Odds ‘n Sods:

Connecticut officer says woman sounds ‘anti-American’ for questioning gun control law – RBS

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WBB sent in this video concerning the CIA and their goals: GigaOM Structure:Data 2013. Of particular interest is their prioritizing social media (even though the vast majority of social media users are U.S. citizens.) Also of interest is the CIA’s determination that your smartphone’s ID is better than a fingerprint and they can get it even if your phone is “off”.

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Noah’s ark project in Ky. to move forward – P.M.

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Need to reload your 12 gauge and don’t have access to a reloader? In a survival situation this may help: Learn How to Reload a 12 Gauge Shotgun Shell – M.W.

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From G.G. – Not safe to display American flag in American high school.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand,
  2. 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.
  3. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  4. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  8. EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles, is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.

Round 51 ends on March 31st, 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.

Why Your Family Will NOT Survive the Economic Collapse, by A.Y.

What I’m about to leave you with will most likely be the most ignored, neglected, and probably hated article you will read. What I’m going to say is the most overlooked aspect of the average person’s life, but it is most important second only to your eternal salvation. This will be primarily directed at the males, because if your families do not survive, it is your fault. One thing the old testament military and any member of the current military will tell you is that when you are in charge, you take the blame for the failure. Most men in America, like those in most every other country in the world, are failing our family, failing God, and failing our country.

We, men, think that 90 percent of the time if we provide for our family our job is over. We’re wrong. The first reason your prepping or whatever you want to call it is useless is because you’re placing your trust in items rather than in Jesus Christ. I’m not here to preach, I assure you. All I’m trying to do is save you and your family. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal savior, now is the time to get that right. Whatever hill you climb, whatever goal you reach is completely useless if you spend your eternity burning in hell. The book of Romans says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you believe Jesus is the true Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and was resurrected three days later, and that you are a sinner deserving of hell, and you think God is telling you to get saved right now, you can be saved. How? Ask God to save you, and then place your trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ– Heaven’s spotless lamb– to save you. He alone can save you. Do that and you can and will, as per the word of God, be saved. Now even if you are saved, it’s not the tools, the gadgets, the freeze-dried food that will keep you and your family alive in the economic collapse; it is the grace of God. If He were to remove His hand right now, you’d be dead. You’re breathing His air. He’s keeping you tethered to the planet right now. If He removed His hand, you’d be dead. So, instead of trusting freeze-dried food, guns, and Advil to save your life, why not trust Jesus?

Now, I’m not saying any of the prepping stuff is wrong. You should put back food, weapons, ammunition, medication, silver, and gold, but don’t trust them. The second reason your family won’t survive is you’re confused. Simply, you don’t know what you’re doing. Now, you can read 100 “how-to” articles a week to get all kinds of knowledge, but again you’re not focusing on what’s important. Knowledge is important, I know that. An idiot won’t survive without an instruction manual, but a family won’t survive purely based on head knowledge. You need a relationship with your family. We talk about coming together, pooling our resources, and most of our families can’t even sit together at a table and have a meal. I’m willing to bet over a fifth of the deaths in America will not be because of a lack of food, or water, or medicine. It’ll be because people simply give up. Why? Their cell phones are dead. There will be no more video games, no computer, and when the center of your universe is gone, you’ll just simply quit. Most Americans are addicted to their cell phones, or facebook, or pinterest, and that is pathetic. The only way most Americans know how to communicate is by a text message. When the phones are gone, they won’t know how to communicate. If we can’t carry on a face-to-face conversation with someone for more than ten minutes, how are we supposed to spend months and years together? Additionally, how do we do it in the most dangerous, stressfull times this country has ever faced?

