Real trading will be based On ‘long term’ items. Seeds, not food. Arrows, not ammo. Tools, not filters. See, once the ‘short duration expendables’ are consumed, you won’t be re-supplying, you’ll be making your own or doing without. From turning your own arrow shafts, to cutting arrowheads from old license plates; from building filtration weirs to filter water, to needing copper tubing to make ‘wood-fired-water-heaters’.
Knowledge and durable supplies (axes, hammers, spoke shaves, saw blades, etc.) will be the real money. He who has stocked dozens of saw blades will be king. He who sits on a case of toilet paper will be sad he didn’t learn how to replace it with what they used 200 years ago, instead (FYI, toilet paper is only about a 100-year old concept – ask yourself, what did they use before then, and get a real clue – because THAT is VERY valuable in the long term!)
So, forget stocking for that 2-week event, it’s not that difficult. The hard part is stocking for the total paradigm shift, that few remember how to do much of. You won’t be making your own saw blades anytime soon. Now, ask yourself, what else will you NOT be making, that you need to learn how to make, or replace with older technology, before you need it (or need to trade it).
The best barter items list would look like this:
- 1.Tools (saw blades, hatchets, axe heads, hammer heads – many sourceable from auctions, garage sales, etc.)
- 2. A simple still (or the components to assemble one), as this will make your alcohol for drinking, cleaning, medical use, etc. (don’t forget to learn how to make the corn mash itself, or to have extra parts put back)
- 3. Learn to make alternative bows (PVC bows are excellent, weather-proof), and how to turn arrow shafts, as well as how to lace and tie bowstrings – not all string will suffice for it – dacron works well
- 4. Learn to make filtration weirs for water. Forget store filtration units, understand how rain barrels work, how to purify water with boiling, and how settlement works to remove metals. Extra barrels are highly tradeable.
- 5. Forget trading foods, long-term you will have far more demand for trading seeds. Those with the most-seeds and largest fresh selection will draw the best trades.
- 6. Long-term storable items are great (salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, some cheeses, dehydrated or cured foods possibly). He who can build a primitive dehydrator, and had the parts to trade to others, will be king. Dried beans and salt-cured hams can last 24 months, these will be in demand as well. Jerky was used and looked-at differently 200 years ago (the jerky was used as a stew meat with the salt extracted to flavor soups and stews – knowing this extends the use of your stocks – and IS TRADEABLE INFORMATION!)
- 7. Survival information is valuable, and in a time when it is desperately needed, being able to have a few copies of condensed information on-hand and barter-ready will be very valuable, indeed. Type up and print a dozen copies of general information that others may not readily have.
- 8. Fire-making will ALWAYS be critical, and having a dozen extra ferroceramic rods and striking steels will be worth their weight in gold, if it all goes south.
- 9. Enough can’t be said for water containers. Seems simple now, but if things go wrong, one of the hardest things to usually find is a good canteen or water jug. Put enough back for yourself, but put more back for trade. The harder to break, the better. I’ve got a dozen military 1-qt canteens laying around here than there, in a pinch, I have 2-3 I’ll use, but the rest can be had – for a price.
- 10. Everyone needs a warm place to sleep. Funny thing is, linens wear out pretty fast – as do blankets. A good blanket is like a good coat. We’ve all planned for clothes (I hope), but when’s the last time you heard someone brag about having a couple of good wool blankets put back? I’ve got two good wool blankets. I paid $40 each for them. Let the power go out, in November, and you not have one. I don’t know how much you’re willing to pay for them, but I know what you’re going to trade me for them, if you don’t want to freeze at night. I won’t trade both at all, but I’ll be looking for what would be several thousand dollars worth of trade for the one I can ‘spare’.
See, barter comes down to how desperate (or how much does your life depend on it) you are, as to how critical it really is to have for barter. Can you live without toilet paper, versus that last wool blanket? THIS is how barter REALLY works.
Barter is far scarier than you can even understand, if you are UNABLE to assess ‘critical need’ from ‘whimsy want’ right now. Fire, water, shelter, warmth – yeah, you’re going to pay dearly for what you didn’t see fit to pack now. Think about critical needs, before you think all that ammo is so important. I bet my wool blanket is worth AT LEAST all of your ammo, if you’re cold and we’re both armed. Again, don’t plan on thuggery, stock what you can’t afford to trade for. Have extras to trade yourself, in regards to those critical things we MUST have.
Toilet paper? LOL, Davey Crockett didn’t have toilet paper and he did just fine. HE DID have a weapon, a knife, a fire flint, a good blanket, and good clothes and boots. He traded horses, burros, saddles and whiskey. Take a 3-year, 1,000 mile trip in your mind, and imagine only meeting others on the road like yourself. Each packed differently, not all are nice, not all are passive. Now, prepare for the trip in your mind and take it. What do you see yourself needing, each day, as the seasons change, as the environment changes, and as bad and good people cross your path.
