Started preparations on a limited budget

XENG · Post by **XENG** » 22 Jan 2007, 20:08

Vortex wrote: people could drink 5-10 pints a day of the stuff!

I could drink 5-10 pints a day of a decent real ale given the chance.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 22 Jan 2007, 20:21

XENG wrote:
Vortex wrote: people could drink 5-10 pints a day of the stuff!
I could drink 5-10 pints a day of a decent real ale given the chance.

I've heard about drinking oneself into an insect, and even into an algae, but this seem much more moderate - to drink oneself into the middle ages....

stumuz · Post by **stumuz** » 23 Jan 2007, 08:47

I have given up the space used for water storage and increased food storage instead , up to about 3 months.
The water storage has been replaced at christmas with a kelly kettle which boils 2 litres of water using twigs in about 2 mins.
The wood shed in the field has been built with a corrugated aliminium roof attached to water butt,so theory being if water does become a problem just boil all the drinking water first.

Can anyone see something obvious that i have missed? As the water storage took up quite a lot of space.
Thanks

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 23 Jan 2007, 09:24

stumuz wrote:Can anyone see something obvious that i have missed? As the water storage took up quite a lot of space.
Thanks

Salt? How much salt do you have?

stumuz · Post by **stumuz** » 23 Jan 2007, 09:59

5kg approx, but if shtf I'm about half a mile from the sea so assume I could evaporate sea water to get some, the is a crude method in John Seymore's book on self sufficiency.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 23 Jan 2007, 10:19

stumuz wrote:5kg approx, but if shtf I'm about half a mile from the sea so assume I could evaporate sea water to get some, the is a crude method in John Seymore's book on self sufficiency.

There is a good essay about salt here. Gives some perspectives. After reading, I decided that about a ton is a reasonable amount to tuck away.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 23 Jan 2007, 11:32

MacG wrote:
XENG wrote:
Vortex wrote: people could drink 5-10 pints a day of the stuff!
I could drink 5-10 pints a day of a decent real ale given the chance.
I've heard about drinking oneself into an insect, and even into an algae, but this seem much more moderate - to drink oneself into the middle ages....

I'd rather smoke myself back to the stone(d) age . . .

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 23 Jan 2007, 11:55

Andy Hunt wrote:I'd rather smoke myself back to the stone(d) age . . .

You'd better build an extension to your larder then for those post-PO munchies!

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 23 Jan 2007, 12:13

Erik wrote:
Andy Hunt wrote:I'd rather smoke myself back to the stone(d) age . . .
You'd better build an extension to your larder then for those post-PO munchies!

Will need the Mars Bar energy for pedalling the sound system generator . . .

Pippa · Post by **Pippa** » 23 Jan 2007, 15:24

MacG wrote: After reading, I decided that about a ton is a reasonable amount to tuck away.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 23 Jan 2007, 18:36

Pippa wrote:
MacG wrote: After reading, I decided that about a ton is a reasonable amount to tuck away.

Dont laugh, you naughty girl - read the link!

Philip W · Post by **Philip W** » 24 Jan 2007, 09:25

Rather than store lots of drinking water I have bought a water filter kit from a camping supplier (does about 7000 ltrs per filter) and some chlorine and neutraliser tablets.

We have waterbutts and a grey water system for the garden and there are rivers/streams in the local area so I don't think quantity will be a problem but quality.

I see boiling water as a last ditch solution as it is so energy intensive and I would prefer to use that energy for other things.

My 2p worth.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 24 Jan 2007, 09:38

Philip W wrote:Rather than store lots of drinking water I have bought a water filter kit from a camping supplier (does about 7000 ltrs per filter) and some chlorine and neutraliser tablets.

We have waterbutts and a grey water system for the garden and there are rivers/streams in the local area so I don't think quantity will be a problem but quality.

I see boiling water as a last ditch solution as it is so energy intensive and I would prefer to use that energy for other things.

My 2p worth.

Good point.
Just to give another scenario for comparison though: In my case, living in a built up area in Spain, my main problem will be quantity. Rain is very sporadic and unpredictable, so rainwater collection and storage could be difficult to manage. As long as I can get some water from somewhere though, boiling it will be easy in a sun oven, which couldn't be less energy intensive!