If you watch what folks do and how folks live in places like refugee camps and places that have rolling or long term black outs you can learn a lot. It’s a real reality check. It’s not an exiting survival scenario that’s like camping at home that some folks seem to think the grid going down will be. It’s grinding, incredibly uncomfortable, and very dangerous. People starve, die of simple infections, and suffer a lot of trauma. Pray we DON’T need these things. Support your community, get to know your neighbors. Prepare with extra for others. And don’t let yourself be fear mongered or agitated by propaganda from any side.
Skills on HOW AND WHY is the biggest challenge between modern and life in 1800s before running water and electricity. People were TAUGHT SKILLS at an early age or they didn't eat. Now most adult can't start a 🔥 and cook a meal over it from scratch. They can't hitch a horse and drive a wagon of hay or firewood. They can't make a dress. Or weave a blanket or rug. THESE ARE BASIC SKILLS. and 90% of children had these skills before age 12 much less 15 when girls were expected to marry. Men had to be close to 30 to take a wife TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A WIFE.
Excellent verse for a comeback when other Christians say they don't need to prep because they have faith in God and are trusting him to supply their food.
@@frannypalmer2726For those that can't is one thing and others will help but if they study the whole Bible, God put Joseph in some tough times but because of his faith he was put in a great position in Egypt and through God was able to save not only his own family but the whole country by saving food in the time of plenty for the 7 years of famine.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. Proverbs 21:20 KJV Different Translations, seemingly somewhat different meanings
@@lindaann9927 Linda, it's the same meaning expressed differently because one says the wise man stores up food and oil while the other says in the house of the wise man are desirable treasures and oil. And for both, the foolish man is irresponsible. One translation focuses on the process while the other focuses on the result. So the difference between the wise and foolish is one is a good steward of God's resources (works, saves, invests, gives, etc as written in the Bible) while the other isn't.
You missed 2 very important- maybe the most important goals: 1) Strengthen your Faith. 2) Cultivate the relationships in your own family and with neighbors!
You can cultivate relationships but in a grid down situation or worse, people can be untrustworthy and will steal from you, snitch on you (like during c19). People can be unpredictable and they don't work together like people did in the past. Keep your preps to your self for safety reasons.
@@flowerchild5674 Keep your family close and take care of each other. People here in New England don't help each other now, so they will be much worse when things are spinning out of control. My Dad has taught us kids to prep for as long as I can remember. He was a WWII vet and always felt that something bad was going to happen. And in uncertain times people will act crazy if they have not done anything to prepare, & there are many that just don't think they will be effected. Even buying extra feed for animals & pets is important.
I am so thrilled that you two are coming out and talking about this. I am a prepper for some time now, but many Christians I know won’t prepare bc they say God is gonna take care of them. It’s daunting to try to get them to see the need to prepare. I mean truly God gave us a brain and he expects us to use it. There are warning signs everywhere, just as you mention in this video. I have had friends tell me they are coming to my house if we have a PHTF situation…if I say to them I am preparing for my family and i have warned them to prepare themselves they get offended! I wish someone would do a video “directed” to Christians lining prepping up with stories in the bible to get them to see it is biblical! Please consider this idea! Thank you! BTW, I am local to you and have followed you from a ways back. Appreciate your videos.
Joseph prepared by storing up wheat in the seven years of plenty, so then, when the seven years of famine came, Egypt did not start over and they also helped to save Joseph and his family and many others.
Yea I hate it when people say they’re coming to my house if shtf. I tell them they can as long as they don’t come empty handed. They must have a couple months worth of food and water at a minimum. If they don’t then I say the same thing as you except I add “and I will not take food out of my family’s mouths and have them suffer for your negligence” and usually that does the trick. Granted the selfish ones will still get offended but it’s a good litmus test to see who’s worth having around.
13 minutes in...AH HA!! Our Family Motto for 4 Generations now...Use Up, Wear Out, Make Do, or Do Without!! I still pull buttons from worn out shirts (and I cut the shirt up for rags, or rag rugs), good zippers...wash barely used ziploc bags to reuse...This is a long lost "art". Every time you open the trash bin....take a look at it. Does it have another purpose? This was a great video. Thanks!
My aunt would pull buttons from shirts she gave to goodwill Made me nuts. The shirt was ruined. She had way too many clothes to have any clothes get to rags. Worn out kids socks make good rags too when u cut them open flat.
I reuse bread bags too, but only once. The plastic isn’t made to reuse and breaks down very quickly. Plastic storage bags can take a couple washings if no raw meat stored in them. We use plastic wrap instead of bags more often than not. Way cheaper.
Here, if clothes are still good enough to use...they're used. But, we aren't a typical Western family. We live hard, and stuff wears out. You have a good point though. Those shirts your aunt donated probably never made it to goodwill shelves. Sad, because the fabric has great worth....Just think of the energy involved in making that fabric! I've always focused on traditional non-trendy doesn't really go out of style clothes...You know Henleys and oxfords, for men, basic skirts and tops for women that are timeless. They make their way from "Sunday/business clothes" to "casual"....to "work and play"....to rags to reuse. I imagine in the next few decades people will shake their heads at all that we've wasted. @@YeshuaKingMessiah
And I’ll add to the list: if you’re not doing so already you should take your physical health seriously. Chopping firewood and hauling water require a healthy, strong, capable body. I live with my two elderly parents who didn’t take their physical health seriously in their younger years and now they’re extremely vulnerable and 100% dependent on others.
Very good list. I would also recommend 1) prepare for your animals and livestock! With the big freeze we're having all week, I stocked extra water for my chickens in case a pipe bursts. I bought extra heavy duty tarps in case the wind tore the ones keeping the wind out of their pen. Remember your duty to protect all within your care. 2) learning how to live without modern conveniences and communication EMOTIONALLY. Be ready to seamlessly, stresslessly switch to a power (or communication) down situation as in bad winter storms. This is as much an emotional readiness as much as practical. We made sure to have the lanterns we like and a box of homemade shortening candles in wide mouth pint jars which last almost a week each. Emotionally, we just know we don't even have to struggle if the lights go out. We have a system we like. Same with water catchment, food, laundry, etc. Personally, we have chosen to prepare for problems in power supply by preserving food and heating in ways that don't require electric power. I don't want to have generators that depend on gas I might not be able to get and then lose freezers. Hey, I prefer to live on-grid for convenience, but if it disappeared tomorrow, I know how to live very simply because I was raised by Depression-era people who did just that. And, yes, this is the first year we put in two years of wood. Good idea!
@@HomesteadMercantile I do have electricity, but I don't keep a lot of refrigerated or frozen foods on hand. The main difference is attitude. If you plan on keeping food for weeks at a time in refrigeration, there's the problem. Before the 1970s, people didn't plan to store food in a fridge for more than 4 days or so. We ate our food and didn't keep it until it got lost in there. I have a small 22 year old fridge/freezer and enough food for the week. If power goes out for too long, we'd lose some food, but not hundreds of dollars of food. That said, I have lived without refrigeration. In Alaska, it's cold enough most of the year to keep frozen food outside in an unplugged freezer and refrigerated food can be kept cool in a breezeway. In Arizona, it's dry enough to build a Coolgardie safe, which is an evaporative off-grid fridge. Here in the midwest, we do have a good cooler buried into the ground on the north side of the house and can move food there in most seasons if we need emergency refrigeration. Keeps food just fine. But as I said, I plan my fridge so that fresh food is for a few days at a time. I don't use a fridge as a fairly long-term food "storage" device as many people expect. Milk, some produce, open jam jar, cheese, bread, leftovers that get eaten the next day or two, and a few condiments. Butter is out on the counter. In the freezer is butter, meat, bone broth, extra elderberry syrup that I make. Not much else really. If the power goes out, we just eat what we have in the fridge and try to keep the frozen food frozen by not touching it unless we have to thaw and cook it. In which case, it's probably winter and can keep outside cooked for a few days.
Just found your UA-cam channel. I don’t do Facebook so I’m so glad you’re on UA-cam! I love your family, your lifestyle, your strategies….. so comforting. Thanks for bringing joy to my life. I’m 75, an only child, divorced after 46 years of marriage (he’s now married to “her”), and spend a lot of lonely hours. I do have two children, and four grandchildren but they are all so focused on their families, their careers, their lives (which I’m thrilled for) that they don’t have a lot of time for me. Thank you for filling many lonesome hours with wholesome, clean videos. May God continue to bless your home and family!
I'm divorced too, after 47 years + 5 years of dating, also an only child with no children, no family left. Being single ain't for sissies, that's for sure. My dog is my best reason for getting up in the morning. Maybe think about getting a pet? I know the shelters are full of unwanted animals, but if you're concerned about your age, buy from a reputable breeder who would be willing to take your animal back if needed. Most ethical breeders will actually insist on that and it will be part of their sales contract.
Thanks for your kind words. I’d love a pet but, living alone, I don’t want to be out at night, especially in bad weather, walking a dog. My grandson is allergic to cats. I do have a parakeet. Thanks for your concern. My church family is my anchor. Hugs from Georgia.
