Spring cleaning happens to always be an ongoing project for me. When you think about it, wouldn’t you want your home to be in top shape in the event of any type of emergency disaster? What if there was a power outage how would you be able to use your washer or vacuum? And what if there was a water main that broke that left you without water to do the dishes or bathe? In a normal situation they can fix the breaks but what if an emergency arose and you came to find out that it won’t be fixed till who knows and for how long? It is important to get into the habit of having all your daily chores and duties at home done in a timely manner and to be consistent if not daily at least weekly. Make lists and organize things ahead of any storm this way you will be able to tackle cleaning duties while you still have time and the resources to do so. Simultaneously, you will be able to find loopholes in your preps and your organizing skills and what needs to be managed, changed, redone, and or eliminated. Spring cleaning should be a priority all year round not just at Spring time.

The same applies to your Spring gardening, keeping your garden trimmed and cleaned helps to eliminate unwanted bugs, rodents, and weeds. This will also help when you start your edible garden, as well as upkeeping garden chores will lessen the work for you when it comes to cleaning and keeping everything tidy as you allow yourself to have a consistent routine and system in the garden. Don’t let the jungle take hold of your yard or garden leaving you with more work to do when you could be concentrating on other things if you had only upkept things to begin with.

And last but not least if you have done all these things ahead of time you will be more than able to spring into action if and when an emergency does arise leaving ten less things to worry about. So execute a Spring cleaning plan that will trickle down to your Spring garden chores allowing you to spring into action at a moments notice if need be. Happy Spring!

Anyone who preps knows the importance of recycling and accessing freebies. A great majority of the items and products that we consume come in containers, boxes, cans, etc. But most people throw these much valueable containers away instead of finding creative and useful things to use them for. Some of these items are biodegradeable such as the paper towel and toilet paper rolls I use these to start my garden seeds in. As the seeds start to sprout I transfer the entire roll into the ground. I also reuse yogurt containers, milk cartons, egg cartons, water bottles, clear plastic drink cups, fresh fruit and vege clear containers, vitamin bottles to store seeds, mint containers, empty fruit/vege/pet food can as well. Utilizing my recycled trash not only cuts down on my waste but it saves me money that can be used elsewhere in my preps. You can pretty much turn alot of old items into something recyclable and put it to good use in some way, shape, or form. I even once grew some cantalope seeds in a sink strainer, that was really fun, and the seeds grew!

I keep the lint from the dryer to use as tinder and add all green and brown waste to my compost. Recycling your pets change of water to your plants is another great idea and saving seeds from your harvests goes a long way in savings. Theres so many things that you can do with a variety of recyclables it’s literally endless. Another great idea is “freebies”, and they are out there you just have to search them out. Starbucks has been offering free used coffee grounds for over six years. They have an ongoing recycling program to better help the environment and what better way to do it than by giving it away free to anyone for their garden. Coffee grounds are used to provide much needed nutrients to the soil, it also provides a healthy amount of nitrogen that poor soil needs, and it is an excellent slug deterrent. Don’t forget to look into Freecycle, It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. And membership is free! There’s also Craigslist where you can find some good deals and even groups or what ever you may be looking for. Craigslist is where I found my two missing/lost dogs that someone had posted when they found my pooches and took a picture and posted them over a year ago.

Pinterest, is another great site with fabulous ideas and pretty much anything that suits your fancy. I spend hours on Pinterest reading recipes and getting gardening ideas I just love that site! Theres just so many sites out their in netland that offer tons of info free to whatever you may be looking into. And, yes Youtube offers gazillion channels into every and anything preparedness and then some. Sootch00 is an excellent gun and gear reviewer if you got the time do check out his vids they are all informative. Also, don’t forget the CERT program a free emergency preparedness course, you learn alot and on the last day of training you receive a super awesome heavy duty backpack filled with emergency supplies that would cost on average $60-$100 if you went out to purchase this same backpack with all it’s fixin’s, the difference is this one will be free. Here’s the 2013 CERT training schedule. Preparedness is a way of life, it is not a passing trend, and definitely not a hobby. I have been doing this for years and have made it an integral part of my life, having grown to always be in an state of preparedness helps me to better help and understand others needs regarding preparedness. Everyone is at different levels of preparing and there are no right or wrong ways of doing it. I have learned a hundredfold from the American Preppers Network alone, and am continually learning it never ends. All the moderators and members to each state have a great wealth of infinite knowledge and know-how it’s just incredible! So with that said, if there are others in the Hawaii community that are willing and ready to step up to the plate and help others in skills or any other preparedness topics you are more than welcome to contact me via the Hawaii Preppers Network forum, there you may register and PM me. Interested in a meet-up? Let me know as well and maybe we can all brainstorm together and finally get something going. I have been waiting for years for Hawaii residents to hop on the preppers band wagon to get a meet-up going so let’s do it!

