Survival Preparation - To Bug Out or To Bug In?

As with many preppers I wonder if I should consider bugging out when the shit hits the fan or staying put and protecting the place I am at. This dilemma has been debated a countless many times by many a doomsday preppers.

The question really boils down to this. Is being mobile a better choice than being in a stationary position?

If you are planning to "Bug In" at your current location you have a couple of advantages that aren't as easy for the mobile prepper. You can have a larger cache of survival products and food available to you. You have familiar surroundings which is also a distinct advantage. The drawback on the other hand is that if people know or learn what you have that might make you more of a target for others who because of desperation resort to other than friendly means to get what they need.

Many preppers believe that they will be able to trade with people and that will be much better than any form of force by arms. This might be true if you have an overhwhelming amount of firepower where they know that the only recourse is trading politely, barring that the darker side of human nature will probably take over and they will use whatever means necessary to get what you have and they don't.

So if you plan on bugging in when the shit hits the fan you need to consider having the means to protect what you have. You should also consider hiding much of your stash in multiple locations outside and away from your primary location. If you do get raided and lose what you have you still have fallback supplies. Plan on having a very good security plan in place. Don't rely on the good nature of people around you. Your life could be in danger and no one will be there to bail YOU out.

If you are planning on a more mobile prepper lifestyle you need to consider the ramifications of not having as many supplies available to you in most cases. You will want to learn the skills of living off the land. You should have a couple of books at your disposal, one is a book on edible plants and the other would be on the medicinal use of plants. This will allow you to forage much more effectively saving valuable space in your bug out bag for other supplies.

Your bug out bag should contain items you will need to survive while moving from place to place. You're top concerns should be shelter and security. Having both will allow you to stay in more secure hiding places although you won't have as much in the way of creature comforts. A small tent and/or tarps that you can build them from would be ideal to have. Items that allow you to start fires will be a must as would be some sort of pot for boiling water and cooking needs. You want to be well stocked with first aid, as they say bullets, band-aids and beans.

You will also want to have a good pair of boots. Although tennis shoes are comfortable for day to day living now if you are walking a lot they will wear out, you will want a good pair of military grade water proof boots that are both comfortable and broken in. The last thing you want to have to do when you bug out is deal with blisters because your boots aren't broken in. Warm clothing might be a consideration too thought it's likely you would be able to scavenge clothes from abandoned homes.

Whether you choose to bug in or bug out, the important thing is to be prepared and stay alive.

At http://www.doomsday-preppers.com you will find a wide variety of survival products for everyone from urban survivalist to the hard core emergency prepper. We have Gas Masks, Survival food and much more available. We also have many articles on prepping as well as a very active forum that can be found at http://www.doomsday-preppers.com/forum/

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Bug Out Sins For Survivalists

Whether you plan to bug out solo or travel in masse with fellow survivalists there are specific, unwritten rules that would be best followed. These are not just random policies but ones that have been thought out very carefully and were selected to ensure your safety and those of your associates.

A good survivalist will be prepared when its time to bug out. They will practice good common sense and remain respectful and courteous to their fellow survivalists and preppers. The difference between the good and the bad survivalist is that those who show us up in a bad light generally lack the proper preparedness and are drastically short of the necessary awareness to survive any serious emergency. As such they tend to place their fellow survivalists in grave jeopardy.

When bugging out in the wild each and every sound tends to echo throughout the forest. Naturally, you bugged out to be secure and maintain a low profile as did your accompanied friends and family. As with any other survivalist activities you must keep a minimal footprint to stay safe and secure.

As every survivalist knows your temporary bug out site is now your new home and your neighbors may actually be less than a hundred feet from you. Nothing is more aggravating than to have to put up with your neighbors trash and stench. The golden rule here is clean up after yourself. You should make it a habit of collecting any generated trash that accumulates around your location and disposing of it promptly. Always keep a box of garbage bags in your bug out kit specifically for this purpose. I have written about it previously and the concept is still very much true even today, you should "Leave no Trace."

Always try to keep the noise and associated sounds to a minimum as you never know if you have unexpected company in your immediate area. In addition, a good night's sleep never hurts anyone and is essential when you are bugging out in the wild. Run your generator only when absolutely necessary. This is one of the major reasons that I am against the use of generators in bug out conditions. They create a lot of needless noise which tends to attract undesired attention. Attention is something you and your group definitely do not need.

Beware when walking around the area especially during the initial bug out stages and in the evening. Nerves will be on edge as no one really knows what to expect. Loaded weapons are likely to be readily available and an unexpected intrusion or short cuts into your neighbor's immediate area may be unsafe. Provide some privacy here for them and above all let them know in advance that you are coming into their territory. Just a simple "Hello" could save your life.

Since water will be at a premium make sure that when you make your initial bug out plans you include adequate supplies of this valuable liquid. Not only will you need to provide a sufficient supply for drinking but also for washing dishes and perhaps clothing, as well as for sanitary use. Come properly prepared with some sort of plastic dish washing basin, dish soap and enough water. Don't plan to sponge water (pun intended) from your neighbors.

Come on folks, you are now likely living in the woods and wildlife is abundant. Never, and I repeat never leave food out. Animals will stop at nothing to get to your food supply and that can be dangerous for you, your family and anyone else near the food. Raccoons will totally destroy a cooler in their efforts to obtain the food inside. Bears will demolish an automobile just to get what groceries they could smell from the car seats inside. Crows although not particularly fatal will cause havoc at your table as they go after food left behind. If you are forced to live in a tent never store your food in it with you. In reality there is actually no safe location to store your edible supplies while in the wild. Generally the best location to place your provisions is likely to be the trunk of your bug out vehicle.

Lastly, let's talk about children. Never let your children run loose around your bug out location. It isn't that your neighbors may not like kids, but rather these are strange and usual surroundings for young children. The children are totally unfamiliar with the location and chances are great that they could become lost. Even worse is the fact that there may be less than friendly people roaming the woods and loudly playing children could attract their attention.

The major point in all of this is to maintain a low profile at all times. It is better to keep all activities as silent as possible and get through the initial period in as safe and secure manner as you possibly can. Enjoy your bug out as you may, but do so safely.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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Are You a Good Doomsday Prepper? Are You Prepared?

As a Survivalist, it certainly is important that you be vigilant in your prepping so that you can leave in a moments notice. I confess that I'm a procrastinator. I purchased four 5 gallon plastic gas cans and stored them in my garage. They sat there empty for pretty much 60 days. It so happened the price of gas went lower by 20 cents while they were sitting there, but had gas skyrocketed my survival preps may have been useless.

One of the most important steps to being self sufficient is to make sure you work towards your goal before you are at crunch time. As a prepper you should be taking time at least once a month to look at what you have done, what you still need to do and assess a plan of action to complete these goals. Even something as simple as checking expiration dates on items can become critical so you need to be sure to check on your survival cache on a regular basis. After you have done this a couple of times it will become second nature.

This appears to be somewhat usual among survivalists. Many have plenty of things in the works that are not complete so that when the shit does hit the fan they're barely ready for that emergency. Perhaps you have fallen into this category? Do you got a bug out bag that either sits empty near a lot of other products or possibly hidden in certain place where it is sometimes complicated to access? When was the final time you checked the products so you'd be sure you have the right products inside and that none of them are past it's expiration? Have you thought about various survival situations to re-asses items you have inside your bug out bag and what else that you might need to get? The reality for many is that they haven't.

Why haven't you, do you expect once the shit hits the fan you will have the time to proceed making your B.O.B. or have enough time to get everything prepared? Or would you imagine getting the stuff is as far as you have to go. What could happen if something happens that precipitates bugging out really fast. Say a nuclear blast, a train derailment with toxic fumes, as well as something similar to a large sink hole near your house like happened in Florida in May of 2012. These situations could cause you to quickly evacuate your home. Would you like to be prepared or would you like to be caught with your pants down like countless People in America who barely possess the resources and whits to last even a few days after a major incident?