Now, we can communicate with our friends and our coworkers, but often times the most important people in our lives– our family, especially our immediate family, who are the ones we spend everyday with– are the hardest to reach. Your immediate family, your brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and especially your wife are the most important people in your life, by God’s standards, not mine. The average American family sits down around a television and watch some filthy, nasty movie, straight from the devil’s hell while eating a meal together. Then, they call that bonding. In the rare event a family does sit at a table to eat, often, the daughters stare at a cell phone in their hand, the sons have a video game, and the husband and wife are silent because they’re still mad over something that happened a week ago. I don’t care what your wife is like, it is the husband’s job to love her and love her with every fiber of his being. If you could sum up what the Bible says about the family, you could do it with these six words– husbands love, wives submit, children obey. A man once said, “The man is the head of the home, the wife is the heart of the home, and the children are the hope of the home.” I remind you that while you neglect your children, the television, the computer, and the school system are shaping who they are. Whether you survive the economic collapse or not, you will one day turn this country over to them. Men need to have a real relationship with their families, moreso than with the buyers on craiglist or their sports buddies. Their most important and main relationship needs to be with their wife and children.

The next reason your family won’t survive is that we, men in particular, are selfish. We care more about our needs than the needs of those around us. Now, some of you are scratching your head thinking, “I’m working thirty hours overtime to put back so that my family can survive the collapse. Now is that selfish?” You’re concerned about the future, which isn’t wrong. Proverbs says, “A people without a vision perishes.” So, planning for the future is important, but not so important you neglect today. You can concern yourself so much with the future and work so much to put back to the extent it can become a god to you. We always make time for what we care about most. This isn’t only prepping; it can be anything– vacations, a new X-box, a PlayStation, or a computer. We will work hours and hours so we can get an ounce of pleasure. Instead, we should be worrying about our family, getting our loved ones taken care of, walking with and having a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and being able to go to bed every night knowing that everything is alright between me, my family, and God. That is not pleasure; that is joy. This joy lasts a lot longer than any vacation or camping trip. I’m not saying any of that’s wrong, but it shouldn’t control us. Before the fall of the Roman Empire, the Romans cried out, “Give us bread and circus.” They placed pleasure, as high in importance as the necessities, and it wasn’t very long before they were destroyed. When you work 60 hours a week, all so you can go on a vacation and neglect your family, you are selfish.

All of us, at one point in time, have been overwhelmed. We have got so many problems in this generation, and yet living now should be easier than it ever has. The reason it is not is because we demand the best. I hate to tell say, but in TEOTWAWKI your zero-turn lawn mower that you used to mow your 100 square foot yard is going to be useless. We have lost focus on what’s important. We think we have to have so many things– the newest truck, the best lawnmower, the biggest house, and so forth. Yet, none of that amounts to any more than a hill of beans. I hope, the survivalist crowd, who claims to prioritize and focus on what’s necessary, will listen to this. Your house payment, your cell phone bills, and your car payment should not be the things that control your life. If your car payment cripples your monthly income, sell it. I’ll say this, buying a brand new vehicle is idiotic. By the time you drive it off the parking lot it loses over half its value, and 90% of the time when that warranty goes out, it’ll start having problems. If you can’t afford your house and if you missed work for a month, the bank would take everything you own, so sell it. Neglecting your family and working yourself into an early grave is not worth impressing the neighbors. If the neighbor’s opinion means more to you than your family, you are shallow, and you should be ashamed. The only opinions that should matter to you are that of your wife, your children, and your Savior. Do your kids see you read your bible every day? Do you even read your bible? Do you teach them about the important things in life? Do you even know the important things in life?

If our families are struggling to stay above water now, they will never survive the economic collapse. Men, love your wives and take care of your families. Train up your children in the way they should go, and don’t let the school or the television do it. The best thing you could do is get rid of the stupid thing. I believe it has been one of the most effective methods the devil has used in destroying America. Be a family now, and you will be a family then.

Letter: Lists

Hi.

I just found your blog. God bless you!

