Weekly "everything else" If it's in the spirit of prepping, but not "news" or "intel"
Posted by AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit | PrepperIntel | View on Reddit | 65 comments
This includes but not limited to:
- Prepping questions
- Rumors
- Speculative thoughts
- Small / mundane
- Promotion of Sales
- Sub meta / suggestions
- Prepping jokes.
- Mods have no power here, only votes, behave.
This will be re-posted every Saturday, letting the last week's stickied post fade into the deep / get buried by new posts. -Mod Anti
ScientistKey9114@reddit
Have noticed this forum has a lot more maga than usual lately.
thisbliss7@reddit
Nah, I see a lot more clear eyed folks and a lot less knee jerk political posts. Probably a sign that the USAID money is gone.
Sightline@reddit
Those poor Africans won't be able to troll Reddit anymore!
sherwood_bosco@reddit
I think it's probably just a lot more contribution. I'd wager the actual demographics haven't changed much, since a lot of the preppers I know outside this forums are almost all MAGA. It's probably just folks that were lurkers riding the wave of increased activity this sub has seen given all the relevant events. There's also probably a non-zero number of bots and trolls, but hey, that's the internet.
sherwood_bosco@reddit
Living in the DMV area, we're slated to have a very large no kings protest this weekend. I am concerned for some potential false flag or black swan event that will precipitate some incredibly shitty situations nationwide, but particularly dangerous here. The large-scale recent unemployment spike from fired govy's, furloughed govy's, and all the private sector AI-sizing, coupled with the fact that the area is majority minority in composition, and thus more likely to support the movement, lead me to believe that there will be a lot of people out, about, and angry. Agitators, paid or otherwise, could set off all the folks that are already on edge, and as much as I want to go and make my voice heard, I am actually afraid. I get it, that's the point of intimidation tactics, and it worked on me. I am not immune to propaganda, as the kids say.
Funny-Ad5178@reddit
It's not news and it's not shocking, but I was yesterday years old when I found out you may can anything high in acidity with one pot and some jars. I've been putting off canning because I don't want to fork out for a pressure canner if it's not gonna have major ROI, but uh. Consider me educated, and the proud father of a dozen jars of apple products. I sure feel like a goof since I'm literally a cook, but whatever. If SHTF tomorrow, I will have two gallons of apple sauce.
splat-y-chila@reddit
My go-to water bath recipes this summer:
https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/pickle/vegetable-pickles/pickled-bread-and-butter-zucchini/ (and I made pickled okra using this brine recipe + spicy peppers too)
https://www.ballmasonjars.com/blog?cid=zesty-salsa
https://www.healthycanning.com/dill-pickles
https://practicalselfreliance.com/blackberry-jelly/
Also I've made a very tasty spiced apple jam before -- https://practicalselfreliance.com/apple-jam/
Spinweavecycle@reddit
Most garden veggies are not acid and require pressure canning. Tomatoes are water bath canned but require vinegar or bottled lemon juice added to increase acidity as our tomatoes are not as acid as in the past. Follow safe canning practices to prevent botulism.
ScientistKey9114@reddit
About ten years ago ball started recommending acidifying apples too.
wwaxwork@reddit
Hot water canning is a fun place to start and a great way to save some of your garden produce without needing a freezer.
Pontiacsentinel@reddit
Mid Atlantic area. Went to a major grocery chain this morning to get some frozen lunches for the office. Went by the discount meats just to see. They were no longer in the small refrigerated section but filled a small cooler (6 feet long) on the floor of the grocery store. Chicken, beef, pork and expensive beef marked down, but not enough. I have never seen so much meat in the markdown area. Even with that markdown, it seems people are not buying. I was not tempted by anything there.
xredwidowx@reddit
Went to a family-oriented seasonal event/fair at a large public park today (afternoon on a saturday). $35 a ticket, really nice outside, tons of parking spots close to the event, and almost no crowd for the entire 3 hours we were there. There was about 100 people, not including the workers. Doesn’t seem significant until you factor in this event was clearly meant to have thousands of participants.
My tattoo artist, who’s normal waitlist is 3-4 months, is booked 2 weeks out. I’ve known them for 15 years and I’ve never gotten an appointment prior to 3 months before.
Ordered grocery delivery from walmart; milk, jug tea, bagels and hamburger meat. $68.70. Received a notification that the jug tea is out of stock. So… 25% of my order that I’m paying 3x more for, is unavailable.
CryptidWorks@reddit
I gotta ask, because my regionality is 100% showing: What's "Jug Tea?"
