Simple Man's blog: "A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE SIMPLE AMERICAN"

GETTING BACK TO BASIC LIVING IN AMERICA

By Simple Man

 This is a list I have put together for everyone to begin stocking up on the basic things we will all need to live a simpler, “woodsman” lifestyle. Some of the quantities of food preservation items such as salt and potassium nitrate (saltpeter) are just to get you started, and keep you going for a while until you can locate more. The more you can get now – the better. This is not to be taken lightly – these are the things you WILL need and want to survive seclusion into a non-urban environment. When there is not a grocery store within miles, no fast food, no clothing stores, and most importantly – when the time comes where our monetary system finally crashes. It will be entirely up to US to fend for ourselves, and our families.

A few points to make a mental note of:

 

1.) STOCK UP NOW!! As you go through this list, put a check mark next to each and every item you have, or purchase at a later date. Ammunition, guns, canned goods, drinking water, cooking utensils, axes, blankets, soaps, first aid kits…stop buying junk you don’t need, and start investing in the items on this list NOW. Remember to account for all members of your family!

2.) Materials to build a shelter should be one of your first priorities – plan it out, and get materials accordingly - wood, nails, screws, bricks, concrete, plexi glass, locks, roofing materials, maybe some gutters – but keep it simple. Build it to last – but you don’t need a 2,000 square foot palace, or a 2 car garage – and a bathroom may be a thing of the past, at least until you can get a well dug out, and some way of running water to any utilities – if ever. Keep it basic to start. You can always add on later, if you have the ability and the means to do so.

3.) Any commodities you decide to have should be from money you have AFTER you get these basics – including stocking up on gasoline, a gas powered generator, a TV, etc. If you have the means to stockpile gasoline, build an outdoor shack for it, and set up the generator in it’s own wooden box with vent holes, and a pad lock on it to keep animals (and other humans) OUT.

4.) Wherever you build, try to find a source of running water nearby. You may need it during seasons of drought. There are ways to get clean water, and the items you need are in this list.

5.) A $100 bill may not mean a thing in the years to come – so, it may be back to the old ways of trading. Meat, salt, spices, clothes, blankets, tools, animal hides, etc. The only thing that may hold ANY value at some point are these items, and MAYBE Gold and Silver. This also means you have to stay aware of who may be around – and protect your belongings at all times!! KEEP YOUR GUNS LOADED AND READY!!!

 

NECESSITIES FOR THE NEW AMERICAN FRONTIER:

 

Food and Storage / Kitchen Requirements:

Water (in plastic gallon jugs – to keep you going until your wooden barrels catch enough rain water or you find a natural running stream, and you can re-use the jugs later)

Canned Goods  (as much as you can stock to last until growing season, and substitute for poor seasons)

Strike-Anywhere Matches (long & short - buy thousands!!), AND Lighters (buy a couple dozen if you can)

Salt {food-grade fine salt – Mortons, etc.} (100# – for preserving meat and pickling foods - *see attached recipe sheet for details)

Saltpeter {potassium nitrate} (25# for preserving meat – *see attached recipe sheet for details)

Crushed Black Pepper

Cayenne Pepper (1# for preserving meat - *see attached recipe sheet for details)

5 Gallons White Vinegar (for pickling foods – 1:1 water to vinegar ratio, and you can add flavor using small amounts of garlic clove, fresh dill, black pepper, onion, fresh coriander, etc.)

2 Wooden (59 gallon+) barrels (1 for storing preserved meat, 1 for catching rain water)

Mason Jars (1 dozen quart-size, and 1 dozen pint size – for storing pickled foods and spices)

Vegetable/Fruit seeds packets for growing season (many varieties; be sure to over-stock on these!)

1 cast iron skillet (8” or larger)

3 pots (1 small, 1 medium, 1 large)

Spatula(s)

Strainer / Colander

Eating and food utensils (forks, spoons, knives, mugs, plates, bowls, can opener, etc. – coffee mugs are great, because you can have both hot and cold beverages in them – glasses and plastic cups will NOT be suitable, and will just take up more space and cost you more money!)

Butchers knives, meat cleavers and filet knives are a MUST have!

Oven mitts, or thick rags for handling hot objects

Kettle

LARGER COOKING REQUIREMENTS:

Buy or obtain bricks…..

If you cannot afford or obtain a pre-fabricated Wood-Burning Stove, a bricked-in, partially in-ground fire pit indoors will work if you have a grill to set over it, and will also provide heat in the colder months. This is a MUST have, and should be a first priority when you find your place to settle!

 

 Yard work and Household Tools:

Leather and Fabric Work Gloves (as many as you can obtain)

1 Splitting Axe (I recommend the Fiskars X25)

1 Heavy-Duty Splitting Mauler Axe(I recommend a Tru-Temper 8lb maul)

1 Heavy-Duty Chopping Axe (I recommend the Fiskars X15)

1 Hatchet (I recommend the Fiskars X7 hatchet)

2 Axe / Hatchet blade  sharpeners (I recommend the Fiskars Blade Sharpener – Model # 78616984J)

1 Hammer

2 screw drivers (1 phillips head, 1 flat head, or a multi-tip screwdriver kit)

1 Ladder (at least 7 foot)

Nails and screws (stock up!!)

Screw-In hanging hooks (good for running your clothes line, hanging guns, etc.)

Hand-Held Non-Electric boring tool

Twine (TONS…stock up!)

Pad Locks

1 Wonder-Bar

2 Hand-Saws

1 pocket or hunting knife

1 Bowie Knife

Sharpening stone for knives and other bladed tools

Garden Hoe

Rake

2 shovels (1 for digging, 1 for snow removal)

2 Buckets

1 large compost box (built outside – made of wood with a lid and lock pad)

 

Clothing and Home Needs

Coats

Flannel or other long-sleeved shirts

Blankets / Quilts / Comforters (as many as you can get!!)

Pillow(s)

Thermal Underwear

Beanies

Scarves

Winter Gloves

Thick Socks

Work Boots

Brimmed Hat (cowboy style hats or the like for sun protection)

Dry Detergent (odorless – stock up!!)

Washing board and bucket

Clothes hangers? (use the twine to hang dry outside or strung up indoors in the colder months)

Hemp Soap (for body AND dishes – make sure it’s odorless – also helps with poison oak or ivy rashes - stock up!!)

Hemp Shampoo (odorless – stock up!!)

Toilet Tissue (or something like it – STOCK UP!!)

Towels

*Candles and holders (STOCK UP on unscented tapered candles!!!! This may be your only light source!!)*

**AT LEAST ONE First Aid Kit (You may be better off putting one together yourself, including rubbing alcohol, bandages, gauze, tourniquet, plenty of medical water-proof tape, hydrogen peroxide, Q-Tips, A&D ointment, pain and fever reducers, marijuana buds and/or seeds to grow for future use, stitch kit, iodine, snake bite kit, etc etc – everything you may need for injuries or illness!)**

Fire Extinguisher (if possible, otherwise – just be damn careful, and keep 2 buckets of water handy at all times!)

 

Hunting / Fishing and Home Protection Needs

1 Rifle (either a 30-30, or a 30-06 are recommended)

1 Shotgun (12 gauge)

Ammo (TONS!!!! STOCK UP ASAP!!!)

Ammo Storage Cases (water-proof)

Gun Cleaning Kit

Hunting Knife w/ a gut hook

A Good Compass

A Tent

Filet Knife

Fishing Rod(s) and hooks or lures (stock up on some fishing line)

***KEEP YOUR GUN(S) LOADED AND READILY ACCESSIBLE AT ALL TIMES!!!***