How mastiff Jim is preparing

[MastiffJim]

Hello everyone i am writing this list so i can see for myself where i need to develop more and also to receive feedback from you guys and hopefully to maybe pass any idea's i have on to you

so to start

my main focus is to prepare for multiple different possibilities my own personal evaluation has pointed me in the direction of economic collapse which will lead to a break down in society and so on (you know the story) but my focus is also to make my life as cost effective as possible for example saving money on food/heating and general living costs

my primary topics i wish to cover are

Defense living in a semi-urban environment this is a must

Food/Water obvious essential

Shelter i have very little intention of bugging out but if necessary i need multiple locations as secure as possible

Skills/Trades if in the event society does collapse it is important to have skills and trades for self benefit and to be an asset to society (whats left of it)

Medical

Creature comforts they may not seem important but moral is very important



Defense

Ok so my defense plan is as follows

fortify the house and wait a minimum of 3 days (making sure bug out equipment is ready)

use this time to gather up all kit and check tools and weaponry

weaponry

150lb crossbow
80lb crossbow
kukri
naginata
armex 22. seeker rifle
fixed blade full tang large knife
multiple folding knives for tasks and defense
slingshot
hatchet

Household defense

household defense strategy in my opinion can vary depending on access to electricity

my choice methods if Sausages Hit The Fan

nailed wooden planks
my house has reinforced doors as standard
3 story house 3 levels of defense/fallback if required
2 very large highly protective dogs
my personal favorite is a simple cheap alarm system which significant shock factor
using cheap rape alarms with fishing tackle as trip wire works as an excellent early warning system


Food and Water

Food

i am currently growing a large selection of vegetables in a cycle which ensures i have a constant food supply all year round! i focus mainly on a majority of potatoes onions and cabbage but also have more luxury foods such as tomatoes strawberries raspberries leeks brussel sprouts (some people hate them i love them) and even herbs (just because the worlds gone to chaos does not mean you cant dine in style)

i also have a good knowledge of the game in an approximate 10mile range of my planned survival area and have taken the time to learn how to effectively hunt it and also prepare it which should help me if ever i have a problem with my vegetables/fruit and need time to redevelop

future investments i am planning on purchasing a food dehydrator and also a vacuum sealer so if anyone has any recommendations send them my way

Water

i am lucky enough to live in an area with vast amounts of lakes rivers and very damp terrain which will ensure that if my main supply which consists of guttering on my house garage and shed all leading to multiple water containers i still have access to water using my water filters

Shelter

Ideally i wish to stay in my house where i feel comfortable and safe however i fully understand that this is not always a possibility and have to be ready to bug out at any second

i have a basha and paracord to built temporary shelters on the move with a combination of woodland materials but my shelter building is not my strongest point and would greatly benefit from some training if anyone can give me any or recommend someone to me?

Skills and Trades

as you can see from my Food section i am a very keen gardener and hopefully my knowledge of growing foods will make me an asset in rebuilding society
i have also got access to around 100 different PDF files on all different guides from primitive blacksmithing all the way through to making fine handmade garments

Medical

i spent a lot of time in cubs and scouts as a child and i appreciate that the level of first aid you are taught in this environment is far from advanced but i feel as though i have a basic knowledge to treat things i might encounter (excluding severe/fatal injuries) i also have a very extensive medical kit with i gained from having a horrible case of pilonidal cystitis a while ago which should help! i hope i can further my knowledge of medical aids in nature as well as pills and medicines will run out rather quickly i imagine if anyone has any knowledge of medicine and natural medicine and is willing to help me learn that would be greatly appreciated

Creature Comforts

now this one may seem a bit pathetic but i believe essentials such as tea coffee hot chocolate salt pepper tobacco Tabasco are essential not only for enjoyment but also they make excellent bartering items and when times are hard these items are brilliant at cheering people up



OK so that is the position i am in at the moment but i always feel as though i am forgetting things (does anyone else feel that? is it the prepper bug)
if anyone has any information they can give me to help or further my knowledge you do not know how appreciative i would be of this

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this



(all weaponry and survival tools are to be used only in essential emergencies when we are experiencing WROTL and are used only in a defensive way as a final option)

[Ollyr]

Have you thought of including bartering goods into your skills trading section, you only need a few items which if SHTF would be valuable goods, i know you had tabasco in your creature comforts but other items would be better for bartering e.g high proof alcohols, other than that its a very comprehensive list:)

[ForgeCorvus]

Hiya Mate..... Have you posted in 'Introductions' yet? A lot of folks like it if you do

Looks like you've got a plan, stick around and we'll help you expand on it.

How have you got those PDFs stored BTW? Are you covered for power outages ?

