What to do if there is no support?
Posted by Iartdaily@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 144 comments
So I’m a married 65 woman that has prepped food for about a year supply for me and spouse. He thinks I’m ridiculous and laughs but doesn’t stop me. Beyond food I have no other prep as we live in a suburb of working professionals small yards and no worries. No way to save water (I have a built in pool and asked about using it but really got some good info and some abuse lol.
So my question is- if shtf, I’d gladly share my food with a community that offered safety and a tribe/ maybe water and other resources. As a skilled nurse I can offer some basic and advanced first aide. I also have prepped some of those supplies. Not a lot but enough for injuries.
How does one know how to find community or like minded who have done some prep and are willing to support each other or am I watching too much tv? I see most advice here is to “stay put” and anyway we have no where to go. There is no way spouse will undertake water saving. He just doesn’t want to believe it could get that bad- despite hurricane katrina etc proving help doesn’t arrive quickly. I guess I’m just curious if most of you feel it’s “everyone for themselves” or you have a “tribe”.
Serious-Ad2573@reddit
May also want to get plastic drums to store fresh/rain/grey water in.
KQ4DAE@reddit
Many local civic centers have rainbarrel projects where they bulk buy and sell at cost. It's intended for gardening but a great way to add waterstorage.
kyoshiro417@reddit
You can never truly be preppared for everything or uncertain outcomes but being prepared is better then not being prepared at all.
Well finding the tribe is the hard part, you have to find people that you trust and build that relationship before hand not after shtf. How you do it? Start by people that are close to you family members, and friends. Try to build a community yourself with like minded people with you being the leader of the community. You choose and you deny who you want. Find people and choose people with trades. Not one person can know everything even if you tried to learn it yourself you will never have enough time to learn everything. They have to be an assest and bring something to the table. So that is how you slightly recruit. Your a nurse and that's in medical field. Find someone that is a doctor, electrician, radio communications, engineer or gardener, carpenter, security etc etc. those skills come in handy for a end of the world scenario shtf. They can help you rebuild in any field, all hands are on deck. As a military member that is my best advice.
Trust, loyalty and Respect should be your top priority when choosing particular persons.
Miss_L_Worldwide@reddit
I admit I am amazed that y'all are staying with spouses who dismiss your concerns in such a manner.
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Well, I’m 65 and never thought about prepping much before these past few years. Spouse and I have grown up in a world of relative comfort and peaceful times. We had parents who would help us. We have financial resources. However, I was raised to be a little more frugal. My dad worried about the environment and was politically very verbal. I was raised in the country, he was raised in the suburbs. Also, my spouse does not prevent me from prepping but he prefers to believe things can’t get that bad. I don’t care I’ll do it for us. Additionally, he is kind, loving, generous. He puts me first. And even though I’ve prepped for a year, I’m really prepping for short term. If serious shtf, I’m gonna meet my maker. Too old to scrape.
Miss_L_Worldwide@reddit
Would he understand a little better from a natural disaster perspective? Because anyone has to admit that those happen with some regularity.
CorporateJoker@reddit
You're more prepared than you think. A year of food supply and medical skills puts you ahead of 95% of your neighborhood already.
One thing that helped me get my spouse on board — I stopped talking about "SHTF" and started framing it as "do you know our exact numbers?" I made a simple tracker for our food expiry dates, water days, and generator runtime. When he actually saw that two of our medications were expiring in 60 days and we had no idea — something clicked. It went from a disagreement about doomsday to solving a practical math problem together.
On community — your nursing skills are genuinely your biggest asset. People will come to you. Don't advertise your food preps but absolutely let neighbors know you're a nurse. That introduction builds the tribe naturally.
The pool is actually an underrated asset. Non-potable water for sanitation covers a huge need in any grid-down scenario — toilets, washing, fire suppression. You don't need to drink it.
Miserable_Ask3975@reddit
Buy a rain barrel and some filters. I’m assuming you live in the US, go to a basic pistol class and an advanced pistol class. Test out a few handgun rentals at a range pick the one that feels best for you, get a spare mag or two, and 2-3 boxes of ammo, there’s at least some aspect of security.
Small yard? No problem you can still garden unless there’s a specific reason why a garden would take up too much space.
fedfuzz1970@reddit
Intentional Communitises. ic.org
Perioqueen@reddit
I did buy a water bladder that you fill into the tub. I believe it holds 60gallons: also, we got a rain barrel and water purification tablets and straws
juniper949@reddit
I live in a city where I don’t have space to save a ton of water. This is what I do. We would have a bit of time to fill up the bladders and there are 2 bathtubs in my apartment so I have 2 bladders that would be in each tub. Then I keep about a case ahead of a few gallons of distilled water that we use for CPAP and carnivorous plant watering - so they rotate and stay fresh but would work to drink if needed. Finally, I have a tool that allows me to open the water valves on fire hydrants.
Salt_Medicine2459@reddit
How come the carnivorous plants specifically need distilled water versus just tap water?
Also, I don't use water with my CPAP. I wake up, dried out either way, so I didn't see the point in the unnecessary expense.
juniper949@reddit
Carnivorous plants get minerals from the bugs they eat and high mineral (hard) water is too much for them
juniper949@reddit
CPAP is for my husband but he thinks the water helps him and prefers distilled water He’s also pretty meh about prepping so if there’s something that he is on board with and I can incorporate into extra water around in a way that rotates it as well, I’m not going to argue.
boggs002@reddit
Distilled water is what you should use in a cpap. No build up and stuff lasts longer. That’s why boilers now use distilled water. It is however not a good idea to drink long term. You need the minerals from the water as well
Also, if you live in the suburbs. Food water and shelter. But without protection somebody with a weapon that has none of those will take yours. Careful who you let know of your stash. They may see you as over cautious crazy today. But when your dear neighbors family is hungry enough. He’ll take yours by any means necessary.
Get a rifle or shotgun or very least a pistol. Learn it, be safe with it. Practice with it enough to know how to use it. Keep ya a stash of rounds for it.
farmerben02@reddit
If you don't burn through the whole reservoir you can just use regular water. It works by heat which creates steam. Which is what distilled water is when it cools down. The machine makes distilled water.
If you burn through a whole reservoir you may have a leak or be in a dry environment.
Salt_Medicine2459@reddit
I don't use the entire thing. There's still water there, and I'm dry af. I was told not to use tap water because of mineral buildup and amoebas.
farmerben02@reddit
Yeah. It's fine if you change it daily. You get mineral buildup if you run it dry. But those plastic reservoirs are replaceable, too.
Bacterial growth, if you run the tap for two minutes, or if the water is less than a week old, there won't be enough to replicate overnight.
TrilliumHill@reddit
Not sure if it matters what kind of minerals, but I started using hot tap water and mine stays cleaner now for a lot longer.
Salt_Medicine2459@reddit
Amoebas are not bacteria. They are protozoan. They sometimes even eat other protozoan.