I am seriously interested in protecting my family and have been organizing and preparing for whatever may happen even though I’m stuck here in the NYC area for now. I never found a blog describing a perspective on possible events that mirrors my own so closely before. Look, I am practical, and was a good Boy Scout. “Be prepared,” always made a lot of sense to me as a motto to live by. We might have to be self-sufficient for two days, two weeks, two months, or two years (in the zombie apocalypse scenario of grid/economic collapse). Or, perhaps we just end up with a vacation house and land until I retire there. That’s what I tell my two boys.

The thought you’ve put into the lists and the information on guns and first aid/surgery are exciting to me. I no longer have to invent all these wheels! The problem is that I live here, in the NYC area. I know you prefer the 19 western states, but if I have to start with a staging area around here, perhaps the Delaware water gap or maybe south PA. Is there any research for suitable retreats/sanctuaries around here? Is there any data spreadsheets for the area around here?

Again, though, I really wanted to write just to thank you so much for your gracious and intelligent assistance in keeping my family and myself safe. It is much appreciated, fellow citizen. – SRC

Hugh Replies: It’s understood that not everyone can just pick up and move for a variety of reasons. It’s important to begin the process of networking with similarly-minded people wherever you live. You just have to weigh the risks of where you choose to locate with the dangers that are present.

Letter RE: A Forgotten Prep and Barter Item

Dear HJL,

I have gone back and, over a period of time, reviewed all of the entries in SurvivalBlog since its inception in 2005, plus numerous other survival forums. Among the most commonly posted forum inquiries are questions such as, “What do I need to add to my BOB/GOOD bag, BOL storage, et cetera?” Also, many ask, “What would be a good barter item for after the SHTF?”

Last evening, I reached up to remove an item from a shelf in the shop. I was very glad that I had it on hand and realized that I did not recall having seen it on a prep or barter list. It’s mosquito spray! It sits next to the cockroach spray, the spider spray, and the flying insect spray.

We all know that mother nature has a tremendous ability to repair itself and to revert to, well, nature when man does not interfere. Pests are pests during normal times and, during a major SHTF or TEOTWAWKI, we should certainly prepare for mother nature to attempt to reassert herself and send her small and sometimes dangerous pests out to be fruitful and multiply. This could only get worse if the event involved a die off with deceased people providing easy pickings for all sorts of critters, including maggots. After all, we do look like prime rib to a mosquito, and people, of course, die from Lyme disease carried by ticks and anaphylactic shock from bees and occasional spider bites, among other things. We can’t count on an ER room during a major event, remember? Plague and disease carried by insects of some type might itself be the next major SHTF. Who knows?

I think that one of the most valuable items during a serious event might be insect killers– bug spray, fly spray, and things to kill or ward off mosquitoes, cockroaches, spiders, ticks, moths, and so forth.

This might be even more of an issue for those of you planning on bugging out by hitting the road and surviving in the woods. You wouldn’t be the first person to sleep on top of an ant hill. DON’T ask me how I know this! For those of us with a little space and real estate to protect, the answer is usually to buy concentrated pesticides and mix and spray them in bulk. You are probably already doing that if you have some property. However, what about your neighbor who lives in an apartment or duplex? I think a great barter item might be a couple of cases of assorted insect cans. These are often available at the local dollar stores, and Ace hardware stores (not a paid ad) often have their brand of spray on sale for two for the price of one. I often use the cans for “touch up” or for indoor eradication of pests when the 5-gallon sprayer of Malithion would be overkill and result in evacuation of the bedroom for a while. Remember, if you keep any spray can for too long and it loses pressure, you can always turn it over and CAREFULLY pop it open with an old style “church key” beer bottle opener to pour the contents out and put it into a pump style spray bottle or pour it onto an infested area. If you have to do this, go outside, point it away from your body and go very slowly to release any residual pressure before opening the can enough to pour out the contents. Also, remember to wear eye protection and gloves.

In addition, you might consider adding a couple of cans of “OFF” (or something similar to protect your person) and also something to protect an area . Avon Skin So Soft mixed 50/50 with water works for MOST people to repel bugs, especially mosquitoes. It also makes you smell better (especially after two weeks in the woods) and actually softens your skin.

