What Do You Most Want to Learn About Prepping? [POLL]
I get asked a lot of questions about prepping but every now and again I like to run a poll to help me prioritize your needs. This will help me make The Survivalist Blog better and more useful for you.
I’ve taken the 9 most common topics and listed them in a poll below. What I want you to do is to tell me which you want to learn about the most. Most of us want to learn about more than one but if it was just one which would it be?
Expand upon your choice in the comments (tell us what you want to learn about the topic, why you selected it etc) and feel free to list the rest in order of your priority.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Gosh man, all of it, lol. I have some priorities, but I'm sure they'll differ from others. Might want to add one more category HOW TO STAY GRAY, i.e. how to blend in with the crowd and not draw attention to you or your group.
If there is one thing I really appreciate about the internet, its the nearly instantaneous feedback you get from a lot of folks who have opinions on how to accomplish tasks. Years ago, Ragnar Benson or Duncan Long were basically the go-to Gurus, buts thats now changed.
Thanks you for the blog and keeping at it.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
i see that lioving off the grid has the highest number of votes. i would probably sya that was my biggest interest as well if where possible for me,but i live in a suburban setting(on 5 acres)and living off grid would be an expense i couldnt afford. solar is extremely cost prohibative, and its against my local codes to drill a well or have a septic system.although if the shtf i think all bets would be off.therefore defending my home against the unprepared(hungry mobs) would be something of extrem importance and necessity for me.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I would be interested in ideas on how to cook without giving off scents that would draw others, or how to minimize scents.
I'd also like to learn trapping/hunting skills, as I have no skills in this area. But I'd especially like to learn how to do those things without guns.
And I'd like to learn realistic home defense strategies, as well as realistic ways to hide things within your home or create hidden cubbies for children/people. (like priest holes)
December 17th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
The more you learn, the better you understand how little you actually know.
I've been reading your blog for awhile & appreciate the info given on all these topics.
My family & I are currently in a 9 to 5, 2 car payment & a mortgage type of situation.
Short term – We are trying to work our way out of debt while simultaneously getting some basic prepping done (in case TEOTWAWKI comes sooner than later).
Long term – We hope to establish an off-grid, self-reliant homestead in a more secluded location.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
you missed all the above vote at the bottem
December 17th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
How about none of the above. I am fully prepped and don't need to learn anything from the above list. I am not being smart mouthed either, if TSHTF tomorrow, I am hot to go. Survival blogs bore me these days, same old same old over and over again…
December 17th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I VOTED FOR LIVING OFFGRID.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFO ABOUT OFFGRID LIVING IN THE CITY LETS SAY AFTER A COLLAPSE OR DISASTER OF SOME KIND. FROM JAY IN NC
December 18th, 2009 at 12:40 am
bctruck,
Solar doesn't need to cost a lot – if your keep your required wattage low. I use a Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit that I bought from amazon.com and batteries from Wal-Mart. Total about $500.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:01 am
Sunfighter,
Glad to hear you have learned everything you need to know and are so well prepared. Why don't you share some of that knowledge – maybe then you won't be so bored.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Hey m.d,Yeah I'm with anon12:58 everything.We all love guns,but except for newcomers we all have favorites and know what works for us.Medical I dont know jack.How bout decent recipes on how to use all of bisons raw grain!alternative power a lot of still dont have covered. Thanks man.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:27 am
well another way of putting it .for me ,i do have an extreme interest in alternative power,solar being the source that interest me most.but in order to run the things ive grown to depend on im afraid the wattage would be so high that i wouldnt be able to afford all the solar panels. however, solar power generation certainly has come way down in price since ,say ,just 10 years ago. there is no telling how low the cost of panels and controllers go as more people make them at lower costs and more efficeintly.(i dont guess i need to tell people i am a horible speller).i cant see myself living on much less electricity then i do now as i am pretty frugal with the "juice" and every bulb in my house is flourescent, even my security lights.so i quess what im saying is id like to change my vote to liviong off grid. as far as defending my retreat,,,,,well truth be told id probably feed my unprepered neighbors rather than shoot at them.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:07 am
My vote is for living off grid. This would be the hardest thing to do with today's modern world. Building septics and cisterns to store water could be included in this. M.D's provided all this info for us people,read,live,and learn.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Howdy Mr. Creekmore. Thank you, once again, for being humble and generous enough to open up this dialogue and poll to your readers. It takes a big person to allow others input into their blog and writing!
Although I chose living off grid as my first choice, like some others there are others I'm certainly interested in trapping/hunting wild game, defensive tactics for your property and medical are all areas I need to get more info and skill in.
THANK YOU, for your work in helping all of us. Looking at this poll I'm excited to see what you, and others, will come up with in the new year. I know it will be beneficial to all……certain no one knows "it all" and am confident others will understand, and appreciate, there is always wisdom to gain in all areas of life!
Merry Christmas,
MaMaBear in the Mitten
December 18th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I would like to see more writing on the use of powerless technology that can be used in the home and on the homestead that can move me closer to not depending on my electricity/gas company.
Not solar and the like as that is expensive. But basic tech tools, ideas, and the like. Things that I can make or buy that can move me that way.
Like: Hand water pumps. Which are the best. Are their better ones out today? What is the cost of putting a well in to use one? Can I hook it to the house water system? Etc.
Devices that I can make to help. Their has to be a blend of by-hand tech things that we can all use to move this way.
Redbeardguy in NC
December 18th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Food Storage 45 (16%) There are so many reasons to preserve your own food from fresh sources including cost control, salt and sugar control, curbing preservatives, and convenience.
Cooking and Cheap Eating 24 (8%) Everyone should learn more about this. Food at home is about 1/6 the price of food in restaurants. Plus, you are not at the mercy of who ever is cooking.
Living Off Grid 106 (38%) More and more people are seeing the possibilities of doing this. If you have a little piece of land in the sun, you can reduce your waste and energy costs to near zero. Very good for everyone concerned.
Guns and Related Gear 4 (1%) Very relieved to see this isn't number one! Psssst! There are about 1000 different weapons that can be built from minimal materials and none of them require a permit. The trick is to actually make stuff so when you need to make stuff you can do it quickly.
Book and Product Reviews 5 (1%) Let others learn the hard way, and then read their advice—saves money and recovery time.
Trapping / Hunting Wild Game 17 (6%) Only about 1 out of 20 Americans are mentally prepared to kill an animal, even for food. Be sure to read up on edible wild plants too, just in case you are one of the other 19.
Retreat Defensive Strategies 38 (13%) Everyone should have a plan for emergencies but don't get too caught up in elaborate plans with bunkers or weapons unless you really are committed to it.
Bug-Out Strategies 20 (7%) If you (or your nearby neighbors) have ever had to leave your home in an emergency(Flood, hurricane, earthquake, etc.), then read up and plan your bug-out kit.
Medical 15 (5%) This is another subject that needs practice, not just a good book on the topic. Volunteer for search and rescue, rural fire departments, or with your local Red Cross to get proper training.
My Meditation calendar for today says, "It is better to look ahead and prepare than it is to look back and regret." Those, my children, are words to live by.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
MaMaBear in the Mitten,
We will do our best to make the blog better in the new year, we can always improve and learn together – And Merry Christmas to you.