Notes from JWR:

Today is the birthday of Robert D. Maxwell, another one of America’s few living recipients of the Medal of Honor. He was born October 26, 1920.

—

Today we present another entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Dutch Oven Cooking, by Louie in Ohio

When I think of Dutch Oven cooking I usually have visions of campfires and Scout Camp, of apple cobbler and savory stews. But as I further my preparations for TEOTWAWKI I realize that I want my Dutch ovens at my retreat.

Any heavy pot with lid can be used and called a Dutch oven. But when I say Dutch oven I am referring to the three legged cast iron (or aluminum) covered pot that is normally used outdoors. 

Much of the information I give you is basic and you may wish to explore these topics in depth. One of the best sources of information would be your state’s Dutch Oven Society. There you can find classes, recipes and knowledgeable people.

My first introduction to the outdoor art of Dutch oven cooking was at a Boy Scout Leader Introduction to Outdoor Skills class.

The aromas coming from the cooking fires on that autumn morning are still in my memory.
I purchased my first Dutch oven soon after returning home from that training weekend. Years later my collection has grown to fourteen Dutch ovens and now I usually teach that class at the training once or twice a year.

Not only does food taste better cooked outdoors, it tastes better yet when cooked in a good quality Dutch oven.

Let me help you avoid some mistakes and perhaps some disappointments in buying and using a Dutch oven.

As I said earlier, I definitely want Dutch ovens at my retreat. You can bake bread, pies, cakes, and biscuits. You can make stews, casseroles, and other dishes. A Dutch oven can act as a type of pressure cooker to tenderize tougher meats.

Buying Your Dutch Oven
Like any tool, quality counts!
If I could have only one Dutch oven I would buy a quality, name brand, twelve inch cast iron, three legged oven with a rimmed lid. By rimmed lid I mean a mostly flat lid that has a raised rim around the edge. This rim helps to hold coals during the cooking process. FYI, some Dutch ovens have a domed lid, some with points on the inside which helps in self-basting. While these have their place and use, I would stick with the campfire style oven.
There are many brands of ovens on the market. The most common is probably Lodge. They are US made and excellent quality.  My first oven was a Lodge.
Camp Chef also offers ovens in a variety of sizes and styles. I believe that they are now all Chinese made. I do have some and like them very much.
Cabela’s offers Dutch ovens under their own name. Like everything from Cabela’s, they are great. Also they have one of the best Customer Service Departments anywhere.
There are other brands out there, some custom made, and some junk. I have one of those junkers and use it fairly often. It just doesn’t cook evenly or retain its finish. It is however expendable and that matters when teaching Boy Scouts how to cook in one.
You should be able to purchase a good quality twelve inch Dutch oven for less than $80 USD. It would be frugal of you to pick it up at the store if you can versus having it shipped, as they are quite heavy.

 

Your New Dutch Oven
After you have unpacked your Dutch oven you will notice one of two things:

  1. Your oven has a nice black finish or
  2. Your oven looks like raw metal

If the former, all you need to do before using is to wash it, as it is already seasoned. More and more ovens are coming seasoned from the manufacturer.  NEVER USE SOAP ON A SEASONED DUTCH OVEN! I suggest you use warm water and baking soda. Rinse with hot water, wipe out with a paper towel, and let air dry.
Once your oven is clean you may use it, or put away for later use. If it is going to be several days before you use it, or you live in a humid area, I suggest you oil it. You may use any good grade vegetable oil. I prefer olive oil spray like Pam. Lightly oil the oven and lid inside and out. Take a clean paper towel and make sure the entire oven is covered, removing excess oil.
Store your oven with the lid ajar or the oven setting on the lid in a dry area. Many manufacturers also make storage bags for their ovens.
If your oven looks like raw metal then it probably has not been seasoned. Many of the lower end ovens are raw. Also many people prefer to season their ovens themselves.

Seasoning a New Dutch Oven
Seasoning is basically taking oil and baking it onto the metal giving it a slick (almost Teflon-like) finish (patina).
Wash your Dutch oven with HOT soapy water. Okay I know I said to never use soap on your oven, but yours is not seasoned yet. Soap will remove the patina on your seasoned oven and will leave a soapy taste in food.
Scrub your oven thoroughly with a plastic scrubber. Wash it inside and out. You need to remove the oils used in manufacturing and those used in protecting from rust during transit.
Rinse well with copious amounts of hot water. I will fill my oven with water and place it on the stove bringing it to a slow boil. Drain your oven, towel dry with paper towels (I always use paper towels with my ovens to avoid previous odors including fabric softeners on dish towels). If the water was hot enough the remaining water will soon evaporate.
With the oven still warm lightly coat your oven with a quality pure vegetable shortening like Crisco. Make sure the oven and lid are thoroughly covered inside and out.
Place the Dutch oven upside down on a rack in the kitchen oven. Place the lid right side up on a rack. (Place foil under the oven to catch dripping oil). Bake your oven at 350 degrees F for at least an hour or until smoke quits coming off the Dutch oven. I usually try to do this when my wife is away from the house. I also try to open a window or two to help eliminate the aroma and smoke.
You can also do this outside on your gas fired grill, although I don’t personally think it does as good a job.

