellent resources available online, like Hawkes' and Earth Clinic and Heal Yourself. But if things go to Hell, most likely that won't be available. I've tons of supplements, but i don't remember on all of them the intentional uses. Also home remedies.

I've a cook book i've created that is a loose leaf notebook that i've put the recipes in plastic sleeves. I can pull them out, clip them to a spot in the kitchen, and have them available when i need them (and they don't get splashed and messed up).

It is my intention to do the same with home remedies and information about supplements i have.

[Julieanne]

Start preserving . Probably only fruit in jars, as veg can be tricky (botulism). If you don't grow your own, buy in season when they are relatively cheap. Jars can be bought second hand, but you need to buy new lids and rings etc.

Dry herbs, store in dark jars away from light.

[Islander]

Just the lids, Julieanne. The rings can be removed once jars have cooled, and re-used. And I've been pressure-canning for 40+ years, no risk if you simply follow directions.

[Aaltrude]

I've started pressure canning veges. The purchase of a pressure canner was part of our preparations.

Any info on your computer or the net that you will need or want access to, print it off. Even if the net stays up, the info available there and on your computer will be useless if you don't have any electricity.

[Islander]

Any info on your computer or the net that you will need or want access to, print it off. Even if the net stays up, the info available there and on your computer will be useless if you don't have any electricity.

Good thought, Aaltrude!

[Aaltrude]

We have also been investigating solutions for some of the non essential niceties of life such as that morning cup of espresso coffee. We are two thirds of the way there. The first thing was to find a hand coffee grinder that can produce a suitable grind for espresso. The solution we found was a second hand Turkish coffee grinder purchased at minimal cost from an on line auction site. This site will give an idea of what Turkish grinders are like. I have also seen them at a considerably lower price on ebay.
http://www.turkishgiftbazaar.com/gri...derspage01.htm
The second part of the solution is an innovative hand held coffee maker called Handpresso which we purchased at a fraction of the cost of an espresso machine from a store in a local city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handpresso
We have made several cups of espresso using this device so far and can report that it does indeed make a very nice espresso. The only down side is that you don't get as much crema on top but we can live with that.
The third part is to find a source of green coffee beans that we can store and roast as required.

[highlander]

Turkish coffee is the bomb.

[Islander]

I'll see your Turkish coffee & raise you one. I was given a cup by a rug dealer in the bazaar in Jerusalem.

Don't you hate people who do that?

[Julieanne]

And I've been pressure-canning for 40+ years, no risk if you simply follow directions.

I guess I was thinking mainly of people who haven't done it before, less experienced than yourself. And tomatoes are an exception - quite safe to can (though as you don't actually use cans this expression puzzles me. We call it bottling).

[Aaltrude]

(though as you don't actually use cans this expression puzzles me. We call it bottling).

Same in NZ Julianne though we also refer to it as preserving.

[Julieanne]

Re tomatoes: I have done it this way successfully for years. Large preserving jars are too big for one person to use up before they go off, so I do it this way.

Collect jars with 'pop up' lids - the ones with a vacuum seal. Peel and cook tomatoes for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, steam the jars and lids. When tomatoes are cooked, pour into hot jars.

The lids will make a loud 'pop' as they cool. If any don't pop, use very soon or freeze.

[Islander]

I "can" most of my tomatoes in pint jars since I'm cooking for one. I do a couple of batches in quarts because I use those in soups & my world-famous Mediterranean fish stew.

[Aaltrude]

The manual carpet sweeper we ordered arrived today, similar to this one http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/ca...per?SKU=968392
We'll now be able to clean the carpets without electricity

[Aaltrude]

If the SHTF reaches a stage where people are scavenging for food, keep pets indoors. They could be targeted.