Upstairs_Goal_9493@reddit
In the US, pre-mad teas can come in 1 to half gallon jugs, typically sweet but unsweetened is also a thing. Look up Milos or Gold peak as the largest brands.
I'm sorry for this for all our friends across the pond in England, as I am sure this is displeasing to hear.
CryptidWorks@reddit
Ahhh gotcha. I'm up north of the US so while we still have iced tea, that term was new.
Upstairs_Goal_9493@reddit
Like my grandpa used to say "one mans jug tea is another mans bagged milk" 🤷♂️
Separate_Fold5168@reddit
Man now you've got me all nostalgic for grandma's milk bags.
God rest her soul.
LuxSerafina@reddit
And in another world “grandmas milk bags” has an entirely different meaning.
I’m sorry. Rip grandma.
Alternative-Emu4846@reddit
I mean $35 USD/ticket for a local fair does seem pretty pricey.
My local fair which has a big midway, demolition derby, petting zoo, agricultural competitions etc is only $15-$20 CAD a ticket.
For $35 USD plus the overpriced food, overpriced midway and whatever else I can see why it was quiet.
WallabyWanderer@reddit
I work in consumer goods and retailers have priced a lot of our new items with the tariff prices included. We’re now getting negative feedback from a lot customers thinking we’re being greedy them…. Have you not seen the news in the past 6 months????????????
LGP214@reddit
no. most are oblivious
erbush1988@reddit
Most are idiots
BuckyRainbowCat@reddit
Looks like this happened 12 days ago so not sure if it made it to last week's thread, my apologies if it's a double post:
A MAJOR employer in my city will be eliminating 20% of its workforce over the next 2 years. From what I can tell, that means this employer will no longer have a presence in my city at all. This employer is in a keystone industry in my city so its relocation/retreat will (in my estimation) most likely have knock-on effects to a cascading outward circle of other employers in the same and related fields/industries. While this may be a positive thing overall in terms of curbing emissions, it will be a negative for employment for a lot of people in my city (including me).
Bezboy420@reddit
I assume their rationale for cutting these employees was not stated as “cutting emissions”. What was the actual reason they cut so many people?
BuckyRainbowCat@reddit
an oil company, care about cutting emissions? [crylaugh emoji]
Apparently the company said the decision was taken to "realize substantial efficiency and effectiveness benefits," which will "enhanc[e] collaboration, operational focus and execution excellence." Your guess is as good as mine what any of that means.
Historical-Many9869@reddit
more likely trumps 2 dollar gasoline promise is hammering oil and gas companies investment plans
Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit
It means the guys in management got together and decided they need new vacation homes and boats. “Enhance collaboration, operational focus and execution excellence” - means Juan and Jose in Mexico City will do your job for $2 a day and not complain.
Bezboy420@reddit
Literally. Or just “force those smaller teams to do more work/longer shifts”. This is how we end up with 1 guy responsible for a 12 hour shift of “don’t let anything blow up”. Dangerous and unethical of the company.
Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit
Ethics has nothing to do with this. There’s the cost of one guy 40k a year X vs the statistical possibility that something blows up every N years costing them Y.
Even if they have to pay Y every N years it’s cheaper than paying 5 guys 40k for the same number of years.
Plus I guarantee they have a life insurance policy on the guy if it does blow up. They make bank either way.
RedditMadeName@reddit
I installed a new drain for a sink recently. The old sink assembly was made out of mostly metal and had lasted a very long time. However, the sink assemblies and pipe parts these days are almost all made of plastic. Additionally, the sink assemblies are designed so poorly that they leak even if you follow manufacturer directions. Also, it seems like the washers are flimsier and cheaper than the ones from years past.
This seems minor but it highlights the enshittification of products that's been going on, particularly in the past few years. p
Alternative-Emu4846@reddit
As a plumber I feel qualified to say that ABS is 100% better for drains then fucking copper. Sometimes you need cast or something for fire rating in larger builds, but for your standard residential stuff ABS is way better.
My thought is that you must have bought something that wasn't ABS but instead a cheap Ikea or Amazon product, those undoubtedly suck nuts.
Also you can absolutely still get copper, stainless, chrome plated brass drains etc. They are very common.
At the end of the day, especially with plumbing, there are a lot of shit products and they usually directly coincide with price.
rmannyconda78@reddit
All I’m gonna say is r/Illinois ain’t looking so hot right now. Working on a 16mm silent film about the collapse of a society based on current events, current events really do shape art.
