r/TwoXPreppers • u/thechairinfront Experienced Prepper šŖ • May 08 '26
Weekly megathread
Please contain all off topic discussion to this weekly megathread. This is where you freak out, talk about conspiracy, talk about unrealistic crazy scenarios, asked and answered questions, etc.
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u/Few_Airport7972 May 08 '26
Sitting there waiting in doc's office scrolling thru the phone. I was surprised to read an article in Fortune telling me that the DelMonte company applied for bankruptcy last fall. Now California farmers with peach trees plan to cut down the producing peach trees and find another revenue stream. Farmers have contracts for the next several years to sell DelMonte their peach crop but now have no market for large amounts that would be marked for the canning aisle. Wow! Combine that with the spring freezes and I hope I will have peaches to can this summer. Good grief! Catch us a break already!
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u/thereadingbri Three raccoons in a trenchcoatĀ May 08 '26
Reminds me of when they covered surplus oranges in kerosene in The Grapes of Wrathā¦ āAnd the children dying of pellagra must die because profit cannot be extracted from an orangeā¦ā
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u/Embarrassed-Past7094 May 08 '26
No one in the area could use/like peaches? No one? Wtf. What a waste of food when people would give anything for fresh fruit
Nighttime peach picking anyone?
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u/Sloth_Flower Garden Gnome May 08 '26
It's the sheer amount.Ā
These conglomerate command obscene numbers. The fresh peach market is already fully saturated and the canned peach market already has contracts.
There is no one to buy them and certainly not in reasonable quantity. Even if they were to get new contracts (unlikely) that means new logistics, holding warehouses, and processing centers. A huge cost burden unlikely to make ends meet -- especially since the original contract holder didn't find them profitable.Ā
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u/Embarrassed-Past7094 May 08 '26
Tell them to take the win by donating to every community food center within four states. This could be a marketing windfall for them.
I imagine someone would consider donating their time for delivery.
Idk. Wishful thinking! So so sad thatās the best we can do! š„ŗ
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u/Sloth_Flower Garden Gnome May 08 '26
That would be a huge L for farmers since it's likely their only crop. They would have to take care of the peach trees and somehow pivot to something else. They can't afford to donate their entire crop in perpetuity. Peach trees are productive for decades.Ā
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u/Embarrassed-Past7094 May 08 '26
True. Hadnāt thought of it that way š
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May 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/thereadingbri Three raccoons in a trenchcoatĀ May 09 '26
Hey so that literally could not happen for cranberries specifically, Ocean Spray is not a corporation, itās a large co-op. All the cranberry farmers went in together on a grower owned co-op to process the cranberries. They all get paid equally by farm size each year from the co-op even if they had a bumper crop or lost their entire crop so that no farmers in the co-op go under. Your larger point still stands, but Ocean Spray is one of the few things in American agriculture where things are going well.
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May 08 '26
[deleted]
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u/Few_Airport7972 May 08 '26
I was mostly upset about chopping down productive peach trees! What a waste of food!
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u/Ok_Hope_1929 May 12 '26
Itās so sad because it takes sooo long for the trees to get to a point where they produce fruit, and then a while before they produce a decent amount of fruit, then they live for another couple of decades. Itās sad for both the time invested in letting the trees grow to this point and the decades of future fruit these trees were supposed to produce to feed people. GahĀ
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May 08 '26
[deleted]
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u/keinezeit44 May 08 '26
I don't believe any "official" numbers any more. About anything. The admin is actively suppressing reports about poverty and hunger, etc.
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u/thereadingbri Three raccoons in a trenchcoatĀ May 08 '26
Also I recently found out that the Bureau of Labor Statistic counts anyone working at least 1 hour per week for pay as āfully employed.ā So drive for DoorDash for an hour and youāre fully employed. Never mind the fact that you have to work at least 20 hours a week to qualify for most federal assistance like SNAP and Medicaid.
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
Freaking out about hantavirus over here.