Aggravating_Act0417@reddit
😬
Feral_668@reddit
It doesn't take long to lose pressure in the city/county water supply as everyone will have their sprinklers and other automatic depletion devices still running, not to mention the advent of data centers. That said, find out where there is a well near you, and write it down on a paper map in case you need it. I was literally walking my GF through how to trap water condensation using a tarp, a hole and a rock in the center. If crap hits the fan you need to know how to live live the settlers and learn survival techniques for your area. Knowing how to collect rain water in the desert is little help but there are ways to eek out just enough to get by until you get to that old windmill well the farm has to get water to his sheep or something similar.
juniper949@reddit
Sure it won’t work long term. But city living long term without heat, water, electricity for elevators, etc isn’t sustainable anyway. I’ve been through a blackout and a hurricane in high rise w water outages lasting for days and I was able to fill a bath tub both times. These are short term solutions. I can have 3 month or a year but a week or two I can have and then if the issue is long term I’ll have to get out.
Feral_668@reddit
I agree wholeheartedly, like I was trying to explain (poorly) you'd have to go somewhere rural with a well but figure it out in advance. You can get stackable water cubes and use baby wipes to clean yourself. You can get a collapsible wagon (beach wagon) to carry your gear, get a block and tackle to lower your gear to the streets and climbing gear ro lower yourself.
Capt_Gremerica@reddit
Curious how you get the water out of the bladder?
Haunting_Chip_6044@reddit
It comes with a pump
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
You take the “neck” off the faucet and lower it and water will drain. You’ll have to keep pushing the water down to drain and eventually you’ll be able to pull parts of it up to help drain it out.
Capt_Gremerica@reddit
Thanks!
No_Piccolo6337@reddit
Same. I had a 500-gallon rainwater tank installed and I have a ton of life straws, a Berkey system, tablets, and some other filtration stuff.
Charming-Gene-7291@reddit
I have 3 bathtubs, 3 bladders
rstevenb61@reddit
Bathtub Bob
alriclofgar@reddit
Step one is talking to your neighbors and seeing who wants to be friends. This doesn’t have to be a prep-focused friendship, just get to know each other and if someone reciprocates make an effort to be a little more involved in each other’s lives.
Let them know you’re a nurse, offer to help if anyone gets any scrapes of bruises.
Let your new friends know you enjoy canning. Give them some jam. Chat about groceries being expensive and commiserate about how uncertain the future is. Listen to how they respond.
Listen to what your neighbors need. If you can help, offer. Pay attention to who reciprocates. Invest in those relationships.
Critical_Duck8154@reddit
This is the way. I'd give you an award if I could. Take my upvote at least.
winston_smith1977@reddit
Upvoted because the word 'listen' showed up twice in this comment.
Eredani@reddit
Most of us are going to be involuntary teammates with the people near us. Some of them may be prepared, skilled, fit, or trustworthy... many will not.
sgtPresto@reddit
I suggest having your husband read 'One Second After'. You need alliances so I would start at home. My favorite story are the Einsteins who realized early that something was changing in Germany. Albert Einstein recognized the rise of German antisemitism EARLY, noticing it as early as 1922 following the murder of a Jewish colleague. He expressed growing fear, calling Hitlerism "contagious," and frequently lived in hiding before officially renouncing his German citizenship in 1933, moving to the United States and never returning. 6 million of his peers didn't see it early or ignored the signs. They perished in death camps. I suggest you approach some neighbors. Ask them 'with everything going on today' have you given any thought to what you would do if something bad happened?' Listen to their response. I did this with my neighbors (rural setting) and found one family would head to their parents while two other families would stay and rough it out. I told them we would stay. Perhaps we could help each other if something happened. I furnished each with a set of walkie talkies preset to a frequency and transmission times to use. But I also counted them in on my preps (didnt tell them). This can Segway into other discussions like security etc. Don't try to solo--safety in numbers.
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
I like this
ft1103@reddit
I got the 10 pack of water bricks. It is enough to put us just shy of the FEMA recommended 2 gallons per person per day at 7 days. We have another couple gallons in our reverse osmosis tank and we can squeeze a few more out of the pipes even when the power is out.
My plan is to get a couple of those camping shower bags and a zero water filter so we can have hot showers and good drinking water without power to our well pump.
I think you can save some money with used food safe buckets and barrels vs water bricks.
It might be worth exploring a similar setup that fits your circumstances.
Cabbage_patch5@reddit
Store at least a few gallons of bottled water if that’s all you can do.
I re-use 1 gallon containers from tea or juice (they are thicker than the average water bottle).
This water storage came in handy one day when the water pipe down the road had a leak and we suddenly had no water coming out of the tap for the rest of the afternoon and overnight (they had fixed it by morning the next day).
My family member who had previously shaken their head about my water storage was suddenly on board with it.
jadedonreality@reddit
Just a note that I read once (don’t remember but likely from a University Extension) that we should not store water in old juice containers because the sugars don’t bleach out and pathogens can grow in it. But soda bottles are okay.
Cabbage_patch5@reddit
I didn’t know that, thank you!
Hezmor@reddit
Do you put bleach in those water containers to keep it safe?
mommaquilter-ab@reddit
This is for you, but also for anyone else that might need some help. Kris from City Prepping is a good YouTube resource. He is doing a course on Suburban Prepper's Homestead. I think I might sign up for it this time. His most recent video gave some very good tips to get started. First thing I would recommend is getting to know your neighbours and what they might bring to the table. You'd be surprised at the diversity in just your local area. You are a nurse - maybe you have a carpenter two doors down, or a plumber across the back alley.
Second step is get experimenting with different types of cuisine. Figure out what you like, and what you don't. No point stocking up on rice and beans if you don't like them. Look to ethnic varieties specifically. They have been cooking on the cheap for generations, so they know what they are doing.
The price of food is going to go up and stay that way for a long time. The Strait of Hormuz is not only affecting gas and oil prices, but it is a major distribution area for fertilizer. Cost of diesel to run farm equipment will mean it costs more to plant and harvest. No fertilizer means crops are diminished. Crops are diminished, food prices go up. Farmers need the fertilizer at the beginning of planting season. It does no good at harvest time. There will be more demand for less product, and poorer quality to boot. More demand means higher prices.
Third step - N.American yards are designed for grass and gatherings. We need to revisit that and start engineering them towards Victory Gardens again. Even though you have a small yard, look at container gardening. A small area can generate a lot of product. Every little bit counts. Heck, I grow a years worth of just the herbs we use regularly in a 2'x5' raised bed. I dry them at the end of the season, and keep them for the year in mason jars. We planted raspberries two years ago, and had a bumper crop last July to the point I froze some for smoothies.