Cleaning
One of the secrets of Dutch oven cooking is to keep your oven very clean.
Some people will line their ovens with ready made foil liners, parchment liners or aluminum foil. I too sometimes use these items, but usually only when I am making a desert with a lot of sugar which tends to burn onto the bottom of the oven. Using liners does help in the cleanup, but it does change the taste of many foods.
After using your oven scrape out any remaining food. I always use wooden or plastic utensils to avoid digging into the patina. Using a plastic scrapper is very handy at this point. Remove as much food as possible.
Wipe the oven with a clean paper towel, adding a little warm water as necessary. Wash the oven with another paper towel and warm water. DO NOT USE SOAP AND DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO DO SO EITHER!!!
You can use a plastic scrubber if there is a spot or two that needs extra cleaning. Sometimes I will use table salt to scrub the oven. Make sure that you rinse it very well as the salt will corrode the oven.
Rinse well with hot water, wipe out with paper towels, and oil with a high quality vegetable oil (again I prefer spray olive oil).
Note on storing: If you use too much oil on your oven it will thicken as lighter materials evaporate leaving a gummy mess. The oil will also turn rancid (although that doesn’t really hurt anything). This is why I use the olive oil cooking spray. It leaves a thinner coating of oil.
When you heat your oven for use the rancid oil will cook off enhancing the patina.

Refurbishing  
Sometimes you may put your oven away with moisture inside and it will rust. If it is very minor just scour it with a plastic scouring pad or table salt and a paper towel. Rinse, dry well, oil and use or properly store.
A friend of mine once brought me a beautiful fourteen inch Dutch oven that he had been storing in an outbuilding. The roof must have leaked and filled the oven with water. The outside was perfect but the inside totally rusted.
There are several ways to treat this, but my method was to get a plastic pan large enough to put the oven in. Then I filled the oven with Classic Coca-Cola. In about two days it was totally clean. I washed it in hot water, dried it well and treated it as a new raw oven.

Storage
Storage is particularly important, especially in a humid environment. Always make sure the oven is clean, dry and oiled. Store with the lid askew or separate from the oven. Storage bags are helpful.
I take 3-4 pieces of electrical wire about four inches long. I bend them first in a “U” shape. Then I take one leg of the U and make a second bend about halfway down, at 90 degrees out. I place these over the rim of the oven with the straight part inside. Then I place the lid on, place in the bag and store. This keeps the lid from settling in and making a seal, trapping moisture.
I also will place a folded paper towel in the oven to absorb moisture and/or excess oil.

Aluminum Dutch Ovens
I have not mentioned anything up till now about aluminum Dutch Ovens. Some people do not care for them, but I feel that they have a place in Dutch oven cooking.
There are several manufacturers who make aluminum ovens, including GSI and Camp Chef.
Warning! Do not preheat an empty aluminum Dutch oven with the lid on. It can weld shut, destroying your oven.
Some advantages to aluminum ovens are the lesser weight, faster heat-up, and ease of cleaning.
Just wash your aluminum oven like any pan, in hot soapy water.
Also you do not need to season your aluminum oven although you may if you wish. If you do then treat it like cast iron and do not use soap in it.
I have taken one of my aluminum Dutch ovens backpacking…try that with a cast iron oven!

Using Your Dutch Oven
You can use your Dutch oven in a variety of ways.
It can be used for browning meats and for frying. This is a good time to mention that the lid is slightly curved. If you invert it and place in on some coals, top down, it becomes a shallow skillet. I usually place 3-4 small dry stones under to make it level. Do not use wet rocks, especially from a creek bed or lake as the water inside the rock may turn to steam while in the coals and explode.
The oven may be used like a kettle, even suspended by the handle over a fire, to heat water, cook soups or stews or any other use a kettle might have.
And finally it can be used to bake.
The main difference in cooking and baking is how you use the coals. For this point of instruction we will speak of charcoal briquettes.
A simple way to figure how many briquettes needed is to take the diameter of the oven, multiply by two, and then divide by three. To cook put two thirds of the coals beneath the oven and one third on top. To bake put two thirds on top and one third beneath.
Here is an example:
You have a twelve inch Dutch oven. You want to bake a cobbler. Twelve inches times two is twenty four briquettes. Divide the twenty four briquettes in thirds, or three piles of eight. You want to bake and so you want most of the heat on top. Take two of the three piles and place on top evenly, including around the rim. Evenly place the remaining pile of eight briquettes under the oven.
By following this formula the interior temperature of the oven should be close to 350 degrees F. Of course that can fluctuate because of ambient temperature, wind, and ground moisture and temperature.
You can adjust the temperature 25 degrees by adding or subtracting one coal top and bottom.
When baking, I usually rotate the lid 45 degrees clockwise and the kettle 45 degrees counter clockwise every fifteen minutes to ensure more consistent heating and to avoid hotspots. Try not to lift the lid when rotating to avoid letting steam escape. Otherwise your food may dry out. It is actually the steam that cooks the food.
 
In a TEOTWAWKI situation or just for economy you may use coals from a fire. I will get a campfire going well, add larger logs and allow them to burn down to coals. Then using a small shovel place the coals on and under the oven. Usually they will not burn as long as charcoal and so you will need to keep replenishing them.
If you are using two or more ovens at the same time you can save charcoal and space by stacking the ovens, one atop the other. Place the largest oven on the ground with the next larger and so on. Usually 3-4 ovens are as high as I go. You must have level, firm ground to do this.