Once again, toilet paper is like a good cigar or stick of chewing gum. It might give you ‘modern comfort’, but there are far more important things you need first.
Did you pack them?
When SHTF and the society will no longer be the same we will go back to the old ways of living, and that includes barter too. All the knowledge our forefathers had is gathered in one place– It is called ” The Lost Ways ”
Here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll find in The Lost Ways:
From Ruff Simons, an old west history expert and former deputy, you’ll learn the techniques and methods used by the wise sheriffs from the frontiers to defend an entire village despite being outnumbered and outgunned by gangs of robbers and bandits, and how you can use their wisdom to defend your home against looters when you’ll be surrounded.
Native American ERIK BAINBRIDGE – who took part in the reconstruction of the native village of Kule Loklo in California, will show you how Native Americans build the subterranean roundhouse, an underground house that today will serve you as a storm shelter, a perfectly camouflaged hideout, or a bunker. It can easily shelter three to four families, so how will you feel if, when all hell breaks loose, you’ll be able to call all your loved ones and offer them guidance and shelter? Besides that, the subterranean roundhouse makes an awesome root cellar where you can keep all your food and water reserves year-round.
From Shannon Azares you’ll learn how sailors from the XVII century preserved water in their ships for months on end, even years and how you can use this method to preserve clean water for your family cost-free.
Mike Searson – who is a Firearm and Old West history expert – will show you what to do when there is no more ammo to be had, how people who wandered the West managed to hunt eight deer with six bullets, and why their supply of ammo never ran out. Remember the panic buying in the first half of 2013? That was nothing compared to what’s going to precede the collapse.
From Susan Morrow, an ex-science teacher and chemist, you’ll master “The Art of Poultice.” She says, “If you really explore the ingredients from which our forefathers made poultices, you’ll be totally surprised by the similarities with modern medicines.” Well…how would you feel in a crisis to be the only one from the group knowledgeable about this lost skill? When there are no more antibiotics, people will turn to you to save their ill children’s lives.
And believe it or not, this is not all…
Table Of Contents:
Making Your Own Beverages: Beer to Stronger Stuff
Ginger Beer: Making Soda the Old Fashioned Way
How North American Indians and Early Pioneers Made Pemmican
Spycraft: Military Correspondence During The 1700’s to 1900’s
Wild West Guns for SHTF and a Guide to Rolling Your Own Ammo
How Our Forefathers Built Their Sawmills, Grain Mills,and Stamping Mills
How Our Ancestors Made Herbal Poultice to Heal Their Wounds
What Our Ancestors Were Foraging For? or How to Wildcraft Your Table
How Our Ancestors Navigated Without Using a GPS System
How Our Forefathers Made Knives
How Our Forefathers Made Snow shoes for Survival
How North California Native Americans Built Their Semi-subterranean Roundhouses
Our Ancestors’Guide to Root Cellars
Good Old Fashioned Cooking on an Open Flame
Learning from Our Ancestors How to Preserve Water
Learning from Our Ancestors How to Take Care of Our Hygiene When There Isn’t Anything to Buy
How and Why I Prefer to Make Soap with Modern Ingredients
Temporarily Installing a Wood-Burning Stove during Emergencies
Making Traditional and Survival Bark Bread…….
Trapping in Winter for Beaver and Muskrat Just like Our Forefathers Did
How to Make a Smokehouse and Smoke Fish
Survival Lessons From The Donner Party
Get your paperback copy HERE
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WHAT TO READ NEXT:
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BACON (STEP BY STEP GUIDE)
A RETURN TO THE OLD PATHS: HOW TO MAKE PEMMICAN LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICANS
20 LOST RECIPES FROM THE PIONEERS: WHAT THEY COOKED ON THEIR JOURNEY WESTWARD
SEVEN CLASSIC GREAT DEPRESSION ERA RECIPES GRANDMA USED TO MAKE
POTTED MEAT: A LOST SKILL OF LONG TERM MEAT STORAGE
BACK TO BASICS: HOW TO MAKE AND PRESERVE LARD
THE BEST WAY TO STOCKPILE VEGETABLES OFF-GRID
OLD FASHIONED PRESERVING-GRANDPA’S RECIPE FOR CURED SMOKED HAM
HOW TO MAKE GUNPOWDER THE OLD FASHIONED WAY
SURVIVAL HERBAL RECIPES FROM OUR ANCESTORS
HOW TO PRESERVE MEAT FOR SURVIVAL LIKE OUR GRANDFATHERS
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES:
The 3 Pioneer Survival Lessons We Should Learn
The Most Effective Home Defense Strategies
Old School Hacks for Off-Grid Living
The Medical Emergency Crash Course
The Smart, Easy Way to Food Independence
How to Survive the Coming 100 Years Long Drought
View Comments (4)
A large stock of mirrors would be very handy.
