25 Year Shelf Life
Video: Wise Food Storage on Good Things Utah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7X2c7xx ... r_embedded
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http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/
Printable View
25 Year Shelf Life
Video: Wise Food Storage on Good Things Utah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7X2c7xx ... r_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7X2c...layer_embedded
http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/
Wise Food Storage Meals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4EmTdIJ ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4EmTdIJvt4&feature=related
Nov 3, 2010
www.preparingwisely.com Wise Food Storage Meals are freeze dried meals that store for up to 25 years. What makes these meals so great is that they come sealed in mylar pouches that are in turn packed into square buckets to maximize room and provide a great way to protect the meals. The buckets are easy to transport. Just measure out the contents of the meal, add hot water, allow to rehydrate for 15 minutes and eat!
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Lunch & Dinner
* Stroganoff
* Cheesy Macaroni
* Chicken ala King
* Creamy Chicken Pasta
* Creamy Potato Soup
* Chicken Teriyaki
* Cheesy Lasagna
* Beef Teriyaki and Rice
* Southwest Beans and Rice
* Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/our_meal ... unchdinner
Breakfast
* Honey Glazed Granola
* Brown Sugar Oatmeal
* Multi-Grain Cereal
http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/our_meal ... =breakfast
Outdoor Meal Variety
At Wise Foods we provide a wide variety of great- tasting GOURMET OUTDOOR MEALS that you will love to eat! These ready-made cook in the pouch meals are prepared in minutes by just adding water! Finally . . . dependable, simple and affordable outdoor meals that will meet your needs when you need it most.
* Stroganoff
* Cheesy Macaroni
* Creamy Chicken Pasta
* Cheesy Lasagna
http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor_ ... al_variety
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Stocking Up Long Term Emergency Food Supply
240 serving package
360 Serving Package
720 Serving Package
1080 serving package
1440 Serving Package
2160 Serving Package
2880 Serving Package
4320 Serving Package
Food Storage Calculator
https://www.wisefoodstorage.com/store/product.php
This all breaks down basically into one Sentance
"The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive"
2160 Serving Package
Servings included in this package
http://wisefoodstorage.com/2160-serving-package.html
Building A Fire In Wet Conditions
March 17, 2011 by Scott B. Williams
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Many people dismiss fire building as a no-brainer—just get some wood and light it with a match.
Nothing could be farther from the truth and real backwoods experts know that fire building is an art and a craft. In freezing cold conditions the ability to build a fire can save you from certain hypothermia if you are caught out in the wilds without adequate clothing or shelter to stay warm.
All fires depend on fuel in the form of combustible material and, in the woods, this usually means dry leaves, twigs, branches and other chunks of wood. If it’s raining out, how do you find dry wood? It’s easier than you think if you know where to look.
Not every piece of wood in the forest gets soaked in a rainstorm. The most accessible dead branches you find lying around on the ground that work well in fair weather will be wet however, so you must look elsewhere.
Standing trees are much less likely to absorb water than those lying on the forest floor. Often you can find dry dead branches still attached to the lower trunks of pine and spruce trees, shielded from falling rain by the dense needles of the living branches. The outer layers of these limbs may be wet, however, so you will need a knife, machete or axe to cut it away and reach the dry wood inside.
A sharp cutting tool will give you the ability to split large pieces of wet wood to get at the dry interior, or even to cut down small standing dead trees that can then be split into useable fuel.
Even better than wood that is merely dry on the inside is the wood you can sometimes find in old stumps that are full of concentrated pine resin. Called “lighter knots” or “fat lighter” by country folk, this resin-rich wood will burn with a hot and bright flame even when wet, if you first cut it into little pieces of kindling to light it.
You can identify such fat lighter by the smell and color of the wood when you cut into it. It will smell like pine pitch or tar and is bright yellow or orange inside, often oozing sap. It can be found in any forest where there are conifers such as pine, spruce or cedar.
Once you find a source of ignitable fuel, try to locate your fire so that it is at least partially sheltered from more falling rain. Don’t give up on a fire just because it’s raining. Remember there is always dry wood somewhere in a forest, but it takes a little effort and a sharp blade to get it.
–Scott B. Williams
http://www.personalliberty.com/survi...et-conditions/
Lighter Knot Stumps
Not long ago a "fellow member" asked how to specifically I.D. "Fat Lighter Stumps".(not lighter logs)
So, while on my property "chopping & fire building", I decided to take a few pictures of "Mississippi Lighter Knot Stumps!"
These where almost "dripping", very ripe & red.
Locating tips,
1. Lighter Knot Stumps are very common around the old fencepost/property lines of our Great Grandparents where they where chopped or sawed.
2. Lighter logs more common down here in wild or heart of yhw woods where they fell naturally.
Very plentiful down here, never have to work to find them, but of course Mississippi is full of Pine! Hope this helps, GOD Bless
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http://www.survivaltopics.com/forums/fi ... tumps.html
Finding Fat Lighter - Fatwood - Firestarter
Special thanks to Patrick319
If you live around or travel through some pine woods, take a walk one day and get some fat lighter wood. Fat lighter, fatwood, etc. is basically very old pine wood that has a high concentration of flammable sap. The tree's sap was concentrated in the stump when it fell or was cut down. Then, the sap dried. Here are a few pointers in looking for your fat lighter, should you pass through an area with pine woods.
These are some pine woods behind my house.
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After searching for less than a minute, we come across a hopeful-looking stump.
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This is what we're looking for. To make sure, take your trusty hatchet and hack off a piece of the side. You should see some very rich-colored pine wood that (obviously) has a pine aroma. Sometimes, this aroma is so strong it smells like turpentine.
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This is definitely what we're looking for. We could just hack what we need off the top, but if transporting a lot of fat lighter or you are in need of a little extra nourishment (even in the winter if you're in the south), it's easier just to take out the whole stump. Kick the piss out of the stump with your heel and work it back and forth a little, breaking the few remaining large roots that haven't rotted.
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Now that we have it loosened, squat over the stump and grab it with both hands. Now push up with your legs and just use your hands to hold on. It is much easier squatting the stump than trying to wriggle it out with just your arms.
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Many times after you have pulled it out, there will be food laying on the ground beside it. Whether or not you eat this food will probably depend on how hungry you are. Yummy!
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Now take this stump and carry it to your camp. A good pointer for finding fat lighter is that there will always be something sticking up out of the ground. The less wood you can see protruding above the ground, the less fat lighter there is underground.
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Compare the little bit of usable fat lighter from this stump to the previous one.
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If there is nothing sticking out of the ground, there is a good chance that the only thing you'll get out of that hole is 'food' or mulch for your survival garden. Here is such a hole. Notice that no wood sticks out of the ground.
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After we clean the debris out of the stumphole, we are left with this.
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In this stage of decomposition, the water has flowed back into the wood fibers and the grubs and termites have eaten it down to mulch. These are rotten stumps. You won't be starting a fire with this stuff. You might possibly put one out with it.... Just for the record, this doesn't have the pine aroma.
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Now we return to the house with our fat lighter and set it on fire with our tinder, lighter, matches, or whatever. A sooty black smoke comes from the fat lighter and it burns like a torch.
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When looking for fat lighter, you are looking for a pine stump with:
1.Something sticking out above the ground
2.A firm, rich-colored wood
3.A strong pine smell
http://www.survivalmonkey.com/fat-lighter.html
How to Make a Firebed
(If the pictures do not show go to the link at the bottom of the page and go to the website)
Imagine a cold weather wilderness survival situation where your clothing is inadequate and you have limited sleeping gear or none at all. Exhausted and nearing hypothermia, you need sleep but know that if you lose consciousness you will never wake up.
Survival Topics will show you how to survive; there is a method where you can get plenty of comfortable, warm sleep outdoors in cold weather even if you are not dressed for the cold and have virtually no survival gear http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/survival-gear/ or survival skills http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/ ... al-skills/ other than being able to make a special kind of survival bed and build a fire. http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/ ... ive-guide/ In fact, care must be taken to make this bed cool enough to sleep in!
The survival bed that makes your stay in the cold wilderness much more comfortable or even save your life is known as a firebed
http://www.survivaltopics.com/
Survival Topics Firesteels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UuD8LrB8SGY
Firesteels are one of the Most Reliable Ways to Start a Fire in the Wilderness, even when wet!
We offer 4-sizes - From HUGE to small enough to fit comfortably in your wallet.
Users report these firesteels give the largest sparks they have ever seen.
Help support Survival Topics.com: purchase your FireSteels at our Survival FireSteel Store. http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival-supplies/
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MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat)
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5-10 Year Shelf-Life | No Cooking Required | Great Value & Selection
• Tough Food Storage Packaging
Aluminum pouch with polypropylene laminate provides extreme durability and slim profile.
• High Quality Military Grade Like Quality
Trusted quality from military contracted manufacturer!
• Easy to Store Food Supply Option
Contained in 20 easy to store boxes.
• Don’t Waste Precious Time
No cooking or preparations, heat up if you would like.
• Highest Quality and Shelf Life Available
Up to 10 years or more so you will be prepared no matter when disaster strikes!
• Enjoy Peace of Mind
With a long shelf life, a wide variety, and easy to prepare meals you can rest assured that you will be ready when you need it.
Our 1 Year MRE Supply is designed to help you and your loved ones survive any food emergency. This supply will provide enough food, nutrition and calories to sustain 1 person for 365 days. Our military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) are fresh and are designed to withstand the harshest conditions. Each day you will receive over 2,000 calories of delicious, life sustaining meals to help you and your family survive during an emergency or natural disaster. These MREs will store for a minimum of 5 years, if stored at 75 degrees or less and much longer if stored at cooler temperatures. Because MREs can be eaten hot or cold and require no cooking, they are the perfect survival food and a must for when you need to evacuate in a hurry and without warning!
Now includes 432 MRE Heaters!
Do you live in an area that can be impacted by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes or floods? These kinds of disasters can strike quickly and without warning. You may need to evacuate and may have very little time to prepare. The food in our 1 Year MRE Supply is designed for those situations. You will have the peace of mind knowing that whether you have to evacuate in a hurry or shelter in place, you will have the food you need to keep you and your loved ones alive and healthy.
MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) are the operational ration employed by the U.S. military because of they are easy to prepare, extremely durable, self-contained, and provide excellent nutrition and energy. They are the perfect solution for grab-n-go emergency food supplies such as 72-Hour kits and are an optimal solution for short-term emergency food storage.
http://www.thereadystore.com/mre
MRE Flameless Heater
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60 Year Shelf-Life | Military Contracted Manufacturer | Just Add Water
• Don’t Worry and Don’t Waste Time
No stove, fuel, or cookware required when you have the MRE flameless heater—just add a tablespoon of water and watch it heat up!
