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Items #46 to #49 of my 100 Essentials

Life is all about being prepared for the next adventure! I hope that with my list of 100 Essentials, I am giving you some ideas and your preps are starting to stack up.

On we go with item #46 ( Garbage Cans, Garbage Bags and Lids) The galvanized cans are great to store your preps in and also make a great faraday cage. My thought is to use the Flex Seal, a rubberized material, sprayed into a small galvanized bucket and lid to create a faraday cage. Try this DIY project for yourself!

 

On to Item #47 ( Men's Hygiene) Shampoo, Razors, Mouthwash, Floss, Deodorant (Lots of this!!) Nail Clippers, Shaving Cream, eat...

With men working on keeping everything running on a ranch or farm, they still need to take care of themselves. Nothing worse then a SMELLY man!!! You know what I mean.

Just today, while at Portland Expo Center, I walked by a man that really needed Deodorant... Whew... Come on, you know you can smell it and no-one else wants to!

Onto a passion of mine, Cast Iron Cook Ware. I am talking about Dutch Ovens Pans, Pop Over Pans, Muffin Pans, Corn Bread Pans and so much more. These pans are the best for baking and cooking. If you haven't tried Cast Iron Cooking, I hope that you do. Here is another one of my recent favorites, Southern Cast Iron Magazine. You have to try the Rosemary Focaccia Bread. 

Have fun looking for vintage Cast Iron! Keep it clean, well oiled and out of the water. You will be handing this down from generation to generation. 

Item #49 Fishing Gear and Supplies! You will need fishing poles, line, lures, flies, tackle boxes, fishing nets, hooks, and sinkers. Stock up on all of these items will be very hard to get in times of need. Places like Sportsman Warehouse, Walmart, Cabelas or Fisherman's Warehouse are great places to stock up on all of these items. 

Be careful, once you start collecting Fishing Gear you will be HOOKED!!

When your looking for items to add to your preps, remember I am only giving you a option to purchase on Amazon. You have the choice to purchase where ever you wish so shop around and get the best price you can. 

Thank you for following along! Join me next week for more ideas for your 100 Essentials. 

100 Essential Items #42 to #45 (Keep stocking up)

Summer is going by fast and were moving forward with stocking up on your 100 Essentials. Remember you never know when you might need the items on this list. 

Item #42-Insulated Ice Chests are a must if you lose power and need someplace to store frozen and refrigerated food. We recently purchased the Kysek 25L Extreme Coolers (26.4 Qt) from Sportsman Warehouse to use at our ranch while building the barn. We add dry ice to the bottom, cover that with a plastic garbage bag, add ice and drinks and food. With this method, we can keep items cold for over a week. 

Yes, they are expensive but if it works, we feel the cost is well worth it! The Yeti is another great cooler but even more expensive.

Coolers are a great way to keep items frozen in the wintertime too!

Moving onto item #43 (Work Boots, Belts, Levi's & Durable Warm Shirts)

Keeping warm and dry in any situation will only make you fell better. Make sure to buy high quality clothing that will last for years to come. Warm Socks, Flannel Shirts, Wicking Clothing, ect...

Check out Duluth Trading Company if you need some great ideas. 

Duluth Flannel Shirts

Duluth Flannel Shirts

Flashlights, Lanterns, and Light Sticks are Item #44 on my list of 100 Essentials.

Just spent this weekend at the Portland Expo Center Antique Faire. So many preparedness items to be found at almost every booth. Love collecting Dietz Lanterns and they are so useful in any emergency situation. 

Flashlights are part of our EDC (Everyday Carry) and I always have one with me. Have you ever lost something in your car??? Get out your flashlight and you will find it in no time. I prefer small compact flashlights and preferably made in America. We love the flashlights from County Comm for this reason. 

Item #45 Journals, Diaries, Scrapbooks are helpful to keep track of your Journey. I would also add my Bible to this list as well as Pens, Pencils and writing paper. 

Well, with this list of items I am sure that you can think of a few on your own. Books of all kinds need to be in your library for your enjoyment as well as informational reading materials. 

I love Cast Iron Cooking so recently I have been adding more Cast Iron to my preps. Along with pans, dutch ovens, and a pop over pan, I have discovered Southern Cast Iron Magazine. Just ordered 4 more today. 

Really excited to share with you my 100 Essentials and so much more... See you next week!

