Prepping 101

LaBèlla said:

I would like to create a cohesive guide for those new to prepping or curious about the practice. Opinions abound and many assume its practitioners are in the wilderness or living off the grid and that isn't the case for most. So, let's educate them.

How do you define prepping?
Why do you do it?
What resources would you recommend for beginners (food, goods, etc.)?
What skills are worth developing? Are any a waste of time?

I look forward to your replies!

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

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LaBèlla said:

How do you define prepping?
Why do you do it?
What resources would you recommend for beginners (food, goods, etc.)?
What skills are worth developing? Are any a waste of time?

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

How do you define prepping?

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

Why do you do it?

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

What resources would you recommend for beginners (food, goods, etc.)?

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

What skills are worth developing? Are any a waste of time?

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

I would like to create a cohesive guide for those new to prepping or curious about the practice. Opinions abound and many assume its practitioners are in the wilderness or living off the grid and that isn't the case for most. So, let's educate them.

How do you define prepping?
Why do you do it?
What resources would you recommend for beginners (food, goods, etc.)?
What skills are worth developing? Are any a waste of time?

I look forward to your replies!

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

Click to expand...

LaBèlla said:

I would like to create a cohesive guide for those new to prepping or curious about the practice. Opinions abound and many assume its practitioners are in the wilderness or living off the grid and that isn't the case for most. So, let's educate them.

How do you define prepping?
Why do you do it?
What resources would you recommend for beginners (food, goods, etc.)?
What skills are worth developing? Are any a waste of time?

I look forward to your replies!

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

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Maria Billingsley said:

My question is...if a Christian is a well stocked prepper, will they share with those who are not?
Be blessed.

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Maria Billingsley said:

My question is...if a Christian is a well stocked prepper, will they share with those who are not?
Be blessed.

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chevyontheriver said:

I think that falls under hospitality.

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bèlla said:

Form a tribe before it happens not afterwards. You need to know their character, how they handle adversity and so on.

~bella

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bèlla said:

Disasters don't turn us into benevolent citizens. They reveal who we are underneath. Most assume they're going to be this way or that. But they're wrong. They'll respond the way they do when they're uncertain. They'll defer to their usual reaction when they're afraid, stressed, or their back is against the wall. That's how it works.

Downturns of any sort bring a host of uncertainties. Everyone has a breaking point and wise people know theirs beforehand and make provisions. It's easy to say we'll do this or that with imagined dangers. But will we really open our doors for everyone? How would we respond to someone injured, bearing weapons, or who appears menacing? More than likely we haven't considered that.

Risk assessment must be part of preparedness with related strategies for different scenarios. When there's civil unrest people stay inside. I live in a thirty story building. When the riots occurred no one opened their door. We turned out the lights and looked out the window. Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves unnecessarily. Most recommend blackout curtains as a precaution. So no one knows you're home.

When things collapse people work together the first week but afterwards things begin to change. It's a lot like Survivor. If you've ever watched the show that's pretty close. Desperation brings out the worst in most.

Form a tribe before it happens not afterwards. You need to know their character, how they handle adversity and so on.

~bella

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bèlla said:

Thank you for chiming in. While the topic is sensationalized in other places we approach it through faith and action. We don't subscribe to wishful thinking or theatrics. We're practical and levelheaded. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst in light of the word and societal observations and experiences.



We've had ample opportunity to see the world at its worst and the expectations that went unfulfilled during the pandemic. That was our warning. There was no global call for prayer or outpouring of benevolence. Assistance came in pockets not in droves.

Most people looked after their own affairs. There's enough posts from that period attesting to loneliness and isolation to enlighten the reader. For more than a few the Internet was their lone support network. Which should beg the reader to consider how they'd cope without access. Who would they turn to?

This like many things are what we warn against. Putting all your eggs in one basket is unwise. Building your safety on expectations is foolish.



I researched gardening statistics in the US for my reply. I wanted to include some data for greater clarity. The first source is from Garden Pals and includes the pandemic.

Gardening Statistics and Facts
Highlights of statistics on gardening:

1. The Covid pandemic created 18.3 million new gardeners, most of whom are millennials.
2. 42% of gardeners spent more time gardening during the Covid pandemic.
3. Global online sales of gardening goods doubled during the Covid pandemic.
4. 55% ofAmerican households engage in gardening activities.
5. Millennials make up 29% of gardener demographics.
6. Millennials have an increasing interest in cannabiscultivation.
7. American adults spend$48 billion on lawn and gardening equipment each year.
8. Average garden yields $600 of produce in a year.
9. 35% of U.S. households grow vegetables, fruits, and other food.
10. Children involved in growing vegetables are more willing to eat them.

Notice number 8. The reader should ask themselves what they spend on a monthly basis produce wise to determine if the amount would cover their household for a year.

Once they've done that they should look at the numbers. While 55% of American households engage in gardening only 35% grow items they consume. Homesteaders comprise a portion of the group but not the majority. Most of the people gardening aren't homesteaders.

Assumptions are further eroded when referencing Homesteaders of America Demographic Study. Most notably, annual income and employment followed by impediments.

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As the data shows most homesteaders are working while managing their homestead. Very few are doing it full-time. Your favorite YouTuber is not the norm and they're being compensated for their content. Which the majority aren't. Add in the financial details and the picture is clear.

