The All New 12 Months Of Prepping – One Month At A Time

It was right about this time that the term “prepper” started to enter the mainstream.  Of course this was pre-2012 and the deadline for the apocalyptic prophecies of 2012 loomed ahead.

A lot has changed since then.  Preppers are now a force to be contended with, so much so that they have been defined by Wikipedia as:

“A group of individuals who are actively preparing for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. They often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures (e.g., a survival retreat or an underground shelter) that may help them survive a catastrophe.”

Who Are the Preppers?
In reading the comments on Backdoor Survival as well as the many emails that are sent to me from new and old followers alike, I have learned that Preppers are young and old, male and female, employed and not.  They are truly a cross-section of humanity, not only in North America but throughout the world.

Businesses large and small have jumped into the foray, offering products and services designed to capture the attention of this large group who seeks solutions in their quest for self-sufficiency.  Sadly, many of these business are preying on fear, while hawking overpriced goods and info-products that proclaim doomsday is right around the corner – unless, of course, you whip out your Visa card and spend your hard earned money on their products.

Okay, I admit to being a bit facetious but not by much, since I too have fallen for the occasional marketing ploy.

So where are we now? It is humbling to realize that while I now have a lot of stuff, there are still some gaps in my skill set, my gear and my personal knowledge bank.  It is logical for me to assume that you feel the same way.
Getting Prepared – One Month at a Time
You might say that 12 Months of Prepping – One Month At a Time has been a signature series for this website.  That said, it is a bit dated and dare I say, long in the tooth.  Not only that, there were ultimately 14 months with the later two somehow dropping off into oblivion.

And so, as I mentioned in my New Years Day recap of the Best of 2013, I am embarking on a re-launch of the “Getting Prepared Series”.  The plan is to start over with month number one and see where it takes us.

Some things are certain.  Each month will continue to break things down into manageable chunks that do not overwhelm and do not foster frustration and the “P” word, procrastination.  In addition, each month will include a new section for advanced tasks and skills.  These are the extra credit items that you can choose to do in month one or come back to in year number 2.
So What About Those Missing Months?
That is a dilemma.  Rather than losing them, I am sharing them below and will re-introduce them again in the monthly “advanced section” along with other useful tasks. projects and skills.

MONTH 13

Link:  Getting Prepared Month 13: Taking Your Preparedness Plan to the Next Level

SUPPLIES & GEAR

• Dried Beans – 1 pound per person
• White Rice – 1 pound per person
• Solar battery charger
• Rechargeable batteries for your flashlights
• Add a minimum of 3 gallons of water per person and per pet to your existing supplies

TASKS

• Evaluate what types of disaster or crisis may occur in your area or in your life
• Perform a walk-around inventory of your home and using the list compiled above, take steps to mitigate damage if a disaster should occur
• Examine your financial resources and evaluate how long you could survival without an income from your job of other sources
• Plan what to do in the event you must evacuate your home
• Update your emergency contact list

MONTH 14

Link:Getting Prepared Month 14: Emergency Water Shut Off and Practice for Grid Down

SUPPLIES & GEAR

• Dry pasta – 2 pounds per person
• Toilet Paper – 3  (or more) rolls per person
• Trauma supplies for your first aid kit
• Add $100 to your emergency cash fund

TASKS

• Practice shutting off your water supply
• Spend 8 hours without power, water, gas, computers and cellphones

Ready, Set, Let’s Get Prepared Together
I am not an expert.  I have not gone to survival school and I do not have a PhD is bushcraft or bugging out.  Instead, like you, I am an ordinary person that strives to decrease my dependence on others so that I can provide for my own basic needs.

Do things always turn out well?  Of course not.  I have more than my share of bloopers and foolish purchases.  I have days (months?) when my survival gear has not be utilized and tested, leaving myself open to equipment failure just when I need it most.  Sometimes I give up in frustration and say enough is enough.

So you see, like you, I sometimes take a step backward to move 3 steps forward.  I learn from every stumble and expand my knowledge with each mistake.   And as trite as it sounds, I hope that what I learn, what I do and what I share will make the road to self-reliance just a bit easier for the next person.
The Final Word
As individuals, we can not prevent a natural disaster nor can we single-handedly stop the wave of economic collapse that is sweeping the globe.  What we can do is reduce our reliance on others and take steps to provide our own food, water, shelter, first aid and personal defense.

That is what we do here at Backdoor Survival.  So let’s pull on those hiking boots and start anew as we journey toward the all new 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

—————

Gaye Levy, also known as the Survival Woman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and has moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable and self-reliant lifestyle through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. At Backdoor Survival, Gaye speaks her mind and delivers her message of prepping with optimism and grace, regardless of the uncertain times and mayhem swirling around us.

The article The All New 12 Months Of Prepping – One Month At A Time published by TheSleuthJournal – Real News Without Synthetics