You are using the top coals of the lowest oven as the bottom coals on the second oven and on and on…

Accessories
There are many accessories that make using a Dutch oven easier or more convenient.
Probably the most important tool needed is a lid lifter. These are sometimes included with your oven. Basically they are a piece of heavy wire bent to a shape handy to slip under the handle of the oven’s lid. With it you can lift the lid off the oven with the coals still on top. That way you can add seasonings, stir, or just check on the food.
Usually the lifter can also be used to move the oven such as rotating on the coals, or moving to the table to serve.
Some people prefer tongs or pliers such as Channel locks to lift lids and move the oven.
Next most important tool in your Dutch oven toolbox would be a part of long tongs. I use them mainly to arrange the coals on top of the lid. They can also be used to turn meat while browning or to serve.
Another useful tool, if you are using charcoal is a charcoal chimney. This is a sheet metal tube used to “start” charcoal burning. This is done by placing charcoal in the top of the chimney, adding a sheet or two of crumpled newspaper in the bottom and setting the paper on fire. In about 15-20 minutes you will have nice red coals.
A lid rack or rest is nice when you are cooking outside and need to remove the lid for a moment. These are just a rack made of bended rod that keeps your lid (and coals) off the ground.
The final tool I wish to mention is a Dutch oven table. This is a steel table with removable legs and a windscreen. This allows you to cook at a level that requires less bending, and keeps the danger of fire at a minimum.

Finis
As I think of the prospect of life after TEOTWAWKI I can’t help but think that feeding ourselves could be a major event each day.  With a Dutch oven or two and some experience before hand using it, I expect we will take a lot of the work and worry out of preparing meals. Furthermore, we will be more likely to enjoy baked breads and sweets.
Dutch oven cooking, now before hard and desperate times, can be fun and delicious. Don’t wait until disaster hits to enjoy a wonderful outdoor cooking skill.

Bonus Recipe
As a bonus I am going to include my own favorite dessert recipe…Pineapple Upside-down cake.
Ingredients:
One can drained Pineapple rings (save the liquid)
One can crushed Pineapple
About one cup Brown Sugar
One yellow Cake mix (or the dry ingredients for one)
One stick Butter
Maraschino Cherries (optional)
For ease of cleanup line your Dutch Oven with foil or Parchment liner
This recipe is sized for a 12” Dutch Oven

Instructions:
Place your lined Dutch Oven on 12 coals. Allow to heat for a few moments.
Place the stick of butter in the Dutch Oven to melt.
When the butter is melted arrange the drained Pineapple rings in the bottom the Dutch Oven.
If you are using the Cherries place them in the center of the Pineapple rings (color and flavor).
Sprinkle the brown sugar over the Pineapple rings and cherries.
Empty the cake mix into a bowl and add the crushed Pineapple.
Add enough of the saved juice from the rings to make a batter.
Pour the batter over the rings cherries and brown sugar.
If using foil fold the foil inside so that none sticks out of the oven.
Place 1/3 of your coals under and 2/3 of the coals on the lid of the Dutch Oven.
Bake for an hour, rotating the lid one way 45 degrees while rotating the oven the other way every 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to stand a few minutes.
You can serve out of the Dutch Oven or remove it.
To remove the cake I take a piece of heavy cardboard and cover it with foil. I lift the cake out of the oven by the foil or Parchment and place it on another piece of cardboard. Take the foil covered cardboard and place it on the cake, foil side down.
With help (it may still be hot) we flip the cake over and place the foil covered cardboard on the table with the cake above it.
Carefully remove the foil or Parchment liner to keep the rings and cherries intact.
You should have a beautiful and delicious dessert.
(Aside: I usually put about ½ teaspoon of cinnamon into the batter, but then I really like cinnamon!)

JWR Adds: Coincidentally, SurvivalBlog reader Kyle T. wrote to mention: There is currently a big sale at Fred Meyer stores on dutch ovens.  I picked up a 7 quart cast iron dutch oven by Lodge Logic brand for $40. It’s regularly $75 (traditional non-enamel).  Fred Meyers has two separate coupons equaling 30%  (10% bonus coupon, 20% household coupon) that can be combined.  Also, picked up a large rectangle cast iron reversible griddle with the same 30% for $35.”

Letter Re: Testing 20 Year Old Home-Canned Tomato Sauce

Jim:
To follow up on a recent post: According to canning sources, it is the Vitamins A, C, B1, B2 that are the most susceptible to degradation over time with  33%- 50% losses immediately upon canning and additional losses of 5-20% per year (based on storage conditions).  Let us look at best (33% loss at canning and 5% per year ) and worst case (50% loss at canning and 20% per year) losses per year for five years.

Percentage of Remaining Vitamins:
Storage Period Best Case Worst Case
Year One 62.7% 40%
Year Two 59.5% 32%
Year Three 56.6% 26%
Year Four 53.7% 20%
Year Five 51% 16%

Thus, under best case conditions, five years of storage. yields about a 50% loss.

Under worst case conditions a near total loss of 84% with only 16% of these vitamins remaining.  

Consider these losses in your storage planning.  Regards, – S.F. in Hawaii

Economics and Investing:

R.B.S. sent: Across Corn Belt, Farmland Prices Keep Soaring

Brad in Texas spotted this: US may soon become world’s top oil producer

The Next Stock Market Crash Will Be Bigger Than “Black Monday”

PIMCO Recommends Hard Commodities To Weather Inflation

Items from The Economatrix:

IMF’s epic plan to conjure away debt and dethrone bankers

We Have Been Warned – Part 2

The Demise of Cash

World “Close” To Recession:  Stanley Fischer

Odds ‘n Sods:

Readers in Australia will likely find this company of interest: Outback Watertanks

   o o o

An interesting podcast: What Homeschoolers and Homemakers can learn from Preppers.

   o o o

Don’t miss out on the Ready Made Resources sale on Mountain House long term storage foods. They are offering 25% discounts and free shipping for Mountain House foods in #10 cans. The sale ends on November 5th.

   o o o

The PlayStation handset that fires mortars and the world’s deadliest catapult: Lethal ingenuity of outgunned Syrian rebels. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)

   o o o

Matt P. wrote to mention his new product: Concealable Backup Universal Handcuff Key

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If you have been voting for politicians who promise to give you goodies at someone else’s expense, then you have no right to complain when they take your money and give it to someone else, including themselves.” – Thomas Sowell

Notes from JWR:

October 25th is remembered as the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade, in 1854. This British cavalry charge against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava was led by Lord Cardigan during the the Crimean War.

