It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI

by Chris M.

The topic I will cover is one I have not seen on SurvivalBlog. Everybody is caught up in the equipment side and not concentrating on the training. I have two examples several months back our dryer started squeaking & we had to stop using it. I am a trained air conditioning technician. At first I thought about going out and purchasing a new dryer and then I had a thought: I have fixed multi thousand dollar air conditioning units, how hard could it be? After two days it was back up drying clothes and for a lot less money than a new dryer would cost.

The other example was Saturday night a week ago I killed a feral hog and with some help from the friend that owns the land where I killed the pig, we quickly had it in the chest freezer. You ask, �how do these two examples apply to TEOTWAWKI preparedness?�

I am 50 years old; things I take for granted younger people do not understand or do not have the ability to do. Can you sharpen a knife? Can you tune a small engine? How about sharpen a chainsaw? I have been trained as an equipment mechanic and then trained as a HVAC tech. I have also taken first aid training, I am not an EMT but I know the basics. I have fixed several small appliances. My father was a carpenter. He taught me the basics of construction, such as how to build a wall and how to hang sheet rock. I had a small business that repaired rental properties in Texas.

Do you hunt? And are you planning on hunting to supplement your meat supply if not how do you expect to put meat in the freezer after TSHTF? By hunting you learn where to look for game. Small game hunting can teach you where to find rabbits and squirrels are at certain times of the year. Also when you make your first kill you will have a hands-on butchering class. You can not make a mistake that can not be repaired before it gets to the table. I remember the first feral pig a friend killed I was at my parents' house when a friend called and ask if I had butchered a hog? I said no but I have sure put enough deer in the ice chest that a pig could not be that hard.
I have also gardened quite a bit. When I was a child some of the first memories are of working in the garden. We did not raise all of our food but we raised a significant portion. We had a cow and chickens. I helped my mother can vegetables from the garden. I have caned tomatoes I have raised in my back yard. I can make my own soap. I also know where to get the lye with out going to the store. (Wood ashes).

What do you read? Back Home, Backwoods Home (TA: ANYBODY HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE MAGS???), and Mother Earth News magazines--although Mother Earth News is not as good as she once was. I keep all the Back Home and Backwoods Home that I pick up. I also found several books that will be passed on once I go to my final reward. I have books on a variety of topics from engine repair to gardening and other topics.

Do you reload the ammo you practice with? You can store more powder, primers and bullets in a given space than loaded ammo. Then when you shoot some you can reload to re-supply. Shotgun ammo is very economical when you reload. I would not suggest that you use reloaded ammo to defend yourself. Use store bought. I talked about the pig I killed a couple weeks back I used a Savage model 40 in 22 Hornet. The cartridge I used was reloaded and in fact was a case that had been reloaded several times. I have reloaded a variety of calibers and presently I can keep my guns shooting for awhile. I also cast lead bullets for a number of my guns and I am planning on getting a few more molds for different calibers. Also think about this I have in my gun safe a. 22 Hornet, .223 Remington and a .22-250. They all take 223 caliber bullets. I have bought a lot of .223 caliber bullets, mostly 55 grain weight. I can use the same bullet in all three. I also I am going to purchase a shot maker and will be able to produce shot for my own use and barter. I am stocking up on primers and bullets.

What do you watch on television? I watch Discovery and the Science channel. People talk about gas powdered tractors gasoline has a shorter shelf life than say diesel or propane for that matter. I have not seen propane discussed much on the blog for a motor fuel. Propane has a "forever" shelf life. Also, you can still find Ford Model 8 or 9N tractors that were powered by propane. As long as the propane did not leak out it was good and the tractors could sit idle for a long time and did not have to have the carburetor cleaned.

The reason I mentioned television shows is this one program I watched 2 to 3 years ago had a teams on an oceanic island. The team had to do some projects, one of which was they had a diesel powered go-cart. Both teams were given some sesames seeds and a machine that could make oil out of the seeds. The first team to start their go-cart and get it to run a course distance won the event. This got me to thinking that all trucks, generators, tractors should be diesel powered. You can make your own fuel!! The inventor of the Diesel engine was Dr. Rudolf Diesel, a German who envisioned a system where German farmers were not dependant on fuel sources that came from outside Germany! Remember the pig I killed? If it had been a survival situation. I would have rendered the fat to oil and could have used it in my truck and drove 20 or so miles or used it in a generator or plowed the garden with a tractor.

The upshot of the foregoing is that what you have in your hands is not as important as what you have between your ears. Learn all you can. Take classes at your local community college. Read all the preparedness� magazine�s and books you can. Concentrate on survival skills. Learn to start fires without matches and to build a temporary shelters. Learn to maintain your car or truck, local community colleges are great places to learn vehicle repair and you can save money in the short run. Imagine if something broke and you needed it to survive. Could you fix it? Stockpile spare parts for the most important items. Ford 8 of 9n tractors are great and look simple. But if the clutch went out, could you replace it? I have done that and it�s not as easy as you might think. Repair manuals are not an option, in my thinking. They are a must.

http://www.survivalblog.com/

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

i'm waiting for the time when " bugging-out " becomes trendy
and the rich and foolish buy ALL the expensive gadgets and gear recommended by experts

you cannot buy " been there, done that " experience

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Great post, TA...thanks!

Good magazines. Another one is Countryside and Small Stock Journal. You can find info on all of them online and either Back Home or Backwoods Home has a nice forum setup, too, covering many of the same SHTF survival type topics we discuss here in a bit more depth on the gardening, growing, homesteading side of things. If you live near a Tractor Supply, you can find each of them in the book and magazine section of the store. One of the Backwoods magazines also has a state specific online community, too, if I remember correctly.