If you are wanting to learn more about survival training then you should look for forums that can help you find the knowledge that you need to help you become more aware for any doomsday situation. On these sites you will often find many good people willing to guide you along your path to become a prepper. Beware that not everyone on there has your interests at heart so be sure to be safe and not give out too much info about your state of readiness.

Many sites have articles on items such as food canning, dehydrating, drying food, personal safety and many other great topics. When you first start to look at becoming a prepper these topics are often daunting and take a while to jump in and get going, but once you have done this you will find that you learn to take on challenges more easily and that's going to be a mighty fine ability to have if the proverbial shit hits the fan.

Don't be afraid to participate in the conversation as you might have more information than others and might be as much a teacher as a student.

At http://www.doomsday-preppers.com you will find a wide variety of survival products for everyone from urban survivalist to the hard core emergency prepper. We have Gas Masks, Survival food and much more available. We also have many articles on prepping as well as a very active forum that can be found at http://www.doomsday-preppers.com/forum/

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Everyday Reasons for Becoming a Prepper Besides a Doomsday Scenario

The prepper movement has become more and more mainstream over the last year or two but there are still some with odd reactions. Im sure we have all heard some of the comments about preppers like they are nuts, paranoid worry warts, and onward. There are many who don't believe that any sort of doomsday scenario will ever occur with in their lifetime. But the doomsday or end of world scenario alone is not the only reason to do a little prepping.

There are reasons which are a little more mainstream and may even make a little more sense even to those of you who don't believe in prepping. We have listed here some reasons to have emergency supplies and stock piles like many modern day prepper would have. You may want to consider some of these reasons to prep even though you still wouldn't consider yourself a prepper.

Natural Disasters - Most of us live in an area that can be hit by some kind of natural disaster be it a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. This may not be a doomsday scenario but having a bit of preparedness could go a real long way to making your life easier on you and your family in this sort of situation.

Unemployment/Job Loss - With the economy in the shape its in these days job security is shaky for more Americans then ever before. Having a emergency food and supplies stock could be a huge edge for keeping you and your family fed and house running if you happen to have a sudden job loss or a massive cut in hours

Evacuations - Never know when something happens in your area which causes you to make a quick evacuation from your home. Having a bug out type bag that can be grabbed quickly containing important documents and supplies can be very important. Having all your important papers and supplies organized can be a lifesaver.

Power Outages - Sudden and possibly extended power outages are something everyone has to deal with at some point. Having some emergency prepper supplies packed away can make a huge difference in keeping your family fed and as comfortable as possible.

House Fire - This could happen to any of us at any time and having a evacuation plan and a bug out type bag could be a life saver. With little to no time to get out of the home to avoid death or injury a little prepping could make the difference in saving the lives of you and your family and getting out some of your important paperwork, information, and supplies.

Mechanical Car Problems - I know not all of us travel in out of the way area's at least on a consistent basis but if you do having a little prepping done could be very important. A breakdown can happen anywhere so having a way to communicate for help along with keeping you and your family hydrated, fed, and warm if needed until help arrives is a must. So a little prepping in this case can go a long way.

Becoming a prepper doesn't mean you have to believe the world is going to end tomorrow or next week but simply being a little more prepared for various situations. You also don't have to have massive stockpiles of food and supplies to be a prepper simply putting away enough to keep you and your family fed and hydrated should something unexpected happen can be enough for you. There is no set way or set of rules for being a prepper each and every one of us can be a prepper in our own way.

For more great prepping information, tips, and techniques check out http://www.preppersandbunkers.com

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The Fittest Survive As Do the Preppers

It is always said to survive a crisis we need to be fit enough to overcome the hassles. And the one who is the fittest may win the battle of survival in the end. This is because he or she has prepared himself or herself mentally to fight and survive in any condition. Such a survivalist is strong mentally, but one cannot live long only on such mental preparedness. Practically, many other facts have to be considered for survival. You can possibly have a survival list and carry the items along when you flee for life. Preppers usually have this list that includes food, water, shelter, medication, sanitation and security. These are the most essential supplies one should have during an emergency. This will let them survive for a period of at least three to five days without much trouble.

So, what does a prepper mean? The answer is simple. Fundamentally, a person who always stays prepared for any emergency situation can be termed as a prepper. You can find such survivalists everywhere. They not only live on any disaster but also, help others survive through them. And because of these, many people are able to endure the disaster and come out from the death trap. All over the world a number of emergencies occur day in and day out. Some of them are manmade while the others are natural. Nobody really wants to get into such situations however, they are unavoidable. So it is prudent to be prepared for such calamities and keep essentials for use at such times for yourself and your fellow beings. Many a time an emergency period may last long and test you terribly.

If the aftermath of the disaster compels you to stay away from home for a longer period, then helping each other becomes an imperative task. You need to build a good rapport with the fellow beings. And each can help the other and share the essentials to survive from calamity until an outsider arrives for help. A prepper would have prepared himself or herself taking cues from a survival blog or a preppers guide. But, not everyone trapped would be one. So it will be good to help each other and learn to survive in the extremities too.

Forming a community will be helpful for everyone. The help rendered to each other will help you survive for a longer period and also protect each other from other troubles that may crop in. Ultimately, calamities can be fought collectively and overcoming them will be easier.

The author of the article has profound knowledge on survival strategies and has written blogs on prepper, survivalists and survival supplies. Get to know more information from Prepperswillsurvive.com

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Planning a Survival Budget

One of the most frequent complaints that I hear from survivalists and preppers is that they simply do not have the extra cash to properly purchase needed emergency supplies. This is simply an excuse as far as I am concerned. Every one of us can establish a sufficient supply of food and necessities over a period of time if we only plan our budgets accordingly.

Granted creating a monthly budget may not appeal to everyone, but thousands of people do just that each and every month. Keeping proper records is not only essential to your financial well being, but in certain cases may be required by the various levels of government to prove your financial position.

Prior to starting any sort of budget you will need to find out exactly where you stand in regards to your monthly income and expenses. At this point in time detailed analysis is critical and you will need to provide yourself with as much detailed information as you possible can. Your ultimate goal here is to see what money is actually available and where it is going.

When I say you will need to gather all your financial data, I include such items as your monthly bank statements, any investment reports that you get on a monthly basis, your recent utility bills, and any additional information of a financial nature. Next, you will want to review these records to see what you are spending your dollars on needlessly. Keep in mind that lost dollars such as these can be better used in purchasing survival equipment and supplies.

Make a note of all your income. If the wife is also employed use that as well. If you have outside income other then your wages make a note of these amounts also. Add up all your sources of income and record this total as one monthly amount.

You now will have to make a list of all your normal monthly expenses. Be very specific if you can in these amounts. Include such items as your mortgage payment, auto payment and insurance, groceries, entertainment, utilities, and other essentially expenses that you may have. Now the fun part begins. Break all these expenses down into fixed and variable categories. The fixed expenses are naturally those which remain the same month after month while the variables may change monthly. Examples of your fixed expenses include rent, auto payments or cable bill while the variable expenses would encompass groceries, entertainment and related types of variable expenses. This is the category we will be examining carefully in order to compensate for obtaining our emergency supplies. Variable expenses are a rich source of funds when money is in short demand.

Now total both the income and subtract the expenses and this is your usable money each month. If it's to the plus you are already doing well however, if it is negative major changes may be necessary to your lifestyle.

We can now make what ever adjustments are needed to the variable expenses. Perhaps an extra meal of beans and rice several times per week may help or possibly you could cut out the morning coffee stop on the way to work. In either case you will have to trim expenses somewhere.

Determine how much you would like to spend on your survival plans each month. Make this figure as part of your fixed expenses. Then merely modify the variables to accommodate the fixed. You should review your budget on a monthly basis. Changes are inevitable and will need to be reviewed regularly. After your first month you will have a much better idea of where you are sitting financially. As you can see there are ways to get the funds for your emergency supplies and equipment.

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

Copyright @2009 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

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What Happens to Your Food After a Flood?