Mirrors? you may ask. You can use them to flash sun light with Morris code up to 100 miles. With two you can direct that message in any direction at long as the sun is visible. With a good number of them you can build a heilostat that can cook food and with enough melt STEEL.
During the war in the Balkans, Serbia, etc, a town of over 35,000 people were cut off from all water and utilities for over a years. No water, other than gotten from steams nearby, no food, nor anything else other than what you had in your home.
The survivors mentioned what was most needed and most wanted.
1. Hands down, guns for protection, and all the ammo and magazines one could acquire. All these were top of the line barter items and necessary to survive.
2. Was "Bic Lighters". Which were worth there weight times two in gold. One fails to realize how much fire starters are needed in a serious situation like this.
3. Gravy: Rice, beans and other staples taste bland and after awhile are hard to digest or to even look at, they said, but with gravy, it was like eating at a restaurant. Powdered Gravy was again worth its weight in gold.
4. Many other items, clothes, shoes, etc, for children that grow quickly, especially if the hardship extended for two or more years.
5. Medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, pain killers were also like gold, then came bandages, flu and cold helps, hygiene, especially women needs.
6. Candles, were also in high demand.
Let me add:
Today, many realize that something very big is coming soon, and that we might very well be without food, water, utilities and the like for a year or more is a possibility. Neighbors will turn desperate and turn on others, a time near no one can be trusted. but let me here focus on food.
The survivors also said that no matter how many guns and ammo one had they were "toast" if they were alone. You can't stay up 24/7, and if you are alone and known to have guns and/or ammo, you were first on the list.
The wealthiest homes were hit first and all killed. Any home or place were there were several men min, managed to survive, as few would attempt to take on several armed men. The women with them were an enormous help also in taking watch and other needs of the families, all had their places and something to help the whole.
Lastly food:
Firstly: Lots of canning supplies, as many jars as you can afford or feel necessary. These will not only help you to preserve food later, but are excellent barter items. have lots and lots of lids.
Purchase "Mylar Bags" on the Internet, especially bags that are recommended for 5 & 6 gallon plastic buckets. The bags or sites usually also sell "oxygen absorbents" to place in the bags before sealing. Both the bags and absorbents are very cheap.
Purchase 5 & 6 gallon buckets from Walmart, Lowes, etc, they do not have to be "food grade". And make sure that the "lids" have a "rubber seal". Lowe's has both, Walmart's lids do not have the rubber seals.
Purchase flour, rice, beans, instant, salt and sugar in large quantities, potatoes, any dried foods.
Purchase a Vacuum Sealer from Walmart or anywhere else.
Place Mylar bag in bucket, fill bag, throw in oxygen absorb er, fold top of Mylar bag over flat and place a 1'4 inch tubing from vacuum sealer adapter about three inches into the edge of the bag. Using a hot iron, seal the bag tight up to the corner with the tubing protruding inside, vacuum and when the vacuum has reached its maximum draw, quickly seal the bag in front of the tubing. Then just cut the rest of the tubing off.
On U tube you can find other ways to seal the bags and/or buckets. This will allow you to store the above items for at least ten years, without and nutritional and taste loss.
Also: University studies have shown that canned goods will last for at least 20 years with no negative effects.
A ship sunk in 1917 was found full of canned goods; some color was lost but the foods retained all their nutritional properties.
An army warehouse was found stocked with canned goods from WWII. All the canned goods were still near 100% in nutritional value, taste and color.
All Dinty Moore soups are good for a min. of 20 years - Tuna Fish is good for over 20 years, etc. The only canned goods to watch are those with high acid content such as tomato's, which will last for approx, five years plus.
The reason for expiration dates is for "turnover" for the farmers, producers and retailers, to maintain steady profit.
Now is the time to prepare, later will be too late. Seeds are mentioned, get all you can and store them in glass jars and in the fridge or freezer as long as you can. Many vegetable seeds will stay good for 3-5 years in normal temp, and some will last 10 years or more. If vacuum sealed with your Walmart sealer and kept in a dark, cool place, will last for 20-50 years.
Just what did Davey Crockett use? The ubiquitous 'sea shells' featured in that Sylvester Stalone movie, Demolition Man?
It's being vigilant in protecting your life & your families life, to prepare, but we are nothing without Jesus Christ! What's coming our way won't allow for any barter or trade. Try bartering when your running for your life, or preparing for an onslaught, from various gangs & ravenous desperate people, let alone the NWO DEATH SQUADS of all shapes & sizes. Or the advanced bio-weapons etc. etc. Shalom