So we have a multitude of problems that can disrupt our lives. Many economic disasters may be looming, peak oil, derivatives, pension fund failures, inflation, deflation, bankruptcy, housing market, unemployment etc. There are natural disasters of course and man-made disasters like Fukushima reactor building #4.
Rather than simply hoping that none of these things happen, many of us believe we should get prepared as best we can. I like to think of it in these terms: your anxiety is directly proportional to what you know and what you are doing about it.
Many of us save in cash, silver and gold which is great, but in the shorter term it seems wise to have supplies on hand in case of a disruption of the just-in-time inventory system. Here are a few of the unusual items we don't normally hear about.
Sodium Percarbonate (Oxygen Bleach) generic powder is relatively cheap and very useful. It is a solid form of hydrogen peroxide. Its kills mold, bacteria and viruses. In some applications it is better than bleach. It is excellent for cleaning and sanitizing drinking water containers. It can be used to clean clothes, blankets, cloth diapers, socks and even shoes. Sodium percarbonate breaks down cleanly into oxygen, water and soda ash leaving no dangerous chemical residue.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda). This might be worth stocking up on. It is useful as toothpaste, underarm deodorant, carpet deodorant, hand cleanser and many more ways it can replace household items.
Star San can be used as a safe sanitizer for drinking water containers. It is considered a no rinse sanitizer when used at the correct strength but if course you can and should rinse the containers.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a heart healthy source of omega 3s, calories and polyphenols. Many preppers stash huge quantities of carbohydrates but forget about the fats.
High Oleic Sunflower Oil is one of the cheapest high heat oils. High heat oils are low in polyunsaturated fat and resist going rancid. Polyunsaturated fats are unstable and can be damaged by heat, light and oxygen. When we ingest damaged fats they can harm us via free radicals and can cause heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases related to inflammation.
Hemp Protein powder is a cheap source of protein and tends be available as a clean organically grown product.
RAW protein is a protein powder extracted from a large variety of organic sprouts. It is about the same cost (per pound of protein) as hemp protein. Variety is always a good thing but neither of these protein powders will taste very good until you get hungry and unspoiled and then they are delicious.
Cast Iron Pans - Unlike Teflon, cast iron pans can last forever and can cook on any heat source. They are easy to clean (just wipe off) and completely non stick.
LED Headlamp - We take light for granted. A headlamp can enable a person to perform work in areas that are far from an outlet or during power outages. It can be an important tool in a medical emergency or for repairing a vehicle/furnace/collecting firewood etc. These are lifesavers, light weight and very cheap at $8 for a decent Cree LED.
R/O water filter - For $150 you can get a near lab quality water filter system. First stage is a simple 5 micron sediment filter which blocks parasites and particulates. Second and Third stage are block carbon filters which remove chlorine and many other chemcials. Fourth stage is an R/O membrane which removes bacteria, spores and even viruses. It also remove minerals. Fifth stage is a granular carbon filter. You can add a sixth stage UVC filter which will kill or deactivate any single cell organism that may have managed to get through an imperfection in the membrane but it is not necessary. You can also add a re-mineralization filter to add calmag back in and make your own spring water.
Coffee Filters - These have the ability to filter most parasites out of a water supply as well as many particulates. Once it has been filtered this way several times you can use the steripen to deactivate single cellular organisms.
Steripen
Humidity Monitor (Humidistat) Another thing we may take for granted is dehumidification. Normally the warm season is also very humid, but our air conditioners also knock out humidity. During the humid season humidity can go up to 99% and stay there for weeks. It may be helpful to know when dry days and nights occur so we can open the doors and windows and keep our homes as dry as possible. This reduces mold growth and moisture in furniture, bathrooms, basements, leather products, laundry rooms etc. It would also be helpful to know when is a good time to do laundry or indoor cleaning.
Plenty more to come, consider these:
Rechargeable battery nimh and li-ion
Witch Hazel
Extra glasses
Bleach and Vinegar?
Alcohol 90%
Plastic Clothes
Lentils
Groats
Spices
Organic flakes/cereal/carbs