Well, it was a good year for storing up on food. As any prepper or survivalist would do I accumulated a variety of different foods that could be used during an emergency to save my life and that of my family. What I had not counted on was the flood that came later. I have heard these statements so often and they are usually followed by, "What can I do with my food now?"

Food which has come in contact with flood water is usually considered to be contaminated. In that respect it is important that each and every can be sanitized before opening and using it. Discard any obviously damaged cans, any boxed foods and bagged pasta's etc. Inspect each of the cans for any potential signs of leakage, any sort of punctures or dents, swelling or if they are starting to rust. These cans should be placed in the waste basket and never used. Cans containing tops such as pull top lids, screw caps or the popular snap lids are not waterproof and should be discarded after a flood.

If the can looks and appears to be secure and undamaged from the flood waters then it may be possible to salvage it for your use. Since the can was in the flood waters you will need to remove the label and any sort of paper type backing as these would now be a haven for germs. Now Wash the can thoroughly with hot soapy water and rinse it well. Follow this bath with an immersion into boiling water for several minutes. An alternative to the boiling water bath would be a soaking in a bleach solution composed of 1 tablespoon of unscented bleach to a gallon of water. Let the can remain in the solution for approximately 15 minutes. After rinsing well air dry the can for at least one hour. You can use an indelible marker and now write the contents directly onto the can. Make sure to place this can in front of any new cans that you purchase that way it can be used first.

When prepping your cans after you have experienced a flood be sure to use cleaning your cooking utensils that have bee4n vigorously washed in hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly. Just as with the cans these utensils should be sanitize by dipping them in a bleach solution and then air dried. Give some special attention to the countertop space where you will be doing your work as well. Follow the same instructions for that as you would the utensils.

At least by following these instructions you will not be at a total lose in your stored food products in the event of flooding in your home.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish
http://www.survival-training.info
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Surviving Economic Collapse

As preppers or survivalists we frequently consider preparations as something intended for when the world has finally pushed those lethal buttons and nuclear bombs have departed for many of the world's largest cities. We center our survival kits upon scenarios intended for total destruction with a hopeful overview of getting started fresh once again. Few people reflect upon their survival supplies with the implication of economic preparations to get us over the economies downside.

As we cautiously peek at the evening newscasts being televised on the TV screen we can take note of all the mayhem being generated by the various European nations as they face fiscal catastrophes entailing drastic infusions of loans to hold them afloat.

Our national debt is essentially positioned no better when we grasp that the federal deficit is currently in the trillion dollar amounts. It may be flatly denied by those in public office but in effect America is bankrupt, we owe more money out then we are currently worth.

Families are having increasingly difficult times preserving their simple physical resources which they require to sustain their day to day lives. Many are on the threshold of losing their homes as well as their future savings. A good many American families are without work and losing their means of livelihood. Fossil fuels, so needed for our transportation demands have sky-rocket in price leaving many to ponder how they can survive.

If I may be as blunt as to state we will likely encounter one of three serious situations in our near future.

1. Nothing will change. Things will remain the same as they are right now. We as a nation will persistently trudge along as our government continues to fling towards us small tads of hope after each and every crisis. Our elected officials are apt to sink our nation deeper in debt as they inject what they deem as stimulus money into the arms of overbearing industries.

2. As a nation we will be obligated to initiate some fundamental adjustments in the way we do business in order to elevate our economic progress to a more positive level. No longer will it be acceptable to survive financially beyond our means but rather each entity in the economic food chain will revert to a physical-collateral system based upon what we own and what we owe. We will once again look at the books of life as being either in the black or in the red.

3. Our third choose consists of continuing to formulate wrong economical decisions ultimately triggering our financial system into collapsing. The current arrangement of trade whether is based upon dollars, euros, yens or what have you, will be nothing more then entries found in a collectors book of past monetary tokens. When this occurs we will be able to honestly admit that our society has plummeted to one point short of pure chaos.

Now we have no choice. Since employment will rarely exist at this point in time our spending both by individuals and by government entities will quickly come to be curtailed. Our government will no longer be capable of financing their accrued debt. Their income via taxes will be near to nil since there exists no one being gainfully employed.

At this point our government leaders will be confronted with the seizure of private physical assets however; the people recognizing their need these items to survive will finally fight back. The question here is how can we survive until the system balances itself out and becomes self-sufficient once again.

Your first consideration will need to center upon your income. Are you currently depending upon the government handing you a monthly paycheck? Do you receive your livelihood from a government retirement plan? Is social security your means of income? The solution to this dilemma is simply not to depend upon a single source of income. I know it's difficult but is essential to survive.

Your second point to ponder is how much money you currently owe out. Will the person or agency you owe this money to come after you for it if you are unable to pay it? What seized assets do you risk losing if you can no longer afford the payments on this debt? At this point your best course of action would be to eliminate those debts as soon as you possible can. Above all do not incur additional debt.

The third point we will make here is where are you keeping your assets? Are they in government bonds or tangible items which can be bartered? If it comes down to joining a bartering system do you have additional supplies you can use or are your sources limited?

Our forth important point I would like to make concerns perceived skills which you may possess. Over the years have you acquired specific skills which could be in need by others? Would they be willing to adequately compensate you for your efforts? Having skills which can help you pay your bills can greatly increase your chances of survival.

Lastly, be realistic with yourself and determine what chances you have either alone or in a limited community for providing most of your needs, including security, for a short time period of time. Physically where are you located? Are you in the suburbs or in an urban environment? Is your current neighborhood good or bad as far as safety is concerned?

Do you have a yard or a patch of land that you could put to good use growing food on? Do you have the means of raising small livestock? Have you stockpiled supplies such as toilet paper, aspirin, batteries and cooking oil during your times of plenty?

When the infrastructure dropped out the bottom of the bottom of the barrel, will you have friends or neighbors that are likely to arrive at your doorstep with their hands outstretched? Or perhaps their goal is not so honorable and they arrive with evil intentions. Are you currently maintaining a low profile and provide the appearance of suffer with the rest of the people?

It seems like a lot to think about and it really is but if you take each issue one step at a time and make wise decisions you can be prepared for the next downfall. As long as people exist we will not have an economic collapse which lasts permanently. People generally want a society with peace and order. Looting does not thrive for the long term. Think and plan accordingly.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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On the Edge of Nuclear War

Eight-three year old Fidel Castro has finally after four years made several public appearances. The elderly retired Cuban leader has been making his rounds in Cuba lately, appearing on the National Television station. These public appearances come at a time when not only has the Cuban government decided to release 52 of their political prisoners, but also as he bestows a grime prediction on the western world. The former Cuban leader's predictions center upon the world being on the threshold of a nuclear conflict.

Castro clarified that war in the near future is an eminent prospect as the United States and Iran continue their conflicts over the proposed international sanctions currently placed upon Iran as a result of their nuclear activities. In his newspaper column, which he published Sunday evening, Fidel explained why he was coming out of seclusion and once again making public statements. He explained that his purpose was to warn the international authorities as to what was going to occur. He contends that he has reached his conclusion as a result of his personal observations of American and his countries past blockades.

Although few international countries are paying much attention to Castro's assertions it is interesting that his statements would be made at a time when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proclaimed that Iran is currently very close to developing their nuclear weapons. Medvedev made these comments as he addresses a group of foreign ambassadors at a recent meeting in Moscow.

A simple solution to forestall these undesirable predications could hinge on our actions. In effect we could perhaps strengthen our argument here by merely offering to assist Iran in the construction of thorium reactors instead of the usual uranium types. It would stand to reason that if Iran's claims to peaceful uses for nuclear power is valid then they would not object to giving up their goals for uranium or plutonium enrichment, however if they actually do have ulterior motives such as a bomb then the world wide community can readily see this.

Although Israel has never openly admitted that they posses any sort of nuclear power we do know that several of their spies had been caught and dealt with accordingly. Assuming that they do possess these bombs, in order to put the icing on the cake, perhaps Israel would agree to forgo their nuclear arsenal as well. In this way conceivably the race to develop nuclear weapons in the region could be relinquished.

