A 'survival' kit

[helwen]

Was talking with someone about how since fitzw and I will be spending more time up at the farm, working on improving some of the land up there, I'll be putting some things in storage there. The spot we'll spend most of our time at has a small building on it, called a double sugarhouse. First job will be to put missing boards up on the walls and part of the floor -- fitzw's father may be working on that at some point, since he has some wood that might work for the project -- they talked about it a bit last time we were up there.

Once that's done, we'll have a relatively secure place to put things. It should be dry and safe from large critters. To protect from small critters I plan on bagging most things and putting them into boxes or tubs. We'll also keep some tools up there so we don't have to cart them back and forth. The idea is that we could go up for the day, the weekend, or a full week, and most everything we would need would already be there. Although generally speaking I might prefer to bring my own lunch, storing some dry and canned goods there might not be a bad idea.

So, my plan for what to put in storage so far is:
- first aid kit
- bedding (sheets, pillows, comforters, eventually a spare pad)
- some food
- matches and a lighter
- toothbrushes & paste, nail clippers, files, comb, etc - hygiene stuff
- camp stove and fuel (we never use it here or at Pennsic so it might as well go up there)
- extra clothing, hot and cold weather (good if you get all wet and mucky)
- candles and holders
- shovel
- cooking kit
- dishes and utensils
- soap, vinegar
- empty containers

There's a brook nearby for some water uses, and we can always bring water in or fill up at the farmhouse before going up on the hill. I thought about storing water there, but the double sugarhouse might get too hot, and the water would need to be changed out periodically. Or, find something better and/or more insulated for storing water in than plastic jugs.

Does it look like I covered all the bases? I thought about adding a tent because I don't know if the building will be big enough for storing things and sleeping in as well. Will know more after we've looked at it up close and personal (been a few years).

re: water. In a more urban setting it's a good idea to have several gallons of water stored in a cool place, in case of a big storm causing power loss. I think it's something like 4 gallons per person for short-term. If we got warning of a big power loss when I was a kid, we'd fill some pots with water ahead of time (did plastic jugs of water exist in the 70's?). And even though we lived in Northampton, the electrical was iffy in our house, so my mom had candles with matches nearby in several places throughout the house.

Ah, I know. I should put a few oldie but goodie books up there, and some board games! Fun is a necessity :D

Comments

[kass-rants.livejournal.com]

Peppermint oil is an absolute wonder for keeping away rodents. Sprinkle some around your sealed stuff. Lavendar works in the same way for moths.

[kellan_the_tabby]

Icon-love-Mellie-awwww!

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Ooo thanks! I knew about lavendar but not about peppermint.

[peregrinning.livejournal.com]

Axe, saw, hammer, rope. Especially if you have trees and brush that need maintenance.

I remember bringing down "widowmakers" around the summer camp I worked at: you tied the hammer to the end of a long rope, and tossed it over a dead branch high up in a tree. You then pulled on both ends of the rope (_long_ rope) to pull down the dead branch, to prevent it from falling down on a camper. If your toss goes over a live branch, you just pull the rope all the way over, and try again. This is only one of the good uses for a long rope and the heavy weight that is a good hammer. :-)

Multiple can openers and bottle openers of various types, so if one fails, another will do in its' stead.

Oh, and a good wheelbarrow or other method of moving things from one place to another around the farm. I'd store it outside if I didn't know that was a sure way to have to replace the tire every year or so...

I would also want a bag of small plastic bags, but that's the city kid in me talking. I place them over my hand to pick up dead birds, dead squirrels, etc., then turn them inside out around the dead item, so neighborhood kids and dogs and cats don't play with them. I don't know your farm, so I don't know if that is a concern. Trash bags would also be good if you need to take anything away with you (such as cans and bottles).

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I haven't worked on our tool list yet, and rope might have occurred to fitzw but not me. Hammer, nails, those sorts of things yes. And twine and string. I'm good with small stuff. The massive things I leave to the big/tall people for the most part.

I'd add long-handled loppers to the brush maintenance equipment myself, though. I'm good with taking out bushes and brush.

And of course can openers to go with the canned goods. Altho' I know someone who brought cans to Pennsic and forgot her opener. Fortunately she was camped with Bergental and we have all kinds of stuff between the lot of us :D

And lots of other good ideas. I don't know about dead animals, I think they mostly get taken care of by other animals. We have rabbits, fox, deer, black bear, and a variety of other things. I haven't seen the bear myself, but my mother-in-law has. My plan is to make sure I'm making enough noise to be heard from far away, if I'm alone in the woods. I'm not into meeting the bear, and I'm not a hunter, so noisy is my best defense. Although I might be learning how to do things differently at some point in the future, if I have the time and opportunity (not to hunt bear -- but figuring out what's out there and how to move quietly around/away from it).

I'm from a small suburb originally, not the country, but I'm good at learning new things. Except dealing with bugs. sigh...

[kellan_the_tabby]

A couple of good thirsty towels. Many, many uses.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Doh! Yes, of course! And after I posted I was thinking having a bag of rags would be handy for.... whatever.

In fact, Wednesday's supposed to be super cold, so tomorrow I'll be taking the bit of canvas fitzw put down as a draft stop at the bottom of the front door, sewing it mostly closed so we can stuff it with sand, then popping it into a flat "pillow" I'll be making. Then the rest of it will be stuffed with rags and stuff, to make a nice draft stopper.

Hmm, I have some towels I'm not as keen on anymore.... they can go up to the farm. Thanks!

[kellan_the_tabby]

No problem. Glad to be of use!