Photographer: Mike Mozart / Flickr / Creative Commons
It’s hard to quantify, but the modern prepping movement has at least, in part, been caused by the government. I am not referencing fear in the government doing something stupid that would force us into survival mode (although that is possible), but instead in promoting the idea of disaster preparedness.
FEMA’s Ready.gov website contains a host of information on how to prepare for a pending disaster, and radio commercials promote the idea, too. While not the best information in the world, it’s a good starting point for the novice prepper.
Of course, many if not most preppers don’t pay much attention to the FEMA website. Part of that could be because few of us trust the government all that much. But a much bigger part is that the government’s idea of prepping really doesn’t go far enough.
Let’s take a look at the list of Suggested Emergency Food Supplies that FEMA has on their website:
Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener
Protein or fruit bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter
Dried fruit
Nuts
Crackers
Canned juices
Non-perishable pasteurized milk
Vitamins
Food for infants
Comfort/stress foods
That’s it — a dozen things. While all of those are good choices, there’s no way that I would consider them enough. But then, I take a much different view of survival than what FEMA is promoting.
Image source: Pixabay.com
FEMA takes the stance that you only need to be ready to take care of yourself for three days. That’s their target reaction time. At the end of the three days, FEMA supposedly will have assistance in place. There’s only one thing … FEMA has a very poor track record of meeting that goal.
So when FEMA talks about stockpiling food, they only talk about stockpiling three days of it. That’s probably where the idea of a bug-out bag only having three days of food originates. Personally, I don’t feel that three days is anywhere near enough, especially since I have no intention of ending up in a FEMA camp, waiting for the government to decide to let me go.
There were people digging in dumpsters, looking for food, six weeks after both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy (which occurred in Republican and Democratic administrations). That doesn’t give me a whole lot of faith in FEMA’s abilities. But I’m also concerned that whatever FEMA gives out, comes with a price. The price of government meddling in our lives. That’s a much higher price than paying for my own food, to build a descent stockpile.
Let’s go back to that list for a minute. While the foods contained in it are all good choices for a survival situation, there really isn’t enough there to create actual meals, unless you stockpile canned goods that can be put together to make a meal. While that is possible, it’s not anyone’s first choice. Canned foods do provide nutrition, but they are severely lacking in flavor.
If all you’re talking about is surviving three days, that’s not really an issue. You can live on peanut butter crackers and dried fruit for three days. For that matter, you can live without it for three days, just about as well. But you can’t simply buy more of the foods mentioned on this list and expect to have a three- or six-month stockpile. You’ll have to add other foods to it. I’m not going to talk about what other foods you should stockpile, as I’ve written other articles about it. Try this article or this one for more information.
Another problem with the list is that not all of these foods will store for a prolonged period of time, without rotating your stock. While some, like canned goods will last a long time, there are other things, like breakfast cereal and crackers, which will quickly become stale and unpalatable.
FEMA also suggests that you “choose foods your family will eat.” While that may seem to make sense, most of our families aren’t going to go for a healthy diet of survival food; they’re going to want something tasty. In other words, they’re going to want the same sorts of junk food that they’re used to eating. That doesn’t work, and it’s actually totally contradictory to the list of foods they’ve put together.
I prefer to say, “Figure out how to make the foods you are going to have to stockpile for survival palatable for your family.” This requires figuring out how to take the foods that you stockpile and adapting their flavor to meet your family’s tastes. While not easy, this is actually possible. All you need is a stock of the right spices, plenty of salt and maybe a few sauces, like spaghetti sauce.
You’ll have to do some experimenting to find ways of preparing the survival foods you’re going to stockpile in ways that will be palatable to your family. Take the time to make up some recipes, and make a small batch and test it on your family. If it doesn’t work, try modifying. That usually means adding more spices to give it more flavor.
I stockpile plenty of spaghetti sauce and cream of mushroom soup, as well as the spices used in making my own spaghetti sauce, so that I can restock from tomatoes I grow in my garden.
