feeding one person for a year for $112.35

[~Hanna~]

I love Lehman's, I want to get some oil lamps from them...

Here is an emergency oil lamp I found over at tightwad central. http://www.tightwad.com/tips8.htm
That is a good place for frugal tips, also...



Oil & Cola Emergency Lamp.

What will you do thins winter when the lights go out?  Hopefully you've got your emergency flashlight, radio, food and water supplies.  If the power will be out for some time, however, you may want to know about this easy oil lamp.  Great for camping too.   The parts needed for this lamp can be found in virtually every household.  An empty aluminum cola can, an old cotton sock, and about a tablespoon of cooking oil are all you need.  First stab an empty cola can in the middle and cut around the circumference until you cut the can completely in half.  Use a pair of gloves to hold the can halves, because the metal is very sharp.  Use the bottom half of the cola can, and cut half inch deep slits spaced each half inch along the circumference of the can.  Fold over to make a safe rim along the edge.  Now take the top half of the can and work the pull tab off the top by pulling up and side to side.  Work the tab back and forth with upward pressure, until it pulls off.  Dispose of the top half can into the recycle trash.  Next cut a one inch by 3/8" slip of material from the old sock.  Roll the material into a thick rope and feed it into the pull tab attachment hole.  Pull through about half an inch so it sticks up while the pull tab rests upside down.  Now pour a cap full of cooking oil into the bottom of the can.   Place the upside down pull tab with the wick in the middle of the can and drape the cotton wick so it pulls the oil from the edge of the can.  The length of the wick pulled through the tab hole will determine the height of the flame.  A good quarter inch of wick will give a good flame with virtually no smoke.  Now you can light the wick and it should last about three to four hours with each tablespoon or so of corn oil.

[New Yorker]

There is a lot more to preparing for an event than food. I have been involved in "prepping for about 6 years and full time since I retired about a year ago. There are many good forums out there where you can get good information.

Below is a short review I wrote regarding Lehman's wicks for DYI olive oil lamps. Olive oil should be a part of your supply plan. You can cook with it, use as a lubricant, preservative, provides a safe flash-free light source and is cheap and readily available. Safe to store in large quaities.

When the power goes off what do you do when the flashlight batteries run out and the CVS is closed and your care package from Obongo has yet to arrive?

Olive oil is a great non-smoking oil with many uses. Lubricant, cooking and lighting. Olive oil lamps have been used for thousands of years to provide bright, smoke-free light.

Lehman's is also an excellent source for tools, euipment and other neccessities that you can use without power, running water ect.  www.lehmans.com

"You can purchase the elements and wicks at Lehman's. 6-pack for 18.95. With a bit of wire and hemp string you can easily make your own. I chose to purchase and today they arrived.

http://www.lehmans.com/store/Lamps___Lights___Oil_Lamps___Olive_Oil_Lamps_and_Parts___Parts_to_Make_Your_Own_Olive_Oil_Lamp___15650?Args=

I grabbed a mason jar out of the closet. I placed the wick in the element with about 1/4" sticking out and filled the jar with olive oil to a point about 1/4" below the top of the wire element. Add fire and instant light. I then proceeded to march through the house with the lights off. I got ooohs and ahhs from the little ones. Ethan and Katy both just gave me the eye roll and waited for me to go away."
Bottom line: Olive oild is cheap, plentiful and has multiple uses. Wicks are cheap and easy to make. The oil will not flash if the lamp is dropped and it gives off a fair amount of light.

Fantastic post! 
I remember the NYC electrical blackout, I couldn't believe how instantly usless MOST of my stuff was, and how dark my house was.

[pennyjangle]

The Dollar Stretcher........living better for less.


 http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm

[pennyjangle]

I was digging through tunnels "on my hands" for this thread, then I realized there's a search box in the corner! 
 I ordered from them before, good deals. http://www.39dollarglasses.com/index.html

[rhayat1]

Don't forget the water and the guns and ammo to protect it all.  "Silver", "Ammo" and "Munchies" = SAM.  Just off the top of my head.  My brother believes that one of the best things you can have, during an emergency, is vodka.

[~Hanna~]

Vodka, yes, good for many things.

[Ari Ben-Canaan]

This a really neat idea.  I wonder if I could get giant bags of Garbonzos for hummus.  55 gallon drums of Israeli olive oil and techina?  I'm like the real life Zohan movie when it comes to hummus, with or without anything to dip... 

[pennyjangle]

This a really neat idea.  I wonder if I could get giant bags of Garbonzos for hummus.  55 gallon drums of Israeli olive oil and techina?  I'm like the real life Zohan movie when it comes to hummus, with or without anything to dip... 

55 gallon drums of olive oil would be expensive not to mention you have to hide this food, robbers will come. You better have small cans of food to give them. You can store your food in a closet take down the doors and screw on paneling, spread the wealth around your house in various hidden places.
 

[New Yorker]

Here's a great website to shop for emergency preparation products.

http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_920_A_c2c_E_tn_A_name_E_FoodStorage

[Ulli]

Shortening is just about the most unhealthy thing in existence. Coconut oil, palm oil, ghee, and (for the Gentiles) bacon grease are all far better alternatives, and way tastier.

Goose and duck fat is great too. It stays long eatable. My mother makes it in the winter with apple rings and roasted onions. You can eat from it until the autumn comes if you put it in clay pots in the cold basement and then the next is ready.
I eat it with coarse rye bread and a little bit of malted pepper.

[Ulli]

A much healthier alternative would to to stock up on pemmican. Man can live on fat and meat forever without any ill effects.

What is pemmican? Spam

Pemmican is a special dish made from crushed cranberries, ground venison, and fat. It helps you to survive in cold weather. It is concentrated fuel for your body.

[pennyjangle]

Shortening is just about the most unhealthy thing in existence. Coconut oil, palm oil, ghee, and (for the Gentiles) bacon grease are all far better alternatives, and way tastier.

Goose and duck fat is great too. It stays long eatable. My mother makes it in the winter with apple rings and roasted onions. You can eat from it until the autumn comes if you put it in clay pots in the cold basement and then the next is ready.
I eat it with coarse rye bread and a little bit of malted pepper.

Hmm that sounds good. I wanted goose for Thanksgiving $80 needless to say we had turkey!

[Ulli]

Shortening is just about the most unhealthy thing in existence. Coconut oil, palm oil, ghee, and (for the Gentiles) bacon grease are all far better alternatives, and way tastier.

Goose and duck fat is great too. It stays long eatable. My mother makes it in the winter with apple rings and roasted onions. You can eat from it until the autumn comes if you put it in clay pots in the cold basement and then the next is ready.
I eat it with coarse rye bread and a little bit of malted pepper.

Hmm that sounds good. I wanted goose for Thanksgiving $80 needless to say we had turkey!

Yes, goose is that expensive if you buy a German goose. But I am sly and buy from the Polish people. Then I get it for half of the price.