[MastiffJim]

Hey guys thanks for the replies

as for bartering goods i am hoping to grow my own tobacco as a bartering gift but am looking to venture into other area's i just need to study what best suits my abilities and needs

and i have introduced myself on the forum i am now hoping to gradually get to know people through the forum and look for a small prepping team or partner

i have all my PDF's currently on flash pens and am working on printing and laminating at the moment which is a painfully slow process but its for a good cause

[junmist]

Hi MJ could I suggest that if you do not know any, learn a bit about foraging and do a little bit of gorilla gardening if you have not heard of this it is where you plant self seeding plants that you can eat around your local area . This is in case your garden gets raided you will not be with out food also if you plant food along your bug out routes again you can eat as you go and save on your rations.

[gm_prepper]

Hey there Masiffjim,

Sounds like yo've thought it through, in defense I would also include, if ye haven't already, self defense. There are lots of techniques that anyone can learn regardeless of age/size/strength working on locks, holds and moving people via their movement rather than your own energy. Even a few of the basics will be invaluable.

Ye garden sounds very good, something which am teaching myself at the mo including herbs, spices n peppers. In regards to a dehydrater these can be made very cheaply and use the sun n once built you'll have the knowledge to build on anywhere. I've heard good things about "Andrew James High Quality Vacuum Food Sealer" which is half price on Amazon at the mo, can also use a pair of hair straighteners but this deosn't use suction to evacuate air so may shorten the life of the stored food.

PDF's, I would say that's it's good to have em as long as their read and memorised as much as poss as need to plan for limited to no power, and printing could be massive and very pricey. would say on certain bujects can get small or travel books cheap off ebay or from discount book stores, I've bought a few helpful books from about 10 each from the shop.

House defence, one of the biggest problems is the amount of windows. I would say that yes (and this is all theory SHTF n all that O_O) that nail board are helpful, but also look into things ye can grow like peppers, mix with water then all ye need is some sort of water projection device. hmm. Windows, Moderator edited

Weapons, as mentioned above, learn about less forceful methods as one may be injured to some extent of weak or all of the above. swingin a bat gets tiring fast enough whether hitting something or not. as ye a gardener there are plenty of things you can grow and cultivate to aid you in this. But also consider a chemical knowledge as well as you'd be amazed at the possiblities on so many levels.

[mongrel]

I'm sorry but any real defence will not work, full stop! given a full Breakdown, the shear number of people roaming the streets will make any defence other than obscurity pointless. Two large dogs, thats a lot of meat for somebody? Barricaded in your home, windows all covered in wooden planks, come on, get a grip.
Other than whole streets or blocks getting together and claiming a “turf” defence is as I said is pointless, a mindless mob will charge through and take anything on offer, so be invisible let the tide flow over and hide your assets.

We should try to avoid following the insane behaviour of our US cousins.

But, yes I'm a prepper, heat the house with wood stove, got my wind generator and grow as many heritage variety vegetables as possible, and most importantly for me, moved out of the city and in to a rural setting, still have neighbours, need them to survive, no-one can in the long term survive on their own, or would want too.

Rant over, Being a Prepper for me is being prepared for Economic or social collapse, ask the Greeks or Spanish what it's like. Crossbows and Big dogs belong in the movies a well hidden and productive veggy patch would be worth more. As I've said before, be the grey man make yourself a target, and it's over

[MastiffJim]

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

[mongrel]

Your right in that sense "home invasion" as you call it has been something that has concerned my thoughts for a number of years now.and yes I have made my home secure, but in the event of a large enough mob? no defence would be good enough or realistic, want to stay in a house surrounded by bodies?
Again I agree with you, I love my home and would hate to abandon it, nor do I plan to do so. My home is invisible from the road, no fancy gate,no sign post no nothing! And that’s not an accident

As for weapons I have a fire arms licence, but for hunting rifles, if a couple hundred hungry people found my potato patch, am I going to start shooting them, off course not, train my dog to attack them, off course not! I want to continue living in my home regardless of what happens to do that I need my neighbours, there eyes and ears, their skills in forestry, farming and hunting. To survive you'd need a community and you can't build that boarded up munching your stockpile of tinned food!

[unsure]

we have all seen the news and the video`s of roaming hoard`s in city`s around the world . how many have noticed that when the shooting starts and the first person hits the floor , they all tend to run . with that in mind ,i`ll be staying put for as long as possible . i`m told that the law has changed and you can defend your home by any means , even lethal . i do need to do some more research on this .


a quick google turned up this .

The law is clear that anyone who acts in good faith, using reasonable force, doing what they honestly feel is necessary to protect themselves, their families or their property, will not be prosecuted for such action .

thats an extract from the below link.

http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/010472.html

as the saying goes , i`d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6