Dazzling_Outcome_436@reddit
I've seen a lot of lower food prices on my staple items. I wonder if it's because it's harvest season, or because contracts previously made have been fulfilled at a lower previously agreed price, or that maybe my alarm was misplaced. I'd appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable about the food supply chain could fill me in.
wwaxwork@reddit
Stuff is always cheaper in season. How are the prices compared to this time last year? Or the year before? I keep a price book on staples and I'm not seeing any decrease in pricing, unfortunately.
Dazzling_Outcome_436@reddit
Higher than this time last year, although not much. But not like double, not astronomical increases.
cassanderer@reddit
Where would one find 50 lb sacks of human grade grain btw?
I am being overcharged even at aldi I feel, oats for instance, but want barley in bulk, no lds stores nearby.
jijitsu-princess@reddit
I second azure standard. Just free the grain to kill any bugs before storing. Grain berries can be stored for 25 years.
SquirrelyMcNutz@reddit
A decent way to store grain is by putting it in mason jars and then vacuum sealing it. You can store smaller amounts in multiple places and it doesn't require reopening a big ol' bag. All you need is a jar, a lid, and a sealer that attaches to the utility port on a normal vacuum sealer.
You don't have to worry about bugs or rodents getting into your supply. And the jars can be repurposed after usage.
You can also store flour, coffee, sugar, etc., in these things. Just for any fine-ground stuff, that may get sucked up into the sealer, put a coffee filter on top of the stuff.
To kill bugs or bug eggs, put your grain (or flour) into a freezer for a few days. That'll kill off most stuff you'd worry about.
4ureddit@reddit
I use azure standard
Dazzling_Outcome_436@reddit
I usually buy it as flour, because I'm working two jobs to afford it and I don't have time to use my hand grinder. My electric broke 10 years ago and I've never replaced it. I use the hand grinder from time to time for authentic medieval cooking.
splat-y-chila@reddit
Not exactly what you asked for, but if you feel like buying from the mormons you get a couple lots of their 6packs https://store.churchofjesuschrist.org/new-category/food-storage/food-storage/5637169327.c
LupusDeiAngelica@reddit
Really? It's the opposite here. Same staples cost 70-100% more than two weeks ago.
NoTerm3078@reddit
Staple items have doubled in the past 2 weeks? Are you in the US? Which staple items have doubled? This is so alarming, not something we are seeing at all. I'm not trying to get too personal - are you in a hurricane path or something?
LupusDeiAngelica@reddit
Not in any kind of disaster area or area threatened by disaster, or area typically threatened by disaster.
NoTerm3078@reddit
Okay thanks.
Dazzling_Outcome_436@reddit
That's what I'm wondering, if it's regional that's good information. That makes me wonder if it's about to rise here.
LupusDeiAngelica@reddit
Who knows. Friends who've lived through collapsing societies and governments say one of the weird things they experienced was just before collapse, prices of basic things and also staple household appliances were heavily manipulated and fluctuated quickly up/down.
Dazzling_Outcome_436@reddit
That's what I'm worried about. I don't know whether I'm watching the ocean recede before the tsunami, or whether I'm just freaking out.
Livid_Roof5193@reddit
Just chiming in to say I’m seeing the same in my region as LupusDei. Grocery bills are 1.5-2x what they were last year.
Present-Opinion1561@reddit
Yesterday (Saturday) a text went out to all food pantry volunteers asking to work more time slots in coming weeks. Seems we will be opening up on Tues & Thurs exclusively for our AirForce neighbors.
Ladderwoman@reddit
With hunting season coming up, I’d like to know if anyone has a really good deer (chuck/roast cuts) or duck recipes they could link or share. I’ve done stuff with them in the slow cooker before and made sausages but I’d love to try something new this winter. Thank you in advance! 💜
SquirrelyMcNutz@reddit
I like making jerky out of the Eye Of Round cut of beef. I find it gives a good mix of flavor, fat, and meat for jerky. You could probably adapt it to a similar muscle group out of a deer ham.
Ladderwoman@reddit
I had thought about jerky but I hadn’t had much luck in the past. I think I’m not cooking it long enough to get all the moisture out though. I did a 4 hour oven bake jerky that was really good but didn’t last more than about a week before going off. Do you use a dehydrator or something else for yours?
SquirrelyMcNutz@reddit
Dehydrator.
The length of lasting is probably dependent upon the amount of salt used. Plus, smoked, rather than just plain dehydrated is better for storage length.
I've never timed how long my stuff lasts, as it's usually eaten in short order. :p I only do the small, EOR roasts that I find on sale from time to time. I've never done a large amount at once before.
