James T. Kirk's Posts - 12160 Social Network2024-03-28T23:28:21ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRKhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11058742856?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://12160.info/profiles/blog/feed?user=12ap8bmfg38us&xn_auth=noThe Health Benefits of Prickly Ashtag:12160.info,2019-12-03:2649739:BlogPost:19835552019-12-03T20:26:26.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>The Health Benefits of Prickly Ash</p>
<p><br></br>By Tara Dodrill<br></br>December 3, 2019 08:26</p>
<p><br></br>Prickly ash is a natural herbal supplement that has been used to treat a myriad of conditions and injuries for thousands of years. This perennial plant can be grown as either a tree or a shrub, making it a great survival garden addition for preppers no matter where they live.<br></br>Prickly ash is commonly referred to as the toothache tree, pepper wood, northern prickly ash, Chuan jiao, yellow…</p>
<p>The Health Benefits of Prickly Ash</p>
<p><br/>By Tara Dodrill<br/>December 3, 2019 08:26</p>
<p><br/>Prickly ash is a natural herbal supplement that has been used to treat a myriad of conditions and injuries for thousands of years. This perennial plant can be grown as either a tree or a shrub, making it a great survival garden addition for preppers no matter where they live.<br/>Prickly ash is commonly referred to as the toothache tree, pepper wood, northern prickly ash, Chuan jiao, yellow wood, and the clavalier. It is from the Rue plant family – Rutaceae genus. An Asian version of the prickly ash tree is called crow ash.<br/>Both the bark and the fruit berries from the prickly ash tree and shrub have been used to make natural home remedies.<br/>Related: 23 Medicinal Plants the Native Americans Used on a Daily Basis<br/>History of Prickly Ash<br/>Native American tribes infused prickly ash bark to treat a plethora of medical conditions, ranging from minor to severe.</p>
<p>Some of the ailments prickly ash bark infusion was used to treat include: back pain, fever, dry and itchy skin, sore throat, common cold symptoms, colic in infants, lung problems, toothache, post-labor pain in women, and stomach cramps.<br/>Algonquin tribe members mixed roughly two quarts of water with two cups of either dried or fresh prickly ash berries and simmered it over an open flame for approximately one hour. Then, the Native American tribe members would consume the hot tea to lather themselves up into an intense sweat before soaking in a stream.<br/>The tribe members used this regimen to bring relief to stiff joints, back pain, rheumatism, and arthritis pain as well as muscle paralysis fatigue.<br/>Chippewa tribe members were known to make a prickly ash tea not only to drink, but also to soak the feet and legs of the ill or weak elderly and young in, to help strengthen muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments.<br/>In the 19th century book, American Herbal Medicine, Charles Millspaugh declared prickly ash to be a natural remedy for typhoid, cholera, pneumonia, and typhus, among other serious medical conditions. Millspaugh went on to state that prickly ash acted so rapidly it could be compared to electricity. “I consider prickly ash to be superior to any form of medication that I know of”, Charles Millspaugh wrote.<br/>Some doctors from the 19th century used prickly ash in medications designed to treat nervous and digestive system problems. They would replace cayenne pepper with prickly ash in remedies, because they felt it offered a longer lasting result.<br/>Related: 26 Ancient Remedies That We Lost to History<br/>How to Identify a Prickly Ash Tree<br/>This healing tree grows naturally in great abundance in Missouri and is also frequently found or cultivated in many regions throughout the eastern regions of the United States and Canada.<br/>Prickly ash trees can grow to reach heights of 26 feet tall. It has deep brown branches that boast up to half inch thick prickles, hence its name.<br/>The unusual look of the prickly ash tree makes it easy to identify, but this healing tree also boasts an equally uncommon scent. If you happen upon one of these healing shrubs or trees, the first thing you might notice is the intense scent of lemon.<br/>The twigs on branches boast red and rather wooly buds, followed by flowers in shades of greenish yellow each spring.<br/>Darker green leaves appear as the seasons goes on. The fruit from the prickly ash tree ripens during the late days of summer, going from green to a shade of reddish brown once they mature.<br/>Prickly ash trees and bushes are typically found in densely wooded areas, in or adjacent to damp ravines, and in thickets along the forest edge. Sometimes prickly ash trees can also be found in fields and along rocky ridges, as well. It is a hardy plant that can survive – and thrive, in extremely diverse types of environment.<br/>Health Benefits of Prickly Ash<br/>Prickly ash counts nitrogen producing alkaloids among its compounds. These compounds produce physiological actions and reactions. Some examples of the types of alkaloids that prickly ash contain include quinine, alkamide, and morphine. The numbing properties of alkamide are likely why prickly ash garnered the toothache tree moniker.<br/>The fruit produced by the prickly ash tree contains volatile oil compounds that may have various medicinal uses. These volatile oils can stimulate bodily tissues and cause dilation in the veins to enhance blood circulation.<br/>When the oils from prickly ash fruit are rubbed onto the skin it causes a reddening, because the oils dilate small blood vessels just beneath the surface.<br/>When these same oils are used internally, a similar effect is caused to both the entire circulatory and digestive systems.<br/>Prickly ash is thought to help promote the flow of blood through the body. Because both rheumatism and arthritis stem from problems with joint, muscle, or ligament inflammation and related pain, prickly ash’s possible ability to increase blood flow could be highly beneficial in curtailing discomfort and swelling. Peripheral blood flow transports essential nutrients to joints, discs, and cartilage tissue to help repair damage.<br/>Top 20 Health Benefits of Prickly Ash:<br/>Toothache<br/>Rheumatism<br/>Arthritis<br/>Digestive Aid<br/>Lymphatic Stimulant<br/>Gas Relief<br/>Ulcers<br/>Muscle Liniment Active Ingredient<br/>Fever<br/>Circulatory System Stimulant<br/>Anti-fungal Cleanser.<br/>Post-Childbirth Pain<br/>Blood Pressure Issues<br/>Body Invigorating Tonic<br/>Sialagogue (to treat dry mouth)<br/>Minor Wounds<br/>Cytotoxin (an agent that can be toxic to destructive cells, like cancer cells)<br/>Varicose Veins<br/>Leg Cramps<br/>Raynaud’s Syndrome<br/>Prickly Ash Usage<br/>When taking prickly ash to soothe an aching tooth, soak a piece of clean cotton cloth or a cotton ball in the tincture and gently apply it directly to the tooth.<br/>You could also use powdered prickly ash bark sprinkled lightly on a small piece of bread that has peanut butter on it – the powder sticks to the peanut butter. The peanut butter and bread is then wrapped around the tooth like a bandage.<br/>In a survival situation, or for the sake of making a simple and quick natural toothache remedy, simply gently gnaw or suck on a piece of clean bark.<br/>To treat dry mouth with prickly ash to induce the production of saliva, sprinkle a pinch of prickly ash bark powder under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. You might need to repeat this regimen every couple of hours, to prevent the dry mouth from presenting again.<br/>To brew prickly ash into a tea, simmer two teaspoons of bark (either fresh or preserved) in hot water for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Typically, prickly ash settles better on the stomach and might be most effective when taken right before eating a meal.<br/>Prickly Ash Dosage<br/>Typically, prickly ash is infused into a tincture, powder, or oil for human use. According to the Chrysalis Natural Medicine Clinic guide, adults should take between 250 to 750 milligrams up to three times per day.<br/>If making a prickly ash home remedy yourself, simmering 1 teaspoon of chopped bark in water for roughly 20 minutes to make a decoction for adults to consume up to three times per day is recommended. When taking prickly ash in tincture form, the recommended adult dosage is between 10 to 20 drops, taken up to three times per day.<br/>Related: How To Make Your Own Herbal Tincture<br/>Prickly Ash Storage<br/>Your homemade or store bought prickly ash natural herbal supplement should be stored in an airtight container, away from both direct sunlight and heat – but not in a damp or humid place.<br/>When exposed to both dampness or humidity and heat, prickly ash’s compounds will break down more quickly and make it far less effective in battling health issues.<br/>Prickly Ash Side Effects<br/>Because few studies have been conducted on the potential health benefits of prickly ash, there is little evidence available about possible side effects, as well. It is a relatively accepted assertion that individuals who use prickly ash can experience sunlight sensitivity and experience sunburn far more easily.<br/>Simply because a home remedy comes from nature does not mean it is safe for everyone to use. Possible signs of experiencing a prickly ash allergic reaction include skin rash, hives, tightness of chest and/or throat, chest pain, shortness of breath.<br/>Prickly ash is not recommended for folks with the following medical conditions: Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, GI tract infections, GI medical conditions, peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome.<br/>Individuals taking a blood thinner medication, stomach acid reduction medication, cardiac disease, or high blood pressure medicines also should not use prickly ash.<br/>I am not a medical professional of any type. This information is shared from my personal experience and research. Always consult with your doctor before embarking on any type of natural herbal medicine routine.</p>The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make In A Blackout – Field Report From Venezuelatag:12160.info,2019-11-22:2649739:BlogPost:19804032019-11-22T16:37:15.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make In A Blackout – Field Report From Venezuela</p>
<p><br></br>By Maybell Nieves<br></br>November 21, 2019 09:10</p>
<p><br></br>The electrical problem that Venezuela is currently experiencing is a difficult situation to explain to those who have not personally experienced all the stages of Hugo Chávez’s government from 1998 until today.<br></br>Nevertheless, I will try to summarize the most important aspects that have led us to this collapse, which is only a reflection of the…</p>
<p>The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make In A Blackout – Field Report From Venezuela</p>
<p><br/>By Maybell Nieves<br/>November 21, 2019 09:10</p>
<p><br/>The electrical problem that Venezuela is currently experiencing is a difficult situation to explain to those who have not personally experienced all the stages of Hugo Chávez’s government from 1998 until today.<br/>Nevertheless, I will try to summarize the most important aspects that have led us to this collapse, which is only a reflection of the profound economic, political, and social crisis.<br/>The Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant was inaugurated in 1978. This plant has progressively become the main source of electricity for the entire country and part of the border with Brazil.In 2007, given the increases in the population and the little-planned projects for the construction of free housing, both in the capital and in the interior of the country, specialized engineers suggested that President Hugo Chávez expand the complex as well as acquire thermoelectric plants that would alleviate the load on the hydroelectric dam.<br/>Evidently, none of this was done, and thus began the rationing of electricity since 2010 in the interior of the country and since this year in several areas of Caracas.<br/>Related: 9 Mind Bending Effects of a Grid Collapsing EMP<br/>The Beginning<br/>Electricity rationing schedules have been the norm throughout the country since 2010. This rationing has been intermittent, with some months being stricter than others, but it has been maintained over the years.<br/>In Caracas, the capital and the city where I live, electricity rationing was talked about as a distant issue. It really wasn’t something that affected us. But from 2013 onward, a series of voltage variations began threatening to damage all the electric equipment in the house.<br/>The sudden power surges that have occurred since then have forced me to buy voltage regulators for all the electrical appliances in my house, especially the refrigerator and air conditioning. In fact, one of those changes burned my air conditioning regulator.<br/>Fortunately, this time only a few light bulbs were burned, and I did not suffer any loss of important equipment. But a nearby bakery suffered a voltage surge of such magnitude that it caused irreparable damage to two freezers. This situation is being experienced throughout Venezuela and is now part of everyday life here.<br/>I am a surgeon at the most important hospital in Caracas, and I can attest to the damage we have suffered since 2013.<br/>The voltage failures have not only damaged almost the entire light system inside the hospital, counting the emergency lights, but also clinical equipment such as blood freezers, centrifuges, and air conditioners in the operating room area.<br/>In spite of this, we still try to work with relative normality, but I never imagined that the situation would worsen as much as it has.<br/>Related: 7 Terrifying Realities Of Long-Term Blackouts (That You’ve Probably Never Considered)<br/>Electric Collapse<br/>In January 2019 some journalists announced that the water level of the dam that supplies the hydroelectric plant was very low and that it would not be able to supply and maintain the country’s electricity demand when taking into account the number of buildings, schools, and health centers that the government has built without the advice and planning of trained professionals.<br/>In March of this year, there was a collapse for which no one was prepared. We suffered a national blackout that lasted three days throughout the country, extending to five in some areas of Caracas and some states of the interior.<br/>During the blackout, the perishable food was lost; many food businesses, stores, supermarkets, and restaurants gave away their inputs.Fortunately, I have a gas-powered kitchen at home, but in my mother’s case, her kitchen is electric, and her area was one of those affected for five days without electricity. The neighbors created a WhatsApp group to help themselves with this type of inconvenience.<br/>Those who had gas stoves opened their doors to those who could not cook, and these, in turn, helped with other types of shortages.<br/>The second major problem was water supply failures. In some places, it took more than a week for the water to be re-established.<br/>Particularly, I had to live five days without a drop of water, which forced me to go to the houses of friends who have water tanks or deep well systems to bathe and wash clothes.One of the voltage changes burned the water pump that supplies the hospital where I work. Therefore for more than six months, this supply was not available. It has just been restored (but only up to the seventh floor). <br/>In addition, only one functional elevator was left. The motors of the remaining nine elevators were burned out in different power surges.<br/>In Caracas, the electricity supply was restored, although voltage variations continue and are frequent. But in the interior of the country, rationing lasts from 5 to 12 hours.<br/>From that moment, I had concerns that I never had before. I must make sure that the cell phones are always charged and that there is no lack of candles, matches, batteries for the flashlight, and non-perishable food. Also, I always try to have some cash.<br/>The new situation has led to unusual purchases of power generators to meet basic needs. Those who can’t afford one must take basic steps to avoid the knocks of lack of electricity.<br/>My aunt, who lives in the hottest state of the country, where temperatures reach 107°F all year, has had a rationing schedule from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day since March.<br/>She is a diabetic and, along with some neighbors, bought a little electric generator to supply the refrigerator because insulin must stay cold. Unfortunately, the power of the generator is only enough for this purpose and to light some light bulbs. The heat at night is still unbearable.<br/>Like her, many continue to live in this situation that does not seem to have a way out in the short term.<br/>I believe that if something positive can be drawn from those dark days, it was the union and solidarity that I observed between friends and neighbors who were willing to help at all times.<br/>The situation that seemed unsustainable has taken the grim pace of normality. The government no longer talks about the country’s electricity problem. Like many other problems, it has become an issue in the daily lives of the citizens</p>Survival Items Lewis and Clark Had with Them on Their Two-Year Journeytag:12160.info,2019-11-22:2649739:BlogPost:19804552019-11-22T16:24:09.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Survival Items Lewis and Clark Had with Them on Their Two-Year Journey</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>November 22, 2019 07:25</p>
<p><br></br>The famous journey by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark to explore the Louisiana Purchase, map out the Missouri River and find the fabled “Northwest Passage” to the Pacific Ocean is an important part of American History. Never before had such an expedition been undertaken and considering that they were traveling into uncharted and unsettled…</p>
<p>Survival Items Lewis and Clark Had with Them on Their Two-Year Journey</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>November 22, 2019 07:25</p>
<p><br/>The famous journey by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark to explore the Louisiana Purchase, map out the Missouri River and find the fabled “Northwest Passage” to the Pacific Ocean is an important part of American History. Never before had such an expedition been undertaken and considering that they were traveling into uncharted and unsettled country, the survival challenges alone made this an epic journey.<br/>Lewis and Clark were experienced officers and the men they took with them were mostly experienced soldiers. But survival in combat doesn’t necessarily prepare one for surviving in the wilds.</p>
<p>The expedition would be crossing unknown terrain and facing many unforeseen situations before they returned. Everything they needed would either have to be taken with them or found in nature, as there would be absolutely no chance for resupply.<br/>Nor was there any means of rescue, other than what they could accomplish themselves, retracing their steps back to civilization.<br/>This meant that they had to pack carefully, ensuring they had everything they needed. Even so, they were limited in what they could bring by the capacity of their boat, a 60 foot long keelboat, with a capacity of 8 tons, including their team of 45 people.<br/>Even so, they brought an amazing collection of equipment and supplies with them. Records of this survive to today. From it, we can learn a lot about what it takes to survive for prolonged periods of time in the wild.<br/>Related: 13 Prepper Items You Should Look for at Goodwill<br/>Weaponry<br/>One of the first things we find on the list of their supplies were rifles, the finest rifles money could buy at the time. In fact, the rifles they chose to take with them were so new, they were actually prototypes of a new 1803 model, .54 caliber rifle. They also took considerable stores of powder and lead for making shot. Even the powder was packed in lead containers, which could be converted to additional shot.<br/>But that wasn’t the only unique gun they took with them. They also brought along a Girandoni air rifle, which had a 22 round capacity and operated off of air at an incredible 800 PSI. It was the fastest shooting rifle of its day for those 22 rounds, as it could be reloaded and cocked in about three to four seconds. But once the magazine was shot, the air reservoir had to be refilled, which required 1,500 strokes of its special pump.This rifle was impressive enough, that it was used as a sniper rifle by the Austrian army. Lewis, whose rifle it was, used it to impress the Indians they dealt with along the way.<br/>But Lewis & Clark didn’t just take rifles and shot along, they also took along a considerable stock of tools and parts to repair those guns, knowing that they would need to be repaired along the way. Without this stock of parts, they may have never survived the journey, as they used their rifles for both hunting and defense.<br/>Warm Clothing<br/>Weather was likely going to be an issue for the expedition; so they made sure to take along the warmest clothing they could find. This was all made of wool, which may not seem so innovative to us today.<br/>But wool is about the only cloth which will retain at least some of its insulating value when wet. None of our modern miracle fabrics can do that. Considering that they were traveling by boat, having clothing which would keep them at least somewhat warm, even when wet was an important consideration.<br/>Tools<br/>In addition to the gunsmith’s tool kit they took along, Lewis & Clark had an impressive collection of other tools as well, enough to keep a carpenter happy.<br/>Since they had no means of resupply or repair, other than what the members of their expedition did, these tools allowed them to make things that they needed and perform repairs to their boat.<br/>As winter approached in the first year of their expedition, the team had to prepare winter lodgings, which were called Fort Mandan.<br/>Had they not had those tools along, they would have had to spend the winter in tents, which would have meant lives lost to hypothermia.<br/>Materials for Making Shelters<br/>They didn’t have ripstop nylon tarps or rescue blankets to make temporary shelters with. What they did have was heavy cloth, something akin to canvas. Knowing they might very well need to make shelters to stay the winter in, Lewis brought along 150 yards of this and other cloth.<br/>Besides the tools and material, the expedition had a considerable amount of cordage with them; both light cordage and heavier rope. This was probably mostly hemp rope, as that was the common rope of the day.<br/>Honing Stone</p>
<p>The knife is considered to be the most basic survival tool. Yet many people forget to bring along a honing stone to go along with that knife.<br/>I rarely see that included in any lists for bug out bags or survival kits. Yet Lewis & Clark understood the need to be able to sharpen their knives and brought along an oil stone.<br/>Extra Fire Starters<br/>Fire is an important part of survival and they went prepared. Even though the expedition consisted of only 45 members at the outset, they brought along 100 flints and 30 fire starting steels. This is in addition to the 500 flints for their rifles. Obviously they expected their flints to wear out and brought extras.<br/>Emergency Food Supplies<br/>It is clear from looking at the list of what they brought on their journey that they were not planning on living off the food that they were carrying, but rather live off the land.<br/>Nevertheless, they brought along 150 pounds of dried soup as emergency rations. While not as satisfying as a nice bison steak, I’m sure there were many a night where that dried soup ensured that they did not go hungry, especially in the winter.<br/>The expedition also took a considerable amount of salt along with them. Salt is not only necessary as a supplement to our food, but also for preserving meat.<br/>While I don’t know if they preserved any meat along the way, it is clear from the amount they took that they were thinking of more than just seasoning their food.<br/>Fishing Gear<br/>Many people keep a survival fishing kit in their bug out bag. This practice might have started with the Lewis & Clark expedition, which brought along four gross (480) fishing hooks and 12 bunches of “drum line” fishing line.<br/>Barter Goods<br/>While this was mostly an exploratory expedition, part of that was to meet with the various Indian tribes they crossed paths with along the way. With that in mind, the expedition’s luggage contained a considerable amount of barter goods. They would have the ability to trade for whatever they needed, that they didn’t have with them.<br/>However, these weren’t actually used to barter, but rather as gifts to the Indians. Lewis’ means of dealing with the Indians was to try and sell them on the idea of being part of the United States of America. These gifts, along with various pieces of technology that they demonstrated to the natives (like the Girandoni air rifle), were part of that campaign.<br/>Books<br/>Before leaving on the trip, Lewis spent a considerable amount of time studying various areas of science, so that he would be ready to record what they discovered along the way. Nevertheless, he brought along references to use, not relying only on his memory.<br/>The kind of books that Lewis brought on this expedition can be likened to us carrying along a book on edible plants or herbal medicine in our bug out bag. They were the same sorts of books.<br/>Medicines<br/>Finally, the expedition left prepared for illness and injury. While the level of medicine in the early 1800’s wasn’t anything like what we know today, Lewis & Clark brought the best of what was available. They knew that getting through the entire journey without any of their soldiers suffering harm or illness was unlikely. Therefore, they went prepared for it.</p>Man Eats Expired Food for 365 Days. This Is What Happened:tag:12160.info,2019-11-19:2649739:BlogPost:19796412019-11-19T18:14:19.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Man Eats Expired Food for 365 Days. This Is What Happened:</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>November 19, 2019 08:42</p>
<p><br></br>We go through a lot of food here in the US; some 815 billion calories per day. Unfortunately, about 200 billion of those calories of food are wasted. That’s something like 200,000 tons of food; enough to feed 80 million people. But why is this so? Are we just a wasteful society, as some say, or is there something behind all this waste?<br></br>Some estimates say that as much…</p>
<p>Man Eats Expired Food for 365 Days. This Is What Happened:</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>November 19, 2019 08:42</p>