Everyone needs firewood regardless if you have a fireplace or wood stove the tx snowstorm showed us that...I was cooking over a fire in a galvanized wash tub in the front yard
Have enough canning jars on hand to can everything in your freezer. While the jars are set aside waiting for the the electricity to go out can them with steam distilled water. You’ll be able to preserve your freezer stocks, have some water to use for the canning process and a few days of drinking. I live where hurricanes are a possibility so this has been my prep for decades.
I have this plan also. I would either run generator long enough to can on my stove and/or propane outside. A friend does all her canning outside. We can share the work and the food.
Linda, yes my plan is can outdoors using propane. Aside from having water stored in the jars they will not need to be cleaned or sterilized before canning. They are clean, sterile and ready to go.
We also will can outside on our 2 propane grills & a Coleman 2 burner too. We have 4 ricks of wood, probably need to do more, we have it ageing, already cut down, just need to split n stack
i went back to having cookbooks, print recipies, i havent bought bread in over a year now, i bake my own. i do some "practice runs" to make my own soap, toothpaste, deodorant etc...making sure i have all my supplies ready if needed. i now have a binder with all my prepping stuff and much more. no power= no internet or very limited access. i would like to see how you are using your different generators and how it's all lined up! that's where i am at in my prepping! thanks for the info.
I buy food in bulk at the restaurant supply store. I came for salt...and the shelf was bare. They are having supply chain issues. I have stocked up after thinking about how vital a nutrient salt is to our animals, and ourselves, taste of food, food preservation, and preventing dehydration. I have been using only baking soda to brush my teeth for 10 years and the hygienist always finds my teeth clean, no cavities, and no change in my gums. Also, salt will be a good trade item when supplies dwindle even more. Another find is a water preserver used by the military called H20 Resq. it contains copper and silver. 1 fl oz treats 55 gallons, or 12 drops per gallon, and maintains water freshness for 5 years. I hope this helps.
important is information and meds. If the SHTF and the internet goes down we need books. I'm trying to declutter to move but I'm keeping every information book I have .Cook books, gardening books, How to whatever books. I'm tempted to get a kindle or notepad just to download all the information off the intenet in case the internet goes down. Also anyone taking serious meds should try to get some in storage.
If there is an EMP attack your kindle might not work, even if you have the content downloaded. Hard copy all the way. Things printed from the internet should go in binders in document protectors.
I agree and to me, I think that Gold and Silver is pointless but many disagree with me there. No one is going to care about gold or silver when SHTF, they will be worried about food and survival. I do not think that this will be short lived so my money goes into supplies. If people are getting low on supplies themselves, they won't be concerned with your gold and silver, precious metals you'll be able to pick up from those who have ran out of food for and you'll get if for next to nothing. Skills now that's the real value right there. Gardening, cooking, building, sewing, knitting, etc.
I found an old Singer treadle- the sewing machine and cabinet are in great condition. I keep an extra belt and sewing machine oil on hand just in case. Learning to sew on it is fun, but it is also a skill that will be valuable when things go south.
Gardening, food preservation, sewing, leather work, metal work, brewing, alternative fuels, herbal medicine, first aid….all good things to learn and gain proficiency in.
Thanks so much this really helped to support my mindset. I am trying to set up my house with a homestead atmosphere but my husband does not support me. It makes it very difficult emotionally and I feel alone until I watch channels such as you. Makes me sad but I will keep setting up my home with this way for the protection of my family. Proverbs 31 shows me the way to go. Thanks for all you do!
You are not alone with being the only one prepping in your family, but it's worth it for sure!! Another good channel to help your mindset is Appalachia's Homestead with Patara. She's a great encourager.
There should be a follow up video on precious metals. Many people don't know where to buy and get scammed or what to buy. There are several different types of gold and silver to buy. Some are more "liquid" then others. Some are more recognizable and are easier to barter. Some are easier to counterfeit. Some have higher premiums and people need to get an education before throwing money at something they don't understand.
I agree! Multiple sources recommend precious metals, but there are so many sellers out there that it is hard to know who is reliable and which products are best.
For those dependent on electricity consider oil lamps, candles, and along with extra fuel, don’t forget extra fuel for the lamps. Lehman’s has great options. As for wearing clothes until you can’t, if you dion’t know how to darn and mend, learn. Watch for used sweaters that still have life in them. Have duplicates of garden tools, extra household tools, etc. If you don’t kt know how to fix things, learn.
I don't think light bulbs are that important especially when you have no electricity. If you're living in flats it's not possible to get a generator. I think you're already living off grid Food Water Candles Propane 🕯 Gas and gas stove lots of toilet and kitchen paper medicines 💊 etc And if possible plenty of Diesel ⛽ 4 your car 🚗
That fire wood stack is blowing my mind!!! Dreams and goals right there. But storing in What I assume is the basement?? How do you keep mice and bugs out of the house? Since I know wood is a wonderful attractant
In South Africa we have huge issues with our power grid. We sometimes go without power for 8 to 12 hours. We are just so lucky it doesn’t get very cold here.
Hard books! Even if you can read all of the information now, you may need it later. Just as reference to things that can help you if things get really bad, like herbs of medicine, tanning hides or building a simple stove or oven. You may never need that information, but books will keep that information at your fingertips! I agree that 2024 may well be a year like we have never been thru before. God bless y'all and keep growing.
Our house was built in 1939, (922 sq ft) electric hadn't been updated since 1981. We did the update, then added a Gentrek whole house power back up, that runs on propane.
I started my food supply back in 2020. My husband recently asked me when we were going to start eating all the things I've been canning and dehydrating and my answer was "HOPEFULLY NEVER". They are for emergencies and if we need them, that means something bad has happened. :/
"If you live like no one else, you'll be able to one day live like no one else!" Our motto as we scrimped and saved for so many years. We just paid off the home this last Thanksgiving! The greatest blessing that we could ever imagine. Now it is time to save up and save up!! One of our first purchases, after we get things saved up a bit, is to find a wood burning stove for our home. I've been creating a wood pile for some time now... in anticipation of a wood burning stove!! I agree with all of these... wonderful things to think of. Thank you.
Yay way to go. We got out of debt a few years ago. It was a challenge but really a stretching and growing experience. A huge blessing as I do groceries and see the rising prices. I think how do people do it who have payments to make.
@@corinayoder6489 we are already saying the same thing. Only a few months out from paying it off and I don’t know how we would be doing it if we still had the mortgage. Still trying to stay within the same budget as we had before paying it off.
Grow your own food instead of grass or weeds. Lettuce is so easy! Save your seeds. I actually sold my seed bank when I needed money and sold starter vegetable plants when I lost my jobs during the pandemic. Save money online for a higher interest rate. Make a game of seeing how little you can spend to build an extensive pantry. Compare prices on everything if you have the time. Keep cash on hand when electricity isn't available, your cards can't be used. Rain barrels save water for gardening and cleaning. Large bags of pet food. Gas cans. Solar panels. Warm clothes and rain gear.
For people just getting started, it is overwhelming! The way i oriented myself to start was realistically assessing what regional disasters I was most likely to experience, and prepare for that. We don’t have earthquakes or tornadoes, but we do have an aging infrastructure (due to decades of tax base loss, our local government didn’t have the resources to keep ahead of the decline), which leads to frequent burst water pipes and boil orders, potential for blizzards, flash flooding, and heat waves. So I started preparing my home for surviving a two week blizzard snow in. Learning about, and accepting, the conditions of your own region and community really helps get you started.
This is the intelligent way to go. As a bonus, if you're prepped for a 2 week blizzard, you're also prepped for a 2 week interruption of your cash flow! As for my area- uneven rainfall- we go from drought to flash floods & back again, & we get hurricanes, too!😮
Moment of levity: I had to read the sentence three times to get the correct information. The sentence in question is 'we don't have earthquakes or tornadoes' which the first two times I read as earthquakes or tomatoes which did certainly confuse me! I'm still chuckling and think I need another cup of coffee!
I love the non-fancy, non-Cricket, painter's tape labels! You are normal, we can do this and everything is still clearly labeled! And thank you for all of the advice. During the lockdown of the pandemic, my family unknowingly (at the time) wasted many hundreds of dollars not knowing what unperishable items we would actually eat. So, we had some practice with how to do it better.
So happy to hear this. You inspire me! I have been scrounging through my quilting closet for fabric to make dresses, tunics and skirts. Making a bright summer dress right now! Planning my garden now, with an eye to canning and drying. And most important of all, asking the Lord to renew my faith and keep the family strong.
Hey Homesteading Family, thanks for the amazing advice. I'm working on a few preps myself for when eggs go back up to $4 per dozen (currently at $1.88 per dozen) and freezing them etc. plus vacum sealing chicken breasts, shrimp when its on sale, etc.
Reputable places to buy silver? Very hesitant because of all the scammers out there. This was a great list. Writing down the Use it up, Wear it out, Make do or do without on a poster board for my family. We do pretty good at this, but we could do so much better! We are raising three young daughters to be self sufficient and to have all the life skills. That’s a really important one.
