Comments on: Survival Survey: What survival gear would you buy with an extra $500?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:31:21 +0000

I'd probably purchase a pressure canner, mason jars, lids, rings, some heirloom seeds for the seed bank and a few gardening tools.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:27:52 +0000

I don't know how burying the water barrels would affect the barrels, but you could probably build an earthbag wall around them in order to reduce freezing with a simple insulated roof. It should keep the barrels from freezing. If you keep them underfilled, then, even with freezing, they should be safe. I've considered using earthbags to build a home on my dad's farm.

I grew up in Mason County WV, and we had a cistern. Never had any problem with it freezing, though hand dipping water when the power was out in 3 feet of snow was always an adventure. I currently live in town, and miss the self sufficiency of farm life… even more so with the economy in its current state.

By: LizLong

LizLong — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:44:01 +0000

Now that I have fruit trees, honestly my next purchase choice would be a bunch more shelving and storage containers. I think once you start prepping, shelves are like potato chips: one (set) is never enough! We're going to have a set of cheap fixed wooden ones a few inches from the basement walls with nicer rolling racks in front. It will let us store more in one place, plus we can make it harder to see what we're doing by putting more mundane things like holiday decorations in front of them.

By: LizLong

LizLong — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:39:37 +0000

We actually bought four apple trees last spring (three different varieties, in case of disease, that will cross-pollinate) and had them planted. So far, they're all still alive, all though I do have some concerns about the deer this winter.

By: TheSurvivalMom

TheSurvivalMom — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:41:07 +0000

Can't go wrong with those choices! All are great basics.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:39:10 +0000

I would buy the big All American pressure canner, some more buckets of grains, and some boxes of ammo.

By: rev long

rev long — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:41:02 +0000

sure its possible to bury them but im not in the mood to dig a 4 ft verticle hole here since we are renting..but yes it would work if you wanted to do that at your house..im not sure but i think the top would have to be at least 6 inches below the surface to be below the frost line..

By: TheSurvivalMom

TheSurvivalMom — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:12:33 +0000

Boy, Liz, you're asking the wrong person. Living in Phoenix I'm afraid that freezing is something we rarely ever have to worry about! Maybe another reader can help you out with that one.

By: LizLong

LizLong — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:59:25 +0000

Can you bury your water barrels that are tied to gutter spouts to keep them from freezing? You'd have to have a way to pump the water out, though.

By: rev long

rev long — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:51:58 +0000

a woodstove would be my first priority due to the fact that my short term heat is a kero heater(23,000 btu) right now..i have 3 solar recharge 12 LED lanterns a set of 12 solar recharge path lights for use indoors 2 duel fuel coleman lanterns 1 old style barn oil lamp and a fancy indoor oil lamp..2 coleman liquid stoves 1 gal of fuel 1 coleman propane stove about 6 small bottles and a 20lb bottle as well..water is taken care of with 2 55 gal barrels(former soy sauce) and a 250 gal water bag..i have a briefcase size construction site solar panels to recharge most everything including battery power tools.. there is about 12 plastic crates(rubbermaid) in different sizes filled and inventoried from my Y2K days..and for loriN (or a 55 gallon garbage container), please dont do that..trash cans even new are not food grade plastic and they will leach nasties into your water.. my water barrels will be tied into the rain gutter down spouts..only problem i have is winter here in WV trying to find a place to keep water that wont freeze