I don't smoke, but I do use tobacco. I've been wondering about the best way to store cigarettes for barter. Do any here do the same? My thoughts were to put a couple packs into a small cardboard box, vac seal then store in the freezer. I store my skoal in the freezer and it works quite well.Thoughts?
Slightly off topic but- I have read that people store smokes & stuff for bartering purposes. My thinking is when TEOTWAWKI happens it will be truly the Great American Smokeout. Being one that has people depending on me, I couldn't imagine bartering for a can of snuff or a pack of cigarettes. I often wonder if these products really would be of value post-SHTF.
What will an addict do/sell/steal for a fix? Same thing will happen in many cases for smokes/booze I'd bet.
When it gets to the point where you can use tobacco for barter, how fresh or stale it is won't matter. Also, what does it take to grow the stuff? Perpetual barter is better...
I don't smoke either but strongly believe that this will be a valuable barter item, to those who "need" a smoke from time to time. I think that your method noted above is probably the best way to do it. I would maybe vac seal a 6-pack or so and not any larger in quantity. One, this will allow you to control how many are un-packaged at any given time while the rest remain"fresh" and stored out of sight from prying eyes during the barter process. It is much easier to say "look man I only have 6 packs, what do you have to trade" vs letting them know you have a couple of cases.... loosing the value of the limited quantity... as well as perking their interest to rob you of your large stash.... just a thought.
Throughout history cigarettes have proven to be a reliable palm greaser in times of crisis. A denied craving becomes a powerful obsession, particularly when other stresses are involved. Addictions rarely take a back seat to responsible behavior.
Some resources to grow your own The Tobacco Seed Company - How To Grow Tobacco How to Grow Tobacco (with Pictures) - wikiHow » Growing Tobacco | Growing Tobacco at Home is Easy In a way it's almost like tobacco and marijuana have switched places. In SHTF I think tobacco would be the most desirable.
I have a few neighbors that are Nicotine Addicted.... and some will boat 15 miles, in the most Horrible Wx, just to score some Smokes, from our Store, in the winter. I have a Strict Policy, that the Store is ONLY opened on Mail Day. (Once a week in the winter) You just can't imagine all the "Reasons" that I have heard, why they couldn't make it on Mail Day, but are here NOW, and NEED their Fix..... I rarely give in, and most stock up, when they can.
Nice links.... Just don't grow next to tomatoes or peppers. The tobacco mosaic virus will jump back and forth and you garden will be ruined for tomatoes My view if you want to save tobacco for trade.... Buy the cheaper loose tobacco (it's not taxed as heavily as pre-rolled) put with rolling papers and vacuum seal in small bags. (tbh you can just put in snack size zip lock and if it drys out too much put apple in bag... Call it apple flavored) Lose tobacco cheaper to store and if you need the tobacco to make organic bug killing juice... You have the tobacco (just don't use near tomatoes or peppers)
A bit of a tid-bit of info as to why you need tobacco in your prep's. Next time a stinging bug hits you, Slap a bit of moist tobacco on the affected area, Report back about the instant relief and swelling or lack of.
There are native cigars, so called because cigs can't be sold online any more, and the price of them is between $10.50 to 12.40 per carton plus shipping. These are much cheaper then the outrageous prices now on cigs. During SHTF anyone craving tobacco could care less if they taste a little like a cigar and like 3M-TA3 said, if they are stale or fresh. At those prices you can stock up larger quantities for trading without going broke. Filtered Cigars, Little Cigars, Seneca Filtered and Pipe Tobacco On Sale - Filtered Cigars include Native made cigars, Little cigars and Filtered Cigars. Pipe Tobacco include Native made pipe tobacco
I agree to a point, but my thinking on both smoke and booze is top shelf stuff always goes for a higher price. I can kick out A LOT of sugar shine from my still, and will if needed, but if my whiskey tastes just like JD (and it does) I can demand much more for it. My thoughts are the same for smoke. If I can keep them "fresh" for a longer time, they should be worth more. It doesn't cost me much to experiment now to find the best way to keep them longer.
I think what I need to do for now is to find someone who smokes. Like I said, I don't and none of the folks I know around here do. Anyways, my thoughts at this point is to buy a few packs, vac seal and date them then put into the freezer. Pull one out at say 3 months and give them to somebody who smokes and see what they think. Keep doing this until I get an idea on how long they might last. But then again, maybe I'm over thinking the whole thing..
Been doing this for years with my Skoal. I was up camping with my daughters years back when my middle daughter got stung. Pulled the stinger out, put a pinch over the sting and covered with a band aid-Dad was a hero
I quite agree, and have plans to grow both. I'd like to try tobacco next year. From what I've read it can be tricky for a first timer. The other I don't plan on starting until PSHTF unless it becomes legal in this state. I've no interest in recreational usage, but have seen firsthand what it can do for cancer patients and folks who suffer with migraines.
Anyone find a good processing link? I read the o especially posted and they seem to contradict each other for when and how long to dry. @Tully Mars.... You always get me intrigued with a new gardening challenge.. I may have to try this one next year. I will see if I can start this fall in the green house. BTW krantom can be grown legally where I live... I love having obscure useful plants in yard
I believe liquid smoke has quite a long shelf life.... Liquid smoke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I was digging around in my back yard for some old Chevy parts I was selling and found a unopened pack of camels. Be dammed if I didn't open them and smoke on for sag. Had to be in that crate, for over two years and it was fresh. I used to smoke that long ago is why I know. Threw the rest away. But people who smoke will reroll butts to get their fix. Like heroin that stuff.