Many online reputable dealers.I like SD Bullion (christian based) and Monument Metals and are typically the best pricing. JM Bullion has a great variety but tends to be more expensive. There are other like Apmex and Money Metals but I have not purchased from them. I strongly suggest educating yourself on the topic before spending a lot. know your states tax laws on bullion. Some bullion is more "liquid" then others so what type you purchase is important and premiums can vary significantly.
Wonderful video! I’d like to suggest you give tips on how to store water long term, list of foods to can for long term, how to store fuels and gas long term, etc. For those of us who didn’t grow up homesteading we don’t know these things. Y’all are so blessed! And so are we to be able to learn from folks like you.
For water storage I use my Arizona sweet tea jugs to store water in. For food to can I would do different meats, potatoes, vegetables anything you eat always can what you eat.
We buy those 50 gallon stackable water storage containers. I think we buy 6 at a time but they have different amount options available for people to buy what’s in their budget.
@@Just-Nikki storage of potable water takes up a lot of space. I simply dont trust plastic containers for contamination abd microbial spoilage too, but that just me! I have rain collection water butts 240L, four of those store 1 ton of water. I prefer to use water purifying tablets for drinking, and know it is safe.
As a retired mechanic, may I suggest a few items nonfood items that may be needed for your machinery? None of these items will spoil on the shelf! 1. Parts for garden machinery such as spark plugs, oil, belts, grease, filters, and hoses. 2. Parts for the home such as furnace filters, bulbs, vacuum cleaner belts and filters, dish soap (dawn), laundry soap and bleach, 3. Automotive items such as a set of spark plugs, belts (serpentine or old style), an alternator, spare belts and hoses, fuses, wiper blades, a head light bulb etc. The spare alternator can be purchased at a salvage yard inexpensively. You don't need to be a mechanic, just know someone that is (most of us are generous with our skills) 4. Focus on your yard sale skills. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED, NOT THE CUTE BUT USELESS STUFF. Garage sales are super places to find good used (practical) footwear, work clothes, and winter clothing.
Thank you so much for this video Josh and Caroline. I think all self-sufficiency /prepping roads lead eventually to homesteading. Being a producer rather than a consumer. Thank you so much for sharing this with your audience. I for one would love to see some videos on shelf stable/pantry recipes, depression recipes, simple from scratch recipes that we can use to feed our families without the conveniences of easy grocery store items.
Great video! Yes the story of Joseph shows us to see and plan for the future, this year I had so much produce from my garden that I made a lot of money selling the excess at the farmers market, you both hit it on the head, working together is so key, know your strengths and weaknesses, so we can help each other, I also sold lots of garden starts, another income selling plants etc and the info to others is invaluable, God Bless, stay strong, love your channel, over here in eastern wash state.
Lanterns and candle also and get your heavy blankets and other supplies ready in one or 2 bins and so forth and make get out of dodge bags ready and put in your cars , and put black trash bags on your windows one to keep cold out and keeps people from peeking in your home 🏡 to see what they can steal😊
The black trash bags to black out windows sounds good. The I Dollar store or Dollar general has poster board that could be inside the bag for insulation.
So right about learning and doing a new skill. Then you think how can I expand on this or what else can I do. Leads to many more possibilities! Gives you the confidence that you can do more. I am learning each day. How to build a fire, how to turn that propane on. How to buy spices and make my own taco and chili seasonings. I have too many eggs so going to try my hand at making egg noodles. I didn't do well at gardening last year but I did it and I learned. Another great skill to learn that you touched upon is how to use what you have, budget, save...It can be a great game.... Use less water, less electricity, eat less snacks, shop for cheaper insurance, save bags, bows, and tissue paper from holidays to use again, replace a bad habit with a good one, like exercise. Instead of wearing a shirt once, wear it the next day or again later in the week, so you have less clothes to wash saving on water, time and detergent. unless filthy of course. All of these savings can add up fast! Find ways to spend less and save more because there will always be a rainy day.
I want to say I appreciate this video. Practical thinking, and the reasons why. We have taken on the mindset of " Be prepared, no matter what the outcome". Because we DO NOT KNOW! This year, once again the southern weather pattern is leaning towards a possible active hurricane season. For us, this is THE BEST time to prepare for that!! No rush, you can make a list and chip away, as long as you are working on it. It's a great time to do home inspections- check those trees, make a to do list, and really work on getting it done! We have chosen to skip the indeterminate tomatoes this year, and focusing on less than 100 days of anything. One big tip- and it goes along with yours- activities of daily living. We made a list a couple of years ago of things we do every single day. Up at 5- coffee, and so I actually made ahead some quarts of coffee and froze them- and used them! One said, you have a generator, why bother?!? 2 reason- 1 frozen volume in my freezer-2- something I don't need to think about. Heat on my gas stove and go! Once you get that list, it makes it MUCH easier to prepare.
Very good information in this video!! Many of us are already accomplishing these but we pray that many who are just starting listen to this and begin yesterday. Keep up all your great work, thank you.
Excellent list- all the hard work you've done really shows and is something to be proud of. I thought for sure that #10 would be medicine and finding herbal alternatives when possible. I did like the crafting materials idea though - safe to say that's the one thing I have a lifetime supply of😊 I also believe having a strong spiritual connection is very important, no matter what path you follow. Thanks for the encouraging video and good tips.!
You guys are really great. You bring up points that are imperative in trying to homestead. Different parts of the country offer amazing distinct challenges. You are correct. Water is one of the primary concerns. When we bought "the farm" we were so unaware of various challenges from water, winds, terrain, etc. Always looks so awesome in the summer. Wait till winter comes, wait till those 2 dug wells go dry, power out every time a storm comes through. I look back and chuckle. But at the time!!!! I wanted to make a suggestion. If you have issues with water well(s), we found an alternative. Not only would our dug wells (and others in the area) would go bone dust dry when a dry year came around. The other issue is the wells would freeze. New England. We found several of those big above ground pools that people were getting rid of on C/L complete with pumps, filters, etc. free. Set them up and filled when good rains. Covered with heavy duty pool covers. Animals go through a lot of water, and you have to have that available for the family needs and the animals. Not for swimming. Thank you for your videos.
❤ one tip regarding propane that a lot if people do not realize. Propane does not vaporize at negative 40. I live in a state that regularly gets to negative 40. We put in propane a a backup source for heating and cooking. Propane is a liquid and it needs to vaporize for the equipment to be able to burn it. Otherwise the machine goes off and in trying to light it, burning out condensers, ignites etc. Which gets expensive to repair. So you also need backups to the backups. I have electric heat as well as wood heat. Looking into getting another source in case something goes wrong with those 3.
Great video guys. We are retired now and have been living like this for many years. But also being the age I am, this was how we kind of grew up, we didn’t waste, we wore our clothes til they wore out, and we composed. Thank you for this video, cheers 🌷🇨🇦
Thank you guys some great advise we are working to all these solutions with our new homestead farm we are renovating here in France All the best Budo & Tracy 🍺🤠👍🏻
This resonates with everything that my husband and i have been discussing/ goal setting, starting with getting out of debt. Well thought out! New subscriber here to stay.
Thank you for making this video. I know you have always shared your homesteading journey but it’s good to know your mindset. Makes y’all a bit more relatable.
I'm female, retired, and alone and live off $673/m SS. Talk about spending EVERYTHING on planting! AND cooking from scratch. Been working on a food forest, a cottage garden, and a Monarch Way Station for a few years now. Thank God the house is paid for. If I had some money, the one thing, well two things I would get is #1) dig a manual or solar well and #2) get an Elmira wood cook stove. (The house is a 1910 bungalow and has a kitchen chimney for it). I'm on a half acre city lot in Boise. Aside: I'm also one of those funny people who dress like the 1850's.
@@g.r.picard2726 They said it's because I'm not paying rent (I manage one of my mother's properties in exchange for living rent free). And when I told them homeless people don't pay rent and get more than I do, they said that they give them the money so they COULD pay rent if they wanted to. And when I asked how much rent I'd have to pay to get the extra $200, they said $300. Which means I'd be even worse off. I wish SOMEONE would do right by me!!! And for the last 4.5 months they've kept every penny because they said they over-payed my adult son's SSI years ago when I was his rep payee. They told me they were going to take 3.5 month's worth but when I looked at my bank account in February when I should've gotten half my money they took that month, too. Never did get a letter saying they were going to take 4.5 months instead of 3.5. And when I asked for a copy of the letter that said it was changed from 3.5 months to 4.5 months, they ignored me.
Thanks for the great video. I live in a city and I’m homesteading as much as I can but learning all the time. Security is a big issue in a city . That is on my mind all the time. I don’t have the option to move out of the city so it’s a tough subject to feel comfortable with.