So, yes, the FEMA list contains a few items that should be in any stockpile. Just don’t stop there.
What do you think of FEMA’s tips and list? Share your thoughts in the section below:
If you are like me, you probably had mom or grandma say to you, “Oh, honey, you don’t need a doctor or drugs. You just need a little old-fashioned medicine!” She then would promptly give me something that sounded a bit strange, but she often was right. It would fix the problem.
If this was your experience, then you were taking what is often called folk remedies, home remedies, or as my grandmother called it, old-fashioned medicine.
Prior to doctors and before most people could afford to go to one, people had no choice but to rely on these types of “cures.” The truth is that most people never expected an outright “cure” — they were hoping for relief of symptoms while they waited for their body to heal.
Unfortunately, with no knowledge of medicine, people had no way to know exactly what they were consuming, how they would react to it, or worse, whether the “cure” might kill them! This lack of knowledge allowed many a shyster to sell the infamous “Snake Oil” to a great many people.
Today, we have the knowledge of the world at our fingertips. This doesn’t mean that old-fashioned medicine is outdated, however. For many of us, we prefer to keep things simple and if we ever should find ourselves back in a situation where there are no doctors, then this kind of information is good to have.
Let’s take a look at some of the best folk remedies that really do work!
1. For bee stings …
This is another painful encounter that almost everyone will experience. Yes, the pain will subside on its own, but you can remove the stinger, the swelling and itching with tobacco. Plain tobacco (unroll a cigarette) mixed with a bit of water, then placed on the sting, will draw out most of the poison, as well as the stinger, in about 20 minutes. I actually had my father use this method on me when I was about 10 years old, and I have to say that it sounded strange, but it really did work!
2. For nausea and upset stomachs …
Who the heck hasn’t had a bout of either one of these? Or both?! Stomach problems are super-common, and everyone wants relief ASAP! You can do that by keeping either dried or fresh peppermint on hand. My grandmother always had some in her backyard, or she used dried leaves from the pantry. She placed a half-dozen leaves in a cup filled with boiling water, added a teaspoon of honey for sweetness, and drank a cup or two every time she had a tummy ache or indigestion. She also gave it to me as a child, and I still remember how soothing it was.
3. For the common cold …
How can a simple little virus make us feel so terrible? I don’t know, but I know how you can clear up those stuffed-up sinuses and feel better – good-old chicken and onion soup! Or you could use garlic in place of onion. You also can drink garlic tea (if you’re brave) to open up your sinuses and get you on your feet! Yes, you will have to repeat this several times a day for several days, but I will take feeling better even for a short period of time over and over, compared to just being sick as a dog for days.
4. Urinary tract infections …
What would you do if there were no doctors or antibiotics? Let me tell you how they did it in the olden days: They used baking soda and water! At the very first sign, mix one-fourth teaspoon or so of plain baking soda in 1 cup (8 ounces) of water. Drink this every morning until the symptoms subside.
5. For sore throats, sore gums, mouth ulcers …
These are all common-yet-painful problems almost everyone in life will face. The good news is that they are all aided by something everyone in the world has right in their kitchen: salt. A simple mouthwash of warm water with a pinch of salt works wonders.
Let’s also talk about some of the home remedies people have used over time that absolutely DO NOT work:
Cold baths and/or drinking cold water will not fix “most diseases,” as a 1740 doctor used to say.
Eating boiled carrots for two weeks does not cure asthma.
Holding a live puppy on the belly will not stop vomiting (but it might make you feel better emotionally).
Eating a pinch of castile soap each morning will not cure jaundice.
Some of these ideas seem funny to us in our modern age of medicine, but who knows? Perhaps 300 years from now, people will be snickering at our era, saying “How could they have thought that?”
Do you know of other folk remedies that still work? Share your memories and tips in the section below:
Many people in the U.S. are chasing the American dream, trying to make more money so they can – supposedly – be happier.
But a handful of Americans are going the opposite route, leaving the American dream because it didn’t fulfill their desires.
