Topic takeover - whats on your preppers wish list?

[winchester1]

I want a usb charger that you put on the log burner top.
Then of course I'll want lots of usb charged things like lights, radio etc - haven't started that lost yet

In my crazy dreams I want a 12v version and batteries and adapters so I could charge the laptop and run a camper van tv etc.

winchester

What would you use the laptop or TV etc for?

Log burner
Solar panels
A well

An underground bunker, a really amazing one like a millionaire would have ... needs to win the lottery

An island which is larger than a rocky outcrop.

I'm prepping for things like local power cuts rather than the end of the world as we know it.
So as a way to communicate with people outside the affected area and get useful info.

We have solar panels but they only work if the mains leccy is working. Dh wants a battery top of my wishlist is the plastic inflatable water storage that goes in the bath. You can store a lot of fresh water that way. Top of dh wishlist is a crossbow.

On a small scale a solar/ hybrid generator and a range of 12v appliances like a fridge, cooking equipment, lights. If we're talking dreams then a sustainable off grid lodge with a water source and a sizeable kitchen garden.

I would like a little solar panel, that allows you to hold battery charge for phones and laptops, maybe boil a kettle. Where would you buy such kit?

Candles and a wind-up radio. (I bought us a quite robust little radio that is both wind up and solar powered. I bought for the youngsters as well but received 'Gee Thanks......' for them (before they were put at the back of cupboards, I suspect. Hey Ho.))

We are moving this over to our brand new Preppers topic in a mo

Off grid solar panel to keep the log boiler running. Small generator.

howto you can buy suitcase solar panels on amazon etc for recharging small appliances like phones and laptops (although kettles take a LOT so Im not sure how feasible that is)

So really you need a log burner to boil water and the little solar panels to change devices.

A log burner certainly makes it easy. To boil a kettle you need a very large amount of energy (albeit for a short period of time). Portable solar panels are more like trickle chargers.

You can buy storage batteries though. We have a couple of decent ones and from fully charged they kept my computer running through a fairly long power cut last year.

Sounds like you know about this stuff. If i got a 12v generator can I just use any car adapters and appliances? How long would it take it to charge things, is that related to wattage as well?

Have wind up torches and radios improved, are there any you'd recomend?

If you use a 12 v generator you need to buy specialised appliances that run on DC - such as the ones used in canal boats or campervans as they are compatable with 12v generators. If you try to use a 12v generator with a normal fridge , the fridge wouldn't work as it is designed to run on 240v AC.

If you want to run your ordinary freezer you need to get a 240v generators (run on AC) which you plug the freezer in. This is your best option for short term emergencies.

Ah cozie I thought your dream item was a winchester for a minute

The Hero. That's all we need really. Without trying to, we've ended up with a house which makes us very 'prepped'. Having lived here for years and years, I can tell you that without the Hero to do all the bucking work, it's a nightmare!

a well - you MUST have a bucket winder or the water slops out as you pull up the bucket
veg patch - without shitloads of work, this soon becomes the weed patch; it must be netted too
solar panels - we have shitloads but they contribute only a gnats fart of energy between November and March. They are also extremely nickable so must be bolted down, if ground level as ours are
wind turbine - this is terrific, contributes energy between Nov and March! With these 'warm wet westerly' at the moment I can can treat the house to its annual hoovering
Generator - you need a massive diesel tank which must also be protected from syphoning thieves

We have a well, veg patch (tractor and hand tools), log burners, underground store so similarly live in a handy prepper place.
Not sure id like a wind turbine as they need maintenance and we have nearish neighbours so flicker and noise could be an issue.

oooh, underground store - that sounds good. Will start digging one

A skull island. Failing that, solar panels.

I would like to start a vegetable patch.

I'd also like to make the most of the free hedgerow food such as blackberries and store them in kilner jars. Might make good presents for jam lovers.

Must get more organised.

A fishing rod/tackle (and knowledge how to use it)

A better shovel for digging (and more seeds)

Solar powered chargers

A solar shower (the black plastic bag for camper van type holidays with a little shower nozzle on it)

A boat

More buckets....

Apple and blackberry crumble with lots of lovely double cream is the food of the gods. (Nice cooking apples etc and enough blackberries to stain them thoroughly.)

You can also, if you have a freezer, give them a light and quick simmer with sugar/honey to taste, freeze and when defrosted, the resultant mush is one of the finest ice-cream sauces known to man. With lots of lovely double cream of course. (Can you sense a theme developing here? )

I'd go for it. It's a freebie on the hedgerows usually, and all you have to do is to avoid the berries at the front and bottom (dogs.) I'm afraid I have no talents for preserving or jam making so can't comment on those.

Oh - and go for the vegetable patch right away if you have access to some ground. You'll learn lots of skills and it feels great eating things you've grown yourself.

Good luck.

Yum.

I think I'll start a thread asking about what other people gather from hedgerows for free. There must be quite a lot of stuff / lost wisdom.