• Don’t Stress about Restocking
These flameless heaters last a full 60 years, so you never have to worry!
• Feel Confident in the Quality of Your Product
MRE flameless heaters are made from our contracted manufacturer—who also makes these products for the U.S. military!
• Simplify Your Life
This slim profile pouch is convenient and 100% self-contained.
• Make Emergency Preparedness Enjoyable
There are a variety of different MREs, and these flameless heaters will make trying them all even more delicious and fun!.
Here’s the perfect companion to your emergency MRE food supplies! These flameless heaters mix with water to form a (completely safe) chemical reaction that heats your MREs to over 200° F. in minutes. Hot food not only tastes better, but it’s a source of comfort when braving harsh conditions. If disaster ever strikes you or your family, you aren’t going to want to worry about cooking or, worse, where to get your food. Whether it’s a natural disaster or economic problems, having food storage in the form of MREs will give you a way to look on the bright side of the things. And although MREs can be eaten cold, they definitely taste better hot—so if you’re looking for the most convenient way to get a full meal, make sure you don’t forget to also by these MRE flameless heaters!
Our lightweight flameless heaters are also used by the U.S. military because their quality is unmatched. These heaters are conveniently self-contained and a cinch to use: just slide the foil MRE retort pouch into the heated pouch and suddenly you have a steaming-hot and nutritious meal that you can enjoy eating. With an unlimited storage life these heaters are ideal for hiking/camping, auto emergency, or 72 hour kits. Don’t forget to buy your MREs! And remember, these flameless heaters are each a one-time use only, so make sure to get as many as you'll need!
Emergency officials recognize the need for emergency food storage. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends that each person in your household should have at LEAST three days' worth of supplies in case of emergency.
http://www.thereadystore.com/emergency- ... ess-heater
THE REALITY DETACHED AMERICAN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCxBDDk4Y-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCxBDDk4Y-M
THE BIGGEST COIN SHOW OF THE YEAR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xpW8FXL ... ure=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xpW8FXLIvM&feature=relmfu
Bunker Sales Skyrocket 1000%
Mac Slavo
March 24th, 2011
SHTFplan.com
Comments (65)
Earthquakes and Tsunamis have killed over a quarter million people in recent years. Fears of radiation fallout grip the world. War in the middle east is expanding. The global economic system may be approaching a breaking point. While these events are considered unlikely probabilities, they are, as we have seen, within the realm of possibility. Even one-in-a-million scenarios, like an asteroid collision or pole shift have happened in earth’s history, wiping out species across the entire planet.
If the absolute worst were to occur, the best place to be is out of the way and out of view. As we witnessed on September 11, the US government has their plan in case of an emergency. When America was under attack, security personnel quickly moved the President, Vice President and key members of the government to underground bunkers. In the 1950′s and 60′s, at the height of the cold war, families across America were installing bunkers in their back yards to protect themselves from the possibility of atomic war. Today, as modern as our era may be, people have the same fears as before, perhaps more so. According to the following report, the government isn’t the only one building Armageddon shelters as of late. Several companies have made it possible for private individuals to take steps to ensure the safety of themselves, family or 950 of their closest friends:These companies that sell Doomsday bunkers and underground fallout shelters are seeing sales and inquiries just skyrocket. There’s one company called Vivos which makes huge underground shelters that can fit anywhere from 200 to 950 people and it has seen reservations rise over 1000% just in the last week, since the earthquake hit.
…
The CEO likened it to a four-star hotel underground. Pool tables, lounges, everyone gets their own room, a bathroom, there’s a kitchen, a bakery, dental facilities, medical center, full stocked wine cellar, a pet kennel and even a prison where you can put people if they start being violent. And why would you need all this crazy stuff in a fall out shelter? Well, because you could be there for a while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6FULRV8ZTs&feature=player_embedded
Being prepared may be a fringe industry, but more people now than ever before are spending time, energy and money to ensure they have the essentials in case the worst were to happen. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that all families have at least two weeks of supplies that include food, water, and critical medicines. Those who prepare for disasters often refer to themselves as preppers, and they’ve found that once they start stocking up, two weeks just isn’t enough. In addition to the basics recommended by emergency organizations, preppers generally look out at a time line of anywhere from thirty days to a year, and they plan accordingly. Freeze dried foods, five gallon buckets of dry goods, garden seeds, precious metals, self defense armaments, and fuel stores are all of the supplies any serious prepper has in their home or secondary bug-out location.
While some may refer to companies in the preparedness industry as profiting off of people’s fears, the same could be said for any industry. All advertising, or at least an overwhelming majority, utilizes fear based marketing. Mainstream news channels regularly carry headlines driven by fear and panic. They’ll be the first to admit that headlines sell news (and advertising). Who’s going to tune in to cable news for hours at a time unless something sensational is happening, or perceived to be happening? Commercials for prescription drugs, clothing, detergent, vehicle sales, makeup, and all manner of consumer products sold in America use fear based marketing targeted at adults and children. This is regular practice. Advertising, by its nature, creates a fear or a void, and then sells you a product to fill that void.
We digress.
The fact of the matter is that while we may feel like we need all of those products to fill the voids in our lives, most of them will do nothing for us in the event of an emergency or large scale catastrophe. It’s obvious by recent and historical events that sometimes bad things happen. And they don’t just happen in far-off places or on the TV. They happen close to home.
Some individuals have a real concern. They see signs all around them that something, perhaps they can’t put their finger on it, just doesn’t feel right. This in itself can often lead to stress, anxiety and depression and become debilitating to one’s everyday life. If taking action like creating a wealth preservation plan, acquiring reserve supplies and learning new skills mitigates negative emotional responses and subjugates the fear of an impending doom, then that is a positive development for all aspect of your wellness.
Getting ready may help a prepper feel better emotionally and spiritually, but there is certainly a stigma associated with such actions by the general populace. The only thing we can say to those individuals skeptical of such activities is that the US government plans for all manner of far-from-equilibrium scenarios like economic breakdown and spends billions of dollars on building bunkers, stockpiling food and medicine, and arming themselves – and they are doing it with the skeptic’s tax dollars. The ironic thing is that in an emergency, those who view preppers as abnormal or out of touch will reap none of the benefits of those federal preparations, as they are reserved for continuity of government contingencies and the best, brightest, and elite of our society. The skeptic will be the one left holding the bag, which will of course have no food, water or supplies contained in it.
http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-pr...-1000_03242011
Super Snack: Carrot Apple Salad
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
March 2011
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Carrot apple salad is a favorite side dish in my home. It is packed with vitamins and nutrients and gives my kids a needed vitamin boost during the day.
The kids like it because it’s simple and tasty, and does not have a lot of “extras.” I like it because the recipe contains fresh fruits and vegetables and makes a great healthy alternative to the
regular after school snacks.
Carrot Apple Salad
Shred carrots and apples with a potato peeler and squeeze orange juice over the salad. If you have a food processor, it will save time and energy with the grating portion of the recipe. Allow the salad to sit in juices for an hour. Serve chilled.
- 5-7 carrots, peeled and grated
- 2 apples, peeled and grated
- juice of 1 orange or citrus fruit
- Optional: chopped pine-apple
Related Reading:
- Hot Apple Cider Recipe
- Tess’ Tasty Potato Salad
- 6 Ways to Get Your Kale On!
- Tess’s Tomato Basil Soup
- Simple Snacks: Homemade Granola
http://readynutrition.com/resources/...alad_14032011/
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Make Vinegar From Apples
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2010
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An excerpt from The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Classic Stories:Everything must be saved, nothing wasted of all the summer’s bounty. Even the apple cores were saved for making vinegar…A quantity of good vinegar was important to a family that preserved its own meat and vegetables… Since store products might contain dangerous acids, careful housewives made their own vinegar, taking pride in the special flavors they acheived. They began at preserving time with a clean barrel open at the top for air and receiving and fitted with a bung at the bottom for decanting. Into the barrel went rain water, some of last year’s vinegar, and the peel and cores from apple canning and drying. Sweetening might be added in the form of preserve-kettle skimmings, molasses-barrel rinsings, honey, or brown sugar. In time this mixture fermented, resembling hard cider or wine; in more time-several months-the ferment turned acid and became vinegar. In spring part of the the batch might be moved to an outdoor barrel and mixed with rainwater and spices to become next seasons pickling vinegar…
- Farmer Boy
Start your vinegar making as soon as the season’s new apple crop is available so you can make several tries if necessary.
For 1/2 gallon of cider vinegar you will need:At some point a milky froth may form on or below the surface of the vinegar in the barrel. This is called a “mother,” and is a welcome sign of acetic acid bacteria but a possible nuisance. Best remove it, along with the other solid matter in the barrel.
1. Small barrel or plastic gallon jug (used plastic milk jug); cord or lid; sipping straws. *If a plastic milk jug is to be used, wash well and scald with hot water to kill any bacteria.
- 1/2 gallon of spring, rain, or well water
- 2 c. honey
- 12 or more apple peels and cores
- 1/2 package of dry yeast (1 1/2 tsps)
- 1/2 c. cider vinegar, commercial (for comparison only)
2. Find a place in the warm kitchen where it can rest on a side, with the narrow opening serving as a bunghole.
3. Cut an opening on the top surface to receive a wide cork or plastic lid (the closing should not be airtight).
4. Boil water, pour it in the jug, and stir in honey, peel, and cores. Cover, set aside.
5. Check mixture daily for bubbling. If none occurs in a week, add the yeast.
6. If mold forms on the surface, skim it off without disturbing the contents.
7. After 1 month, the bubbling will have stopped and souring begun. Now it is up to your taste to tell you when the vinegar is ready to use. To take a sample from the jug, plunge in a sipping straw, close the end with your thumb, and remove the straw half full. Judge the strength by comparing it with the taste of the commercial vinegar.
8. In two months the vinegar may be sour enough to use in cooking and salad dressings. Try to decant a quantity from the bung without shaking up the contents. Replenish the barrel with any fermented matter on hand.
Use your homemade product wherever vinegar is called for… except for pickling, which requires a vinegar of proven acidity.
Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.readynutrition.com/
Date: September 23rd, 2010
Related Categories: Natural Alternatives, Recipes
Related Reading:
- Do It Yourself Condiments
- 4 Thieves Oil Could Be The New Alternative for Flu Shots
- DIY: Recipes For Everyday Products
- Hot Apple Cider Recipe
- Survival Food Series: 3 Ways To Naturally Make Yeast
http://readynutrition.com/resources/...ples_23092010/
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Natural Flu Medicines
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
October 2009
Nature provides us all that we need to live and thrive. Two generations ago, people did not have Tylenol and Ny-Quil and Sudafed to get them through when they were ailing. Our ancestors had knowledge on medicinal herbs, and had proven tonics that alleviated symptoms and cured their illnesses. As with many forms of generational knowledge, things are forgotten. But, the time may come when we will need to know what our ancestors knew long before us.Nature has provided us many natural cures and natural antibiotics. Having knowledge of natural remedies is imperative to our overall health. Making natural remedies such as cough syrup and lozenges are not difficult in the least. All that is required is a knowledge base on what the ingredients are and how they effect our bodies.
If you find any recipes that may be of use, print it and store it in your G.O.O.D Manuals. There are certain ingredients that are constants in many natural medicinal concoctions. Adding herbs into the recipes below only enhances their healing power. In fact, if you combined them all and made a large quantity of cough syrup, this would last a few months. Some of these powerful medicinal enhancers are:
- Lemon – This fruit has a high Vitamin C content as well as breaks down phlegm.
- Honey - Honey has well-established antioxidants and antimicrobial effects, which could explain its contributions to wound healing. Honey also soothes on contact, which may help explain its effect on cough.
- Vinegar – Vinegar assists as a cough suppressant, aids in respiratory and sinus congestion, as well as alleviates sore throat.
- Garlic or Onion - Encased in these smelly herbs are natural antibiotics and assists in breaking down phlegm to have improved lung health.
- Whiskey, Bourbon or Brandy - These alcohols can assist as a sleeping aide and pain reducer. Note: only a capfull is needed.
- Ginger – In Chinese culture, ginger is considered the best home remedy for colds due to it’s antiviral compounds and assists in aiding digestion and alleviates symptoms of head colds.
- Cayenne Pepper- This spice assists in circulation and in inflammation.
- Sage – This herb restores the appetite and treats head colds and symptoms related to head colds.
- Thyme – This helps revive exhaustion and helps fight infection.
Cough Syrup BasePour boiling water over honey and vinegar in a cup. The taste is not so good, but it is effective. This is also helps with sore throats. You can add chopped fresh sage for that headache feeling, grated fresh ginger to help increase circulation, or a spoonful of chopped fresh thyme to fight infection. Cool the mixture. Take a 1/2 tblsp. three times a day.
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. vinegar
- 1 c. boiling water
Source: www.cooks.comGarlic Cough SyrupMince the garlic and place in a jar. Cover the minced garlic with honey and set it aside in the refrigerator for 14 days. Once the mixture has fermented you can add lemon juice (for added vitamin c), and take by the spoonful as needed. This alleviates symptoms from the flu, strep throat, sore throats, and coughs. Any unused portion of this syrup can be used for marinades or sauces.
- 1 quart jar
- 3-4 garlic bulbs, minced or use a fine grater
- honey
Source: www.cooks.comOnion Cough SyrupSlice the onion and set on a plate. Pour honey over the onion slices and allow to sit 5-6 hours covered. Drain off the syrup and use 1 tsp. every time you or your child coughs.
- 1 medium onion sliced
- honey
Source: www.cooks.comGarlic Teaadd garlic to two quarts of water and boil the mixture.
- 2 pieces of garlic
- 2 quarts of water
- chamomile tea bag or other herbal tea bag
- Honey
When water is piping hot, remove from the stove and pour into a tea cup with your favorite herbal tea bag. Allow the teabag to steep for 10-12 minutes. Add honey to thicken the mixture and drink slowly.
Source: www.ehow.comHoney Tonic for CoughAuthor: Tess PenningtonStir in honey int othe hot water and add a few splashes of water. This combination has healing properties as well as quiets the tickle associated with coughs.
- 1 tblsp. honey
- glass of hot water
- slice of lemon
Source: www.ehow.com
Web Site: http://www.readynutrition.com/
Date: October 28th, 2009
Related Categories: Dietary Wellness, Natural Alternatives, Recipes
Related Reading:
- Homemade Cough Lozenges
- Survival Food Series: Medicinal Plants for the Survival Garden
- Do It Yourself Condiments
- 30 Most Popular Herbs for Natural Medicine
- Prepping With Milk Allergies
http://readynutrition.com/resources/...ines_28102009/
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10 Easy Survival Seeds to Grow
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
November 2010
Survival seeds are one of those long term essential emergency preps that every family should have. If the days come when a survival garden is needed, the family will be happy to have invested in such an important prep item. In exchange for your energy and time, you will want a survival garden that will provide your family abundantly with food. Non-GMO, heirloom quality is best as these seeds produce seeds you can save for future harvests. However, stocking up on some packets of the GMO version is not a bad idea either. Having dependable seeds in times of a crisis is comparable to having another back up for your back ups. In this author’s opinion, a person can never have enough seeds. If stored properly, these seeds can last much longer than their expected expiration dates.
Easy Growing Varieties
Below are a list of easy to grow vegetable and fruit varieties that are not only easy to grow, but will also provide lots of nutrition. To learn more about the nutritional content of these varieties, click here.
One of the authors at Backwoods Home Magazine suggest planting survival perennials, or vegetables that come back on their own each year. Perennials such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, horseradish, garlic, perennial onions, and herbs of both culinary and medicinal. The survival perennials are an efficient way to produce food and make good use of your time. Some of these perennials, such as asparagus require two years to grow before they produce food. Therefore, this is why it is so important to research which type of vegetables and fruits you want in your survival garden.
- Nut/Fruit Trees – To learn more about essential nut and fruit trees for a survival homestead, click here.
- Squash/Zucchini
- Berries – Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
- Grapes
- Peas/Beans
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
Storing seeds will ensure that in a long-term disaster you will be able to provide needed nutrition and energy for more physical exertion and mental clarity. Those who have started their survival gardens have no doubt learned from a few garden mistakes along the way. Yet through these mistakes, gardeners have stumbled upon wisdom and grown into better gardeners. These experienced gardeners have taken certain factors into consideration before the seeds are planted, and through experience found which vegetables varieties are easier to grow.
Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.readynutrition.com/
Date: November 9th, 2010
Related Categories: Micro Farming, Survival Food
Related Reading:
- 9 Things to Consider Before You Ever Grow a Survival Garden
- 5 Reasons Why There is Security in Seeds
- Survival Food Series: 25 Survival Seeds You Need For Your Garden
- Survival Seeds to Sow – Heirloom, GMO or Non-GMO
http://readynutrition.com/resources/...grow_09112010/
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11 Emergency Food Items That Can Last a Lifetime
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
March 2011
http://readynutrition.com/wp-content...randspoons.jpgDid you know that with proper storage techniques, you can have a lifetime supply of certain foods? Certain foods can stand the test of time, and continue being a lifeline to the families that stored it. Knowing which foods last indefinitely and how to store them are you keys to success.
The best way to store food for the long term is by using a multi-barrier system. This system protects the food from natural elements such as moisture and sunlight, as well as from insect infestations.
Typically, those who store bulk foods look for inexpensive items that have multi-purposes and will last long term. Listed below are 11 food items that are not only multi-purpose preps, but they can last a lifetime!
Honey
Honey never really goes bad. In a tomb in Egypt 3,000 years ago, honey was found and was still edible. If there are temperature fluctuations and sunlight, then the consistency and color can change. Many honey harvesters say that when honey crystallizes, then it can be re-heated and used just like fresh honey. Because of honey’s low water content, microorganisms do not like the environment.
Uses: curing, baking, medicinal, wine (mead)
Salt
Although salt is prone to absorbing moisture, it’s shelf life is indefinite. This indispensable mineral will be a valuable commodity in a long term disaster and will be a essential bartering item.
Uses: curing, preservative, cooking, cleaning, medicinal, tanning hides
Sugar
Life would be so boring without sugar. Much like salt, sugar is also prone to absorbing moisture, but this problem can be eradicated by adding some rice granules into the storage container.
Uses: sweetener for beverages, breads, cakes, preservative, curing, gardening, insecticide (equal parts of sugar and baking powder will kill cockroaches).
Wheat
Wheat is a major part of the diet for over 1/3 of the world. This popular staple supplies 20% of daily calories to a majority of the world population. Besides being a high carbohydrate food, wheat contains valuable protein, minerals, and vitamins. Wheat protein, when balanced by other foods that supply certain amino acids such as lysine, is an efficient source of protein.
Uses: baking, making alcohol, livestock feed, leavening agent
Dried corn
Essentially, dried corn can be substituted for any recipe that calls for fresh corn. Our ancestors began drying corn because of it’s short lived season. To extend the shelf life of corn, it has to be preserved by drying it out so it can be used later in the year.
Uses: soups, cornmeal, livestock feed, hominy and grits, heating source (do a search for corn burning fireplaces).
Baking soda
This multi-purpose prep is a must have for long term storage.
Uses: teeth cleaner, household cleaner, dish cleaner, laundry detergent booster, leavening agent for baked goods, tarnish remover
Instant coffee, tea, and cocoa
Adding these to your long term storage will not only add a variety to just drinking water, but will also lift morale. Instant coffee is high vacuum freeze dried. So, as long as it is not introduced to moisture, then it will last. Storage life for all teas and cocoas can be extended by using desiccant packets or oxygen absorbing packets, and by repackaging the items with a vacuum sealing.
Uses: beverages, flavor additions to baked goods
Non-carbonated soft drinks
Although many of us prefer carbonated beverages, over time the sugars break down and the drink flavor is altered. Non-carbonated beverages stand a longer test of time. And, as long as the bottles are stored in optimum conditions, they will last. Non-carbonated beverages include: vitamin water, Gatorade, juices, bottled water.
Uses: beverages, flavor additions to baked goods
White rice
White rice is a major staple item that preppers like to put away because it’s a great source for calories, cheap and has a long shelf life. If properly stored this popular food staple can last 30 years or more.
Uses: breakfast meal, addition to soups, side dishes, alternative to wheat flour
Bouillon products
Because bouillon products contain large amounts of salt, the product is preserved. However, over time, the taste of the bouillon could be altered. If storing bouillon cubes, it would be best repackage them using a food sealer or sealed in mylar bags.
Uses: flavoring dishes
Powdered milk – in nitrogen packed cans
Powdered milk can last indefinitely, however, it is advised to prolong it’s shelf life by either repackaging it for longer term storage, or placing it in the freezer. If the powdered milk developes an odor or has turned a yellowish tint, it’s time to discard.
Uses: beverage, dessert, ingredient for certain breads, addition to soup and baked goods.
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Are You Ready Series: Best Practices For Long Term Food Storage
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 2011
http://readynutrition.com/wp-content...od-storage.jpgArchaic food caches have been found all over the world. The fact that our ancestors planned for the unexpected gives us a clear picture into their unpredictable lifestyle. Foods such as nuts, extra tools and foraging tools were put away for a time when they were needed the most (Source). Of course, the lifetimes of these preps were contingent upon proper storage methods.