I would agree with the author on Mother Earth News. They have become a bit too commercial for most folks I know.

Sustainability of a food supply is the aspect of this that I see as the most important survival item of all. We can all stock away all of the MREs and canned goods and hard staples that we want, but as someone said in the poll asking about how much food you have prepped away so far, "several months...but the good tasting stuff will be gone in a few weeks". That's one of the reasons it is so important to know how to grow your own food, if possible. I know that not everyone has access to the country, but if one has a dairy goat -- no need to stockpile dry milk. Plus, you can make cheese, yogurt and other nonfluid milk items. If one has just a few hens -- you have a year round egg supply. Vegetables from the garden, a small herd/flock of meat animals/poultry and you'll be in good shape.

Just make sure that while you're prepping your household stuff that you are prepping enough ag supplies (dewormers, minerals, etc.) to keep your animals healthy. That...and a hand pump for your well so you do not need to rely on electricity to obtain fresh water for yourself and your animals. :rose:

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

It sorta started already. There was an article someone had posted here a few weeks ago about some California couple buying up preps. Thing is he was braggin about it to his UPS guy and of course the whole world when he talked about it to the news for the article. Yeah, I'm sure he'll do fine when TSHTF and desperate people recall this guy's great stash

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Best

Low profile...


So low they can not see you, unless they step on you

but you see them , so they won't.


:wink:

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

As My Momma would say:

THOSE WHO KNOW DONT TALK......AND THOSE WHO TALK DONT KNOW A DAM THING


T

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Talk about preps, I recently purchased a S load of Gamma seals and other air tight large containers.

http://www.gamma2.net/new/G2where.html

http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/s...ammaseals.html

https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/e...a_seal_lid.htm

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Skill and Will

Beat the snot out of

Fear and Gear,

Any day at all.


scyth

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

The problem I have with all the gear is in a real SHTF scenario people are not going to be able to carry all their guns and all their ammo and all their food and all their survival gear unless they are going to stay put. Traveling into the mountains you are going to need to grab as little as possible. I can see one pistol and one rifle and some ammo but the stuff gets heavy real quick. I am not saying I am in the best of shape but lug around what most are calling their bugout gear and you won't get far. Probably pass out first.

I agree with this article and that skills will be the determining factor.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

I really like BWH magazine.

MotherEarthNews used to be good, not anymore.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

TA, good article and your mother was right about running your mouth.
We really enjoy COUNTRYSIDE magazine, no BS, just plenty of good basic DIY info.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Countryside is another superb magazine.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Great post TA......

& + 1 for countryside mag !

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

TA great post. This is what I am working on as well. I have gotten back into vegetable gardening, to make my mistakes now while it is not life and death. I have taken up shooting after 20 years away from it. I am working out what I need for reloading. I have long range communications. I have several fuel options for cooking, heating. I am looking for a diesel vehicle. I have a food stockpile and am preserving.

I need to refresh first aid skills. I have made a friend who is willing to show me how to slaughter and prep pigs, sheep etc. Need an energy source. Need a motorcycle as well

Regardless of whether or not TSHTF, I am having a ball with all of this. Many of the things I am doing now have been on my list, which never seemed to get dealt with.

Timely topic this one. Thx.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

I think with all of this publicity we're giving his magazine, we need to hit Jerry Belanger up for the GIM Subscription Discount. :yes:

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

I have been doing drills also TA, I pick a time and do double time across different train in my pasture and stop to do winded 200 M shots with the Mosin, then pick up and head off to other target areas.
It is an aditional challenge when it is raining...slick footing, wet glasses...

Is a fun way to get exercise!

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

So TA,when the several dozen people a day that stop by to say "hay buddie spare some water"-you'll be "ready".

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Hell yea TA will be ready, he has a well with a hand pump on it, he dug that well him self! I saw him, he was doing it with one hand...that's all he got's left cuz alligator bit it!
But he don't care he is ready and water will cost ammo, beans, manual labor, perhaps a chicken, just PENDS on what you are willing to barter.
He is not on any DAMED rural water program where they turn off your H2O if you don't step in line, he got his own damed well.
me too...several
Sorry TA if I spoke out of line for you, but I figured you were sharpening your pocket knife or and checking on the claymores....

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

From Secton18, Definancialisation, Deglobalisation, Relocalisation
Dmitry Orlov at The New Emergency Conference in Dublin, on June 11, 2009.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Worked on my "US soon to have same Standard of Living as Bulgaria" skills today:

Repaired leaking boot on the washing machine with a bicycle tire patch kit and replaced the front wheel bearing in my Pontiac minivan using a ballpeen hammer as the punch and an 8 lb sledge hammer to drive the splined stub-shaft out of the wheel hub. In my opinion, these are pratical survival skills. Wheel bearing R&R cost me just $116 vs dealership cost of $450. Washing machine = free.

Really, short of full on Madmax - the most useful skills will be the ability to get by on the cheap. Get a mess of tools and keep building your skills.

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

All -

I think this speaks for itself........


With regard to this thread!


scyth

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

And more from this very interesting presentation....

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

......................

Re: It Will Be Skills, Not Gear That Will Count in TEOTWAWKI
 

Dubbled quoted for truth!

It was raining that day on and off so everything was slippery also it didnt take much to work up a sweat only to go ice cold a few minutes later( perfect conditions to get pneumonia)

If I can do a trek like that every other day I would be a absolute bad@$$ in no time. all from Just walking/light jog with gear on back.

Who needs a gym membership when you have nature willing to giving you a workout for free??? :ok:


T