Unfortunately, being a realist, I do not foresee any of this coming about since Iran has repeatedly promised to destroy Israel in the near future. It only stands to reason then that Castro's predictions could definitely happen. As preppers we must take this information seriously. Granted it may be a false alarm but the consequences of ignoring the precautions are much too grave to risk. Stock up, store up and be prepared!

On the Edge of Nuclear War

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info.

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Skillful Maneuvers

As we build up our survival group members we have started to become picky at whom we select for membership. It has gotten to the point where certain skills are badly needed while common workers are not so necessary. It is always understood that when normal labor is required we all chip in and do our fair share therefore allowing someone to join merely to have a laborer is senseless, we need skilled people instead.

Did you just say you have no skills at all? Well, if after you have conducted a very though evaluation of your potential skills and you still feel like there is nothing special that you can do I would suggest you learn something new. I am a firm believer that when one stops learning they are effectively dead. As long as there is breath in my body I will continue to learn whether it is something relating to a skill or just the pleasant thoughts of a good book.

As survivalists and preppers we spend a vast portion of our time making all the necessary preps that we require in the event of an emergency. We prepare our bug out vehicle with all the needed supplies, we stock our food pantry with dehydrated, canned and freeze dries foods and plenty of water in the event these critical items are not available in the local stores. All these preparations that are being made are necessary but we should never forget the preps that need to be accomplished with our skills.

Learning new skills can be profitable for you now before the balloon goes up. These newly acquired traits can afford you the opportunity to make some extra money on the side. We can all use that for building up our emergency kits or supplying our bug out vehicles with nice to have items.

There are many ways in which you may acquire these new skills. The simplest and least expensive is the public library in your city. On the shelves of your library you can find instructions for learning just about any thing that may attract your fancy. Want to repair autos? No problem. Are you curious about fixing CD players and stereos? Go for it, the books are readily available at the library under electronics. Not only are there books to teach you anything that you care to learn but in many cases the library itself conducts various classes if there is a demand for them.

Another way to learn those more difficult to learn skills is by watching videos that people have posted on YouTube. Click on the search box and type in what you are interested in and you will be bombarded with dozens of videos specifically related to your search. As an example suppose you want to know how to clean a deer. Just type clean a deer in the search box and like magic many videos will appear and show you step by step how to accomplish the task you have requested.

A visit to your local YMCA or the cooperative extension office in your state would reveal many training session most of which are free. These agencies are often run by highly qualified USDA personnel and can provide you with an abundance of free classes which will train you in skills that would be beneficial during emergency conditions. Check out the offerings of the local 4H club as well. Watch in your local newspaper to see when the various organizations have scheduled classes that you may be interested in. If you are willing to spend a few dollars to learn a new trade you can sign up for any of the adult education classes at your local schools.

Thanks to the Delaware Game and Fish Department, I recently completed a course in hunter safety. The course was free and readily available for all hunters. They have additional courses scheduled throughout the year in trapping and specialized hunting such as turkey, etc.

Never overlook your friends and family members. Frequently they have hidden skills that few people are aware of and once they are know, most of them will freely provide some quality instruction in their chosen talents. This same thing can be easily adapted to friends who hunt, fish, do home canning, and other expert skills in all kinds of trades.

Learning new skills and adding to your knowledge makes you a valuable team player when it comes to being prepared. Develop what you have a passion for and learn new and different things while you can.

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

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Will You Survive?

Every one of us wants peace, prosperity and freedom for ourselves and our children. However, the fact is, we live in uncertain times. Many unexpected and frightening things appear to loom over our horizon.

So, rationally thinking, what crises are possible; just what may emerge in our future to disrupt our lives here in America?

First, there are personal misfortunes such as loss of employment or family tragedies that divert us from our work and prevent us from making a living for our loved ones. Prolonged unemployment pounds a family's stability, crushes its spirit and often splinters it into pieces. The unemployed family needs security which in turn produces stability. They need the tools necessary to get them through this crisis and keep them together.

Second, are natural disasters. These might include hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, an asteroid strike, a pandemic, a geomagnetic storm from the sun or even a tsunami. We've seen parts of America go through hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and gripping ice storms. We will see more. And the future may be worse than the past.

Third, we face social breakdowns. We see these worldwide, the Greek crisis and the recent Arab spring being prominent illustrations. In addition, there is the Occupy Movement. We can never be sure what problems they may generate for you and me. Much of the world attempted to help Greece. But who will help us?

Fourth, are financial crises like massive currency devaluation or other economic storms that could move across the globe casting the world into a great depression many times greater than the one in the 1930's. Sound economists insist that this is in our near future. How do we prepare for it?

Fifth, are chemical or biological terrorism, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), military cyber-attacks or a nuclear war. These are some of the worst scenarios imaginable but, increasingly, not unthinkable ones. These are so profound that they could bring an end to the United States.

Hopefully none of these will become a reality in our life. Hope is a great word. But is it wise to hope that our enemies will not lash out at us or to hope that power loving politicians and money loving sharks will advance themselves at the expense of the rest of us?

So we must ask ourselves-are we prepared?

If a pandemic, or terrorist attack, or a massive currency devaluation, or an EMP or a nuclear war were to occur, things could turn very ugly, very quickly. So, by survival I'm addressing what common folk like you and I would need to do, well, to survive during such times.

A quick rundown of survival topics would include: food, water, power, kitchen appliances, sanitation, communications, heat, transportation, medical, tools, money, security and others. Consider what you can do to equip yourself for uncertain times.

Should you do nothing?

ralph.bass@livinghopesurvival.com
http://www.livinghopepress.com

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Reasons to Prepare - Don't Wait, It Will Be Too Late

We all mention it in jest. What will you do when the end comes. Perhaps at a party or at the bar with friends. The fact is that one day the end will come and when it is here it will be too late to get ready. There is no need to panic now however. A little forethought and perhaps a small investment you too can be ready when the apocalypse arrives.

This end can come from many sources. All a person has to do is watch the news, read the paper, or just look at an online current events site. There is always some event being thrown at us that has some potential cataclysmic outcome. I am sure that is why some people even avoid the new all together. The barrage of evidence is obvious and now is the time to take note and get ready for the inevitable.

The first area of potential catastrophe and probably foremost is the environment or a natural disaster. The recent floods, hurricanes, global warming, and water crisis have probably brought a drop of sweat to your brow. It has mine. Our planet sees us as a pest that is destroying it and is trying to get rid of us. This is a battle that we cannot win as we live on this earth and are damaging it beyond repair.

Now I move to the issue of the man-made disasters. I am speaking to issues like a gas shortage, financial collapse, terrorism, or biological warfare. Once we run out of the sources we need for our "modern" appliances it is sure that some sort of chaos will break out. Everything that we now rely on to survive will be useless once our electricity goes out or we run out of the gas for our cars. A terrorist can also pose a big threat to us by releasing a biological weapon or perhaps even nuclear attacks. We are in a dangerous and pivotal point in time when the balance can be easily be tipped.

Finally, I am going to address the matter everyone has heard of the Mayan calendar prophesy. On December 12th of 2012 the end is predicted to come as the Mayan calendar is over. This is believed to relate to a great number of things. However, it is significant that the most intelligent culture on earth ended its calendar that day. Could this day be the end?

This is not meant to be a scare tactic. However, it never hurts to be aware of the current goings on and how they can relate to the end. We may be put in this situation. It's easy to say, "not in my lifetime" but looking at what is going on this great planet earth one has to wonder.

Check out http://www.preppersandbunkers.com for tons of great prepper information. Learn to become the most effective prepper possible.

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Survival Food Dehydrating

The art of drying food is one of the world's oldest methods conceived to preserve food in times of plenty for moments of need. From ages long ago people have reliably used the sun, wind, or a smoking fire to remove water from various fruits, grains, herbs and meats. By its very definition, the concept of food dehydration is listed as the process of removing liquid from a food by the use of circulating hot air around it.

There are several major benefits involved with dried foods such as the tastiness, the nutritional value, it's lightweight and the ability to easy store and prepare the items. The main advantage for a prepper lies in the minimum storage space needed when compared to that required for canning jars.