We asked aspiring homesteaders what their biggest drawback from homesteading was—51% stated finances were an issue, and 50% stated that finding land was their biggest issue.

Gardening is labor intensive. The majority grow enough for themselves with a little to spare. I hope that sinks in. They aren't farming on a commercial scale nor do they have the means or manpower to do so. While there may be extra to share it's unlikely to be enough to support a family long-term. At best, it's a supplement and shouldn't be relied on as the sole source for our nourishment.

The second source is from RubyHome and their Garden Statistics were insightful.

Research by Scotts Miracle-Gro and Wakefield found that over half of the country, 55% of American households, are engaged in gardening activities. This translates to 71.5 million gardening households, or 185.9 million people, ranking the U.S. among the top 3 gardening countries worldwide, preceded by Australia and China.

Key Gardening Stats

• 55% of U.S. households (71.5 million) have a garden.
• 18.3 million U.S. households started gardening in 2021.
• The U.S. is one of the top 3 gardening countries.
• 55% of people garden to create a beautiful space, and 43% garden to grow food.
• Tomatoes are the most popular homegrown vegetables and found in 86% of food gardens.
• The average U.S. garden is 600 sq.ft. and produces $600 worth of food.
• The average return on food gardening investment was 757% in 2021.
• A 100-200 sq.ft. food garden can feed one person year-round.
• People garden 5 hours a week on average.
• 29% of U.S. gardens are in the South.

There's some overlap with the other data and additions worth noting. I was especially drawn to the stat on gardening by income. The reader should consider their environment in light of it and walk around the neighborhood and take note of what they see.

Are you surrounded by lawn, flowers or food and what percentage? If everyone relies on the grocer for sustenance you're unlikely to get a lot of help. It may be comforting to imagine generosity but we have to be realistic. They have families to feed as well.

Gardening by Income

Over half of the U.S. home gardeners earn an annual income of $75K or more, and 34% earn $100K or more, well above the 2021 national median annual income of $79.9K.

• $100K and higher - 34.1%
• $75-$99K - 20.5%
• $50-$74K - 2.6%
• $25-$49K - 17.1%
• $25K and lower - 5.8%

For what it's worth most high income households grow ornamentals not food. They're interested in beautifying their surroundings. Garden walks were prevalent in the past and are still in fashion in some areas. I share this for those who assume they'll find resources in affluent neighborhoods. There's nothing to poach and the majority are gun owners. You've been warned.

There's multiple tables to reference. I found the section on how much time does gardening take equally beneficial. Once the reader considers their circumstances and the necessary output they should do the same with their loved ones and those in their vicinity.

Garden Size	Hours/Week	People Fed/Year
100-199 sq.ft.	0.5-1 hr	1 person
200-399 sq.ft.	1-2 hrs	1-4 people
400-799 sq.ft.	3-5 hrs	2-6 people
800-1499 sq.ft.	4-6 hrs	4-8 people
1,500-2,000 sq.ft.	6-8 hrs	6-10 people

It's easy to believe you'll feed a horde until you realize what it takes to sustain them. A collective effort is best. The same applies to your neighbors. You'll have a greater appreciation for those growing their food when you realize the effort required. Cross reference the table with the homesteading employment chart for deeper insight.

YouTube is a viable medium for getting started and offsetting expenses. I make the following recommendations with demographics in mind. 99% believe in God. One is Mormon and the others are Christians. Their content is informative, clean and not political. 99% are married with children.

• For general cooking and pantry preparedness I recommend Mary's Nest. She has many resources on her site and the book is good. If you purchase it make sure you grab the free curriculum.
• For singles and those interested in foraging I recommend Homegrown Handgathered. They offer a course with a sliding fee if interested.
• For urban dwellers with limited space I recommend Becoming a Farm Girl.
• For suburban homeowners with garden space I recommend Epic Gardening.
• For working families I recommend Adaline Zook.
• For small families with a stay-at-home spouse (or aspire towards this) I recommend More Than Farmers.
• For large families with a stay-at-home spouse I recommend The Seasonal Homestead.
• For crunchy mamas and sourdough fans I recommend Hopewell Heights.
• For seniors I recommend Whippoorwill Hollow.
• For seniors and those with limited mobility I recommend RoseRed Homestead.
• For retirees I recommend That 1870s Homestead.
• For those with limited space for food storage I recommend The Purposeful Pantry.

For those with limited resources reference 'Depression Era cooking' and Mary's shopping list for Aldi's and Walmart.

~bella

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bèlla said:

A Note About Sharing...

Since I mentioned YouTube I must interject the necessity for discrimination in the things you share. Images are searchable and your location may be discovered. Security professionals discourage certain angles for photos. You may be showing vulnerabilities unintentionally or over sharing to your detriment.

Pantry tours and shopping hauls are common on social media. Don't open your home to strangers without considering your ability to secure your belongings. Be equally discriminating in public and private venues. Read the TOS about the content. It may surprise you. Who do the photos belong to once they're posted? You or them?

I participated in a paid membership in the past and my photos were included in the weekly newsletter for members as were my comments. They didn't ask my permission. I removed them afterwards for those and other reasons.

Keep in mind, real estate purchases are public unless it was a private sale. I've seen YouTubers outed. As in the purchase was discovered along with the price and address. Google your home and see what appears. How recent is the street view? Don't take unnecessary risks. You never know who's watching.

~bella

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