Preparedness Items #37 to #41!

You might think that some of these items are a no brainer! Duh, but you have to ask yourself?? Do I have these stocked up and ready to go???

Probably not! We all think that these items are easy to get and why would I need to stock up on them? Good question but I even need to stock up on some of these items.

#37 Garlic, Spices, Vinegar and Baking Supplies. Big box stores like Costco, Cash & Carry or Sam's Club are great place to stock up on these items. Just go isle to isle and put them in your cart. Remembering to have enough for at least 2 years. Especially stock up on the ones you use the most. Some  of these stores you can also order online! Check them out here...

 

Item #38 is Pet Supplies! Make sure you have enough Pet Food, Pet Treats and all other pet supplies for 2 years. Feed you pets the highest quality pet foo that you can afford and your pets will thank you for that. Don't forget about medications that your pet may need as well.

#39 Flour Yeast, Salt & Pepper! Check the stores out above for this items. For David, we need to have a 5 year supply of Pepper as he can never have enough!!

#40 Wooden Match Sticks and Propane Lighters. Every time I go to Cash & Carry, I add these items to my cart so I know that I will never be without. 

#41 Writing Paper, Pads, Pencils, Sharpies and Solar Calculators. You might want to consider Rite in the Rain Paper as we live in the Pacific Northwest and it rains here a lot! Stock up on these items as they might be a good bargaining item in the future.

 

That's all for now! Thank you so much for following along and I will see you again next week.

Amp-3 Outfitter!! Wound Care & Suturing Kit!! (Item #34 & #35)

Well, were moving forward with our list of 100 Essentials this week with our Amp-3 Outfitter and Wound Care & Suture Kits. Item #34 the Amp-3 Outfitter is the most Comprehensive Medical Kit on the market and the only one Made in the USA! 

This kits goes for Trauma to Dental in our Clinic in a Roll. Weighing just under 8 lbs rolled up and ready to go. Put together our Mastering Your Med Kit DVD ($35) that goes over pocket by pocket on how to use everything in our kit. Our customer made bag is David's design and manufactured in the USA. We pack most of our Modules in LokSak's that are also made in the USA! LokSak's are Waterproof down to 200 ft and completely air tight.

With so many choices for Medical Kits on the market. This is the only one designed by a ER Doctor with materials that he actually uses. This product was two years in the making and is now one of our Signature Kits. Currently priced at $395, available in ACU Digital, Coyote Brown, Black, Burnt Orange and Red. 

Item #35 is Wound Care & Suture Kits. David being a ER Doc, our Wound Care and Suture Kit is more comprehensive then any other kit on the market and Made in USA. Our Survival Suturing DVD, goes over Wound Care,  as well as when to suture and when NOT to suture. 

Hoping that these two kits will add some needed essentials for your Preparedness. 

Well that's it for this week, thank you for following along and supporting Amp-3!!!

Wow! We have moved... Moving forward with 100 Essentials

This past month has been so crazy with moving to a rental house, Preppercon 4 days after, home for a week and off to a very cold Prosser, WA event, and Grants Pass Sustainable Preparedness Expo.

Now it's time to get back to the business of getting Prepared! Clothes Pins/Clothes Line/Hangers are #31. This can be as simple as paracord with clothes pins. In the house that we are currently renting there is a cloths line in the back yard. Have you ever been to a hotel where their is one in the shower?? We have! 

If you grew up when I did in the 60's and 70's, you might have had one in your back yard. I don't know why, buy things always smell better when the warm sunshine and wind make them dry. Give it a try if the rain ever stops...

 

Hallig_Hooge,_Germany,_view_from_the_Backenswarft.jpg

Item #32 Coleman Pump Repair Kit for $12.99 includes the following:  includes everything you need to repair the pump on your fueled lantern: a plunger assembly, pump cap, pump cap clip, push-on nut and cushioning spring. This kit fits most Coleman® lantern and stove models except 222, 226, 229, 400, 440, 442, 445, 450, 550, 3022 and 3024. Look on Amazon for this as well and maybe some local camping stores. 

Item #33 Fire Extinguishers for all types of fires. These are easily obtainable at a Big Box Store, Cash and Carry ect... Make sure that you have what you need for when you might need it. Large Boxes of Baking Soda in every room as well. Stock up so that you have what you might need. A case or two on hand might not be a bad idea. 

