I'm a prepper. Ask me anything.

[bellinisurge]

Prompted by me sticking my beak in on a few threads to do with making personal preps for Brexit, I've dug out my tin foil hat to invite you to Ask Me Anything. I'm sure other preppers are more kick ass than I am but I can answer based on what I do.

What particular events are you prepping for?
What would you say is the most essential item/items to stockpile?
Are you a woman or a man?

I'm a woman. I prep for power outs, interrupted food supply, disruptive cold weather. That sort of thing. To use prepping terminology, I'm more a Bug In kind of prepper although I am prepared to bug out - fire in the house or similar.

Do you tell people in RL?

Do your family know?

In the event of a disaster will you be able to turn others away that need help?

I live near the recent moor fires.

The only people that know are my immediate family. I would help my in laws who live about a 30 walk away. I'd help those who could be useful to me.

Do you worry that when the shtf that you will be vulnerable to people stealing all your supplies. I prep but worry about looting.

@RrreCansada - which is why I don't tell anyone.

Also, if some big hairy fecker comes to steal my stuff, I am very good at running away

If something really bad happened, say a nuclear winter, why would you want to survive it? I'm not judging, I'm just really interested.

How long do you think you could hold out for, come the zombie apocalypse?

And practicalities, where do you keep stuff?

Good point about why would I want to survive something horrible. I've been through some bad stuff in my youth (obviously not a nuclear winter!!). I want to give myself the option of trying to survive.

Is there some kind of prepper mythology surrounding tinned peaches? DH keeps insisting they are regarded as a special source of perfect nutrition, and has indeed just bought some.

Obviously I could kick the ass of any zombie what with them not being real. I'd give myself a couple of months - depends.

Tinned fruit is a good idea. Store what you'd actually eat. If you dislike tinned peaches, maybe think about something else. If you're desperately in need of a bit of fruit when all is gloomy, an unloved tin of peaches may be for you.

So, how much of your home is given over to stores for an extra couple of months until order is restored?

Plus, peaches are nice. Who wouldn't want a stash of those?

@pippistrelle - in the garage mainly. If I didn't have a garage, I'd try and be clever about cupboards/under beds/ even the dead space behind the bath cover thing.

@hungryhippie - the most essential item to stockpile is food you will eat.
Better to think of it as having a buffer than having a stockpile. And rotate usage of your stuff.
And the means to purify water - this can be filtering through an old Tshirt to remove big bits and then boiling for at least 10 mins.

Do you stockpile medicines, fuel etc

I have some basic first aid supplies plus a couple of "What if there is no doctor " type books.
I will admit, in a moments weakness, to some fish antibiotics (it's a prepper thing ) but I think basic cleanliness and hygiene is good to maintain. I have a few herbal remedies type books and grow some helpful plants.
I have had some first aid training.
I have MS and try to be realistic. My worst MS symptom is fatigue, but I'm pretty good at managing it.

Fascinating stuff! I've heard about peppers storing water - do you do that?

@motherlondon - fuel? Not really. I know how to make a fire. Plenty of wood around here which I know how to process. I have a camping stove and gas canisters but don't expect them to last a long time.
I try and keep over half a tank of petrol in my car.
Not much point in my personal circs to store petrol.

@SheGotBetteDavisEyes - I have some in - bottles bought from supermarket which I rotate. I collect rainwater.
The recent water problems here in North West England were "interesting ". I used to live in a country with regular water cuts so I'm good at handling "grey water" - water used once - obviously not pee!

Thanks Bellini, I find this really interesting.

I also grow a lot of veg . I also preserve stuff - what the US people call "canning ". I dehydrate stuff and vacuum seal it.
Today, in Aldi there were a load of wonky mushrooms in a big carton at half price. Currently in my dehydrator for another day.