—

Today we present another entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Avoiding Bad Company, by Huey F.

I’ll begin with a Bible quote: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Perhaps starting off with a Scripture will turn away some people, yet there really isn’t a better way to begin. I don’t want to come across as such a Bible-thumping Christian that I make those of you who are not Christians turn away, but I also don’t want anyone to think I was disguising the Christian aspects of this article in an attempt to trick you into buying in to biblical principles. It is for this reason – transparency and blunt openness and honesty – that I have chosen to go ahead and reference the Scripture that gave me the title of the article. I think you will find that as the subject unfolds, there would be no misunderstanding either way about the nature or foundation of my thought process. It is overtly Christian.

Now that I have that out of the way, I want to say two things:

1. When I refer to “Christians” throughout the article, I would also include any practicing  members of Jewish faith.

2. The rest of the article might not be necessary to those Christians who truly follow the Scripture above with prayer, caution, and deep thought, however I do believe this instruction in Scripture is exponentially more important in a SHTF scenario than it might be in everyday life. Furthermore, it is my belief that commandments and instruction in Scripture do not need further exposition except for the fact that most of us – myself included – often need it said in eighteen different ways before it sinks in that we need to simply follow and obey!

So here we have instruction in the Bible – “do not be misled.” Words like these always stick out to me because they do not occur often in Scripture, so when they do, I take notice and think about what they are implying, perhaps a bit longer than I do other verses. If the Bible is saying NOT to be misled, then it stands to reason that the area it is referring to is one that people are quite often misled about. Myself not wanting to be misled, I pay attention to what follows: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

At first glance, I think to myself something along the lines of “duh” but then, again, I decide to think deeper about it. It must not be a “duh” kind of subject if so many are easily misled on this issue. I won’t waste time with some sort of doctrinal article about all the ways I see people can be misled on this, but I would rather focus on why this is such an important area when it comes to a TEOTWAWKI / SHTF scenario and ultimately, your survival.

There is a saying that “no man is an island” which implies that we all need others. Well, that is mostly true. There is another saying that “every man is an island” which, while in direct contradiction with the previous statement, is also true. We are all our own “islands” when it comes to our relationship and accountability to God. When we stand before Him, there won’t be anyone with us. Just us. Islands. This distinction is ironic because the way I see things, because none of us is an “island” on earth, the importance of who is in our “company” – be it good or bad – directly affects the day we all recognize what we were all “islands” before God.

My wife and I had a conversation recently about our prepping and survival plans should anything catastrophic happen. We don’t have a lot of money, and we take advantage and get necessary items when we see sales, but thankfully we think alike when it comes to planning. More and more we find that our mindsets are in concert any time we talk of the future. We both believe in the need for supplies as well as the need for a group in order to survive a truly long-term collapse. We used to think we could make it alone, but even in the most remote setting that required no security watchmen, we would be vulnerable to injury or sickness. Fact is, we realized that we are not an island. We will need at least 2 to 6 more people in order to live securely. In our recent conversation, I mentioned some “friends” (I use that term loosely here because true friends are those I would have around after a collapse) and told her bluntly, “You realize that if things collapse and we have to form a group, Bobby and Jane (as I’ll call them) are out.” Being that the “Jane” in this couple of “friends” is closer to her than I am to the “Bobby,” I was shocked to find that she looked down rather sadly and said, “Yeah, I know.” She got it. I didn’t have to explain.

Bobby and Jane are not Christians, and as much as I am willing to do things with them socially and have had long conversations with them about God, they are opposed to the idea of a God and do not wish to talk about it further. Again, in THESE times, I am fine to oblige them and respect their wishes. I will continue to be a friend to them, hunt with Bobby, and love their children…but when it comes to the survival of my wife and children in a much different world, I know that I cannot have them around, as much as I hate it for them, and in some ways, for us.

Now some might be thinking that I sound cruel and heartless, or that I am taking too hard of a line when it comes to my faith. Let me start off saying that I understand your thoughts – they were thoughts of mine at first. But then I remembered: “do not be misled.” The words have weight and made me think – and after much prayer, thought, and contemplation, I finally got it.

Christianity is a family, and I don’t need quotes on that word. It isn’t a pseudo-family, it’s a true family. The word family isn’t just a nice metaphor for the entire collective on planet Earth known as Christians – it is a definition. We are family. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Race, gender, nationality, etc, have no meaning when someone is a Christian. If they follow Christ, they are my brother or sister, and the fact is, nobody loves you like family and you cannot risk the health and welfare of your family by trusting someone outside of it.

“Why not?” you might ask. “Aren’t there other trustworthy people out there who simply aren’t Christians?” The short answer is yes…the more complicated answer is NO.

Yes, there are people out there who have a sense of morality and who hold some of the same Judeo-Christian moral standards we have without actually being Jewish or Christian, but if my experience in meeting them is any indication, they are few and far between. The larger issue though is that they might be moral right now, in this society, but who knows after the SHTF. So then, why do I say no? Because of the scenario we have to envision.