Fourth step - Learn how to preserve things like mustard. Yes, you can buy it, but if you can make enough for an entire community for the cost of one jar, why not? Making jam from the fruit that is in season that's super cheap is less expensive than buying it from a store. Make sure you know how to make basic food like broth, and carrot top pesto. Brush up on your canning knowledge if you haven't done any recently. Offer to teach in exchange for help setting up your container garden. If you like Chili, can your own beans for pennies on the dollar. Why spend $1. on a can of beans you can make for $0.25? Every penny counts nowadays, even more so in the very near future.
karmadgma@reddit
I like Kris for his realism with calm demeanor, but lately I'm like, bro, it might actually be time to panic 😅 I don't know if you're supposed to sound reasonable and calm when we're talking about global war with nuclear capabilities.
For real though, second the rec for City Prepping and echo the Victory Garden advice, at least folks who don't have HOAs to worry about.
twentytwothumbs@reddit
There should be 40 gallons in your hot water tank
PUNd_it@reddit
Take walks, hang out in the yard, and make nice with neighbors so that they trade with you instead of isolating until desperate enough to rob you. Make your face familiar, but not your preps
sierra066@reddit
💯. Put the vibe out
Hezmor@reddit
This is one of the main issues I worry about. People are very antisocial where I live, to the point of being rude. I only talk to a couple of my neighbors, but I don't trust any of them. If shtf, I'll be more concerned about defending myself/family/pets, home and supplies, as opposed to trying to work with neighbors. I don't doubt for a second that at some point, many of them would go house to house robbing everyone else blind. We're stronger together, so I would love to work with my neighbors in various ways, but I can tell they will only care about themselves when it matters. I've tried forging relationships, but some of my neighbors don't speak English, so that makes it much harder, and people move in and out of our little community so frequently that I've basically given up. Throughout my life I've come to realize that when times are tough, the only person you can ever really count on is yourself. If you're friendly with your neighbors, that's excellent, but don't count on it staying friendly once shtf, because extreme situations have a way of changing people. Don't ever let people know how much stuff you have stocked up, because that can make you a target.
Ladydoodoo@reddit
First and foremost, start thinking about yourself and save yourself. Ana Spanakopita's, “...there are some people you can't save. 'Cause those people will thrash and struggle, and try to take you down with them”.
FordExploreHer1977@reddit
Upvoting this. You can prep until your arms fall off, but someone who is an anchor is easily going to defeat the whole purpose. I’m Convinced that if I had the time and money to build an underground bunker and stock it with everything we’d need for decades, my wife would burn through all the drinking water trying to take a single shower, create enough trash in the first few days to overflow the bunker, and likely throw out foods like, I don’t know, sea salt because the container has an expiration label on it that said it expires tomorrow. I live here and would prep to keeps us both alive, but she would just bury us alive in our underground tomb and burn through our resources before a state of emergency was even declared, lol.
momalisk@reddit
Maybe talk to her about this concern?
FordExploreHer1977@reddit
lol, it’s really not a real world issue. I don’t have a bunker to worry about sealing ourselves into. We are too old to participate in the repopulation of the Earth, so outside of normal natural events as far as disasters, I’m pretty sure I’d rather the first wave of nuclear strikes taking us both out and being done with it. For the natural disaster event, we are on a well, have a whole house generator on propane, have tons of bottled water, and a freezer full of food to last us a few months disconnected from society if we ration our supplies and energy. It’s just the imaginary bunker living that would pose issues, but that isn’t a problem since it’s imaginary, lol. We are just complete opposites. I have more a survivor mentality where she is more a consumer mentality. I could survive in the woods where she couldn’t handle camping at an RV park for an evening.
Hezmor@reddit
I understand that. It's difficult living with someone when you're so different, regardless the type of relationship. My mom and I are roommates since we're both single and can't afford to live alone. I've lived long periods of time in the woods in tents, sleeping in different vehicles, and at times I didn't have any shelter at all. It sucked, but I made out alright. I couldn't even get my mom to sleep overnight in a tent with me in our backyard. She kept complaining the ground was hard and hurt her back (despite giving her an air mattress and thick foam mat). Then she was cold, even though it was 60° and she had plenty of blankets. She made me keep a lantern on as a nightlight, which I told her is not realistic in survival situations. And then the final straw... She saw a tiny spider crawling on the ceiling and freaked out. The light from the lantern cast a shadow making it look much bigger. She started screaming and wildly flailing around and fell out of the tent, ripping the zipper. She ruined the tent, which was brand new. I was so pissed. That was almost 10 years ago and I still don't let her live it down, because she talks about her meager bugout supplies as if she's ready to live in the woods. She truly has no idea how hard it is and how bad things can get, but in her mind it'll be a fun time being one with nature. 🤦♀️
Civil_Cantaloupe2402@reddit
Do you like her?
Ladydoodoo@reddit
Hahahah exactly
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Hahahahha 😂
Bmat70@reddit
My husband is derisive of what prepping I have done. I only prep for Tuesday. He doesn’t think about during Covid when I was the one struggling to get cleaning and paper supplies. But he is glad when he runs out of something and I go to the closet or basement and hand him a replacement.
bigdawg12342@reddit
Assuming you really meant you have NO other supplies besides food. If you don’t have guns all you’re doing is collecting supplies do the guy on the street who does have guns.
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
I have one 5 shooter. Honestly I’m prepping for a natural weather disaster or short term supply chain issue. I over prepped dry goods to help family if needed. If it gets worse than that, roving gangs and violence with weapons, I have accumulated a medical escape. Every nurse knows how.
bigdawg12342@reddit
I hope your as accurate as John wick with only a revolver lol. If there’s anything the disasters has taught me it’s no one’s safe from being looted and I guess you better hope the group who finds you if something happens just so happens to care/think far enough ahead to realize they need a nurse. If not you supplies are leaving with them and you’re…not
Hot_Championship_519@reddit
My husband is doing the same to me, so I’m quietly preparing what I need for myself and my dog, and he’ll figure it out when it’s too late.
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
lol. He knows I’m doing it, doesn’t mind the money spent, but I think he would draw the line at rain barrels and I believe , ridiculously, our HOA won’t allow them. However, my sister lives in an old community and I’m going to discuss this with her. She is 77 but has mechanical skills and thinks like an engineer. She’s a master gardener. I’m going to get her involved in prepping and she will be part of my community. She’s the type that knows how to find others. I’m an introvert. And she can sh00t.
Hot_Championship_519@reddit
💯 that’s exactly the right move! Start building your community now.
JandersOf86@reddit
Its a good question, and important to think about. I can only obviously give me own feelings on the matter but, in regards to wanting a tribe or community that takes care of each other, I do think there are many people who want the same thing. But, if I'm being honest (being a husband and a father to a daughter), I would take the position of being wary of literally everyone I met until they've proven to me that they can be trusted around my wife, my daughter, my home, my supplies, etc., because ultimately those two women in my life are the two most important, and I will prioritize them above every other human I meet, regardless of what had been proven or not proven. It doesnt mean I wouldn't help them to a certain extent.
For instance, being a father, I know it would be very difficult for me to turn away a scared / grieving mother or father with children and no resources to survive. But my help would be such that it would still keep a distance between these people and the ones I love.