Be safe and prep as if your life depended on it.

– GLD

P.S. What about bigger pests? Rat traps for barter?

HJL Adds: So far, there seems to be a resounding vacuum of double blind tests on DEET vs other repellents. Without the true double-blind test, the results of the test are guaranteed to be biased. I also find it interesting that Avon does not push their “Skin So Soft” as a repellent in the U.S., though they are marketing a similar product in Europe, specifically as a repellent. I have found that the best repellent is a 100% DEET on clothing, including a mosquito net around the face. Just don’t use it on bare skin.

A word of caution is in order. A couple of years ago, I had a “go” bag for a local Ham event. In the bag was a can of OFF. The lid came loose in the process of moving and something pressed up against the spray button. When I pulled out my 25-foot coil of coax, the plastic had melted off of the wire and was a large pile of black goo in the bottom of the bag. DEET eats plastic! It doesn’t take a large amount either. I also lost a lens hood for my camera by spraying OFF (Deep Woods variety) on my legs while wearing shorts and then resting the heavy lens on my legs as I sat awhile. I’d rather not have that on my bare skin, even if there is no evidence that it causes problems. Still, there is no more effective solution, if you use it with the appropriate netting or clothing.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Living with progressive values. New York City is at it again, proposing a bill that would allow city workers to enter any buildings that receive tax credits without permission or warrants. – M.W.

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An interesting read sent in by B.B. – Warriors vs. Mercenaries. There is a huge difference between the two types in military and law enforcement.

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Wondering why our university students are so confused about liberty? D.S. sent this in: 20 of the most obnoxious quotes from college professors

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Progressivism as a Weapon of Mass Destruction – JFJ

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D.T. sent in the link to this interesting folding boat – Porta Bote | The Unique Folding Boat.

Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand,
  2. 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.
  3. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  4. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  8. EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles, is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.

Round 51 ends on March 31st, 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.

The DIY Food Storage Article, by KSO

When one thinks of SHTF and TEOTWAWKI, The Walking Dead kind of scenario may enter one’s mind. I know it does mine (mainly because I’m obsessed with the show). Realistically speaking, however, TEOTWAWKI will not be because of a zombie apocalypse, but because of many other reasons– natural disasters, economic collapse, a nuclear bomb dropping on us (courtesy of an antsy enemy), and/or a pandemic. In any crisis event, having food stored for a lengthy period of time is essential for survival. There are many food storage options out there, as well as manuals and how-to articles. In this article, I will explain some of these storage options, how much food you should store, and what I believe to be the most important DIY food storage product.

Canning

In a TEOTWAWKI situation, having basic homesteading skills will become life-saving skills. This includes canning. However, assuming that you do not have access to canning materials after SHTF, you should get crackin’. Always have canned foods on hand. Yes, grocery store pick-ups are wonderful for food storage, but most canned goods last only 2-3 years, which makes rotation essential. Canning foods yourself provides two things: a longer shelf life and peace of mind that you aren’t getting all the nasties that grocery store canned goods harbor.

There are three ways to can: 1) pressure canning, 2) water bath canning, and 3) dry pack canning. The first two require mason jars and a pressure canner, the third requires #10 cans and a #10 can sealer. Pressure canning and water bath canning are conducted using a presser canner. You can purchase a pressure canner at stores and online for $60, along with mason jars, pickle and fruit preserves, and anything else you’ll need to can. Pressure canning is used for low-acidic foods, like meats and vegetables (and even butter!), whereas water bath canning is used for high-acidic foods, such as fruits and jams (and even cheese!) I won’t go into extensive detail on how to pressure and water bath can, but a great resource (often called the canner’s Bible) is the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. There are also several YouTube videos out there that give in-depth tutorials and visuals of using a pressure canner.