Families use Baking Soda in hundreds of different ways. It cleans, deodorizes, helps bake up perfect cookies, and more! Safe around kids and pets, no other product does more throughout your home…all for under $1. 

• Sprinkle a little in smelly shoes to deodorize them

• Make a paste to gently scrub away scuffs and crayon marks from walls. 

• Sprinkle on a damp sponge to clean stainless all around the kitchen without scratching

• Mix a pinch with your facial cleanser for a gentle, yet effective, exfoliant

• Sprinkle on carpets, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum up smells

• And much more

Baking Soda is natural, so it’s no surprise ARM & HAMMER™ is the product of choice!

Sorry for the delay in getting back to posting my weekly Blog! Life happens and time just slips away. Don't delay on getting your family prepared! A little bit every week and in no time you will be better prepared for what might come your way! Stay tuned for next week. Thank you for following along!

Gardening with Lucinda Bailey! Texas Ready Seed Banks

This week I am so excited to have a guest Blogger, my very good friend Lucinda Bailey of Texas Ready Seed Banks. Spring is almost here in the Pacific Northwest so get your garden ready with this fantastic post from Lucinda!

WHEN TO PLANT

It is recommended that you obtain your area’s exact spring and fall “frost” dates–they will be different for individual counties. Don’t go from memory. Check on the internet by typing FROST DATES + your zipcode.  Or contact your Agri-Life County Extension Agent and/or the Master Gardener program at the same office. They will have the right dates. Call them—your tax dollars pay for their services.

 

The dates for my county are March 17 and November 15 – but what does that mean? If I were to set plants out, either by seed or six inch transplanted seedlings, on March 17, I have a ten percent chance of there being a freeze, which in turn, could kill any plants which are frost sensitive. A ten percent risk is one I can live with. Freeze dates DO NOT mean that it can’t or won’t freeze after that date. Regarding the fall frost date, I have a ninety percent chance that my crops will experience a freeze after November 16 each year—therefore; I plan the spring planting and concluding harvest dates accordingly. The appendix in All New Square Foot Gardening is excellent as it illustrates when to start seeds in trays, when to transplant, how long it takes for the individual plants to mature and when you should harvest.

 

Obviously, frost dates are guidelines, and Mother Nature has a mind of her own. Thus far, this winter has been extremely mild in my area, so I was willing to bump up my planting date by about thirty days. If we did experience a freeze, there would still be time to reseed or replant. I have plenty of reserve seed and know I’m taking a slight risk. There were two days in the mid-forties, so I have had to replant cucumbers and melons. Everything else flourished. Tomatoes, which are very sensitive, I kept in the hoop house because to regrow them from seed is very time consuming.


In addition to the risk of planting too early, there is also a risk in waiting too long to plant. For example, peppers, don’t set fruit well if the nights are hotter than 70 degrees F.  

 

 

PREPARE YOUR BEDS

You can do this even if your last frost date is a couple of months away.

 

1)     If you haven’t done this already, clean up all the previous garden debris. Send it to the compost heap. Because we teach survival gardening, Texas Ready does not recommend loose mulch, broken up leaves or grass clippings on the surface of your garden beds. We don’t want to provide bugs a place to hide.

 

2)     Take a forked tool (a rake won’t get deep enough) and lightly loosen the soil to a depth of eight inches. If you see squirmy little worms or grubs, kill them. If you have chickens either give them the worms and grubs as a treat, or better yet, assuming you can fence them away from whatever may be growing in your garden, let them scratch around in your beds. They’ll become virtual “rototillers” with an attitude. I prefer this strategy because it gives my twenty hens a little exercise and they avoid the boredom of living confined in a pen.

 

3)     Get a metal window screen—I use one about 2’ x 3’ in size, and a wheelbarrow. Head for the compost heap. I am a lazy composter—meaning I don’t turn my pile like I should—I simply take four inches of finished compost from the bottom of the stack once a year. I put a few shovel fulls on top of the screen and sift the soil into the wheelbarrow, sending back to the compost heap anything that didn’t fall through the screen. The result is a very fine top dressing which my plants love. Alternatively, using the Mittleider Gardening method of 75% sawdust combined with 25% course sand, I level the soil in my garden boxes (aka raised beds).

