Survival Food 101: Hardtack - Survival Life Pilot bread, ship’s biscuit, shipbiscuit, sea biscuit, sea bread , “dog biscuits”, “tooth dullers”, “sheet iron”, “worm castles” or “molar breakers”. Hardtack has had many different names throughout the years but its importance has never changed. Hardtack has actually been around since the time of Egyptian Pharaohs, but if you have heard of it, you probably know it better from the Civil War period. During the war, squares of hardtack were shipped to both the Union and Confederate armies, making a staple part of a soldier’s rations. Typically made 6 months beforehand, it was as hard as a rock when it actually got to the troops. To soften it, they usually soaked it in water or coffee. Soldiers and sailors the world over have used hardtack as a way to stave off hunger. It is such a basic item that I am amazed that no one I know under the age of 50 understands its importance, let alone how to make it. This is one of the most cost effective long term survival foods that you can make.
Monkey's Fist | How to tie the Monkey's Fist | Decorative Knots Uses: The Monkey's Fist (ABOK # 2200 - 3, p 354) is used both as a decorative knot and to weight the end of a heaving line (see caution below). Tying it: The Monkey's Fist is usually tied around separated fingers. For the demonstration, a U-shaped piece of metal strip was used instead and three turns of rope were used in each direction. After each set of complete turns, change direction by passing the end through the middle. For each direction count carefully: it is very easy to miscount and have more strands on one side than the other. Finishing it: The animation shows an overhand knot being inserted into the center. Alternative Monkey's Fist Finish Alternative Finish: Ashley describes a version shown here where both ends remain outside the fist and are spliced together so that the Fist becomes part of an eye splice. Split heaving line into two coils Splitting the Coil: Before throwing a heaving line, split the coil into two parts. Preparing to heave the line
DIY Survival Candles: The Olive Oil Lamp In our last DIY survival candle making article, I showed you how to construct the butter candle. The butter candle can light up your home for at least four hours. But there is another survival candle that can last even longer than the butter candle. This lamp also will produce the most heat of any DIY survival candle that we have talked about thus far. Supplies: A Glass Bottle and it’s capA pint (16 oz.) of olive oilA paper towelA lighter or match Steps: 1. 2. 3. Be sure to drench the entire towel in olive oil first. Push the paper towel through the cap’s hole. 4. The Olive Oil Lamp is by far one of the best survival candles that you can make with your kitchen supplies. Want to learn more? Save How I built an electricity producing Solar Panel Several years ago I bought some remote property in Arizona. I am an astronomer and wanted a place to practice my hobby far away from the sky-wrecking light pollution found near cities of any real size. In my attempt to escape city slicker yuppies (you know the kind, the ones that like to blab loudly on their cell phone while they work on some business administration degree in a cyber cafe somewhere in Trendyland.) and their light pollution, I found a great piece of remote property. The problem is, it's so remote that there is no electric service available. That's not really a problem. No electricity equals no light pollution. I built a wind turbine to provide some power on the remote property. Here is a video of the solar panel set up and in use on my remote, off-grid property. Let me state up front that I probably won't be able to help you out much if you decide to build your own solar panel(s). So what is a solar panel anyway? After a while, I came to some conclusions: seller. Oops!
25 Habits of Highly Effective Hikers Backpacker Magazine – August 2008 by: Michael Lanza, Illustrations by Colin Hayes Some people just have more fun. They get out every weekend, enjoy extraordinary summer adventures, and they make it all seem so easy. 1. >> The best adventures rarely happen spontaneously–you make them happen. >> Plan the details months in advance. 2. >> Plan well in advance so you have time to find the best companions. >> Communicate the details and difficulties of your proposed trip to prospective partners. >> Agree on training goals for demanding hikes. >> Ask potential companions about prior trips. >> New partner? 4. >> Identify five destinations within an hour of home for dayhikes and overnights. >> Make sure your gear is organized in one place (a big plastic bin in the garage, say). >> Keep camp foods–dry goods like pasta and rice, fixings for a simple dinner and breakfast, and perishables like cheese–on hand so you can take off on short notice. >> Break in boots on dayhikes and errands.