Thanks so much for this video. I have taken the time to share this with some close friends. Other than #1, water, which I totally agree is very important, you have me really thinking of #10, starting a small business from home. I do have 2 at the present time BUT I bring product in which is not nearly as sustainable as producing something local. Thanks and I will work on figuring that one out :)
Caroline and Josh. I just want to thank you for letting me know about Homestead. Tsunami, the book by Joel Salton it's a great book. It has really opened my eyes. I know it doesn't pertain to this video. But I just wanted to thank you. I couldn't put it down. Have a wonderful day. Thank you
Good that you share this topic. When I encountered the strict laws and regulations surrounding food production and had to stop our farm, I tasted the atmosphere in which this happened. I knew that in the future it would be made very difficult for everyone who was involved in this, which is what is now happening to the farmers in our country (the Netherlands). For years I have continued to pray, is it true, Father, that we must prepare? Then I read the Bible Luke 22:35 And he said unto them, If I sent you forth without purse, and scrip, and sandals, have ye lacked anything? And they said, Nothing. 36 And he said unto them, But now whosoever hath a purse, let him take it, and also a purse; and he that hath none, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword. In verse 53 He says, But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. It was as if He is highlighting this and we must prepare ourselves because it is a dark hour we are living in.
@@gracechadi Great, thank you for sharing, there are clearly more texts in the Bible regarding preparing yourself than the well-known ones such as Noah and Joseph.
Great video! Love the "Use up, wear out, make do, or do without" motto. I am always looking at items - how else can I use this or that so I do not have to buy something.
Great video and I'm happy to say my husband and I have achieved seven out of your ten suggestions. Storing more fuel, getting our of debt and starting a homestead side business are next on our list.
If your generator needs a battery to start, make sure it is charged. A good idea is to start your generator every month to make sure it is in operating mode.
Buckle up is right! Maybe a little late to get started on food preparedness, but feeling the urgency to get on it now. Glad to be along for the bumpy ride.
I've lived off grid before and turn it off in the winter and know that I can comfortably live off 5 gallons of water a day. I also dug a 1200 gallon pond a few years ago. (I turn the breaker on in February to start seedlings indoors). Boise also gets less than 12" of rainfall a year so this season I'm experimenting with dry farming. And not just the crops they suggest. Double dug and mulched a lettuce and a chard so far. We'll see how it goes. I have the seeds in ground and under milk jugs right now and will use a white shade cloth when they get bigger. 🙏
What may be good, if you had a check off list for folks just getting into this that they could download and print off. ( free of course, smiling ) It's never to late to start ! Growing up I was fortunate enough to see my Grandmas, Aunts and my Mom do gardening, canning, freezing, making new clothes out of old worn out ones, darning socks and am so blessed that my husband and I are on the same page of doing life together in all these ways. Has always been a part of our lives , continues to be and we keep learning new ways, experimenting to always try to improve.
This is one of the best get started lists I've ever seen. I would add memorizing the Bible as it may become illegal to have one in the future. Do you guys have a video on how to be prepared for animal needs or one on best skills to have on a farm/ homestead? Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge in such a calm and proactive way❤❤ sadly I've had to unsubscribe from channels that turned doom and gloom over every little thing.
All excellent suggestions. In the old days my grandparents called it a way of life. They taught me well and I’m so glad I listened. My grandparents and parents told me stories about what it was like to life through the Great Depression. My maternal grandparents did better than my paternal grandparents, but I learned valuable lessons from both of them. And yes, Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University was the best course I ever took. It was life changing. If your followers havn’t considered the class, they should. It teaches you a whole different way of dealing with money. Thanks for the great video.
My method is gaining knowledge. I'm learning about gardening and preserving. Im collecting books that teach me to do things, and useful items for being self sufficient. My place is small and I live in town so I can't really hoard a lot of food. Being alone, it would just go bad.
Good advice. Thank you for doing this. We've been trying to do this for years. We have backups for our backups. Its taken years to Get where we are today. We will end up being the lifeboat for our kids and their families. Good information.
Love using up what you have and create what you need with what you have for less. I started making our own laundry detergent this last year and it's so much cheaper...same with toothpaste. It's amazing what we can make and create for less. I feel blessed to have a lot of skills under my belt. I've been prepping for a few years now, more so since the Plandemic because we moved and have the room to store items and i have the time now. Great video...very helpful with water and gas tips as these are areas I'm focusing on. We do have emergency food and water but one could never have enough water, to cover all the purposes we use it for. Prepping for our dog is more of a challenge as she has a sensitive stomach and a same steady diet is key...so a roasted chicken has to be on hand at all time, so that's a challenge. Prayers to all for a safe 2024.
I raise chicken quail & rabbit which I can into dog food. dont know what your fog's dietary needs are, but dry dog food doesnt have a very long shelf life due to the oils. just a thought. all info & ideas are helpful when we are trying to think outside the box & prep. sending you & your family health & safety wishes. ❤😊
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I have been thinking of growing a few plants that I could try and sell. I've always figured out how I could make money ever since I was 12 years old. I still feel the pride that I felt when I told my dad how I was going to make money to buy a new pair of sneakers. My father passed when I was 15. I saved and bought my first used car cash at 19. Sadly my children never got the same bug that I have even at 62. They are just quick to tell me to throw it out. Nope! Not me! Someone else may need it or I can find use for it or it may have more life in it. Thank you both!
In agreement with you. And grateful for this list. I like the concept of the homesteader's mindset. No matter where a person lives, doing any combination of the list as it fits improves probability of being prepared for problems. And living the lifestyle today only helps the transition when hard times come. Thank you! I wanted to share something else with you. Feb of 2023 I started watching your videos along with some other homestead UA-cam influencers. I started canning in the Spring, March or April. At one point I responded to one of your videos with a praise, that I could eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all winter if I had to. I don't have to do that. But was enjoying sharing the progress with you as you have had quite an influence on my shifting to this mindset and life-style. A fresh update: Over the fall I started learning pressure canning and made a few meal- n-a-jar recipes. Christmas 2023 family was home with me the week before Christmas. We ate all lunches and a couple of supers from the pantry that week! It was fantastic!! Delicious food! No fuss! Very little mess! Very little expense! No -"What do you want for this meal conversation circles." It was so freeing! Thank you!!! Thank you for your influence in my mindset shift toward a homesteading lifestyle!!!
If you watch what folks do and how folks live in places like refugee camps and places that have rolling or long term black outs you can learn a lot. It’s a real reality check. It’s not an exiting survival scenario that’s like camping at home that some folks seem to think the grid going down will be. It’s grinding, incredibly uncomfortable, and very dangerous. People starve, die of simple infections, and suffer a lot of trauma. Pray we DON’T need these things. Support your community, get to know your neighbors. Prepare with extra for others. And don’t let yourself be fear mongered or agitated by propaganda from any side.
💯!!
This is THE best comment 🎉
Fear is the main way we are controlled by our govts lin the UK and Europe. Stay strong and indrprndant. Grow local community and community skills.
Skills on HOW AND WHY is the biggest challenge between modern and life in 1800s before running water and electricity. People were TAUGHT SKILLS at an early age or they didn't eat. Now most adult can't start a 🔥 and cook a meal over it from scratch.
They can't hitch a horse and drive a wagon of hay or firewood. They can't make a dress. Or weave a blanket or rug. THESE ARE BASIC SKILLS. and 90% of children had these skills before age 12 much less 15 when girls were expected to marry. Men had to be close to 30 to take a wife TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A WIFE.
It’s minus 40 here in the 6 months of winter so....
Thank you for sharing. I read Proverbs 21 today and verse 20 says "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down."
Excellent verse for a comeback when other Christians say they don't need to prep because they have faith in God and are trusting him to supply their food.
I'm gonna show my husband . 😢😢😢
@@frannypalmer2726For those that can't is one thing and others will help but if they study the whole Bible, God put Joseph in some tough times but because of his faith he was put in a great position in Egypt and through God was able to save not only his own family but the whole country by saving food in the time of plenty for the 7 years of famine.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. Proverbs 21:20 KJV
Different Translations, seemingly somewhat different meanings
@@lindaann9927 Linda, it's the same meaning expressed differently because one says the wise man stores up food and oil while the other says in the house of the wise man are desirable treasures and oil. And for both, the foolish man is irresponsible. One translation focuses on the process while the other focuses on the result. So the difference between the wise and foolish is one is a good steward of God's resources (works, saves, invests, gives, etc as written in the Bible) while the other isn't.
You missed 2 very important- maybe the most important goals: 1) Strengthen your Faith. 2) Cultivate the relationships in your own family and with neighbors!
You can cultivate relationships but in a grid down situation or worse, people can be untrustworthy and will steal from you, snitch on you (like during c19). People can be unpredictable and they don't work together like people did in the past. Keep your preps to your self for safety reasons.
@@flowerchild5674there are several major problems with that approach.
@@flowerchild5674 Keep your family close and take care of each other. People here in New England don't help each other now, so they will be much worse when things are spinning out of control. My Dad has taught us kids to prep for as long as I can remember. He was a WWII vet and always felt that something bad was going to happen. And in uncertain times people will act crazy if they have not done anything to prepare, & there are many that just don't think they will be effected. Even buying extra feed for animals & pets is important.
Trusting God but also trying to be wise for the times ahead. 🙏🏻
I am so thrilled that you two are coming out and talking about this. I am a prepper for some time now, but many Christians I know won’t prepare bc they say God is gonna take care of them. It’s daunting to try to get them to see the need to prepare. I mean truly God gave us a brain and he expects us to use it. There are warning signs everywhere, just as you mention in this video.
I have had friends tell me they are coming to my house if we have a PHTF situation…if I say to them I am preparing for my family and i have warned them to prepare themselves they get offended!