My suggestion for pre-SHTF, start reaching out to communities that specialize in things like gardening, self-sustainability, even car maintenance, etc., to start building relationships with those kinds of people. Maybe check out swap meets, farmers markets, etc. Post-SHTF, you make your position known but play it defensively. The thing is, most of us in the West have no idea what its like to be starving, to watch our children starve, and I think, just like the shock and trauma of war, assault, violence, these times of starvation will bring out sides of people they didnt even know was there.
Maybe start a simple newsletter that you curate on your own, maybe release it onto a simple website, print off some copies to share with people you meet who may have the same interests. Setup an email account specifically for making contacts related to this venture.
Just some ideas. I hope this helps.
Hobobo2024@reddit
I tried to find people through Facebook groups and meetup. although there was a group for prepping in Oregon, I didn't really find it all that helpful but maybe in your area. since you plan to stay put, it really has to be your neighbors anyway unless you want a bunch of people moving into your home.
SpeciousSophist@reddit
50 people for a year, by yourself with as minimalist space commitment poasible.... you're looking at pallets of dried beans, rice, tuna fish cans, vitamin supplements etc. Not gonna be satisfying but you can get the whole needed mix pretty easily and cheaply.
but really, this is why everybody’s supposed to stock food for themselves and their immediate house members
My two year supply takes up most of a walk-in closet, a large chest freezer, and then my normal pantries and refrigerator. We’re gonna eat well for sure in the apocalypse but increasing this by 10x plus support infra would be literally a small house on its own.
iambecomesoil@reddit
A small house for 50 people to have as infrastructure could be $1k down each and $20-30 a month ongoing cost.
SpeciousSophist@reddit
I'm talking about storage for just the food
iambecomesoil@reddit
As am I. It doesn't change the cost.
SpeciousSophist@reddit
Storage infrastructure and habitation are not going to cost the same amount
iambecomesoil@reddit
We're only talking about storage infrastructure in the form of a house and the potential cost sharing between 50 individuals.
Hobobo2024@reddit
that's not bad. interesting. thanks for that perspective.
Hobobo2024@reddit
oh no. I can't afford nor do I have the space to stock up enough supplies for 50 people for a year. And I have the same problem as the OP, no way in hell I'd be able to convince my sisters neighbors to stock up for a year. 1 to 3 months is the more likely scenario if I can even get them to do that. I actually told my sister we need to buy a place in a rural area (she has the money, I dont) but she doesn't want to go crazy with the spending.
What i mean is thst I'm trying to figure out a way to very quickly (in 3 months since that's how much food I'd assume they'd actual stock) start from scratch and in 3 months, have a system that can sustain 50 people. Like right now, I'm looking into black soldier fly larvae. Lots of fat and protein. they Can hatch within 15 days and each fly can produce like 200 larvae so the numbers can grow quickly under the right conditions. I read they can live on manure alone so that coupled with rotting dead bodies, perhaps I can get the neighbors to set up something with me that can keep them growing. I posted here earlier about it though for some reason the mods took my post down. People said you need to feed them better quality food scraps instead so disease is less likely to spread but in such desperate times, I do wonder if it is still viable as they are fairly disease resistant and we could control who's manure they would get. I don't know if this is viable and there was a lot of negativity before my post was taken down but I'm still researching it cause there frankly aren't that many options in such desperate times.
I'd have potatoes ready to grow too but people need fat and protein and potatoes don't cut it even if they are higher calorie and fast to grow. Beans are good for protein but not fat. Seeds and nuts are good for fat but for various reasons, I'm not sure the neighbors can grow them fast enough to support thenselves nor will we for sure hit the right season for growing. Wed only have about 3 months before everyone elses foood runs out so we need a system that can be set up and producing food quickly before everyone dies of hunger. Once they run out of food in a burb, for sure theyd come and sttack my family and steal our food.
SpeciousSophist@reddit
that’s an interesting thought process
I personally don’t think there’s gonna be a lot of possibility to spin up a food supply chain for 50 people in less than 90 days
A small amount of well managed and selected chickens could probably be grown to a sizeable flock fairly quickly but anything plant based is not going to work and you'll have no margin for error
Hobobo2024@reddit
hey i thought Id share with you this quote from the US army's official survival guide:
"The most abundant and easily caught life-form on earth are insects. Many insects provide 65 to 80 percent protein compared to 20 percent for beef. This fact makes insects an important, if not overly appetizing, food source."
I don't think we should dismiss insects in shtf scenarios even if they seem disgusting to eat.
Hobobo2024@reddit
yes I agree plant based alone is not doable. HOAs in suburbs and cities including my sisters area usually do not allow live chickens so there's no way we could get our hands on live chickens. Add that to the fact that they just don't breed fast enough per what the other guy said below.
what creatures (since plants alone will not be enough) we suburb/urban folks can easily get our hands on to eat are insects and bugs like crickets, cocroaches, flies, snails, rodents/birds, and humans. if anyone has any better ideas than the black soldier fly for my use, I'd love to hear it.
I'm going to research it more to see if it's at all feasible. We actually have a black soldier fly farm within 2 hours from my sisters. And there is a community farm looking for volunteers in my area that AI told me uses black soldier flies. If they actually do, I may volunteer for a bit to learn more.
tankton@reddit
It takes roughly 6 months to get egg laying hens from eggs.
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Adorable_Dust3799@reddit
Mine was the same, except i also did financial prep on my own, at my own bank with my own accounts. When his employer restructured and i was able to cover everything until he got another job he shut up. That's a whole complted subject to do on a tight budget tho.
For water, would be bitch about rainbarrels if it's presented as better for plants instead of a prep? After putting barrels on all my gutters i got an ibc tote for the corner of the yard and filled in through hoses on the barrels via gravity feed. It's not the best option for potable water but it'll flush toilets, and wash both you and dishes. Use a spray bottle of potable on the eating surfaces of dishes for a final rinse. Ifb they're dried completely the backside of dishes don't need a potable rinse.
For drinking water hide it in plain sight. Household filter jugs. Epic nano and lifestraw both make large dispensers that filter out biologicals. Epic has a regular filter in addition to the nano, so you could use a regular filter and swap it for the nano in an emergency. I buy filters one at a time. Both filters will work on the dispenser. I'm really picky about taste, so my setup is in a cubby, i have both a TDS for taste and an Epic and run one into the other, so i always have 5 gallons ready to drink. Next I'll get a basic britta as a pre-filter for another 2 gallons and so the expensive filters last longer. Rainwater run through that setup should be fine to drink and he'll never know it's a prep.
Spare propane tanks for his bbq shouldn't get too much kickback, and can be used for a little buddy heater with the right hose and filter.
SynthWaveNomad@reddit
As someone that's lived in the same neighborhood for several big hurricanes, prolonged blackouts, and the Texas freeze, it takes time really.
