With only three months to go, thought it might be good to take a poll on which prep SUBJECTS you still need the most help on.

Even though the forum is informal, I can "stage" certain subjects every couple of days or every week or so to make sure we draw out the expertise of our online community.

Let's not use this thread for actually discussing the subjects we need help on, but just for listing the subjects themselves. Don't hesitate to chime in repetitively -- this is a poll!

How about it?

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), September 28, 1999

Answers

Bulk water storage. Are there food-safe liners available for 32 gal plastic garbage cans? 55 gal drums from beverage companies are no longer available here. I need something for GIs for this last quarter.

-- Sylvia (bluebirdms@aol.com), September 28, 1999.

Dear Big Dog,

I think I've done most of the physical preps but have been unable to deal with the fear.I do know from reading all the fora that there are alot of us out there with fear of armed gangs,fears of emotional blackmail by DGI neighbours or DGI family members,fear of illness etc.Whilst the "adult" can rationalise the fears,its the "child" in me who refuses to be quietened.

Difficult one ??

PS.On a personal note,from an earlier post you may remember I'm an agnostic so no "easy solution"

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), September 28, 1999.

(1) Ham radio communications (I just passed my no-code technician exam last saturday!). Suggestions as to 6 m rigs, etc. would be helpful.

(2) No gun protective measures. These would be useful for those who eschew guns or in the case of confiscations (ALL runs are registered in Hawai'i).

(3) Most efficient feeding of poultry (e.g., chickens) for egg production.

(4) Best prep choices for starting now (or when written). Not for me, but there are still some newbies...

(5) Small Business preparation...starting now (again, when written). Many small businesses haven't started yet...

Thanks,

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 28, 1999.

How to overcome a growing apathy and even disbelief that anything big will happen. I am now doubting all my preparations and feeling a little silly. I actually feel like stopping my preps (which are pretty good really). How to overcome this?

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), September 28, 1999.

1. Propane bottle adaptor lines and connectors. What is needed?

2. How to organize preps in a very limited space?

3. Calming fears of GI and DGI family at rollover time.

4. Links to bugout lists and prep ideas

Just keepin' on, keepin' on

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 28, 1999.

Thank you Big Dog this is a great idea.

1) another vote for care and feeding of poultry 2) dealing with family members who are *still* thinking it will be a "1" and questioning my continuing preps 3) solar and alternative power. I've been looking at solar chargers for auto batteries - what do I need to plug in small electrical items etc? Also how to light/heat the chicken coop in the absence of power? 4) and another vote for dealing with the anxiety of it all

-- mommacarestx (harringtondesignX@earthlink.net), September 28, 1999.

Amen citygirl. With every dollar I spend my doubts grow. So far what keeps me preping is when I look at my 3 year old and my wife I don't want anything to happen to them.

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), September 28, 1999.

Ditto on the Momma cares subjects - particularly alternate energy for the mechanically challenged. (e.g. How to hook up my schtuff - stand alone PV, 12 volt marines and inverter.)

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), September 28, 1999.

All of the above, especially how to deal with our own doubts while surrounded by friends and loved ones blithely going about their business without a (Y2K) care in the world. I'd really appreciate a thread eliciting opinions on whether or not to prepare for home defense with weapons, and why. Ditto on the the ideas by mommacares.

-- Jill D. (jdance@mindspring.com), September 28, 1999.

Where to find good prices on ham radio equipment

Poultry care and feeding, lighting without power

Dairy cows and goats

Gardening,... common mistakes and tips from the pros

Solar energy to run a well pump

The possibilities for communities. Our closest and dearest friends are semi GI and staying in southern CA. We considered places like Haven, but felt it was too controlling. It was the education director that tipped the balance.

Medical discussions, how to know which antibiotic to use when etc. Diagnosing disease, tips from the docs and night drivers.

Exchanging recipes that use whole grains, canning recipes etc.

A few pep talks thrown in.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

Grat idea, Big Dog. And I know I can help here, so get on it!

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

ditto on citygirl's doubting own preps. Spin is being way too successful. Also tips on how to treat things like pneumonia, bronchitis, West Nile Fever (being carried by misquitos in NYC), etc.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

I am so worried about dental preps. Mostly dental because I don't think dental problems will have priority over medical, if you could get to a hospital.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 29, 1999.

My biggest concern is the size (lack) of my garden. The soil there is kind of poor, and my garden is actually on topsoil brought in. The garden's about 30x50 and I'd like it to be better.

Regarding the concerns of citygirl and others, I think we're all experiencing a bit of that. The spin effort has been very, very good. Just remember, though, that virtually everything you've put away can be used regardless of what happens.

Think of all the money you'll save next year (and the year after that, for us) when you don't have to buy TP.

There's a lot of sense, too, to the notion that those of us who have prepped as we have now possess a better feeling about ourselves and our whole approach to life and living it.

Many of us have found a kinship with the earth, as it were, and the notion that perhaps we're a bit more self-sufficient than we were is a comfort, at least to me.

Few of us are the less for what we have done in preparation for something that may happen. Remember, it's insurance.

-- Vic (Rdrunner@internetwork.net), September 29, 1999.