This week’s guest on Off The Grid Radio was president of a Fortune 500 division and ran one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. before he quit his corporate job and sold his house on a golf course … to homestead.
What caused him to leave his job and try something different.
Why the homesteading life is more enjoyable than a high-paying corporate job.
How he learned the skills needed to homestead, prior to YouTube.
Why the self-sufficient life fulfills a need that money does not.
How he makes extra cash living on the homestead – and how you can, too.
Young, who has written several books about self-sufficiency, also shares with us his thoughts on the American dream – and why so many people have it all wrong. If you’re looking for an inspirational story this week, then don’t miss this amazing show!
This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here
Visit Google and type in the phrase “The Bible says not to ….” What do you think pops up first? It is the essence of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1:
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
This is no surprise to most of us. We live in a culture that believes religion should be kept private and that absolute truth is negotiable — depending, of course, on your preferences. Practically, since we have no standard for truth, one is prevented from telling others if he/she is right or wrong. Is that really what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:1?:
Notice that Jesus didn’t say that we shouldn’t ever tell anyone he or she is wrong. In fact, Jesus spent His time on earth doing this very thing!
Later in the same passage, in Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus makes a distinction between the broad and narrow way. He doesn’t say, “Oh, golly gee, whatever you want to do in life is cool with me. I am not going to judge you!” Instead, he says:
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
So, what is this the “judge not” verse of Matthew 7:1 saying?
First, you truly judge someone not when you analyze their position against truth, but when you reject them as human, made in God’s image.
Isn’t this what John 3:17 characterizes?:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
While Jesus made abundantly clear that He alone was the narrow gate to heaven, he still didn’t “condemn the world.” You see, not condemning the world doesn’t mean you don’t forthrightly speak the truth. Instead, what you do after stating the truth determines whether you are judging.
Think about it: After telling us the truth of the kingdom of God, Jesus didn’t cast us off or dismiss us. No, he drew us closer and closer and made us — the sinners — his friends.
Perhaps the most famous Bible verse — John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world …) — precedes John 3:17. Jesus not only told us the truth, but He laid down His life for salvation!
Second, judging mirrors excessive obliviousness of our own immorality.
Jesus speaks in Matthew 7:5 about taking “the log” out of our own eye before addressing others. That is, we shouldn’t criticize others for the exact same things we are guilty of doing.
Jesus’ words here assume that there is a perpetual “log” lodged in our eyes as Christians. We might learn to lessen or downplay these “logs” by social and cultural domestication and rules, but the fact remains that the sinful depravity still lingers.
What has God given me in Christ? Grace, mercy and forgiveness. Doesn’t that change how I treat and speak to people? It should.
So, when Jesus said “judge not,” he was telling us to review the situation without rejecting the person. As Christians, we are called to speak with grace and truth (1 Peter 3:15).
Again, this doesn’t mean we can’t engage someone with truth. Rather, we have in Matthew 7:1-6 specific instructions about how to engage anyone we may meet who we may never agree with.
How do we make this practical?
Make sure private prayer is your main arsenal. We can’t change someone’s heart — only the Holy Spirit of God can do that work.
Seek for someone to come to Christ before chasing secondary issues. You may want to really make sure your co-workers know your sports team is the best in the world. But what does that have to do with eternity?
Make sure you are “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19b). Be careful to protect your pastors, staff and church by heading off gossip and slander. Be slow to speak and quick to pray.
Make sure you are patient with the speed of how God is working in someone’s life. Change is a process, not an event. We need to be patient with people as they struggle with sin. God’s timetable isn’t ours. His sovereign will is perfect, and we can trust Him.
Learn to speak to different people differently, as God leads. Jesus didn’t speak to Herod or Pilate in the same way He spoke to others. Paul didn’t talk to the Gentiles and Jews in the same way. Yet, it was the same message — the Gospel message.
