how do you tell if someone is serious about preparing for ?? got green beans??

[rockriver]

how do you tell if someone believes what they are saying?
--
i have a friend who is a wonderful evengelical Christian. he also works to convince me that
very hard times are coming based on Bilblical principles and predictions.
but he WILL NOT prep at all.

i have a friend that who posts on the internet about prepping. he has a cool picture
on web sites. he's macho. he has a macho truck. i think he lives in a fancy condo in a big city.
he's been known as a prepper for years. he is a gun nut.

i have a friend who is a wonderful shot with any kind of weapon. he competes. he builds. he loads.
he chuckles when i ask about prepping ( storing, putting up, gardening, location) and he pats his
(whatever rifle he's holding) saying "with this i can get whatever i want."

we all know similar folks.

i snapped green beans tonight for the first time in decades. my parents were preppers. they just didn't know it. large garden, chickens, milk cow. fuel tank. they came out of the depression and the
possibility of bad times was ingrained into their soul.

by their ACTIONS and by their WALK they spoke... regarding this issue.

i've been on this website for about 2 years i think. as i snapped beans tonight it dawned on me,
that if i really believed we were going to have hard times, i'd have had green beans last year in our mini garden..

i ain't confessing nothing... but it's dawned on me that a lot of folks are doing a lot of talkin' and no walkin' that a lot of folks are looking for someone to tag along behind. looking for someone to take care of them when the shtf.

in my humble opinion, only number 3 above believes what he's saying.

no offense meant to anyone... i'd be happy if no one responded to this post...
just sort of self evaluating...
we are all at different "places" and different mindsets...
but i guess i am confessing.. i haven't been serious at all.
you got green beans growing?

[MustangGal]

No green beans at my house, but most of us don't much care for them and I actually despise them. So I am sticking with "store what you eat."

I know I am not as hard core as perhaps I should be, but we want to have some enjoyment out of life too. I know we are in better shape than most people we know, but that doesn't mean we are prepared, just preparing.

[Lowdown3]

About a 50 x 60' plot of them that will be ready in a few weeks. Sad part is after cleaning, reorganizing and building more shelving in a "storage" room (formerly known as the "war room" in our home), we realized we could have skipped planting green beans altogether this year. Still have quite a surplus from last year.

Rice, lentils, green beans and some rabbit meat mmmmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm, now that's a meal!

Actually, I'm the dude that lives in a fancy condo in a big city, I just lack the macho picture and macho truck ;) LOL

Good post!

I've always told people- "you want to know how serious someone really is about preparing, don't look at their armory, look at their pantry."

[tech]

look at their pantry."

Which one? LTS, dehydrated, home canned, or store canned? LOL

Good thread, as there are all too many that talk the talk quite well, but in reality are single-faceted...only firearms, only food/water, or only a garden. Don't get me wrong. These things are good but take time to acquire. I can understand not having the cash to do it all at once, but to limit ones' self to one area is a recipe for disaster. Like most things, a balance is necessary to have a viable preparedness plan...and mere talk and non-implemented plans don't cut the mustard. How's that old saying go - A good plan acted on today is 100 times better than a perfect plan tomorrow. (or similar)

[WiseOwl]

I echo the good thread comment.

I figure this. At the rate that I am going on one income and spending wisely and sparingly, by the time I am 35, I should have enough food to last til I am 40. I think I have sewn up the "gear" department because of my love for backpacking and hiking. With my kids getting older over the next few years, I can outfit them accordingly.
My whole thing is water. I have found out that storing my "bathing" water in empty 2Liters in the bathroom and hall closets isnt going to work anymore. Yes, because of the size they are easy to transport but by having those cheap white metal shelves in our closets (we rent cant rebuild for strength) I am having to buy more bottled water that I can stack elsewhere.
I know some folks that have the AWESOME arsenal and think that in a PAW they are going to Rambo what they want. Whose to say they make it past a week because they have no water or first aid.

I have said before I am a novice in the "prepping world" but my willing to learn and retention of knowledge gives me a extra boost and raises my confidence. I know that 3 years ago, I would have ate my fingernails trying to figure out what to do. 3 years later, with 2 kids, I think I have a better plan of action for any situation.

Personally, I don't know anyone that preps to the level that I do and I am a novice level. And thats just because of funds. But, I know folks that think they are just gonna take whatever they want. I tell em that all someone needs is a .22 and a lucky shot and they are out of the game quick like, CTRL ALT DEL.