Where to buy solar panels. What brands or types are the most reliable? Who has good prices and more importantly fast delivery !

Also cheap inverters.

I'm not talking about whole-house systems here, just enough for a radio ,a couple of lights etc, or one appliance at a time.

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), September 29, 1999.

What should you look for in scanners, cb radios etc ?. How do you find out what frequencies the police and emergency services use?

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), September 29, 1999.

Need help w/garden. Open cow and horse grazing land, also lots of rabbits, squirrels, mice, hawks, etc. Desert land. How to keep critters out. Need to build greenhouse? If so, what's best and cheapest way. Thanks so much, great support.

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

double dittos to mumsie's points, esp 12vdc generation and use.

what about rebuilding efforts? how to find each other? i know whenever i meet someone new who gi's and uses the net i introduce myself with my handle, in case he/she recognizes it.

-- Cowardly Lion (cl0001@hotmail.com), September 29, 1999.

How do I leave this forum and get a life?

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), September 29, 1999.

country cooking techniques--ie woodstove, solar oven, smoker cooking. easy baking hints would especially be helpful. and if anyone has information on edible seaweeds and how to prepare, I would be very greatful!

Thanks to everyone who has in the past and will in the future be sharing their expertise, this is a community in the true sense of the word!

-- cath (fin@lllyGI.com), September 29, 1999.

Mainly, how to keep warm over an extended period, since in apartments we cannot store "any" fuel...though many people are doing so.

How to best protect windows and sliding glass door on balcony.

To learn if razor wire is obtainable, and where, and if it is legal to put onto a balcony in dire circumstances.

What exactly to say to people knocking on door, seeking supplies, when you don't wish to open the door and become vulnerable. How to help people without being killed oneself.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

Like many who have already commented, I am at the "endgame" of my personal preparation. I feel that, in a physical sense, I can simply live on my property without ever leaving it for many months if need be.

How about some ideas for bartering? This has come up before (on the Classic Forum way back when), but now that we really have our own preps set, what ideas do people have for being in a position to deal with others? (E.g., coffee has always been touted as a barter item, but what might be the best way to package it for "sale"?)

93 days.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), September 29, 1999.

Gas Masks for self and children, bug out bag lists, non electric appliances: washer, wringers, wind-powered or hydro powered electicity designs and schematics,food storage cooking hints, ditto on the chicken and goats, anti-biotic purhcasing,and most of all dealing with the emotional baggage we seem to carry throughout our daily life in this y2k prep lifestyle we now lead - Thanks to all for this true sense of family and community generated on this forum, as said above How do we create life outside of this forum?

-- The Young'n (Newbie@ShineTheLight.com), September 29, 1999.

1. Medical info. ie; dosages by child, adult, elderly for antibiotics.

2. Dental - anyone have any experience using the temp-dent stuff from Wally World?

3. Vegetable gardening, square foot gardening

4. Composting - inexpensive instructions?

Like most here on the forum I have done all of my basic preps, doing the cleanup now, but one thing I can NEVER get enough of is information. I think having hard copies of information to look at when we are in the midst of changes and fears will be one of the best forms of protection that I know of. I know when I am really upset it is hard to think, having this information easily available through recommended books or preparing your own 'books' from information printed here and other sites may save a life. Even though I am usually pretty cool in upsetting circumstances, Y2K is unlike any other and I don't want my mind going blank at a critical time to cause additional disaster.

Thanks for this thread, I will be looking for these subjects in the future on our prep forum. ;-)

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 29, 1999.

I'll let this thread roll for another day or two as long as we keep getting some responses. Then, I'll summarize and we'll begin to roll through topics, beginning with the ones that seemed to elicit the most interest.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), September 30, 1999.

"How do I leave this forum and get a life?"

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), September 29, 1999.

HYSTERICAL ROFL!!!!!!!!!!1

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 30, 1999.

somebody slap me......

thanks, that's better

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 30, 1999.

cold weather survival

-- zoobie (zoobizoob@yahoo.com), September 30, 1999.

Like Vic, I don't have enough garden space. Mine is about 40' X 40'. I need to decide what would yield the most food in the least amount of garden area, that my family would deem palatable. I also have a small green-house (10' X 20'), and had thought of converting it to growing a few things by hydroponics.

I am considering converting some of the decorative flower beds around the house into mini-gardens. Perhaps even converting parts of my yard into some raised beds for additional space. This could be undone relatively easily post Y2K if things are not too bad, or when things are back to normal. As with everything else, time and money are short.

Gerald

-- Gerald R. Cox (grcox@internetwork.net), October 01, 1999.

Instructions for building an enclosure for a generator.

-- annie (annieG48@hotmail.com), October 02, 1999.

annie, Stan Pierchoski's Powerhouse: A Working Example of a Self-Sufficient Homestead video and workbook, available by calling (toll free) 877-363-9117 (~$150 when I bought mine last April), goes into great detail on the requirements for a generator shed. At the same time, you need to configure it to your particular set-up; if I had constructed mine the way Stan did his, it would not have lasted very long -- the roof would have blown off! He lives in a valley in Tennessee, which has very little wind; I live on a mountain top in Northwest Arkansas, where the wind can be fierce.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), October 02, 1999.