What I liked to do, is to brine/marinate my stuff for like 3-4 days. I use less salt than normal, as my blood pressure is high enough. I generally do a base of canning salt, brown sugar, liquid smoke, balsamic & red wine & rice wine vinegar, worchestshire sauce, and varying mixes of cumin, paprika, garlic powder (or garlic juice), onion powder (or onion juice), powdered thyme, tarragon, molasses, powdered mustard seed, soy sauce or just whatever else I find that I might throw in. Add enough water to mix. Pour over sliced meat in an ice cream bucket, add enough water so everything is covered. Store in basement fridge for 3-4 days. Dehydrate for around 6 hours, more or less depending upon thickness and desired dryness of meat.
Individual_Bar7021@reddit
Venison lasagna! Delicious!
AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit (OP)
The obvious question "do you have a smoker?"
Ladderwoman@reddit
I do not personally, but I know someone I can borrow from
AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit (OP)
Ladderwoman@reddit
Thank you!
exclaim_bot@reddit
You're welcome!
splat-y-chila@reddit
The maypop harvest is coming in, so I juiced a week's harvest of those from the garden and got 35 oz of juice squeezed out. Probably going to make jelly from it again, probably tomorrow when I make more salsa with the garden tomatoes. Thankfully we didn't have the frost last Thursday that the weather was threatening so the garden survives another day. I have musquee de provence pumpkins still just pumping out female blooms which won't have time to ripen, so I might try to make those into pickles/relish in a couple weeks. I might be making maypop jelly weekly for a little while in addition to the salsa while it all ripens too. Figs and jujubes are ripening too, but those don't even make it out of the garden I eat those so fast.
The shelves I bought last couple weeks for all the additional canned stuff I've made this year are built and in use, but still taking my time putting the cabinets together because I blew up my back picking all the ripe pumpkins a couple weeks ago. Gave a few neighbors some pumpkins too, because tis the season, and why not if they don't have any yet because I have way too many more than I can eat with the other winter squash this year. They've helped me out before too.
For some reason, the special kidney care food my cats are on was backed up and shipped 4 days late the last time I ordered a couple weeks ago, so I'm buying an extra 18lb bag to arrive next week, just to be ahead on supply because I don't like not having a 20lbs backup supply for them. I never want to be worried about them missing a meal again. I thought I could 'normal person' it and just order when it was time, but I just can't do that.
Got all the xmas presents for everyone all set already, and for a few folks that was shipments of jars of my canned food which went out 2 weeks ago before the country hits freezing anywhere and before the fed budget stuff (purposefully because of all that). The non-jars will go out in a couple months... I want to ship earlier, but eeeeveryone complained last year when I did. FINE Lmao. The stuff I wanted for people that comes from not-US, I bought months ago, before all the tarriffs hit, also on purpose.
Lastly, to rotate crops next year, I just ordered a ton of beans. Everywhere that was nightshades/squashes this year is gonna be beans next year. I got every variety I could find, and I'm starting my own landrace. Gonna be out there trying to hand-pollinate next year because I read they self pretty readily and I want them to mix. I'll be planting peanuts in some of those beds too, from this year's harvest. And everywhere that was beans this year I'll do the opposite - ground cherries/tomatoes/zucchini/winter squash/maybe try some peppers in the beds again. I'm also going to grow the okra-ish plants in a different spot in the ground, and grow the manihot-y ones that you mostly eat the leaves rather than the pods. Might chuck some amaranth seed from this year where the okra just was, or maybe just make it a sunflower patch. Glad I finally expanded the garden big enough to get a good harvest every year while also rotating crops.
Honest_Persimmon_859@reddit
US-China trade war might be expanding/shifting and starting to impact batteries more starting in November:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-weapon-us-trade-talks-160949069.html
Since it's a prepper-based group here, I'm assuming there's a higher level of interest than normal in solar stuff. This could potentially affect the prices of battery backup systems, among other things. If you were considering buying/upgrading your battery backup for your home, it might be worth considering doing so in the next month before prices potentially increase.
NoTerm3078@reddit
Two weeks ago my German vehicle died for the last time and last week I bought an American car. I was taking delivery of the car when the China battery and rare Earth restrictions were announced which made me feel slightly better as until then I was a bit unsure if I was making a mistake bypassing Toyota.
throwawayt44c@reddit
Literally just bought a jackery 1kw system today. I have been concerned about energy for a while, it's nice knowing that I can at least use my rice cooker now.
baby_philosophies@reddit
My very blue city in a blue state just received more police funding 🥲