These days, we know much more about proper techniques for food packaging. With the proper storage tools a person can store many different types of foods indefinitely. Learning how to store food is cost effective, simple to understand and is a life saver if an emergency arises.
Many preppers like to choose a multi-barrier system to store their food. This barrier system is for long term purposes, and will keep natural elements such as sunlight, moisture and air out of the container when sealed.
Storing Food in Containers
Any food that you plan to store indefinitely, should be stored in food grade containers. These containers will not transfer any non-food chemicals into the food, nor are their any chemicals within the container that are hazardous to humans. Typically a food grade container has a #2 by the recycle symbol or the acronymn ”HDPE” stamp on the bottom (HPDE stands for “high density polyethylene”). Before any food is to be stored, clean the containers with soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. 5 gallon plastic containers are the most popular amongst those who store bulk quantities of food.
Additionally, make sure that the lid you purchase for your container is air tight and spill proof. Lids with gaskets and gamma lids are great lids as they do not require a lid opener. They are typically a little more expensive compared to the traditional bucket lid. However, they are easier to open and close, and are worth every penny!
Food Liner
Research has shown that over time, slow amounts of oxygen seep through the walls of plastic containers. Consequently, over time natural elements, and even insects can find a way inside the container. To add additional protection, adding a food liner, such as Mylar bags will ensure that there are multiple barriers for the food to be protected in. Investing in the thickest grade of Mylar would be a good investment for your food storage endeavors. Simply because if properly cared for, mylar bags can last up to 20 years! Additionally, the thicker grade Mylar makes a big difference in the taste of food. The greatest part of investing in these food liners is that because they are so durable they can be reused over and over again.
For those who are investing in a shorter term food supply, many simply pour the food contents into mylar bags, add an oxygen absorber and properly seal the bag closed. This will keep a short term food supply fresh over a given period of time.
Oxygen Absorber Packets and Dessicant Packets
Using oxygen absorbers greatly prolongs the shelf life of stored food. Because it absorbs the oxygen from the container, it inhibits the growth of aerobic pathogens and molds. Oxygen absorbers begin working the moment they are exposed to oxygen. Therefore, it is best to work as efficiently as possible. Oxygen absorbers come in different sizes, so pay attention to the size needed for the container. Typically, 2,000 cc’s of oxygen absorbers should be added in one 5 gallon bucket. Oxygen absorbers are not edible, not toxic and does not effect the smell and taste of the product.
Desiccant packets moderate the moisture level when placed in a food container. They do not absorb the moisture. Please note that desiccant is not edible. If the packet somehow breaks open and spills onto the stored food, the entire contents of the container must be thrown away. There are certain food items that desiccant should not be added to. Specifically, flour, sugar and salt. These items need a certain amount of moisture to stay activated, and if desiccant is added to it, they will turn into a hard brick.
*Bonus*
To prevent bug infestations, use diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth are the fossilized remains of diatoms. They are organic and are safe to use on food. Use 1 cup to each 25 pounds of food.
The Sealing Process
Where Do I Purchase These Products?
- Place the Mylar bag into the 5 gallon container.
- Add your oxygen absorbers or desiccant to the bottom of the bag to ensure all sections of the container are protected. Also, remember you will be adding an absorber at the top of the Mylar bag as well.
- Begin pouring contents into the Mylar bag.
- When you have poured the contents into the Mylar bag and have hit the middle section of the being filled, shake the Mylar bag from time to time to make sure the food gets into the crevices of the bag.
- Continue adding food to the mylar bag until you hit your desired amount. I usually stop 3/4 to the top.
- Next, begin folding the Mylar down in order to get trapped air to escape out the gap.
- Once the air is out, begin sealing the Mylar. A person can use a heat clamp or they can seal their Mylar bags with a simple at home iron put on the highest setting. If the home iron method is used, make sure you have a hard surface such as a cutting board or book to iron on and slowly go over the Mylar bag. Note: this method must be done gently and slowly or the Mylar will be damaged. Seal straight across the Mylar bag in a straight line. Leave the last 2-3 inches unsealed in order to push the last remaining air out of the bag.
- Once the trapped air has been pushed out, seal the last 2-3 inches.
- Push the sealed Mylar bag into the container. Optional: Add another oxygen absorber on top of the sealed Mylar bag. Place the lid on the container and make sure the lid is on completely.
- Store in a dark storage area, where temperatures, moisture levels and sunlight do not fluctuate.
Food is an investment into your future and your family’s livelihood. Therefore, you must do all that you can to protect that investment for the long term. Using the multi-barrier system will ensure that the food is stored in optimal conditions and that the contents inside are protected for the long term.
- The Ready Store – For smaller scale purchases
- Amazon - For smaller scale purchases
- Ropak – For large quantity purchases
- Sorbent Systems – For large quantity purchases
- Call around to different restaurants around your area and see if they have any food grade containers with lids that you can have. Typically, restaurants are happy to give these away as they have no need for these containers after they are used. This could save you a lot of money investing in food grade containers.
Related Reading:
- Week 19 of 52: Food Storage Tools
- Get Prepped Newsletter: September 9, 2011
- Meet Your Emergency Food’s Worst Enemies
- Food Storage Demystified
- Fox News Demonstration: Long Term Food Storage Basics – How to Pack Rice, Wheat, Beans and Dry Goods
http://readynutrition.com/resources/...rage_03042011/
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Dual Sport SHTF Motorcycles
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SHTF Motorcycle
When its bug out time, roads may be clogged with traffic or strewn with debris. A bug out motorcycle may be a good choice. In this picture a Kawasaki Super Sherpa is ready for both highway and off road bugging out.
The Urban Survivalist has a post on using Motorcycles for SHTF bugging out. While moving out an entire family on a motorcycle is certainly problematic, for the single man or woman urban apartment dweller that has a minimum of belongings that require taking along with them this makes good sense for a variety of reasons including:
• Excellent gas mileage. Even the largest motorcycles have gas mileage that is comparable to small cars. Smaller bikes get in the range of 60 mpg.
• Improved mobility. Motorcycles can negotiate terrain that cars cannot.
They can maneuver through traffic jams and debris strewn streets and even go across lots and off road using railroad tracks and trails if need be. You can even rig a raft for your motorcycle to ford streams and lakes where bridges are down, clogged with traffic or non-existent try that with a car or truck!
• Increased awareness. Survival Topics has always stressed the importance of being aware of ones surroundings. From spotting potential threats to encountering unexpected opportunities for acquiring food and water supplies, riding on an open motorcycle as opposed to being esconced within a vehicle means you will be more aware of the areas you are traveling through.
• Easier Maintenance. A motorcycle is easier and less expensive to maintain and repair than a car or truck.
When the infrastructure begins to collapse many roads will likely be maintained little if at all. In a short time they will become virtually impassible to all but the most nimble of transportation. When that happens traveling on foot, by bicycle, and on motorcycle may be the only viable options.
A good choice for a motorcycle bug out vehicle would be a dual sport motorcycle since this would have no problems handling rough off-road terrain AND cruising highways. Good choices for entry level SHTF motorcycles include the Kawasaki Super Sherpa, the Yamaha TW 200 and the Suzuki DR-200. Of course, do your research and test ride as many bikes as you can to find what works best for you.
You can read the Urban Survivalist's take on SHTF Motorcycling here. http://theurbansurvivalist.blogspot.com ... -shtf.html
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/ ... torcycles/
KTM 250SX-F & Kawasaki Super Sherpa - High Speed Runs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TcxQBU2bXI
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Friday, March 25, 2011
Creating a Home Evacuation Plan - Part 1
Home Evacuation Plans can be useful for many different types of disasters: hurricanes, tsunamis, and statistically more common, house fires. Home Evacuation Plans can be life-saving for you and the ones you love.
Everyone in your family should know the plan, even the little ones, so set aside an evening when the whole family can get together to make your emergency escape plan. Follow these simple steps and you will be ready for evacuation.
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Home Map Example (click for free handout) http://beprepared.com/images/art/Fire Escape.pdf
The first thing we are going to focus on is making a map of your home. On the map of your home you should consider including the following:
•Label every exit which may become a potential fire escape
• In every room, label the primary exit and a secondary exit in case the primary exit is blocked
• Label every room where a family member sleeps
• Label the main shutoff valves of the gas, electricity, and water lines
• Establish a safe meeting place outside the home so everyone can be accounted for
• Label where all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are located
• Try to limit evacuation procedures to three or four steps
The U.S. Fire Administration has a handout available that could be very helpful as you create your own Home Evacuation Plan. That handout and more reminders can be found here. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/usfap ... e_grid.pdf
In part two we will talk about the importance of practicing your home escape plan.
Posted by Emergency Essentials® at 4:18 PM
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Emergency Essentials in the News
Between stories in the news about last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan and all the problems Japan is facing with their nuclear facilities, it's no wonder that Emergency Preparedness has been pushed to the front of many of our minds.
Recently, KSL visited our South Jordan store location to report on the increased demand of emergency supplies. Click here for the text version of the article. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14758351
Video at the link: http://preparednesspantry.blogspot.com/ ... -news.html
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Freeze-Dried Mozzarella Cheese (I Love Cheese and had no idea) :D
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The Top 50 Survival Blogs!
20 CARD\'s blog
33 Doug Ritter
35 Survival Joe
39 SHTF Blog
40 SHTF America
50 The Retreat
http://www.survivaltop50.com/
=> View these other great Survival Blogs that almost made the Top 50!
http://www.survivaltop50.com/runners-up/
Water Storage Quiz
How much do you know about water storage? We've made up a fun quiz to test your knowledge on various aspects of water storage, filtration and purification. See how well you do by clicking the button on the bottom of the page.
1. The Katadyn® Combi microfilter can filter up to how many gallons of water before the ceramic element needs to be replaced?
A) 100
B) 750
C) 4,000
D) 13,000
The correct answer was D
(D) The Katadyn Combi water filter can filter up to 13,000 gallons of water (depending on turbidity) before the ceramic element (0.2 microns) needs to be replaced. It is effective against bacteria and protozoa and also reduces chemicals and bad taste with its carbon element. It has an output of approximately 1 quart per minute.
2. A 55-gallon water barrel weighs approximately how much when it is full?
A) 125 lbs
B) 220 lbs
C) 470 lbs
D) 510 lbs
The correct answer was C
(C) A 55-gallon water barrel weighs approximately 470 pounds when it is full. It is important to have both portable and non-portable water in your storage. A 55-gallon barrel is considered non-portable or permanent water. Portable water is easily carried in an emergency kit (pre-packaged) or can be put into a vehicle (boxed).