<p><br/>We go through a lot of food here in the US; some 815 billion calories per day. Unfortunately, about 200 billion of those calories of food are wasted. That’s something like 200,000 tons of food; enough to feed 80 million people. But why is this so? Are we just a wasteful society, as some say, or is there something behind all this waste?<br/>Some estimates say that as much as 40% of the food in this country is wasted, thrown away because it is supposedly bad. Food is wasted in every step of the process, from the farms that grow it and fishing boats which catch it, to the packing houses that prepare our food and the distribution system that gets that food to market.<br/>One part of this massive waste of food comes from the food service industry. Restaurants are tightly regulated in what they can do with leftover food. They can’t, for example, serve the mashed potatoes you didn’t eat to someone else. That food must be disposed of, as a hygienic measure in an effort to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Likewise, food that is not used must be disposed of, once it has gone past its expiration date.<br/>The only way for restaurants to prevent those problems is to make only the exact amount of food that will be consumed. That requires a level of prognostication that is unrealistic to meet.<br/>While restaurants don’t want to throw any food away, as that comes out of the bottom line, they also don’t want to run out of food and lose the income from patrons who decide to go elsewhere.<br/>Restaurants only account for a minor portion of the food wasted in this country; the majority of it is wasted in households; some 76 billion pounds of food per year. This is 40 to 50 percent of the total food waste in our country.<br/>Related: The 10 Best Prepper Foods You Can Find At Costco<br/>Why Does This Happen?<br/>There are a number of reasons. But one man, Scott Nash, the owner of the 19 grocery stores comprising Mom’s Organic Market, decided to do an experiment.<br/>This experiment started out by accident. Nash had been visiting his cabin, when he wanted a smoothie. Looking in the refrigerator, he found some yogurt that he had left there six months earlier. Even though it was six months beyond the “expiration date”, the yogurt looked and smelled good, so he used it to make himself a smoothie. The smoothie was fine and he didn’t’ suffer any problems from consuming that “old” yogurt.<br/>This led Scott to start an ongoing experiment, where he decided to ignore the expiration dates on food, as long as it looked good to eat.<br/>Through the following year, 365 days, he ate canned goods that were beyond their use by date, old milk and eggs. He even ate lunchmeat that was two or three months past its expiration date and beef that was a couple of weeks past its drop dead date.<br/>In all of this, Scott never had a single problem caused by eating supposedly expired food.<br/>How Can This Be?<br/>This experiment has led Mr. Nash to the conclusion that the supposed expiration dates on our food are largely arbitrary, created by the processing plants and packagers partially to protect themselves from liability and partially in an effort at planned obsolescence. It is only the last date that they will guarantee the food’s suitability for consumption.<br/>Adding that date to packages of food cause people to throw away perfectly good food, just because they haven’t used it yet. A 2016 survey found that 84% of consumers admit to throwing good food away, because it had gone past the date stamped on the label.<br/>Some foods, such as canned goods, really have no expiration date. Canning is one of the best means of food preservation there is. The food is contained in an impermeable sealed container, from which all bacteria has either been removed or killed. Insects and rodents, the other two big food spoilers can’t eat through the container, so there is nothing to make the food go bad.<br/>Related: Canning Amish Poor Man’s Steak<br/>Yet canned goods are all stamped with an expiration date, giving the consumer a year at best to use it, or at least that’s the way that it appears to the average consumer. In fact, those dates we all take as expiration dates really aren’t that at all. Rather, manufacturers stamp a “best by” date on their products, encouraging us to use them quickly. But there is nothing that says that food will go bad on or even near that date. Most foods will last well beyond it.<br/>Scott Nash’s experiment has led him on a crusade to educate people about these phony dates. It’s not that he has anything against expiration dates. It’s just that he doesn’t like fake ones. He’d like to see the current system revamped, providing expiration dates that actually mean something. In the mean time, he continues eating food that has gone beyond the manufacturer’s “best by” date and encourages others to do the same.<br/>In reality, there have been canned foods which were opened after 60 or 80 years and have been found to still be perfectly edible. Those are the most extreme examples out there. We can’t expect milk and eggs to stay good for years after the expiration date; but it helps to know that the date they put on the package is at least a week before those foods will even start to go bad.<br/>The same can be said for beef in our grocer’s meat department. Beef will discolor fairly quickly, if left in the cooler case too long. But that doesn’t affect the quality of the beef, only its appearance. It is still perfectly edible. I personally buy a lot of beef that way, because the butcher marks the price down.<br/>Can Food Go Bad?<br/>Absolutely. But we can’t count on those dates to tell us when it does. Rather, we need to use our senses to see what condition the food is in. If it looks good and smells good, it probably is good. But if it looks and smells bad, it may not be worth eating.<br/>Take the two cans pictured below. These came from my personal food stockpile and both of them clearly have gone bad. We can tell that because the mold or bacteria which has grown on the food is visible from the outside of the can.How could this happen with canned foods, the same foods I was touting earlier as being preserved in an almost perfect way? It’s hard to see from the angle I took these pictures, but both of these are cans of fruit, acidic fruit to be specific. That played a part in the process.<br/>Related: How to Make Fruit Leather and Add It To Your Stockpiles<br/>Cans for acidic foods are manufactured with a thin film on the inside, coating the metal and keeping the acid from coming into contact with it. (This may be true of other canned foods as well, but the only ones I have personally checked are for acidic foods.) That film is very thin and could possibly become damaged during the manufacturing process or at the cannery. If that happens, the acid in the food would have access to the metal, eating away at it and making a hole in the can.<br/>Once that happens, the can has lost its integrity and bacteria can get into it. This is why we are told to make sure that the can lid isn’t puffed up, before opening it. Of course, in the two examples I encountered above, the damage is obvious without looking for a puffy lid, so it’s clear that the food is not safe to consume.<br/>What this means is that we have a fail-safe built into the system. As long as the can is intact, it is safe for use. It doesn’t matter what the expiration date says. Just watch out for that convex lid and make sure the can doesn’t have any strange growths on the outside, like the ones I found in my pantry.<br/>So, what about you? Have you ever tried what Scott Nash has and eaten food, knowing it was past the supposed “expiration date”? How long would it have to be beyond that point before you wouldn’t eat it? How does that affect your survival strategy?</p>12 Things You Need to Know Before Choosing Your Bug Out Locationtag:12160.info,2019-11-08:2649739:BlogPost:19749512019-11-08T16:48:47.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>12 Things You Need to Know Before Choosing Your Bug Out Location</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>November 8, 2019 08:21</p>
<p><br></br>Bug out plans are part and parcel of good prepping. While bugging in is the more popular option, for a number of reasons, there is always the risk of being caught in a situation where your home becomes untenable. When that happens, you’ve got to have a Plan B: your bug out plan.<br></br>Sadly, very few preppers have a complete bug out plan. Oh, they’ll have something;…</p>
<p>12 Things You Need to Know Before Choosing Your Bug Out Location</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>November 8, 2019 08:21</p>
<p><br/>Bug out plans are part and parcel of good prepping. While bugging in is the more popular option, for a number of reasons, there is always the risk of being caught in a situation where your home becomes untenable. When that happens, you’ve got to have a Plan B: your bug out plan.<br/>Sadly, very few preppers have a complete bug out plan. Oh, they’ll have something; some sort of general plan about what they are going to do. But in most cases, they’re missing the most important ingredient; a bug out location.<br/>Without someplace definitive to go to, all they have is an escape plan, not a complete bug out plan. The bug out location is the single most important part of that plan, while also being the single hardest part of the plan to come up with.<br/>Part of what makes it hard to come up with a bug out location is cost. Few of us have the extra cash sitting around to buy the cabin in the woods we’d really like to have. Since we can’t afford that, we tend to run out of other ideas to do. But that doesn’t cut out the need for a bug out location. We just need to be a bit more creative.</p>
<p>Even so, before looking for a bug out location, there are some key things we need to know. Otherwise, we’re not going to come close to making a good decision. Basically, these things we need to know fall into two categories; things about us and our bug out and things about the place itself.<br/>There are many potential places that could work as a bug out for each and every one of us, but the right place is going to be something that is going to do the best at meeting our survival needs. That’s something which not all potential locations will do equally well.<br/>THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH US AND OUR BUG OUT BAG<br/>This first list of things will help you know where to look for your bug out location.<br/>What Type of Disasters Are We Likely to Face?<br/>Any discussion about disaster planning, including bugging out, needs to start from the viewpoint of what disasters we are likely to face. That’s the only real way of making sure that we are developing a plan that will meet our needs. At the same time, it can help us to avoid wasting time and energy on things that won’t help us at all.<br/>When we’re talking about TEOTWAWKI events, like an EMP, it doesn’t matter how far we go, the problem will still exist. On the other hand, when we’re talking about natural disasters, the problem will be of a local, regional nature. In those cases, we want to be sure to get far enough away, so as to be out of the danger area.</p>
<p>If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, then you’ll need to take that into account for your bug out plan. Whatever location you choose, it will have to be far enough inland, so that even if the hurricane reaches that point, it will have lost much of its force. At the same time, it needs to be high enough above sea level to reduce the risk of flooding from storm surge and whatever rainfall the residual storm might dump on the area.<br/>How Far Can We Realistically Travel?<br/>As a general rule of thumb, the farther your bug out location is from your home, the greater the possibility that it will be unaffected by whatever disaster strikes your home. On the other hand, you can only travel so far, especially if you have to resort to bugging out on foot. Balancing those two contradictory realities is difficult.<br/>There are those with money who are buying bug out properties in New Zeeland, which is just about as far away as you can go on this planet. But how are they going to get there? If something like an EMP happens and disables their private jets, those bug out retreats may as well be on the moon. They’d better have a good sailboat, as well as some good sailing skills, if they ever expect to get there.<br/>How Many People Are in Our Survival Team?<br/>The size of your team will affect the location you need. If you’re a lone wolf survivalist (not recommended), you can make your survival retreat in a culvert or an abandoned mine shaft. But you can’t do that, if you’ve got your family with you. There’s even less of a chance if you have several families with you.<br/>Unless you are going to establish a survival retreat that can expand easily to accommodate more people, you’d better have your team put together, before settling on a location. Adding a few new people, to account for couples getting married and babies being born is one thing; adding whole families is another thing entirely.<br/>What Is the Health and Physical Condition of Our Survival Team?<br/>If we’re honest with ourselves, we realize that most of us aren’t in the best of physical condition. That affects our ability to travel, as well as our ability to do hard physical labor when we get to our destination. Any bug out plans must take that into consideration; specifically, how well are we going to be able to travel on foot and how well are we going to be able to build a shelter, once we get there.<br/>Finding the perfect survival retreat location, but not being able to get there, because it requires climbing up a cliff face, isn’t going to help anyone. Nor is finding a location which is too far our team to get to, because we’re all in bad shape. We’ve got to be realistic in our expectations of ourselves.<br/>Related: Emergency Shelters When You Are On The Move<br/>How Much Equipment and Supplies Are We Going to Store There?<br/>Any survival retreat is going to need equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, most don’t come with good storage. If you’re planning on bugging out to the wild somewhere, you’re probably not going to find a secure building there, which you can use to build a stockpile. You’ll either need to build something or install a shipping container. Either way, you would have to own the property or risk losing it all.<br/>The other option is having storage somewhere close by, which isn’t actually at your bug out location. If you’re going to bug out to a wilderness location or an abandoned building you know, which is close to a small town somewhere, perhaps there is storage available that you can rent in that town. If that’s the case, then you will be able to have your stockpile close by, even if it isn’t right at your intended destination.<br/>Of course, this means having some way of moving the equipment and supplies you have in your storage cache to the survival retreat; preferably something that doesn’t require a running vehicle.<br/>A large two-wheeled cart or wagon, which can be kept with the supply cache will work for this.<br/>THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUG-OUT LOCATION<br/>Once you’ve found the right area, this will help you pinpoint your actual survival retreat.<br/>What Is the Potential Population Density in a Post-Disaster Scenario?<br/>Ideally, you want to be someplace with a low population density. The more people there are, the more any potential resources have to be spread around to meet everybody’s needs. Small towns are better than big cities and out in the wild can be even better than small towns. But there’s a tradeoff here; less population means that your team has to do everything for themselves. There’s nobody to barter with food goods and services.<br/>There are two different populations we need to think about here; the fixed population in the area and those who will try and go there in the event of a disaster. In any life-changing disaster, big cities are likely to empty out, as people go in search of the resources they need to survive. These people will most likely head to the smaller communities that are nearby, under the illusion that those communities will have an abundance of supplies.<br/>This will cause the population of many communities to rise exponentially, making them into potential death traps for anyone who ventures there. You want to avoid them, just as much as you do the cities themselves.<br/>Related: Urbanites Moving To Rural Paradise Ruining It For The Locals<br/>What Is the Weather in the Area Like?<br/>Weather will play a much bigger role in a post-apocalyptic world than it does for us today. We Americans are very good at shutting ourselves off from the weather, with our modern air-conditioned and heated homes. But that won’t be available to us if the electric grid is down.<br/>So we want to make sure we take weather into consideration for any plan we make. Will we be able to survive the seasonal weather changes that exist where we are planning on bugging out?<br/>Are There Good, Reliable Water Sources?<br/>Water is one of the most critical survival priorities and one which we need to have constantly replenished. We don’t usually think of that, because we’re used to just turning on the tap and finding that there’s water. But that probably won’t exist in a post-disaster world.<br/>Here’s the other part of the problem though. Our nation’s waterways are filled with dams, used to generate electric power and create reservoirs which are used as water supplies. From our perspective, we need to be sure that we aren’t putting ourselves in a position where we are dependent on water sources that are likely to be shut off at the dam, upstream of us.<br/>This isn’t much of an issue if there is enough rainfall to keep those reservoirs filled. In that case, the overflow from the reservoir will keep us in water, even if the gates to the dam are closed. But if there is a time of drought, we may find that we don’t have any water at all, as nothing is flowing out of the reservoir.<br/>Whatever water sources you have available at your survival location, check them regularly to make sure that they are still reliable. You may lose them at some time and need to think about changing your plans to another bug out location.<br/>How Accessible Is the Area to Us? To Others?<br/>This point ties in directly to the one above about the physical condition of our survival team. We need to make sure that any survival retreat we select is something that we can get to.</p>
<p>At the same time, it would be great if that location would be difficult for others to approach. Perhaps the direction you arrive from gives you good access, while other directions don’t. Perhaps there’s a hidden way to get there.<br/>Difficult access for others can greatly reduce the risk of needing to defend your retreat. People looking for help won’t go out of their way to find the hardest place to go to. Even those who intend to steal what you have will look for easier prey, before trying to come after you.<br/>How Much Wild Game Is in the Area?<br/>Chances are that whatever wild game there is, will be killed off in the first few months, as people try to prevent starving to death. There just isn’t enough wild game in the United States today to meet the needs of the size population we have. Other than some parts of the country with low populations, wild game won’t stand much of a chance.<br/>Nevertheless, if you can find an area with abundant wild game, your chances of getting at least some of it are improved. Perhaps you live in a part of the country which is already sparsely populated. That’s to your advantage. If you can bug out to a location which is even more sparsely populated, game will probably be in even more abundance.<br/>Don’t forget fish when you’re looking at the wild game situation. Fish are generally more plentiful, reproduce quickly and are easier to catch.<br/>How Hard Will it Be to Grow Food There?<br/>Regardless of the wild game situation at any potential survival retreat, you’re only going to be able to create long-term sustainability for yourself by growing food.<br/>How is the area for that? Is the soil good? Is it easy to dig in? Does it have abundant bio-mass and bugs in it to break down the necessary nutrients? Is there sufficient water available?<br/>Is There Adequate Fuel and Building Material Available?<br/>Finally, unless you are building that cabin in the woods or perhaps transporting a yurt to your survival retreat, you’re going to have to build some sort of shelter and provide heat for it. That means having ample woods to get those materials from.<br/>There are many parts of the country with little tree growth. While there are other ways of building shelters, such as using adobe bricks, the easiest way to build a shelter is usually out of wood. You’ll also need that wood for heating in pretty much any post-disaster scenario you can come up with. Selecting a spot in the woods or next to the woods helps ensure that you’re going to have trees to work with.</p>Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guidetag:12160.info,2019-11-06:2649739:BlogPost:19738972019-11-06T19:08:29.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide<br></br>For those new to my little corner of the Internet, I am the Editor in Chief for both Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide magazines. These are quarterly print publications that are published by Centennial Media. Here are the covers for the current issues that are available in stores right now. <br></br> <br></br>You can find them just about anywhere magazines are sold, including:<br></br>Walmart<br></br>Sam's…</p>
<p>Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide<br/>For those new to my little corner of the Internet, I am the Editor in Chief for both Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide magazines. These are quarterly print publications that are published by Centennial Media. Here are the covers for the current issues that are available in stores right now. <br/> <br/>You can find them just about anywhere magazines are sold, including:<br/>Walmart<br/>Sam's Club<br/>Costco<br/>Publix<br/>Walgreens<br/>Rite Aid<br/>CVS<br/>Tractor Supply<br/>Fleet Farm<br/>Barnes & Noble</p>15 Best Herbs for Your Prepper Gardentag:12160.info,2019-11-06:2649739:BlogPost:19738042019-11-06T18:34:49.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>15 Best Herbs for Your Prepper Garden</p>
<p><br></br>By KJ Barber<br></br>November 5, 2019 07:48</p>
<p><br></br>Gardens are wonderful, on many levels. They allow us to plant specifically what we want, maybe save a little money and, most importantly, have some control over the way our foods and herbs are treated before they enter our systems.<br></br>Preppers like to be prepared for anything, which is why so many of us have our own gardens. Planning it out just right for harvesting, as well as making sure…</p>
<p>15 Best Herbs for Your Prepper Garden</p>
<p><br/>By KJ Barber<br/>November 5, 2019 07:48</p>
<p><br/>Gardens are wonderful, on many levels. They allow us to plant specifically what we want, maybe save a little money and, most importantly, have some control over the way our foods and herbs are treated before they enter our systems.<br/>Preppers like to be prepared for anything, which is why so many of us have our own gardens. Planning it out just right for harvesting, as well as making sure you have control over pesticides and other toxins not invading your crops, gives a lot of peace of mind.<br/>Gardening goes well beyond planting just tasty fruits and veggies and saving money. For example, herbs. They not only add a decent amount of flavor to foods, but many of them have natural medicinal value as well, when ingested or used as topical treatments. So knowing what herbs are best for health benefits can help you decide what to plant.<br/>Here are the 15 herbs that I like to have in my prepper garden and that I think you should consider adding to yours too, if they’re not already there:<br/>#1. Cumin Seeds (Cuminum cyminum)<br/>Cumin seeds are actually tiny dried fruits and are considered annual. They have long been used in traditional medicine.<br/>Cumin seeds are a great source of iron, promote digestion, improve cholesterol, and work as a natural anti-inflammatory. Some of cumin’s components have shown promise helping to treat diabetes.<br/>#2. Dill (Anethum graveolen)<br/>This annual herb is a great source of phosphorus, iron, protein, magnesium, and potassium. It can also help soothe an upset stomach, lowers cholesterol, and has antioxidant properties.<br/>Dill is also a great aid for bad breath and abdominal flatulence. Halitosis can be completely alleviated by chewing the seeds daily.<br/>Related: Why You Should Place Matches In Your Plant Pots<br/>#3. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)<br/>Even though it’s not widely known as a healing herb, basil has been tagged by some as the “king of herbs”. Mainly known as an Italian herb, it doubles as a mild antiseptic and natural anti-inflammatory.<br/>Basil has been used to treat appetite loss, nausea, flatulence, and minor skin abrasions. As an annual, it will have to be planted each year.<br/>#4. Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum annuum)<br/>Typically known as annuals, peppers have been grown as perennials in zones 9b and above within the U.S. Department of Agriculture zones.<br/>Medicinally, cayenne pepper can help boost metabolism, diminish migraines and joint pain, aid in detoxification, and more. If used topically, it can help stop bleeding in minor wounds.<br/>#5. German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)<br/>Popular in the Western world, chamomile is a popular addition to teas or infusions.<br/>It’s been known to effectively treat anxiety, indigestion, and skin irritations. It’s also an ingredient often found in teas to aid with insomnia.<br/>German chamomile is an annual.<br/>#6. Garlic (Allium sativum)<br/>No prepper’s garden would be complete without garlic. And it would be easier to list what garlic does not help with, right?<br/>Here is a short list of medicinal benefits you may get by consuming garlic:<br/>May help with high blood pressure;<br/>Helps boost the immune system;<br/>Improves cholesterol levels;<br/>Has antioxidants to help combat the downside of aging;<br/>Reduces fatigue;<br/>May help detoxify heavy metals within the body;<br/>Improves bone health.<br/>And, it’s so easy to consume in a wide variety of foods! Garlic is a perennial.<br/>Related: Why You Should Put Garlic in Your Ear<br/>#7. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)<br/>Also known as wild chamomile and bachelor’s buttons, feverfew is part of the sunflower family and is a perennial.<br/>Generations of Europeans have relied on feverfew as a home remedy for reducing fevers and pain. It can be added to teas, or one can simply chew one of the leaves.<br/>#8. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)<br/>This might surprise some, but lemon balm is part of the mint family and it’s a perennial.<br/>Lemon balm is known as a calming herb that helps with anxiety, improves sleep and appetite; as well as a mild pain reducer. It can also help with gastric discomfort. Topically, it has been used to help heal bites and stings.<br/>Related: How to Treat Migraines with an Herbal Tincture<br/>#9. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)<br/>Catnip is a perennial. As another member of the mint family, it’s useful for calming coughs, helps with stress and anxiety, and reduces fever.<br/>Catnip is particularly effective in aiding with digestive issues, especially constipation, excess flatulence, cramping, and bloating.<br/>And if you extract the oils, it makes a great natural mosquito repellent.<br/>#10. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)<br/>Parsley is neither annual, nor perennial. It’s considered a biennial, which means it survives for 2 years before having to be replanted.<br/>More commonly known as a garnish for meals, it can also be brewed in teas as a supplement to replenish iron, as well as increase energy and circulation. In addition, it can help diminish excessive gas, treat kidney and bladder infections, or as an effective diuretic.<br/>Related: The Three Sister Garden Plans: How To Get The Most Out Of Every Square Foot<br/>#11. Sage (Salvia officinalis)<br/>Back in the 1st century, sage was already being used to help stop bleeding and to clean out ulcers and sores. Another ailment sage has been good in treating is cough, or an irritated throat.<br/>The antibacterial properties of sage can also help with inflamed gums. Simply rinse your mouth with sage infused warm water.<br/>#12. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)<br/>The medicinal and culinary use of Thyme dates back thousands of years. Thyme is an antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal.<br/>It’s a valuable aid in combating bronchitis and coughs, sore throat, as well as gastric discomfort. Thyme is also great for boosting the mood, due to its compound called carvacrol.<br/>#13. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)<br/>Do you recall drawings and statues of ancient Romans and Greeks wearing rosemary sprigs on their heads? This is because rosemary has long been thought to be good for a healthy brain.<br/>In addition to stimulating the brain and sharpen mental clarity, it can also be used in teas to aid with indigestion and congestion. Rosemary helps with muscle spasms and improves the circulatory and nervous systems. Rosemary is a perennial.<br/>#14. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)<br/>My personal favorite, peppermint, is a perennial and has a long track record of medicinal use.<br/>It is currently being used to help with gastric discomforts such as nausea, indigestion, IBS, and bloating. And as an extra bonus, it makes breath smell fresh!<br/>#15. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)<br/>This herb has a significant calming effect on our minds, as well as bodies. It works to diminish anxiety and stress, as well as helping with gastric discomforts.<br/>It can even help with minor wounds in a topical application. Depending on the type planted, lavender can be either annual or perennial.<br/>There are a variety of ways to consume and use the above herbs. What’s your favorite herb and what do you use it for?</p>How To Make Oil From Plants At Hometag:12160.info,2019-11-05:2649739:BlogPost:19734282019-11-05T16:13:14.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How To Make Oil From Plants At Home</p>
<p><br></br>By Anela T<br></br>October 31, 2019 09:50</p>
<p><br></br>Plant oils have been present in human cuisine since the beginning of time. At first, humans probably used animal fat, but they learned how to extract plant oils very soon after that.<br></br>Plant oils are triglycerides gained from the plant source, whether a nut tree or plant-like flax or corn. The edible oils have been used in cooking or as a supplement for millennia but also for lighting lamps,…</p>
<p>How To Make Oil From Plants At Home</p>
<p><br/>By Anela T<br/>October 31, 2019 09:50</p>