Drying has the minimum effect upon the nutritional value of dried food. An important point to remember is that even though vitamin A is retained after food has been dried, the vitamin itself is light sensitive and those foods which contain it should notably be stored in dark locations. For yellow or dark green vegetables like carrots, peppers, sweet potatoes and winter squash, these foods usually have a high vitamin A constitute. Another of our important vitamins is destroyed by exposure to heat such as vitamin C. An interesting paradox here is that pre-treating foods with lemon, pineapple or orange juice often increases the amount of vitamin C content in the final product.

Dried foods are considered high in fiber but low in fat which makes them a healthy choice. When drying your foods make certain they are completely dried or they are susceptible to mold development.

Specific equipment is absolutely necessary to ensure the quality and safety of the final product. A dehydrator is often recommended along with sharp knives and a mandolin. The mandolin will ensure consistent product cuts that are not too thick nor too thin.

Many guidebooks recommend blanching, pre-treating or steaming specific foods prior to placing them into the dehydrating equipment. Common equipment used for these processes will include a kettle and lid with a wire basket, perhaps a colander or some sort of open mesh bag that will hold the produce. When pre-treating your fruits and vegetables you should use a non-metal bowl to prevent discoloring. Select fruit which is ripe and not bruised. Trim off any bruised spots on the fruit and above all else never use moldy food for drying.

The main principle of food dehydrators is that the air is allowed to flow around the sliced foods which contribute to drying the surface area within the food. Usually try to cut the food into 1/8 to ½ inch slices. A simple rule of thumb here is that the higher the water content of the food the larger you should cut the slice size. Smaller slices of high-moisture foods like watermelon will disappear as the moisture begins to evaporate.

Pretreatments include blanching, candying, cooking or dipping. Its purpose is to prevent color changes from taking place in your foods. You can dip your fruits in orange or pineapple juice while dipping your vegetables in a diluted mixture of bottled lemon juice.

Blanching is frequently used for asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green beans, peas and cauliflower. You should blanch foods for a very short period and then immediately check their skins for any damage or discoloration.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

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Expiration Dates of Canned Foods

One of the most frequent questions often asked by preppers who have recently begun their food storage program is how long specific foods will last before going bad. Although many companies list expiration dates for their products, I generally have found these were more of a CYA than anything else. Usually the corporation would rather err on the side of safety than risk a legal entanglement. I personally do not place much value in these dates for I have eaten canned vegetables that have expiration dates 5 years in the past.

I survived the food and found nothing wrong with it. In a nearby town we have a food discounter who purchases bulk supplies of expired foods. Once they have purchased these products at a drastic discount they re-offer them to the consumer at reduced prices. About the only product that I have had bad experiences with is the canned sauerkraut. I am sure it was not actually bad but I did not like the taste or texture of it and decided not to take any chances. Other then for the sauerkraut I have not seen any foods go bad as a result of their expiration date.

Certain foods should be checked at frequent intervals to ensure that they are still good for human consumption. These foods include not only the sauerkraut mentioned above but also fruit, canned tomato sauce and paste as well as meat products. These types of products have been known to go bad even before the expiration date has elapsed.

Olives usually are supplied in glass jars although you can often find some brands in cans. The olives which are purchased in the glass jars frequently remain tastier for a longer period of time then the ones in the cans. It goes without saying that the jars should be kept in a dark location prior to use. This is an excellent rule to follow regarding any products stored in glass jars. Naturally not being equipped to determine nutritional values of the foods I can not comment on whether the foods in the expired cans lose any value in this respect.

An interesting note on the life expectancy of canned foods is the tale of an old steamship which was raised from the depths of the Mississippi River. Upon salvaging the craft it was discovered that there was an abundance of canned food aboard the ship. The canned foods were sent to a lab and properly analyzed. The results of these lab tests revealed that even though the food was over one hundred years old, it was still nutritious and contained no bacterial contaminants. Since no one actually tasted the food no indication is provided as to the quality of taste involved.

In addition, the American military conducted several tests on new versus old medications. It was found that the older meds still retained as much potency as the new ones. The military readily admitted that the expiration date was placed on the meds for various safety reasons and not necessarily because the product goes bad. The Wall Street Journal had stated in an article which they published that the various food manufactures place expiration dates on their supplies under the same reasoning as the medical manufactures do.

I have been storing food up for over several decades and these rules have worked successfully for me. Naturally, they may not necessarily work for you. In conclusion you can enjoy your older canned foods but I employ you to use the proper caution.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

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Discover What The Best Survival Knives Have In Common

A Survival Knife is one of the most important survival tools that you can take with you during an emergency situation. A survival knife is created specifically for surviving in a backwoods environment, and it is the primary tool for making it through an unexpected emergency scenario. It is the survival tool that you're going to get the most use from and for that reason it needs to be one of the most durable and reliable pieces of survival gear that you own.

Survival knives are available in two different versions: the fixed blade and the folding blade. Foldable knives are occasionally favored since they're smaller and therefore much easier to carry. However, since their tang is really small, they are generally weaker and much easier to break. The folding knives most popular types are lock-back folding and pocket knives.

Fixed bladed knives are typically a lot more rugged and dependable then folding knives. The best survival knife should have something that is known as a full tang, in which the blade runs the length of the handle of the knife. Fixed blade knives including the Bowie Knife, or perhaps a heavy duty hunting knife, are excellent examples of top quality fixed blade survival knives due to their exceptional steel blades and durable handles. Fixed blade knives, nevertheless, are usually thicker, heavier, and very dangerous if not stored and handled properly.

The survival knife is sometimes called a tactical knife; however the two are not the same thing. Both styles of knives can be used for a survival situation, but they are designed to handle different tasks. The benefit of the tactical blade is its usefulness in a number of applications, from hunting to protection, from chopping wood to make other tools like spears or bows and arrows. Another essential feature which a tactical knife offers, which makes it completely different from the common survival knife, is definitely the design of the blade. The tactical knife is often designed with a serrated edge that provides it with the capability to cut through materials of any strength. The tactical knife is multi-functional by design, assisting the camper in a wide range of survival and camping activities.

The type of steel used to make the knife is another important factor. The steel quality of the blade determines the durability of the knife, its strength, how simple it is to hone, and determines how long it's going to keep an edge. Your best option of steel for any survival knife will be choosing one which isn't too hard, which would make the blade very brittle and tough to sharpen. This would limit its usefulness while in an emergency situation. Steel for survival knives come in two types: Stainless steel and Carbon steel.

Carbon Steel knives can rust if used frequently without covering the steel with oil. Survival Knives with Carbon Steel generally have a tendency to maintain a sharper edge longer than stainless steel. Carbon steel blades can be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge and is better to use for splitting or chopping wood, and other heavy duty camping tasks.

Stainless steel is harder steel making it more brittle then carbon steel and the blade doesn't retain a sharp edge as long as carbon steel, however it doesn't rust as easily.

There are a few new blade designs which try to provide the very best of both worlds by either making a high carbon stainless steel, or sandwiching high carbon steel between two layers of stainless-steel. These knives offer the strength of high carbon steel and the ability to resist rust like stainless steel.

In conclusion, any person who needs to use a knife in a survival situation, where their life depends on it, would need one that is created to be difficult to break with heavy duty use, and yet stay sharp, and handle like an extension of your arm.

Click here to learn more about choosing a survival knife.

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Preparedness 101 Or One Survivalist's Manifesto

After I'd been serious about preparedness and self reliance for a year or two, I realized that my buying, training, and planning had been based on whatever was the most exciting or urgent to me at the time. I'd go through a gun phase, then a food phase, then a natural medicine phase, but I didn't have anything to tie it all together.

I want to go over a few things that have acted as a compass for my personal preparedness planning. Yours should be unique to you, but feel free to use mine as a jumping off point to create your own.

1. I define survival/ preparedness/ self-reliance, in part, as the ability for my family to survive and possibly thrive during periods of civil breakdown without having to depend on government agencies or non-government agencies. This will be as a result of a combination of our family preparedness and because of relationships with friends who have also prepared in advance.