3. At a minimum, how much water should you store per person for a two week period?
A) 7 gallons
B) 14 gallons
C) 21 gallons
D) 28 gallons
The correct answer was B
(B) For your permanent home water storage supply, you should store approximately 14 gallons per person for a two week period. For minimum water storage, a 55-gallon barrel will supply a family of 4 for 14 days.
4. Which of the following is NOT a commonly used method to purify water?
A) Boiling
B) Aeration
C) Adding a chemical
D) Ultraviolet (UV) light
Correct!
5. Boiling water destroys which of the following?
A) Pollutants
B) Poor taste
C) Foul odors
D) Most types of disease-causing organisms
Correct!
6. How much liquid bleach (regular, unscented) should you add to a gallon of water to help disinfect it?
A) 1/16 tsp - 4 drops
B) 1/8 tsp - 8 drops
C) 1/3 tsp - 21 drops
D) 1/2 tsp - 32 drops
The correct answer was B
(B) According to the EPA, 'If you can’t boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Bleach will kill some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms that may be in the water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through cleans cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for disinfection. Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented liquid household bleach for each gallon of water and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it.'
7. A ceramic microfilter will filter all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Viruses
B) Bacteria
C) Giardia
D) Cryptosporidium
The correct answer was A
(A) The best ceramic microfilter system may not get all viruses out of your water since those organisms are smaller than the smallest pore sizes available on ceramic microfilters. The most common pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms in untreated water are protozoa and bacteria. Viruses are normally not a problem in water in North America. However, there is always the possibility of viral contamination in a disaster situation and in other parts of the world.
8. Solar stills are capable of distilling tainted water from which one of the following sources?
A) Radiator fluid
B) Seawater
C) Fuels
D) None of the above
The correct answer was B
(B) Solar stills operate using a 'greenhouse effect' and are capable of distilling almost any kind of tainted water or moisture source, including seawater. A solar still cannot distill water from liquids that give off volatile toxins such as radiator fluid or fuels.
9. Although protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.) are removed by most filters, how long does it take to kill them with Chlorine or Chlorine Dioxide?
A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
C) 4 hours
D) 6 hours
The correct answer was C
(C) Protozoa take up to 4 hours to kill with Chlorine or Chloride Dioxide. In contrast, they are removed with most types of filters. Interestingly, Chloride Dioxide tablets will kill both bacteria and viruses within 15 minutes, even in cold, dirty water.
10. The combination many experts now recommend when viruses may be present in water is first microfiltration, then:
A) Boiling
B) Distillation
C) Only filtration is needed
D) Chemical Treatment
The correct answer was D
(D) The combination many experts now recommend when viruses may be present in water is first microfiltration, then chemical treatment. Only a 15 minute wait time is necessary. As a bonus to other methods, dirty water will be cleaned up and if the microfilter has activated charcoal (carbon) in it, it is possible that harmful organic chemicals may be removed.
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If errors are found please email us at sales@beprepared.com.
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Investments for Preparedness and Wealth Preservation That Your Financial Adviser Will Never Mention
Author: Mac Slavo
- March 31st, 2011
8 Comments
For the last several years we’ve been providing our readers with news, commentary, strategies and tips for weathering the economic and political storms sweeping the world.
As the economy continues to sputter, even two years after the great financial collapse of 2008, many state sponsored media analysts and talking heads would have you believe that we’ve managed to get through the worst of it, and that bright and sunny days are ahead of us.
While our views have been considered to be pessimistic by some, many others understand that we’re not making these things up, and that our recommended SHTF planning strategies have been grounded in the reality on main street, not the scripted quasi-realities depicted on television.
Last year, we opined that the current economic and political climates in the United States and abroad demanded a different perspective for those wishing to protect wealth, preserve individual liberty and maintain peace of mind. In Wealth Preservation, Investing, and Prepping For Hard Times (January 2010) we put forth the notion that traditional stock investments, 401K’s and other asset classes recommended by university or workshop trained financial advisers were inadequate for preparing you and your family for the crisis in which we find ourselves today. Among other things, we advised our readers to look seriously at non-traditional, non-mainstream assets like precious metals, food, clothing, and other commodity-tied assets that would sky rocket in price as the dollar lost value and uncertainty in government’s ability to mitigate economic collapse reached a boiling point.
For those just joining us, the same strategies that applied in the first quarter of 2010 should be closely considered today.
Jim Sinclair, a precious metals specialist, foreign currency trader and publisher of Jim Sinclair’s Mineset, also agrees with our sentiment, urging his readers to take action immediately if they have the means to do so:
Truth be told, the major theme of JSMineset has been one of self reliance in a monetary, physical and Emersonian sense. Our focus has been on your assets, your debt positions, legal matters and investment.We want to believe that the corruption in the White House, Wall Street, the Federal Reserve and the halls of our federal and state legislatures will cease, that our leaders and those in control of our policies realize where we’re headed and put a stop to it.
…
Has Trader Dan not moved from Houston to an undisclosed location in Idaho? I am writing to you from a farm in North Western Connecticut, a rural part of the state. We provide our own water, can provide our own power, have a radio system fallback for communication, satellite phones, furnaces that burn coal or oil, an indoor pistol range that can take up to .50 calibre cartridges into a Detroit bullet trap, perimeter lighting, 16 camera day and night camera security and much more.
We have focused on conservative financial structures which were in truth taking you into the position of being your own central bank.
…
There is one more step that you really need to consider. The housing market is in a black hole from which it very well might not recover for generations. Land is cheap. When homes or small farms have been foreclosed on, resulting in bank owned property, they are sold in a fire sale to buyers with cash in hand.
Do as I have done. Do as Trader Dan has done.
…
I strongly suggest that if you have benefited from JSMineset, as many of you have, consider buying yourself a hobby farm and seriously go for the exercise of self reliance. I am certain that if even to cut costs you are going to need it.
The financial system is screwed up beyond any repair. On top of that there is no desire to repair anything because the wise guys know it is impossible. It is the world that the flushing of Lehman Bros. has created. It is not a brave new world. It is more like an audition for a world of Mad Max and the Day After.
It does not matter whether or not there is more QE. The damage is done and there is no solution.
But given that absolutely nothing has been done to curb the status quo that brought our country to the brink in 2008, we reluctantly remain pessimistic about the state of our union today and for years to come.
Jim Sinclair describes our sentiment in the most simplest terms possible: “The damage is done and there is no solution.”
For those who have come to the same conclusion, now is the time to take action.
While we can’t predict exactly what will happen – slow and drawn out depression, hyperinflation, economic collapse, stagflation, riots – we feel confident suggesting that life in America as we have known it for the last three decades is about to change drastically – in fact, it’s clear that we’re in the process of transformation right now.
Prices for essential goods will rise. Wages, in terms of real purchasing power, will go down. Taxes will increase across the board in an attempt to counter out of control spending. Government interference in our personal lives, on every level, will expand. Politicians and media will turn the people against each other. Food riots and violence may become commonplace.
Thing will get worse, much worse, before they get better. Thus far, the effects of the economic paradigm shift taking place have been, for the most part, muted. But this will change. And when it does, you will want to be as far removed as possible.
While owning stocks, bonds, and other traditional financial investments may remain a part of any growth or retirement portfolio, we urge those concerned with the coming changes to make the necessary changes in their lifestyles to insulate themselves, as much as possible, from the coming storms.
Today’s savvy investors are planning not just for retirement, but for living in a system that will undoubtedly fail to provide for the millions who have become dependent on easy credit, cheap food and gas, and a government safety net in case things don’t go as planned.
We believe in maintaining a diversified portfolio, but our definition of diversification, and that of your financial adviser may differ. Here’s where we’re putting our money, time and energy:
These may not be the investments vehicles of the baby boom generation, but, we’re not living in the boom times of the 20th century anymore.
- Invest in precious metals. Yes, we know, you can’t eat them. But so long as gold and silver hold value by central banks in China, India and pretty much everywhere in the world except the USA, there will be a buyer for this asset. As things get worse, prices will go higher, which means that if you need to buy other hard assets, you may be able to do so by trading in your metals.
- A farm, ranch. Like Mr. Sinclair and his friends, the Slavo family is getting out of the burbs. While we have come to love the suburban lifestyle in which we all grew up, including the ease of patronizing name brand retail outlets, we prefer to exchange our quarter-acre lot for a larger, more self-reliant compliant property. Larger scale food growth, micro farming and open space, available at cheaper prices when compared to suburban living, is our next destination. While hyperinflation, economic collapse, and city-wide riots are low probability events, being outside of a major metroplex is much better than being smack-dab in the middle of it all. Plus, did we mention the nice, open views of country side or mountain living? For those unable to buy, consider renting. With a three year backlog of inventory, homeowners are willing to work deals. They’ll rent for cheap, lease-to-own, sell without a down payment, and jump through hoops to put you into their property – so getting into the country on a low budget is certainly feasible right now. For those who have made huge gains in gold or silver, maybe trading some of that in for a tax sale property or foreclosure would be a good barter. The point is, there are very cost-effective ways available right now to get out of the city and into a safer, more productive property today.
- Bulk Food. There’s a reason that the largest freeze dried food manufacturer in the world is unable to keep up with demand. Now, imagine for a second that the even a small percentage of the general population realizes that costs are hyperinflating. Prices will go up that much more, and your local retail outlet may put a limit on how much rice or beans you can buy. This happened in late 2008 at major retailers like Target. And it can certainly happen again. We hear professional traders talk about investing in commodities, and we agree that buying wheat, beans, rice, and other essential goods is a good investment. But where we differ, is that we prefer to hold the physical asset. Using the proper storage techniques, dry grains, milk and other foods can be stored for 20 – 30 years. We’re not suggesting you just buy buckets of rice and throw them in a closet, though. Buy several hundred pounds of food, package them correctly, and rotate them into your food consumption on a regular basis. Rinse and repeat. For those who followed our advice in 2010, you would have saved 40%Â – 75% on today’s prices. For those with animals, consider stocking up on feed as well. This strategy will help to not only preserve wealth, but provide an emergency supply of goods in case of a food supply interruption. But something like that can’t happen right? Ask the people in Japan, and you’ll get a starkly different opinion on the matter.
