Acquiring Supplies

 From:  Wolverine

Friday night I got a video clip from Tonto showing how to make a buck saw for backpacking or around the retreat for the low cost of $9. Tonto is a very clever survivalist and prepper. I have learned a lot from that man over the years and even stolen a few of his ideas for postings. We both have the plan to shelter in place when TSHTF, we just have different ideas on what we will be able to accomplish. We also both plan on having wood as a heat and cooking source once the grid goes down.

I finished my errands in very good time so I did stop at a flea market. I was elated to find a Bear Cub recurve bow there. My boys broke mine a few years back and I really miss it. I wasn’t able to buy the last couple I saw; they had nearly $100 price tags on them. I bought the replacement for $40. The bow is part of my survival strategy so it was important to replace it.

While wandering around the different stales I spotted an old style buck saw. No one was at the booth but I was able to check it out and saw it had a $12 price tag. I figured that for a sawbuck I could walk away with it. I called Tonto and asked if he was heart set on making one of those buck saws or would he like one for ten bucks? He told me that an old one for ten was great so I went back and looked up the booth owner.

Those of us that are cheap tend to bargain prices more often than not. I asked the booth owner what his best price was on that saw. He thought a few moments and told me he would take $8 for it. I paid the cash and left.

Yes, we can all save money and make our own supplies. There is a certain satisfaction in being very self-reliant. There is also satisfaction in being able to acquire a good quality survival tool for a very reasonable price.

After I got back to the farm I went out to the barn and double checked my buck saws. That leads me to a question for you guys. Were do you buy buck saw blades that a 30 and 36 inches long? I wouldn’t mind having a couple spares. I checked the local TSC and they didn’t have any larger size blades.

There are a lot of lessons here. Communicate your needs with your network of friends and support group. They may be able to help you save time and money in finding supplies. Supplies can come from any number of places, from the local Tractor Supply Company, flea market and garage sale finds, or building them yourself.

It is always good to keep yourself thinking about how you will handle your needs after an event than waiting for the event to start. Shelter and heat, water, food, and security all need to be planned out well in advance. Just how much will an $8 buck saw be worth if we go grid down and half of Michigan is cutting wood for heat? It is never too early to start acquiring supplies.

Wolverine

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