How mastiff Jim is preparing

[mongrel]

One last comment, I never mentioned the legal position, I was referring to what I would consider more basic, the moral question. I would assume in such a situation that the law is relevant anyway.
Again I would argue, that as seen in eastern Europe after the USSR breakup large sections of various countries did indeed experience social collapse and the survivors speak of gathering together in groups be it family or neighbourhood.
I wish you well in your preparations but still think a well stocked productive garden is of more value than any “full tang large knife” or “150lb crossbow”

[Arzosah]

Hi Jim

Liking your plans! Some thoughts on whats been written:

- how well trained are your dogs? That would be important in any scenario. And do you have dog food stacked up as well? And poop bags?

- definitely agree with you that you need some creature comforts, anything along the lines of what you're envisaging will be really stressful. Cuppa tea and a choccie bar will be helpful, temporarily.

- also agree about foraging - I'm doing some research on foraging amongst trees and shrubs at the moment, its amazing the amount of stuff there is. Check out some you tube videos, for instance, on getting sap from silver birches, even sycamores. There's much less fiddly ways to get food from trees too - leaves, flowers, berries, often good stuff. You've got to know what you're doing though, quite a bit is poisonous.

- gm prepper's suggestion of self defence is a good'un - I know you must have stamina, from the amount of gardening you do, but you need strength, flexibility, situational awareness, all of that (not preaching from on high here - my stamina is about the same as a wet paper bag, oops).

- keeping yourself healthy, and treating minor ailments, seems to be the one area where you've only got knowledge from childhood, that seems crucial to increase. Herbal, yes, but also prevention - and one area that strikes me that isn't mentioned often is dental hygiene - toothbrush and toothpaste, yes, but also floss and those little interdens brushes. Its hard to imagine needing a dentist when there isn't one there any more - best avoid if possible!

- you sound like you're in a fairly isolated area, but still, your neighbours are crucial to your survival, in different ways - the ones you trust and the ones you don't. I'd seriously advise that if you're there long term, you work on getting to know them in social ways, not as a prepper, and find out who has a prepping-type outlook.

Hope this helps ...

[Charlie 5]

that may be why i also have bug out plans if need be? some people would rather defend at any cost the home they love and have fond memories in! prepping is all about being prepared for any event and home invasion is a ground i wish to cover as well as having back ups to the defense plan if that becomes unsustainable

I've mentioned this before in respect of 'domain hardening'. One of the most obvious scenarios in any Threat Hazard Analysis should be the asymmetrical threat of fire. Few people who 'harden' their dwelling give little thought to how THEY may need to get out of it, rather than stopping anyone else getting IN. Your fortress like home could easily become your tomb. Fire is a very cheap, very effective and easily made weapon. What are you going to do when the Molotov Cocktails come crashing against your home? As someone who spends a great deal of their time deliberately setting things on fire (its part of my job) - it never ceases to amaze me how many people neglect this area

[ForgeCorvus]

Charlie 5, I don't know what your job is..... But it sounds like all kinds of fun (Sorry, is my Pyromania showing )