<p><br/>Plant oils have been present in human cuisine since the beginning of time. At first, humans probably used animal fat, but they learned how to extract plant oils very soon after that.<br/>Plant oils are triglycerides gained from the plant source, whether a nut tree or plant-like flax or corn. The edible oils have been used in cooking or as a supplement for millennia but also for lighting lamps, skincare, and even oil painting.<br/>Some oils are more common, like sunflower or corn oil, while other oils, such as pecan oil or Brazil nut oil, are less common.<br/>Here are the most popular types of plant oils and their uses:<br/>Coconut oil: Used for cooking and with medical and industrial applications as well;<br/>Canola oil: Besides being used in homes for cooking and salads, also used to make biofuel;<br/>Corn oil: One of the major oils used in cooking or for salads;<br/>Cottonseed oil: Used for cooking and salads but also in the industry;<br/>Olive oil: Used in cooking, skincare, and soaps;<br/>Peanut oil: The oil with a high smoke point commonly used for deep frying and, due to the peanut taste, also used for salads;<br/>Rapeseed oil: Along with corn oil, one of the most used oils in cooking;<br/>Sesame oil: Comes in two forms, cold-pressed for salads and dark sesame oil for frying;<br/>Soybean oil: The oil created as a byproduct of soy meal;<br/>Sunflower oil: A quite common oil in cooking.<br/>Making Corn Oil<br/>Making corn oil at home may sound hard to pull off, but it is possible to do. The process is slow and you might not get as much oil as corn oil manufacturers do, but one thing is for sure: You will have a 100% natural corn oil, without any additives or chemicals.<br/>Related: How to Make Ginger Oil To Counter Prostate, Ovarian and Colon Cancer<br/>Why Should You Make Your Own Corn Oil?<br/>Corn oil is the most popular type of plant oil due to its beneficial properties. It has a high smoke point, and this makes it ideal for deep frying and longer periods of cooking.<br/>Besides being good for cooking, homemade corn oil may be used in dressing for your favorite salad. Corn oil is 100% fat, containing no proteins or carbs. One tablespoon (15ml) of the corn oil has the following:<br/>122 calories<br/>14 grams of fat<br/>13% RDA of vitamin E<br/>The corn oil can be also used in baking, and feel free to add it to your favorite cake or bread.<br/>What Are the Potential Benefits?<br/>Although not as super healthy as avocado or olive oil, corn oil has some benefits. We already mentioned it has a decent amount of vitamin E. Corn oil is also rich in phytosterols, which are potentially anti-inflammatory. When compared to olive oil, the phytosterols in corn oil are much higher.<br/>Corn oil is high in anti-inflammatory phytosterols and other compounds that may help reduce certain heart disease risk factors, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol.<br/>Corn Oil Recipe<br/>Preparation time: Several days.<br/>Makes: 1 lb. oil, approx. 4 cups.<br/>Ingredients:<br/>11 lb. dry corn;<br/>Filtered water.<br/>Needed materials:<br/>Mechanical press;<br/>Strainer;<br/>Shallow trays;<br/>Bucket.<br/>Instructions:<br/>#1. Fill the bucket 1/3 full of water. You will need a very large bucket.<br/>#2. Soak the dry corn in water for 12–24 hours. This will tenderize the corn.#3. Remove corn from water and press using a mechanic press.#4. The key is to turn the corn kernels into a pulp. Press all corn into a clean bucket.#5. Once you have collected the slushy pulp, strain it through a strainer.<br/>#6. Collect the clear liquid in a clean bucket.<br/>#7. Cover the liquid with gauze, and let it rest for a few days. It may depend on the quantity, but it will likely take several days for the water to evaporate.<br/>#8. After several days, you will see a yellow residue—your corn oil.#9. Collect it in glass bottles or jars, and store in a dark place.<br/>NOTE: To speed up the evaporation process, collect the corn pulp in large, shallow trays, like cookie sheets. The bigger the surface, the quicker the evaporation.</p>Your Hard Tack Sirtag:12160.info,2019-10-24:2649739:BlogPost:19680802019-10-24T18:49:15.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>INSTRUCTIONS:<br></br>Preheat your oven to 300°.<br></br>In a medium-sized bowl, stir together your flour, salt, and (if you’re using them) extra seasonings...<br></br>On a floured surface, roll out your dough to 1/2-inch thickness...<br></br>Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and poke them with a fork to allow for more evening cooking and reduce puffing.<br></br>Bake the biscuits for 2 hours, flip them over, and bake them for another 30 minutes or until the edges are firm and the tops are slightly…</p>
<p>INSTRUCTIONS:<br/>Preheat your oven to 300°.<br/>In a medium-sized bowl, stir together your flour, salt, and (if you’re using them) extra seasonings...<br/>On a floured surface, roll out your dough to 1/2-inch thickness...<br/>Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and poke them with a fork to allow for more evening cooking and reduce puffing.<br/>Bake the biscuits for 2 hours, flip them over, and bake them for another 30 minutes or until the edges are firm and the tops are slightly brown.</p>How To Make Clarified Butter With 12-Month Shelflifetag:12160.info,2019-10-24:2649739:BlogPost:19678472019-10-24T15:37:20.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How To Make Clarified Butter With 12-Month Shelflife</p>
<p><br></br>By KJ Barber<br></br>October 24, 2019 08:18</p>
<p><br></br>Making clarified butter is a relatively simple process. But, if you haven’t ever worked with clarified butter, you might be wondering what it is…and why bother going through any trouble at all, when you have been content with working with standard butter?<br></br>Both good questions…<br></br>What is Clarified Butter?<br></br>Clarified butter is butter that has been through a process to…</p>
<p>How To Make Clarified Butter With 12-Month Shelflife</p>
<p><br/>By KJ Barber<br/>October 24, 2019 08:18</p>
<p><br/>Making clarified butter is a relatively simple process. But, if you haven’t ever worked with clarified butter, you might be wondering what it is…and why bother going through any trouble at all, when you have been content with working with standard butter?<br/>Both good questions…<br/>What is Clarified Butter?<br/>Clarified butter is butter that has been through a process to remove the water and milk solids in butter. It’s also known as Ghee. The process involves a slow heating step to melt the butter, which leads to layers. Those layers are:<br/>Top layer- white foamy whey;<br/>Middle layer – pure butterfat (the goal to save);<br/>Bottom layer – milk solids.<br/>This process makes it easy to separate what you want to keep from what needs to be disposed of in getting clarified butter. After the dairy is removed, the butter is left with a nuttier flavor, a much higher smoke point, and a longer shelf life.<br/>The Benefits of Clarified Butter<br/> As mentioned above, clarified butter has a higher smoke point, making it better than standard butter for high-heat cooking, such as frying. By removing the dairy products and water from the original state, the butter becomes purer and will not burn like it would with milk solids in it.<br/>Also, with the water removed, there should be less spattering when it reaches its boiling point.<br/>And lastly, you could extend its shelf life by purifying it. I will get into that further down in the article when I discuss storage options.<br/>Related: How To Make Potato Flakes With 5 Years Shelf Life (without refrigeration)<br/>The Supplies Needed<br/> There aren’t too many supplies needed to achieve clarified butter, and most are probably already in your home.<br/>Butter;<br/>Plastic storage bag (I used a Ziploc gallon-sized bag);<br/>Pot;<br/>Container for storage.<br/>There isn’t a specific amount of butter for this process, because it all depends on how much you want to make. And, it could be salted or unsalted. However, just keep in mind that if you are going to use it for baking, you need to factor in the amount of salt if you use salt.<br/>Just a quick word about using a plastic baggie, for those who might be concerned about boiling foods in plastic. This process never reaches the boiling point. It’s a very low and slow melt, and I held the bag the entire time (about 15 minutes) so it wouldn’t touch the sides or bottom.<br/>Related: My First Batch Of Canned Cheese<br/>How to Make It<br/> Making clarified butter is far less intimidating than it sounds. It’s fairly easy if you follow the instructions below:<br/>#1. Put the butter into the plastic bag, then seal.#2. Place the bag into a pot of simmering water (try to avoid the bag from touching the bottom of the hot pot).<br/>#3. As it melts, you will notice it starting to separate.#4. After the butter is melted, place the bag in a bowl, then put it in the refrigerator. Position the bag so that one corner is at the bottom of the bowl. You can do this by placing ice and/or paper towels around the bottom so it doesn’t move.#5. Once it’s solidified, hold the bag over a bowl, then cut the tip of that corner you carefully placed earlier, so that the water and milk products can easily drain out.#6. Lightly rinse the solidified block of clarified butter with cool water for a few seconds. Pat it dry.You now have clarified butter that you can cut into whatever size pieces you prefer.</p>
<p>How to Store It<br/>Place the clarified butter into an air-tight container. Like that your Ghee can be stored for up to one whole year and even beyond if there is no change in taste and appearance. Keep in mind that while it doesn’t need to be refrigerated it does need to be placed in a dark and slightly cooler place than your kitchen. A root cellar or basement pantry will do just fine. Once the container is open it will keep good for about 3 months at room temperature.</p>How to Identify and Use Kratom – the Painkilling Plant that Substitutes Opioidstag:12160.info,2019-10-18:2649739:BlogPost:19656172019-10-18T17:14:26.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How to Identify and Use Kratom – the Painkilling Plant that Substitutes Opioids</p>
<p><br></br>By Giurgi C.<br></br>October 18, 2019 07:59</p>
<p><br></br>Derived from a type of evergreen tree, kratom contains two alkaloid compounds called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These act directly upon the nervous system to induce a calming, pain-relieving effect.<br></br>Although originally from Asia, kratom has slowly started to gain popularity throughout the West in the last couple of years. And a few…</p>
<p>How to Identify and Use Kratom – the Painkilling Plant that Substitutes Opioids</p>
<p><br/>By Giurgi C.<br/>October 18, 2019 07:59</p>
<p><br/>Derived from a type of evergreen tree, kratom contains two alkaloid compounds called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These act directly upon the nervous system to induce a calming, pain-relieving effect.<br/>Although originally from Asia, kratom has slowly started to gain popularity throughout the West in the last couple of years. And a few tear-jerking stories have popped up as well.<br/>Iraq veteran Andrew Turner came back from the war with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. By early 2015, he was barely able to leave his house. He had already tried 26 different prescription pills and none of them had helped much. That’s when Andrew decided to take a drastic step: he quit all his prescription pain medications and tried kratom.</p>
<p>At first nothing changed and he was ready to toss kratom in the bin after his pill bottles. But then, after his third time using kratom, he noticed that his mood was finally lifting after years of torment. His pain subsided, his anxiety eased, and his energy surged. He has continued his treatment with massive success up to this very day.<br/>And he’s not by far the only one to have tried the plant with miraculous painkilling effects. Many other Americans are also turning to kratom to reduce their pain naturally. Most of them are saying the same thing as Andrew: “Kratom gave me a new lease on life”.<br/>And while stories like these are always heartwarming, let’s focus for now on our main goal—creating a painkilling tincture using kratom. The first and most important step is choosing the right strain of kratom. The strain you select will directly determine how potent the final product will be and the full extent of the pain relieving effects it can deliver. After getting the right strain, it’s recommended that you get at least 5 ounces of it.<br/>Related: Is A Veteran’s SHTF Bug In Plan Similar To Yours?<br/>How to Make Kratom Tincture<br/>#1. Start off by thoroughly washing the leaves. Now put your gloves on, place the leaves on the cutting board, and start dicing them until they look as pictured here.<br/>#2. Fill ¾ of your jar with the leaves, and pour vodka on top afterwards, until the jar is almost full. Leave just enough space so you can shake the concoction. <br/>#3. Place the lid on top of the jar, and screw it on tightly to ensure no liquid leaks out. Next, gently but thoroughly shake the jar until the leaves start leaking oil into the vodka. <br/>#4. Leave the decoction to extract for at least 7 days.<br/>#5. Once all the painkilling compounds have been extracted from the kratom leaves, it’s time to strain your tincture. Get your cup and some cheesecloth. Place the cheesecloth on top of the cup. The goal is to filter the tincture, to separate the leaves from the liquid.<br/>#6. Unscrew the lid and gently put everything into the cup while straining through the cheesecloth. Once you’re done, dispose of the leaves how you see fit; you won’t need them anymore. <br/>#7. All you need to do now is place the liquid in the dropper vials and you’re done. <br/>You’ll be happy to know that a properly made tincture has a shelf life of many years. Some say that it may even increase in potency over time before it finally starts to lose some of its power. As with most herbs, proper storage is the key. Keep it out of extreme heat and sunlight.<br/>Related: How to Treat Migraines with an Herbal Tincture<br/>Growing Your Own Kratom Plant<br/>Can you grow a kratom plant? Yes, indeed, you can grow a kratom plant at home. You don’t need to be a professional kratom grower, but you do need to know a few things to do it successfully.<br/>Let’s start with the basics. Kratom trees are evergreens. Mature trees usually reach a height of 82 feet, and their trunks can be up to 3 feet wide.<br/>Kratom leaves are dark green and have a glossy surface. They are elliptical, with a heart-shaped base and a hairy underside. When fully mature, these leaves are large enough to cover an average man’s entire palm.<br/>Kratom trees aren’t necessarily hard to take care of, but they might be hard to propagate. You’ve got two options: propagating by seeds or by cuttings.<br/>If you plan on germinating through seeds, keep in mind that those seeds have to be fresh, at most a few days old. Generally, you’ll be lucky if one plant sprouts from 5 or even 10 seeds, so get them in bulk.<br/>An alternative option is to grow kratom plants from cuttings. A cutting is a clipping of a live plant that can be used to propagate it. In the case of kratom, you’d break off a leaf or a twig and keep it in water, moist soil, or moss until it starts growing roots. Covering them, for instance, with a plastic bag can help retain heat and moisture and thus help the plants grow. This method is much faster, and it’s definitely the one I’d recommend.<br/>Related: Do Seeds Really Expire?<br/>Warning: States that have imposed regulations and bans include:<br/>Alabama, which has marked the plant as a Schedule 1 controlled substance since May of 2016 and banned it completely;<br/>Arkansas, which has marked the drug as a Schedule 1 controlled substance since February of 2016 and has banned it completely;<br/>California, which has banned kratom use in San Diego only;<br/>Florida, which has banned the use of kratom in Sarasota County only;<br/>Illinois, which only allows the sale of kratom to those over the age of 18. While kratom is legal in Illinois, it is banned in Jerseyville;<br/>Indiana, which has banned kratom use completely;<br/>New Hampshire, which only allows the sale of kratom to those over the age of 18;<br/>Tennessee, which has banned kratom use completely;<br/>Vermont, which has banned the use of kratom completely;<br/>Wisconsin, which has banned the use of kratom completely.<br/>It will definitely be interesting to watch future kratom-related news and events. What’s your opinion on kratom? Did you try it?</p>10 Most Sought-After Bartering Items in Venezuelatag:12160.info,2019-10-15:2649739:BlogPost:19637852019-10-15T16:35:11.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>10 Most Sought-After Bartering Items in Venezuela</p>
<p><br></br>By Maybell Nieves<br></br>October 14, 2019 08:13</p>
<p><br></br>About 50 years ago, Venezuela was one of the most stable countries in the world. Even with huge oil reserves, however, little is left of the so-called Saudi Venezuela.<br></br>More than 30 years of misguided economic policies unleashed what is now Venezuela: a country full of misery, long lines to buy food, and hospitals and public health centers in poor condition. We are also…</p>
<p>10 Most Sought-After Bartering Items in Venezuela</p>
<p><br/>By Maybell Nieves<br/>October 14, 2019 08:13</p>
<p><br/>About 50 years ago, Venezuela was one of the most stable countries in the world. Even with huge oil reserves, however, little is left of the so-called Saudi Venezuela.<br/>More than 30 years of misguided economic policies unleashed what is now Venezuela: a country full of misery, long lines to buy food, and hospitals and public health centers in poor condition. We are also dealing with the largest exodus of professionals in the history of Venezuela. Since 1999, with the arrival of Hugo Chavez, the national currency (the bolivar) has suffered several devaluations.<br/>This is the result of inflation that is more than 40% per month. At the end of the last century, inflation led countries like Argentina, Brazil, and, more recently, Zimbabwe to devalue their currencies, causing an economic disaster that ended up affecting the most vulnerable citizens: those who live on a fixed monthly income.<br/>As a surgeon and an instructor in the surgery residency program at the most important hospital in Caracas, my monthly salary is barely $10, and it is one of the highest for a public administration worker. The minimum monthly wage is less than $4.<br/>That is how the bolivar has become a useless currency. This has led some people to trade by barter or to ask for goods instead of money when charging for their services.It has become such a common practice that there are Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups for the supply and demand of barter products.<br/>Some of the most sought-after and profitable products that one can have are the following:<br/>#1. Food<br/>One of the first things that disappeared because of the price controls established by the government was basic food. I have spent full weekends visiting several supermarkets in order to buy all the food needed from a normal shopping list.<br/>Powdered milk and sugar are among the most difficult items to get, so it is now normal to exchange two or three bags of rice or pasta for one of milk.<br/>#2. Medicines<br/>Any type of analgesic, antibiotics, and oral contraceptives are easily interchangeable for an article of the same importance. Medications are usually exchanged for other medications.<br/>When a family member suffers from a chronic disease, such as diabetes, it is important to have his or her treatment.<br/>Both my parents are hypertensive, and I always try to have their medicines ensured for up to five months. When I find it at the pharmacy, I try to buy as much as I can.<br/>One of my patients who works at a pharmacy lets me know whenever my parents’ treatments arrive so I can buy more before they disappear.<br/>#3. Voltage Protectors<br/>With the serious electricity problems in the country, voltage regulators have become one of the most useful and sought-after items today.<br/>As they are expensive products, sellers probably do not receive any other item as payment.<br/>If you need one and find someone willing to sell it, its price will surely be set in American dollars. However, it is always better to invest in a voltage protector than to lose a refrigerator or air conditioner due to a sudden electrical change.<br/>Related: No Gas, No Electricity… How To Cook Indoors Without Smoke<br/>#4. Hygiene Products<br/>Personal hygiene products, such as soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, razors, and toilet paper, as well as household hygiene and disinfection products, are very valuable in this economy.I particularly try to fill my shelves whenever I find any in the supermarket. On more than one opportunity, I have been able to exchange these products for something else.<br/>#5. Flashlights, Batteries, Candles, and Matches<br/>Electrical problems and electricity rationing in much of the country make light-generating items indispensable.<br/>Above all, batteries and candles are excellent products that can be stored and eventually used for an exchange.<br/>#6. Coffee<br/>Nowadays coffee in Venezuela is a luxury product. Although this country once was one of the main coffee exporters, many of the coffee companies that were expropriated by the government are no longer in operation.<br/>In Venezuelan culture, drinking coffee, at least in the mornings, is a tradition. It’s normal even for children to drink a cup of café con leche (coffee with milk).<br/>Taking advantage of that tradition, many sell products of very low quality in which remains of corn and seeds have even been found in the mixture.<br/>A package of coffee, good coffee, is something really valuable.<br/>#7. Cigarettes<br/>I’m not a smoker, but I have close friends who are, and I realize the very high price of tobacco products—so high that some street vendors sell cigarettes individually.<br/>For smokers, these are valuable items for which they will pay whatever price, either in money or in another item.<br/>#8. Fuel<br/>If anything shouldn’t be scarce in Venezuela it’s oil derivatives. However, in recent years, there have been serious distribution problems around the country.Products such as gasoline and diesel are sold at very high prices by the military and even smuggled into the country from Colombia and Brazil.<br/>In times of a fuel crisis, having gasoline stored can be of great help. Obviously not everyone has an adequate infrastructure to keep this type of product safely stored though.<br/>#9. Vehicle Spare Parts<br/>Any vehicle spare part has become an extremely difficult product to obtain. From simple things like windshield wipers and antennas to more complex parts, Caracas has become a city of cars in poor condition and without any maintenance.<br/>The government decided to regulate the prices of spare parts, and as always, they disappeared from the spare parts businesses. That regulation generated a clandestine market of buying, selling, and bartering, especially of tires and batteries.<br/>Related: 12 Essential Things You Can Scavenge from Cars when SHTF<br/>#10. Skills<br/>Without a doubt, possessing some skill that can be exchanged for goods is one of the most profitable things at the moment.One of my best friends is a personal trainer. The gym where she works pays her with a free membership and unlimited use of the facilities.<br/>Another close friend is a community manager and manages the Instagram profiles of several doctors, receiving medical consultations as payment.<br/>It is not unreasonable to exchange a medical consultation for a dental one, which was a personal recent experience.<br/>I made this list of what my experience in this situation has been. Surely there are many other important products that I have left out, but no doubt those I named are among the most sought after.</p>11 Frontier Survival Hacks Worthy of Daniel Boonetag:12160.info,2019-10-15:2649739:BlogPost:19638602019-10-15T16:29:51.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>11 Frontier Survival Hacks Worthy of Daniel Boone</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>October 15, 2019 10:02</p>
<p><br></br>Daniel Boone is an American Icon. An important part of our nation’s history, Boone is almost a legend, especially well known for his earlier years as a professional hunter, trapper and frontiersman. Yet that’s not all he did. Daniel Boone fought in the French and Indian War, on the side of the British (before the Revolution) and was a member of the Virginia General Assembly during…</p>
<p>11 Frontier Survival Hacks Worthy of Daniel Boone</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>October 15, 2019 10:02</p>
<p><br/>Daniel Boone is an American Icon. An important part of our nation’s history, Boone is almost a legend, especially well known for his earlier years as a professional hunter, trapper and frontiersman. Yet that’s not all he did. Daniel Boone fought in the French and Indian War, on the side of the British (before the Revolution) and was a member of the Virginia General Assembly during the Revolutionary War.<br/>Along with a handful of others, like Davie Crocket, Grizzly Adams and Jim Bridger, Boone was a part of opening up western lands and extending the reach of the United States from sea to shining sea. These were men’s men, who others looked up to and sought to emulate as the epitome of masculinity. They were also the greatest authorities on the wilderness and on survival our country has ever known. Armed with little in the way of survival gear, they lived off the land and prospered, with many of them becoming rich off their efforts.<br/>Boone moved a number of times, always seeking to live on the frontier. Born in Pennsylvania, he led the first expedition to cross the Cumberland Gap, establishing Boonesborough, Kentucky. From there, he moved to what is now West Virginia and finished out his life in Missouri. Through these efforts, he was an active part in helping our nation to become as great as it is today.<br/>For a man like Boone, survival wasn’t something you practiced for “someday,” it was something you did every day of your life. Between hunting bears and being hunted by the Indians, he couldn’t afford to come up second; not even once. His survival skills were obviously keenly honed or he wouldn’t have made it.<br/>That’s not to say that Boone and his contemporaries couldn’t have made use of some of the survival tools, hacks and ideas we have today. While they were the best there ever was, there’s always room for improvement; and I’m pretty sure that Daniel would have welcomed these improvements.<br/>Knowledge Trumps Gear Every Time<br/>We’re too dependent on our survival gear today, expecting it to keep us alive. Yet Daniel Boone and his contemporaries went into the woods with much less than we would consider an “absolute minimum.” They didn’t’ depend on their survival gear; they depended on their wits and their knowledge to see them through.<br/>When push comes to shove, it’s your knowledge, not the latest survival gadget, which will keep you alive. Many of the more esoteric survival techniques, such as starting fire with friction, aren’t intended for use as your primary fire starter, but rather for those times when you don’t have a fire starter to use. These emergency methods might be all that we have to rely on, when we have to rely on our wits and what nature has to offer.<br/>Related: 25 Skills You Can Trade After SHTF<br/>Follow the Wilderness Highway – Water<br/>People get lost in the wilderness all the time; but Daniel Boone never did. That’s amazing, when you think about it. He didn’t have GPS, detailed maps or even a compass, but he never lost his way. That’s because he always followed the wilderness highway, just as many others traveling west did.<br/>We can see this in Boone’s own diary, where he talks about how he traveled. Rarely did he talk about traveling through particular mountain passes or following a particular trail. Rather, he talked about following rivers and streams. Throughout history, rivers and streams around the world have been used as a means of giving directions. Traveling alongside them provides clear directions and a constant supply of water.<br/>If you’re lost and you can find water, you can find civilization. All you have to do is follow that water downhill until you find people. It may take a while, especially in some parts of the country, but you will always find cities and towns alongside any watercourse.<br/>Know the Game You Hunt<br/>Hunting today has become about baiting the game with seed corn and waiting in a blind to shoot them. I seriously doubt that Boone would consider that hunting. He didn’t have seed corn to use and I doubt he ever built any sort of blind.<br/>Instead, Boone understood the game he was hunting. He would know how they lived and their habits. Based upon that knowledge, he would know where to look for the game. All he had to do was stake out the animals’ food sources and they would eventually come right to him.<br/>Always Cook Meat Well<br/>They didn’t understand the causes of disease in Boone’s day. Louis Pasteur hadn’t done his breakthrough work on bacteria, nor had he developed the concept of pasteurization. People cooked and ate meat, along with whatever parasites that meat might carry. Sometimes they got sick and sometimes they even died.<br/>The incidents of parasites in domestic meat has been greatly reduced through the years, preventing much of the disease associated with poorly cooked meat. But you can’t count on that with wild game meat that you hunt or trap yourself. Rather, you need to assume that the meat is contaminated and cook it well. Forget about medium-rare, we’re looking for well done here. The core of that meat needs to be over 160°F to be safe to eat. To make sure of that, cook it until the center is brown.<br/>Related: The Ultimate Wild Game Meat Processing Charts for Preppers<br/>The WAPI<br/>Here’s something that Daniel could have used, although he didn’t have it. The Water Purification Indicator (WAPI). This simple device was developed for use in third-world countries. It consists of a wax bead, encased in a plastic capsule. The wax melts at 160°F.<br/>When suspended in a pot of water, this device can be used to purify the water, pasteurizing it, rather than boiling it. Once the wax bead melts, the water has reached a hot enough temperature to have killed off all the microscopic pathogens in the water, making it safe to drink. Since the water was heated to a lower temperature than boiling, it used less energy and will cool faster for drinking.<br/>The Fire Pot<br/>Starting a fire repeatedly can be a problem, especially in inclement weather and even more so if you don’t have a good fire starting method available to you. Back in Daniel’s day, they started a fire with a flint and steel, which is even harder to use that a Ferro Rod.<br/>Rather than always restarting fires, many people carried coals from their last fire with them, keeping them in a fire pot, a clay pot just for the purpose. This pot often had a woven or heavy cloth cover, allowing it to be handled safely and hung off of a pack animal or wagon.