Oh and didnt do green beans this year because of the uncertainty of our living situation. Last year, I got about 15lbs and we ate them all up quick like. Hey, we love green beans!

[rockriver]

60 x 50 !!
now that right there... well that's a bunch of beans.
as i was saying we are all at different levels.!!
i hope you have an "automatic snapper"

i'm not pushing green beans over pintos/butter/whiteacre/zipper...
it just happens to be the bean i was shelling when i realized i hadn't been very serious.

oh yeah, the 5+ gallons tuned into 5 packed tight quart bags for the freezer

[1Admin]

Try Romas. We just cut the ends off, longer ones get cut in the center. The wife cuts each one in the center, I get lazy after a few hours ;) I guess you could snap them.

It's kinda our staple vegetable to put up. Don't be impressed.... Beans are easy to grow, which is why we grow a fair amount of them :)

[SeldomSeenSlim]

To me the difference is what people do as opposed to what people plan to do. I don't subscribe to the idea that 'survival' or 'preparedness' is only for reacting to some event or another. It's just life.

Sustainable living isn't just for hippies. What's the alternative? Unsustainable living. Who thinks to themselves, "I'm going to live in a way that will eventually lead to hardship."? Nobody, but people do it. They get caught up in the race to accumulate the most stuff regardless of whether or not that stuff is even useful. I know a lot of folks that balk at the idea of spending $1000 on a sustainable supply of potable water for their home, yet will spend that much or more without a thought on a television set.

Most people's plan is to work, invest money and hopefully have a big enough chunk of money left at the end to support themselves in their older years. It's all built around the collection of money. Something that changes in value and as we've seen in recent years, can disappear in the blink of an eye. Land, water, equipment, food, ability to make food, etc. all have commercial value as well as use value. I can sell a cow or eat it. In a world economy based on infinite growth, the things you can buy today will be the cheapest you can buy them for. By purchasing items that will last a lifetime and can be put to use one is reducing their cost of living while maintaining quality of life. Good times or bad times, the value of food might change in terms of monetary value, but the use value is always the same.

To me it's not about surviving the zombie apocalypse or EMP blasts. It's about creating a good quality of life for the rest of my days. Solving problems like food, utilities, etc permanently instead of paying an ever increasing bill that relies on outside sources.

[Rmplstlskn]

I think even the best "prepper" is overwhelmed with it all and just does the best they can with the TIME and $$$ available... It really is never-ending, as there is ALWAYS something that is light or weak... I know with me, a good chunk of time and $$$ goes to prep items of all types (food, equipment, tools, buildings, etc...), let alone the time needed to maintain it all, even at a homestead level of "chores to do." Yet I also do not live like the world will end tomorrow... We have a camper and kayaks, and we go on camp/kayak trips often, which sucks up the whole weekend and/or holidays. We have social lives... We enjoy the good things modern society provides. All of this is why I am not on the forum as often as i would like, as I am doing something, somewhere... I live rural, but not deep in the boonies, as i do like access to a town and what it offers...
Basically, I have factored in the risks I BELIEVE are likely and then play the ODDS GAME from there... Indeed, everyone plays the ODDS... Even the most prepped and remote of us (the death of Rawles wife is an example, how do you prep for that?). We prep/train/learn to STACK the odds we have chosen for ourselves.
Personally, I believe the divine hand of YHWH has put us where we are right now by the doors that opened and closed to this point. So I will "survive" as long as The Father has alloted me to live in this place, but I am open to move, bug out, or whatever, if I believe that is the NEW plan for me. So I trust that what I have will be sufficient as long as I have been doing the best I can, and that He will provide what I lack...
But I also am under no delusion that bad times will come and people WILL die, and I may be one of them. So be it... But I will go down fighting and resisting...

[Rmplstlskn]

As for the different survivalist/prepper types... Who is to say who is "serious?" And for what scenario? For example, Ragnar benson has a great book on URBAN SURVIVAL and why it may be the BEST OPTION for certain scenarios... Not all scenarios, to be sure, but for some, yes. But that goes against the sterotype...

In my book, anyone who is walking in the right direction at a good pace, no matter at what level they are at, is OK in my book. Those like the Christian who sticks his head in the sand and believes he will be raptured out after Sunday brunch before the crud hits the fan, so he does NOTHING but talk about what may come, is the FOOL, IMO. I'd rather hang with a MORAL, godless survivalist... And there will be PLENTY of "take what I need" survivalists too, as well as "take what I need" neighbors with a scoped deer rifle laying in wait.