It takes time to get to know your neighbors and figure out who are good people. But the same with them, takes them time to get to know you as well.
But I think there are a lot of things you can do to build up goodwill with them, and for them to trust you and you to trust them. Be out and about so they see you and they see you. Always be kind and say hello. This is usually a quick way to tell if someone is social and if they're nice. When something happens doesn't have to be a SHTF scenario or some disaster offer to help. I always send my sons to help certain elderly neighbors when they have any heavy lifting to do and to move their trash cans back once the trash has been collected. I've loaned tons, my lawn mower, and my physical help to neighbors. When going through a longterm blackout, I've helped fixed things for them, shared simple stuff like extra electrical cords, a can of gas, and we've made food and sent plates out.
Not everyone can reciprocate equally. But if it's elderly neighbors that can't match with helping hands, it's nice knowing you've got people watching your home and they're a safe place for you and your kids to stay if need be.
But yeah, spread goodwill, and saying hello even if it's just a hand wave, is a great way to seed goodwill. Then when something happens they won't be afraid to approach you during a diaster to either offer their help or ask for. During the Texas Freeze and the aftermath of Beryl we had nightly street meetings with all the neighbors on the street. We shared intel, just checking in with each other, asking if anyone needed anything, etc. Once the power came back on and things went back to normal, we all resumed our hectic lifestyles :). But we all know we can count on each other.
Art3misGr1mm@reddit
I love this, that's very accurate. I've been trying to do better with that but the whole small town thing with gossip and drama keeps me hesitant to get too close to people unfortunately. I'm Adhd, have two small children, not much money and chronic pain so helping where I can feels scarce sadly.
SynthWaveNomad@reddit
Thanks, yeah living in a small town, you can't avoid how fast gossip travels. I used to live in a small town and talking about everyone, not necessarily in a bad or gossipy way, is one of the things people do because there isn't a lot to do and you see each other every where all the time. But there's also pros to it. Like everyone knowing who lives there and immediately noticing new people in town or when someone living there changes something with themselves or in the town. Plus, everyone "rallies around the flag" when something negatively affects the town".
Horror_Pitch_63@reddit
Are you friends with your neighbors? Do you have community BBQs and stuff on your road?
Make your own tribe with your neighbors. Make it less about politics and more natural disasters and stuff. If a tree falls and blocks the road, does one of your neighbors have a big enough chainsaw to cut it up? Things like that
Newfoundfaith36@reddit
You should look into intentional communities there's a subway for that. You can also look into them on ic.org there are thousands of them. Those are pretty much the only communities left in this country. Everyone else is a hardcore individualist who's all about "f*** you got mine". Also just need to point out that without a firearm to protect yourself you're just gathering food for whoever takes it from you.
Mysterious_Touch_454@reddit
Facebook is good place for elderly people to get n contact and if you find a like minded prepper not too far, you might make them as an emergency contact where to go if have to evacuate.
You should anyways have some location where to meet/ gather if you cant go home anymore.
Select-Efficiency559@reddit
Get to know your neighbors. Get involved in a CERT program. Tell him you need five day’s of water in case of a storm where the sewers back up and there’s no water supply. Store some alcohol - you can drink it when water is polluted, you can trade it, and he won’t be bothered bynit, I imagine. You can also throw a party and “oops, bought too much alcohol.”
And really, get to know your neighbors.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
If you are low on water supplies, consider a WaterBOB (available on Amazon, etc) for each bathtub. Capable of holding approximately 100 gallons each & has a built-in pump. If an dire emergency, quickly fill the WaterBOBs for drinking (potable) water.
If you have access to 2-liter soda bottles; rinse them out, fill with water & add 10 drops of unscented bleach. Screw the cap on tightly. Place the bottles in normally unused spaces, such as the black hole at the back of kitchen cabinets. Normally there is unused space for 2 liter bottles stored 2 to 3 layers deep. Same goes for laundry hampers, coat closets, etc.
The water in the 2-liters can also be used to fill the cistern of of toilets for flushing, for sponge baths, cooking, etc.
Water concerns aside, your medical knowledge & experience would be MUCH more valuable to a community of survivors than the supplies you would consume.
For example; I am very well prepared at my rural BOL & if SHTF not looking for new additions for many reasons...but an exception could & likely would be made for those with certain specialized skillsets...advanced medical being one. If not needed for us at the present time, then for the greater local community.
Sean_Mason3313@reddit
Speak with your neighbors (casually) to determine who shares your mindset and who else may be prepping. Assess what skills and resources they have, along with their burden (how many people and pets are in their household). Try to establish a local network of trustworthy, reliable people and diversify what you're stocking amongst yourselves so that each of you has reasonable self-sufficiency but also a speciality stockpile (medical, water, food, ammunition, and technical materials/training to support power, fire, and comms). All of these may not be available, so you'll need to prioritize what's essential and accessible.
As you're assessing your community, don't disclose what you're prepping and how much you've stockpiled until you solidify your network, as in a SHTF scenario, those with resources are the first targets.
Lastly, don't completely outsource your protection. Develop basic proficiency with a handgun/shotgun and stockpile a couple hundred rounds of the required ammo.
smellswhenwet@reddit
That’s pretty much how I started with my neighbors
wistful_cottage_core@reddit
It can be hard, especially as a woman. There are unfortunately a lot of crazy types that get attracted by this as a "hobby". I can usually spot those guys because they focus on combat related subjects but can't work a pressure cooker. That kind of thing.
I've found more like minded people by focusing on people that are making lifestyle changes. Canners, gardeners, ranchers, homesteaders, soap or candle makers, etc.. I've found many good friends that way, some of whom were already preppers (though they might not always use that term). You want to find people that are already developing practical skills and mindsets (like yourself).
The benefits are enormous! I get tons of free produce every year from my other gardening friends and we buy our beef from another person for a better price/quality than store bought. We also recently had someone come out and help us cut down a storm damaged tree in exchange for some food preps. Not to mention the knowledge sharing we do throughout the year. That kind of community is hard to come by when just looking at preppers alone as many of them tend to be focused on the uncertain future vs practical skills you can learn today.
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Thanks that is sound advice
nospecificanybody@reddit
You are rocking it! You have supplies, skills, know how, and some good tips here, but perhaps need water and community. Sounds like what is between you and water storage is communication and marriage advice that I don't happen to have. But community can be found and made all around. In addition to getting to know your neighbors, there are homesteading and charity/mutual aid classes and volunteer opportunities. Master gardener, mater food preserver classes and volunteering would likely have some folks with interests in common, and who also have skills to share. Food banks, and mutual aid groups (many of which are appropriately focused on migrant communities right now), would also like put you in contact with folks interested in helping others get through hard times. Or you could go directly to folks specifically interested in disasters specifically and take a CERT class or look to volunteering with the Red Cross. I bet either group would be excited to welcome a skilled nurse. Life is hard, and disasters make it harder. But it's better not feeling like you have to go through it alone.