 

4)     Take the wheelbarrow full of beautiful soil and spread enough to bring the beds up to the top of the 8” boards. We recommend that your garden boxes (aka raised beds) utilize 2x8 pressure treated boards. The pressure treating process is now safe—twenty years ago this was not the case. Eight inches of material is enough to prevent the sun’s UV rays from activating perennial weed rhizomes.    

 

5)     Repeat the process until all your beds are ready. Lightly water the top dressing in. Repeat the watering process when you notice the beds are dry. Now the hard work has been done and the fun can begin.

 

6)     If you are an over achiever, 6 weeks before frost date, get some heavy plastic painters drop cloths. Get at least a 12 foot square one. Cut it in half. Put it over your beds, securing the sides with heavy objects like bricks or boards. You are now going to let the sun solarize your soil. This will irradiate some garden pests (insect, fungi and viruses) and kill weed seeds at the same time.

 

MAKE YOUR OWN POTTING SOIL

You’ll want a basic potting mix—your box stores have this (expensive). You don’t want a lot of fertilizer built into this soil. If there is a lot of nitrogen the seedlings can get leggy and the stem won’t ever be able to support future fruit. (In gardening terminology, we call all that plants produce for us to eat “fruit”—even if the plant is a vegetable. Go figure.)

 

Or you can make your own, like I do from a recipe obtained from Rodale’s Institute for Organic Growing.

Make sure that any chicken or horse manure has been aged at least a year (preferably two) and that your compost heap was heated to at least 140 degrees F for about two weeks so weed seeds will not germinate.

 

4 parts finely screened compost from one year old shredded leaves and aged animal manure

1 part perlite

1 part vermiculite

2 parts peat moss

 

You’ll want to mix this outdoors in a wheelbarrow. Lightly moisten the ingredients to keep the dust down. I like this mix because there is a good balance between moisture retention and good drainage. Without good drainage you will struggle with “damping-off” which is a fungal disease that causes newly germinated seedlings to weaken, topple over and die. I like using finely shredded leaf compost because that way you get a timed release of good nutrition.

 

Wow! This is a lot of information! Next week we will continue with Lucinda and more on getting your garden growing. Want to see Lucinda live??? She will be with us at two Preparedness Expos in May! Prosser, WA and Grants Pass, OR. 

Lucinda Bailey-Owner of Texas Ready Seed Banks

March 2017-Week 13! (Powdered Milk, Clothes Lines and More)

As we move forward with the items on my list of 100 Essentials, were moving forward with Powered Milk. I remember well Carnation Powdered Milk growing up as a kid of a single Mom. We were very lucky to have regular Milk but from time to time we had Powdered Milk. If served Cold, it's really great tasting. Today, we have better choices with  Honeyville Great tasting with a long shelf-life. While at the Honeywell website, pick up some of the Ova Easy Whole Egg Crystals (Best on the Market). We have used Ova Easy Eggs several times over the years. Even have some in our Camp! When adding to your food storage always buy extra!! 

 

 

Instant Milk Alternative - 4 Pound Can
Honeyville Food Products

The next item on our list are Seed Banks and we prefer Texas Ready Seed Banks. I have asked Lucinda to be our guest Blogger next week so you can find out more about this fabulous product directly from the expert in this area. Stay tuned-You won't be disappointed!

Item #31 ClothesPins/ClothesLine/Drying Rack & Hangers (A Must). Some of you might remember having these when you were going up, I sure do. How about a Solar Clothes Dryer! Check out this video!!!

Having repair kits for your Coleman products are a must in case you have a breakdown of any kind. If you have a different brand of Stove or Lantern, make sure you have everything the you need for repairs. 

Our last couple of items for this week are Fire Extinguishers and Boxes of Baking Soda for every Room (Large Boxes). We all know that Fire can happen so we just need to be ready in case it does. 

Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. Know how to use your Fire Extinguisher. 

Baking Soda has so many uses but works great on putting out Grease Fires Too! Purchase the large boxes. (1 per room)

ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, 13.5 Pound
UCCI (European Credit and Commerce International)

Another week of adding to your Preparedness. Follow along next week and see what Lucinda has in store from Texas Ready Seed Banks. 

How Many Are Following Along?

Well, the question this week is?? How many of you are following along?? I hope that you are and would love to know your thoughts so far, in regards to getting prepared with your 100 Essentials! http://www.amp-3.net/resources/

The items that we have discussed so far can be purchased anywhere you can find them. I have been adding the links to purchase them through Amazon, but Sportsman Warehouse, Cabela's, Fred Meyer and Orchard Supply are additional resources for you. We also love Farm and Ranch stores for supplies. Wherever you love to go, you will find something to add to your preparedness.