- Micro farming and Micro Livestock – Animals, Veggies and Fruit. Wifey Slavo is getting a Dexter cow. While we love our organic milk, we’d prefer to have the ability to produce our own on demand. The same goes for chickens, rabbits and goats. You’d be surprised how easily you can establish a small-scale bartering system in your local community or neighborhood. Brother Slavo, who is already setting up the infrastructure at our new homestead, regularly interacts with neighbors, friends and community members, trading everything from tomatoes to fresh eggs. In return, he builds personal relationships with those in the surrounding area, gets fresh produce that we have yet to grow ourselves, and assistance with building out our homesteading infrastructure. You’d be amazed how valuable fresh, organically produced food is and what people are willing to trade for it. Also consider storing some seeds, heirloom variety, just in case. Even if you don’t have the ability to get out to a farm, do what you can at your suburban home or apartment dwelling – there are lots of options available.
- Alternative Energy. We’re all about alternative energy, just not when it’s mandated on us by government. That’s why our position is that alternative energy should start from the needs of the individual, not the carbon exchange credit system set to make billions when costly laws, taxes and fees are passed by our Congressional representatives. If there’s one thing that will continue to rise in price and lead to economic despair, it’s energy. Oil, coal, electricity – it’s all going to be expensive. That’s why we recommend finding ways to create your own. There’s solar, of course, as well as wind or micro-wind, and hydro if you have running water. Even if you were to take yourself partially off the grid, it’s worth it. Start small, and build from there. Solar systems, especially do-it-yourself systems with the help of neighbors and friends who have already built there own, can be quite cheap and often pay themselves off in a matter of a few years. In addition, building for yourself and continuing to expand may actually put money in your own pocket when you feed power back to the grid. If you don’t have the up front cash to buy a system outright, financing is available – and since we’re talking about an essential good, energy, taking a small loan for such an asset may not be a horrible idea if you can get good terms.
- Get Skilled. The days of working in cubes (for the most part) are numbered. In the future, if you don’t produce a necessary product or service, you will be obsolete. These jobs, like it or not, are migrating to countries where workers are willing to do the labor for 80% less than Americans. We recommend investing time and energy to acquiring new skills. Physical skills. Welding, machining, carpentry, sewing, installation of alternative energy platforms, farming, raising animals, alcohol distillation, etc. Skills like alternative medicine will be useful as health care becomes rationed. Look to the past, as in the 1800′s and early 1900′s, and you’ll get a good idea of jobs and skills that may pay well in the future.
- Guns and Ammo. It might sound a little excessive, but the fact of the matter is that guns retain their value for the most part. Ammunition, as we saw in 2008, is subject to supply and demand crunches as well. As metal prices continue to rise, and uncertainty pervades the American psyche, people will continue to stock up. You may very well be able to trade ammunition for cash, silver or other items. The system doesn’t even have to collapse for this. A host of ‘gun trader’ type web sites already have bartering systems in place. Plus, if the worst does happen, and the system goes catatonic, wouldn’t you rather have a few thousand rounds of 7.62×39 than none?
- Clothes. The CEO of Walmart recently said that inflation is going to affect prices in months to come. If you’ve got kids, purchasing clothes in advance, especially things like socks, underwear, pajamas, jackets, jeans, shoes and shirts may save you money down the road. And again, if the worst were to happen, you’d have apparel for the kids (or for trade) for years ahead. For those who know how to sew, buying fabric now can save hundreds of dollars later.
- Tools. You can never have too many nails or screws or too much equipment. If you can, start investing in tools that you’ll be using around the house/farm. Everything from standard toolbelt accessories to quality farming equipment like shovels or even a tractor. A close friend recently built his own alcohol still for production of drinking alcohol and ethanol fuel. Like everything else, prices for these types of assets will continue to rise – and in a SHTF scenario, they will become invaluable and highly sought after. If you can, buy two of everything, especially when it comes to food production or raising animals.
There are a host of other investment opportunities out there. Take the time to think about where we’re headed, or might be headed, and make your investment decisions accordingly.
It’s impossible to predict exactly what to expect. We certainly can’t do it, and neither can your financial adviser or an investment pundit on television. But we can try and plan a strategy that covers most of our bases. While we don’t recommend investing your entire retirement portfolio into the above assets, some diversification is certainly prudent.
The assets recommended above will come in handy, whether or not a complete and total economic collapse is in our future. If you invest properly, and with forethought, most of the items will not be locked away in a closet for 15 years waiting for disaster. They are investments that can go to work for you right now.
http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-pr...ntion_03312011
Walnuts May Be The Best Choice Among Nuts
March 31, 2011
by Personal Liberty News Desk
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When compared to the nutritional and antioxidant content of pistachios, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts and pecans, walnuts came out on top as the most nutrient-dense of them all, according to researchers at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
Walnuts are high in protein, fiber, vitamin E and other essential vitamins and minerals. Despite this, Americans consume very little of the nut.
"A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. But unfortunately, people don't eat a lot of them. This study suggests that consumers should eat more walnuts as part of a healthy diet," said study author Joe Vinson, Ph.D.
In addition to dominating other nuts in the nutrient department, walnuts are also commonly eaten raw. This is an advantage since roasting nuts — and other foods — has the ability to destroy vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Study authors noted that while walnuts are rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fats and high in calories, they are not likely to cause weight gain since they have a tendency to quickly satiate hunger, which prevents overeating.
http://www.personalliberty.com/news/wal ... 03_31_PLA_[P11806743]&rrid=238434262
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Garden As If Your Life Depends On It, Because It Will
There are at least five reasons why more of us should take up the spade, make some compost, and start gardening with a vengeance. March 29, 2011
http://images.alternet.org/images/ma...40x484_310x220Photo Credit: di the huntress
Spring has sprung -- at least south of the northern tier of states where snow still has a ban on it -- and the grass has 'riz. And so has the price of most foods, which is particularly devastating just now when so many Americans are unemployed, underemployed, retired or retiring, on declining or fixed incomes and are having to choose between paying their mortgages, credit card bills, car payments, and medical and utility bills and eating enough and healthily. Many are eating more fast food, prepared foods, junk food -- all of which are also becoming more expensive -- or less food.
In some American towns, and not just impoverished backwaters, as many as 30 percent of residents can't afford to feed themselves and their families sufficiently, let alone nutritiously. Here in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina where I live it's 25 percent. Across the country one out of six of the elderly suffers from malnutrition and hunger. And the number of children served one or two of their heartiest, healthiest meals by their schools grows annually as the number of them living at poverty levels tops 20 percent. Thirty-seven million Americans rely on food banks that now routinely sport half-empty shelves and report near-empty bank accounts. And this is a prosperous nation!
In some cases this round of price hikes on everything from cereal and steak to fresh veggies and bread -- and even the flour that can usually be bought cheaply to make it -- will be temporary. But over the long term the systems that have provided most Americans with a diversity, quantity and quality of foods envied by the rest of the world are not going to be as reliable as they were.
What's for Supper Down the Road?
As they move through the next few decades Americans can expect:
- The price of conventionally produced food to rise and not come down again;
- Prices to rollercoaster so that budgeting is unpredictable;
- Some foods to become very expensive compared to what we're used to;
- And other foods, beginning with some of the multiple versions of the same thing made by the same company to garner a bigger market share and more shelf space, to gradually become unavailable.
Tremors in food supply chains and pricing will make gardening look like a lot more than a hobby, a seasonal workout, a practical way to fill your pantry with your summer favorites, or a physically, spiritually and mentally healing activity, or all four. Gardening and small-scale and collective farming, especially of staple crops and the ones that could stave off malnutrition, could become as important as bringing home the bacon, both the piggy and the dollar kind. Why?
Why Is Gardening So Important Now?
There are at least five reasons why more of us should take up spade, rake and hoe, make compost and raise good soil and garden beds with a vengeance, starting this spring and with an eye toward forever.
1) Peak oil. Most petroleum experts agree that we shot past peak oil in the U.S. around 1971. Lest you've missed the raging, that's the point at which more than half the readily, affordably retrievable oil in reserves has been used up, what remains is more expensive to retrieve, and the dregs are irretrievable. We've shot or are about to shoot past peak worldwide, estimates of when ranging from 2007 to 2013, with many oil company execs agreeing to at least the latter. There are no new cheap-easy oil fields coming on line. Any new fields you hear about or new methods, like tar sands drilling are expensive, water guzzling, dangerous, environmentally disastrous and unlikely to produce more than a few years worth of oil, and that a decade or more down the line. That means abundant, cheap oil is about to be history. What difference does that make?
For one thing, there is no replacement for oil that can do all that oil has done as cheaply and universally as oil has done it. I offer an exercise in Life Rules, "The ABC's of Peak Oil" which helps readers imaginatively subtract from their lives everything that depends in one way or another on cheap easy oil. It doesn't leave much. (See Beth Terry's Web site, for example, for what subtracting plastics may entail.)
The global economy that presently supplies us with our food, runs on cheap oil and lots of it. It runs slower and less predictably on expensive oil that's hard to get because it's located in hard-to-reach or high-risk conflict-ridden zones. Cheap, abundant food on the shelves of grocery and big box stores and food banks, on our tables and in our bellies depends on cheap abundant oil for fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and to power farm machinery and transport food from fields to processors and packagers and then to purveyors and consumers, around the world. Past peak, that system's going to have the half-life of the strontium 90 that's escaping the Fukushimi Dai-ichi reactor: 29 years, or thereabouts. One good global crisis, and not that long.
2) Peak soil & space. A couple of links between peak oil and peak soil: First, it matters that one of the proposed alternatives to oil is biofuels. Acreage around the world is being converted from production of corn, wheat and soy for human and animal consumption -- i.e. food -- to production of ethanol and biofuels to put in trucks and cars and ... which makes remaining corn, et al., more expensive. Some energy economy geniuses are proposing that Afghans, for example, convert the fields of opium poppies that are their primary agricultural export, not to growing grains or legumes or other staple foods, but to biofuel, which would, not coincidentally, make the gasoline that goes in American military equipment much cheaper and provide Afghans with a profitable market item rather than food.
According to a 2009 National Geographic staff report, "The corn used to make a 25-gallon tank of ethanol would feed one person for a year." Tell that to Archer-Daniels-Midland, Al Gore's deep-pockets friend and mega-ethanol and corn products producer. Second, the huge oil-gluttonous machinery that has made factory farming possible has compacted soils, literally crushing the life out of them.
Arable land in the developing or so-called Third World has been at a premium since time immemorial, thanks to geographic location and/or persistent plundering by empires old and new. Revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East are occurring not just to obtain more democratic governments but also to obtain more food and more affordable food. Revolutionaries are barking up a tree that's seen better days.
In the United States and elsewhere in the developed, read "First" world, arable land has reached peak production. All those petroleum-based products that fueled the Green Revolution of the last century, also produce so many crops, constantly, with support from toxic chemicals and without concern for the microbes that make soil a live, self-regenerating system, that most American farmland -- if its farmers didn't go organic a while back -- is comprised of dead soils. Peak oil makes a repeat of the petroleum-driven 20th century Green Revolution impossible, which is good for soil and other living things, not so much for food prices and supplies.