Those WHO DO know those WHO DO when they see their lives, as well know THOSE WHO DO NOT...

[Lowdown3]

To me the difference is what people do as opposed to what people plan to do. I don't subscribe to the idea that 'survival' or 'preparedness' is only for reacting to some event or another. It's just life.

Sustainable living isn't just for hippies. What's the alternative? Unsustainable living. Who thinks to themselves, "I'm going to live in a way that will eventually lead to hardship."? Nobody, but people do it. They get caught up in the race to accumulate the most stuff regardless of whether or not that stuff is even useful. I know a lot of folks that balk at the idea of spending $1000 on a sustainable supply of potable water for their home, yet will spend that much or more without a thought on a television set.

Most people's plan is to work, invest money and hopefully have a big enough chunk of money left at the end to support themselves in their older years. It's all built around the collection of money. Something that changes in value and as we've seen in recent years, can disappear in the blink of an eye. Land, water, equipment, food, ability to make food, etc. all have commercial value as well as use value. I can sell a cow or eat it. In a world economy based on infinite growth, the things you can buy today will be the cheapest you can buy them for. By purchasing items that will last a lifetime and can be put to use one is reducing their cost of living while maintaining quality of life. Good times or bad times, the value of food might change in terms of monetary value, but the use value is always the same.

To me it's not about surviving the zombie apocalypse or EMP blasts. It's about creating a good quality of life for the rest of my days. Solving problems like food, utilities, etc permanently instead of paying an ever increasing bill that relies on outside sources.

In a word- COLMOLLIN

Great post!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Got bush beans, tomatoes, peppers, carrots etc. growing in buckets and tubs but depending on the situation i may not be here to harvest as plans are fluid. They are not my only plan but rather supplemental as we still have options today.

how do you tell if someone believes what they are saying? It's like anything else you trust but verify
--
i have a friend who is a wonderful evengelical Christian. he also works to convince me that
very hard times are coming based on Bilblical principles and predictions.
but he WILL NOT prep at all. This is not uncommon as most have beliefs that they will be taken care of and God will provide. Even in the fictional Left Behind series they didnt prep. I dont know that they are wrong but my beliefs have always told me to do my part first as well as trust in God. He has carried me thru many a rough spot but he still made me work too.

i have a friend that who posts on the internet about prepping. he has a cool picture
on web sites. he's macho. he has a macho truck. i think he lives in a fancy condo in a big city.
he's been known as a prepper for years. he is a gun nut. There are different styles of preppers and survivalist. I dunno if any are wrong but some will make it longer than others and not always them with the mostest neither because the more you have the easier it is to lose. Macho only goes so far. IMO Macho is ok if you allow your ego to let you cry, feel and love. I'll cut your head off and put it on a stick if needed but I like holding babies and playing with children and will cry when I lose those I care for like the Soldiers I will remember in a few days. Strong things like oak branches can be broke. Flexible able to bend with the winds of change like willows. Both are useful wood though. When i was younger someone told me to be careful and not become what I hunt (being bad men) so the macho was put in check amd i try and find balance

i have a friend who is a wonderful shot with any kind of weapon. he competes. he builds. he loads.
he chuckles when i ask about prepping ( storing, putting up, gardening, location) and he pats his
(whatever rifle he's holding) saying "with this i can get whatever i want." He's not your friend now

we all know similar folks.
i snapped green beans tonight for the first time in decades. my parents were preppers. they just didn't know it. large garden, chickens, milk cow. fuel tank. they came out of the depression and the possibility of bad times was ingrained into their soul.
by their ACTIONS and by their WALK they spoke... regarding this issue.
i've been on this website for about 2 years i think. as i snapped beans tonight it dawned on me,
that if i really believed we were going to have hard times, i'd have had green beans last year in our mini garden..
i ain't confessing nothing... but it's dawned on me that a lot of folks are doing a lot of talkin' and no walkin' that a lot of folks are looking for someone to tag along behind. looking for someone to take care of them when the shtf. in my humble opinion, only number 3 above believes what he's saying. no offense meant to anyone... i'd be happy if no one responded to this post... just sort of self evaluating... we are all at different "places" and different mindsets... but i guess i am confessing.. i haven't been serious at all. you got green beans growing?

RR do what you can as you can and keep faithful to you as well as God. It's good you are aware of those around you