Winter SHTF scenario

[bittwiddler]

I have the same kind of CO detector in my hallway.  A kerosene heater like that could come in handy, though, so I'll have to look into one

[Capfish]

The CO/CO2 must be negligible for these type heaters. I've got 2 in my basement (only run 1 at a time though). I've also got a very sensitive CO2 detector. A lawn mower set it off in about 2 minutes one time.

I've burned a heater like this at least 10 hours at a time with no trouble, windows and doors closed.

Now I don't want to suggest no ventilation.... I'm just saying it's never given me a problem with this type of Kerosene heater.

[Tuc]

Capfish

WELCOME to the board!! It's about time you became a member!!

[etdbob]

Groovy Mike wrote -

I rely on wood for my SHTF heat. #1 - it is an endless supply outside my door.
The winter can be an distinct advantage to those of us in northern climates. Think pandemic or post nuke looters - now imagine what happens when the temps are below freezing and there is 2 feet of unplowed snow. That's right - nothing happens. Nobody treks 20 miles just to see if you have anything worth stealing. The warmer climates will deal with pandemic. The cold places get 6 months of reprieve each year.

Very well said! I agree with both points.
Can't beat wood heat, and when the snow lies deep on the land, it's like a security blanket!   :D

[Messiah Jones]

Norseman, if there's a crunch I'd rather be in your position. If you have cold you probably have snow which means you have water. If it happens before that year's hunting seasons you will have plenty of game. The game won't know the difference and will continue to reproduce. Just keep stocking up. Also gather things like various seasonings, salt and pepper because you may be eating / preserving a lot of meat. Meat grows well in the winter.   Down south may be warmer but that's no blessing. Just more humans to deal with.

[bedford]

I agree with M Jones that there are many advantages to living in a cold climate.  There are less people, and the people who live here are independent and hardy.  Less insects, practically no parasites, large and plentiful wild game.  

Cold is easily managed with smart clothing and good gear. Wood is a great heat source and its cheap.

[NORSEMAN]

Yes the cold has many advantages, Also wild game like Moose, Deer or rabbits are not enough. You can actually starve to death eating just that. One can also ice fish up here from Mid/late Dec to late Feb early March. If your lucky to bag a bear in the fall, There is your fat supplement for winter.
For Vitamin C,D,&E you can make tea from Pine needles, Spruce and cedar It also cures cold and flu! I swear by it. You can also trap beaver and Muscrat in winter as well.

[~kev~]

Uh, in case you have never eaten deer before, you CAN in fact live off deer and moose.  You are correct on rabbit, you can eat rabbit and stave.  Deer on the other hand has enough fat to keep you alive.  Read about Lewis and Clark, they lived on buffalo, elk, and deer for months at a time and take quite well.  Sir I am a deer hunter and can tell you, there is enough fat and meat on them deer to keep you well fed.

[Swamp Fox]

Acorns!

You have to boil the tannins out of them to get the bitter taste out, but after that they are very edible and can be ground into flour.  Usually it's not hard at all to find a huge cache of acorns.  It's a lot of work to de-bitter them but once you do it, it's a potentially huge payoff.

[etdbob]

Acorns?    
 

I think I've seen a few oak trees down in town...

More like saskatoon where I live. Makes great pies and dried is excellent in pemmican.

Yeah, deer will keep ya alive. But I'm with Norseman on this one, I'd  want to add a nice greasy bear once and a while if I was living offa nothing but game.

I don't care for pine needle tea, it tastes to much like pine needles....Go figure   :wink:

We do drink gallons of tea make with the leaves of wild strawberries. It has  more vitamin C than just about anything else on this planet and tastes like a nice mild green tea.
We also drink tea made from pineapple weed, and we also grow camomile in the yard.

My wife likes tea made from dried clover heads. I'm sure it has some benificial effects, but I don't care for it. She also grinds it up and mixes it with flour when makng bread.

Oh, don't forget tea made from rose hips. It's also high in vitamin C and they stay on the plant and can even be gatherd in the dead of winter.

[NORSEMAN]

Uh, in case you have never eaten deer before, you CAN in fact live off deer and moose.  You are correct on rabbit, you can eat rabbit and stave.  Deer on the other hand has enough fat to keep you alive.  Read about Lewis and Clark, they lived on buffalo, elk, and deer for months at a time and take quite well.  Sir I am a deer hunter and can tell you, there is enough fat and meat on them deer to keep you well fed.

LOL, When I was growing up thats the only meat we ate. I should have been more clear with my  words, I mean by eating strictly Moose/Deer you can get sick from it as in Scurvy etc,. Lewis and Clark most likely foraged other things needed in a diet and traded with the Indians.

[49north]

I find that my friends and neighbors are a patient group of folks.  I think the wintertime existence makes for a thoughful group of people who tend to look down the road more and not be hasty.  Food and fuel and we will be fine thank-you.   But life in the north is hard at times and it is already too crowded,  I think most flatlanders would not be happy here and would hope they stay where they are, please, please, please.

[~kev~]

True, a person can develop vitamin defenchies from eating only meat.  these diseases lead to the onset of certain diseases.

[NORSEMAN]

Another thing to consider, Us modern folk have become "Weak" unlike our forefathers who were acustomed to foods available locally. Just look at our supermarkets etc,. We consume food from all over the world not to mention pesticides and additives etc,. To switch to a "bland" diet would most likely have side effects.

[thcomb]

I mostly eat food with olive oil in it (Mediterranean). I'm pretty sure I would go into shock if I ate nothing but deer.