New Prepper - Getting Ready For Winter '13/14

[benjimon]

I heard that this winter may be a tough one, thought I'd stop off here and get some tips.

I'll try and learn quickly and become an active member of this forum.

Ben

[preppingsu]

Hello and welcome.

Tell us a little more. How many are you prepping for?

Have a look here for some top tips for new preppers

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=817

[benjimon]

Hi,
I'm just prepping for me, upto 2 months max.

Problem is I live a very small flat, hope to fit 2 months supply into a single cupboard.

I guess my biggest challenge will be having fresh water, should the local supply fail, though I guess I could melt snow.

Just ordered about a months supply of tinned food and cereal, hope to do the same next week also.

I got a solar charger so I can use laptop and tablet.

I'm looking round the forums, getting ideas for other things I may need.

Ben

[Yorkshire Andy]

It depends on a few things......

Commuting to work? I live in a town but have to drive in to the country side down un gritted roads Main prep winter tyres on the car (not cheap but worth every penny IMO)

Bus to work? Expect busses to stop running previsions at work incase you cant get home (then the walk home or sleep over at work type questions)

walk to work... your probably laughing unless you have a medical condition Shoe chains are great IME




In the home. .. Insulation ( any exposed water pipes / outside taps?

Depending on where you live out in the sticks or in a city / town

Food previsions for a few days / weeks (youve probably seen how fast the supermarket get stripped of bread and milk if they cant get the lorry's in) powdered milk and ingredients to make your own bread for example

water (incase pipes freeze up)


Lighting (what if the snow / ice fetches down power lines.. torches / lanterns / candles

Heating / ways of staying warm

cooking preps (if your on an electric cooker and the power is off what happens)?

Salt for path round the house ?



All little things that can make life more bearable if the worst comes off


Have a good scout about the site BUT Take your time and think before rushing out and buying a 20K snow blower to clear the driveway

[Oldarborman]

Hello and welcome

[nickdutch]

IMHO: Get lentils and mung beans. £2.99 ish a 2Kg pack at tesco. Also tescos 15p tins of potatoes and some 5 Kg bags of rice.
Also tesco family value mashed potato at 20p a pack is ok too. That can be your ration foods for when the winter comes in force. Watch youtube videos about sprouting so that you can sprout your brown lentils, green lentils and mung beans to get the nutrition that only fresh veg can give you in the dead of the winter.

If you haven't already got a stove, either alcohol or camping gas, research one and if you got the dosh, invest.

Cheap first aid kits can be got off ebay.

[benjimon]

Thanks, added those items to my shopping list.
Found a good stove that works on a range of fuels, ordered one of those and some fuel.

What other 'basics' should I invest in?

Thanks

Ben

[preppingsu]

Well, that all depends n what you've already got or are you starting from nothing?

Have a good read on the forum. There is a lot of information that covers equipment in many different scenarios.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Thanks, added those items to my shopping list.
Found a good stove that works on a range of fuels, ordered one of those and some fuel.

What other 'basics' should I invest in?

Thanks

Ben

what stove you gone for?

one to avoid IMO for winter use would be these



as they only take butane when the temp gets below about 8 degrees they struggle get to 0 degrees and the butane freezes

That said they are stable and safer in most respects (easy gas change) no threads to cross

[benjimon]

To answer some questions:

I'm starting from scratch.

I went for this stove: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... Q8XJO476YN
as it works off of gel or solid fuel.

I've ordered lots of tinned and dry produce, only looking for a few months supply, so don't need to stock up too much.

I'll continue looking around the forums, and ask any questions as I go.

Ben