2. We have decided in advance that we will make the necessary preparations so that we don't have to compromise on our morals and values in civil breakdown situations. A large number of people's survival planning involves stealing/looting after a disaster. Ours does not. Remember, at some point, some form of stability will return and you'll have to live with the consequences of your actions.

3. We are not so focused on potential disaster that we miss out on daily fun. We continually evaluate our decisions and purchases based on how they will play out, regardless of whether we ever have to live through civil breakdown. This keeps us balanced. As an example, we tend to buy large quantities of food that we already eat rather than large quantities of MREs that, truth be told, we really don't like. We actually USE a lot of our survival supplies on a daily basis.

4. Preparedness planning should not only be useful in a disaster, but enrich your daily life. Increasing your situational awareness will cause you to see more beauty as well as more potential threats. Exercise will help you be more resilient in a disaster, but will also burn off stress hormones and help you sleep better every day. Learning trauma skills and natural health care will allow you to treat yourself when there are no doctors available and it will put you more in tune with your body.

5. Preparedness planning should be realistic. I'm always amazed at the number of people I talk to who's plan is STILL to "head to the hills" when "it" happens. I kind of laugh because if half of those people actually DO go to the wilderness, the wilderness is going to be hunted clear of food in no-time. Then all the people will die...except for the handful who actually know what they're doing. The reality is, most people live in urban areas (even communities of a few thousand) and will have to survive disasters in those areas.

6. "Survival" is not necessarily romantic, fun, or comfortable. If it was, it would be "Primitive Living." Understand it, prepare for it, practice it if you're able, and if you are ever forced into a situation where you need your skills to survive, you'll have a more realistic idea of what to expect.

7. Most people will never understand preparedness. Whether you call yourself "self-reliant", a "prepper", a "survivalist", or just practical and moderately observant...everyone is not going to share your passion. Fortunately, we have a community online that does share your passion.

8. You'll never be 100% prepared for everything that could happen...deal with it. We've got dozens of natural and manmade threats to contend with. Dirty bombs, EMPs, earthquakes, hurricanes, mud-slides, cyber attacks, economic collapse, attacks on the electricity grid, local accidents, etc. etc. Don't waste your time worrying about it...Just start taking steps to prepare.

If all of your gear is at home and an earthquake buries it while you're at the store, you're going to have to improvise, adapt, and overcome. (And maybe decide to set up some caches) Especially as you're starting out, try to focus on the basics...food, fire, water, shelter and then medical, security, and tools. These are all things that will help you on a regular basis and will help you if you go through rough economic times. They're also ways that you can get prepared that are more "tolerable" for relatives who aren't on board yet.

9. You don't have to be rich to get prepared. Focus on skills and double up on groceries as you're able and you'll be light years ahead of people who have a pallet of food in their garage but no manual can opener to get them open.

10. Since most people live in urban areas, most people are going to have to survive disasters in urban areas. Some have no intention of leaving and feel honor-bound to stay. Full-time law enforcement and first responders, sheepdogs, CERT personnel, and others who aren't willing to leave. It may not be ideal, but if your plan (or backup plan) for survival is to Survive in Place in an urban area, you aren't going to be on your own. After every disaster, there will be remnants who are currently training to be able to help stabilize neighborhoods, cities, and regions if necessary.

David Morris
Surviveinplace
Secrets of Urban Survival

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Hard Times Are Approaching

Let's be real for a moment and look at the state of the world around us at this time. We have revolutions taking place worldwide along with wars raging from one side of the globe to another. Economic chaos is threatening every major economy. More and more people are losing their jobs in America as the workload is transferred to foreign nations. We see on a daily basis the possibility of a market crash that could top that experienced in 1929.

What happens when the infrastructure comes falling down? First off we can expect to see shortages of food in our local grocery stores. With the cost of fuel on a continual rise this overhead has to be recouped somewhere and unfortunately it will be the consumer who must pay the price. Those items of food found at the market will likely be over-priced and out of the average persons economic reach. We are slowly witnessing this event now as the cost begins to skyrocket. This makes it more important than ever to be able to grow your own food supply.

Gasoline stations will lack the necessary supplies to keep America on its wheels so staying at home will quickly become fashionable. Learn as much as you can on things that your family can do together without leaving home. Camp out in your back yard, having a board game night or sit together and watch some television as a family unit.

Your local medical facilities will suffer as well with their inability to receive updated medical supplies. Take courses or teach yourself the principles of medical sufficiency. Learn of effective alternative methods to treat the common ailments which often plaque a family. Don't hesitate to take a local first aide or CPR class as you never know when you will need it. Stock up a good reserve of emergency supplies while they are available.

Save up a few extra dollars for an emergency. If the infrastructure begins to fall you can believe that the social security, any types of government checks, pension payments or welfare will rapidly come to a halt. It will be entirely up to you to support yourself and your family. Perhaps you should invest in some silver to hedge this issue should its ugly head rear up.

People are losing their homes to foreclosures on a daily basis. No money and with no home forces complete families out onto the street. Consider your investment in emergency food and supplies as a form of insurance policy again the hazards of our changing life style. Know how to deal with the loss of electrical power or be familiar with alternate means of heating your home. The more you learn the better prepared you will be. Is anyplace really safe?

As a survivalist or prepper we have to be prepared for emergencies as they get to us. It is absolutely necessary to have certain supplies stocked up in order to last the duration of the crisis. In the past we have covered foods necessary to get a family by this type of an ordeal so now I would like to discuss the topic of miscellaneous supplies that a family should store up on. After you have accumulated your emergency food supplies your next step should be to gather up miscellaneous supplies. These are also useful bartering assets in the event it comes to that.

* 24 bottles of dish detergent

* 24 bars of hand soap

* 50 pounds of laundry soap

* 55 gallons of kerosene

* 12 bottles of shampoo

* 146 rolls of toilet paper

* 16 gallons of unscented bleach for sanitation or laundry use

* Personal products, such as toothpaste or deodorant

* Pet foods and livestock feed as necessary

* Sanitary napkins as needed

The writing is clearly on the wall and we should be taking advantage of this time to gather and store those items we will need when the hard times fall upon us.

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2011 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

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Natural Aspirin

Since the beginning of medical history mankind has embraced certain types of tree barks which have been praised for there value in reducing fever, inflammation or pain. These barks have one common ingredient which allows them to retain foothold in medical value. It is the most potent pain killer found in nature.

Illnesses ranging from arthritis, bursitis, fever, headache, inflammation, menstrual cramps, muscle aches, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and trauma are only a few of the problems treated with a healthy dose of this natural salicin. You may be asking where this wonder drug comes from. It is the natural byproduct of a species of tree barks.

The use of this bark reverts back as far as the 1800's, when scientists managed to identify and then to extract salicin as the pain killing medication found in the bark. From there they went on to develop a synthetic version known commercially as acetylsalicylic acid. We all know this is the name given to our modern day "Aspirin".

Aspirin is the most commonly used pain reliever found in the world with yearly consumption reaching over 90 million pounds annually. That's a lot of aspirin. Although as consumers today we now use the synthetic version of salicin the original bark from the trees is just as valuable from the survivalist or preppers view.

In a survival situation knowing how to both harvest the salicin and to use it could be one of the most important survival skills that you could learn. Salicin is found in the inner bark of several species of trees including the Willow family. These plants include:

* American, Trembling or Quaking Aspen

* Big tooth Aspen

* White willow or European willow

* Black willow or the popular pussy willow

* Crack willow

* Purple willow

* Weeping willow

In addition, a very readily available source is the popular tree. Using the inner bark of a popular tree is the easiest method of creating a natural aspirin. Usually the younger trees make the more potent products. Poplar trees are a fast growing tree that can often gain as much as ten feet or more in a single season. They have large leaves which grow directly from the plants main stem. When the tree grows in size these stems will form branches from which the leaves become much smaller.