Nanny_Ogg1000@reddit
While your precautions make sense to you, from an empirical risk assessment perspective on an American urban or suburban environment, he has real world probabilities on his side far more than you do. While an infrastructure and societal collapse is possible from an empirical point of view , it is incredibly improbable. This doesn't mean that he's absolutely right, and you're wrong, but it does mean that from a real world probability perspective, his analysis of the relative risk makes a lot more sense about what will actually happen than yours does.
You need to think hard about judging him for simply being realistic and think hard about how he might judge you for putting a lot of energy into preparing for a scenario that has an a very minute chance actually occurring. It's like judging him for not supporting your desire to be a Wiccan.
Key-Star1623@reddit
Do what you have to but it’s a shitty hobby
JRHLowdown3@reddit
It unfortunately works both ways and I've seen so many "men" that are hamstrung by their wives not getting it. It sucks to see their potential but how it's sapped.
I'm given this advice in talks at Preparedness shows over the years- going to modify it a bit for a woman's perspective-
Tell him you love him more than anything. As such, you don't want to see him suffer and would like to do this with or without him. You'd like him to be involved (even lead) but you feel strongly about this and will do this out of love one way or another.
In the men's version of this, there is the messaging about the man/father's responsibility to the family as provider and protector, etc. along with the I'm going to do this with or without your help out of love for you and the family, etc. etc.
One thing to caution about- be honest with him about it, the going behind the back thing never works out. There is always the fantasy of "well he doesn't know about the $2K I've spent on food but he will "thank me" when he's hungry..." What usually happens is the other spouse is pissed when they find out... That part goes both ways also.
Mule_Wagon_777@reddit
Search your local social media for clubs about gardening, foraging, repairs, sewing, etc. Participating in those hooks you up with folks who like to do things and have skills. Search for makerspaces.
Get the hubby involved with home repairs and organization; just don't mention that it's a good basis for bugging in. My favorite prep book is Survive and Thrive by Fulton and Devon. It has checklists for getting your house in order, but they're also good maintenance routines.
Mule_Wagon_777@reddit
That pool is a nice water storage! Quietly accumulate some filters and Aquatabs or powdered bleach in back of a cabinet. Arrange a few bricks or concrete blocks in your garden that can be repurposed to hold a pot and boil water over a fire of gathered sticks. Or if you have a grill, stack up some bags of charcoal that you got "on sale" to have ready for cooking and boiling water.
If you like gardening, develop an interest in pure rainwater for your plants and install a rain barrel or two. Whatever drinking water source you use: boil it, filter it, then add chemical purifiers if available.
Also look if you have hidden nooks like the back of a closet or under the guestroom bed where you can stick cases of bottled water. It's pure and commercially sealed, and storing it in the dark keeps the plastic from breaking down.
nakedonmygoat@reddit
Does your neighborhood not have a civic association of some kind? I thought most did. Every spring, mine starts talking about hurricane prep.
If there are knowable events that happen where you live, that's a good topic to bring up at the seasonally appropriate time. You can start with something like, "Have we ever put out a newsletter about prep? Newcomers to the neighborhood might not be familiar with what to do." Offer to get the ball rolling, maybe head up a committee. Get ideas from people in the room and get a conversation going.
Selling people on preparing for Tuesday is easy, they often just need a little nudge. So be that friendly little nudge. As you get to know people better, you may find that some are already way ahead of you, or they've prepped things you haven't thought about, and vice versa. If you're hoping to get people to prep for longer-term events, that's going to be harder. But an audience that already is in a Tuesday prepper mindset will often be open to new ideas on how to make those Tuesday preps even better.
Art3misGr1mm@reddit
I've never heard of that tbh. My community might have something similar, I've noticed despite being in a very red rural area that the people in my very local community have started a Facebook group and basically working together to combat the rising electric gas and water prices which makes me very happy to see.
Art3misGr1mm@reddit
I'm happy you asked this, it has been at the back of my mind recently with all the insanity going on in the world. I thankfully have a decent super system but I am trying to figure out what steps to take ahead of time to gain more community despite being an introverted ADHD person. I live in a red rural area in western NY, I find it hard to relate to people around here but I do have multiple open minded friends I'm very grateful for, as well as family but they are states away unfortunately.
East-Selection1144@reddit
Any of your neighbors do vegetable gardens? Those are the more likely to end up being secret preppers
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
None. But ding ding !! near my sister, who lives 30 mins away, has many Ukraine and Czech neighbors-they have gardens. She is a Widow. I plan on instituting the rain barrels at her place, and canning with her. She was a master gardener in Florida so she has that knowledge but is much older so I’ll be doing the heavy work. Spouse will have no idea but all this made me realize I do have one other person who will let me load up her house with canned goods, and she has a very good yard that faces east west for gardening. Also she likes pew pew and has some. I totally forgot about using her place as a secret storage that spouse won’t “mock”. She won’t care she likes me 😂
DelcoPAMan@reddit
Good!
Powerful-Rip-3512@reddit
believe me when SHTF you´ll meet like minded people. That being said yesterday is the best time to prepare and today is the second best. I´d go to church or join some community based helping organization if I were you.
Calling yourself a ¨prepper¨ has political undertones than some people don´t want to deal with if you´re already a volunteer like with the Red Cross everyone respects that.
Good Luck.
mr-pootytang@reddit
learn the secret handshake
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
lol
Hobobo2024@reddit
In my sisters area, her city offers free claases in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Theynalso hope some of those class takers offer to become neighborhood emergency leaders. You can see if your city/county offer something similar and be a volunteer leader if they have those too.
You'll likely meet like minded people in those classes as well as give you an excuse to preach emergency safety to your neighbors. They'll at least appreciated the fire and earthquake tips you give them so might not be as opposed to the long term supplies idea.
oblakovshtanah@reddit
this is not shtf-specific advice but more on finding a community in general. are there any local group initiatives in your town? hobby clubs, women‘s choir, hikers group, tabletop game night, bar trivia, local bunch of dog owners, it can be anything. if they organize any recurring events, show up there. you don’t need be super active or heavily invested in it, just keep showing up and making small talk so people remember you and gradually register you as part of the group. if there’s a possibility to help in organizing their events, that’s even better: people remember who gets involved. it could be any type of help, from being the nurse at a local sports game to helping with chopping up snacks for the tabletop game evening. being an older woman helps, i think, as people trust them easier.
i doubt there is absolutely nothing like that where you live, i bet there is something! how to learn about the existence of those groups is a whole other question though. commenters already mentioned facebook groups, instagram and reddit mentions or profiles. look out for flyers or posters in the streets. when you get close enough with your neighbors for casual chats, ask them if they know of any groups like that.
it‘s hard work, i know. i moved to different countries for about 5 times throughout my life, and had to start over finding local friends again and again. it takes a while as you learn and invent new approaches so dont wait and start now. wishing you luck!
palisairuta@reddit
Water is important. You will die without that quicker than food. Even some sealed store bought kept out of sunlight is better than nothing.