After peak, in soil like in oil, comes descent. Adding insult to injury, every year farmers lose thousands of acres of arable land to urban and suburban sprawl and more tons of topsoil than they produce of grain and other field crops to attrition. Half the Earth's original trove of topsoil, like that which once permitted the American Midwest to feed the world, has been lost to wind and erosion. Millions of years in the making, it has been depleted and degraded by industrialized agriculture in only a couple of centuries. China's soils ride easterly winds across the Pacific to settle out on cars and rooftops in California while the American Bread Basket's soils are building deltas and dead zones at the mouth of the Mississippi. Like oil, that soil isn't coming back. We can only build it, help it to build itself and wait.
3) Monoculture. We can cut to the chase on this one. The food we eat is produced on industrial-strength, fossil-fuel-driven super farms. Those farms practice monoculture: the planting one crop, often of one genetic strain of that crop, at a time and sometimes year after year over vast landscapes of plowed field. When thousands of acres of farmland are sown with the same genetic strain of grain, uncongenial bout of weather, disease or pest to which that strain is susceptible can wipe out the whole crop.
At present the Ug99 fungus, called stem rust, which emerged a decade ago in Africa, could wipe out more than 80 percent of the world's wheat crops as it spreads, according to a 2009 article in the L. A. Times. Recent studies follow its appearance in other countries downwind of eastern Africa where it originated, including Yemen and Iran (where revolutionaries are already protesting rising prices and shortages), which opens the possibility of its emergence further downwind in Central and Eastern Asia. The race is on to breed resistant plants before it reaches Canada or the U.S. But it can take a decade or more to create a universally adaptable new genetic line that is resistant to a new disease like stem rust that can travel much faster than that. The current spike in the price of wheat is due in part to Ug99 which might properly be renamed "Ugh."
4) Climate instability. Bad -- uncongenial -- weather has lately devastated crops in the upper Midwest, Florida, Mexico, Russia, China, Australia, parts of Africa and elsewhere. Many climate scientists believe we've passed the equivalent of peak friendly and familiar weather, too. And while increasing heat will bedevil harvests, intense cold, downpours and flooding, drought and destructive storm systems will make farming an increasingly hellish occupation if profit is what's being farmed for.
The transitional climate will be unpredictable from season to season and will produce more extremes of weather and weather-related disasters, which means farmers will not be able to assume much about growing seasons, rainfall patterns and getting crops through to harvest. If the past is precedent, the transition from the climate we've been used to for 10,000 years to whatever stable climate emerges out of climate chaos next, could take decades, centuries or even millennia. Especially if we keep messing with it. When a whole nation's or region's staple crops, especially grains, are lost or on-again-off-again, everything down the line from the crops themselves become more expensive, from meat, poultry and dairy to every kind of processed food. I.e., the food we shop for as if supermarkets were actually where food comes from.
5) The roller-coaster economy. This isn't the place for me to offer my explanation for the probability of global economic collapse. (More on that here.) No pundits, talking-heads or economic analysts (well, very few) deny there are rough economic times ahead. Even many of the cautious among them acknowledge that we may be looking at five or six years of high unemployment and many of the lost jobs won't be coming back. The less cautious, like me, predict the collapse of the whole fossil-fueled, funny-money, inequitable, overly complicated global economic system in the lifetimes of anyone under 50. Well, at the rate we're going in all the wrong directions politically and economically, I hazard the guess, anyone under 80.
Clearly, depending on the present system to provide us with most or all of our food reliably or long-term, is unwise in the extreme. Which is how we get back to why we need to garden as if our lives depended on it. Bringing food production processes and systems closer to home is going to prove vital to our survival. We need to take producing our own and each other's food as seriously as we've taken producing a money income because growing numbers of us won't have enough money to buy food in the conventional ways and there will be less of it to buy. So what's our recourse?
Gardening Like Everybody's Business
Under the influence and auspices of the prevailing economy, most Americans have forgotten how to provide for themselves. We've become accustomed to earning money with which we buy provisions. That process is about to have the legs kicked out from under it. Instead of earning money (or its funny-money kin like credit cards) to buy the things we need, we'll need to start providing more of those things for ourselves and each other locally and (bio)regionally. Gardening -- and small-scale farming -- while they will need to be undertaken in a businesslike fashion will be less about doing business than about everyone's having something to eat and more people being busy providing it. And while not everyone will be able to garden or farm, we are all able to get up close and personal with those who do.Ellen LaConte, an independent scholar, organic gardener and freelance writer living in the Yadkin River watershed of the Piedmont bioregion of North Carolina, is a contributing editor to Green Horizon Magazine and the Ecozoic. Her most recent book is Life Rules (Green Horizon/iUniverse, 2010). LaConte publishes a quarterly online newsletter, Starting Point.
http://www.alternet.org/food/150428/...es?page=entire
How to Hide in Plain Sight
if the photos don't show, go to the link below. The photos are worth looking at
In this short article I will show you step by step how to hide while in plain sight and within seconds of your wanting to disappear from view.
Avoid displaying your silhouette
These simple techniques require no special gear and will work in nearly any situation as long as you know the basic principles and are dressed according to the environment in which you find yourself.
While looking at the following pictures, remember that you know I am featured in them. You will be looking for me in the very small area represented by the images.
However a real outdoor environment is very much larger and your eye will have a huge amount of area to cover that has many distractions. Also, you will likely not know I am in the area and so will not be actively looking for me. These factors will greatly lessen your ability to see me in a real world situation.
Now on to learning how to hide while in plain sight...
Your Silhouette will give you Away
As you draw your eye across a landscape, your subconscious brain will quickly alert you to regular shapes against solid backdrops. For example the shape of a human body against objects like the sky, a green meadow, a sand bar, or body of water.
Use background and shadows
As your eyes scan the first picture you will immediately pick out my basic body shape silhouetted against the bright sky. Even if I were wearing camouflaged clothing, humans and animals can easily discern this shape as being human. So if you want to hide from view while in plain sight, the first thing you want to be sure of is to not expose your complete silhouette in any way.
Shadows and Backgrounds Break Up Your Lines
In picture number two, while hardly camouflaged, I am not so easily seen as in the first picture. To greatly increase my invisibility I simply stepped down the embankment so that the lines of my silhouette are broken up by the natural objects and shadows behind me.
As in the first picture, I continue to face the entire shape of my body toward the camera. I am displaying the immediately recognizable human form – a trunk, a head, set of limbs hanging down from the sides, and another set of limbs planted on the ground.
If I were some distance away or you were pre-occupied you may not notice me even with this low level of camouflage. Once the eye detects my form, it is easy to make out the human being standing in the shadows. Upon seeing this shape, animals will typically flee. Humans will do what humans do to one another according to the situation.
turn sideways
Display a less-human shape
A key to good camoflauge is the breaking up of easily recognizable lines and shapes that make up a view of the human body. This can often be done quickly and efficiently in surprisingly simply ways.
Avoid Displaying the Human Form
On a number of occasions I have accidentally stumbled upon people or wild animals that are unaware of my immediate presence. For example, while in the forest I've come upon hikers walking along a trail or animals such as bears noisily digging for grubs in rotten logs. The first thing I will do is turn sideways to them.
Why? Because animals and humans instantly recognize the unique shape of a human being.
In picture number three I have turned sideways to the camera. If I stand completely still in this position, oftentimes my form will not be seen by others as being human. I could be the trunk of a broken tree or other natural object. This stance is particularly effective with wild animals, which will often stare directly at me for long periods of time, cocking their heads at different angles while wondering what I am.
Note how the lighter colored skin of my arms and face continue to be a weak point in this simple type of camouflage. Simply by covering these lighter areas the ability for others to see me will be greatly dimiininshed.
Another problem is the exposure of my face to direct view. The human brain is keyed into facial recognition, so much so that even a casual glance by a passerby may be enough for them to lock onto your position by first seeing your face amongst the surrounding clutter. This may be one reason why you are often discovered when you stare directly at someone.
alter the human form
Change Your Shape
The human shape can be further camouflaged by simply crouching, as shown in picture four. Hiding my face from direct view is an additional aid in hiding in plain sight.
A quick glance by animal or human eye may not be enough to discern my crouching shape from the natural elements of the landscape such as logs rocks, or splotches in the shadows. As long as I stay completely still, many animals and people would not notice me in this position.
Once again, in this crouching pose a weak point in my camouflage are small areas of light colored skin that reflect more light than my clothing and surroundings. The more I can hide these, the less chance there is that an animal or human will notice my being there.
Become Something Else
In picture number 5 I have camouflaged myself further by bringing my arms into my t-shirt, pulling the shirt up over my head, and crouching with my back to the camera. Even though the sun has changed position since the last pictures and I have lost the advantageous patchiness of sun and shadow, I am still well disguised. In this position, even placed as I am right out in the open and within 30-feet of the camera, I do not appear to look much different than the nearby rock.
Shape Shifting - what have I become?
If you didn't already know I was there, you would have a difficult time seeing my shape as being human. There is no discernible head or limb, my face is hidden, and the typical human trunk form has been morphed into a rounded and irregular shape.
I have essentially disappeared in plain view while wearing ordinary outdoor clothing. In this way there is an excellent chance that an animal or human would pass close by without noticing my presence.
This is just the beginning of what you can do at a moments notice to camouflage your body from view even in plain sight. For increased camouflage you can obtain specially made clothing or gear that will break up your outline using color, shape or a combination of both.
You can also utilize the natural materials around you including vegetation, dirt, or even urban debris. These will be the subjects of future Survival Topics.
Have fun with it, practice, and learn to hide in plain view at will. It could very well save your life.
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/ ... ain-sight/
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SIGNALING TECHNIQUES
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One of your first concerns when you find yourself in a survival situation is to communicate with your friends or allies. Generally, communication is the giving and receiving of information. As a survivor, you must get your rescuer's attention first, and second, send a message your rescuer understands. Some attention-getters are man-made geometric patterns such as straight lines, circles, triangles, or X's displayed in uninhabited areas; a large fire or flash of light; a large, bright object moving slowly; or contrast, whether from color or shadows. The type of signal used will depend on your environment and the enemy situation.
APPLICATION
If in a noncombat situation, you need to find the largest available clear and flat area on the highest possible terrain. Use as obvious a signal as you can create. On the other hand, you will have to be more discreet in combat situations. You do not want to signal and attract the enemy. Pick an area that is visible from the air, but ensure there are hiding places nearby. Try to have a hill or other object between the signal site and the enemy to mask your signal from the enemy. Perform a thorough reconnaissance of the area to ensure there are no enemy forces nearby.
