Scavenging Ethics and What To Get

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Moral dilemmas

• If you were away from home when disaster stuck, how would you feel if all of your property and preps were looted?

• Many people talk big about how they would conduct themselves after a disaster but we still have a moral code. Would you feel comfortable looting the property of others?

• If you are a believer in a higher power you still have an obligation to live by those beliefs does this action coincide with those beliefs?

If it truly is a mega disaster survival situation and you have no other option but to loot for goods you need.

• Approach each opportunity very cautiously.

• There is bound to be competition for food, water, and arms. Others may have already found the resources and are waiting to ambush you.

• Sweep the perimeter first and make sure the home is clear and structurally safe before you proceed.

• Everything will have value: you need the basics but luxury items will always be welcomed. The emotional value these items provide can't be underrated. They can also provide trade value.

Concerns About Scavenging Goods:

• Right now we are safe and secure. We can pick and choose what to use and what not to. When you are desperate you may be more apt to ingest things that might not be safe anymore.

• Food - how long has it been there. Has it been visited by rodents that carry lots of disease? Has another human tainted it to capture your goods or you?

• Canned food - Look for bulging, etc. How hot has it been? Is there leaking or rusting? Older canned goods won't have the same color, flavor or nutritional value.

• Gardens: A Great Source For Scavenging Goods

• You must be able to identify plants, once mother nature takes back over and they are mixed in with native plants. Start gardening now!

• Pick anything you can.

• Look around for any tools that are buried and have been left behind.

• Fencing and garden construction materials can be a valuable resource.

• You can scavenge the whole plant and move it if you dig up the root ball.

• You may be able to trade labor for food with the grower.

• Seeds:    

        Must be stored in a cool, dark place.
        Have a wide variety.
        Old fruit on the ground can be a valuable resource for good seeds.

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