Let’s move on to dry pack canning. In my research, this is the most expensive way to store food. #10 cans can run about $95 for a pack of 45. #10 can sealers can run anywhere from $900 ($600 is the lowest price I found for a used sealer) to upwards of $2,000. They are, however, light and rodent proof and can keep food on your shelf for 10-30 years. The sticker shock of dry canning has not worn off for this prepper, so I will move on to the next (relatively inexpensive) topic.

Note: It is worth mentioning, though, that most major cities have LDS (Church of Ladder Day Saints) canneries that lend out (and let you buy) #10 cans and can sealers. It may be cheaper than buying them yourself.

Freeze Drying and Dehydrating Food Preps

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like freeze drying my own food. It’s a very long process, and the end result is less than appetizing. However, if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, use a piece of cookware that has slits in the bottom (like metal pizza pans). I actually use my dehydrator trays. Thinly slice the item you want to freeze dry. (I tried apples.) Place them onto the tray and freeze until they are, essentially, dry to the touch. It can take a few days. Then you can store the freezed dried food in Mylar bags with an oxygen (O2) absorber. Personally, I don’t like the “freezer” taste. Commercially freeze dried foods are produced using a machine that vacuums the moisture out of the product. To use one of these machines at home would cost thousands of dollars. The advantage of freeze dried foods, however, is that the shelf-life is 30 years. Most emergency foods that you buy online or in stores are freeze dried foods.

Dehydrators, on the other hand, range in price, but you can usually find one at a thrift store. You can dehydrate just about anything, but we mainly make jerky at home. We have dehydrated fruits to use in homemade trail mix. If you have never dehydrated food before, it’s a very simple process that takes just a few hours to accomplish. Really all that you do is thinly slice the item you want to dehydrate, lay the slices on the dehydrator trays, and turn the machine on. After they’re done, store the dehydrated slices in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. In my opinion (and I prep on a budget), dehydrating your own foods is the way to go. Bags of beef jerky at wholesale stores range from $15-$20, but you can buy the meat for the same cost and make twice, or even triple, the amount than what is commercially produced and available.

Five Gallon Buckets and Gamma Lids

You can buy five-gallon buckets anywhere. Whether they are food safe and suitable for food storage is another thing. Most home improvement stores, like Home Depot and Lowe’s, have five-gallon buckets for $5-$6 each. That’s not bad when compared to prices online, but there is some controversy surrounding whether Home Depot buckets are really food grade. Typically, if you look at the bottom of the bucket and see the number “2” in the middle of a triangle of arrows, it means that it’s made from HDPE plastic. HDPE plastic is usually considered food-grade, but unless it also says BPA-free, then I wouldn’t use that bucket for anything other than storing Mylar bags full of food. If your bucket is made from HDPE and BPA-free plastic, dump your food, such as flour and rice, straight into the bucket with an oxygen absorber. Voila; you have flour and rice good for 10+ years!

Regardless of how the food is stored inside the bucket, the lid plays a very important role in keeping your food free of oxygen, light, and rodents. Many buckets come with lids that fit securely on the bucket, but when attempting to take the lid off, there are two things to consider: 1) how am I going to get the darn thing off (when secured, the lids are really secured), and 2) how am I going to keep the rest of my food safe, if I take only a little out at a time. You may buy a bucket lid wrench at any home improvement store or online for $6-$7. They’re very handy in assisting you to pry the bucket lids off. But you never know when a lid may crack, causing it to be unusable. What happens then? This is where gamma lids come into play. They’re more expensive at $8-$9 a lid (versus $2-$3 for regular bucket lids), but the saying “you get what you pay for” really does have some merit, especially in this situation. Gamma lids are nifty lids that install onto the bucket, just like regular lids, but they have a screw top that allows you to open and close the bucket at your convenience.

Note: I only use gamma lids on the buckets that I am actively using. Regular lids are just fine for long-term storage, and you can always use a gamma lid once you remove the regular lid.