One of the most difficult things about assuring your preps remain safe is keeping bugs out of items packed in boxes and containers.  This is where people typically store extra fabric, clothing, bedding, and a variety of other things.  Bugs love those things!  Heck, some bugs will even eat your boxes.

Climate and geography has a lot to do with what types of bugs you have to plan your preps around.  Moths eat your fabric.  Bedbugs eat you and can be dormant for years.  So can fleas.  It’s important to check your boxed (plastic and cardboard) for infestations.  Putting items in a plastic twist tie bag and then into a box does not guarantee  your preps are safe.  Don’t forget about the possibilities of rats, mice or other rodents.  If you find infestations in any boxed preps, deal with it immediately.  Find the source of the infestation and prevent them from returning. When it comes to infestation it is important to remember bugs are attracted to whatever they like to eat.  Wash what can be washed and discard that which can’t.

Josh

The Daily Prepper News

One would think that Hawaii is one of the few states less effected by the goings on of the contiguous 48 states.  However, if TSHTF the disruptions will be difficult at first.  There will be the initial cycle of death and destruction until the populous settles into life without shipments from around the world.  Unless of course the TSHTF only in the contiguous states.  Shipments could come from any where else in the world.

Will it return to life as it was “before”? Maybe with one exception.  Hawaii does have some sources of renewable energy.  Not enough to support everyone, but maybe enough to run schools and government offices.  That is a start.  That is until they need parts for repair of the equipment.  Will Hawaii change forms of currency to which ever country they find themselves doing the most business?

Hawaii is one of the few locations that start over without much upheaval if the society simply refuses to fall into lawlessness.  So, what will happen in Hawaii?  How will it be the same as the contiguous 48 and how will it be different?  In my mind, maybe Hawaii is the best place to be if there is a calamity in the U.S.  What do you think?

Josh

The Daily Prepper News

Now that the elections are done and over with and all those irritating political ads, phone calls, and tv spots are finished, it’s time to re-focus your prepping priorities.We all know not what will happen when it comes to natural and or man made disasters but we do know how and what to do when it comes to preparing for a storm ahead of time when things are calm before us. Have a much needed skill to learn? Do go out and learn to acquire the skills that you have not yet accomplished. Learn how to garden, do a little research and start practicing in the garden daily. If it’s canning food, hook up with other canners in your area and read up on the subject as well. If it’s learning how to shoot a firearm, look in your area to find the proper classes to attain a permit and practice, practice, practice. You could also think about joining a gun club which would be a great help in honing your firearm skills further. Same goes for hunting and fishing get involved and learn all that is needed for the skills that you may find that are lacking. Find ways of learning and incorporating your preparedness skills in your everyday life making it second nature to everything else you do in life, so when the next disaster strikes you will have a set of skills on hand that will make yourself more valueable to not only yourself but your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Share the knowledge and pass it on because the more people know and do the less they will have to rely on help from emergency responders that may never reach them after 72 hours like those on the east coast from hurricane Sandy. Those people never saw help after 72 hours and they all weren’t prepared but yet they knew what was coming and they still never properly prepared ahead of the storm. If you have not stored food you should because anything can happen in the blink of an eye these days. Never leave your life up to chance because you will not come out ahead. Take the time and effort to always be prepared despite what others think because it will always be a win win situation on your part even if it’s preparing in baby steps you’ll be glad you did.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/176136301.html?id=176136301

Tsunami warnings issued for all islands; evacuations begin

POSTED: 06:09 p.m. HST, Oct 27, 2012 LAST UPDATED: 08:44 p.m. HST, Oct 27, 2012