Prepping: The Department of Redundancy Department

This essay was inspired by SurvivalBlog reader R.T., who recently sent me a photo of his accumulation of 17 hand-crank kitchen grinders. In bygone years, almost every family owned one of these. But they have gradually been replaced by more fragile electric blenders, electric meat grinders, and food processors. So, most of these sturdy old machines have been unwisely discarded.  I assume that R.T. found most of his at yard sales and at thrift stores. He included the caption:  “One is none and two is one, but seventeen?”

An oft-quoted saying in the prepping community is: ‘One is none and two is one,”  But I’d like to suggest expanding that, to wit:

One is none — because it might fail. So, two is one.

Three will provide for your family in the long term.

Four will provide for your family and for a relative who did not plan ahead.

But Six (or preferably more) will also provide for barter and charity.

Redundancy

I cannot overemphasize the importance of logistical redundancy for prepared families.  Here are some key reasons why you need to be “redundantly redundant”:

• Entropy. Everything that gets used eventually wears out. And even things that are not used still suffer deterioration.  Rubber gaskets, seals, belts, and tires are particularly vulnerable, even when just sitting still. The law of entropy is still in full force. That all began with Adam’s Fall. Entropy affects all machinery,. The general rule is: The more complex the machine, the more likely its eventual need of repair or replacement. (Think: Multiple points of failure.) Your ability to hand-knit socks and to whittle axe handles does not extrapolate into an ability to replicate cast, forged, and machined parts. And certainly not making electronic circuits from scratch. Those require advanced tools and knowledge — far above and beyond what anyone can muster in their home workshops. So that means stocking plenty of spare parts, or, as apropos, complete spare tools, machinery, and electronics.
• Inflation. Storing redundant supplies is a good hedge against inflation. Just be sure that you can eventually consume what you store, or resell what you store, at a higher price.  Be sure to keep the shelf-life of various items in mind, so that your stockpiles are still usable by the time that you consume them..
• Theft. Thieves have always been part of every large community. And in hard times a much larger segment of society will resort to thievery.
• Confiscation. Governments are grabby, and particularly so, in times of crisis. The most efficient and brazen thieves are those with badges and clipboards.
• Loss. Even with cautious use, things can get misplaced, lost, or dropped overboard. Over the years, I’ve lost several small knives and tools in tall pasture grass. And I cannot count the number of tiny springs and detents that have been swallowed up by the Pile Carpet Monster. (By the way, buying a magnetic sweeper is a bit of money well-spent, for both your home and shop.)
• Supply Chain Disruption. This was evidenced during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. And take note that was a supply chain that was merely stressed, not fully collapsed.  Just imagine the disruption that would be created by a World War. And a global trade war is now brewing…
• Trauma and Drama. You may live in a very peaceful, stable, and orderly small community with fine,  upstanding folks. But you and your family can feel the effects of trauma and drama, elsewhere. That can include legal or illegal immigration, dramatic shifts in stock and commodities markets, changes in government regulations, interest rate shifts by the Federal Reserve cartel that expand or contract the money supply, and much more.
• Demand Multiplication. You might think that you have “plenty” of food, feed, fuel, ammo, batteries, bedding, clothing, and tools for your family.  But what happens when the proverbial Schumer hits the fan and you have a half-dozen or more cousins and in-laws show up, begging for a place to stay?  And what happens when your little flock of sheep multiplies into a large flock of sheep?
• Unforeseen Circumstances. Situations can change unpredictably. Sociopolitical patterns change. Weather changes. Disasters happen. Laws change. Technologies advance and morph. Populations migrate. Oh, and armies march.

Protecting What You Have

Hide and lock up your spares! Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. We’ve often written about the importance of proper caching, In SurvivalBlog. If you distribute a good portion of what you’ve stockpiled in multiple locations, then there is little risk that it can all be lost to various risks.

Containers are crucial. Protect what you’ve stored from the ravages of moisture, insects, rats, rust, thieves, and other perils. Gun vaults, ammo cans, Tupperware, and Pelican-type cases are your friends.

In damp climates, having moisture-absorbing desiccants is very important. One very low-cost source is Fresh Step brand (and similar) crystal cat litter.  In the unscented varieties, those are almost pure silica gel. You will get four or five times the quantity of silica gel for your money, if you buy it in the form of “crystal cat litter.”  Frequently inspect any tools, guns, and other items that are prone to rust.  Don’t be skimpy with applications of oil and Rust Inhibitive Grease (RIG). For some details on tool preservation and restoration, see my October, 2024 SurvivalBlog feature article: Tools For The Next Generation.

The expense of redundancy can be daunting for almost everyone.  So can the space required, to store things.  Be wise and exacting, in your planning. Be methodical and consistent in your procurement. Use storage space efficiently, primarily through the use of tall, sturdy shelves. If you don’t have shelves in your storage rooms that don’t almost reach the ceiling, then you are wasting space. Add earthquake straps, for good measure.

Getting redundant in your stockpiling has another advantage:  For times when you are made redundant. You never know when a layoff can occur. If you have a deep larder, then you’ll be able to fall back on those supplies while you either seek a new job or develop a business of your own.

Above all, pray and trust in God’s Providence. Jehovah Jireh! – JWR