Mylar Bags and O2 Absorbers

I firmly believe that Mylar bags are the most important item to have for storing food. Vacuum-seal bags are great, but they’re clear and subjected to light easier than Mylar, which are silver in color to makes them light resistant. Mylar bags are relatively thick, which helps protect against puncturing. They come in several different sizes from itty-bitty to huge. I found mine online and you can usually find a good deal on Mylar bags/oxygen absorber combos. My favorite sizes are 1-gallon bags and 5-gallon bags, which are small and big enough to store most things. Now, when I first started my DIY food storage, I had a lot of questions about how much to store in each bag, how much space should I leave at the top of the bag, how do I seal a bag, and other questions of that nature. So, I did what anyone with questions would do: I searched the web. The searches brought me to YouTube each time. After watching 5-10 videos, I chose two different methods and went with them.

Note: Ready your supplies BEFORE opening your oxygen absorbers. O2 absorbers have a 10-15 minute life span outside of an air-tight environment before they are no longer good to use. If the O2 absorber is crinkly and hard, it’s no good. You want them to be soft and flexible.

Method #1: Iron

Your standard household iron will do the trick. You’ll want some kind of wood (I use a 5/8″ dowel rod) to make a seal. You set your iron on 5 or 6, gather your product and your choice of size Mylar bag, and locate your O2 absorbers, a kitchen scale, a scoop of some kind, a one-cup measuring cup, and a permanent marker. Say, for instance, you want to store salt. I bought a 25-pound bag of salt from a local wholesale store and wanted to store five pounds in each one-gallon Mylar bag.

Note: Please be aware that the 25-pound bags you can purchase from wholesale stores do NOT contain iodine. Iodine is essential for your health, especially thyroid health. Keep iodine supplements on hand or buy the smaller 4-pound boxes of iodized salt.

This is my process:

  1. Using a 1 cup measuring cup, I fill it with salt and pour the contents into the bag. (This gives it some volume to actually stand up on the scale.) I then put the bag on the scale and continue to scoop salt into the bag until the scale reads about 5 pounds ¾ ounces. (The bag weighs approximately ¾ of an ounce, so you’ll want to account for that when you weigh.)
  2. I press as much air as I can out of the bag by gathering the side of the bag at the top of the product and then folding the bag over. I smooth out as much air as I can.
  3. Then I lie the bag down on top of the dowel rod, leaving about an inch from the top of the bag. I iron on the back over the dowel rod, 2/3 of the way, leaving about a 1.5″ space on one corner.
  4. For a 1 gallon bag, all I need is one 300cc O2 absorber. I put the O2 absorber inside the bag, then using a straw (this tool is optional), suck out the remaining air and seal the rest of the bag. I go over the seal two or three times to ensure there are no air bubbles. Pulling apart the 1″ space at the top of the bag, I make sure that the seal is strong. If you want, you can also iron the 1″ space closed after checking the original seal.

    Note: Some people do not use an O2 absorber when storing salt because it’s like trying to preserve a preservative. Since salt lasts forever, you may choose not to use an absorber, but do your own research, and make your own decisions!

  5. I take my Sharpie and label the bag with the product, noting how much product is inside and the date it was stored. For example: “Salt – no iodine, 5lbs, 02/22/2014.”
  6. Lay the bag (for storage) in a dark, cool area. Do not move for 24 hours. This gives the O2 absorbers enough time to activate.

Method #2: Hair Straightener

I actually prefer this method. I find the iron and the dowel rod bulky and awkward to use. You’ll need all of the above supplies, except the wooden dowel and switch the iron out for the hair straightener. When I used the hair straightener, I was preserving egg noodles. I bought a five pound bag from my wholesale store. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to fit all five pounds in one one-gallon Mylar bag, so I decided to try one pound per bag. It worked perfectly.

1. Repeat step 1.

2. Repeat step 2.

3. While the top of the bag is folded, I take the hair straightener and start in the middle. I run from the middle to the right side of the bag, sealing the top inch of the bag shut. From the middle, run the straighter towards the left, leaving a 1.5″ gap on the left hand side. Insert an O2 absorber, suck the rest of the air out with a straw, and then quickly seal the bag. Go over the seal 2-3 times to ensure the top of the bag is completely closed with no air bubbles protruding at the top.