Remember to set your budget and plan on adding to your preparedness every month. Love to hear from you!

 

March 2017 Week #12 Household Items to Stock up on!

Get ready to stock up on Aluminum Foil Regular & Heavy (Cooking & Barter Item), Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal), Garbage Bags all kinds and sizes (Impossible to have to many) Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels. These items are essentials and you can't have enough, so stock up now! Buying in bulk is a must for all of the items listed above. Look at the Big Box Stores like Costco or Sam's Club to get low prices. Get your 100 Essentials now: http://www.amp-3.net/resources/

Aluminum Foil has so many uses from BBQ grilling, baking and keep food covered as well as a great barter item for someone who needs this product. Once again, Gasoline Containers are a must have for Diesel and Gasoline. Have enough on hand and once again another great barter item. Without Gas or Diesel you won't be running your Generator or Tractor. Check Craigslist for 200 gal Gas or Diesel containers as well as pump and values. The item below is great to have on hand as well.

 

Garbage Bags all kinds and sizes from Kitchen to the Black Contractor Bags are just a few to have on hand. You will want to have enough for at least 2 years. 

Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels are essentials as far as I am concerned. Once again you should have enough on hand for 2 years for your family. All of these items are available online. 

Kinda boring this week, I know but still essential. So remember to stock up now, so that you never have to run to store when every one else is. Thank you for following along and let me know where your at with your 100 Essentials. See you next week! 

March 2017 Week #11

We hope that you're moving in the right direction and getting better prepared for 2017! This is the second week in March and we going to talk about items #21 to #24 on my list of 100 Essentials. Download your FREE copy now if your don't already have it.

http://www.amp-3.net/resources/

Let's get started with Item #21, Feminine Hygiene/Hair Care/Skin Products. All of the men out there might be asking why do I need these products. Think outside the box and realize that Feminine Hygiene products are used to soak up large amounts of blood. These products are great  for wound care as well. When Kotex Pads are applied to a wound, aided with a Israeli Trauma Bandage or Ace Wrap, you can stop bleeding. 

You might be asking why would I need Tampons? Well, these are great for Nose Bleeds or possibly gun shot wounds. Are there better options for Gun shot wounds? Yes but by stocking up on all of the necessary items there might be more then one use. Having a variety of items for multiple uses will work best. For Gun shot wounds we do recommend our Chest Seal Kit. 

Make sure to stock up on your personal hygiene products and have enough on hand for 2 years. You know what you use on a daily basis so make sure that you have what you need, when you need it.

Item #22 Vitamins, Over the Counter Medications (Urgent Get Now Item -shortages will occur early & fast). We buy in huge quantities every month and you should too. Generally these are very affordable and you won't want to be without. The big box stores are great resources for these and if you purchase them every month you have a huge supply in no time. 

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Item #23 Thermal Underwear & Tops to keep you warm in cold weather. Many of you are aware of layering in cold and warm weather. Make sure you purchase good quality Thermal Underwear & Tops. We personally have several sets of each and different weighs as well. 

Duofold Men's Mid Weight Wicking Thermal Shirt, Black, Medium
Duofold Men's Sleepwear - Layering & Thermals
Duofold Men's Mid Weight Wicking Thermal Pant, Black, Medium
Duofold Men's Sleepwear - Layering & Thermals

This week ends with Item #24 Bow Saws, Axes, Hatchets, Wedges,Sharpening Stones, and Honing Oil. We purchase a lot of these items at Trade Shows, Antique Stores, On-line and Garage Sales. We have a great collection of Hatchets and Saws. I would add that a great chain saw should also be on your list. I purchased a Stihl 032 AV Chainsaw for David back in 1984 for over $500 and it's still running strong. These saws are built to last and you never know when you might need one. My friend Rod, who uses a chain saw everyday for his work in the Santa Cruz Mountains prefers the saw below. Either way buy one!

Sharpening stones and honing oil are necessary items for maintenance on all saws and hatchets. . You should have everything that you need to maintain all of your equipment. 

With another week completed in my Blog, I truly hope that this is helping you with your preparedness goals. Please let me know what you think so far! I would love your feedback. 