Picture this:

Society has collapsed. The dollar is gone. There is no monetary system in place. The grid is down. Fuel is running out quickly. Food and water are running out even faster. Everyone is in a state of panic and scared about how they are going to survive. Bands of looters have already started roaming the streets assaulting anyone they see and taking what they want by force. There is no law and order. There are no firefighters or paramedics. No governing body of any consequence is to be found. Every family is on its own, and you have to choose a few friends to survive with. Guess what – you better choose wisely because these could be the people you grow old with. These could be the people your kids grow up around. These will be the people who defend you, your wife, and your kids when the time comes. These are your family for now and for the foreseeable future.

Now let me say, I am all for having a group with various skills. I personally have learned a tremendous amount of skills in the past three years that I never thought about needing ten years ago. I have learned to can, to hunt, to garden, to raise chickens and livestock, to fell trees and split wood, to fix minor vehicle issues that I would have simply let someone else do years ago, and many other things not worth mentioning, but I am still no expert at them and definitely not proficient enough to want to survive – or have others rely – on my skills in every area. I could definitely use some guys and gals around with skills I do not possess. However, just because I may want a certain skill set in my group does not mean I can compromise on the character of those who have the skills. I mentioned “Bobby” earlier, and truth be told, there are two other “friends” in the same vein. These guys have awesome skills. One is a doctor, the other is an ex-Army engineer and mechanic, and “Bobby” is ex-military as well. Those are some serious skills I would like in my group, but none of these three men are God-fearing. In fact, I would rate them more on the God-hating side of the bar.

So here is where I could deceive myself into thinking it will be okay. I could say to myself, “Their skills are necessary and they have been friends with me for years. It will be fine. They know where I stand and in time hopefully they will come to know God.” But I know this is simply me trying to have my cake and eat it too. It is self-serving because I want the skills on my side. As an athletic coach, I know a thing or two about assembling teams with certain skill sets and directing them as a unit. I know the value of having the right skills for the right position. So why then am I planning to exclude these highly-skilled individuals based solely on their faith, or lack thereof? I will give you three reasons:

1. If a man is not a Christian, he has no personal accountability to God Himself. For me, this is of utmost importance. We are not talking about living in the easy times as we do now – we are talking about total anarchy. Complete chaos and an extreme change in the way our lives are lived. I simply cannot trust a man to lay down his life for me or my family – if need be – if that man is not accountable to God. A man not inwardly accountable to God is only living for and accountable to himself and his family. What if that man is taking watch one night while my family and I sleep when suddenly a group of armed men rush the property? How can I trust that he will defend my family like it is his family if he does not see it that way? As I said earlier, Christians are family, and we know that in that situation, if we defended our own wives and children to the detriment of the others, God would not approve and we would answer for it. We would be willing to lay down our life to defend and warn the others. But a man who does not know God – a man unsure of his own eternal destiny – I do not believe that man will sacrifice his life for anyone except his own, nor am I willing to roll the dice about it.

2. If a man is not a Christian, he does not hold the Bible in any regard and will not submit to its authority. As Christians, we plan to live according to the instruction God has given in His Word. Anyone allowed to live among our group who thinks the Bible is just some mythical book would cause great friction and ultimately not abide by our way of life. In the times ahead, the last thing I need to worry about is some guy who has major influence on my children filling their heads with thoughts antagonistic to God and His Word – or even if he didn’t do so, I don’t need to worry that he will!

3. And finally, there is the title of this article: “bad company corrupts good character.” If a man does not follow Christ, he is bad company. Jesus said “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Mt 12:30) I cannot have a man who is against Christ scattering and dividing my group. Furthermore, there will be a better chance that my children might grow up without me around in this new, violent world, and of all my “preps” I want the main one to be the “village” that will raise my kids in my absence. A son without a father – and sometimes with a father – will want to gravitate toward an adult male who will impart wisdom as a father would. I have to know that whoever my son might choose to fill that role will teach him the way I would, and that he will have a chance to know God because of it.

And lastly, in the same vein as reason 3, I must apply the Scripture directly to myself. If I invite non-Christians (bad company) to live with me as closely as we will be living, what then becomes of me? I might think that my character is strong and my devotion to Christ is unshakable, but Scripture tells me that the bad will corrupt the good, not the other way around. Again, I may want to think the opposite is true, but that is why it tells us “do not be misled.” It would be so easy to do so, especially in the seemingly impossible times that would surely lie ahead. I cannot trust my own wisdom or my own character. I must trust God’s wisdom and surround myself first with men who fear Him, and second with men of worldly skill and ability.

Choose your friends and associates wisely.

Letter Re: Testing 20 Year Old Home-Canned Tomato Sauce

James Wesley, Rawles:
Sometime in the middle 1990s I put away four litre (quart) jars of tomato sauce. Now, at least 20 years later I opened, processed and consumed this tomato preserve.
The storage was in a cool, dry, dark and undisturbed location. The product was cooked, skin-removed italian tomato.

The canning process I had used was simple: cook, skin, fill, bottle, water bath, etc.
The result was acceptable.  Although I had to cut away the ring with a can piercer to loosen (destroy) the ring on the jar – the cap (lid) was intact.
There was no bulging or other signs of contamination – there was no off-gassing or warning smell.
The contents was brought to a boil before being added to a meat sauce.

The result was adequate but the flavour level was low.  Certainly it was not contaminated with any opportunistic organisms and nobody had any gastrointestinal issues. – Richard S.