BusWho@reddit
Find a way to store water... Get creative. Building a bed frame around/overtop of water storage is an idea but water is going to be needed alot more than food.
My suggestion to find like minded people was take up shooting, go to the range, get confident, make it a hobby, you will meet people in that space, take the courses they put on.
mikeegg1@reddit
LDS
Background-King9787@reddit
There was a post on twoxpreppers a few weeks ago focusing on community and cramming for the apocalypse is pretty community minded. I think reaching out to neighbours is step one
Kindly-Pumpkin7742@reddit
Definitely at the very least saying hi with a smile every time you see them lol. Builds positive relation with you.
DuncanHynes@reddit
Honestly my personal take is that as soon as others know you have XYandZ supplies [food, meds, equip, etc] they will just take it. You'd have to pre-establish some compound well ahead in an area away from cities or their reach. In a collapse of society which is razor thin to begin with, bad actors (armed gangs, loosely formed groups) will consume the good natured folks as yourself wiling to offer a collective re-start. Keep stocking up - this is purely my own opinion. Some areas could very well thrive but again, such places in all likelyhood will be rual.
rstevenb61@reddit
“If you have a secret, tell it not to a friend”…Benjamin Franklin. Meet your neighbors but keep your preps to yourself. Make sure your husband understands. Operations Security is a real thing. Buy a bucket so you can use the pool if you need to. If you do need to no permission will be required. Good luck.
mystery-pirate@reddit
Good point. I'd casually bring up the idea of being prepared for weather events and from that you can likely tell who is a prepper and not. Just keep that in the back of your mind.
mystery-pirate@reddit
as many have said, start getting to know your neighbors. Don't start off with prepping talk, and when you do broach the subject, I'd start off as preparing for something smaller like power outage, hurricane, ice storm, etc. not some doomsday SHTF event. Most people are warm to the idea of being prepared for a short term weather event. You will probably be able to tell from that if they would be up for taking it further.
Feral_668@reddit
Start a WW2 victory garden, grow some food and herbs in your yard, if it rains, then add rain barrels to your place with slow release hoses to water the garden. Qhen folks compliment your resourcefulness in setting up the garden, those are the people to talk about how they are extending their food resources given the current events....
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Excellent advice. I think what I most learned from this was to get involved with people learning new skills- Canning, more gardening, etc. I really haven’t thought about “ammo” - I grew up around pew pew and learned to shoot as a kid. Spouse hates them. I have a small 5 shooter I won at a women on target affair. I mean I hope to god to never need it. The rain barrel is a goal- and I’ve had some Amateur luck gardening and I maintain some aerogardens since we have a long winter and I like fresh lettuce and tomatoes and herbs. Shockingly spouse has not seen a need for a generator but I have my own money so that is a priority.
linniex@reddit
I asked about this once and got abused as well, but dammit if I didn’t learn something. Even if your neighbors are not your friends you still need to be somewhat civil. Sucks for me because I moved out to the most rural part of my large city, live on dirt roads and am right near the tidal creeks. Most of my neighbors are kin to one another. And some are downright rude/nasty/on drugs/beat their kids and wives type. Lately I just keep my opinions to myself, I even left a FB group for the 100 of us back here because it was only a matter of time before I told someone off. I just dont want any drama. Good luck. If you are in the SE dm me!
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Northeast
silasmoeckel@reddit
Tribes
Locally more and more neighbors prep. Each time we have another week long power outage somebody else gets a genset, solar with battery when the roof needs replacing. In between we throw over extension cord to keep the fridge going and throw blackout BBQ's. The little old lady down the street people feed and she keeps an eye on the kids. Rigging up a furnace to run off an extension cord middle of winter goes a long way. We know each others skills the RN across the way, a vet 3 houses down, welder, etc etc etc. That's how you get a neighborhood to prep together.
Our primary bug out is friends/family cabins, we are out there plenty of weekends even work from "home" in the summer. The kids play with cousins and friends, gardens are tended, canning, hunting your get the idea. We are good neighbors to the farmers around us (mostly Amish).
Iartdaily@reddit (OP)
Sounds wonderful
Anonymo123@reddit
Water Bob for your bathtub, 100 gallons for each if you have more then 1. Smaller water jugs can be stored in closets, single use (cheap) can be stacked in various places. Get the water jugs like you expect in an office water cooler with some sort of pump\stand. Water filters and "aquatabs" for multi layer filtering\cleaning.
Figure out a power source if you can afford it. Small solar for small things like phone\tablets\headlamps\battery chargers, generator if its appropriate.
As for a tribe, you will need to network locally and see who is on board and who is "the gov will handle it", like your spouse sounds like.
Get extra meds if you can, Jase medical or the like for prescription. Get extra over the counter stuff, handful of Bic Lighters, propane or charocal if you have a grill.
Keep prepping, your spouse will come around once you need those preps and you have them. Most people assume we are talking zombies or mushroom clouds and can't fathom stores being out or supply chains disrupted, so many forget the covid things.
TwiLuv@reddit
Is it against municipal rules to install rain-catcher barrels under your gutters or roofline? It is easier to filter & keep these barrels from being contaminated for drinking or gardening water than your pool, which eventually would develop algae in a power loss.
If you start a vegetable garden now, the rain-catcher barrels are pushed as a way to “save” on the water bill.
If backyard space is a problem, look at growing towers, & do your due diligence, I am not advocating any singular product, but here’s the idea: https://youtu.be/WTNz3Dqd6OE?si=5PNrKxcvSmq13U4e Burpee, the seed people have their own.
Can you build a fire-pit in the backyard, buy a campfire grate system, make sure you have appropriate campfire cookware, & stock split wood to fuel it? Sell it as an enjoyable backyard feature you both can enjoy during cool weather?
Is your neighborhood a dead end cul de sac, or one entrance-exit neighborhood, or is it easily accessible to all?
A Bug-In Guide will give you options, how & what to prepare NOW, so later is not too late*.*
I “prep for Tuesdays”, as we live in Florida, & have endured many hurricanes. I have used my canning pressure cooker to stock nonperishable foods, stocked the beans & rice, water, etcetera.
In a partnership where one is resistant, if you can sell it as being prepared for natural disasters like Hurricane Helene devastating Western NC, my 92 yr old mother had to be evacuated, do you think ANYONE predicted the loss of life, the Weeks of no electricity, & some people in the area were without WATER for 53 days!
Do you have tornados, floods, a nearby dam or refinery, are caustic, flammable chemicals shipped by rail near your town like East Palantine Ohio derailment?
Don’t sell it “The End of The World As We Know It”, present is as if SHTF natural disasters or what happened to store shelves during the Covid pandemic & lockdown.