4. Repeat step 5.

5. Repeat step 6.

I’ve mentioned oxygen absorbers (or O2 absorbers) multiple times throughout this article. They are necessary for proper food storage and you’ll use them in most of your dry stores. They come in different sizes– from 20cc all the way up to 2000cc. The “cc”, which means “cubic centimeters,” is the amount of oxygen that needs to be absorbed within a container. This amount varies based on the size of the container, which is described below.

Note: No ill effects will occur if you use more than the amount below. These are just a general rule of thumb:

  • 1 quart jar – 100cc
  • #10 can – 200cc
  • 1-gallon bag – 300cc
  • 5-gallon bucket – 2000cc

How Much of These Foods do I Need?

The amount of the food needed depends on how many individuals you intend to feed at any given time. There are four people in my family– myself, my husband, and my two children. I also expect to feed at least nine others in a SHTF scenario. My extended family lives within miles of my primary location and in the event of a crisis, they know where to come during the initial stages of the event. I am storing the below pantry staples for my family of twelve for one year. Of course, adjust this to your family’s particular diets and tastes. A great rule to follow is: Store what you eat, and eat what you store.

At two servings a week:
Oats- 120 lbs
Cheese- 104 lbs
At three servings a week:
Beef- 468 lbs
Eggs- 24 cans
At four servings a week:
Chicken- 624 lbs
At five servings a week
Pork- 780 lbs
Beans- 780 lbs
At six servings a week
Rice- 936 lbs
Corn- 936 lbs
At seven servings a week
Pasta- 1092 lbs
At eight servings a week
Butter- 156 lbs
At ten servings a week
Fruit- 12 #10 cans
At fourteen servings a week
Wheat- 2184 lbs
Vegetables- 17 #10 cans [1]

So, Now That Tou Know…

Not all of this will you need to know, but the basics are critical. I hope this article has been a helpful resource for your DIY food storage. Many people love to buy preps online, which is completely understandable. When you buy online, it’s already pre-packaged for you with a guaranteed 10-30 year shelf life, which not only gives you peace of mind, but lessens the burden on you to take the extra time to prepare thousands of pounds of food. However, buying it all online or in the stores creates a burden on your wallet. Most #10 cans of food online run anywhere from $8-$50 each. Buying bulk and storing it yourself greatly reduces the overall monetary cost, which is one thing this prepper finds appealing.

References

[1] Prepper’s Food Storage: 101 Easy Steps to Affordably Stock a Life-Saving Supply of Food by Julie Languille.

Letter Re: Cold Weather Survival

Hugh,

The poster of this article did a good job overall. One thing that was mentioned in brief was dehydration in cold weather. In the Army, while stationed in Germany on a few tours during the winter, I helped to assist fellow soldiers who were in fact dehydrated due to “not feeling thirsty”. Thirst is a lousy gauge of hydration. By the time you are thirsty, it is too late.

One item not mentioned was how to make sure that you have plenty of potable water. In cities, snow melt can be contaminated with the exhaust of automobiles, and if you ever treated your roof with moss killer or the like, it may not be potable. So be careful. Most folks may not understand that while eating snow is not a good idea, as mentioned by the person who posted this article, the drinking of cold water (under sixty five degrees Fahrenheit, especially in the cold winter) can be just as harmful.

The author did make some solid comments as to what may be reasonable alternatives for staying mobile. I would add check your gear, before the weather hits. This includes and is not limited to such things as: Do boots need to be treated with products like “SnoSeal” or the like. Sno Seal is a brand name for a semi waxy covering for boots. I do not have a financial interest in the company. I have used the product for several years and believe in its effectiveness. Be careful about so called “Water Proofing” sprays or coating. Once treated, the fibers or material becomes highly flammable. Also such treatments can cause moisture from sweat to coat the interior of the material or clothing. This has its own hazards, such as the possibility of inducing hypothermia and degrading the thermal protective qualities of your garments.