<br/>As an alternate, if a fire pot isn’t available, a cone can be made out of bark, with the rough side out. Wet the outside of the bark, to help keep it cool, so it doesn’t ignite. Then put coals in the fire cone to carry them. While this will only work over short distances, it does provide a means of moving a fire, if your campsite is being reorganized or moved a short distance.<br/>Learn to Read the Animals Actions<br/>Animals will often give us warnings about a variety of different dangers, such as earthquakes, approaching enemies or forest fires. Knowing the animals’ normal actions allows you to see when they are acting different.<br/>Many an attack was thwarted in Boone’s day by nothing more obvious than the animals getting quiet. Sensing the danger, the animals would stop their normal chatter, thinking that they might be in danger. For those who were aware, that quiet was as good as an alarm going off.<br/>Quality Guns Need Quality Marksmen<br/>Boone lived in a time when the best gun of the day was the Kentucky Long Rifle. Compared to the Muskets so common in the Revolutionary war (and earlier), this was an engineering marvel, much more accurate at longer distances than anything else available. But compared to today’s firearms, the Kentucky wasn’t all that great. It didn’t have the power or range of our modern hunting rifles.<br/>Nevertheless, Daniel Boone and other professional hunters typically made one-shot kills of the game they were hunting. That was a requirement for them, so that the Indians that wanted to hunt them down and get rid of them couldn’t find them. One shot is hard to pinpoint, but two will tell them where you are.<br/>If we spent more time working on our marksmanship and less time on tricking out our guns, we could probably all become marksmen of the caliber of Boone. Yet most of us won’t spend that much on ammo and range fees, even while we are spending a fortune doing cosmetic work to our guns.<br/>Keep Your Powder Dry<br/>Keeping your powder dry was an absolute essential in Boone’s day, before the sealed brass cartridge existed. Damp powder, either in the chamber or the pan would either result in a low-energy shot or prevent the rifle from firing at all. They didn’t have shellacked-over primers, like military ammo does, because they didn’t have primers.<br/>Thankfully, our modern ammo doesn’t have this issue. Nevertheless, we should still take care to keep it and our firearms dry, so as to prevent problems. Rifles can rust and moisture can leak into modern cartridges. Thinking otherwise is asking for trouble.<br/>Related: How To Make Gun Powder The Old Fashioned Way in Less Than 30 Minutes<br/>Wear Clothing that Sheds Water<br/>The classic fringe on buckskin shirts and pants wasn’t there for decoration. Rather, it was put on the clothing to help it shed water. Considering the risk of hypothermia when out in the wilderness, that’s as big an issue today, as it was for Boone.<br/>This doesn’t mean that you need to add buckskin fringe to all your hunting shirts. But you should always select and buy your clothing with the need to keep dry in mind. Whether we’re talking about your own perspiration or a sudden rainfall, you want to dry off as soon as possible, before your body’s core temperature can start dropping.<br/>When in the Wilderness, Shed Your “Civilization”<br/>Frontiersmen and especially mountain men were known for being a bit “uncivilized,” even though many of them were well-educated men who were no stranger to the finer things in life. But what we call civilization is nothing more than the actions accepted by a particular group of people. When we are no longer with that group of people, that set of actions no longer applies.<br/>I’ve spent a considerable amount of time overseas, especially in Mexico. Through that, I’ve found that the old rule of “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” makes a lot of sense. While I there are lines I won’t cross; there are many things I do, which I don’t do when at home.<br/>The wilderness has its own set of rules and those aren’t the rules of polite society. So, when in Rome… For Boone, part of that included fighting with the Indians, who saw him as encroaching on their hunting lands. He couldn’t negotiate with them or enter into a business partnership, he had to outfight them by their rules, otherwise he wouldn’t have survived.<br/>Related: Survival Tips From Mountain Men<br/>Be Aware – Expect the Unexpected<br/>Nature doesn’t operate by a script, and if it did, it wouldn’t be a script of our choosing. You can encounter a constant string of unexpected occurrences while out in the wild. Many of those can hurt or even kill you, if you’re not ready.<br/>Being in the wilderness requires constant vigilance. There are dangers all around, as well as simpler things which could make it difficult to survive. Your only protection, in many cases, is to see these things before they can cause problems.</p>Survival Skills: Learning from Insurgent Tacticstag:12160.info,2019-10-08:2649739:BlogPost:19608872019-10-08T14:59:45.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Survival Skills: Learning from Insurgent Tactics<br></br> Todd Sepulveda skills, Survival No Comments</p>
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<p><br></br>For those that like to maintain a state of readiness to deal with uncertain times, it’s important to maintain a steady, regular supply of clean water, food, first aid, tools and survival skills. If you’ve ever watched the show “Doomsday Preppers”, you’ll likely see that there are quite a few people who have their own ideas about how to survive a…</p>
<p>Survival Skills: Learning from Insurgent Tactics<br/> Todd Sepulveda skills, Survival No Comments</p>
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<p><br/> <br/>Save</p>
<p><br/>For those that like to maintain a state of readiness to deal with uncertain times, it’s important to maintain a steady, regular supply of clean water, food, first aid, tools and survival skills. If you’ve ever watched the show “Doomsday Preppers”, you’ll likely see that there are quite a few people who have their own ideas about how to survive a catastrophic scenario – aka SHTF. One thing you may notice from that show, as well, is many rely on static compounds.<br/>While that is one strategy, we’re going to explore another.<br/>There are a few life lessons we can take to heart from none other than watching how insurgents evaded NATO and US forces in Afghanistan.<br/>Survival Skills – Lessons from Insurgent Tactics<br/>There’s not too much to love about the Taliban. This article is NOT advocating them in any way, shape or form. Ruthless, cunning, and deceptive, they have managed to survive and thwart efforts to be stamped out by US forces throughout more than ten years of active pursuit.<br/>The best military in the world could never, even at their height, completely eliminate their activity. How did the Taliban and their allies manage to evade capture so well?<br/>“Strategically Placed Supply Caches – A Survival Skill to Learn”<br/>No man can survive for more than three to four days without fresh water. Nor can he fight without ammunition or some form of food.</p>
<p>Photo by Spc. Justin Young – “The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”<br/> <br/>When US forces discovered these caches, they would often either destroy in place or attempt to collect intelligence from them. But one thing was extremely apparent – the Taliban never put all their eggs in one basket. And if you’re developing plans to survive in the event of a disaster, neither should you.<br/>Castles Fall, Plans Change, and Survivors Move Fast<br/>Unless you personally have a small army with its own independent supply of ammunition and arms, you can never assume any defensive fortification you hold – be it home, improvised structure, or bedrock-built castle – will hold for any length of time.<br/>Why? Because you need to sleep. Outside of water, the only thing human beings can’t do without for three to four days is sleep.<br/>More importantly, your survival skills in a true survival situation are:<br/>evacuating to a safer location.<br/>ensuring that fresh supplies are available to rebuild.<br/>assuring catastrophic loses to your pursuers.<br/>Iron-reinforced walls, embankments, brick and mortar fortifications, sandbags, and overlapping fields of fire are all very well and good. But, again, without personnel to man those walls – the only purpose of them is to delay and resist an enemy advancing upon you.<br/>Good News – Survival IS Cheap; Obtaining Survival Skills are Too!</p>
<p>*”Vietnam War 1968 – Urges” by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0<br/>Historically, take a look at any military force that has had to resist a much stronger, better-equipped one.<br/>Whether it be the North Vietnamese in 1967 or the Taliban in 2007 or the Sinoloa Cartel in Northern Mexico, the same core principles always apply.</p>
<p>Stay light<br/>Stay fast<br/>Never put all your eggs in one basket<br/>You don’t need multi-million dollar complexes, advanced sensor technology, or even the best arms and munitions to pull this off. You just need to understand your needs, your family’s needs, and not be afraid to put in plenty of sweat capital.<br/>Here’s what all three guerilla forces employed as their main modes of movement for short distances: tunnels, caches, and spider holes.<br/>Tunnels, Caches, and Spider Holes<br/>The tunnels only need to be big enough to crawl through and they’re only meant to get you from one position to another without being harassed. Reinforce with wood or, ideally, non-corrosive materials.<br/>Spider holes are also another survival skill that is great for keeping you and some supplies off the beaten path. They can sometimes even store more than just you for really short amounts of time.<br/>Never put more into a spider hole than you’re willing to lose. Always mark the location in some distinct way that only you would identify and understand.</p>
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<p>Caches can be big or small stores of essential emergency items such as medical supplies, food, water, tools, and ammunition. They can double as short-term safe houses or spider holes. The basic rule of thumb: the bigger the cache, the more you have to haul.<br/>Plan multiple routes and place caches along those routes. If you take Route A versus Route B, you may have the opportunity to double back and collect some of those items. In a survival situation, whenever it is feasible to take all supplies with you and leave nothing behind – that’s what you should do. Don’t leave anything behind to help your pursuers.<br/>Seal food, water, and ammunition in plastic and, ideally, metal containers. Apply light squirts of vinegar across the exterior of the container to mask your individual smell.<br/>I have found a 2-liter plastic soda bottle that is just the right size to fit inside one of my standard caching tubes so I always make the center tube of the cache (the one that I hopefully find first) my drinking water cache. If you shop around you will find that you can locate cans just the right size to fit your caching tubes. This, of course, assumes that you want to cache over the counter foods in cans and plan on rotating your stores on a regular basis. There is a lot to be said for emergency rations being the same foods you are used to eating in a non-emergency situation. There is no “shock” to your digestive tract (nobody needs a case of diarrhea or constipation at a time like this ) by eating all freeze-dried trail food (or other emergency rations) all of a sudden instead of your normal diet. You can also cache items that are not your ordinary emergency foods in caches, such as canned meats, chicken, fish, etc. if using and rotating standard canned foods. This will help you plan and keep a balanced diet. SOURCE – Your Survival Cache Pt. 3<br/>And remember: survival in an SHTF situation depends more on mobility than it does on fortification. No fortification lasts forever and no one can run forever. Find the perfect balance!<br/> <br/>About the Author: Bobby Norman is an avid blogger with particular interests in guns and shooting.</p>
<p>*“Vietnam War 1968 – Urges”by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0<br/>This article first appeared on Ed That Matters.</p>
<p>Get updates in your email when a new article is posted. Join the Newsletter or grab the RSS Feed.<br/>If you enjoyed the article, please vote for the site at Top Prepper Websites.</p>How To Make A Pantry Under Your Bedtag:12160.info,2019-10-07:2649739:BlogPost:19607342019-10-07T16:20:58.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How To Make A Pantry Under Your Bed</p>
<p><br></br>By Calamity Janet<br></br>October 7, 2019 11:47</p>
<p><br></br>A Proper Prepper’s Pantry…is totally hidden from view. You don’t want every Tom, Dick, and Mary who walks into your home to know you’re a prepper, and you don’t want to make it easy for vandals, looters, and marauders to haul your stash away. Secrecy is key! (Which is, of course, why I’m revealing my secrets to the world at large!) Here we have instructions for constructing a proper…</p>
<p>How To Make A Pantry Under Your Bed</p>
<p><br/>By Calamity Janet<br/>October 7, 2019 11:47</p>
<p><br/>A Proper Prepper’s Pantry…is totally hidden from view. You don’t want every Tom, Dick, and Mary who walks into your home to know you’re a prepper, and you don’t want to make it easy for vandals, looters, and marauders to haul your stash away. Secrecy is key! (Which is, of course, why I’m revealing my secrets to the world at large!) Here we have instructions for constructing a proper prepper’s pantry, underneath the bed, where it is safe, hidden, yet accessible in an emergency.</p>
<p>This is a bed frame in an empty bedroom. The bedroom was constructed in 1878, so the floorboards, which were hewn in 1878 and most recently refinished in 1996, are slightly warped. Because this is going to be one of my biggest food caches, I do not want to risk a single pregnant moth, beetle, or weevil getting into my stuff.<br/>So in this picture, I’m in the middle of lining the bottom of the bed frame with thick self-sticking foam rubber insulation in order to make a tight seal between the bottom of the bed frame and the floor.</p>
<p>The bed frame is on the floor (insulation side down) and I’ve put some slotted support cross-beams in the middle to help hold up the weight of the mattress and all the rest of the stuff I’m going to be storing underneath the mattress.<br/>In addition, I found a bookshelf at the thrift shop made with slotted boards, and I’ve put those boards around the outer edges of the bed for more support.<br/>After the emergency, I’ll have a ready-made shelving unit to hold supplies, or I can use the boards to cover broken windows.</p>
<p>Here I’m starting to fill up my prepper’s pantry. Everything made of grain goes in the middle to discourage grain-loving insects from inviting themselves in. These grains will end up being totally surrounded by a sea of canned goods. This is the best possible place to store canned goods, where the temperature is constant but cool, and there’s no chance of any sort of moisture.<br/>Related: The Only 15 Rules for Your Prepper Pantry</p>
<p>Canned goods going into place. It took me four years of collecting cut-rate groceries incrementally in order to have enough food to fill up this pantry. I own a large antique steamer trunk, and every time I went shopping, I’d buy extra stuff and drop it into the trunk. Every time the trunk was full, I would open up this under-bed pantry and load the stuff in.<br/>This series of pictures was taken when I had to move the bed from one side of the bedroom to the other in order to accommodate a new furnace.</p>
<p>Here the pantry is officially “full”. The canned goods are double-stacked. There are gobs of tiny things poked into the little spaces between the cans: cigarette lighters, packs of gum, match books, tea bags, rolls of Lifesaver candies, etc.<br/>If there was even a quarter-inch of available space on top of the cans, I used it to store flat things like fruit leather, soup packets, lots of extra Zip-lock baggies, and pouches of gravy and seasoning packets. Every square inch of space is used up.</p>
<p>This is the “lid” going onto the bed frame. This was originally a waterbed, but the waterbed suffered a catastrophic failure some years ago, at which time we replaced it with a regular mattress. This upper frame originally held the waterbed.<br/>I’m using lots of braces and screwing the boards to the frame, not only for stability, but also so that vandals will have to have a screwdriver and a lot of time in order to break into this pantry.<br/>Do you think I’m going to leave a screwdriver anywhere in the household if I ever have to leave this stash behind?</p>
<p><br/>Bedframe all assembled and headboard in place as well.<br/>A year’s supply of food for two people is totally out of sight and protected.<br/>Related: DIY: Bedside Holster System</p>
<p>This is a wonderful place to store lumber, and lumber is a great thing to have on hand after a catastrophe.<br/>I’m starting my lumber stash with four sheets of plywood because I have three picture windows plus one extra-large entryway that I might need to cover one day.<br/>I had to trim the ends to fit.</p>
<p>Now I’m adding several layers of laminated shelving that I picked up at my local Re-Store, a used building supply store that’s run by Habitat for Humanity.<br/>The boards cost me a buck each.<br/>I like to store lumber because the windows are the most vulnerable aspect of any home, and I want to be able to cover all of them.</p>
<p>Now I’m alternating layers of wool blankets, tarps, and air mattresses because storing those things here is far better than having them take up the limited space I have available in my closets and basement.</p>
<p>Add the mattress, the sheets, the blankets, and the pillows and here you have a perfect and proper prepper’s pantry.<br/>Do you have any idea how soundly I sleep, knowing what I’m sleeping on?<br/>This article was gladly contributed by Calamity Janet, that appeared in Season 1, Episode 9 of “Doomsday Preppers.</p>Best Ways to Heat Your Off-Grid Home This Wintertag:12160.info,2019-10-04:2649739:BlogPost:19595582019-10-04T19:06:34.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Best Ways to Heat Your Off-Grid Home This Winter</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>October 4, 2019 07:28</p>
<p><br></br>Going off-grid seems to be something like the holy grail of the prepping and survival community. I mean, which of us wouldn’t love to be able to live our lives, without having to pay those bills every month? Why wouldn’t we want to go off-grid, especially if it means that we are more self-sufficient, preparing ourselves for the inevitable disaster, whatever and whenever that might…</p>
<p>Best Ways to Heat Your Off-Grid Home This Winter</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>October 4, 2019 07:28</p>
<p><br/>Going off-grid seems to be something like the holy grail of the prepping and survival community. I mean, which of us wouldn’t love to be able to live our lives, without having to pay those bills every month? Why wouldn’t we want to go off-grid, especially if it means that we are more self-sufficient, preparing ourselves for the inevitable disaster, whatever and whenever that might be.<br/>Typically, when we talk about going “off-grid” most people are thinking electricity. But while that’s an important part of going off-grid, it’s not the most important. If we’re going to consider all our utility usage, especially our energy consumption, then the biggest part of going off-grid for most families is heating their homes. Except in the deep south, where air conditioning is more important than heating, heating our homes is the biggest chunk of our energy consumption.<br/>With that in mind, it only makes sense to start our process of going off-grid by seeking means of heating our homes through the winter; one that doesn’t require the electric company, the gas company or any other company that brings any sort of power right to our homes.<br/>That limits our options tremendously. There are few forms of fuel that we can readily harvest on our own. Most require a considerable amount of technology and are best harvested in large quantities, allowing the companies that harvest them to spread the cost out over a massive number of users. None of us can pay those costs alone.<br/>Nevertheless, there are some options we should consider.<br/>Related: The Best 5 States for Living Off-Grid<br/>Solar Heating<br/>In many ways, I’d have to say that solar heating is the ultimate off-grid heating system. Solar power is clearly a renewable energy source, it doesn’t require any work to harvest and the energy itself is free.<br/>The big drawback to it is that effective passive solar heating requires that the home be specially designed and built to allow sunlight to enter the home and be converted to heat energy. Most homes are not.<br/>Even so, it is possible to get at least some solar heating out of most homes, although you might not be able to heat your home on solar power alone. The main key is to have a lot of south-facing windows, where sunlight can come in during the day, hit dark colored surfaces and be converted to heat. Even without a means of storing that heat for the night, this will help lower your dependence on other forms of energy for heating.<br/>If that’s not enough, adding a sun room on the south side of the home, which has been designed for passive solar, can generate a considerable amount of heat, perhaps even enough to heat your home.<br/>There are two keys to make this work. The first is to have a large enough thermal mass to store the heat that your passive solar heating system is going to generate. This heat will then be able to radiate into the home at night, providing your family with heat. The second is to have a means of circulating that heat throughout your home. Ideally, that should be by convection; but in an add-on situation, you’ll probably need some sort of fans, like ceiling fans.<br/>Related: How to Build Your Own Solar Panels<br/>Electric<br/>Electric heating is probably the most energy inefficient and costly way of heating your off-grid home.<br/>In order to have off-grid electric heating, you would need to generate enough electricity to power your electric furnace or electric baseboard heaters and have a battery backup system which is large enough to store the electricity you would need to have, in order to heat your home overnight.<br/>A few years ago, I priced out a solar power system which would produce my average energy usage. It was $60,000. This didn’t include any sort of battery backup system and in reality, didn’t produce enough power for my max usage months. Adding those in would probably make the system top out at over $100 grand. About the only good thing would be that I wouldn’t have any operating costs.<br/>Propane Gas<br/>Propane exists in that grey area between being on the grid and being off-grid. While it is not technically connected to any sort of grid, you still have to have a gas company of some sort which can deliver the propane gas to you, filling your tank. So, while you might be off-grid for the winter; this isn’t workable for a long-term survival situation.<br/>The big problem with propane is cost. While propane heaters are fairly inexpensive, the gas isn’t. By comparison, it’s even more expensive than electricity, which is considered by most people to be the most expensive home heating method. But in a direct comparison of the same amount of heat generated, propane costs is 57.4% higher. It looks even worse, when compared to natural gas, which heats most on-grid homes. Again in a head-to-head competition, producing the same amount of heat, propane costs over six times what natural gas does.<br/>Coal<br/>Once upon a time, much of the US Northeast was heated by coal. People would have coal chutes going into their basements, where coal was offloaded so as to be available for the coal-burning furnace. It wasn’t homes either, but apartment buildings and commercial enterprises as well.<br/>Yet coal has lost favor in recent times, mostly because it is considered to be a “dirty fuel” even worse than other fossil fuels. It produces more carbon dioxide than any other fuel, according to the Energy Information Administration. Therefore, if you are concerned about the environment, this may not be the best heating source for you.<br/>Leaving that out, coal is a fairly cost-effective means of heating your home, although it is more work than heating with propane or natural gas. But compared to wood, coal is much less work. That’s because the energy density in coal is double the best hardwood firewood you can find. You can store double the amount of heat energy in the same space as wood. That’s because coal is about twice as heavy as wood.<br/>The key is to use anthracite coal, which produces less sulfur and less pollution than bituminous coal (the kind burned in power plants). Anthratic coal looks more like a stone, than the black coal that we are all accustomed to. But anthracite coal is only about 1% of US coal production. Prices vary; but average $53 a ton, making it even cheaper than buying firewood. Of course, if you have coal on your property and a means of mining it, you can get your coal for free.<br/>Related: How To Heat Your Room With Vegetable Oil<br/>Waste Oil<br/>I’ve only seen waste oil used in heating workshops, never a home. Yet waste oil furnaces are highly efficient fuel burners, allowing oil that would otherwise become hazardous waste to provide heating.<br/>The one big drawback is that commercially available waste oil furnaces are rather expensive, since they are designed for use in industrial operations. But then, you can always build your own.<br/>This may not seem like an effective off-grid heating method, but you can buy waste oil from dealers. All you need is a tank to store it. When you compare the cost of waste oil to other heating methods, you find that every gallon of waste oil burnt saves $5.05 over using propane or $2.82 over using natural gas.<br/>But that’s not the big advantage in my eyes. When I look at waste oil, I think of all the disaster scenarios I’ve read about, where cars are no longer driveable. If such a scenario were to occur, the availability of waste oil would be nearly endless. All you’d have to do is scavenge it from all the cars just sitting around.<br/>Wood<br/>I’ve left wood for last for a reason. Regardless of all the benefits I’ve mentioned to the methods above, there is no better off-grid heating method than wood.<br/>Wood is a renewable resource, which you can harvest yourself. That means that unless you live in an area lacking trees (I do; we don’t have a lot of trees here), you can harvest your own fuel, making the cost of heating your home free.</p>
<p>Even in areas with limited trees, there are still ways you can use wood to heat your home. There are always people who need trees trimmed, dead trees removed, or limbs blown down by storms cleaned up. With a little ingenuity and some elbow grease, you can keep yourself in firewood for nothing more than the cost of gas for your truck and chainsaw.<br/>Even if you do buy hardwood firewood commercially, it’s still the cheapest form of home heating there is, other than solar. It’s also something that can be retrofitted into most homes. While you might not be able to keep your bedrooms toasty warm with a wood-burning stove in the living room, you will be able to keep the living areas warm.<br/>When we compare wood to other forms of heating, we find that it costs roughly 13% of electricity, 8% of propane and 52% of natural gas.<br/>Besides that, if there ever is a TEOTWAWKI event in our future, wood will probably be the most abundantly available fuel source you can find, with the possible exception of waste oil. But then, the waste oil will probably run out eventually, while wood is a renewable resource. Properly managed, our forests will keep producing wood for generations to come.<br/>Related: The Ultimate Bug Out Home For Just $250<br/>One Final Note<br/>Many of these heating methods only heat part of your home, because they don’t use the ductwork of a modern HVAC system. Yet for much of human history, that’s what people lived with. The idea that every room of a home must be kept at a comfortable 76°F is actually rather new. About the only people who could afford to heat every room of a home in olden times were the richest of the rich.<br/>In the past, people concentrated on heating the main living areas of their homes. The only heat which would get into sleeping areas would be through natural convection of doors left open. Children often slept in the loft, because it was warmer.<br/>Our ancestors also did a number of things to keep themselves warm, which we’ve let go by the wayside. Sleeping together to share body heat was common, with all the children in the home often sharing one large bed. It was also common to use bed warmer to warm up the bed, before getting into it. Beds would be piled high in the wintertime, with all the blankets the family had, helping to keep that body heat in. All in all, I’m sure they were warm enough, even though they didn’t have central heating.</p>The 24 Highest Calorie Vegetables for Your Survival Gardentag:12160.info,2019-09-30:2649739:BlogPost:19579272019-09-30T18:17:37.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>The 24 Highest Calorie Vegetables for Your Survival Garden</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>September 30, 2019 07:52</p>
<p><br></br>Whoever came up with the idea of gardening, way back in the caveman days, surely did a favor to those of us who live a life of disasters preparedness. While the idea of having a stockpile of food and other supplies is perfect for short to medium-term survival situations, the true long-term survival situations, those which we refer to as TEOTWAWKI events, will surely…</p>