JWR Replies: That was an interesting experiment, but keep in mind that even though older canned foods are often safe to eat and marginally palatable, their nutritive value is negligible. As stated many times in SurvivalBlog, it is crucial to mark dates on all of your canned goods–both commercially-canned and home-canned. Rotate them religiously, using First-In, First-Out (FIFO) rotation. Using specially made canned food rotation racks (such as those made by Shelf Reliance) makes this process fool-proof. If you are on a very tight budget, there are plans available for making your own, out of cardboard. While not as durable or sturdy (DO NOT stack multiple cardboard units!) and they are time-consuming to make, the cardboard racks do work adequately.

Economics and Investing:

Highest (and Lowest) State & Local Tax Burdens

Bank of Canada Fires Shot Across Bow, Says “Withdrawal of Stimulus Will Likely be Required”

Hot Off the Press: Fed to Print $470 Billion in 2013. Note the mention of increased demand for $100 bills, going overseas.

Items from The Economatrix:

Jim Sinclair:  Change In Spread Management By Bullion Banks Will Send Gold Prices $3,500-$12,400

Weimar:  Here’s What We Know About The Hyperinflation Horror That Haunts Europe Today

Suddenly, Everyone on Wall Street is Taking the “Red Pill” of Economics

Marc Faber:  Western World In “Colossal Mess” In 5-10 Years

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader AmEx (American Expatriate) sent: “Total identity theft” growing, authorities fear

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Dentist Dr. Tom Loomis has just one slot still open for his upcoming two-day Field Dentistry Class, in Sweetwater, Tennessee on Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 2012. Enrollment is limited to just 12 students. The class costs $400 per person. To register, send $200 by check or money order to Tom Loomis DDS, P.O. Box 510, Sweetwater, TN 37874. Phone number: 423-371-1073, or e-mail: tandsloomis@bellsouth.net or tom.loomis@yahoo.com. The class will be held at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater at Exit 60 off of Interstate 75. Rooms are $35 plus tax if you ask for the Field Dentistry Class rate. The hotel phone is: 423-337-3541. Registrations must be received by November 8, 2012.

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Gun Shy: City published personal information of some gun owners. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)

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F.J. spotted this gadget: The Gerber Shard Is a Multipurpose DIY Tool that Fits on Your Keychain.

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Malaria returns to crisis-torn Greece

Notes from JWR:

Happy birthday to Ronald E. Rosser, one of America’s few living recipients of the Medal of Honor. He was born October 24, 1929.

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Today we present another entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Attitude Adjustment, by Dena M.

As a single mother of two I know and live the word budget all to well. My income is limited and I have wasted a lot of time and money because I was too focused on getting ‘only the best.’ I quickly realized that the path I was on was getting me nowhere. I began to look at past purchases and realized that a lot of my purchases were unnecessary and quite frankly irresponsible. If I wanted to better guarantee the safety and sanity of myself and my young children, I needed to take a different path to self-sufficiency and quickly. In addition, this may all be common sense ideas but I know all too well that in the beginning it is extremely overwhelming and sometimes you may get caught up in all the fancy gadgets and lose sight of what truly matters.

Let’s face it not everyone can afford a retreat, with the nice solar panels’ and armored windows. However, everyone can afford a library book that will increase their skill set making them more valuable to those that can afford a retreat. If you put the effort forth there is tons of literature on tool making, canning, operating ham radios, farming, first aid, animal husbandry, firearms repair, and reloading. Pay close attention to animal husbandry, farming, and try your hand at blacksmithing (start with wrought iron then move to steel). It is critical to know what crop to plant in a certain part of the year along with knowing how to do it. You will also need to look at how you will harvest your crops without a tractor. If you do not have the money to invest in horses and the simple machines that would allow you to plant and harvest your crops via original horse power than you will need to purchase and know how to effectively use the simple hand tools. Buy a scythe to harvest cereal and practice with it. Also, invest in a few spades, pitchforks, garden forks, and some hoes. Owning simple tools and having the know how to use them will make you a great asset. In addition to your non formal training do your best to obtain certified skills, First Responder courses and to become a EMT do not take too long to complete. Even a basic Wilderness First Responder course can save someone’s life, I know because my training saved my three month old. Can’t find a group that is right for you? Plan B: Find others that are in your situation and group purchase land. Some advise against that but I have seen it work. If neither of these are options pre-position several caches in several locations as temporary retreats. Place them on land far from major cities and densely populated areas. Again it doesn’t have to be fancy. It is there to give you additional time and safety for the time being. There are bound to be retreat groups that realize that their six group members are not capable of handling the larger gangs and that they lack certain specialties. At that point if you can offer a valuable skill set and provide additional food that you pre cached away they will be more willing to accept you into their retreat group. However, you can never be too sure so the caches should be set up to enable you to set up a retreat once there is no land surveyor to come a knocking. Remember this is not the time to be picky, that apartment or home you have in the city will not suffice in a WROL situation.

