When I was young, my Dad had one of these in the garage:

If you’ve never seen one before, it’s a corn sheller.  You feed the corn through the hole while turning the crank and a naked cob comes out the other side - the shelled corn falls out the bottom into a bucket.  The machinery inside is cast iron and the gears inside strip the corn off with very little work.  Here’s a picture of a more modern, cast iron sheller:

So, I was thinking about this last night and how hand a tool like this would be.  A hand grinder is on most true preppers lists, but what about shelling corn?  I do not want to spend my evenings breaking the kernels off corn cobs.  This could be a good job for the kids, but why do it manually when the technology has been around since the 1700’s?  We used to run walnuts that still had the outside hull on them through and then dry them to eat.  I’m sure there are 100 other uses for this handy crank.  The newer, all iron version is available for just under $100 and to me is probably an essential piece of equipment if you want to raise your own food.  Corn is a North American staple, but you have to be able to get it from field to table as efficiently as possible.  You could probably scout some antique sales and craigslist for antique versions - if they’ve lasted 100 years, they’ll probably last 50 more.  I think my Dad picked his up for less than $40 at a flea market. 

I haven’t written much about the tools we’ll need if there is a long-term disaster.  Stay tuned for more!

Two major earthquakes, both with pretty devastating results.  Have you learned anything?  Both the earthquake in Haiti and most recently in Chile should be a call to action for you.  Are you ready?  Are your bags at standby?  Do you have a plan to get out or stay put?  Do your kids know what would happen in an emergency?  How will you get to them if they’re in school?  Please, if you do nothing else, have some extra food and water so you won’t face the dangerous mobs trying to find survival essentials.  Here’s a quick list:

Water - this is your #1 priority, you will not live without it, have more than you think you’ll need

Food- have enough for at least 3 weeks, preferably more

First Aid Supplies - at least the basics; bandages, antibiotic ointment and painkillers

Safety Equipment - flashlights, radio, extra batteries

Comfort Items - games and non-electric toys to keep the kids busy, books - a solar charger could keep a DS working and the kids happy

If all the information about preparing overwhelms you, take a weekend and pull together these basic items.  You’ll be glad you did and it could be the difference between a disaster being an inconvenience and a death sentence.