The salicin which we want to harvest is contained within the trees inner bark which is scientifically known as the cambium layer. This inner bark is considered the living tissue of this plant and is found between the rough outer bark and its hard wood.

In the spring or early summer it is a fairly easy task to peel the outer bark of the tree and chew it directly or if you so desire it can be steeped in hot water to create an aspirin tea. Cut in the bark, striping it off. It will appear to be very slippery allowing you to carefully peel it in long continuous strips.

During other seasons you may not be able to peel the bark so easily from the tree. In such case you will need to scrape off the inner and outer barks using a sharp knife. You will quickly notice that the smell and the taste of the poplar bark appear to be very aspirin like. It presents a bitter taste which is undesirable to many people. If you are in a hurry you could simply chew some of the bark in your mouth while swallowing the liquid. If the bitter taste is an issue, an alternative method would be to simmer two teaspoons of the bark in one cup of water for a period of ten minutes. Let the liquid cool and then strain and drink it. You can safely consume 3 or 4 cups of this drink on a daily basis without any undesirable effects.

If you use a product provided by Mother Nature keep in mind to use only what you need and leave the rest for others. Never deface a tree by removing bark from its main trunk but instead use the small branches in order to limit the amount of damage done.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

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Places to Purchase Grain

As any prepper would tell you one of the major supplies that you should stock up on is grain. Bread has been stated to be the staff of life and as long as you have a means of preparing bread and related products you can and will survive. In this short article I would like to relate to you a few of the places where you can obtain these necessary grain products at reasonable costs. They certainly would be worth storing up on.

I wish to state immediately that I have no connection what-so-ever with any of the companies that I mention here in this article. The first company that I would like to mention is Pleasant Hill Grain. The company's website can be found by searching for Pleasant Hill Grain.

The nice part of placing an order with Pleasant Hill is they provide you with free shipping on order in excess of 99 dollars. Their grains are usually packed in Mylar bags containing oxygen absorbers which are then sealed in six gallon buckets. Their products arrive to you complete and ready to be placed in your food storage location.

The kind people at LDS will sell you cases of hard red winter wheat in # 10 cans for around $28.00. They are packed 6 cans to a case. Once again you are offered free shipping. You can call them at 1-800-537-5001 or find their catalog and order forms at: http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10151&categoryId=10002&langId=-1&cg1=14087&cg2=&cg3=&cg4=&cg5

I deal a lot with Honeyville Grain. They are quick at shipping your products to you and their prices are generally very reasonable. As for shipping, Honeyville charges one set fee regardless of how much you order.

Although I have never bought anything from Walton Feed I have been told they too are reasonable in their prices at $100 dollars for 200 pounds of hard red wheat. I had explored the possibility of placing a dehydrated number 10 vegetable can order with Walton Feed until I went to the checkout and noticed the outrageous shipping costs. The shipping problem is likely not just the fault of the company as much as the postal system rates. It is extremely difficult to get inexpensive shipping rates when an item weighs so much.

The last entry I would like to bring to your attention is the Miller Grain House items. These people offer not only grain but also beans, spices, essential oils, etc. They also toss in free shipping as an added bonus. Visit your favorite search engine and search for Millers Grain House.

A search of the internet by way of Yahoo or Google will quickly reveal many additional sources as well. It would be to your benefit to shop around for the best deal and shipping rates.

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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One Time at Survival Camp

I see more and more survival camps popping up every year. Even though the idea of them sounds cool, I'm not convinced that most of them are worth the time or money.

Don't get me wrong- I'm sure they're better than doing absolutely nothing. But can they really teach you that much better than just getting a few books? Plus these days there are video courses coming out on how to survive the apocalypse.

But I digress.

If you really want to go to one of these survival camps, that's fine. Just make sure that they teach you the following skills (at a bare minimum):

How to build a fire

Obviously this is one of the most important skills to have. Without fire you'll be pretty cold at night. You won't be able to cook meat, fish, eggs, or veggies. Fire is also one of the best ways to keep bugs away at night.

Learn how to build a fire with flint and with the tools nature gives you. You may not always have your flint to help.

How to build several types of shelter

Again, this is pretty freakin' important. You should learn how to build different types of shelter because you never know what you'll have at your disposal. If you end up in a city environment, you'll have processed wood and metal. If you're in the woods, you'll have animal skins. And if you're in the desert.... You're out of luck.

How to hunt and fish

I mean you could eat berries and mushrooms forever, but that would make for a boring survival camp. Besides, you'll need as much protein as you can get in a survival situation. Vegetarians will probably get by, but omnivores will be the healthiest and strongest.

How to fight (with a knife, fists, a gun, anything)

Oh wait- that survival camp doesn't teach you self-defense? Then what are you supposed to do when a crazed cannibal comes running at you with a butcher knife? You either make him your prey, or you become his lunch.

How to get clean water

There are a number of ways to get clean water out there. Even though we have a lot of tools to make it easier, you should still learn a few other methods. For example, catching rain water or gaining access to an underground spring.

How to navigate with a compass and the sun/stars

Okay so the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, right? Well, kind of. It's not due east and due west- especially as the seasons change. That's why the better bet is to learn how to use a compass and map.

Now I know a lot of these may seem like common sense. If so, I apologize, but as I said before I just don't see most of these survival camps as being worth the time and money. Instead get a few good guides, study the heck out of them, and spend that money on sweet survival gear instead.

The author is a professional writer and a personal trainer. You can visit his website about sinkholes at apocalypsesurvivalschool.com, you will find information and advice about natural disasters and survival at his website.

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Why Getting in Shape Before Doomsday Is Extremely Important

Have you ever watched that show on National Geographic, "Doomsday Preppers". It is a show about real life people who are preparing to survive the apocalypse. Survival experts rate their preparations and they are given a score based on how likely they are to survive. If you have ever seen this show, you know that a great deal of these "preppers" as they are called, are completely overweight and in absolutely horrendous physical condition. This begs the question, how do these people expect to survive doomsday when they look like they are in need of a quadruple bypass.

People preparing for "the apocalypse" are becoming more and more common because the way things are going in the world. But in their preparations, they often over look the importance of being physically fit. If doomsday really did happen and people were forced to leave their homes to "head for the hills" how many of these super out of shape preppers could actually hack it?

If you are forced to leave your home due to some apocalyptic scenario, you are essentially reduced to a refugee. You will need to wander in search of supplies, resources and food. You will need to hunt and gather and be physically fit enough to plant crops, defend yourself and perform a variety of tasks like chopping fire wood or walking long distances.

Most of the people on this show look like they couldn't run a full mile, let alone blaze a trail out into the wilderness surviving off the land. If you really were going to be serious about "doomsday prepping" wouldn't you consider physical fitness a primary aspect of concern?

Instead of all of their elaborate defenses to protect their home, they should be spending some of that money on a treadmill and getting their bodies as prepared as their defenses. After all, you can't expect to always be at home, you will need to eventually go out in search of supplies no matter how well stocked you are. Walking and running won't be options after your fuel supply runs out and tasks like chopping and splitting wood require a certain degree of physical fitness that would be completely overwhelming to an out of shape "prepper".

Developing a daily workout routine should be a critical aspect of preparing for doomsday, your physical body is your best defense and if you are in horrible shape how could you ever expect to last for any length of time anyway?

So my advice to these doomsday preppers is, spend a little time running on a treadmill everyday and it will benefit you even if doomsday never occurs.

If you are the type of person who has all of the gear you need to survive the apocalypse and you are actively preparing for doomsday, you probably want to invest in a treadmill and some workout equipment to keep your body as prepared for survival as your home. You can get some of the best treadmills for under $500, so their really is no excuse not to add this to your survival repertoire. Stay fit and healthy, body, mind and soul it will benefit you no matter what happens!

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Bug Out Questions

Often new preppers have questions which they find difficult to obtain an answer too as they acquire the necessary skills and supplies. Several of the more common questions were discovered as I roamed around the net recently.

1 Can you suggest a good backpack for immediate bug-out use? When selecting one what are the major qualities or features which I should search for?

2 How should I determine which relatives I should share my supplies with and which I should refuse assistance? What would be the cutoff criteria that I should use?