<p>The 24 Highest Calorie Vegetables for Your Survival Garden</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>September 30, 2019 07:52</p>
<p><br/>Whoever came up with the idea of gardening, way back in the caveman days, surely did a favor to those of us who live a life of disasters preparedness. While the idea of having a stockpile of food and other supplies is perfect for short to medium-term survival situations, the true long-term survival situations, those which we refer to as TEOTWAWKI events, will surely require us growing our own food.<br/>Have you really thought of what that will mean? Most of us plan on relying on gardening in that situation. While I have no problem with the idea of gardening, I have to ask if the gardening we have in mind is going to be enough. Will it provide us with everything we need?<br/>There has been a trend for years in the nutrition industry to push us more and more towards vegetarianism. The idea of living off of nothing but vegetables probably appeals to people like this, but that doesn’t necessarily make it right. While vegetables may be great for providing us with a variety of necessary micronutrients, they aren’t known for providing a lot of calories. That’s why people on diets tend to eat a lot of salads and other green leafy vegetables.<br/>Yet, if our survival diets are going to be limited to what we can grow, we’re going to need to get those calories somehow. Micronutrients are great, but they don’t provide the calories for our bodies to burn. That comes from carbohydrates and most of the carbohydrates we eat come from grains.<br/>There’s a problem with that though. Few of us are thinking of growing much in the way of grains, just vegetables. Grains take a lot of room to grow, more than most of us are planning on using for our gardens. But without those grains, where are we going to get enough calories for our bodies to consume, allowing us to do the work of survival?<br/>Fortunately, there are some vegetables which do provide a fairly high amount of calories. They’re not going to energize you as a chocolate cake might, but they will provide you with enough energy to keep going. So, it’s important to make sure that your survival garden has a goodly amount of these energy sources as well.<br/>Related: How to Keep Grains Edible and Fresh for Over 40 Years With Nitrogen<br/>Fruits</p>
<p>Fruits are usually higher in calorie than vegetables. That’s because pretty much all fruits produce fructose, a type of sugar. They are also good for some sorts of vitamins. In addition, fruits are known as a good source of fiber, which is necessary for the gastrointestinal system.<br/>Fruits can also be preserved, whether it be by canning or by drying, making it possible to harvest your fruit and have it last all year long. When you don’t have cookies and junk food to eat, that fruit is going to provide the “sweets” your family craves, all because of that fructose.<br/>Prunes (dried plums) provide 209 calories per half-cup;<br/>Raisins (dried grapes) provide 247 calories per half-cup;<br/>Avocado (yes, it really is a fruit) has 192 calories per half-cup in pulp form;<br/>Tamarind has 144 calories per half cup of pulp;<br/>Apples vary by type, but can contain as much as 118 calories per half-cup.<br/>Roots</p>
<p>If we limit ourselves to just actual vegetables, we find that most of the big calorie holders are root vegetables. This should be obvious to us, considering the number of potatoes we eat. Potatoes are the side-dish of choice, served in all of our fast-food joints.<br/>Of course, potatoes aren’t all that popular amongst the health-food crowd, perhaps because they aren’t packed full of other nutrients. But then, we’re talking about getting enough calories here, not about getting enough vitamins and anti-oxidants.<br/>Those potatoes have about 250 calories per cup as mashed potatoes or French fries;<br/>Whole potatoes, with the skin, hold about 212 calories per cup;<br/>Sweet potato (mashed) carry 249 calories per cup;<br/>Taro root has 187 calories per cup;<br/>Parsnips, which are a lot like a white carrot, have 100 calories per cup;<br/>Carrots aren’t as good, but still have 52 calories per cup;<br/>Turnips come in pretty low at just 36 calories per cup;<br/>Beans</p>
<p>Beans are already a favorite survival food to stockpile, because they are a good non-meat source of protein. Well, they’re more than that, as beans are a great source of calories as well. As with grains, you’d probably need to devote a large part of your gardening to beans, in order to have enough; but at least they’ll provide you with lots of calories.<br/>Another nice thing about beans is that they are relatively easy to grow and there are lots of varieties of them. They can be used fresh or dried, which serves very well to preserve them. Dried beans, like grains, have been found in many ancient tombs, left there as food for the spirit as it passes through the underworld. Better that we eat them in this world.<br/>Pinto beans have the most energy, at 341 calories per cup;<br/>Black beans come in right after that, at 340 calories per cup;<br/>Chickpeas, which are common in Middle Eastern food, provide 286 calories per cup;<br/>Soybeans have 254 calories per cup;<br/>Lentils have 230 calories per cup;<br/>Lima beans contain 209 calories per cup;<br/>Peas give you 144 calories per cup;<br/>Related: 10 Survival Crops You Can Grow Without Irrigation<br/>And Other Things<br/>Of course, there are many other things which fall into the general category of vegetables, which aren’t root crops or beans. By and large, these don’t provide as many calories; but some will surprise you. You just have to realize that you need to combine these with other vegetables and not just depend on them alone for all your calorie needs.<br/>Corn is one of the best. Depending on who you talk to, corn is either a grain or a vegetable. Either way, the whole kernels of corn will provide 185 calories per cup. Corn is relatively easy to grow too. It is pollinated by the wind, so never try growing corn in just a row. Rather, plant an area, so that the wind can drive the pollen from one plant to another.<br/>Squashes are pretty good as well; although not as high calorie as root vegetables.<br/>Zucchini, which grow like crazy once you get them going, provide 113 calories in a cup. For survival, it’s best to let them grow much larger than what you get in the grocery store;<br/>Butternut squash gives you 63 calories per cup;<br/>Acorn squash has 56 calories per cup;<br/>Pumpkin will provide 30 calories per cup. Good thing they are large;<br/>Eggplant comes in pretty low at only 20 calories per cup;<br/>One nice thing about these squashes, like the root vegetables, is that they store amazingly well, if kept in a cool place, like a root cellar. So, unlike some other sorts of vegetables, you won’t have to can them, merely have a root cellar to keep them in.</p>The Pioneer Dish That Never Ends: Perpetual Souptag:12160.info,2019-09-27:2649739:BlogPost:19561732019-09-27T15:21:37.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>The Pioneer Dish That Never Ends: Perpetual Soup</p>
<p><br></br>By James Walton<br></br>September 26, 2019 06:54</p>
<p><br></br>The pioneering lifestyle didn’t really lend itself to long leisurely lengths over the stove. If you weren’t married and, on the prairie, running cattle, trapping or logging, well, you would still need to eat but no one would be at home cooking for you.<br></br>The idea behind perpetual soup was that, with a well-managed fire, you could simmer broth and other ingredients in your…</p>
<p>The Pioneer Dish That Never Ends: Perpetual Soup</p>
<p><br/>By James Walton<br/>September 26, 2019 06:54</p>
<p><br/>The pioneering lifestyle didn’t really lend itself to long leisurely lengths over the stove. If you weren’t married and, on the prairie, running cattle, trapping or logging, well, you would still need to eat but no one would be at home cooking for you.<br/>The idea behind perpetual soup was that, with a well-managed fire, you could simmer broth and other ingredients in your kettle all day, maybe even for days.<br/>The soup would be ready whenever you got time to swing by camp and you could add to it as you were paid or when you happened across some new ingredients.<br/>Sometimes called Skilligalee, the perpetual soup was the answer they needed to help fuel their busy lives as homesteaders, ranchers, and cowboys. The pioneering lifestyle was brutal by today’s standards.<br/>This is but one of the many ingenious ideas the pioneers developed in order to forge west and discover the unbelievable treasures of this great land.<br/>Understanding Perpetual Soup <br/>At its very base, perpetual soup is, well, soup. Soup is an ancient food item. In fact, Monsieur Boulanger, Frances first restauranteur served what he called “Restoratives” that were basically broths. Broths are not stocks.<br/>Stocks are soup and sauce bases that are made from bones and vegetables and herbs. These are simmered for hours and strained.<br/>Broth demands the inclusion of meat in a slow simmer. It’s usually the product of slow simmer bones and meat together. The perpetual soup or Skilligalee would include both meat and bones so its base would certainly be that of a broth.The soup would also require that you use hardy vegetables in the soup, as well. This mixture would simmer for days at a time and would be added to along the way. Something like the stone story you read as a child.<br/>The Skills to Make Perpetual Soup<br/>One skill would be of the utmost importance when it came to making perpetual soup. That would be managing your fire or controlling heat.<br/>Controlling Heat<br/>The most important part of making perpetual soup is consistent and low heat. This means you must understand your fire or cooking your skilligalee in a Dutch oven at home.<br/>We started our perpetual soup on the stovetop to get it simmering and we cut heat even further overnight.<br/>Controlling the heat round the clock would be very tough. Therefore, we chose to use cast iron. It holds heat longer. We also kept the soup covered. This was very important once the soup moved outside.<br/>Using the Right Ingredients<br/>There are many more “right” ingredients for perpetual soup than there are wrong ones. You are cooking this soup for days and that means that you need ingredients that are going to hold up to the heat for days on end.<br/>Hearty root vegetables are going to do the best. These are things like onions, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, garlic, carrots, and parsnips.<br/>Some ingredients that would be very bad choices would be things like rice and pasta. These two ingredients constantly absorb water and they will become mush after a few hours of cooking. So, stay away from these.<br/>Related: Bean and Rice Survival Soup – Easy and Adaptable Recipe<br/>Make Your Own<br/>If we are going to make perpetual soup than we need to do it properly. That is over an open fire. We need this soup to cook over coals for a couple of days. We can add to the fire and add to the pot and the soup will get better and better as time goes on.<br/>Tools<br/>Cast Iron Dutch Oven<br/>Ladle<br/>Ingredients<br/>Cheap Cut of Beef<br/>Beef Soup Bones<br/>Onions<br/>Carrots<br/>Garlic<br/>How to Make Perpetual Soup<br/>#1. I used about 2lbs of boneless beef ribs mostly because they were on sale and cheap. No matter what cut of beef you put into the pot it’s going to be tender after 2 days of cooking.Sear your meat in the Dutch oven until you get some good brown color on the sides. Then add your soup bones to the pot before covering it all with cold water.Cold water is key to drawing the flavor from bones. When making traditional stock you want to start with cold water and bring it up to a simmer very slowly.<br/>#2. We let the soup cook for 24 hours at a low simmer. I used my metal ladle to remove the foam and excess oil from collecting on the top of the soup. Dip the ladle just below the surface of the water and allow the fat and scum that is floating on the top to fall into the ladle. This is going to make a much better soup.Then we added a dried cayenne chili and a couple dried shitakes from our logs.<br/>#3. We added our vegetables to the mix the next day and allowed that to simmer for another 12 hours. This was one of the most hands-off parts of making the soup. I did not ladle the scum or anything to see how it would look after 12 hours of cooking.It was our way of simulating how the soup would cook while people might be away from camp.<br/>#4. Then we finished the soup outside over the fire to keep it a bit authentic. The beef was incredibly tender, and the vegetables were a little overcooked, as you can imagine. Some of the vegetables began to breakdown into the broth and the soup got murky from this.#5. The soup was ladled into bowls and served with some hard crusty bread.In our modern age, we have men who are very insecure. They think that by forgoing skills like cooking they are somehow becoming more of a MAN.<br/>This shortsighted view of what a man is leaves out the fact that cowboys and pioneers who were not yet married or on the range, did all their own cooking.<br/>They couldn’t swing by Hooters for dinner. These men, who were savage forces of nature, cooked, cleaned and did their own laundry. Can you imagine trying to check one of these 19th-century frontiersmen on their “manhood” for cooking?<br/>This perpetual stew is an example of how ingenuity was used to feed those who were hungry but too busy to sit around the fire and stir or flip a meal.</p>Do You Know Your Rights Under Martial Law?tag:12160.info,2019-09-27:2649739:BlogPost:19563622019-09-27T14:51:55.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Do You Know Your Rights Under Martial Law?</p>
<p><br></br>By James Walton<br></br>September 27, 2019 06:06</p>
<p><br></br>In 1861, following a riot and the destruction of the transportation system Abraham Lincoln enacted Martial Law in Maryland. 12 voters from the General Assembly were arrested and prevented from voting on secession. The scars of the civil war are so deep that many of them are hard to believe. Its very hard to understand the necessary evil that was required to keep the nation…</p>
<p>Do You Know Your Rights Under Martial Law?</p>
<p><br/>By James Walton<br/>September 27, 2019 06:06</p>
<p><br/>In 1861, following a riot and the destruction of the transportation system Abraham Lincoln enacted Martial Law in Maryland. 12 voters from the General Assembly were arrested and prevented from voting on secession. The scars of the civil war are so deep that many of them are hard to believe. Its very hard to understand the necessary evil that was required to keep the nation whole.<br/>We have seen glimpses of what Martial Law might look like in America. After the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina, the desperate people of Louisiana had to deal with the threats of looters and hand over their guns to armed police. Curfews were put in place and, in my opinion, it made a bad scene even worse.<br/>We are fast approaching the 2020 Election and there is a lot of talk about radical action leading up to and after the results of the election. If we see a new level of civil unrest and disobedience, flavored by extremist violence, will we see some form of Martial Law in our biggest cities?<br/>What Do You Lose Under Martial Law?<br/>It’s been said many times, many ways, Martial Law is the suspension of most of your rights under a regional military leaders’ rule.<br/>From the moment it was enacted in the civil war, all the way to 2005 Martial Law has been used sparingly in times of disaster and rebellion. It was part of the war of 1812, the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, the Dock Workers Strike of 1934 and even Hawaii was placed under Martial Law after Pearl Harbor.<br/>While these instances were swift, Americans will never come to grips with the idea of Martial Law. Even if it results in turning chaos into order. That is because the sheer loss of rights under this militaristic rule are many and are invasive.<br/>Worst of all, it’s a situation that has the potential for radical corruption and abuse of power.<br/>In Martial Law the suspension of many, or all, of your constitutional rights is possible.<br/>Gun confiscation is common and your right to bear arms is infringed<br/>Your right to free speech is also at risk<br/>Your free travel will be impeded or suspended<br/>You will have no protections against search and seizure<br/>Curfews are often instilled<br/>Related: 5 Things You Need to Do When There’ll Be No Rule of Law<br/>Do You Know Your Rights Under Martial Law? <br/>In 1863 Lincoln imposed the suspension of habeas corpus through a congressionally authorized martial law. However, that wasn’t the last word on the subject. Through checks and balances, the president’s proclamation was opposed, and the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.<br/>While this might sound like a victory for the people, this small battle was far from over. What happened next is a very important lesson on government overreach.<br/>The counsel for the US swayed the court and the man who brought the issue to bear, Lambden Milligan, was sentenced to be hanged. Milligan was tried by the military commission under the current Martial Law.<br/>Milligan was not going to go quietly into the night and petitioned the circuit court arguing his arrest and conviction were all unconstitutional. This put an end to military leadership being judge, jury and jailor in a Martial Law situation.<br/>While the average American loses more rights than they retain in Martial Law, this standout circumstance assured our constitutional right to our day in court. Of course, nothing is set in stone and you could still be arrested but likely not sentenced in Martial Law.<br/>Related: The 6 Golden Rules of Surviving Martial Law<br/>Martial Law is a Numbers Game<br/>Remember, Martial Law in the America is about regional tactics. It has been successfully implemented on regional levels in this nation to stop unrest and aid in recovery from disasters. In small areas the numbers are on the side of the imposing force.<br/>In these circles there is this idea that the whole of the nation will be subjugated to Martial Law. This makes for fear inducing YouTube videos and blog articles, but the reality is there aren’t enough soldiers, police, national guard members or even hired heads to conduct a nationwide Martial Law. Keep that in mind.<br/>There are 1.2 million people in the city of Philadelphia alone. Do you know what kind of presence it would take to place the entire city under Martial Law? That is not to mention surrounding suburban areas and counties. Some counties outside of Philly have as many as 500,000 people in them or more!<br/>Now consider the numbers if we added NYC, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Austin, LA and Phoenix. That is nearly 20 million people in those 7 cities alone. It’s a numbers problem. There is no force capable of inducing something like Martial Law on a National level.<br/>If it got to the point where foreign armies were being brought in by the government, then that is no longer Martial Law. I say to you, that is war by any definition.<br/>Two Bullet Proof Solutions for Dealing with Martial Law<br/>There are two great ways to avoid Martial Law. You cannot be sure that your region will not be affected by a disaster that could create calamity. However, there are some steps you can take to make it less likely.<br/>Small Cities and Towns<br/>In large scale disasters, small cities and towns will be last on the list when it comes to Martial Law. These areas will struggle with the same number issues we mentioned earlier. They do not have an unlimited number of resources to pull from.<br/>This means locals will likely take action to restore order, with the help of the police.<br/>Get Rural</p>
<p>If you wanna take it even further, get away from people altogether. If you live in a rural area where town is a bit of a drive, well, you will never see Martial Law. NEVER!<br/>There is no benefit in rolling the military into a stretch of road that is 5 miles long and has 4 neighbors on it. There is just no reason for it, and it will never happen. At most, you might get a knock on your door from the sheriff and he will be asking you for help in town.<br/>Conclusion<br/>Looking at the clock and worrying about curfew is not going to be fun for anyone. Hiding your guns, because you damn sure aren’t giving them up, is also not going to be a good time. However, that is what could be and what has been in Martial Law in the US.<br/>Understanding your position and the population density in your area will help you understand your risk.<br/>Maybe it’s time to make a change in terms of your living circumstances! If you are hell bent on avoiding Martial Law at all costs, it can be done. Remember, this is merely a numbers game and a population game.</p>10 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants Used by Cherokeestag:12160.info,2019-09-24:2649739:BlogPost:19548522019-09-24T19:07:16.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>10 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants Used by Cherokees</p>
<p><br></br>By Sarah Rodriguez<br></br>September 24, 2019 06:38</p>
<p><br></br>The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest Native American Tribes that settled in the southeastern part of America. The tribe was originally of Iroquoian descent, and lived in the Appalachian Mountains. Eventually they settled towards the east coast.<br></br>The Cherokees actually lived in log cabins and not teepees as always portrayed. The Spanish settlers brought over…</p>
<p>10 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants Used by Cherokees</p>
<p><br/>By Sarah Rodriguez<br/>September 24, 2019 06:38</p>
<p><br/>The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest Native American Tribes that settled in the southeastern part of America. The tribe was originally of Iroquoian descent, and lived in the Appalachian Mountains. Eventually they settled towards the east coast.<br/>The Cherokees actually lived in log cabins and not teepees as always portrayed. The Spanish settlers brought over diseases that the Cherokees were never exposed to and therefore had no immunity to these. In the 1800’s the Cherokees started to adopt some of the ways belonging to the settlers that moved to their lands. They started farming and even dressing like them.<br/>The Cherokees were a very religious and spiritual tribe. Their tribe was a strong one, and it consisted of smaller tribes that were each led by a chief. When gold was discovered, the tribes were forced to leave their homes and go live elsewhere. The forced relocation cost close to 4000 members their lives, during the thousands of miles they had to travel. This became known as The Trail Of Tears.<br/>The largest of the three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States lives today in Oklahoma. There are several thousand residents that reside in the communities there.<br/>When the Cherokees were free people and lived a simple life, they relied on plants to treat and cure many illnesses that affected them. They had medicine spiritual healers who knew which plant is best for each disease. Here we will list 10 of the most powerful medicinal plants used by them.<br/>Related: 11 Things Native Americans Carried With Them To Survive In The Wild<br/>#1. Mullein<br/>The Cherokees used Mullein all the time. The dried leaves were burned to relieve chest congestion and asthma symptoms. The roots were boiled and mashed for making a relief decoction for swollen limbs and joints.<br/>The flowers were used for making tea that worked as a mild sedative. Mullein leaves were also rubbed on the skin to treat rashes.<br/>Mullein prefers sunny well drained soil, and can be grown straight in your garden or in flower beds. The herb will be ready for use by the second year of growth. This is also a self sowing plant, so it will regrow itself for the next years to come.</p>
<p>#2. Feverwort<br/>This plant was used by the cherokees to treat fevers. They used the leaves and flowers to make tea.<br/>Feverwort is still a common plant nowadays. You can find it in stores as tea, or you can purchase dried leaves and flowers.<br/>#3. Arnica<br/>Arnica is a member of the sunflower family, and it was originally grown in Europe, Central Asia, and Siberia. Nowadays it can be grown in any sunny location with ease. The plant has yellow-orange daisy-like blooms that bloom in late spring to early summer months.<br/>Arnica is still widely used today. It is used as a salve, being a mild pain reliever for bruises, muscle aches, sprains and arthritis. The dried flowers and leaves are used for making lotions and creams.<br/>WARNING: Arnica can NEVER be ingested internally as it is fatal.<br/>Related: Top 8 Deadly Plants in the U.S. That You Need To Avoid<br/>#4. Blackberry<br/>Blackberry bushes can be found about anywhere along trails and roads. The wild blackberry bush is great for inflammation and joint pain. It is also great for treating an upset stomach. Make a strong tea from the roots and drink it. Boil the roots and add a bit of honey and drink it as a cough expectorant. Chew the leaves to help relieve a sore throat and bleeding gums.<br/>#5. Common Sumac<br/>Sumac is a super medicinal tree that can be found almost everywhere. By boiling the tree bark and straining the liquid, you will get a drink that helps with sore throats. The berries of the sumac are high in Vitamin C and make a great remedy for fevers. Sumac is also known to help relieve diarrhea.<br/>#6. Black Cohosh</p>
<p>Black Cohosh is found in hardwood forests and it can grow over six feet tall. It has large leaves that are irregularly toothed. The flowers are white and bloom from May to July.<br/>Black Cohosh was used to help women by inducing labor. It was also used to help with menstrual pain and cramping. A decoction made with Black Cohosh can be used for a range of ailments: rheumatism, backache, cough, insomnia.<br/>#7. Yarrow<br/>Yarrow is a great plant for its blood clotting ability. The fresh cut leaves will stop bleeding when applied to open wounds. The juice from yarrow mixed with spring water will help stop any internal bleeding.<br/>Tea made from leaves is a great help for digestion. Making a decoction from leaves and stems will help to clear up acne.<br/>Yarrow can be found in sunny locations about anywhere. You can find it growing along roads, in fields, waste zones, and even in your garden.<br/>#8. Ginseng<br/>American Ginseng is a widely popular plant and has been used for its medicinal purposes for years. This plant prefers shade and a rich moist soil to prevent it from drying out during the growing season.Wild ginseng is hard to come by as it has been harvested so extently.<br/>The Cherokees highly prized the ginseng and medicine healers kept some of the roots with them at all times. This was one of the plants that they took with them on the Trail Of Tears. The root was used for making tea, to treat headaches and cramps.<br/>It was also used to stimulate appetite in the elderly and as a treatment for those who had colds, flu, or infections. A poultice was made from the roots and applied to boils. They would also chew the roots and blow the material through a wooden tube onto the painful area.<br/>Related: 7 Medicines You Should Know How To Make At Home<br/>#9. Skullcap<br/>Skullcap is part of the mint family and thrives in the eastern parts of the United States in moist woodland environments. Cherokees used skullcap to start menstruation in girls entering womanhood. They also made a decoction from the plant to treat diarrhea, breast pain, and kidney problems.<br/>#10. Goldenseal</p>
<p>Cherokees used Goldenseal as a wash to treat sore eyes and skin diseases. It was also ground into powder and mixed with bear fat to be used as an insect repellent. The natural color was also used as a yellow dye.<br/>Goldenseal grows in the wild in wooded areas or on the hillsides with good drainage. It grows to about one foot tall and has an erect stem that is hairy and produces greenish-white flowers. The flowers bloom in early spring and then turn into red berries.<br/>The Cherokee tribe did not have access to pills and today’s medicine for treating illnesses. They only had the medicinal herbs. They knew how to gather and preserve the plants, and how to use them to treat and prevent illnesses. The Cherokee relied heavily on their spiritual beliefs and allowed Mother Earth to treat and heal them.<br/>Today, some of the plants are very hard to find as they were overused and some have completely disappeared. The Cherokee believed in taking only what you need. Therefore, they had a harvest rule of only picking or digging every third plant to keep enough specimen to regrow for later harvest.</p>How Much Ground Can You Cover Each Day Walking with Your BOB?tag:12160.info,2019-09-23:2649739:BlogPost:19542722019-09-23T16:03:56.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How Much Ground Can You Cover Each Day Walking with Your BOB?</p>
<p><br></br>By Fergus Mason<br></br>September 20, 2019 06:08</p>
<p><br></br>We all have our own ideas about how to find a safe refuge after the SHTF. Staying at home – “bugging in” – is a good option for a lot of people, but many of us live in places that just aren’t that safe. If we’re going to survive the aftermath of a catastrophe, we’re going to have to get to a bugout location, whether that’s a well-stocked bunker deep in the woods…</p>
<p>How Much Ground Can You Cover Each Day Walking with Your BOB?</p>
<p><br/>By Fergus Mason<br/>September 20, 2019 06:08</p>