When you’re prepping to bug out and/ or funding is lacking your best friend is going to be caches.  Clearly you cannot fit all the gear you need in a backpack. However, you can have a years’ worth of food and additional ammo if you take the time to bury caches. If you have joined a group that is even better. The caches should be on several different routes to the retreat location and you have the option of pre-positioning gear at the retreat. In addition, remember when I said you can cache items to build upon later? I wasn’t kidding. It may sound absurd but let’s take a minute and discuss this. Lets’ say before the collapse you made valid efforts to secure four acres of land but did not have the funding to build yet nor could you finically afford to move to the middle of nowhere. But you did take the time to cache tools, nails, food, piping to outfit a gravity fed water system and generator (watch Yukon Men — it is possible) among various other items. (Even better if you were able to secure a shed [at very low cost or free] from CraigsList. Now your family has a temporary shelter you can build upon instead of remaining out in the weather.) Once you arrive at your retreat location you can begin the feverish task of building up a retreat. It is not the ideal scenario to begin building after things have SHTF but again it is playing the hand you have been dealt. The retreat won’t be fancy, but it could sustain you & yours more comfortably with the items you cached.  Now let’s say you buried caches but you did not bury to rebuild you just buried to sustain. You are left trying to figure out how to chop down lumber for a shelter without an axe because the survival axe in your bug out bag quickly failed you, and no nails to build (safe to say you probably didn‘t cache a book on how to build a log cabin primitive style either). Now you are stuck carrying five gallon buckets up from the stream several times a day not only for the family but for the garden that you had to dig up with sticks because you didn’t cache garden tools.  See where I’m going with this? The minor preps can make all the difference and these preps do not have to break the bank. Nor does your retreat have to mimic a five star hotel to ensure your survival (in fact that would probably get you killed).

Network, network, network. Did I mention to network? The prepping community is a library in itself. Meet, talk, sit down and strategize. Not only are you learning you are establishing a relationship that could pay off in the future.

Can’t afford a AR-15 or AK? Well great neither can I. Instead I put money into ammo, and lots of it. I know you’re going to say, “Save that money that you spend on ammo and put it towards that AR-15.” Well guess what time is running out and what I can afford at this time is one to two boxes of ammo a month.

Which leads me to, “Keeping up with the Joneses.” You are not prepping to impress the Joneses. You are prepping for you and yours. The needs and income of your family are different from the next. So who gives a rats butt if the prepper over there disagrees with your purchase? He/She is not the one paying for it! Instead of trying to keep up with the latest gadgets and freeze dried storage of Joe Schmo next door focus your attention on what you can do and become efficient at it. So yea you could spend that $200 on that cool knife your bud has or you could save it and put it towards a reliable firearm or crossbow. So get rid of the notion that because the next guy over has better gear that he is better equipped. Remember knowledge is your biggest asset in a survival situation. While you are out hunting and gathering he will be fumbling to open his latest gadget and scratching his head over the instructions.

You’re stuck on new. Folks that are so fixed on having the pretty aspect they forget that getting certain items second hand saves you a lot of money. Doing so you just might be able to afford that AR-15. Again when you’re in the field you will be kicking yourself in the hind end for only having that .22 because that is what you could afford at a retail price. Network; find an individual that knows guns. See if they are willing to look at a few used firearms in return for a service you specialize in. In certain disasters old is worth more than new.  That Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is as good as scrap in an EMP situation. Garage selling is a great way to find preps for cheap. For example, I recently purchased a camo waterproof bib and jacket set for ten dollars at a garage sale, an insulated bib for five bucks, and camo pants for a dollar. With that said there are some items that deserve more of an investment.

Name brands….yes some items are worth their investment. For example if you are prepping to bug out an adequate sleeping bag is a must (if you live in a large populated area such as Denver let’s face it you have to leave). There is a huge difference in a Wiggy’sbrand sleeping bag versus a Wally World sleeping bag. Another area that should not be skimped on is boots. You will be doing a lot of walking/ running and the last thing you need is to be trying to do so barefoot. Trust me…those Wally World “waterproof” boots are only waterproof for the first few uses. However, do you really need that fancy $300 flashlight? Probably not. Buy two headlamps and put the rest aside for an adequate sleeping bag. When it comes down to it don’t get stuck on the latest fanciest gadgets with that expensive price tag due to the name. When deciding on a product you need to look at longevity and reliability and ask yourself can I get the same quality if I buy an off brand?

Priorities. You need to sit down with your partner (or a pen and piece of paper if you’re like me) and discuss what follows: water purification, shelter, food, and self-defense. Clearly you will have to set priorities within those categories’ to.  A priority should not be fancy shelving if you are on a budget. “Sorry baby boy we can’t eat next month because I wanted my prepping closet to look nice.” That money you spend on those shelves could buy your family an additional month of food or even a firearm in some cases. Call the bakeries and ask for buckets, buy five dollar totes are even better go out on trash days…you will find a ton! People throw away the most useful and expensive items. I once went to the dumpster and found several books that retail well over $15 a piece and name brand clothing such as Under Armour with the tags still on! 

She’d cook a dish and we’d go ‘Mama, w’ats this here, hanh?’ And she’d say, Children, that’s a mus-go. It mus’ go down yo’ throat.” – Justin Wilson

Adjust your skeptical eaters’ view of food now! My family began that at an early age.
Half of the time I did not know what type of meat I was eating…and for that fact if I’m eating at my fathers these days I still don‘t. If it was brown it was beef, if it was white it was chicken or turkey flavored differently. We raised rabbits and I never knew until I was older that I was eating my ‘pet’ rabbit. Dad would simply make sure that he replaced it with the same color rabbit which explains why I was only allowed to have one specific color….

Statistics show that you may have to offer a child the same food fifteen to sixteen times before they will accept it. So offer your local game now. Get a cookbook and learn how to work with it. If you have an infant and have the ability to breast feed, do so. Formula is expensive, it is easier to put aside some to supplement your child’s diet than to store one years’ worth. Can’t afford to stock up on freeze dried food items? For me that wasn’t a big deal. Down here it’s, “What would you like with your rice tonight?” You can pretty much guarantee that either rice or beans (or both) is in a dish from jambalaya to gumbo, to red beans and rice, all the way to black eyed peas & rice. And it is soooo good! These can be some of the simplest dishes to the most complex, figure out how you like them now.