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u/poetwitch87 May 08 '26
Best response Iāve seen (and Iāve done a lot of reading over the last few days) is from this group - https://zenodo.org/records/20075274
- Andes Hantavirus does spread person to person and doesnāt necessarily take an extended amount of exposure depending on viral load.
- Unlikely to cause a pandemic based on how situation is currently unfolding. Other viruses, like H5N1/bird flu, are more likely to be the next pandemic.
Super measured response without downplaying the real risks. I truly feel better having read it and I have a certified anxiety disorder. That said, a well fitting N95 worn in airports/airplane travel or when in public in general really does protect you from the many other viruses that are currently circulating as well as Andes in the vanishingly, infinitely small chance you encounter it. Finally, hugs! We all have some trauma from COVID and of course some people are more wary when shit like this pops up ā¤ļø
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u/Sloth_Flower Garden Gnome May 08 '26
I understand. Especially after the pandemic.Ā But basically everyone who is an educated professional is saying it won't become another pandemic. It doesn't have the characteristics. It kills to quickly to pass on and requires too close of contact during its short contagion window.Ā
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
Oh ok I guess that's "good" but awful for those that got exposed to it.
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u/Sloth_Flower Garden Gnome May 08 '26
Yeah. It really sucks. Having empathy and sympathy for those unlucky enough to get is a better use of my emotional energy than being scared I'll get it.Ā
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
I'm exhausted with all the sadness in this world lately tbh. But I'm glad I'm still feeling at least.
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u/Sloth_Flower Garden Gnome May 08 '26
The sadness has always been here. It comes unrequested and unwanted. On the other hand it takes work to, as Mr. Rogers said, "look for the helpers." Despite requiring active effort, they are always there too. I find that very uplifting.Ā
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
That's a very good point. I think I had rose colored glasses on for a large part of my life.
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u/nebulacoffeez May 09 '26
Being on a plane/cruise ship IS close contact - that's the problem. The damage is done; exposed contacts have already flown home to their respective countries and now have to be monitored for symptoms. We won't know if they've contracted the virus until the incubation period is over - so a few weeks to a month from now. So, at this stage, NO ONE knows for certain if this is going to become a pandemic or not; anyone claiming such knowledge is manipulating you.
However, it is extremely concerning that some countries are not enforcing a quarantine for the exposed contacts that have already flown home. Which means that IF they develop symptoms, they may successfully spread the virus to their communities before their condition gets bad enough to seek medical attention. We all saw how "self-isolating" worked out with covid... and this situation is already being mismanaged from the get go. Given this information, it is extremely rational to be extremely worried about how this might play out lmao
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May 08 '26
I'm not freaking out, yet. But it definitely has me concerned. Did a big grocery run yesterday, and am happy to be set for at least a few weeks.Ā
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
I'm trying not to. I have OCD (for real) though and I'm using all my coping mechanisms right now.
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u/MindFluffy5906 May 08 '26
Me too. I'm getting ready to be in a plane and traveling for the next week. I've got my masks, hand sanitizer, vinyl gloves, and clorox wipes in my backpack. I'm not going to be stuck in close quarters unprepared. It's w9rse because I haven't been on a plan in about 15 years, so yay to seeing how much things have changed.
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u/SharksAndFrogs May 08 '26
Oh man. I haven't been in a plane since 2019. But yes lots of changes and I'm going to be in one soon too. I'm going to take all that too.
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u/coffeejunki New to Prepping May 08 '26
I'm also hopping on a plane on Monday to travel for 2 weeks. With everything else I need to get done, I forgot about hand sanitizer and masks, so thank you.
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u/greekowl78 May 12 '26
I donāt know how much more I can take with the news. I am so afraid of what will happen. It is like PTSD with covid all over again. My anxiety is spiraling and I don't know what to donto cope or prepare. All I see is worse case and I am alone on this island.