Remember, we set standards that we use to judge, not realizing that we will fail our own criteria. Most judgments, accusations and verdicts don’t even need to be rendered (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). In heaven, there’ll be no judging motives, no racial profiling, no injustice, no theft, no vengeance, no hate, and nothing but love — eternal and free from the one true God of the Bible. The only fully competent Judge is coming.
In a world gone mad, only one hope remains: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25). Do you trust Him today?
This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here
We all agree that being able to start a fire during any emergency situation is imperative. A fire can help to provide nourishment, warmth, security, illumination, rescue, serenity and a plethora of other viable benefits. But just like any other skill, fire building must be continuously practiced. Read on to learn why a ferro rod is a must!
You may have to build a fire in a wet environment, which will be a completely different experience than fire building in a dry climate. You may need to build a large teepee fire for signaling or to build a simple crossfire if the mission is food preparation. These are just a couple of the scenarios that you may encounter when emergency and survival scenarios occur.
Why You Need A Ferro Rod In Your Survival Kit
You need to be flexible and experienced in as many fire building techniques as possible. The more options and skills that you possess, the better that you will fare when SHTF. You may not only need to produce for yourself, but also for your loved ones.
Failure is NOT an option.
There are three critical components to a fire…and if one of them is taken away, you will no longer have a fire. Those 3 components are:
Ignition Source
Oxygen
Fuel
For the purpose of this post, I would like to focus on #1, the ignition source. If you think about it… We actually need a “fire” to start a fire. Luckily, there are many ways to accomplish this. These are just some of the options we can use to start a fire:
A Lighter (Zippo, Bic, etc.)
Battery & Steel Wool
Bow & Drill
Natural Flint & Steel
Magnifying Glass
Matches
Ferrocerium (Ferro Rod)
I have started countless fires with each of the options listed above. My go to igniter is a Bic lighter but if I had to pick just one ignition source for any SHTF scenario… It would have to be a ferro rod.
There seems to be an ongoing debate on which fire igniting source is the best. Some may choose a Bic lighter while others prefer the ferro rod. I have to admit that I carry various Bic lighters in my go bags. Their convenience, lightweight, and ease of use make its simplicity very desirable for fire starting. But if you -held me to the fire- and I had to pick just one fire starting tool as I headed off to “zombieland”… It would have to be a quality ferro rod.
What I would like to share with you are my 9 reasons why a ferro rod should be included in everyone’s survival kit:
1. Durability:
Ferro rods are composed of mainly Iron, lanthanum and cerium. For convenience, there is usually a handle attached to the ferro rod made of wood, plastic or other material. When this rod is scraped with a piece of steel, the sparks that are sent to your bundle of tinder can reach temperatures in excess of 5,430F (°3000C). This is possible because of the oxidation that occurs during the scraping or striking process.
Ferro rods also have a long lifespan. I have ferro rods that can be struck up to 12,000 times. I also have “beefier” ½” ferro rods that can be struck over 20,000 times. Keep in mind that it will be difficult to get your first strike to start your tinder; Multiple strikes are usually needed. But with some good practice, you can get your tinder started in 3 strikes or less.
Since the ferro rod is constructed of alloy materials, it makes it quite durable. It is a piece of gear that you can place in your pack and forget about it. There are no moving parts to concern yourself with and there is no fear of rendering it unserviceable from various tumbles you or your gear may take. It doesn’t require any special containers or housing like my lighters and matches do. I keep one strapped to the molle setup inside of my pack and it is always ready when I need it.
2. Weatherproof:
A ferro rod will work in virtually any weather situation. It can be soaked from the rain or it can be stuck in the mud. Just wipe it down, scrape it with some steel and you have seriously hot sparks flying at your tinder.
I also prefer my ferro rod in windy conditions. Matches and lighters tend to not bode very well in the wind. But a ferro rod will place hot molten metal on whatever tinder that you are trying to ignite, even in the wind.
If you are in snow or other freezing conditions, your ferro rod will still operate flawlessly. Keep in mind that the same principles apply to tinder regardless of your ignition source. If your tinder isn’t good to go, it really doesn’t matter what you are using as a starter.