Whatever signaling technique or device you plan to use, know how to use it and be ready to put it into operation on short notice. If possible, avoid using signals or signaling techniques that can physically endanger you. Keep in mind that signals to your friends may alert the enemy of your presence and location. Before signaling, carefully weigh your rescue chances by friends against the danger of capture by the enemy.
A radio is probably the surest and quickest way to let others know where you are and to let you receive their messages. Become familiar with the radios in your unit. Learn how to operate them and how to send and receive messages.
You will find descriptions of other signaling techniques, devices, and articles you can use. Learn how to use them. Think of ways in which you can adapt or change them for different environments. Practice using these signaling techniques, devices, and articles before you need them. Planned, prearranged signaling techniques may improve your chance of rescue.
MEANS FOR SIGNALING
There are two main ways to get attention or to communicate--visual and audio. The means you use will depend on your situation and the material you have available. Whatever the means, always have visual and audio signals ready for use.
Visual Signals
These signals are materials or equipment you use to make your presence known to rescuers.
Fire
During darkness, fire is the most effective visual means for signaling. Build three fires in a triangle (the international distress signal) or in a straight line with about 25 meters between the fires. Build them as soon as time and the situation permit and protect them until you need them. If you are alone, maintaining three fires may be difficult. If so, maintain one signal fire.
When constructing signal fires, consider your geographic location. If in a jungle, find a natural clearing or the edge of a stream where you can build fires that the jungle foliage will not hide. You may even have to clear an area. If in a snow-covered area, you may have to clear the ground of snow or make a platform on which to build the fire so that melting snow will not extinguish it.
A burning tree (tree torch) is another way to attract attention (Figure 19-1). You can set pitch-bearing trees afire, even when green. You can get other types of trees to burn by placing dry wood in the lower branches and igniting it so that the flames flare up and ignite the foliage. Before the primary tree is consumed, cut and add more small green trees to the fire to produce more smoke. Always select an isolated tree so that you do not start a forest fire and endanger yourself.
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Smoke
During daylight, build a smoke generator and use smoke to gain attention (Figure 19-2). The international distress signal is three columns of smoke. Try to create a color of smoke that contrasts with the background; dark smoke against a light background and vice versa. If you practically smother a large fire with green leaves, moss, or a little water, the fire will produce white smoke. If you add rubber or oil-soaked rags to a fire, you will get black smoke.
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In a desert environment, smoke hangs close to the ground, but a pilot can spot it in open desert terrain.
Smoke signals are effective only on comparatively calm, clear days. High winds, rain, or snow disperse smoke, lessening its chances of being seen.
Smoke Grenades
If you have smoke grenades with you, use them in the same pattern as described for fires. Keep them dry so that they will work when you need them. Take care not to ignite the vegetation in the area when you use them.
Pen Flares
These flares are part of an aviator's survival vest. The device consists of a pen-shaped gun with a flare attached by a nylon cord. When fired, the pen flare sounds like a pistol shot and fires the flare about 150 meters high. It is about 3 centimeters in diameter.
To have the pen flare ready for immediate use, take it out of its wrapper, attach the flare, leave the gun uncocked, and wear it on a cord or chain around your neck. Be ready to fire it in front of search aircraft and be ready with a secondary signal. Also, be ready to take cover in case the pilot mistakes the flare for enemy fire.
Tracer Ammunition
You may use rifle or pistol tracer ammunition to signal search aircraft. Do not fire the ammunition in front of the aircraft. As with pen flares, be ready to take cover if the pilot mistakes your tracers for enemy fire.
Star Clusters
Red is the international distress color; therefore, use a red star cluster whenever possible. Any color, however, will let your rescuers know where you are. Star clusters reach a height of 200 to 215 meters, burn an average of 6 to 10 seconds, and descend at a rate of 14 meters per second.
Star Parachute Flares
These flares reach a height of 200 to 215 meters and descend at a rate of 2.1 meters per second. The M126 (red) burns about 50 seconds and the M127 (white) about 25 seconds. At night you can see these flares at 48 to 56 kilometers.
Mirrors or Shiny Objects
On a sunny day, a mirror is your best signaling device. If you don't have a mirror, polish your canteen cup, your belt buckle, or a similar object that will reflect the sun's rays. Direct the flashes in one area so that they are secure from enemy observation. Practice using a mirror or shiny object for signaling now; do not wait until you need it. If you have an MK-3 signal mirror, follow the instructions on its back (Figure 19-3).
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Wear the signal mirror on a cord or chain around your neck so that it is ready for immediate use. However, be sure the glass side is against your body so that it will not flash; the enemy can see the flash.
CAUTION
Do not flash a signal mirror rapidly because a pilot may mistake the flashes for enemy fire. Do not direct the beam in the aircraft's cockpit for more than a few seconds as it may blind the pilot.
Haze, ground fog, and mirages may make it hard for a pilot to spot signals from a flashing object. So, if possible, get to the highest point in your area when signaling. If you can't determine the aircraft's location, flash your signal in the direction of the aircraft noise.
Note: Pilots have reported seeing mirror flashes up to 160 kilometers away under ideal conditions.
Figures 19-4 and 19-5 show methods of aiming a signal mirror for signaling.
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Flashlight or Strobe Light
At night you can use a flashlight or a strobe light to send an SOS to an aircraft. When using a strobe light, take care to prevent the pilot from mistaking it for incoming ground fire. The strobe light flashes 60 times per minute. Some strobe lights have infrared covers and lenses. Blue flash collimators are also available for strobe lights.
VS-17 Panel
During daylight you can use a VS-17 panel to signal. Place the orange side up as it is easier to see from the air than the violet side. Flashing the panel will make it easier for the aircrew to spot. You can use any bright orange or violet cloth as a substitute for the VS-17.
Clothing
Spreading clothing on the ground or in the top of a tree is another way to signal. Select articles whose color will contrast with the natural surroundings. Arrange them in a large geometric pattern to make them more likely to attract attention.
Natural Material
If you lack other means, you can use natural materials to form a symbol or message that can be seen from the air. Build mounds that cast shadows; you can use brush, foliage of any type, rocks, or snow blocks.
In snow-covered areas, tramp the snow to form letters or symbols and fill the depression with contrasting material (twigs or branches). In sand, use boulders, vegetation, or seaweed to form a symbol or message. In brush-covered areas, cut out patterns in the vegetation or sear the ground. In tundra, dig trenches or turn the sod upside down.
In any terrain, use contrasting materials that will make the symbols visible to the aircrews.
Sea Dye Markers
All Army aircraft involved in operations near or over water will normally carry a water survival kit that contains sea dye markers. If you are in a water survival situation, use sea dye markers during daylight to indicate your location. These spots of dye stay conspicuous for about 3 hours, except in very rough seas. Use them only if you are in a friendly area. Keep the markers wrapped until you are ready to use them. Use them only when you hear or sight an aircraft. Sea dye markers are also very effective on snow-covered ground; use them to write distress code letters.
Audio Signals
Radios, whistles, and gunshots are some of the methods you can use to signal your presence to rescuers.
Radio Equipment
The AN/PRC-90 survival radio is a part of the Army aviator's survival vest. The AN/PRC-112 will eventually replace the AN/PRC-90. Both radios can transmit either tone or voice. Any other type of Army radio can do the same. The ranges of the different radios vary depending on the altitude of the receiving aircraft, terrain, vegetation density, weather, battery strength, type of radio, and interference. To obtain maximum performance from radios, use the following procedures:
* Try to transmit only in clear, unobstructed terrain. Since radios are line-of-sight communications devices, any terrain between the radio and the receiver will block the signal.
* Keep the antenna at right angles to the rescuing aircraft. There is no signal from the tip of the antenna.
* If the radio has tone capability, place it upright on a flat, elevated surface so that you can perform other survival tasks.
* Never let the antenna touch your clothing, body, foliage, or the ground. Such contact greatly reduces the range of the signal.
* Conserve battery power. Turn the radio off when you are not using it. Do not transmit or receive constantly. In hostile territory, keep transmissions short to avoid enemy radio direction finding.
* In cold weather, keep the battery inside your clothing when not using the radio. Cold quickly drains the battery's power. Do not expose the battery to extreme heat such as desert sun. High heat may cause the battery to explode. Try to keep the radio and battery as dry as possible, as water may destroy the circuitry.
Whistles
Whistles provide an excellent way for close up signaling. In some documented cases, they have been heard up to 1.6 kilometers away. Manufactured whistles have more range than a human whistle.
Gunshots
In some situations you can use firearms for signaling. Three shots fired at distinct intervals usually indicate a distress signal. Do not use this technique in enemy territory. The enemy will surely come to investigate shots.
CODES AND SIGNALS
Now that you know how to let people know where you are, you need to know how to give them more information. It is easier to form one symbol than to spell out an entire message. Therefore, learn the codes and symbols that all aircraft pilots understand.
SOS
You can use lights or flags to send an SOS--three dots, three dashes, three dots. The SOS is the internationally recognized distress signal in radio Morse code. A dot is a short, sharp pulse; a dash is a longer pulse. Keep repeating the signal. When using flags, hold flags on the left side for dashes and on the right side for dots.
Ground-to-Air Emergency Code
This code (Figure 19-6) is actually five definite, meaningful symbols. Make these symbols a minimum of 1 meter wide and 6 meters long. If you make them larger, keep the same 1: 6 ratio. Ensure the signal contrasts greatly with the ground it is on. Place it in an open area easily spotted from the air.
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Body Signals
When an aircraft is close enough for the pilot to see you clearly, use body movements or positions (Figure 19-7) to convey a message.
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Panel Signals
If you have a life raft cover or sail, or a suitable substitute, use the symbols shown in Figure 19-8 to convey a message.
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Aircraft Acknowledgments
Once the pilot of a fixed-wing aircraft has sighted you, he will normally indicate he has seen you by flying low, moving the plane, and flashing lights as shown in Figure 19-9. Be ready to relay other messages to the pilot once he acknowledges that he received and understood your first message. Use a radio, if possible, to relay further messages. If no radio is available, use the codes covered in the previous paragraphs.
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AIRCRAFT VECTORING PROCEDURES
If you can contact a friendly aircraft with a radio, guide the pilot to your location. Use the following general format to guide the pilot:
* Mayday, Mayday.
* Call sign (if any).
* Name.
* Location.
* Number of survivors.
* Available landing sites.
* Any remarks such as medical aid or other specific types of help needed immediately.
Simply because you have made contact with rescuers does not mean you are safe. Follow instructions and continue to use sound survival and evasion techniques until you are actually rescued.
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