Take time to review your sweaters and other weather clothing. Learn to mend it if at all possible. Be sure to take care about avoiding over layering, as this can also induce dehydration and other heat-related injuries, in some conditions. The usual precautions stand, like not using propane stoves or charcoal grills indoors. Neither carbon monoxide nor a fire in your home, other than in a well maintained fire place with an annually inspected chimney, are your friend. – grog

Letter: Where’s My Silver

Hello HJL,

Just thought I’d let you know I’m a little less than satisfied with Northwest Territorial Mint. I chose them to buy silver from because I knew I could trust a company that your site promotes. While I still trust NTM I feel I should say, however, they should tighten up a little bit. I’ve made four orders so far and received one. I’m quite pleased with that order, but at the same time the turn-around is very long. It took over a month to receive, and yesterday I received an email saying my 2nd order will be delayed one month. I can only expect my remaining tw orders will be delayed as well. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate NTM and will continue to do business with them. I was just hoping you guys could goose them a little and get them to improve the service. If I’m the only one complaining or if I am some kind of idiot, please disregard this email. Thanks for all you do and God bless. – J.W.

JWR Replies: Whenever the spot price of silver takes a dip (as it recently did twice, to $19.50 per ounce), the retailers and mints get buried in orders, and they very quickly build multi-month order backlogs. Even the U.S. mint has been slammed with orders. It regularly sells out of some products and periodically suspends sales, to allow time to catch up. See: http://www.coinnews.net/2014/01/03/us-mint-sales-updates-and-more-sold-out-products/

Like all of the other high-volume and low markup mints, Northwest Territorial Mint has suffered delays because of large order influxes. Their mint is physically limited by the speed of their machinery to how many coins and bars they can produce and ship each week, and still meet high quality control standards. But the good news is that in their four years as a SurvivalBlog advertiser, Northwest Territorial Mint has NEVER failed to fulfill an order, or welched on a promised price.

Now compare the silver mint situation to .22 rimfire ammo manufacturers and retailers–where in the past year they have widely canceled orders, rationed customers, and more than doubled prices. (In fact, during the worst of the ammo shortage crisis, some retailers quintupled their prices.) All in all, I’d say that Northwest Territorial Mint and most of the other silver mints have been far more ethical and trustworthy.

The law of supply and demand is inescapable. In times of extreme demand, manufacturers have two choices: either raise their prices or queue their deliveries. I am thankful that Northwest Territorial Mint has consistently chosen the ethical course of action.

Lastly: I must warn you and other readers: Do not do business with shady, fly-by-night companies. Buy only from reputable companies, or you face the prospect of losing 100% of what you send them. Best Regards.

Odds ‘n Sods:

10 Stories From The Cold, Hard Streets Of America That Will Break Your Heart – Cheryl N

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Several readers have sent in this video: Hazmat Highway to Hell with High Pressure Gas Cylinders. It’s a great introduction to Hazmat and a reason to pay attention when you drive.

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S.W. sent in this link on How to Open a Can Without Any Tools. While a useful skill to know, there are still areas where it wouldn’t work. I would class this under an urban survival skill. And remember, a P38 easily fits on a keychain.

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SC officer shoots man reaching for cane and notice the quote: “It does appear, at this time, that Deputy Knox’s actions were an appropriate response to what he reasonably believed to be an imminent threat to his life.”

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More information on the Florida woman living “off the Grid”: City caps sewer of woman. It will be important to follow this. Most municipalities do not have a separate billing process for “sewer” services. It is a combined sewer and water bill, under the idea that what you draw out, you will dump back into the system. Of course, the system is slanted towards the municipalities because if you water your lawn, you are still charged for the disposing of that amount of water, even though you didn’t put it back into the system. In this particular case, she has admitted to utilizing the sewer and not paying for it, with an intention of continuing the practice. Any way you look at it, theft of services is just wrong.