<p><br/>We all have our own ideas about how to find a safe refuge after the SHTF. Staying at home – “bugging in” – is a good option for a lot of people, but many of us live in places that just aren’t that safe. If we’re going to survive the aftermath of a catastrophe, we’re going to have to get to a bugout location, whether that’s a well-stocked bunker deep in the woods or a greenfield site, where we can live off the land for a while until the situation has improved. The question is, how are we going to get there?<br/>Bugout plans are one of the most critical things if we’re going to survive a crisis. They can’t be left to chance; if you decide to just wing it and see what things are like on the day, you could be putting yourself in a lot of danger. It’s vital to know in advance how you’re going to get to your BOL safely and with all the gear you need.<br/>If your BOL doesn’t already have a stockpile of supplies the chances are you’re going to need a vehicle to get yourself and all the essentials there. On the other hand if you’ve already stocked it with food, fuel and tools, you can make the trip there with a much lighter load. Your bugout bag should hold everything you need to get you to your refuge, and that opens up a lot more travel options. One of those is to make the trip on foot.<br/>There are a lot of attractions to bugging out on foot. Maybe the biggest is that it’s reliable. It doesn’t matter if there’s an EMP powerful enough to immobilize all but the most hardened vehicles. Doesn’t matter if refugees, military checkpoints, flood waters or volcanic ash have closed all the roads. If you’re traveling on foot you can just keep going, adjusting your route as necessary.<br/>Of course there’s a down side too, which is that traveling on foot is slow. Your trip to your BOL is probably going to be measured in days, not hours – and just to make it worse, a lot of us underestimate how many days it’s going to take.<br/>That isn’t just inconvenient, either; it could be dangerous. If you’re far wrong about how long it’s going to take, you might not pack enough food and water for the trip – and that could kill you.<br/>How Fast Can You Travel?<br/>A proper bug-out bag isn’t lightweight. You’re looking at overnight kit like a sleeping bag and some kind of shelter, bad weather clothing, food, water, first aid kit, weapons and ammunition, plus whatever other items you didn’t already take to your BOL. You’ll be doing well to keep your load much below a third of your body weight, which is about as heavy a load as you can carry any distance, unless you’re at absolute peak fitness. Even keeping the load down to below a third of body weight, you’re not going to be moving at a normal walking pace. Most people can walk as close to four miles an hour without a load on flat pavement, but on the way to your BOL you won’t have it so easy. A lot of the time you’ll want to avoid roads – that’s where the refugees and checkpoints will be – and you’ll have to travel cross country.<br/>With a heavy pack on your back, even level grassy ground – a well grazed pasture, for example – will be slower going than a road. Rough grassland is much worse, because you need to take care not to twist your ankles on the uneven ground. Woods? Even slower. Marsh? Very slow. Stony hillsides? Slooow.<br/>Getting an Estimate<br/>A lot of people have wildly optimistic ideas of how far they can walk in a day. Some think they can reliably cover 30 miles; a few think 40 is achievable. Unless they’re very, very fit, they’re all wrong.<br/>The best way to work out the maximum distance you can cover in a day, along your planned route to your BOL, is by using Naismith’s Rule. William Wilson Naismith was a 19th century Scottish mountaineer, so he knew a thing or two about carrying a pack over rough ground, and his 1892 time and distance calculation is still useful today.<br/>Related: 11 Smart Tips to Make Your Bug-Out Bag Lighter and Smaller<br/>Naismith’s Rule assumes you’re reasonably fit and not facing extreme weather, terrain or obstacles. If all that applies, you end up with these two estimates on time and distance:<br/>Every three miles of horizontal distance you cover will take you one hour.<br/>Every 2,000 feet you ascend will take you one hour.<br/>These are cumulative times, so if you cover six miles horizontally and go over two 1,000-foot hills on the way, it will take you three hours.<br/>This rule is useful for choosing routes – you can roughly calculate whether it’s going to be quicker to go round high ground or over it, for example. Don’t forget the assumptions at the start, though. If you’re less fit, or facing extreme conditions, you’ll be slower.<br/>Walking through deep snow can slow you down dramatically, but even wind and rain will take some of your speed off. Walking on loose scree is a lot slower and more dangerous than crossing firm ground. If you’re on farmland with a lot of barbed wire fences and drainage ditches, or trying to get through thick woods, obstacles will constantly delay you.<br/>Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can get up at dawn and walk until sunset. You’re going to need breaks – three meals a day, plus rest breaks of five to ten minutes in every hour. You have to set aside time to find a campsite each night, as well as to look after your feet, boots and gear. Even in summer it’s unlikely you’ll fit in more than eight hours of walking a day.<br/>Going by Naismith’s Rule, if your route isn’t too hilly the maximum you can cover in a day is going to be around 24 miles – but that’s in ideal conditions. Realistically you can cut a third off that, bringing you down to about 16 miles. If the weather is extreme or the ground is particularly bad you might have to cut even that in half. If there’s 18 inches of snow on the ground, or you’re picking your way through a giant marsh, eight miles a day is going to seem like a long way.<br/>Don’t forget to allow for rest days as well. If your BOL is a long way from home and it’s going to take a week or more to get there, your body will really appreciate a day of rest every five or six days. That will give you time to recover physically, do more maintenance on your gear and maybe adjust your route based on what you’ve seen along the way so far.<br/>If you need to cover a hundred miles to get to your BOL, it’s probably going to take you at least a week. Depressed? Don’t be. It’s a lot better to know that now, when you can prepare for it. Just think how much worse you’d feel after three days on the trail, not even half way to the refuge you’d expect to be in by now.</p>How to build your Emergency Bindertag:12160.info,2019-09-23:2649739:BlogPost:19541042019-09-23T16:01:06.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How to build your Emergency Binder- Step 1<br></br>2 Comments / Emergency Binder, Emergency Prepardness / By Charisse</p>
<p>Oh! In case you missed out last week…be sure to<br></br>Sign up and download your FREE Emergency Binder Printable to prepare for lifes greatest emergencies<br></br>How to build your Emergency Binder<br></br>1. Gather your materials<br></br>The first step is to find a binder. 3 Ring binders work the best. You may choose a bright red color so you know which one it is, or your might choose a…</p>
<p>How to build your Emergency Binder- Step 1<br/>2 Comments / Emergency Binder, Emergency Prepardness / By Charisse</p>
<p>Oh! In case you missed out last week…be sure to<br/>Sign up and download your FREE Emergency Binder Printable to prepare for lifes greatest emergencies<br/>How to build your Emergency Binder<br/>1. Gather your materials<br/>The first step is to find a binder. 3 Ring binders work the best. You may choose a bright red color so you know which one it is, or your might choose a plain colored one to blend in with others. Either way, grab a binder.<br/>Find some sheet protectors, or order some from Amazon… They have a large variety and I love prime shipping in 2 days!<br/>Find or buy an electronic storage device (This SanDisk Ultra 32GB micro is what we bought from Amazon… It would allow us to input that card into our phone to look at information). The size you want will vary on how many personal property pictures, tax returns, credit reports, etc you may have.<br/>Print off the emergency binder printable<br/>2. Print off checklist (page 3) and start making a “need to copy” list</p>
<p>Print off the checklist of all the documents you’ll need.<br/>Cross off the ones you have, and don’t need copies of.<br/>Put a * by the ones you’ll need to make copies of.<br/>Put a X by the ones you’ll need to spend time digging around finding<br/>Last but not least, put a D by the ones you’ll just keep a “digital” file of<br/>Start placing the “need to copy” materiel in a pile. And place the other items you already have by your binder. We’ll get to organizing it later.<br/>3. Email Friends and family template<br/>You’ll want a list of close family and friends phone numbers and addresses to keep contact. For those of you you don’t have their address, copy and paste the text below helping them understand what you need and why.<br/>Hey! I’m trying to get prepared and I am working on creating our Family Emergency Binder. I want to have a list of all of my closest relatives and friends best phone numbers and addresses. Will you give me those below? <br/>Best Phone Number:<br/>Address:<br/>Thanks!<br/>-Name<br/>P.S. If you are interested in making your own binder, HERE is where I got my free printable. <br/>People you may want to include are:<br/>Close Family (both in and out of state)<br/>Friends and neighbors (those you’ll want to keep tabs of)<br/>Also, you’ll want to include those names who are in your will<br/>Be sure to keep these handy, or write them down in the “Family Contact” page of your emergency binder.</p>
<p>4. Plan an hour to “find stuff”<br/>BE sure to set aside time THIS WEEK to find the items on your “need to find” list and put them with your binder. This may take more than an hour. If you don’t have that, spend 15-20 min each day working on it. Schedule this on your calendar, planner, and put it on your to-do list.<br/>5. Plan a date for making copies<br/>If you do not own a copier/scanner or printer at home, find a date, place and time for you to go make copies. Plan on making the copies in 2 weeks. You will NEED to make these copies to finish your binder, and it will be the second hardest step for those of you who are not able to do this from home. Be sure to set the time aside so you can complete your emergency binder.<br/>In Conclusion…<br/>This first step to build your emergency binder is the hardest step! But once you get the ball rolling, it will come together. Don’t let this step stump you. By the end of January, you’ll have your emergency binder ready! It’ll be handy come tax season, and in the Fall with school starting. Make sure you are subscribed to my email list to get next weeks post delivered to your inbox (that way if you fall behind, you can save it there to remind you to finish!)<br/>P.S.<br/>I KNOW this is overwhelming! I have been there… we lost our complete back up 6 months ago, and it was so overwhelming to start over (which is why I made my own free printable).<br/>Take it one step at a time. One step a day, or one step a week, it doesn’t matter. Just start. Today.<br/>The Organization and Initial is the hardest part… don’t get stumped on this! Comment below on any questions you may have.</p>How Long Are Vegetable Seeds Good For | Chart & Storage Guidetag:12160.info,2019-09-23:2649739:BlogPost:19542162019-09-23T15:58:31.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How Long Are Vegetable Seeds Good For | Chart & Storage Guide</p>
<p>Despite looking brittle and dry, vegetable seeds may, in fact, be very much alive and carrying the embryo of what will in the future grow to be a full-sized plant. <br></br>Many vegetable seeds have the ability to stay viable for years. However, some, including onions seeds, deteriorate in less than a year<br></br>On the opposite end, tomato seeds can sprout even after 10-15 years. <br></br>Believe it or not, we sprouted some…</p>
<p>How Long Are Vegetable Seeds Good For | Chart & Storage Guide</p>
<p>Despite looking brittle and dry, vegetable seeds may, in fact, be very much alive and carrying the embryo of what will in the future grow to be a full-sized plant. <br/>Many vegetable seeds have the ability to stay viable for years. However, some, including onions seeds, deteriorate in less than a year<br/>On the opposite end, tomato seeds can sprout even after 10-15 years. <br/>Believe it or not, we sprouted some 8-year seeds ourselves.<br/>Essentially, the longevity of vegetable seeds depends on the type of seed as well as the method of storage.</p>
<p>Essentially, the longevity of vegetable seeds depends on the type of seed as well as the method of storage.<br/>Click To Tweet</p>
<p>Given that deciding a seed’s viability using only an eye test is often misleading, methods and steps for testing for germination will also be discussed here, along with recommendations for keeping seeds viable for longer.<br/>We will stick with the very basic methods of seed storage.<br/>Check out this publication here for more detailed charts of germination rates</p>
<p><br/>Chart of How Long Do Vegetable Seeds Last<br/>You can download or print this out here.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Vegetable<br/>Years Viable (in cool dry conditions)<br/>Greenthumb Gardener Notes<br/>Asparagus<br/>3-5<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Beans<br/>3<br/>50% germination for 3 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 80% viable<br/>Beets<br/>4-6<br/>50% germination for 6 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Broccoli<br/>3-5<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Brussels Sprouts<br/>4<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Cabbage<br/>4<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Carrots<br/>3<br/>Germination rates fall off steeply after 3 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 55% viable<br/>Cauliflower<br/>4<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Celery<br/>3-8<br/>50% germination for 8 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 55% viable<br/>Chives<br/>1-2<br/>50% germination for 2 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 70% viable<br/>Corn<br/>3<br/>50% germination for 3 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Cucumber<br/>5-10<br/>Commercial seeds must be at least 80% viable<br/>Dill<br/>4-5<br/>50% germination for 5 years.<br/>Eggplant<br/>5-7<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 60% viable<br/>Kohlrabi<br/>3<br/>Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Leek<br/>3-6<br/>50% germination for 3 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 60% viable<br/>Lettuce<br/>5<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Onion<br/>1-2<br/>50% germination for 2 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 70% viable<br/>Parsley<br/>1-3<br/>50% germination for 3 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 60% viable<br/>Parsnips<br/>1-3<br/>50% germination for 2 years.<br/>Peas<br/>3<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 80% viable<br/>Pumpkin<br/>4-6<br/>50% germination for 6 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Radish<br/>5<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Spinach<br/>3<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 65% viable<br/>Squash<br/>4-6<br/>50% germination for 6 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Tomatoes<br/>4-10<br/>Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Turnip<br/>4-5<br/>50% germination for 5 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable<br/>Zucchini<br/>4-6<br/>50% germination for 6 years. Commercial seeds must be at least 75% viable</p>
<p><br/>Methods of Storage<br/>The first method for storing seeds is drying. If the seeds are being gathered and saved from one’s own plants, it’s best to spread the seeds on a newspaper and allow them to airdry for the space of a week. <br/>As an additional precaution, it’s advised to write the seed names on the newspaper to avoid mix-up.</p>
<p>After they are dried, the seeds can be packed into small envelopes or paper packets that are labeled with the plant name and other relevant details. <br/>Something to remember is that saving one’s own seeds, it’s best to plant open-pollinated varieties.</p>
<p>Something to remember is that saving one's own seeds, it's best to plant open-pollinated varieties.<br/>Click To Tweet</p>
<p>Those will come back true while hybrids will not.<br/>We love this case and use it for our seed storage. It is a photo case, but has separate containers for storage. It helps to keep organized for our commonly planted vegetable seeds.<br/>We keep this in our basement out of the light and have not had any issues with our seeds.</p>
<p>PrimeEligible <br/>Novelinks Photo Case 4″ x 6″ Photo Box Storage – 16 Inner Photo Keeper Photo Organizer Cases Photos Storage Containers Box for Photos (Clear)<br/>3. Includes 16 of the 4 x 6 photo cases, each case holds 100 photos, holds up to 1600 4 x 6 photos, convenience to use and take with.<br/>4. Exterior Box Dimensions: 12.0 x 14.8 x 5.1 inches. Photo Case Dimensions: 4.75 x 6.70 x 1.23 inches.<br/>View Ratings and Reviews</p>
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<p><br/>Prices/Images/Reviews pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 9/23/2019 10:57 AM</p>
<p>Stashing Them Somewhere Airtight<br/>When finished with packing the seeds, placing the packets inside food storage bags, particularly plastic ones, is a good call. <br/>Other options include glass canisters that have tight-fitting lids and mason jars that have tight-fitting lids.<br/>Keeping the seeds moisture free is a top priority. <br/>That can be achieved by wrapping two or, at most, two and a half tablespoons of powdered milk in about three and a half layers of facial tissue, then placing the milk packet inside a storage container that has the seed packets. <br/>On top of that, one can also add silica gel. This is meant to be replaced every six months.<br/>Putting Containers in a Dry and Cool Place<br/>Too much humidity can significantly decrease a seed’s shelf-life, making the refrigerator the best place to store them. However, it’s wise to keep them away from the freezer.<br/>Storing seeds from the same year together is generally a good practice, as well as dating them. Given that most seeds stay viable for at least three years, it’s easy to know at a glance if a container has planting potential.<br/>When it comes time to plant, an advisable thing to do is to remove containers from the refrigerator and to keep them shut until the seeds have warmed to room temperature. <br/>Without doing this, air moisture may condense on the seeds, resulting in them being clumped together.<br/>Despite how methodical, organized and careful one may be about storing their seeds, the fact is that some simply won’t germinate. <br/>Two plants that home gardeners will find to have low germination rates are sweet corn and parsnip. Other seeds may only remain viable for one or two years.</p>
<p>Testing Seeds For Germination<br/>Testing seeds for germination is neither very difficult nor a complicated process. <br/>It requires a few materials and following a few steps as accurately as possible to get the best results. <br/>The materials that are needed are:<br/>10 seeds of each type that is being tested<br/>One or multiple zip-seal plastic baggies<br/>Paper towels (one for each kind of seeds being tested)<br/>Permanent marker for marking the seeds<br/>Labels that are cut from a plastic shopping bag. The last list item is only necessary when conducting multiple tests.<br/>With all those materials in place, the first step is to dampen the paper towel. After dampening, it can be placed on the counter. <br/>A good size that easily fits in a quart bag is regular size towel folded in two.<br/>The second step is to place the seeds on the paper towel. It’s crucial not to mix seed types. <br/>For example, if zinnias and tomatoes are being tested, the recommendable thing to do is to put tomatoes in one paper towel and zinnias in the other.<br/>The third step consists of sealing the seeds in a plastic bag. <br/>To do this, one may roll the seeds up as they are inside the paper towel while pressing softly to ensure that the seeds and the damp paper are in contact. <br/>The following stage is to put the paper towel, with the seeds still inside, inside a plastic baggie before sealing it up. <br/>Testing multiple types of seeds per bag means there will be a need to write down the seed type on a plastic label, preferably with a permanent marker, and then attach the label to the paper towel. <br/>Alternatively, testing multiple seeds in different baggies requires labeling the seed type on the outside.<br/>The fifth and most patience-demanding stage is waiting for seeds to germinate. <br/>This involves placing sealed bags of seed packets somewhere warm and waiting to see whether or not they sprout.<br/>Afterward, one may check the seeds every few days to see if they are germinating by tenderly unrolling the damp paper towel. <br/>If they are still yet to sprout, they should be rolled back up and returned to the bag.</p>
<p>Results of The Germination Test<br/>When the seeds have germinated, the results of the germination test can be calculated. It’s handy information to keep for the current round of planting and for future reference. <br/>The way to do this is to count the number of seeds that have sprouted. Following this, one can multiply that number by 10. <br/>For example, if 8 out of 10 seeds sprout, that’s a viability rate of 80%.<br/>If the germinate rate is under 50%, it’s generally advisable to dispose of the seeds or plant more than the ones that are needed. <br/>If the test is conducted at planting time, it’s recommendable to plant the seeds that are able to sprout in potting soil or to dispose of them and plant fresh ones from one’s original batch.<br/>More info<br/>Saving Seeds is a necessary skill as a gardener & survivalist. It allows you to save some money while also building up your seed supply.<br/>It is so easy to do, that everyone should at least practice it each year. Check out our seed saving fundamental guide here for some more tips & techniques on seed saving.<br/>There are so many details on saving seeds that you can find in one of our absolute books that we have used throughout the years and where much of this information came from.</p>50 High Value Items To Stockpile For When SHTFtag:12160.info,2019-09-23:2649739:BlogPost:19542092019-09-23T15:54:04.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>50 High Value Items To Stockpile For When SHTF</p>
<p><br></br>By Rich M.<br></br>September 23, 2019 07:44</p>
<p><br></br>Stockpiling necessary supplies is at the very core of prepping. Most of us start out by trying to build a stockpile of food to see us through an emergency and will probably still be stockpiling food when the SHTF. But stockpiling food isn’t all there is to be ready for a disaster. There are many other things we need and use on a day-to-day basis.<br></br>Stockpiling food, without…</p>
<p>50 High Value Items To Stockpile For When SHTF</p>
<p><br/>By Rich M.<br/>September 23, 2019 07:44</p>
<p><br/>Stockpiling necessary supplies is at the very core of prepping. Most of us start out by trying to build a stockpile of food to see us through an emergency and will probably still be stockpiling food when the SHTF. But stockpiling food isn’t all there is to be ready for a disaster. There are many other things we need and use on a day-to-day basis.<br/>Stockpiling food, without bothering to stockpile these other necessary items might not guarantee our death, but it will sure make our lives more uncomfortable. Too much of that discomfort could lead to death; perhaps not directly, but by permitting weakness and disease to bring us to an end.<br/>There are literally hundreds of things that we could use in a post-disaster world; more than can fit in this list. But the items I’ve listed below are probably the most important things to include in your stockpile, either for your own personal use or to use as barter goods.<br/>Disposable Butane Lighters – Fire is one of the things we use the most in a survival situation. Even though it is not considered one of the top three survival needs, it is useful for all three of them. It’s much easier for people who aren’t skilled at starting fires to start them with a disposable lighter than to try and do it any other way.<br/>Waterproof Matches – The waterproof match is the standard fire starter for use in a survival situation. While many people have switched over to butane lighters, matches are still useful. Be sure to get the strike anywhere kind.<br/>Fire Accelerants – Commonly referred to as “fire starters,” chemical fire accelerants or tinders work to get the fire from your matches or lighter into the larger kindling, so that your fire can keep burning. Make sure you have a good stock, as this is essential with damp wood.<br/>Water Filters – Water purification is essential to survival, as water that has microscopic pathogens can spread disease and even kill us.<br/>If you use a filter for purifying water, be sure to have plenty of them.<br/>Firewood – Many preppers are planning on heating their homes and cook with a wood fire in a post-disaster world; but few have enough firewood to do that. It takes four to six cords of firewood to heat a home through the winter.<br/>Salt – Salt is not only essential for survival, it’s nature’s number one food preservative. Yet it can be extremely hard to come by. if you’re going to preserve food in a post-disaster world, you’d a better plan on having plenty of salt on hand.<br/>Canning Jar Lids – I’m assuming you have canning jars; but how many lids do you have? They’re not considered reusable, so you’d better have plenty.</p>
<p>Batteries – Ok, batteries aren’t really a survival necessity; but we’ve got lots of things we use every day, which are battery operated.<br/>Stocking batteries, especially AA and AAA sizes, will make your life in a post-disaster world much better.<br/>Toilet Paper – If you want to see something that people will kill for in a post-disaster world, I think this is it… especially women. Do you have any idea how much TP your family goes through?<br/>Personal Hygiene Supplies – While we’re talking about TP, we don’t want to forget things like soap, toothpaste, and shampoo. Cleanliness in a post-disaster world is important as a means to help combat the spread of disease.<br/>Plastic Bags – Nobody is going to be making plastic, let alone plastic bags in a post-disaster world. Yet they are something we use all the time. If you are planning on using a bucket toilet, you’re going to need a lot of bags just for that. But you’re going to need them for a lot of other things too.<br/>Ammunition – This is probably one you’ve already thought of, but it’s so important, it bears mentioning. Make sure you’ve got enough for all the calibers you use, as well as the most common calibers out there.<br/>Related: Ammo Storage Tips Every Prepper Should Know<br/>Alcohol – Probably the best barter item there is.<br/>Tobacco –The second-best barter item there is.<br/>Antibiotics – If you want to keep your family healthy, I’d recommend putting in a good stock of the most common antibiotics. You can buy these over the counter in Mexico, without a prescription. Make sure you print out information on dosages and to tell you which antibiotics are the best to use in different situations.<br/>Over the Counter Medicines – Self-diagnosis and treatment is dangerous; but sometimes it’s all we have available to us. Having a good assortment of over the counter medicines will make it possible to treat at least the symptoms of common ailments.<br/>Prescription Medicines – If you have family members that need maintenance doses of prescription medicines for chronic conditions, you need to have a stock of those on hand for them. If you can’t get that stock, then look for natural alternatives which will keep them going.<br/>First-aid Supplies – If you ever want to see an environment ripe for injuries, just look at any place that has been hit by a disaster. You and your family will be doing things you normally wouldn’t do, many of which can lead to serious injuries. Be prepared for more than scraped knees and cut fingers; be prepared for treating major injuries.<br/>Related: DIY Dollar Store First Aid Kit<br/>Seed – If the situation continues, you’re going to have to start producing your own food. That means growing a vegetable garden, amongst other things. Have lots of seed on hand, so that you can plant a big garden.<br/>Gardening Chemicals and Fertilizer – There are a number of common chemicals used for gardening, as well as common fertilizers. You’ll need all of that if you’re hoping to get a bountiful harvest.<br/>Fishing Gear – Fishing is probably the easiest way of harvesting food from nature. There’s just one problem with it, I have yet to meet a fisherman who doesn’t lose hooks, lures and other gear on a regular basis. So that means you’d better have plenty, so that you can keep on fishing, even after losing your favorites.<br/>Fuel – Ok, this one is a bit tricky, as gasoline doesn’t store easily. It tends to lose its potency pretty quickly. But then, even less potent gasoline is better than no gasoline. And there are additives you can get, which will help that gasoline to last longer.<br/>Repair Parts – If you’ve got gear that you are going to use to survive, you had better have some way of repairing it. That includes parts for just about anything you are planning on using as part of your survival. For example: If you’ve got some of those old Coleman lamps, which can burn gasoline, you should have rebuilt kits for the air pump.</p>