I wish someone would do a video “directed” to Christians lining prepping up with stories in the bible to get them to see it is biblical! Please consider this idea!
Thank you! BTW, I am local to you and have followed you from a ways back. Appreciate your videos.
Joseph prepared by storing up wheat in the seven years of plenty, so then, when the seven years of famine came, Egypt did not start over and they also helped to save Joseph and his family and many others.
This is why the Roman state created Christianity. Savior programming makes people dependent on the government and unlikely to resist or rebel.
The 5 virgins prepared
Yea I hate it when people say they’re coming to my house if shtf. I tell them they can as long as they don’t come empty handed. They must have a couple months worth of food and water at a minimum. If they don’t then I say the same thing as you except I add “and I will not take food out of my family’s mouths and have them suffer for your negligence” and usually that does the trick. Granted the selfish ones will still get offended but it’s a good litmus test to see who’s worth having around.
I always look at the preparations for the famine in the Bible and I tell people Noah was a prepper.
13 minutes in...AH HA!! Our Family Motto for 4 Generations now...Use Up, Wear Out, Make Do, or Do Without!! I still pull buttons from worn out shirts (and I cut the shirt up for rags, or rag rugs), good zippers...wash barely used ziploc bags to reuse...This is a long lost "art". Every time you open the trash bin....take a look at it. Does it have another purpose? This was a great video. Thanks!
My aunt would pull buttons from shirts she gave to goodwill
Made me nuts. The shirt was ruined.
She had way too many clothes to have any clothes get to rags.
Worn out kids socks make good rags too when u cut them open flat.
I reuse bread bags too, but only once. The plastic isn’t made to reuse and breaks down very quickly. Plastic storage bags can take a couple washings if no raw meat stored in them.
We use plastic wrap instead of bags more often than not. Way cheaper.
Here, if clothes are still good enough to use...they're used. But, we aren't a typical Western family. We live hard, and stuff wears out. You have a good point though. Those shirts your aunt donated probably never made it to goodwill shelves. Sad, because the fabric has great worth....Just think of the energy involved in making that fabric! I've always focused on traditional non-trendy doesn't really go out of style clothes...You know Henleys and oxfords, for men, basic skirts and tops for women that are timeless. They make their way from "Sunday/business clothes" to "casual"....to "work and play"....to rags to reuse. I imagine in the next few decades people will shake their heads at all that we've wasted. @@YeshuaKingMessiah
Very good way for living… this needs to be taught to our children and the next generation
Yep, that’s what we do. I’m a country girl and my husband grew up without financial security so we have the same motto. Words to live by.
For water storage, I’ve heard someone suggest filling all their empty mason jars with water (they take up the same amount of space anyway)
Great advice, I can water also
But boil the the jars of water 💦 for a great seel but only for 9 to 10 minutes
We do that and we actually used some a couple of weeks ago in an emergency.
I do, and when I use the jar, it is already sterile and the water goes in the canner
Lovecthis idea. Make sure your shelves can support the added weight.
And I’ll add to the list: if you’re not doing so already you should take your physical health seriously. Chopping firewood and hauling water require a healthy, strong, capable body. I live with my two elderly parents who didn’t take their physical health seriously in their younger years and now they’re extremely vulnerable and 100% dependent on others.
Very good list. I would also recommend
1) prepare for your animals and livestock! With the big freeze we're having all week, I stocked extra water for my chickens in case a pipe bursts. I bought extra heavy duty tarps in case the wind tore the ones keeping the wind out of their pen. Remember your duty to protect all within your care.
2) learning how to live without modern conveniences and communication EMOTIONALLY. Be ready to seamlessly, stresslessly switch to a power (or communication) down situation as in bad winter storms. This is as much an emotional readiness as much as practical. We made sure to have the lanterns we like and a box of homemade shortening candles in wide mouth pint jars which last almost a week each. Emotionally, we just know we don't even have to struggle if the lights go out. We have a system we like. Same with water catchment, food, laundry, etc.
Personally, we have chosen to prepare for problems in power supply by preserving food and heating in ways that don't require electric power. I don't want to have generators that depend on gas I might not be able to get and then lose freezers. Hey, I prefer to live on-grid for convenience, but if it disappeared tomorrow, I know how to live very simply because I was raised by Depression-era people who did just that. And, yes, this is the first year we put in two years of wood. Good idea!
#2 is a very very good point
Excellent comment here, thank you. ❤
Best Comment on the Internet! 👍👍👍🏆🥇😀💕🌸
@sweaterdoll, so can you share how you are keeping your refrigerated foods cold now with out using electricity?
@@HomesteadMercantile I do have electricity, but I don't keep a lot of refrigerated or frozen foods on hand. The main difference is attitude. If you plan on keeping food for weeks at a time in refrigeration, there's the problem. Before the 1970s, people didn't plan to store food in a fridge for more than 4 days or so. We ate our food and didn't keep it until it got lost in there.
I have a small 22 year old fridge/freezer and enough food for the week. If power goes out for too long, we'd lose some food, but not hundreds of dollars of food. That said, I have lived without refrigeration. In Alaska, it's cold enough most of the year to keep frozen food outside in an unplugged freezer and refrigerated food can be kept cool in a breezeway. In Arizona, it's dry enough to build a Coolgardie safe, which is an evaporative off-grid fridge. Here in the midwest, we do have a good cooler buried into the ground on the north side of the house and can move food there in most seasons if we need emergency refrigeration. Keeps food just fine.
But as I said, I plan my fridge so that fresh food is for a few days at a time. I don't use a fridge as a fairly long-term food "storage" device as many people expect. Milk, some produce, open jam jar, cheese, bread, leftovers that get eaten the next day or two, and a few condiments. Butter is out on the counter. In the freezer is butter, meat, bone broth, extra elderberry syrup that I make. Not much else really. If the power goes out, we just eat what we have in the fridge and try to keep the frozen food frozen by not touching it unless we have to thaw and cook it. In which case, it's probably winter and can keep outside cooked for a few days.
Stock toothbrushes. You don't need toothpaste. Dry brushing works just fine. Charcoal and baking soda do a great job also.
And when you buy them in bulk packs they are so cheap. A tooth or gums that are rotting can harm your whole body, starting with your heart.
Just found your UA-cam channel. I don’t do Facebook so I’m so glad you’re on UA-cam! I love your family, your lifestyle, your strategies….. so comforting. Thanks for bringing joy to my life. I’m 75, an only child, divorced after 46 years of marriage (he’s now married to “her”), and spend a lot of lonely hours. I do have two children, and four grandchildren but they are all so focused on their families, their careers, their lives (which I’m thrilled for) that they don’t have a lot of time for me. Thank you for filling many lonesome hours with wholesome, clean videos. May God continue to bless your home and family!
I'm divorced too, after 47 years + 5 years of dating, also an only child with no children, no family left. Being single ain't for sissies, that's for sure. My dog is my best reason for getting up in the morning. Maybe think about getting a pet? I know the shelters are full of unwanted animals, but if you're concerned about your age, buy from a reputable breeder who would be willing to take your animal back if needed. Most ethical breeders will actually insist on that and it will be part of their sales contract.
Trust God every minute of the day. He will NEVER abandon you. You can do this & thrive!
Thanks for your kind words. I’d love a pet but, living alone, I don’t want to be out at night, especially in bad weather, walking a dog. My grandson is allergic to cats. I do have a parakeet. Thanks for your concern. My church family is my anchor. Hugs from Georgia.
Everyone needs firewood regardless if you have a fireplace or wood stove the tx snowstorm showed us that...I was cooking over a fire in a galvanized wash tub in the front yard
I am blessed because I have a mt spring on my property
Have enough canning jars on hand to can everything in your freezer. While the jars are set aside waiting for the the electricity to go out can them with steam distilled water. You’ll be able to preserve your freezer stocks, have some water to use for the canning process and a few days of drinking. I live where hurricanes are a possibility so this has been my prep for decades.
Great tip! Thank you! 👍👍👍👏🏼👏🏼😀💕🌸
I have this plan also. I would either run generator long enough to can on my stove and/or propane outside. A friend does all her canning outside. We can share the work and the food.
Linda, yes my plan is can outdoors using propane. Aside from having water stored in the jars they will not need to be cleaned or sterilized before canning. They are clean, sterile and ready to go.
We just bought more qt sz so that we can can our meat in freezer & anything else in our freezers in garage, been canning bone broth a lot too
We also will can outside on our 2 propane grills & a Coleman 2 burner too. We have 4 ricks of wood, probably need to do more, we have it ageing, already cut down, just need to split n stack
i went back to having cookbooks, print recipies, i havent bought bread in over a year now, i bake my own. i do some "practice runs" to make my own soap, toothpaste, deodorant etc...making sure i have all my supplies ready if needed. i now have a binder with all my prepping stuff and much more. no power= no internet or very limited access. i would like to see how you are using your different generators and how it's all lined up! that's where i am at in my prepping! thanks for the info.