Tinder Isn’t weatherproof… That’s an obvious statement but some still have trouble grasping it. Just realize that by having a tool that can send “fire” or sparks in any weather condition is only half the battle. You need to have dry tinder, kept away from the elements, in order to have a good chance of getting your fire started. Sending countless sparks into wet or damp tinder will only waste your ferro rod or lighter for that matter.
3. Dependability:
The fact that the ferro rod is weatherproof and durable makes it a tool that you can depend on. I have had countless lighters break on me over the years. I have also gotten my matches soaked from downpours, spilled drinks and taking the occasional swim without fully clearing out my pockets.
Granted, these were all in recreational scenarios but my lighters and matches didn’t know that we were just having fun. So if those instances rendered my ignitors useless… what would make me think that they would function differently in an emergency situation?
Knowing that I have a fire starting method that I can depend on gives me greater peace of mind. This mindset is not only for SHTF situations but also while I am out in a recreational or work related capacity.
4. Convenient:
Ferro rods are very convenient. They are streamlined, compact and lightweight. Many quality ferro rods even come with a steel scraping tool. These steel tools have a 90 degree edge that is ideal for sending the sparks to a targeted location. Some of my ferro rod scrapers even have additional features such as a small ruler, flathead screwdriver, paracord lanyard attachment, bottle opener and a can opener. Those can be useful tools in a pinch.
In a cold environment, it is extremely convenient not having to shed my gloves in order to strike my lighter. Usually in the colder, freezing situations, a lighter tends to not work well causing multiple strikes to be needed. When my hands are frozen and nearly frostbitten… That is not something that I would enjoy – EVER AGAIN!
I have other ferro rods that come in the form of a necklace. They are not only cool looking jewelry, if that is your preference, but they also work like a charm! They are a bit trickier to operate but with the right amount of practice, they function really well.
5. Can Travel On A Plane:
When I travel overseas I keep a ferro rod necklace in my Airport Go Bag. It basically looks like a keychain strapped to the interior of my pack. After countless miles in the air, I have yet to be questioned by security about my ferro rod. Unfortunately, that is something that will never happen with my lighters and or matches. They would have to be discarded way before I ever contemplate entering the plane. Damn Shoe-bomber…
I don’t anticipate a Tom Hanks Castaway moment in my flight travel plans, but we are either prepared or we are not. If I can add an extra measure of security for that – just in case moment- then I’m all in!
6. Inexpensive:
Ferro rods are relatively inexpensive for what you get. Since so many have jumped on the “survival bandwagon” as of late, there seems to be new options being offered on the market almost daily. I mentioned necklaces earlier but you can find them contained in various paracord devices and many other gadgets.
Since there is more popularity and manufacturers, there is more competition in the marketplace. What that means to us is cheaper prices!
I have quality fire starters that cost me less than $9. My ½” thick ferro rod was just under $20 and will probably outlast my lifespan. As far as blowing your budget, it’s definitely not a factor when it comes to ferro rods.
7. Versatile:
Ferro rods work great for getting your tinder bundle started but it also comes in handy for igniting other sources. Backpacking stoves can be annoying at times to ignite. The angle on which these stoves need to be lit can be awkward on some models. Being able to spray some sparks from the ferro rod can be quite effective for getting these portable stoves lit.
I use my ferro rods to get my backyard firepit going. I also use them for igniting my wood burning grill. It makes it convenient for me on windy days but also gives me the continual practice needed to hone in and maintain the skill. Take any opportunity that you can to practice. Once you become more proficient with your ferro rod, you will find yourself using it a lot more.
8. Can Be Used In High Altitudes:
I can refer back to my cigarette smoking days for this one… While training at the Mountain Warfare Training Center as an active duty United States Marine, we were training at over 10,000 feet in elevation for over a month. When we tried to use our Bic lighters to light our cigarettes, there always seemed to be an issue. We had to resort to matches to get our “fix” in while the Smoking Lantern was on.