Connect-Town-602@reddit
Any possibility of moving to a less populated area? Seems you are ahead of the curve with your preps and knowledge. Have you looked into supplemental energy? Solar panels and such? staying put is generally the best idea unless circumstances dictate otherwise. No doubt other here will offer good information.
loscorpio87@reddit
There for sure is power in numbers and i would imagine it makes everyone more calm. As far as your husband there's many people who have a hard time believing things could go south not sure why they think its impossible but i see it alot. But there is definitely people who are aware as well
alessaria@reddit
Recently a local store here had buy one 40 bottle slab of water get one free. Total cost for both was $4.99. It's amazing the mistakes us middle aged gals can make using these new fangled grocery ordering apps. I put in for 1, tried to change it to 2, and oops, I ended up with 12.
It's also possible to do the same with an Amazon subscription to bottled water that you keep forgetting to cancel. That's how we ended up building our water stockpile in the first place.
infinitum3d@reddit
Check out /r/TwoXPreppers for helpful advice.
Fitness and Knowledge are free, weightless, always with you and can’t be stolen from your bag.
Focus on getting healthy/strong. Walk. Climb stairs. Build endurance. Stretch. Eat right. Quit soda pop and choose water.
You’ve already made yourself valuable to a society by being a nurse. You’ve learned CPR, first aid, and basic life support. Maybe take a lifeguard course?
Learn what wild edibles you can forage. Every region has them. Get a local Field Guide to Wild Edibles and see what is near you.
Get a bike. If you have to travel, a bike is far easier and faster than walking. Learn how to maintain it and repair it when something breaks.
But to answer your specific question; get a partner, friend, buddy who has a skill you don’t. Then learn a skill that they don’t have. One person alone can’t do everything. Even just one person in your neighborhood, city, or area that you can trust and rely on gives you a serious advantage in a crisis.
Good luck! You got this!
-jspace-@reddit
You can get water purification tablets for short term. As far as community, look for your neighbors with food gardens. They're using the proper part of their brains already.
Any_Needleworker_273@reddit
My two cents: Sometimes I think we overthink this a bit. I am a bit younger, but it is just my husband and me. His parents are far away in another state, mine are long since passed, and we're both only children with very few family ties at this point, so for any emergency, we are an island of two, HOWEVER, despite moving to a rural community, where we were both outsiders and slightly left of the norm, we have made purposeful efforts to participate in our local community in meaningful ways. I donate to our local food pantry and offer assistance, and have made ties and connections at our local farmers market. My husband volunteers with our local fire department, and we "know people in the community."
We're mostly all friendly, even if not tight friends, but I think if there were true emergencies, there would be some level of connection/assistance vs. an every person for themselves. For example, when we were without water due to well issues, neighbors let us fill our water jugs, take showers, grab a shower, etc. In turn, we gifted food, plants, etc. for the help. And there's a lot of low key bartering which I find interesting and fun. And I think it's just about not being a jerk, lending a hand where you can, and just keeping on with keeping on. It was pretty much like this in our old community as well.
Sharp_Ad_9431@reddit
Join a group of people. Ham radios club. CERT groups. Community garden. Feeding the homeless (they already live in shtf reality) Some really Far left groups also.
You don't need fellow preppers necessarily. You need people that you can work with.
Sharp_Ad_9431@reddit
I'm a community person. I'm not arrogant enough to think I could survive the apocalypse on my own.
It's not going to be a movie, it's going to be a documentary and I'm gonna be a person way in the background.
Most likely scenarios are the same stuff on TV. Hurricanes, war, Riots.
Straight_Ace@reddit
I think I have a bit of a tribe, I have lots of family in the area but we’re pretty spread out. But if shit hits the fan we would come to aid each other. I also plan on helping others whenever I can. I don’t think there’s any way I could turn my back on others. I’m no nurse but I am pretty good at growing food
TheCarcissist@reddit
The casual preppers did an episode a few weeks ago about this topic and they had really good advice. Most people come at it way too aggressively. Start by prepping for Tuesday and build from there
Fluffy_Job7367@reddit
I keep my prepping on the down low. I do live where it rains a lot now. I figure I'd just channel rain into coolers and trash cans with tarps. Im also near a large pond and a forest. I guess it depends where you live.as I am aware water can be an issue . Keeping extra food is sensible.
MindYoSelfB@reddit
OP, we are kind of in the same boat as you. We live in apartment, and don’t know anyone around us interested. The two people we did know, have moved out of state. We mentioned years ago to the kids but they think we are old crazy people.
Casiarius@reddit
Definitely start by broadening your community contacts. Get to know more neighbors. Join a club, the more local the better. Join your local CERT. Once you have a community who know you're not a lunatic, then you can try out the crazy prepper talk. Look into a Map Your Neighborhood program to compared skills and resources with the neighbors and make a community plan.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I would recommend you check my post about preparing for a Power Outage. If you're prepared for an extended power outage, you're prepared for 80% of all SHTF situations.
Your skills as a Nurse make you valuable. I would focus on getting as many medical supplies that you can. If you can afford it, get some Antibiotics from a service like Jase Medical.
Having the skills and equipment for medical makes you very valuable to a lot of people. People will trade a lot of things to save family members.
DuncanHynes@reddit
I commented earlier. It wouldn't be unwise to have body armor. If things are nutter-butters and random lawlessness is the norm, catching one is far more possible as you roam about outside looking for loot drops or even minding your own beeswax. A level IIIa plate stops handgun rounds. Level III stops the most common rifle with SpecialThreat/III+ covering greentips and Level IV the big heavy hitters like 30-06. If you wish you can DM me for things in that regard. Dont forget a helmet. This is all worst case basically and just another aspect to consider. Meds will be a top priority as the overlooked vitamins, radiation detectors, tools, etc.
atleast35@reddit
I live in a cluster neighborhood in a metro area. Most of my neighbors around me are from Vietnam and I’ve seen them take a tiny yard that’s all grass to a micro farm. If you can do a rain barrel and a compost pile I’d start with that and then start looking for small cultivars of food plants, like a Little Figgy fig tree or a cherry that grows to bush size (can’t remember the name of that one). Maybe you could plant these at the edge of your yard. For me, Large planters do great for herbs but not vegetables, which seem to prefer being in the ground. We did a square foot garden years ago with good results.
GuardianAiGlobal@reddit
Your doing a great job and you’re already offering to share food and skills with other like minded people which is commendable. Be cautious in your search and try to build on existing relationships 1st and encourage and educate with the aim that if you and your friends/neighbours all did a little prep, that makes a whole lot of shared items and knowledge. If you feel alone in your prepping your are not, download our app if you like (free version also) as I designed it to help people just like you👍 live long and prepper💪#guardianAIGlobal#bepreppared
mikedmann@reddit
Wish we had more people like you. You just keep on keeping on..
p8pes@reddit
i mean you want to build that community before anything yourself - this outreach might be part of your prepping perhaps
alternately many on this sub plan to not have a community and manage by themselves
if things collapse, radio is the best communicator, so maybe get into ham for broadcasting
but it seems you need to find people of shared perspective locally right now