Ken, would you be willing to share how you organized your binder?
i would love yto know how you organised. your binder
I buy food in bulk at the restaurant supply store. I came for salt...and the shelf was bare. They are having supply chain issues. I have stocked up after thinking about how vital a nutrient salt is to our animals, and ourselves, taste of food, food preservation, and preventing dehydration. I have been using only baking soda to brush my teeth for 10 years and the hygienist always finds my teeth clean, no cavities, and no change in my gums. Also, salt will be a good trade item when supplies dwindle even more. Another find is a water preserver used by the military called H20 Resq. it contains copper and silver. 1 fl oz treats 55 gallons, or 12 drops per gallon, and maintains water freshness for 5 years. I hope this helps.
I checked on Amazon and can’t find anything called H2O rest. Where are you buying this?
The best tooth paste paste I have found is an all natural trader joe toothpaste and one of the main ingredients is baking soda.
What type of salt for my Animals?! Cats and Dogs?! I have some Redmonds real salt!!! I don’t know I could give them salt
important is information and meds. If the SHTF and the internet goes down we need books. I'm trying to declutter to move but I'm keeping every information book I have .Cook books, gardening books, How to whatever books. I'm tempted to get a kindle or notepad just to download all the information off the intenet in case the internet goes down. Also anyone taking serious meds should try to get some in storage.
If there is an EMP attack your kindle might not work, even if you have the content downloaded. Hard copy all the way. Things printed from the internet should go in binders in document protectors.
For those who can’t afford gold or silver. How about stocking up on items you can barter with, salt, matches etc
I've been doing that
Alcohol, and salt.
I agree and to me, I think that Gold and Silver is pointless but many disagree with me there. No one is going to care about gold or silver when SHTF, they will be worried about food and survival. I do not think that this will be short lived so my money goes into supplies. If people are getting low on supplies themselves, they won't be concerned with your gold and silver, precious metals you'll be able to pick up from those who have ran out of food for and you'll get if for next to nothing. Skills now that's the real value right there. Gardening, cooking, building, sewing, knitting, etc.
I found an old Singer treadle- the sewing machine and cabinet are in great condition. I keep an extra belt and sewing machine oil on hand just in case. Learning to sew on it is fun, but it is also a skill that will be valuable when things go south.
I have a garden and I'm a weaver. Each year I add a new garden bed to my backyard, working towards growing more of my own.
I love the idea of adding one bed each year.
Gardening, food preservation, sewing, leather work, metal work, brewing, alternative fuels, herbal medicine, first aid….all good things to learn and gain proficiency in.
Thanks so much this really helped to support my mindset. I am trying to set up my house with a homestead atmosphere but my husband does not support me. It makes it very difficult emotionally and I feel alone until I watch channels such as you. Makes me sad but I will keep setting up my home with this way for the protection of my family. Proverbs 31 shows me the way to go. Thanks for all you do!
Keep going, you're doing great. I'm doing the same thing. You're hubby will start when he's ready...mine did. prayer it up! 🙏
You are not alone with being the only one prepping in your family, but it's worth it for sure!! Another good channel to help your mindset is Appalachia's Homestead with Patara. She's a great encourager.
Thanks all I really feel supported and definitely not alone! How wonderful you all are!
With GOD’s help onward I go😘
You & me both ...keep on keeping on
@@sandraforsythe7908 so is god going to keep you safe from disaster?
There should be a follow up video on precious metals. Many people don't know where to buy and get scammed or what to buy. There are several different types of gold and silver to buy. Some are more "liquid" then others. Some are more recognizable and are easier to barter. Some are easier to counterfeit. Some have higher premiums and people need to get an education before throwing money at something they don't understand.
I agree! Multiple sources recommend precious metals, but there are so many sellers out there that it is hard to know who is reliable and which products are best.
Apmex is a great place for gold and silver. Safe and reliable.
For those dependent on electricity consider oil lamps, candles, and along with extra fuel, don’t forget extra fuel for the lamps. Lehman’s has great options. As for wearing clothes until you can’t, if you dion’t know how to darn and mend, learn. Watch for used sweaters that still have life in them. Have duplicates of garden tools, extra household tools, etc. If you don’t kt know how to fix things, learn.
I don't think light bulbs are that important especially when you have no electricity. If you're living in flats it's not possible to get a generator. I think you're already living off grid
Food Water Candles Propane 🕯 Gas and gas stove lots of toilet and kitchen paper medicines 💊 etc
And if possible plenty of Diesel ⛽ 4 your car 🚗
That fire wood stack is blowing my mind!!! Dreams and goals right there. But storing in What I assume is the basement?? How do you keep mice and bugs out of the house? Since I know wood is a wonderful attractant
In South Africa we have huge issues with our power grid. We sometimes go without power for 8 to 12 hours. We are just so lucky it doesn’t get very cold here.
God's blessings come in all shapes and manners!
I live in Ohio and have the same problem!😂
Hard books! Even if you can read all of the information now, you may need it later. Just as reference to things that can help you if things get really bad, like herbs of medicine, tanning hides or building a simple stove or oven. You may never need that information, but books will keep that information at your fingertips! I agree that 2024 may well be a year like we have never been thru before. God bless y'all and keep growing.
Our house was built in 1939, (922 sq ft) electric hadn't been updated since 1981. We did the update, then added a Gentrek whole house power back up, that runs on propane.
I started my food supply back in 2020. My husband recently asked me when we were going to start eating all the things I've been canning and dehydrating and my answer was "HOPEFULLY NEVER". They are for emergencies and if we need them, that means something bad has happened. :/
Donate anything you haven't used if the "best by" date is getting close.
"If you live like no one else, you'll be able to one day live like no one else!" Our motto as we scrimped and saved for so many years. We just paid off the home this last Thanksgiving! The greatest blessing that we could ever imagine. Now it is time to save up and save up!! One of our first purchases, after we get things saved up a bit, is to find a wood burning stove for our home. I've been creating a wood pile for some time now... in anticipation of a wood burning stove!!
I agree with all of these... wonderful things to think of. Thank you.
Yay way to go. We got out of debt a few years ago. It was a challenge but really a stretching and growing experience. A huge blessing as I do groceries and see the rising prices. I think how do people do it who have payments to make.
@@corinayoder6489 we are already saying the same thing. Only a few months out from paying it off and I don’t know how we would be doing it if we still had the mortgage. Still trying to stay within the same budget as we had before paying it off.
Grow your own food instead of grass or weeds. Lettuce is so easy! Save your seeds. I actually sold my seed bank when I needed money and sold starter vegetable plants when I lost my jobs during the pandemic. Save money online for a higher interest rate. Make a game of seeing how little you can spend to build an extensive pantry. Compare prices on everything if you have the time. Keep cash on hand when electricity isn't available, your cards can't be used. Rain barrels save water for gardening and cleaning. Large bags of pet food. Gas cans. Solar panels. Warm clothes and rain gear.
Hello Carolyn where are you from.
Excellent list. I would add having a security plan and the means to keep your loved ones and assets safe.
Super important!!!! Be your own first response! First aid kits and skills to use the stuff!
For people just getting started, it is overwhelming!
The way i oriented myself to start was realistically assessing what regional disasters I was most likely to experience, and prepare for that. We don’t have earthquakes or tornadoes, but we do have an aging infrastructure (due to decades of tax base loss, our local government didn’t have the resources to keep ahead of the decline), which leads to frequent burst water pipes and boil orders, potential for blizzards, flash flooding, and heat waves.
So I started preparing my home for surviving a two week blizzard snow in.
Learning about, and accepting, the conditions of your own region and community really helps get you started.
That is fantastic advice for new preppers.. excellent
This is the intelligent way to go. As a bonus, if you're prepped for a 2 week blizzard, you're also prepped for a 2 week interruption of your cash flow! As for my area- uneven rainfall- we go from drought to flash floods & back again, & we get hurricanes, too!😮
Moment of levity: I had to read the sentence three times to get the correct information. The sentence in question is 'we don't have earthquakes or tornadoes' which the first two times I read as earthquakes or tomatoes which did certainly confuse me! I'm still chuckling and think I need another cup of coffee!
@@cher4705 i distinctly recall killer tomatoes being a thing back in the day 🍅
Lolol.
You are to be congratulated. This is an excellent video. Exactly what we are doing here.
I live in an apartment but I started some of these things last year. I wish I had land even 2 acres but being one person it’s hard. Thank you guys
Hello shelly where are you from.
I am thankful I grow most of our food and Meats.
God tells us to save our lamp oil. We keep our brains active as we learn and build new skills. Very good information. Thank you. 💕
And as well as storing lots of different types of fuel, having a wind generator and solar battery systems makes you more independent
I love the non-fancy, non-Cricket, painter's tape labels! You are normal, we can do this and everything is still clearly labeled! And thank you for all of the advice. During the lockdown of the pandemic, my family unknowingly (at the time) wasted many hundreds of dollars not knowing what unperishable items we would actually eat. So, we had some practice with how to do it better.
Hi Michelle how are you doing today
So happy to hear this.
You inspire me!
I have been scrounging through my quilting closet for fabric to make dresses, tunics and skirts. Making a bright summer dress right now!
Planning my garden now, with an eye to canning and drying.
And most important of all, asking the Lord to renew my faith and keep the family strong.