March 2017-Week #10

This year is already flying by!!! March 2017 is upon us. This week we will cover the following items: #17 Coleman Lanterns – Get extra mantles! #18 Baby Supplies (Diapers, Formula,Ointments, Pedialyte, etc), #19 Washboard, Mop Bucket, Heavy-Duty Wringer #20Cook Stoves (Silver Fire Hunter, Coleman) 

Let's get started with #17 Coleman Lanterns and lots of extra mantels. Colman Lanterns and Antique Lanterns as you know are part of my passion. W.C. Coleman could see the light for the darkness. The young salesman was taking a stroll after a hard day’s work selling typewriters, and spotted a new type of lamplight in a drugstore window in Brockton, Alabama. This new light burned with a strong, steady white flame and was fueled by gasoline.

The standard lamp of the era burned kerosene and produced a smoky, flickering, yellowish light. W.C. was stricken with very poor eyesight, and was very interested in this new, steady white light that enabled him to read even the smallest print in books and on medicine bottles. Coleman saw potential in the new light, and through his vision a new company was born that would put America’s farms and ranches in a new light, and would eventually make his name synonymous with outdoor fun. Find out here how to date old coleman lamps.  http://www.oldtowncoleman.com/date.htm

 

 

 

 

Baby Supplies (Diapers, Formula,Ointments, Pedialyte, etc) are an essential for every family. Stock up on all sizes of Diapers and Pull ups, you never know when your going to need them or someone else in your family. Formula, Bottles, Ointments, Pedialyte and Baby Food.

What is Pedialyte®?

Pedialyte is a medical-grade hydration solution specially formulated with the optimal balance of sugar and electrolytes needed to help replenish vital fluids, minerals, and nutrients, which, when lost, can lead to dehydration.

Adults and kids can use Pedialyte for everyday hydration. But for over 50 years, Pedialyte has been helping people recover from more challenging moments of dehydration.

https://pedialyte.com/products

All of these items are supplies for your babies and toddler needs. You just don't know how much to stock up so buy something extra every time you go to the store. Order online in bulk and save!!! 

Were moving onto one of my favorite subjects! Washboard, Mop Bucket, Heavy-Duty Wringer. A few years ago, I saw a Antiques Washer made by GE, I wish that I had bought it. Look for some good antique washboards. Heavy Duty Wringers and Mop Bucket are easier to find. Purchase may 2 of each so that you have a back up set just is case. 

Good stoves are the txt times on my list. We prefer Silverware Stoves and Pots. Coleman Stoves are great as well but I prefer the first ones and here is why. Silverfire Stoves can burn pretty much anything from sticks, dried manure, pine needles, pinecones and anything else that burn. Here I am cooking on my Hunter Stove. http://www.silverfire.us/stoves-backpack-stove-fixed-chimney-gasifier-rocke

Coleman Stoves are great to have as well but you need to have fuel on hand at all times. Coleman stoves are reliable and have stood the test of time. 

By now you should be pretty much on your way to being prepared. Still need to download your list?? Get your here now!!! http://www.amp-3.net/resources/

February 2017-Week Nine!

This past week while we were in Texas, we had an opportunity to visit a homestead ranch of a very good friend. Can we say PREPARED!! Wow, we were blown away by the Livestock, Garden, Poultry, Hogs and her endless food storage. This homestead has enough supplies for a family of 4 for over 2 years. 

As we move forward with Item #11 Vegetable Oil, Olive Oil, Crisco. These are everyday items that you should aways have on hand in large quantities. You need to store these items in a cool and dry place. 

 

Get ready to stock up now on Item #12 Charcoal, Lighter Fluid, Stick Matches and Long Lighters. The great thing with these items, Check out these 10 uses for Charcoal from This Old House: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/10-uses-charcoal. Charcoal in the Compost Pile, I would have never thought of that one. Great ideas! Share some of yours with our readers. You can never have enough of the items listed above. Stock up every month if you can. 

 

 

 

 

 

Water containers we talked in a earlier Blog post, so check out Week Five to refresh your memory if you haven't already purchased these items. 

Mini Propane Heaters are Item #14. We love our Heater Buddy!!! We also have what I call our Blast Furnace that we have used a lot at the ranch while we move forward with building the barn. 

We hope that this is giving you some great ideas to add to your preparedness. Next week were moving onto more items on our list of 100 Essentials. 