<p>Hand Tools – We are so used to using power tools for just about everything, that many people don’t have hand tools anymore. Do you have a crosscut saw? How about a hand-crank drill? You’re going to need them, if you can’t connect your power tools.<br/>Honing Stones – To keep knives and other sharp tools sharp.<br/>Rope – Always useful. We tend to stock paracord, which is excellent; but you might want some heavier rope as well.<br/>Sewing Supplies – There probably won’t be any shortage of clothing lying around in a post-disaster world, but there will be of sewing supplies. You’re going to need to be able to fix clothing, as well as taking it in as you lose weight.<br/>Sturdy Shoes – Good shoes are important, and by good I mean something that is rugged and will hold up, giving your ankles support. Most of the shoes we wear today won’t do that; they’re more decorative than anything else.<br/>Rugged Clothing – Rugged jeans, flannel shirts and other work clothing are going to be useful as well. The stuff you wear to the office just isn’t going to make it when you’re chopping wood.<br/>Work Gloves – This is one thing you don’t want to try sewing yourself. Nor do you want cheap work gloves to try and do hard work in. Get several pair for each member of the family, especially those who do the hard physical work of survival.<br/>Vitamins – Your diet probably won’t be well-balanced in a post-disaster world. It will be mostly carbohydrates and fats, with a little bit of protein thrown in. The micronutrients that nutritionists tell us we need will be notoriously absent. Good vitamins can help overcome this problem, helping you to remain healthy.<br/>Reading Glasses – Even if you don’t wear glasses now, that doesn’t mean you never will. Keeping a variety of reading glasses around, in different magnifications, may help you to be able to do things as you age, that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.<br/>Antibacterial Hand Cleaner – This is a good one to help prevent the spread of disease. Clean hands aren’t going to contaminate food or contaminate other people.<br/>Spices – One of the best ways of getting the most out of the food that you do have available to you is to change its flavor. This can be especially good when you have children, who can be notoriously difficult when it comes to unfamiliar foods. Disguising what it is and making it taste similar to something they like is one of your best ways of dealing with this.<br/>Bullion (also known as soup stock) – Anything can be turned into a soup or a casserole, if you have soup stock to go with it. Generally speaking, having beef and chicken flavors is enough, as they go with everything else.<br/>Flashlights – There’s no such thing as enough flashlights. They don’t last forever and you really can’t fix them.<br/>Leather and Leather Stitching Supplies – Our ancestors used leather for a wide variety of things, like making shoes and harnesses. We’ll need it for making a variety of repairs, like resoling shoes.<br/>Lime – This is one of those things that people forget about. Lime is used in outhouses to help keep the odors down, as well as reducing the population of insects.<br/>Wicking – If you’re going to make candles, you’re going to need wicks for them. While just about any cotton string can be used for that, a cotton string isn’t all that common anymore. A few yards of wicking doesn’t cost all that much and it will allow you to make your own candles.<br/>Candles – Speaking of that wicking, it would be a good idea to have a bunch of candles, already made, on hand.<br/>I prefer making mine in spaghetti sauce jars and using multiple wicks.<br/>That produces more light, so I can work by candlelight if necessary.<br/>Oil-burning Lamps – A good oil-burning lamp will work off of just about any flammable liquid, providing you with light. The best is oil, of any sort; but if you have something else, they’ll burn that too. Just try it outside first, to make sure it’s not going to blow up the lamp.<br/>Insect Repellant – Nobody likes becoming the mosquito’s dinner. Yet there are more of them in the world than there are of us. Good idea to be ready to deal with them and keep them off your body.<br/>Pest Control – Speaking of dealing with insects, it’s a good idea to be able to kill them too, as well as trapping mice and other pests. Don’t skimp, as you won’t be able to run back to the local store for more.<br/>Cleaning Supplies – Yeah, who thinks about stockpiling cleaning supplies? But if you want to keep the cockroaches and ants out of your home, you’re going to want to have the necessary cleaning supplies to keep your home clean. This is important for fighting disease as well.<br/>Aluminum Foil – We talk about using aluminum foil for cooking in a survival situation and most people include it in their survival kit. But how many of us have extra aluminum foil back home, to use for cooking food in the wake of a disaster?</p>
<p>Charcoal or Propane – Whatever fuel your barbecue grille runs on, be sure to have plenty on hand.<br/>That grille is going to be your first alternate stove.<br/>You may move to a fire pit later; but in the first month of surviving in the post-disaster world, that grille is it.<br/>Related: Medicinal Uses for Activated Charcoal<br/>Cast-iron Pots – Okay, this really isn’t a supply; it’s more like gear. But if you’re going to cook on your barbecue grille, it would be a good idea to have cast-iron cookware on hand. That grille is going to be a bit rough on your Teflon cookware.<br/>Wind-up Mechanical Clock – Maybe you won’t care about what time it is in a post-disaster world and maybe you will. Either way, it might be a good idea to have a clock that you can count on running when there aren’t any batteries to run it.<br/>Chlorine Bleach – Not only is bleach good for cleaning, it’s the easiest means of purifying water. Just add 8 drops of standard (non-scented, non-color safe) bleach to a gallon of water, stir it and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. That will kill all the microscopic pathogens, making it safe to drink.<br/>Hard Candy – Everyone likes something sweet; but unless you’re keeping bees, that’s going to be pretty scarce in a post-disaster world. Hard candies will keep for a long time, can be eaten slowly, extending the enjoyment and can also be used to soothe a sore throat.<br/>So, there you have it; my “top 50” list. However, much you think you need, try to stockpile more; lots more. If you don’t use it yourself, you can use it as barter goods, getting things that you need.</p>How to Harvest Your Own Seeds from Garden Plantstag:12160.info,2019-09-19:2649739:BlogPost:19521962019-09-19T15:13:53.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How to Harvest Your Own Seeds from Garden Plants</p>
<p><br></br>By Diane<br></br>September 19, 2019 08:06</p>
<p><br></br>It is easy to save seeds from one year to the next if you know what you are doing. Every plant is different and some seeds require specific strategies for harvesting and saving, but these general rules work for most plants if you know the planting conditions for your seeds.<br></br>I indicate the planting instructions on the jar when I save the seeds. This refreshes my old memory and…</p>
<p>How to Harvest Your Own Seeds from Garden Plants</p>
<p><br/>By Diane<br/>September 19, 2019 08:06</p>
<p><br/>It is easy to save seeds from one year to the next if you know what you are doing. Every plant is different and some seeds require specific strategies for harvesting and saving, but these general rules work for most plants if you know the planting conditions for your seeds.<br/>I indicate the planting instructions on the jar when I save the seeds. This refreshes my old memory and ensures that inexperienced gardeners can use the seeds if I’m not around. This is a good practice for all your saved seeds.<br/>Heirloom Seeds<br/>You’ll hear this repeated often, but it is not a hard rule. Heirloom seeds produce a plant that is true to the parent with the same characteristics as the parent. Hybrid seeds give you characteristics from prior generations that may not be the ones you are trying to produce.For example, hybrid seeds can produce plants that are a mix of the parents or possibly plants that have the worst characteristics of the parents or even grandparents. They may be poor producers, have poor flavor, produce small fruit, etc. I always prefer heirloom seeds; but, if hybrids are all you have, you can grow them. Just be sure to save a lot of seed so you can prune out the poor plants.<br/>Related: Heirloom Seeds Vs. Hybrid Vs. GMO<br/>Choose Your Seeds</p>
<p>Gather the seeds from your best-producing plants, the ones you are most proud of. Hopefully, the seeds will produce an equally good plant the next year. Seeds from mediocre or poor producers will give you poor results. Always choose the best.<br/>Harvest seeds from ripe fruits and vegetables. This one should be obvious to everyone but often is not. The fruits and vegetables you buy at the store are usually picked immature and will not produce mature seeds. For best results, let the seeds mature on the plant before harvesting. In most cases, this means leaving the vegetable or fruit on the plant longer than you usually would. Cucumbers turn yellow when mature, fruits become soft.<br/>I have a friend who plants the seeds from everything she eats, including immature seeds. She has good results in growing plants this way, but not all the seeds germinate. She succeeds because she plants many seeds and some will germinate. In a survival situation, I would follow this strategy, if these were the only seeds I had.<br/>Fermenting Seeds<br/>Cucumbers, melons, and tomatoes have a slippery coating that is easily removed by fermenting the seeds. The seeds will grow without this step, but it makes it easier to clean the seeds and store them. If you are processing seeds from one tomato, you may get away with doing it in the kitchen, but fermentation is smelly so I usually put them in a warm, out of the way spot. Here is the process:<br/>#1. Scoop out the seeds into a glass, jar, cup, or deli container. Add enough water to cover them and put the container in a warm spot. Avoid direct sunlight, but some light is ok.<br/>#2. Stir the seeds daily. Initially, the seeds will float. As they drop to the bottom, they are ready. Rinse away the liquid and vegetable matter and spread the clean seeds on a screen or paper to dry. It will take from two days to a week, depending on the seeds.<br/>#3. Dry the seeds on the countertop, or other warm spots, until completely dry. This can take two or more weeks. If the seeds are put away moist, they will mold in storage.<br/>#4. Follow the directions for storing seeds below.<br/>Related: 18 Plants That Should Always Be Planted Together<br/>Stratification and Soaking Seeds Before Planting<br/>Some seeds require a period of cold weather in order to germinate. If you live in an area with ideal conditions, you can plant these seeds in a pot or in the ground in the fall or winter and they will be ready to germinate in the spring. You can also stratify them in the refrigerator or freezer before planting.Stratification is usually needed for hard seeds like grape seeds and stone fruits. Some may need alternating periods of freezing and thawing. Other seeds need to be soaked before planting. It is a good idea to know the growing conditions for the plant when you save the seeds so that you can be successful with it the next year.<br/>Drying Seeds<br/>Most seeds only need to be dried thoroughly before saving them for the next year. Remove the seeds from ripe fruits and vegetables and remove any attached pulp. Some seeds, such as peas or beans, should be allowed to begin drying on the plant. Pick them dry, as they begin to burst open and lose the seeds.Spread the seeds out on a screen or on paper to dry. Allow plenty of airflow around the seeds and dry them until they are completely dry. Allow one to three weeks, depending on the size and type of seed.<br/>Storing the Seeds<br/>There has been much controversy about storing seeds, especially for long term storage. Most gardeners agree that seeds should be stored dry, with a desiccant, if possible. Moist conditions can cause mold and spoilage. However, I don’t recommend using an oxygen absorber in the jar. Seeds are living and need oxygen.<br/>Store the seeds in a labeled, air-tight container. Some gardeners place the seeds in labeled envelopes and this works well for storing for one or two years. I prefer to place my seeds in air-tight containers with a desiccant for longer storage. The seeds will keep longer, but the germination rate will drop with each passing year.<br/>Seeds need a cool, dry place. Many gardeners save them in the refrigerator, but I find it to be too moist for my needs. A dry spot in a cool basement or cellar is ideal. Keep them out of the freezer unless you are instructed to freeze for stratification purposes. Most seeds will not survive to freeze.<br/>Related: DIY Seed Tapes With Toilet Paper<br/>Saving Corn for Seeds<br/>Like other vegetables, corn needs to be grown to maturity for the seeds to produce. Allow the ears to remain on the plant beyond the normal harvesting time.The corn will mature and begin to wrinkle as it dries. You can pick it partially dry and complete the drying indoors, if necessary, but allow it to stay on the plant as long as possible. Because corn is wind-pollinated, I choose ears that are grown away from other varieties, as much as possible.<br/>Planting Peaches, Cherries, Nectarines, and Other Stone Fruits<br/>The pits of stone fruits can also be planted to grow a new tree. These seeds often need a period of cold stratification in order to germinate, so check the requirements for your particular fruit before planting. Pits from stone fruits have a hard casing around the internal seed.They will sprout more easily if you tap the pit with a hammer to remove the outer casing before planting the internal seed.<br/>Harvesting Seeds from Herbs, Small Seeds<br/>When harvesting seeds from herbs and flowers, a different strategy is required. Allow the plant to flower and leave the flower to go to seed. (Once the plant flowers the herbs are usually bitter, so do this at the end of the season.)As the flowers begin to die, either attach a paper bag over the seed head to catch the seeds or cut the seed head from the flower and place it in a paper bag to dry. Small seeds are easily lost if not contained for drying. The seeds usually turn dark brown to black when dry and mature.<br/>Once the flower heads have dried and the seeds are released, separate the seeds from the other vegetable matter and store them as mentioned above.</p>20 Reasons Why You Should Add Sea Buckthorn to Your Pantrytag:12160.info,2019-09-17:2649739:BlogPost:19514142019-09-17T16:52:11.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>20 Reasons Why You Should Add Sea Buckthorn to Your Pantry</p>
<p><br></br>By Diane<br></br>September 17, 2019 06:59</p>
<p><br></br>Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae Rhamnoides, produces a highly nutritious berry that has gained super fruit status. The fruit and seed oil are full of Omega 3, 6, 9, and 7, a rare fatty acid recently discovered. The fruit contains a host of antioxidants and healing nutrients, and is a superior source of vitamins and minerals. It has been touted as being particularly good for the…</p>
<p>20 Reasons Why You Should Add Sea Buckthorn to Your Pantry</p>
<p><br/>By Diane<br/>September 17, 2019 06:59</p>
<p><br/>Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae Rhamnoides, produces a highly nutritious berry that has gained super fruit status. The fruit and seed oil are full of Omega 3, 6, 9, and 7, a rare fatty acid recently discovered. The fruit contains a host of antioxidants and healing nutrients, and is a superior source of vitamins and minerals. It has been touted as being particularly good for the skin and brain function, including memory.<br/>The fruit grows naturally on a shrub or small tree in the Himalayan Mountains, but is adaptable to growth in the US in zones 3 to 8. It is a nitrogen fixing plant that grows well in barren soil and possibly in your garden. The berries can be canned or dried for use year-round.<br/>The berries are tart, but very flavorful. They can be used with sugar or natural sweeteners to make a wide variety of jams, jellies, desserts, and flavored drinks. Some people like to eat them straight off the bush, but most prefer them sweetened.<br/>After learning about these nutritious berries and stocking my pantry with them, I wondered if I even need those highly refined vitamins I have stashed. Here are just some of the nutritious and medicinal benefits of sea buckthorn:<br/>#1. Nutrition Benefits<br/>One tiny berry contains 12 times the vitamin C of an orange. Sea buckthorn is considered one of the most vitamin-packed foods on the planet. It is rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.<br/>#2. Fights Inflammation<br/>The berries lower levels of C-reactive protein associated with inflammation and fight inflammation in all parts of the body.<br/>#3. Treats High Cholesterol<br/>Sea buckthorn berries and oil have properties that are naturally heart healthy. It lowers cholesterol levels naturally.<br/>#4. Promotes Healthy Bowel Function<br/>The fatty acids in sea buckthorn help lubricate the bowel and promote regular elimination, preventing and treating constipation.<br/>#5. Dry Eye Relief<br/>Internal use of sea buckthorn oil helps reduce the inflammation and irritation of dry eyes, including itching and burning. It also increases fluid production, which helps relieve dry eye symptoms.<br/>#6. Has Anti-oxidant and Antibacterial Properties<br/>Oral use of sea buckthorn is good for your skin and has anti-oxidant and antibacterial properties as well.<br/>Related: The Antibiotic Honey That Shouldn’t Be Missing From Your Stockpile<br/>#7. Prevents Excess Fat Storage<br/>The omega-7 oils in buckthorn seeds have been shown to prevent the storage of excess fat and help with weight loss.<br/>#8. Treats Symptoms of Menopause<br/>Eating sea buckthorn berries and oil treats symptoms of menopause. It lubricates the body from the inside out.<br/>#9. Protects the Liver and Pancreas<br/>Sea buckthorn oil helps the body normalize liver enzymes and bile, and reduces the accumulations of fat in the liver that cause a fatty liver.<br/>It also helps reduce the number of aflatoxins in the liver and reduces their damage on the body. Aflatoxins can damage both the liver and pancreas, or other body systems. Sea buckthorn oil fights the damage caused by these toxins and can prevent future liver or pancreas diseases.<br/>#10. Boosts the Immune System<br/>The nutrients, anti-oxidants, and other healthy substances packed into these berries give the immune system a powerful boost. They also help the immune system deal with inflammation and invasions from bacteria.<br/>#11. Calms Inflamed Skin and Treat Wounds<br/>Sea buckthorn is therapeutic for inflamed or irritated skin. Use it to relieve burning, itching, and scarring on damaged skin. Use the oil to treat burns, sunburns, wounds, and skin marks.<br/>#12. UV Protection<br/>Sea buckthorn is known to protect the skin against UV rays.<br/>#13. Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease<br/>Sea buckthorn is beneficial for the heart and the circulatory system. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of the oil reduces symptoms of heart problems.<br/>Related: All-Natural, Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure<br/>#14. Treats Gastrointestinal Disorders<br/>These tiny berries are good for the entire body, including the gastrointestinal system. The oils lubricate the system while the berries reduce inflammation and calm upsets. They treat a large number of gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).<br/>#15. Treats Gout<br/>The nutrition packed berries reduce the causes of gout and treat the disease.<br/>#16. Cures Infections<br/>The berries are loaded with anti-infectious compounds that kill bacterial infections. Taken orally or applied topically, the berries and oils fight harmful bacteria and speed healing.<br/>#17. Soothes the Nervous System<br/>The berries and seeds are packed with omega fatty acids that improve brain and nervous system functioning, including the rare omega-7 oil.<br/>#18. Treats Asthma Symptoms<br/>By lowering inflammation and lubricating the body, sea buckthorn naturally reduces the symptoms of asthma.<br/>#19. Prevents and Fights Diabetes<br/>Sea buckthorn oil impacts the insulin levels in the body and helps keep the blood sugar levels in a moderate range. It also reduces the C-reactive protein and inflammation in the body which reduces the risk of developing diabetes.<br/>Related: 9 Natural Remedies that People with Diabetes Will Find Useful<br/>#20. Improves Brain Functioning and Mental Clarity<br/>Another benefit of the omega fatty acids found in the oil of the seeds and berries, along with the vitamin B-12 present, is improved brain function and mental processes. Reduced inflammation is also helpful to brain function and mental clarity.<br/>How to Get the Health Benefits: Dosing and Best Use<br/>Eating a small serving of sea buckthorn berries daily is a good practice for getting the full benefits of these wonderful berries. It takes time for your body to show the full effects, so expect to see the full effects in about 30 days. Don’t give up too soon, it really does work and it’s incredibly nutritious in the meantime.<br/>Alternately, you can take one or two capsules of sea buckthorn oil 1000 mg per day, as a supplement. You can make your own oil by grinding the seeds or berries and using steam distillation, or you can purchase prepared oil supplements from a reputable source.<br/>Both the seed oil and the fruit oil can be used internally or externally, however, the seed oil has the best benefits when taken internally. Fruit oil works best for external use.<br/>While sea buckthorn oil has been used for centuries, it is always best to consult your doctor before use especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medications.</p>How to Build a Get Home Bagtag:12160.info,2019-09-16:2649739:BlogPost:19509892019-09-16T16:17:32.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How to Build a Get Home Bag</p>
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<p>Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Creek Stewart, Senior Instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor School for Survival, Preparedness & Bushcraft. <br></br>Just over one year ago I wrote a post about how to build a 72-hour disaster survival kit called a Bug Out Bag. Much of my time between then and now has been spent writing a book on the same subject–a more detailed and thorough version of that post. The title of that book is Build…</p>
<p>How to Build a Get Home Bag</p>
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<p>Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Creek Stewart, Senior Instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor School for Survival, Preparedness & Bushcraft. <br/>Just over one year ago I wrote a post about how to build a 72-hour disaster survival kit called a Bug Out Bag. Much of my time between then and now has been spent writing a book on the same subject–a more detailed and thorough version of that post. The title of that book is Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit (to win a copy, see the giveaway section below).<br/>If you liked the post about how to build a Bug Out Bag, then you are going to like this post as well. Your Get Home Bag is just as important as your Bug Out Bag. Look at it as your Bug Out Bag’s little brother. They are similar in concept and design, but the end goal is altogether different.<br/>I’d like to open this post with an excerpt from my book–actually the first opening paragraph:<br/>You can hear the sirens in the distance. Your electricity is out, and your home phone has no dial tone. When you try to use your cell phone, you get the same message over and over: “All circuits are busy.” You know a disaster is quickly approaching. And you know that waiting this one out is not an option. In the breath-taking stillness, you can hear the clock on the wall. Tick-tock, tick-tock. The eleventh hour is here.<br/>Now, imagine this… YOU ARE AT WORK! As you reach under your desk to grab your Get Home Bag (GHB), thoughts of your wife and children rush through your mind. Then, you quietly say to yourself, “This isn’t going to be my typical commute home today.”<br/>As a whole, we spend surprisingly little time at home. Between our time in a vehicle, at work, in school, running errands, visiting friends, attending meetings and making appointments, some of us spend more time AWAY from home than AT home. Many of you are nodding in agreement. These countless hours away from home must be considered when developing your disaster preparedness plan.<br/>What Is a Get Home Bag?</p>
<p>The name says it all. It is a survival kit designed to get you home in the event that a catastrophic disaster occurs while you are away. I sometimes call this bag my 24-hour bag, and you’ll rarely find me away from home without it. A Bug Out Bag is a much more substantial supply kit (typically 72 hours) and stays at home. It’s not practical to tote your BOB back and forth to work every day. Your Get Home Bag bridges that preparedness gap. Depending on the situation, just getting home can be a survival journey in and of itself.</p>
<p>A GHB can take a variety of forms depending on your personal preference.<br/>My GHB is a small backpack and that is what I recommend. However, I have friends who use duffel bags, fanny packs, web-gear, sling packs and even spare briefcases. Ultimately that is your decision, but I prefer the hands-free utility of a backpack.<br/>Is a Get Home Bag Even Necessary? <br/>There is an infinite list of events that could warrant the use of a Get Home Bag. Many are regular occurrences. A GHB doesn’t have to save you from TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) to be a worthy investment. Even if never put to that grave test, a GHB can provide for you in countless other less catastrophic scenarios. Below is a short list of events from the news headlines in the past few years that could possibly interfere with your immediate and uninterrupted commute home. I’m certain several people reading this article can account for some of these from personal experience.<br/>Severe weather<br/>Power grid failure (black-outs)<br/>Vehicle Break-Down<br/>Terrorist Attack<br/>Acts of war<br/>Bridge collapse<br/>Tornadoes<br/>Tsunamis<br/>Flooding<br/>Winter storms<br/>Zombie apocalypse!!!<br/>Certainly, some disasters are more devastating than others. Millions of people have found themselves in need of a Get Home Bag at some point in their lives. For some, not having one has cost them their future.<br/>I was watching a documentary the other day which interviewed survivors of the 9-11 terrorist attacks years later. I was surprised at the severe lung problems people have developed from inhaling the dust, fumes, smoke, and pulverized building material while escaping from in and around Ground Zero. It was an after effect I had never considered. An N95 face mask (mentioned later) in a Get Home Bag could have eliminated these ailments.<br/>Assembling a GHB is not a daunting task and can easily be done in one afternoon. For the investment of time, money, and energy, I know of very few other things in life that can have such a dramatic and lasting effect on your future than a Get Home Bag–should you ever need to use it.<br/>Your Get Home Bag Packing List <br/>Below is my list of recommended GHB supplies. I fully expect for you to make your own additions and subtractions from this list. After all, it is YOUR kit. Different lifestyles, careers, and environments are all factors that will dictate the items in your kit. These kits are very personal.<br/>1 Liter of Water in a Metal Container. I suggest a metal container because it gives you the option to boil water and/or cook in if necessary. I also carry a metal cup that fits snugly on the bottom of my metal Nalgene.</p>
<p>Food + Water<br/>3-6 Energy Bars. Don’t over pack with elaborate meals. High calorie bars are simple and sufficient meal substitutes. They require no heating or preparation–now that’s my kind of meal!</p>
<p>Rain Poncho + Tarp<br/>Rain Poncho. I personally use a military version with grommets in the corners which can be used as an improvised shelter if necessary. Being wet is not only miserable, it’s deadly. Hypothermia is the # 1 outdoor killer, and your vulnerability skyrockets when you are wet–even in temperatures as high as 50 degrees.</p>
<p>Lightweight Tarp. I pack this to use as a shelter canopy. It can also be used as a ground cover and many things in between.</p>
<p>Boots + Change of Clothes<br/>Walking Shoes / Hiking Boots. Especially for people who wear dress shoes to work, this is a really important addition. Pack a comfortable pair of tennis shoes at the very least. A good pair of wool hiking socks isn’t a bad idea either.</p>
<p>A change of clothes and a pair of leather gloves allows you to change out of your suit and into something that offers more protection and maneuverability.<br/>A Change of Weather Appropriate Clothing. Trade out your 3-piece suit for a more practical survival outfit. This should include a durable pair of leather gloves and a hat.</p>
<p>Lighters + Fire Starting Tinder<br/>Fire Starting Tools and Prepared Fire Tinder. Pick up a couple of bic cigarette lighters. They are inexpensive and dependable. Also pack some fire starting tinder. I prefer the WetFire brand but a quick do-it-yourself substitute is cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. If you need to start a fire, these 2 items will get you 98% of the way there.</p>
<p>A quality mulit-tool is an essential.<br/>Quality Multi-Tool. This tool should have a solid knife blade, a saw blade, pliers, flat head and cross point drivers, and wire cutters. When you need one of these tools, no substitute will quite do the trick. Many will add a fixed blade knife as well. (Machete is optional.)</p>
