You’re prepared for the worst, but what about reality?

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Free Trapper

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nah, i'm talking about people own like 5-10+ properties with that many or more houses, they have literally no chance of defending it all. unless your name comes up in the search of those individuals, i wouldn't worry and just keep booby trapping your pills.

last i checked we still had more houses than people so.....yeah. lots of them are already vacant.
Maybe I'm not smart enough to know, but why would you want to raid a vacant house?
 

HoLeChit

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Have given this a lot of thought over the years. Even though I have a fairly good sized lot in Del City, I just couldn't get farming the property cost effective. I've had big gardens, and I haven't had a fruit tree live yet. Water consumption should be looked at if on a fixed income, because hobby farming, gardening, or raising livestock takes lots of water. Converted the old storm shelter into a cistern, since it holds water really good. That helped with the watering. Basically, at least under my circumstances, the lowest common denominator is not growing or raising, but storing. It made more sense to buy whats needed, and then use the property for storage. Small grain bins can be purchased and placed in the back yard (check Edmond ordinances, but I don't know of any Del City ordinance which requires a permit to do this), also small tin buildings work well, with blue foam board for insulation and a window unit combo AC/heat to keep items at a standard temp. Garage works well too, but I like to keep my Jeep in this one. I've used vacuum sealers often over the years, but going to invest in a vacmaster chamber vacuum machine, and another freeze dryer. Those harvestright freeze dry machines look pretty good (but costly). Sam's has bulk beans, flour, etc. which is still fairly reasonably priced. My dogs like chickens, so I don't keep any anymore, because the dogs are security and would have to build some elaborate chicken run. Not going to do that.

Anyway, just a few thoughts. I like this topic and interested in what you decide to do.
I don’t know that water costs are going to be too terrible, from what I have read a 8ft x 4ft garden needs roughly 20 gallons of water per week. Even if I triple my garden size to 3 8x4ft beds(which is what I am planning on) my water needs will only increase 240 gallons per month, which even with Edmonds exorbitant water fees, will cost me less than $5 per month. I could lose 50% to evaporation and Overwater by 20% and still not pay more than $10/month.
 

HoLeChit

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Maybe I'm not smart enough to know, but why would you want to raid a vacant house?
Light bulbs, free water, building materials, fixtures, crap left behind. It happens in other countries. I had friends who as they were pulling out of the driveway of their old home in Spain, watched people removing light bulbs and fixtures from their old house.
 

tynyphil

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I'm on a 7 acres. Have livestock, gardens, generators, etc and lots of protective equipment but if I was on a city lot/house I'd convert my garage for raising rabbits. Very prolific and easy to raise.......the other white meat.
 

HoLeChit

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I'm on a 7 acres. Have livestock, gardens, generators, etc and lots of protective equipment but if I was on a city lot/house I'd convert my garage for raising rabbits. Very prolific and easy to raise.......the other white meat.
I’m not opposed to rabbits, but it’s likely a hard battle with the old lady. They’re entirely too cute and cuddly looking for her to go along with it.
Also, Half of our garage is taken up by her car and our camping stuff, the other half is taken up by my tools. Garage isn’t happening.
 
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sherrick13

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Also I read that Edmond requires you to take a course to keep chickens. We do use a few containers to grow a few things like tomatoes and bell peppers. Wife tried carrots this year but the container was wrong for that. I plan to try zucchini and yellow squash next year if I can. Depends on if I can figure out how to haul a 16 ft cattle panel to make tomato cages on my Toyota Rav4. :rotflmao:

We found it cheaper to just sale shop. Every week I watch the sales that start on Wed at Aldi & Sprouts. When something we use is on sale we buy a little extra and when not, we buy just the basics. We shop Aldi every week because of their low prices on many things then one week we will shop Walmart too, the next week Crest foods. We also shop Sprouts when they have a good sale because most times they are over priced.


All this. Look for sales and buy non perishables and stash them in cool, dry areas. You will be amazed how much food you can put back in a few months.
 

yukonjack

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I haven't done it myself, but have heard that you can buy bulk food from the Latter Day Saints church. Not overpriced and good stuff. I checked once a few years ago and they had an OKC office at the time.

That‘s where I get my food storage items. I only buy stuff that I use on a regular basis. On average I only keep a 4 months supply on hand. Every other year I rotate these items into regular use and then restock. Good prices. And the public is welcome.
7C9411AC-F991-401F-BCB3-0D6187F0587F.jpeg


https://providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org/food-storage?lang=eng
 

tynyphil

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I’m not opposed to rabbits, but it’s likely a hard battle with the old lady. They’re entirely too cute and cuddly looking for her to go along with it.
Also, Half of our garage is taken up by her car and our camping stuff, the other half is taken up by my tools. Garage isn’t happening.
I get that, but I'm mostly talking about when it comes to surviving......you can't eat the car or your tools.
 

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