Hand Cranked Kitchen Aid Mixer

First saw this at a Dutch Oven Bake Off in Utah and thought what a great idea. I know that you can send your Kitchen Aid Mixer off to have converted. Recently I purchased a vintage working Kitchen Aid Mixer and will be sending it off for the conversion. Here is the information:

This Amish machine shop converts the Kitchen Aid 5-Quart mixer to a hand crank mixer for off-grid use.

It functions just like the electric mixer. The creative adjustable crank handle allows you to adjust the speed so you do not have to speed up cranking for whipping. Simply loosen the black set screw on the end of the crank and adjust the handle speed for whipping creams, and sauce

Kitchen Aid Mixer has been converted into a Hand-Cranked Mixer!

Kitchen Aid Mixer has been converted into a Hand-Cranked Mixer!

February 2017-Week Eight!

Hard to believe that were already on our 8th week of planning and preparedness for 2017! We're moving on to items number 8, 9 & 10 on our list of 100 Essentials. What's that you might ask??? Click here to download your copy today: "100 Essentials"

This week is going to be really easy. You might already have most of these items gathered in your preparedness supplies.

Item #8 Hand-Cranked Can Openers, Egg Beaters, Whisks. I prefer these long handled heavy-duty commercial grade hand crank can openers. Remember: One is none and two is one. It is always a good idea to have a back up!

Hand crank egg beaters are easy to find at antique stores, yard sales or your grandmothers kitchen. You should consider having at least two of these. Keep them clean using hot soapy water after each use.

Wire Whisks are necessary for mixing and whipping. Every kitchen should have several of these  in different sizes on hand. Again thesis are easy to clean with hot soapy water. 

item #9 is Honey/Syrups, White & Brown Sugar. Have you heard of Tupelo Honey? Well, this is the only honey that won't crystallize so it's great for long term storage. For best storage in plastic use HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic but glass is always preferred.  Here are some facts:

  • Tupelo honey from white tupelo trees in the Florida Panhandle
  • Tupelo honey is a healthy substitute for pancake syrup.
  • Raw honey from your local beekeeper.
  • Made by the bees, bottled by hand, all in the U.S.A.

While sugar is a no brainer, you might ask what is BEST for long term storage? White sugar stores for a very long time. In fact, according to the C&H Sugar website, “Sugar, properly stored, has an indefinite shelf life because it does not support microbial growth. … Moisture makes granulated sugar hard and lumpy. Once this happens, there is no way to adequately restore it. Always store granulated sugar in a covered container in a cool, dry area.” White sugar can also be purchased in No. 10 cans or buckets for long-term storage."

Brown sugar stores well in original bags as purchased from the grocery store, if stored in a cool, dry place. According to C&H, brown sugar has an indefinite shelf life, but for best flavor should be used in six months. However, I have not noticed any significant difference in flavor if brown sugar is stored longer. I like to store as much brown sugar as I can get through in about two years.

For easy rotation, date bags and stand them up in a shoe box so the oldest bag can be taken from the front and new bags can be added in the back. Brown sugar can dry out and become hard. After opening, transfer a bag of brown sugar to a sealed container to maintain moisture until it is used up. If brown sugar becomes hard, simply add a half slice of bread to the container for a day, which moistens the sugar nicely.Powdered sugar can be stored in original bags in a cool, dark place.

item #10 Rice, Beans and Wheat. There are a few options for you for long term storage of rice.  Some are easier and less expensive than others, but they all have their advantages.  The things you want to protect your long term food storage from are light, heat, moisture, and pests.

 #10 Can. Really the way I prefer is to get the rice into a #10 can with an oxygen absorber.  It is a good usable size for most food products which also makes it a nice size for storing–not too heavy when it’s full or so big it won’t fit under your bed if that’s where you want to store it.  However, to pack your bulk foods into a #10 can, you will need a can sealer. 

Honeyville is my favorite for long term food storage. Weather its rice, flour or beans, Honeyville will be able to supply your long term storage needs. You can always do this yourself with mylar bags or food grade plastic buckets and lids. Here are a few of my favorites.

Were all about Practical Preparedness and I hope that this is helping you get better prepared. Thanks for following along! See you next week...

February 2017! Week Seven!

Well, this week is all about Propane, Guns, Ammo and much much more! Still haven't downloaded your "100 Essentials" list? Get it here: http://www.amp-3.net/resources/ Let's get started!