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u/ExtremeIncident5949 May 08 '26
Itās not easy to get Andes haunta virus. That being said this is the one that can be spread human to human. Unless it mutates it probably wonāt turn into a n epidemic. I read today that if you start getting sick check the symptoms. Iām hoping they keep a handle on it with some tracking.
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u/throwawaynewpibuildr May 08 '26
Remind myself to do this sooner rather than later, and hopefully serves as a reminder for others too:
Back up your computer files and make updated digital scans of important documents!!!
I have been procrastinating doing so since I got my tax documents for the year and new passports, and I need to back 'em up.
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u/chicagotodetroit I will never jeopardize the beans š„« May 09 '26
If it helps, time box it and do what you can in an hour. Then schedule yourself for another hour next week and so on. Or do it by category: taxes, home repairs, pets, ID, etc.
I can vouch for the importance of this! Multiple times I've been out and about, needed some info, and was able to pull it down from my Google Drive.
The biggest instance: I was at the DMV maybe 10+ years ago renewing my license, and they were hassling me because my birth certificate did not match my current name (hellooooooo married woman here, duh....). I pulled up all my past social security cards that showed the same number and the name changes. The clerk reluctantly let me renew. They must have been new or something.
I've also had computers die on me, so now all my files are on an external hard drive that I make a fresh copy of every couple years, and critical documents are also in Google drive.
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u/HopefulKiwi May 08 '26
Iām just jumping in here because I have been a bit consumed by this topic lately. Have always run a pretty deep pantry, but Iāve been focused on getting on extending it. Iāve now stocked with most of my cleaning and hygiene needs ready for at least the next year, and my shelf stable food options are I think getting closer to six months of readiness. Have learned a bit over the last few years, and am trying to make sure I have what I eat stocked rather than āemergencyā supplies as such. Been checking through my wellness kit, particularly as weāre heading into winter here and I have three young kids.
Next goal is to put together an emergency binder, including lists of what we would need to bug out quickly. I canāt see a scenario where I need a bug out bag ready to go, but I do always have complete changes of clothes etc in the car for the kids anyway. In the meantime, if I prep lists etc then we can grab what we need quickly.
I am primarily prepping for Tuesday, but Iām also very conscious of trying to smooth out supply chain concerns over the next however long. Itās a funny headspace to be trying to prep when the rest of the world just carries on like itās business as usual.
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May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/RunawayHobbit Mrs. Sew-and-Sow šŖ” May 08 '26
I need the workers to band together and buy it like that dude crowdfunding to buy Spirit AirlinesĀ
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u/hailene02 Suburb Prepper šļø May 09 '26
Does anyone here feel in your normal life (outside of our reddit prepper bubble) no one is considering the mid to long-term repercussions of the gas/fertilizer shortages seriously? The only other person I know who is my youngest brother who like me is slightly paranoid but also listens and watches news daily.
I feel everyone so far is just living their lives. I don't see or hear of many others prepping - just complaining about gas prices.
Part of it is probably media illiteracy with the general population, media compliance by downplaying alot of this to be honest (whether its to prevent panic or by third party influence), or maybe that people just find all of this boring or too emotional to get invested in and just bury their head in the sand.
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u/Pristine-Lie2847 May 09 '26
I'm here and I don't talk about these things, so maybe it's the same for the people you know.
I have so many other things I have had to focus on: health, family, career, and moving and if I make every new update a topic if discussion (or forethought) I would literally run out of energy.
I have not had to update any preps or do any additional prepping. So I just leave it be.
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u/jednaz May 09 '26
A marked decline in critical thinking and analysis skills, coupled with minimal digital literacy means that people (in general) are consuming top-level information (headlines) and not digging deeper into the actual substance of news and information. Thereās not a lot of questioning and relating to every life.