I love you guys. Thank you for always providing excellent tips, action items, and solutions. 🙏🏻👏🏻
Hey Homesteading Family, thanks for the amazing advice. I'm working on a few preps myself for when eggs go back up to $4 per dozen (currently at $1.88 per dozen) and freezing them etc. plus vacum sealing chicken breasts, shrimp when its on sale, etc.
Think about more in-ground crops that can be left in the ground to lessen the canning load.
Reputable places to buy silver? Very hesitant because of all the scammers out there. This was a great list. Writing down the Use it up, Wear it out, Make do or do without on a poster board for my family. We do pretty good at this, but we could do so much better! We are raising three young daughters to be self sufficient and to have all the life skills. That’s a really important one.
Scottsdale mint is a great place to buy silver and gold. I've bought several times with them.
Many online reputable dealers.I like SD Bullion (christian based) and Monument Metals and are typically the best pricing. JM Bullion has a great variety but tends to be more expensive. There are other like Apmex and Money Metals but I have not purchased from them. I strongly suggest educating yourself on the topic before spending a lot. know your states tax laws on bullion. Some bullion is more "liquid" then others so what type you purchase is important and premiums can vary significantly.
Scottsdale Mint and SD bullion are Great, buy a little every 2 weeks, stay with 1 ounce coins, nothing Fancy !
Wonderful video! I’d like to suggest you give tips on how to store water long term, list of foods to can for long term, how to store fuels and gas long term, etc. For those of us who didn’t grow up homesteading we don’t know these things. Y’all are so blessed! And so are we to be able to learn from folks like you.
For water storage I use my Arizona sweet tea jugs to store water in. For food to can I would do different meats, potatoes, vegetables anything you eat always can what you eat.
We have supplies for straining water and pills for making it safe to drink. We can get water from a local river.
We buy those 50 gallon stackable water storage containers. I think we buy 6 at a time but they have different amount options available for people to buy what’s in their budget.
@@Just-Nikki storage of potable water takes up a lot of space. I simply dont trust plastic containers for contamination abd microbial spoilage too, but that just me! I have rain collection water butts 240L, four of those store 1 ton of water. I prefer to use water purifying tablets for drinking, and know it is safe.
As a retired mechanic, may I suggest a few items nonfood items that may be needed for your machinery? None of these items will spoil on the shelf!
1. Parts for garden machinery such as spark plugs, oil, belts, grease, filters, and hoses.
2. Parts for the home such as furnace filters, bulbs, vacuum cleaner belts and filters, dish soap (dawn), laundry soap and bleach,
3. Automotive items such as a set of spark plugs, belts (serpentine or old style), an alternator, spare belts and hoses, fuses, wiper blades, a head light bulb etc. The spare alternator can be purchased at a salvage yard inexpensively. You don't need to be a mechanic, just know someone that is (most of us are generous with our skills)
4. Focus on your yard sale skills. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED, NOT THE CUTE BUT USELESS STUFF. Garage sales are super places to find good used (practical) footwear, work clothes, and winter clothing.
Fuel backup likely needs stabilizers unless its ethanol free (difficult in my area)
Thank you so much for this video Josh and Caroline. I think all self-sufficiency /prepping roads lead eventually to homesteading. Being a producer rather than a consumer. Thank you so much for sharing this with your audience.
I for one would love to see some videos on shelf stable/pantry recipes, depression recipes, simple from scratch recipes that we can use to feed our families without the conveniences of easy grocery store items.
Hi Julia where are you from?
Great video! Yes the story of Joseph shows us to see and plan for the future, this year I had so much produce from my garden that I made a lot of money selling the excess at the farmers market, you both hit it on the head, working together is so key, know your strengths and weaknesses, so we can help each other, I also sold lots of garden starts, another income selling plants etc and the info to others is invaluable, God Bless, stay strong, love your channel, over here in eastern wash state.
Lanterns and candle also and get your heavy blankets and other supplies ready in one or 2 bins and so forth and make get out of dodge bags ready and put in your cars , and put black trash bags on your windows one to keep cold out and keeps people from peeking in your home 🏡 to see what they can steal😊
The black trash bags to black out windows sounds good. The I Dollar store or Dollar general has poster board that could be inside the bag for insulation.
Your last tip about silver is very important.
So right about learning and doing a new skill. Then you think how can I expand on this or what else can I do. Leads to many more possibilities! Gives you the confidence that you can do more. I am learning each day. How to build a fire, how to turn that propane on. How to buy spices and make my own taco and chili seasonings. I have too many eggs so going to try my hand at making egg noodles. I didn't do well at gardening last year but I did it and I learned. Another great skill to learn that you touched upon is how to use what you have, budget, save...It can be a great game.... Use less water, less electricity, eat less snacks, shop for cheaper insurance, save bags, bows, and tissue paper from holidays to use again, replace a bad habit with a good one, like exercise. Instead of wearing a shirt once, wear it the next day or again later in the week, so you have less clothes to wash saving on water, time and detergent. unless filthy of course. All of these savings can add up fast! Find ways to spend less and save more because there will always be a rainy day.
You can scramble eggs. Don’t cook. Freeze them for scrambling or use in baking later. 2-3 each bag
I want to say I appreciate this video. Practical thinking, and the reasons why. We have taken on the mindset of " Be prepared, no matter what the outcome". Because we DO NOT KNOW! This year, once again the southern weather pattern is leaning towards a possible active hurricane season. For us, this is THE BEST time to prepare for that!! No rush, you can make a list and chip away, as long as you are working on it. It's a great time to do home inspections- check those trees, make a to do list, and really work on getting it done! We have chosen to skip the indeterminate tomatoes this year, and focusing on less than 100 days of anything. One big tip- and it goes along with yours- activities of daily living. We made a list a couple of years ago of things we do every single day. Up at 5- coffee, and so I actually made ahead some quarts of coffee and froze them- and used them! One said, you have a generator, why bother?!? 2 reason- 1 frozen volume in my freezer-2- something I don't need to think about. Heat on my gas stove and go! Once you get that list, it makes it MUCH easier to prepare.
Very good information in this video!! Many of us are already accomplishing these but we pray that many who are just starting listen to this and begin yesterday. Keep up all your great work, thank you.
If you have any kind of land and are allowed to, go onto well water and have a manual pump option.
Excellent list- all the hard work you've done really shows and is something to be proud of. I thought for sure that #10 would be medicine and finding herbal alternatives when possible. I did like the crafting materials idea though - safe to say that's the one thing I have a lifetime supply of😊 I also believe having a strong spiritual connection is very important, no matter what path you follow. Thanks for the encouraging video and good tips.!
great video, really practical, uplifting and inspiring! thanks Josh and Carolyn and family!
Hello Katy where are you from?
You guys are really great. You bring up points that are imperative in trying to homestead. Different parts of the country offer amazing distinct challenges. You are correct. Water is one of the primary concerns. When we bought "the farm" we were so unaware of various challenges from water, winds, terrain, etc. Always looks so awesome in the summer. Wait till winter comes, wait till those 2 dug wells go dry, power out every time a storm comes through. I look back and chuckle. But at the time!!!!
I wanted to make a suggestion. If you have issues with water well(s), we found an alternative. Not only would our dug wells (and others in the area) would go bone dust dry when a dry year came around. The other issue is the wells would freeze. New England. We found several of those big above ground pools that people were getting rid of on C/L complete with pumps, filters, etc. free. Set them up and filled when good rains. Covered with heavy duty pool covers. Animals go through a lot of water, and you have to have that available for the family needs and the animals. Not for swimming. Thank you for your videos.
Smart water backup!
❤ one tip regarding propane that a lot if people do not realize. Propane does not vaporize at negative 40. I live in a state that regularly gets to negative 40. We put in propane a a backup source for heating and cooking. Propane is a liquid and it needs to vaporize for the equipment to be able to burn it. Otherwise the machine goes off and in trying to light it, burning out condensers, ignites etc. Which gets expensive to repair. So you also need backups to the backups. I have electric heat as well as wood heat. Looking into getting another source in case something goes wrong with those 3.
Great video guys. We are retired now and have been living like this for many years. But also being the age I am, this was how we kind of grew up, we didn’t waste, we wore our clothes til they wore out, and we composed. Thank you for this video, cheers 🌷🇨🇦
Excellent Video! I agree with everything you said. It's difficult to get others to see the imporance of doing this.. RIGHT NOW.
Thank you guys some great advise
we are working to all these solutions
with our new homestead farm
we are renovating here in France
All the best Budo & Tracy 🍺🤠👍🏻
This resonates with everything that my husband and i have been discussing/ goal setting, starting with getting out of debt. Well thought out! New subscriber here to stay.
Thank you for making this video. I know you have always shared your homesteading journey but it’s good to know your mindset. Makes y’all a bit more relatable.
Thank you, thank you for doing this video!! Too many youtube homesteaders act as if nothing is going on...great info!!!!
I'm female, retired, and alone and live off $673/m SS. Talk about spending EVERYTHING on planting! AND cooking from scratch. Been working on a food forest, a cottage garden, and a Monarch Way Station for a few years now. Thank God the house is paid for. If I had some money, the one thing, well two things I would get is #1) dig a manual or solar well and #2) get an Elmira wood cook stove. (The house is a 1910 bungalow and has a kitchen chimney for it). I'm on a half acre city lot in Boise.