Before you begin purchasing preps do a inventory of the items you have. Since my son has a skin disorder I already had a pretty decent stash of medical supplies. Far from enough but more than most. However, it will expire or run out no matter the amount I store. Knowing this I’m trying to find alternative ways to treat his skin with what nature provides.  Doing this I have taken one step closer to the realization that the supply chain may not be reestablished before my stockpile has run out.  Your preps should reflect that chance also. In each category you need to address the what if scenario of the grid being down for a decade or two. Yes you may have food and supplies to last for a few years but do you have the knowledge to live off the land once it runs out? Realize material items are just that…items. Knowledge and know how will outlast any material object.

Just a few additional tips to make your money go further. If I receive change I ask for it in nickels. Since nickels are 25% nickel and 75% cooper they are worth more than their face value yet you pay no more for it. It is real easy to get lost in the beans, bullets, and band aids prep list; however, there are plenty of other preps that are needed. Go to garage sales and pick up clothing for your children in every size you can. It is better to spend ten bucks on twenty outfits for the future now than having to barter precious ammo later. Also, tents, lighting, and shoes are a great addition to your preparations and are usually found cheaply at garage sales. I check CraigsList a lot and I can always find free firewood and pallets. Even if you just have land it would be wise to stockpile fire wood there. The McCormick brand seasoning packets are relatively cheap and are a great way to add flavor and calories to bland dishes. Even now my children and I enjoy rice and a beef burger smothered in brown gravy. In addition, I was unaware until I read a article that individuals on food stamps could purchase plants and seeds as long as they produce food. My local Wal-Mart sells a small variety of heirloom seeds and Whole Foods sales bulk wheat along with various other bulk items. Obviously, if you are on food stamps your budget is tight but try to set aside a few dollars in your budget to purchase some fruits for the future. Always look for multipurpose items to get more for your money. The WhisperLite International by MSR burns white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline and IsoPro Butane. It would make a great addition to your Bug Out Bag or even your retreat. With the bountiful of vehicles that will line the roads you could have fuel for a while. In addition, there are a few other common places that allow for cheaper purchases. Sam’s has great deals on long term food storage especially on wheat if you cannot get into a LDS cannery soon (ours has a nine to ten month waiting list). No the wheat is not organic and non-GMO but you won’t starve to death. Visit your local dollar stores. I purchased over twenty seed packets for under three dollars because it was the end of the season. Also, eBay is a great place to pick up items. For your bug out bag you can obtain a large Alice pack and frame for under thirty dollars, it is cheap and has proven its’ keep. There are great deals on everything from wool socks to boots to the military poncho and poncho liner.

It takes work, time, sweat, blood, and some tears occasionally. And a lot of prayer. But if you are willing to work overtime, pick up a second job, get up early and hit the flea market and garage sales. It is possible on a low income. Bartering, second hand, and education is going to be your Emancipation Proclamation or Thirteenth Amendment, whichever you see fit. What it boils down to is having the motivation to work towards becoming a asset without having a hefty wallet. An the willingness to look at alternative ways to prep without allowing others view to dictate your path to self sufficiency.

On a deeper note, I would love to keep my children’s lives normal after the SHTF but after realizing the harsh reality of my budget and knowing how the majority of the population will act I realized that I couldn’t. The reality was hard to swallow as much as I wanted to save for all the luxuries that a retreat offers. My fears of the chaos that will ensue after SHTF is justified, the nation witnessed that during and after Hurricane Katrina. So I regrouped, re-strategized and began thinking logically on how I could best keep food in my babies’ mouths and keep them safe, the best I could. No it is not glamorous nor will it be as comfortable as it would be if we had a retreat set up but at least I’m doing my best to prevent them from starving. So please don’t put off prepping because you can’t afford the best or you feel you just don’t have the money. Spend a few extra dollars and do your best to get your beans, bullets, and band aids in place prior to the coming collapse. Because in the end eating rice and beans is better than watching your children starve to death.

Lastly, I have a question. BriteLyt lanterns advertises the ability to burn a variety of fuels including kerosene, diesel, gasoline, white gas, biodiesel, paint thinner (not to sure how I feel about that one), mineral spirits, charcoal lighter fluid, lamp oils, Coleman fuel, and JP fuels. However, due to the price I have not had the ability to try one. My question to SurvivalBlog readers is, have you tried one and if so are they worth their investment (for me the price tag is a couple months of my prepping budget)?

Letter Re: Another Hidden In Plain Sight Storage Tip

Howdy,
Great site, thanks for a wonderful resource.

My tip of the day for hidden in plain sight storage, is a hollowed out heavy bag. I mean one of those ubiquitous kickboxing bags languishing in so many garages, covered with dust, and often stuffed into a corner and unused for years. These can be found used and cheap and have minimal resale value, thus a low likelihood of being taken in a burglary, especially as they are usually quite heavy. If there is no food or anything inside attractive to a dog or a bear, that is good of course, so nothing leads an intruder to it.

So, if you have some padding around a large tube hidden in this bag, it still can be punched, but can hold rifles, ammo, etc in a fairly large amount, and in fact should be so heavy, that its a pain to move from its dusty spot in the garage. Just re-lash the top (or perhaps re-stitch it, depending on the design), put the hanging chains back on and it hides in plain sight! Happy Trails – Eugene