3 How can I possibly secure an adequate supply of daily prescription medications since my doctor and insurance provider will only issue a 90 day supply at a time?

These questions are valid inquiries and should be respectfully answered in an honest and sincere manner.

In response to the first question you must first know what your intended purpose is for your bug out bag. If it is intended to be carried with you in the event you must leave work and try to get to your home than you will need items which will aid you in traveling to your destination. It will also depend upon what and how much of the specific items you will be totting with you.

If you are walking than you will need a good pair of shoes, the proper clothing and some food and water. Are you transporting dried foods or MRE? Will you have small children in your group? Remember that the distance which you may be able to drive in one hour may now take several days by foot. Consider whether you will need to take anything with you to survive at your final destination keeping in mind that it would be impossible to take everything that you would possibly need. Trained military troops can march 20 miles a day for 5 days however the average person with a backpack will have a difficult time accomplishing a mere 10 miles in two days.

You will also need to consider the other people whom you may encounter on your trip. Should you join them in their venture or perhaps wait a period of time prior to starting off on your venture? If you are heading out on the first day it may be better to join them but after the situation and the people start to become ugly you may wish to avoid them.

Practically any type of backpack found in the department stores will serve your purpose as a bug out bag. Select one that provides a measure of comfort to you and would not attract un-necessary attention as you travel. Cost should not be the deciding factor here. A $15 dollar child's bag could very well serve your purpose. I purchased camel-backs for all my grandchildren and you might wish to consider one of these for use in conjunction with your backpack so you can drink without stopping to take your pack off. Bear in mind that the purpose of the bag is to stash your supplies in and keep readily at hand within your vehicle or at work. Make sure it has an abundance of pockets to accommodate all the various supplies you will need to carry with you. I would recommend a "fanny pack" to hold a few medical supplies and sun screen.

In response to the second question, the answer can get tricky. I firmly believe that there are simply no rules set in stone for this question therefore you must decide yourself based upon your circumstances. Several sub-questions tend to pop up as you think about this response. How close are you to those relatives? Can they be trusted? How long can you afford to support other individuals with the supplies you have accumulated? I am generally more conducive towards the children and elderly. I first look to see if the person is trying to help themselves or just along for the ride. What were these people doing while you were scrimping and saving for a crisis? Were they partying and vacationing while you worked your behind off? If someone plans to sit on their duff as I do all the work they would certainly not be welcome. The fewer relatives and friends whom you allow to share your supplies mean that the more supplies you have for your family and the longer they will last. I would work hard to help those who are also working just as hard but if they are free-loaders they can forget it. It can only be suggested that you use good judgment and rely upon your own code of guidance.

I am blessed at being fairly healthy and not requiring any serious types of medications. However, for those that do this last question has several solutions you may choose from. All insurance programs cover only a 90 day supply and even than it will depend upon the prescription. If you have one which you take when needed you may be able to accumulate a small emergency supply. You may decide to substitute your meds with certain veterinarian supplies as used with farm and domestic animals. In many cases these may be the same, exact medications which humans use but they do not require a prescription. Examples of these medications are the commonly available fish antibiotics which you can readily purchase at your local pet store or online. Another solution at hand is ordering medical supplies from Mexican or Canadian pharmacies. These suppliers can ship you antibiotics and prescriptions legally at a fraction of their cost here in America. Keep in mind however that no insurance company will pay for these items and the cost will come out of your pocket.

Copyright @2012 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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Natural Remedies for the Common Cold - A Preppers Guide

What do you do when you get sick in a world without drug stores?

I caught a cold last week. Something that happens to all of us and should not be a big deal. I find that as I get older these run of the mill illnesses seem to get worse and longer in duration. I have gotten to the point where I need a prescription cough syrup to sleep at night once the cough starts.

If you look at the counter in my bathroom there will be cough drops, cough medicine, Ibuprofen, decongestants and whatever I can think of that might ease my suffering. I'm not trying to come off as a wimp here but having a cold sucks. I can't sleep or even think for the duration - which seems to get longer all the time. Back in the day I could count on being 100% after a week or so. Now the symptoms can last two weeks or longer.

I thought about going cold turkey on the meds to see what it would be like but decided that keeping my house awake all night with my chronic cough would not be worth it. I also suffer seasonal allergies and know just how ugly that scene gets if I don't take my meds.

Modern diseases tend to center around inflammation. Inflammation is a reaction that occurs when the auto immune system is not functioning properly. Inflammation can be traced as the cause for everything from heart disease to arthritis.

So what did we do without pharmacies and medicines to ease our suffering? A quick internet search yielded some clues to start with: garlic, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil. Another question arose from my research that although won't cure the common cold may explain some things. Maybe paleo man did not get colds the way we do. I am pretty sure that allergies are prevalent in our modern society because of pre and post natal care. The introduction of formula to replace breast feeding has done damage to our autoimmune function. The decrease in good gut flora has had the same affect. The introduction of antibiotics as a cure for everything in the 60's and 70's harmed a generation of people. I think that I was raised on formula and given antibiotics regularly. Diet also plays a role in disease and inflammation.

Many of our current diseases such as diabetes and arthritis were not prevalent in paleolithic times. Examination of remains show good health. Infections were the most dangerous things in these times. Our diets and lifestyles have opened pandora's box for neolithic diseases.

So the next time I get a cold I am going to give the natural methods a try. Gargling with apple cider vinegar, teas and inflammation control are going to be my priorities.

For more information on surviving in uncertain times check out What is a prepper

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Everyday Reasons for Becoming a Prepper Besides a Doomsday Scenario

The prepper movement has become more and more mainstream over the last year or two but there are still some with odd reactions. Im sure we have all heard some of the comments about preppers like they are nuts, paranoid worry warts, and onward. There are many who don't believe that any sort of doomsday scenario will ever occur with in their lifetime. But the doomsday or end of world scenario alone is not the only reason to do a little prepping.

There are reasons which are a little more mainstream and may even make a little more sense even to those of you who don't believe in prepping. We have listed here some reasons to have emergency supplies and stock piles like many modern day prepper would have. You may want to consider some of these reasons to prep even though you still wouldn't consider yourself a prepper.

Natural Disasters - Most of us live in an area that can be hit by some kind of natural disaster be it a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. This may not be a doomsday scenario but having a bit of preparedness could go a real long way to making your life easier on you and your family in this sort of situation.

Unemployment/Job Loss - With the economy in the shape its in these days job security is shaky for more Americans then ever before. Having a emergency food and supplies stock could be a huge edge for keeping you and your family fed and house running if you happen to have a sudden job loss or a massive cut in hours

Evacuations - Never know when something happens in your area which causes you to make a quick evacuation from your home. Having a bug out type bag that can be grabbed quickly containing important documents and supplies can be very important. Having all your important papers and supplies organized can be a lifesaver.

Power Outages - Sudden and possibly extended power outages are something everyone has to deal with at some point. Having some emergency prepper supplies packed away can make a huge difference in keeping your family fed and as comfortable as possible.

House Fire - This could happen to any of us at any time and having a evacuation plan and a bug out type bag could be a life saver. With little to no time to get out of the home to avoid death or injury a little prepping could make the difference in saving the lives of you and your family and getting out some of your important paperwork, information, and supplies.

Mechanical Car Problems - I know not all of us travel in out of the way area's at least on a consistent basis but if you do having a little prepping done could be very important. A breakdown can happen anywhere so having a way to communicate for help along with keeping you and your family hydrated, fed, and warm if needed until help arrives is a must. So a little prepping in this case can go a long way.

Becoming a prepper doesn't mean you have to believe the world is going to end tomorrow or next week but simply being a little more prepared for various situations. You also don't have to have massive stockpiles of food and supplies to be a prepper simply putting away enough to keep you and your family fed and hydrated should something unexpected happen can be enough for you. There is no set way or set of rules for being a prepper each and every one of us can be a prepper in our own way.

For more great prepping information, tips, and techniques check out http://www.preppersandbunkers.com

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