Aside: I'm also one of those funny people who dress like the 1850's.
The minimum one receives from social security is 886 a month. I'd checkon why you're receiving less than the minimum.
@@g.r.picard2726
They said it's because I'm not paying rent (I manage one of my mother's properties in exchange for living rent free). And when I told them homeless people don't pay rent and get more than I do, they said that they give them the money so they COULD pay rent if they wanted to. And when I asked how much rent I'd have to pay to get the extra $200, they said $300. Which means I'd be even worse off. I wish SOMEONE would do right by me!!!
And for the last 4.5 months they've kept every penny because they said they over-payed my adult son's SSI years ago when I was his rep payee. They told me they were going to take 3.5 month's worth but when I looked at my bank account in February when I should've gotten half my money they took that month, too. Never did get a letter saying they were going to take 4.5 months instead of 3.5. And when I asked for a copy of the letter that said it was changed from 3.5 months to 4.5 months, they ignored me.
Thanks for the great video. I live in a city and I’m homesteading as much as I can but learning all the time. Security is a big issue in a city . That is on my mind all the time. I don’t have the option to move out of the city so it’s a tough subject to feel comfortable with.
Thank you, this was well diversified and clear.
This is one of the best common sense videos I've seen. Thank you for making it..
One of your best videos. One that everyone needs to watch and watch again and again.
Thanks so much for this video. I have taken the time to share this with some close friends. Other than #1, water, which I totally agree is very important, you have me really thinking of #10, starting a small business from home. I do have 2 at the present time BUT I bring product in which is not nearly as sustainable as producing something local. Thanks and I will work on figuring that one out :)
#8. 👍. I've been having to do that for a long time now. I automatically think first now "what do I already have that I could make it with".
Caroline and Josh. I just want to thank you for letting me know about Homestead. Tsunami, the book by Joel Salton it's a great book. It has really opened my eyes. I know it doesn't pertain to this video. But I just wanted to thank you. I couldn't put it down. Have a wonderful day.
Thank you
One of your BEST videos! I hope folks gather some new ideas from this. 2024 is gonna be an interesting year.
Good that you share this topic. When I encountered the strict laws and regulations surrounding food production and had to stop our farm, I tasted the atmosphere in which this happened. I knew that in the future it would be made very difficult for everyone who was involved in this, which is what is now happening to the farmers in our country (the Netherlands). For years I have continued to pray, is it true, Father, that we must prepare? Then I read the Bible Luke 22:35 And he said unto them, If I sent you forth without purse, and scrip, and sandals, have ye lacked anything? And they said, Nothing. 36 And he said unto them, But now whosoever hath a purse, let him take it, and also a purse; and he that hath none, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword. In verse 53 He says, But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. It was as if He is highlighting this and we must prepare ourselves because it is a dark hour we are living in.
I had a similar experience today when I read Proverbs 21. Verse 20 says "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down."
@@gracechadi Great, thank you for sharing, there are clearly more texts in the Bible regarding preparing yourself than the well-known ones such as Noah and Joseph.
Great video! Love the "Use up, wear out, make do, or do without" motto. I am always looking at items - how else can I use this or that so I do not have to buy something.
Great video and I'm happy to say my husband and I have achieved seven out of your ten suggestions. Storing more fuel, getting our of debt and starting a homestead side business are next on our list.
If your generator needs a battery to start, make sure it is charged. A good idea is to start your generator every month to make sure it is in operating mode.
This is an excellent video. Great suggestions, given succinctly and without fear-tactics. Thank you both for putting it together.
Hi Anna how are you doing today
Buckle up is right! Maybe a little late to get started on food preparedness, but feeling the urgency to get on it now. Glad to be along for the bumpy ride.
I've lived off grid before and turn it off in the winter and know that I can comfortably live off 5 gallons of water a day. I also dug a 1200 gallon pond a few years ago. (I turn the breaker on in February to start seedlings indoors). Boise also gets less than 12" of rainfall a year so this season I'm experimenting with dry farming. And not just the crops they suggest. Double dug and mulched a lettuce and a chard so far. We'll see how it goes. I have the seeds in ground and under milk jugs right now and will use a white shade cloth when they get bigger. 🙏
Well done, Josh and Carolyn. Spot on.
Live like no one else now, so we can live like no one else later...... Yep.
Hi Amy where are you from?
Great video. Very practical and down to earth advice that anyone can use to start improving their situation.
What may be good, if you had a check off list for folks just getting into this that they could download and print off. ( free of course, smiling ) It's never to late to start ! Growing up I was fortunate enough to see my Grandmas, Aunts and my Mom do gardening, canning, freezing, making new clothes out of old worn out ones, darning socks and am so blessed that my husband and I are on the same page of doing life together in all these ways. Has always been a part of our lives , continues to be and we keep learning new ways, experimenting to always try to improve.
Great info with an approach that is helpful and sustainable. Great comment, “live prepared”!
Thank you for sharing.
This is one of the best get started lists I've ever seen. I would add memorizing the Bible as it may become illegal to have one in the future. Do you guys have a video on how to be prepared for animal needs or one on best skills to have on a farm/ homestead? Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge in such a calm and proactive way❤❤ sadly I've had to unsubscribe from channels that turned doom and gloom over every little thing.
All excellent suggestions. In the old days my grandparents called it a way of life. They taught me well and I’m so glad I listened. My grandparents and parents told me stories about what it was like to life through the Great Depression. My maternal grandparents did better than my paternal grandparents, but I learned valuable lessons from both of them. And yes, Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University was the best course I ever took. It was life changing. If your followers havn’t considered the class, they should. It teaches you a whole different way of dealing with money. Thanks for the great video.
My method is gaining knowledge. I'm learning about gardening and preserving. Im collecting books that teach me to do things, and useful items for being self sufficient. My place is small and I live in town so I can't really hoard a lot of food. Being alone, it would just go bad.
I thankyou from the bottom of my heart for this video. We are working on getting ahead on our preparedness for the future.
I love that your video is actually about prepping and not a ruse to discuss politics. Love #8
Good advice. Thank you for doing this. We've been trying to do this for years. We have backups for our backups. Its taken years to Get where we are today. We will end up being the lifeboat for our kids and their families. Good information.
Glad it was helpful!
Another great video guys!!! Thanks for all you do! ❤ all y’all, Kristy in Missouri 😃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Love using up what you have and create what you need with what you have for less. I started making our own laundry detergent this last year and it's so much cheaper...same with toothpaste. It's amazing what we can make and create for less. I feel blessed to have a lot of skills under my belt. I've been prepping for a few years now, more so since the Plandemic because we moved and have the room to store items and i have the time now. Great video...very helpful with water and gas tips as these are areas I'm focusing on. We do have emergency food and water but one could never have enough water, to cover all the purposes we use it for. Prepping for our dog is more of a challenge as she has a sensitive stomach and a same steady diet is key...so a roasted chicken has to be on hand at all time, so that's a challenge. Prayers to all for a safe 2024.
Can chicken meat in pint jars then it’s ready to go. Just pop the lid and use.
I raise chicken quail & rabbit which I can into dog food. dont know what your fog's dietary needs are, but dry dog food doesnt have a very long shelf life due to the oils. just a thought. all info & ideas are helpful when we are trying to think outside the box & prep. sending you & your family health & safety wishes. ❤😊
Good morning, so happy to see you both this morning. I have missed so much.
No . 11 Protection
Idky so many find the idea controversial. It's important
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I have been thinking of growing a few plants that I could try and sell. I've always figured out how I could make money ever since I was 12 years old. I still feel the pride that I felt when I told my dad how I was going to make money to buy a new pair of sneakers. My father passed when I was 15. I saved and bought my first used car cash at 19. Sadly my children never got the same bug that I have even at 62. They are just quick to tell me to throw it out. Nope! Not me! Someone else may need it or I can find use for it or it may have more life in it. Thank you both!
In agreement with you. And grateful for this list. I like the concept of the homesteader's mindset. No matter where a person lives, doing any combination of the list as it fits improves probability of being prepared for problems. And living the lifestyle today only helps the transition when hard times come. Thank you!
I wanted to share something else with you. Feb of 2023 I started watching your videos along with some other homestead UA-cam influencers. I started canning in the Spring, March or April. At one point I responded to one of your videos with a praise, that I could eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all winter if I had to. I don't have to do that. But was enjoying sharing the progress with you as you have had quite an influence on my shifting to this mindset and life-style.
A fresh update: Over the fall I started learning pressure canning and made a few meal- n-a-jar recipes. Christmas 2023 family was home with me the week before Christmas. We ate all lunches and a couple of supers from the pantry that week! It was fantastic!! Delicious food! No fuss! Very little mess! Very little expense! No -"What do you want for this meal conversation circles." It was so freeing! Thank you!!!
Thank you for your influence in my mindset shift toward a homesteading lifestyle!!!
That is wonderful 😊
I respect you both. Thank you for sharing your country life with everyone. Lets move forward to the old ways.