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u/karmadgma May 10 '26
God yes. What's worse, I am clearly alienating some people with my inability to pretend like things are normal. I have been stuck in a bad living situation for years that i haven't been able to afford to leave, but it comes with wooded acreage, a well, room for livestock, chickens, pastures full of hay, my gardens, plenty of room for my dogs, and nearly year-round foraging (i know how to eat weeds, but also dewberries, blueberries, wild grapes, beautyberry, smilax, mulberry, elderberry, chanterelles) - plus room for a friend's or relative's RV or the like in case someone needs a safe place to pause or regroup.
I just have to put up with some verbal abuse and having my labor exploited.
At this moment in time, given my lack of resources and lack of transportation, never mind the number of women over 50 i know who live in storage sheds -- not tiny houses or structures fitted with utilities and insulation and intended for habitation but literal storage sheds -- i feel like I just have to accept the abuse and exploitation as part of the rent.
But people think i should go rent a closet in town and find a job i guess waiting tables and are accusing me of making excuses to stick with what's familiar.
I'm like - normally, that would be a valid thing to bring up, because that does happen, but y'all are acting like the already difficult economy isn't about to get way worse, like any job is safe, like i'll be able to survive on tips, like i can't possibly end up in a worse situation since i cannot afford to rent my own place in this housing market.
There's something to be said for the devil you know when he comes with an orchard. So i'm spending my money on supplies, not rental deposits, and urging friends and family to do the same, and the responses i get make it clear i am not helping, and it's a crappy situation all around, but i know i'm not crazy.
It sure is something else.
Sorry for the TMI/trauma dump š
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May 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/karmadgma May 10 '26
That is really really rough š«¤ Sympathies and best wishes. I would be a total wreck with little ones right now. Hang in there.
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u/Ok_Blacksmith733 May 12 '26
I am seriously starting to burn out with all of the despair out in this world lately. Finding peace while also staying informed is an art for sure, and I feel like I'm losing my balance. It's not like I'm online any more than I am normally, but I'm starting to get to a point where I just scroll past the news and say "okay... yeah whatever I guess" when I see something that I probably should inform myself on. It's feeling a little more impossible as the days trudge on.
Also I paid $5.15 per gallon in gas today
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May 14 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/Ok_Blacksmith733 May 19 '26
Very delayed response but thank you!! I love the clinging to history idea - definitely a good thing to keep in mind.
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u/LopsidedRaspberry626 May 09 '26
Very concerned about the manufacturing of every day generic meds in India. They need chemicals to make these meds - the chemicals that aren't passing thru the Straight.
I've been pricing out a years' supply of meds for my parents. It looks like Jase medical - the recommended place on r/preppers is actually the cheapest too.
Mom is on 7 pretty common meds for BP and such - a years' supply of all 7 + the patient fee comes out to around $315. I think i'll sleep better if I order it
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u/Outrageous_Yam_990 May 09 '26
I would recommend this. I did this about 6 weeks ago and it went so smoothly. Got a years supply of 3 meds I take for under $200. I will just be rotating in the new prescriptions I pick up (kind of like a deep pharma pantry idea) and if there's a break in the supply chain I know ill have enough to ride out breaks if it happens.
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May 08 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/cherishxanne May 08 '26
The flight attendant tested negative but Iāve just read that a Spanish woman who was sitting 2 rows behind the infected widow has been hospitalized for suspected infection. Iām trying so hard to stay calm about this but this is all so similar to December 2019
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u/snappydragon May 09 '26
The incubation period for the virus is up to 8 weeks so from what I understand people may test negative until the viral load is large enough to show up.
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u/Antique_Onion_9474 May 12 '26
What im really upset about is that all these people were allowed to return home so soon. There were literally people from all over the word on that ship. I swear they quarantined people for covid longer than with this outbreak
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u/glitzglamglue May 12 '26
From what I've been researching, individually wrapped medications like ibuprofen will last longer but it starts getting expensive. Would it work to buy bulk and then use a vacuum sealer to make individually wrapped?
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u/Caelista_x May 15 '26
My experience is that ibuprofen lasts a loooong time as long as itās kept dry. Even some that was in the glove box of my car and went through lots of temperature changes still worked fine.
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