Now, I’m not suggesting to light your cigarette or cigar with a ferro rod. I am giving an example of why I’d prefer my ferro rod over my Bic lighter if I had to fire build in high elevation. A spark from a ferro rod will have the same intensity, regardless of the elevation.
9. Gives You The Bushcraft Feel:
I have to admit that starting a fire with a ferro rod certainly has that…cool factor. There is a degree of skill required to operate the ferro rod as opposed to just, striking the wheel on a Bic. It brings a bit of the bushcraft feel to the fire building experience. It’s not the same as starting it with a bow and drill but still cool nonetheless.
When I hand out ferro rods to my Boy Scout troop members, the excitement is almost instant. I see some of them become a bit nervous but that is a temporary effect. Once they learn to move the ferro rod, not the actual scraping tool… And get that tinder bundle going, they walk away from the experience looking as if they had just won the lottery.
Bottom Line:
It is always best to be redundant and carry various ignition sources. Just like most things in life, balance is key. If you can carry a Bic lighter, waterproof matches and a quality ferro rod… Then you are definitely good to go.
We never want to make things more difficult than we have to. This statement expands exponentially in an emergency scenario. Expand your skills and options whenever possible. Store as many ignition sources as you can for emergency use. If you are not familiar with a ferro rod, get one and start practicing. Get your family involved and practice together. You may need to rely on them for fire building in an emergency.
Right now we have the ability to choose our preferred methods and options. When SHTF… We may not be so fortunate.
RICHMOND, Va. — The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ignored precedent and the Constitution in ruling this week that semi-automatic weapons don’t have Second Amendment protections, critics say.
In a 10-4 decision upholding Maryland’s ban on certain semi-automatic firearms, the judges went further than previous courts have in ruling that “assault weapons and large-capacity magazines are not protected by the Second Amendment.”
The Maryland law, passed after a mass shooting, was called the Firearms Safety Act (FSA) of 2013, and it banned AR-15s and most magazine-fed semi-automatic rifles.
Second Amendment advocates and firearms dealers challenged the law in a case called Kolbe vs. Maryland.
Judge William B. Traxler Jr. wrote in a dissent that the Fourth Circuit has “gone to greater lengths than any other court to eviscerate the constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms.”
The majority ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Heller decision, which dealt with handgun ownership and the right to self-defense, has no impact on semi-automatic rifles.
“We have no power to extend Second Amendment protection to the weapons of war that the Heller decision explicitly excluded from such coverage,” Judge Robert B. King wrote in the majority opinion.
King’s opinion mentioned the mass shootings in San Bernardino, Newtown and Orlando. Maryland state legislators, he wrote, were justified in banning weapons with magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
Such weapons “enable shooters to inflict mass casualties while depriving victims and law enforcement officers of opportunities to escape or overwhelm the shooters while they reload their weapons,” King wrote.
Traxler disagreed, noting that such weapons are not “dangerous or unusual” and are used by millions of law-abiding citizens.
“As long as the weapon chosen is one commonly possessed by the American people for lawful purposes — and the rifles at issue here most certainly are,” Traxler wrote, “the state has very little say about whether its citizens should keep it in their homes for protection.”
Both King and Traxler were nominated by President Bill Clinton.
Three other judges — Paul V. Niemeyer, Dennis W. Shedd and G. Steven Agee — joined Traxler in the dissent.
The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) called it an “outrageous decision.”
“If, as the Fourth Circuit suggests, a firearm loses Second Amendment protection because it is specifically designed for ‘killing or disabling the enemy,’ then the whole idea of the Second Amendment protecting a defensive purpose (or applying to any well-designed firearm, for that matter) collapses. Handguns, rifles, and shotguns of any type can be equally ‘dangerous,’” the NRA-ILA wrote.
Maryland’s law is similar to bans in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states, The Washington Post noted.
The decision could be appealed to the Supreme Court.
What is your reaction to the decision? Share your thoughts in the section below:
