Jessica Green has a podcast with Cam Harless. They are “The Mad Ones”, an absurdist comedy duo talking about what happened in politics each week and other silly things. Each episode is sprinkled with “white pill” humor based on the fact that the government is exposing itself as a giant monster, which makes spreading truth and anarchy easier. Give them a listen live on Wednesday nights at 10 pm EST. Jessica herself can be found on Twitter as @soupcanarchist.
In this episode, Jessica joins us to talk about emergency preparedness. Jessica got into this realm herself in 2014 when she got trapped in her apartment by a freak snowstorm in Atlanta with basically no food. Since then, she has moved out to the country, started stocking canned food, gotten chickens, started a garden, and began learning how to live off the land so she will never have to depend on government assistance (which usually proves to be too little too late).
Are you ready for an unexpected event? Look at what happened in Texas, where it never snows. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. There are forces outside of our control that directly affect us daily (weather, financial markets, civil unrest, governmental decrees…). We need to learn survival skills and be ready to come together with our communities so we can get through whatever crisis may come. This episode is a good place to start; Jessica is here to teach us how to take small steps every week that lead to our survival.
Timestamps & Key Moments:
4:20 White and black pills
Black: doom & gloom, no hope
White: hope & humor, seeing the positives
The media is pushing defeatist messages
Showing that the government sucks/is a joke makes people feel hopeless
But why give up? Even if there’s only a small chance you’ll make it, there is a chance. Live.
Turn that garbage off
Go talk to real people instead; you’ll get along better if the tv is not on
“I can hear the birds singing outside; the world is not actually on fire.” -Jessica
8:58 The lie of Left vs Right
People get so mad if they have to watch the wrong news channel
“I think the only people who think that there's a difference between the left and the right politically are the people who occupy the left and right.” -Jessica
They probably go out for drinks together after debates and laugh about what they’re doing to people
“They wouldn't allow us to vote if it actually worked too -- if that actually made a difference.”
10:22 Why prep?
For COVID lockdown, storms, civil unrest, and other short-term emergencies
NOT THE APOCALYPSE
No amount of canned food could save you
The goal is to have at least 2 weeks’ supply stored and then be able to live off the land
Canned food
Chickens
Gardening
Water purification
16:54 Survival Skills
GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
Most Americans have never even met the people they live by
We’ll need each other when disaster strikes
If you don’t have a relationship with them, any supplies you have will just end up in the hands of the guy with the most guns
Or you’ll die on your hill of canned beans
20:58 First Steps
3 most important needs:
Water
1 gallon/person/day
Keep at least 3 days’ worth
Don’t store it long-term; it will go bad
Fill up containers a couple of days before disaster strikes
Learn how to sanitize water
Food
Only buy things you eat regularly
NO CANNED CARROTS, unless you truly love them
Once a week, buy an extra can of something
Put it in the back of your pantry
Eat the older cans now (pantry rotation)
Over a year, you’ve stored 52 cans of food
And spent maybe $100
You’re not trying to live on this for years; just until the storm passes
Shelter
Any additional needs
Medical necessities
Special diets
33:37 Being able to care for our neighbors
We need to feed the hungry
When everyone comes together, everyone has more
Can’t feed your family well on your last can of beans
But if you have beans
And your neighbor has a chicken breast
And your other neighbor has tortillas…
You’ve got a meal to share
Community is not communism
It’s voluntary and essential
36:48 Other Essentials (after food, water, shelter are secure)
Restock first aid kit
Get a suture kit and learn how to sew stitches
Take just half a week to study/practice skills like this
Prep before you need it!
“No matter what, if you prepare just a little bit, you're better off than you were before, so you don't have to be self-sufficient in everything. Just be self-sufficient in something.” -Jessica
Freezing meat
If you have a deep freezer, food will stay good for a week without power
When to use expired food:
If you’re starving
If you’re not starving and something’s suspicious, THROW IT AWAY
If the food looks, feels, and smells good
Cook the hell out of it
Mormons are really good at this
Learn skills on YouTube
Become an asset to your community
Or at least less of a burden