This week we will be covering a lot of items but this is in no way complete. You should look at my list and then add any additional items you might feel necessary. 

Item #6 Propane: Energy for our Past, Present and Future. Why Propane you might ask? Well, it is a really clean fuel. Using propane reduces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and air pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. Plus, it is American made which mean Jobs! As of 2012, more then 145,000 jobs have been produced just from Propane. Propane is also abundant and affordable. Remember: propane comes in a variety of sized containers. Small containers are great for cook stoves, lanterns, Buddy Heaters and much more. 

 

 

On to item #7 (Guns, Ammo, Pepper Spray, Bear Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bat and Slingshots) Wow! This is a very long list so it's going to take sometime to inform you on all of these so I am enlisting some help! 

Really excited to let all of you know that this week I have invited a guest writer to help me out with my blog. He is an expert in the field of firearms, so I asked him to help me with item #7 on our list which is a really complex issue. You may have different opions but here is his:

One of the more common discussions for the or self reliant community is the loaded (no pun intended) question of "if you could only have one gun during a SHTF or WROL which would it be".  Well you might as well be talking about religion or politics.  It means that much to people.  It is the age old question Ford or Chevy and more important 9mm or .45 cal.  All too often the discussion comes down to the hardware and I would suggest that it is more important to be concerned with the software, that is for another article. 

No matter what gear you have and (this is true with anything not just guns) if you are not capable of using it to its full potential you are wasting the potential of the item.  Let's establish a couple truths for this concept.  

The gun should have the ability to be used on a number of fronts, personal protection as well as harvesting food.  Since the scenario is WROL we are not concerned with a gun that needs to be concealed.  Also a handgun is by most, considered a defensive weapon not an offensive weapon.  The old saying is you fight with a handgun to get to your shoulder weapon.  Let's go a little further say that you are on the move and not defending a static location.  Weight and durability needs to come into consideration as does weapon maintenance (parts, lubrication, reliability).  

Lets look at what we want the weapon to do.  First and foremost it must be capable of protecting your life. In order to do that it must be reliable every time you press the trigger.  The number one reason for a gun malfunction is the shooters error in loading the weapon.  That is a software issue (training).  The second most common reliability issue is a bad magazine.  Springs weaken and cause malfunctions.  For this article we are talking gear so let's eliminate that the best we can.  This gun has a feeding tube not a traditional exterior magazine.  Next, the weapon must have the ability to deliver enough kinetic energy to stop the threat that you are protecting yourself from.  

The other aspect you want in a survival weapon is the ability to harvest food.  Squirrel, bird, opossum and even larger mammals such as deer, moose or bear.

Most of you gun enthusiast probably know the gun that is being described.  Yes the great Remington 870 Shotgun.  The "manual" pump of the gun makes it very reliable.  It is easy for a novice to use and train with.  One can use #8 birdshot and fulfill the bill for small game and birds.  Load up with the rifled one ounce slug and the gun will take any animal in North America on four or two legs.  With minimal training this gun with open sights will give you the accuracy to accomplish all of your survival needs.  

The pump shotgun is not as sexy as the M-4, AR-15 and .338 sniper rifle.  However, it is very versatile and in the right hands you can accomplish most survival tasks with the gun.  The ammo can be reloaded easily and if you are not a reloader, shotgun ammo is comparatively inexpensive to other rifle ammo. Having 100, one ounce rifled slugs on hand and 250 rds of birdshot will give you a start in learning the capabilities of this gun that has been around for decades.

Always remember " Be careful of the man that owns one gun as he probably knows how to use it.  -Anonymous
 

Let me just take a moment and talk about Bear Spray. A very good friend of ours recommended this to keep in our car. Why you might ask? Great question! Bear Spray can be stored in your car door and used against an intruder. Bear spray is NOT just for Bears!

  • Maximum stopping power - maximum strength allowed by the EPA/Health Canada - guaranteed via in-house lab
  • Greater protection - allows for greatest distance between you & bear with industry max 35-foot range
  • Proven - field tested and proven effective with a 3-year shelf life from date of manufacture
  • Immediate accessibility via hip holster and glow-in-the-dark safety
  • Maximum coverage thanks to heavy fog delivery

 

The other mentioned items for #7 are items that are very easy to acquire. Well, that's it for this week, we hope that you will continue to follow along each and every week. Invite your friends to join along!!!