<p>Pack a headlamp along with an extra battery.<br/>Headlamp. Pack a good quality, hands-free, water-resistant headlamp flashlight. Toss in an extra battery while you’re at it.<br/>First Aid Kit. This kit should include basic first aid supplies such as bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, splint, tweezers, lip balm, moleskin, insect repellant, sunscreen, small mirror, and a variety of basic medications–Tylenol, aspirin, antacids, Dramamine, etc. If you wear contacts, be sure to include a back-up pair of glasses as well.</p>
<p>Hygiene + First Aid Kit<br/>Hygiene Kit. This kit should include items such as a small towel, toothbrush and paste, bandana (multiple uses), toilet paper, and soap. A pack of disinfecting wet napkins are perfect for quick “spit-baths.” Hand sanitizer is always a winner.</p>
<p>Emergency Blanket<br/>Emergency Blanket. Emergency mylar blankets are cheap, lightweight, and compact. Not only can they save your life in a cold weather environment, but they can also double as a quickie shelter, waterproof gear cover, and rain poncho. I prefer the Heatsheet brand from Adventure Medical Kits.</p>
<p>Face Mask<br/>N95 Face Mask. Whether from debris, dust, or sickness, protect your lungs with a N95 face mask. Your t-shirt is not sufficient.</p>
<p>Pepper Spray + Pistol<br/>Self-Defense Items. Disasters are a breeding ground for frustration, desperation, and confrontation. Violent crimes skyrocket in the wake and aftermath of any large scale disaster. Ideally, your self-defense items should keep some distance between you and an attacker. Avoid hand-to-hand combat at all costs. I pack some pepper spray (attached with Velcro to the shoulder strap of my pack) and a compact Kel-Tec P-32 Pistol with 4 extra clips (28 rounds) in my Get Home Bag.<br/>Paper Map and Compass. Having a paper map of your surrounding area can be invaluable–especially in large cities. If you are trying to get home–so is everyone else. Expect and plan for detours. Ideally, you will have marked several alternative routes home from your place of work. Do not rely on your cell phone or GPS system. Your brain is more impressive anyway.</p>
<p>Map, compass, cash, pencil, and paper<br/>Cash Money. Cash doesn’t need to communicate with the power grid and it speaks everyone’s language. Pack small denominations in a variety of places. Never reveal all of your duckets at once.<br/>Paper & Pencil. Perfect for recording information or leaving notes. I use the Rite-in-the-Rain brand.</p>
<p>Paracord and Emergency Radio<br/>100 Feet of Paracord. 1000’s of uses, only a few ounces. Trust me on this one–just pack it.</p>
<p>USB cell phone charger for radio<br/>Emergency Radio. Pick up a small Dynamo hand-crank emergency radio. Make sure it receives NOAA All Hazard Weather Alerts. I picked mine up at Radio Shack for $40. This could be your only source of disaster-related information in an emergency. Get a model that has an integrated USB cell phone charger–very cool feature and highly recommended.<br/>Rescue Signal Items. Small signal mirror (mentioned in First Aid) and a whistle.<br/>The weight of my GHB is only 14 lbs. The items could easily be packed into a smaller bag, but I like the flexibility of more space–especially in cold months when I toss in a heavy fleece, gloves, hat, and shell.<br/>Conclusion <br/>I’d like to close with another excerpt from my book which discusses the importance of preparation:<br/>Clearly, there is more to consider than just a [Bug Out Bag]. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, terrorists, wild fires, plagues and foreign invaders will show you no mercy. None of these disasters will pause while you argue about where to go or whether or not to take Freckles the Ferret with you. Survival is not about guarantees—there is always a gamble and the disaster typically has the house advantage. The only way to increase your odds of living is to plan and prepare in advance.<br/>HOME not only represents safety and security but many of us also have families who depend on our safe and timely return. When getting home becomes your first priority, reach for your Get Home Bag. What’s in your GHB?<br/>Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN,<br/>Creek<br/>Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit Giveaway<br/> <br/>Creek’s new book, Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-hour Disaster Survival Kit, is out now and available on Amazon.com. This awesome 200 page book includes 350 photos and goes much more in-depth about building and using your Bug Out Bag. The book covers:<br/>A complete Bug Out Bag checklist that tells you exactly what to pack based on your survival skill level<br/>Photos and explanations of every item you need in your bag<br/>Resource lists to help you find and purchase gear<br/>Practice exercises that teach you how to use almost everything in your bag<br/>Demonstrations for multi-use items that save pack space and weight<br/>Specific gear recommendations for common disasters<br/>The book also includes sections on special considerations for bugging out with children, the elderly, the physically disabled, and even pets.<br/>Creek is giving away 3 copies of his book to three lucky Art of Manliness readers. To win a copy of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-hour Disaster Survival Kit, just leave a comment telling us one thing you consider essential for packing in a Bug Out or Get Home bag.<br/>Three comments will be randomly drawn as the winners. Giveaway ends May 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm CST.<br/>***Update***<br/>The giveaway is closed. The three winners are:<br/>Colin S. from Dallas, TX.<br/>Michael H. from Oakland, CA<br/>Scott S. from Islip Terrace, NY</p>Seven Deadly Prepper Sinstag:12160.info,2019-09-16:2649739:BlogPost:19511572019-09-16T16:14:29.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>Seven Deadly Prepper Sins<br></br>Editor’s note: if you enjoy this article, check out Doc Montana discussing this same topic in much more depth on The Survival Cache Podcast; find it here: Seven Deadly Prepper Sins<br></br>Recycling cans is good. But recycling faulty intel is bad. Yet so much of the general prepping information floating around includes recycled information based more on wishful thinking and popular fiction than on science and historical lessons. <br></br>By Doc Montana, contributing…</p>
<p>Seven Deadly Prepper Sins<br/>Editor’s note: if you enjoy this article, check out Doc Montana discussing this same topic in much more depth on The Survival Cache Podcast; find it here: Seven Deadly Prepper Sins<br/>Recycling cans is good. But recycling faulty intel is bad. Yet so much of the general prepping information floating around includes recycled information based more on wishful thinking and popular fiction than on science and historical lessons. <br/>By Doc Montana, contributing author to SHTFblog and Survival Cache<br/>Common sense has its limits. Sitting in a comfy chair designing your post apocalyptic survival strategy can be entertaining, but play your scenario out further with all the grit of a real SHTF and you will quickly see that many prepper plans might be little more than lipstick on a pig. So here are my 7 Deadly Prepper Sins based on my observations while hanging out next to the recycling bin to see what people toss into it.<br/>SEARCHING OUT OTHERS WITH LIKE MINDS. Everyone can disagree about something. Spouses who have pledged their lives to each other still snap and growl over the smallest things. Even tight families blow up at each other over the holidays. So why would you want to shack up with or bug out with a bunch of people that you don’t plan on being able to disagree with? My point exactly. You should stock up on smart people, talented people, skilled people, strong people. Avoid those “yes men” who you think share the same values, purpose, and identity as you. Instead, you should be ready to make a community work with diverse ideas, skills, honest disagreements, and dare I say, democracy. But if you need a dictatorship of like minds to survive, then I’d give it a 50/50 chance of ending well for you and your clan without the likely intervention of competing clans. Under constant stress, I’d give a compound of like minds ten percent or less chance.<br/>HAVE PLENTY OF ITEMS FOR BARTER. I hear this all the time and cannot believe it’s still a thing. So much so that I’ve met preppers who have easily crossed the line from prepping to hoarding. Barter is fine when things are good, but barter at any other time is just asking to be robbed or worse. Now I’m not against bartering, but Doc Montana’s rule for Barter is simple: My skills for your stuff. Or my skills for your skills. Once your own stuff enters the barter equation, you are on the losing end of the deal. Unless you are trading with a truly virtuous person, you will be considered a minor soft obstacle between your stuff and what someone else wants. And those truly virtuous will unfortunately be weeded out quickly by the black evil that will populate the WROL landscape.<br/>THERE WILL BE A NEW CURRENCY OF BULLETS OR SILVER COINS OR…. The simple brick wall that a new currency will hit is in the unknown quantity. The paycheck-to-paycheck prepper sees the small picture. But those with real assets will need to move wealth around in more than scrap gold or pre-1965 dimes. All hard assets will rapidly exceed the value to small pseudo-currency items. If we are to maintain an economy of scalable resources like housing, land, and employment, then there will be a need for large-scale asset movement. And boxes of .22 shells won’t cut it. Further, for a currency to work, it must have an agreed upon value that transfers between people. Paying a million dollars for a painting does not mean you have a million dollars of collateral. It just means in your personal economic sphere, you chose a painting over the liquid asset of a million dollars. It also means you now have a piece of colorful canvas that requires care and feeding if it is to reamass any value when we emerge from darkness. But until then, the currency of the future is limited to the need and imagination between any two parties at that specific moment in time. And as we’ve seen even today, people will trade anything to save a loved one’s life. And I’d argue that it’s impossible to negotiate fairly when one of the parties has an empty belly.<br/>STOCKPILE FOODS YOU ARE USED TO EATING. Recycled wisdom will have you believe that you should store food that you eat regularly. That way your digestive system and taste buds will be fine with eating on the run. This Bug Out Mistake is doubly bad. First, bug out food should be chosen on an entirely different nutrition philosophy than daily food. In fact, it is roughly the opposite. Your daily food intake should be a balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates with a preference towards the freshest foods closest to their natural state. In other words not processed. Bug out food, on the other hand, is highly processed with a long shelf life, high in sodium, preservatives, and far from fresh. And if your current daily diet mimics bug out food, well then you likely have some dietary issues that will cause you more serious problems whether you need to bug out or not. Just sample your prepping food to know what you’re in for.<br/>COUNTING ON ONLY NINE MEALS FROM ANARCHY. The concept here is that civil society will only remain so as long as bellies are full. And after three days of no food, it will be game-on WROL. In reality, the WROL alarm clock will go off long before the pangs of hunger drive our reactions. More likely the flow of information or lack there of will push society over the edge. An EMP would cause near instant reaction, and not in a good way. The first unchallenged looting will signal the end of civility. And using recent history as a model, depending on the situation, it could be three days, three hours, or even three minutes to anarchy. So read the signs and jump the gun.</p>
<p>Heating the bacon grease<br/>ENDING YOUR PREPS WITH THREE WAYS TO MAKE A FIRE. The mistake here is not in the number of ways to start a fire, nor in the selection of choices, but rather in the outright lack of ways to maintain a fire. Campfires are hungry beasts. Even a small fire requires pounds of fuel per hour. A cooking fire even more. So the focus on fire starting at the expense of continuous firewood processing is an oversight that can be deadly in more ways than one. The initial tinder of a fire is small and fast burning, but a mature campfire requires a supply of larger fuel that will only burn as efficiently as the wood is processed. Dragging a downed tree across the fire is hardly a smart play for controlling a bug out fire. So have on hand big tools including an axe, a bow saw, a hatchet. In fact add a splitting maul, splitting wedge, and sledge hammer if you are truly serious. Don’t forget the gloves!<br/>BELIEVING YOU ARE PREPARED. A common theme that runs through prepper-oriented advertising, and in fact the very word prepper, is the belief that you can be prepared. In reality, “prepping” is nothing but a continuum or spectrum of possible situations for which you have potential solutions. Of course you should work towards preparedness, but the deadly sin here is to reach a point of contentment where you now believe you have the means and skills necessary to survive your predicted scenarios. But here’s the catch: things on planet earth are actually quite good right now. If you’ve invested money, time, energy, and loads of thought into a project, it is easy to let that project drive your future decisions. Patiently waiting for a collapse, or hoping for a little economic or civil shakeup so you can go into active prepper mode is not only dangerous, but also unpatriotic. It means you have given up on the great American experiment. Any downfall might get your prepper juices flowing, but it will traumatize and terrorize children who are the next generation of leaders of this great country. Stockpiled preps should never be a comfortable excuse to burn down institutions that America built over centuries. Like a 250 year old tree, once you cut it down, the landscape is forever changed, and it will never be as good as it was. At least not for another few centuries. So prep with goodness in your heart, not darkness in your future.<br/>While there is plenty of room for debate here with these 7 Deadly Prepper Sins, all seven are based in reality. Whether science, psychology, history or economics, we humans have amassed a great wealth of knowledge and personal predictability. Therefore imagining anything to the contrary is pure fiction simply because there is little evidence to support the recycled intel, and ample evidence to discount it. Oh, and stay tuned for my 7 Deadly Bug Out Sins.</p>How Shooters Are Building Firearms with 80% Receiver Kitstag:12160.info,2019-09-13:2649739:BlogPost:19494122019-09-13T15:31:26.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How Shooters Are Building Firearms with 80% Receiver Kits</p>
<p><br></br>By Travis Noonan<br></br>September 13, 2019 07:48</p>
<p><br></br>Every good prepper knows that having a reliable arsenal ready and stocked is critical for protecting yourself, your family, and your property in a disaster or other “SHTF” scenario.<br></br>But with the 2020 election cycle is hot n’ ready. That means plenty of politicians are calling for more firearm bans and gun control, so getting your hands on the right firepower…</p>
<p>How Shooters Are Building Firearms with 80% Receiver Kits</p>
<p><br/>By Travis Noonan<br/>September 13, 2019 07:48</p>
<p><br/>Every good prepper knows that having a reliable arsenal ready and stocked is critical for protecting yourself, your family, and your property in a disaster or other “SHTF” scenario.<br/>But with the 2020 election cycle is hot n’ ready. That means plenty of politicians are calling for more firearm bans and gun control, so getting your hands on the right firepower (and keeping it) could get a little more difficult in the months and years ahead.<br/>That’s why some preppers are choosing to avoid the local gun store and government paperwork. Instead, they’re building their guns at home from scratch. And they’re doing it legally.<br/>The Rise of the 80% Lower Receiver<br/>Back in 1968, the Gun Control Act cemented a rather unique Second Amendment right into federal law for all Americans: the right to build a firearm at home, unregistered, with no paperwork required.<br/>To this day, the ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) says this is 100% legal:<br/>“No, a license is not required to make a firearm solely for personal use. However, a license is required to manufacture firearms for sale or distribution. The law prohibits a person from assembling a non–sporting semiautomatic rifle or shotgun from 10 or more imported parts, as well as firearms that cannot be detected by metal detectors or x–ray machines. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and advance approval by ATF.”<br/>And thanks to America’s free-market capitalism, gun makers and machinists started taking advantage of this. They figured out a way to combine America’s favorite rifle, the AR-15, with an easy-to-build gun making kit that takes advantage of this very law. Enter the 80% lower receiver.<br/>The Building Block for an Unregistered AR-15<br/>Officially called a “receiver blank” by the ATF, an 80% lower is a large chunk of aluminum or polymer that roughly resembles the receiver on an AR-15, which is considered a firearm by law and is regulated by the ATF.<br/>Except this receiver blank is not quite a firearm. Yet.<br/>That’s where you, the savvy prepper and newly minted at home-gunsmith, come in. You’ll need to cut and drill some excess material off your receiver blank and in doing so, you’ll be manufacturing a firearm that you can then use to build a black rifle or pistol at home.<br/>All without the government ever knowing and without any background check or red tape. The whole process is incredibly easy, taking around 2 hours or less with some basic hand tools, which we’ll touch on later.<br/>Why Build Your Rifle “Off the Grid”?<br/>It might be easier to go to the local gun store, pick up an AR-15 or a stripped lower receiver and build it, and call it a day. Except in 2019, buying your gun over the counter could potentially trap you in some legal hot water down the road.<br/>Enter New York’s attempt to force gun owners to register their AR-15s in 2015:<br/>New York banned the sale of semiautomatic firearms they deemed to be assault weapons. The state also required gun owners to register these weapons with the state. This was meant to be for accountability, but really, it was for future confiscation – sorry, “forced buy-back”.<br/>Well, New York’s gun owners did not comply. Nearly one million New Yorkers failed to register their assault weapons, leaving nearly one million Americans now labeled as potential felons.<br/>While a matter of noncompliance with state-level firearm paperwork may seem relatively “white collar” and nonviolent as far as crime goes, it could carry deadly implications.<br/>Two men have been killed for refusing to turn in their guns.<br/>Maryland’s “Red Flag” laws allow any concerned individual to report a gun owner for mental evaluation and temporary gun confiscation. One man was shot and killed after refusing to turn over his weapons to police for just this reason. No due process, no day in court.<br/>Another man was shot and killed in New Zealand just a few months ago for refusing to turn in his weapons in compliance with new gun control, too.<br/>We’re not advocating that any prepper breaks the law or violate firearms codes. Yet in times of turmoil or national crisis, Martial Law is often declared, and your Second Amendment rights may likely be violated.<br/>For example, enforcement went door-to-door after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and confiscated firearms from private citizens as they swept neighborhoods and suburbs.<br/>How the Whole Thing Works<br/>Like we said, it may be technically easier to just buy a rifle at the store, but building one from scratch using a receiver blank is surprisingly simple. You’ll need a few tools to get the job done, including:<br/>A drill or drill press<br/>A handheld router<br/>An 80% jig<br/>Drill bits<br/>End mill bit.<br/>Picking an 80% Jig<br/>The jig is the most important tool in this project. You can just buy a jig and it’ll include the bits you need. The jig acts like a mini-CNC machine and template, securing your receiver blank and showing you how to cut out the receiver for the trigger parts using your end mill bit.<br/>It also guides you along while you drill the holes for the hammer, trigger, and safety pins with your drill bits. Like we said earlier, the whole process takes less than two hours, even for first-timers. Jigs include written instructions, and some include video tutorials.<br/>Drill press. Vs. Router<br/>There are two types of jigs to consider: Drill press jigs and router jigs. As their names imply, these two types of jigs will determine whether you buy a handheld router or use a drill press (or milling machine).<br/>No matter which type of jig you buy, the machining steps are the same:<br/>#1. Secure Your 80% Lower in the Jig<br/>Setting up the receiver blank and jig is easy. Most jigs consist of three plates: Two side plates with drilling templates, and one (or more) top plate with drilling and cutting templates.<br/>Once the lower is secured in the jig, you’ll need to secure the jig to your workstation. A simple tabletop vise is recommended. If you’re using a drill press or mill, you probably already own a vise.<br/>#2. Drill the Fire Control Cavity Pilot Holes<br/>With the assembly secured and ready for work, you can start by drilling the pilot holes for the fire control cavity.<br/>We’re using a drill press in this photo, but you can even use a handheld drill. The jig’s top plates are made of reinforced steel, and some even include high-speed drill bushings.<br/>These reinforced holes and bushings align your drill bit for you, eliminating the need for a drill press.<br/>#3. Cut the Fire Control Cavity<br/>With your pilot holes drilled you can swap out your drill bit and handheld drill for your end mill bit and router or drill press. The pilot holes removed the bulk of material inside the cavity, so finishing up the final cuts with the end mill should take minimal effort. Most jigs include a depth gauge. This gauge will help you measure how far down you need to drill and cut with your bits.</p>
<p>Simply tighten the bit in your router or press at the correct length using the gauge, and begin cutting.<br/>Your finished fire control cavity should look like this. You may need to use different templates provided with your jig to cut different parts of the cavity, like the shelf where your rear takedown pin goes.<br/>#4. Drill the Hammer, Safety, and Trigger Holes</p>
<p>This part’s simple. Simply orient your receiver and jig so you can make vertical holes with your handheld drill or drill press. The side plates on the jig show you where to drill your holes.<br/>With all holes drilled and aluminum debris cleaned up and removed, your finished receiver should look something like this:<br/>Once you’ve finished machining your blank, it’ll be classified as a real firearm. More importantly, it’ll be a functional stripped receiver that you can use to complete an AR-15 build at home. These finished receiver blanks are identical to any factory-made lower receiver.<br/>Summary<br/>More shooters and preppers are choosing to build their firearms and survival weapons at home, “off the grid”, using receiver blanks that aren’t traced by the ATF. These blanks are 100% legal to use, though some states have certain restrictions. Always do your homework first. Building your rifle using an 80% lower receiver allows you to keep your weapon unregistered and private in your collection.</p>How To Make A Year-Round Self-Sustaining Gardentag:12160.info,2019-09-10:2649739:BlogPost:19480222019-09-10T17:12:05.000ZJames T. Kirkhttps://12160.info/profile/jAMEStkIRK
<p>How To Make A Year-Round Self-Sustaining Garden</p>
<p><br></br>By Sarah Davis<br></br>September 9, 2019 06:25</p>
<p><br></br>Editor’s note: This article was written by one of our readers, Ornela Freimane. The title of the article is How To Make A Year-Round Self-Sustaining Garden because it talks about the Aquaponic system and how this is a great way to grow hundreds of pounds of fish and fresh vegetables that your family needs without pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics, no weeds, no water wastage.…</p>
<p>How To Make A Year-Round Self-Sustaining Garden</p>
<p><br/>By Sarah Davis<br/>September 9, 2019 06:25</p>
<p><br/>Editor’s note: This article was written by one of our readers, Ornela Freimane. The title of the article is How To Make A Year-Round Self-Sustaining Garden because it talks about the Aquaponic system and how this is a great way to grow hundreds of pounds of fish and fresh vegetables that your family needs without pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics, no weeds, no water wastage. Feed the fish daily and enjoy harvesting your own food.<br/>Let me introduce you to aquaponic farming where fish and plants live in a combined ecosystem – mutually beneficial cycle, providing fresh local food that is free from pesticides and chemicals all year round.<br/>It can be built in your back yard or indoors, hot or cold climate, even in the desert. Furthermore, with aquaponic farming, you can grow way more food with far less water wastage, less land, and less physical work as all job will be done by your fish.<br/>But the most important thing is that you can build the aquaponics system yourself without spending a fortune as the system is easily replicated with whatever materials you have, and it will work just as well as any other.<br/>First, let’s look around and decide where we can build it:<br/>As I have a garden, I decided to dedicate a larger part of it to the aquaponic system.The weather is not ideal for crops to grow all year round in London (UK) so I had to build the system inside the greenhouse (8×20 feet) – the most convenient place for the necessary daylight and perfect place to control the temperature. You won’t need it if you live in Florida or you want to shut down the system for the winter in a cold climate area.The system set up requires very careful planning so it could be for the long-term purpose. Choose the style you want but remember – the beds are heavy due to water and gravel.Make sure they are sturdy and withstands the weight, waterproof and deep enough for the roots (30 cm in depth is enough).There are many types of aquaponic systems, but I chose to build two: flood and drain; and deep-water system.<br/>Related: How to Supplement Your Potable Water Supplies by Cheaply Harvesting Rainwater<br/>It’s enough to have only those two systems to feed a family of 4 all year round. For this I needed:<br/>Fish tank – I used a 1000 liter IBC container as it’s cheap and easy to maintain (it cost approx. $20 on eBay)<br/>Swirl filter and mineralization tanks. 200-liter barrels are ideal for it. ($10 each on eBay)<br/>Raft bed – for the deep-water culture. This is probably the easiest bed to plant and harvest as it consists of polystyrene with holes cut into it. This bed requires additional aeration for plant roots. (We used timber to build the beds as we had so many leftovers from the previous projects)</p>
<p>Flood and Drain bed also called Media bed. It’s a perfect place for bacteria to convert nitrites to nitrates. This bed requires syphon and limestone free gravels.<br/>Pump (it’s always placed in the sump tank); Good pump will cost you approx. $150<br/>Sump tanks for the water to drain from the media beds;( IBC containers can be used as sump tanks; just cut them in half)<br/>Aeration stones for fish, roots, and mineralization tank; (those are cheap: $2-$5)<br/>Air pump. The stronger the pump, the better. (I paid $65)<br/>Plumbing to connect all the parts. Just make sure that every part is connected well to prevent any leakage. Various size and shape pipes, tubes, valves, and threads needed for the system (I spent around $200 for all new parts). When connecting parts, remember to create a cycle: fish tank – swirl filter – mineralization tank – sump tank – media and raft beds- fish tank. The US Department of Agriculture has a massive link that covers lots of aspects of aquaponic farming and design ideas. It will help you to understand the whole plumbing if you are new to it.<br/>Siphon – can be made using slip caps, PVC pipes, and tubes. Or you can buy on eBay for $20 each<br/>Water – The system circulates the same water so there is no wastage. Rainwater is ideal for your aquaponic.<br/>Fish – I grow tilapia in summertime and trout in winter. Koi, perch, carp and catfish are also easy to grow in the system. Choose fish native to your area. (We have 30-40 tilapias in a 1000 liter tank)<br/>Plants – All crop above ground grow well in the system: salads, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, grapes, strawberries, even tropical fruit trees. Plants grow way faster in aquaponics as they get nutrients from the fish waste.<br/>We chose to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, a different type of lettuce, spring onions, kale, Romanesco broccoli, rocket salads, even the watermelon.All beds and even the fish tank can be made from concrete, IBC containers, Fiberglass, wood or PVC. All components are common around the World and can be easily found at your local hardware or gardening stores. You can also buy them cheaper on eBay, Gumtree or any second-hand shop.</p>