Liberation from Civilization! (this article is an attempt to shorten, personalize and update my signature post A Framework for Personal Action) third chart in my collapse scenario for civilization For many years the thesis of this blog has been: Our civilization is in its final century, and there is nothing we can do to prevent its collapse. When I began writing this, I was largely dismissed as a defeatist and a depressed ‘doomer’ (or worse). As awareness has grown about the now-inevitable end of (a) cheap energy, (b) stable climate and (c) the growth economy, there is a growing acknowledgement that the collapse scenario I have written about is at least conceivable. If the collapse of industrial civilization cannot be prevented, what should we do now? In a way, much of what I’ve written on this blog is an attempt to answer that question, without being too presumptuous, and appreciating that there is no one right answer to it. Here’s what I’m doing to that end: 1. Full House, by Stephen J. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Liberation
Survival Food Series: 25 Survival Seeds You Need For Your Garden Living off the land sounds as inviting as Christmas dinner. But many have hardly had adequate experience being “farmers.” In fact, many have had no experience at all when it comes to planting anything. That being said, the day is slowly approaching where each of us may have to trade in our company identification badges for a shovel and a pair of overalls. Start Practicing The only way to be fully prepared as far as growing plants is concerned is to practice, practice, practice. With each gardening experience will come more wisdom on how to handle a larger garden. Survival Seeds These seeds that were chosen were based upon their yield quantities, *ease in growing, nutritional content and for the season they are planted in. Asparagus – Although this plant variety takes a few years to get started, it will come back each year thus keeping you continuously supplied with a harvest.Barley –Can be planted in the spring and winter and has the best results when planted early in the season. Sources:
Backpacking Light 101 A Lightweight Primer to Backcountry Travel for the Uninitiated By Ryan Jordan Ryan Jordan is the co-founder and Publisher of Backpacking Light. Ultralight backpacking, contrary to proclamations by Those That Carry Heavy Packs, is not practiced by that crazy fringe segment of wilderness society that derives their calories from obscure edible roots and their shelter from two twigs and a waterproof handkerchief. Ultralight backpacking is not hard, nor does it discriminate against those with physical challenges. How-To: Seven Steps to Enlightenment 1. Don’t have a digital scale yet? 2. Camp chairs, GPS units, espresso makers, the latest Clancy novel, cellular phones – do you really need all this stuff? 3. We have been fed a steady of diet of conservative backcountry theology that has created generations of hikers that prepare for winter but only hike between July Fourth and Labor Day. 4. Ultralight backpacking requires that you rethink your equipment list. 5. 6. 7. The Ultralight Way of Life
Is Your Chocolate Real? Cacao vs Cocoa: What You Need To Know... Is Your Chocolate Real? Cacao vs Cocoa: What You Need To Know… A growing number of studies show that chocolate, especially antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, has health benefits that put it squarely on the latest list of superfoods. The good news is you can make your own chocolate with only 3 super healthy ingredients: cacao, coconut oil and honey! Remember my article 5 Ingredient Swaps For Healthier Eating? So, What Is The Difference Between Cocoa And Cacao? Let’s take for example a popular brand: Hershey’s chocolates. Studies show that the darker the chocolate, the better. that contains at least 65 percent cacao, recommends Joy DuBost, PhD, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman. Did you know also that dairy inhibits the absorption of antioxidants from cacao? Cacao contains far more antioxidants per 100g than acai, goji berries and blueberries. 7 Health Benefits Of Raw Cacao Luckily, I was able to find an organic cacao powder at Whole Foods but it is also available online. . 1.
Do It Yourself Solar Panels – DIY Solar Panels 33 Days Across Wrangell St Elias National Park: The Southern Spiral Traverse – Perpetual Weekend by Jim Harris The Objective: As seen from afar: Numbers that defined our world: Wrangell St Elias NP and Preserve: 13,200,000 acres² (20,587 miles²) Distance traveled: 430 miles (~220 miles on land and ~210 floating) Time: 33 days (25 days on foot and 8 days paddling) Distance on trail: 0 Resupplies: 3 Bears: 14 Other park visitors: 0 Jars Nutella eaten: 5 Gallons olive oil used: 0.7 Hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed: 1.2 Width of tent space space, per individual: 15” Width of foam sleeping pads: 20” On the long, unpaved road to McCarthy, with the bumpin’ sound system. Almost midnight with a great bivy spot at the airstrip When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night he checks underneath for Garry Green. Cisco won the rock-paper-scissors for shotgun seating Garry dropped us off at Tebay Lakes As the sound of Garry’s plane faded, we found we were very, very far from anyone else. At the end of the first day we could look down the Bremner valley and see the Copper River on the horizon.
Homemade Organic Toothpaste An Old Swiss Teeth Whitening Recipe… | Natural Snippets A couple of years ago we were lucky enough to escape ‘drill and fill’ and to find a biological/holistic dentist and (really important for me) one who didn’t use needles. Our dentist does not fill teeth and so I then began to study how to optimise our diet for tooth remineralisation. This done I then began to research anything that could hinder the process and found the mention of glycerine. It is used to give the toothpaste a ‘glossy’ sheen but it also leaves a coating on the teeth, which in turn prevents remineralisation. I have read that it takes multiple rinsings with pure water to actually rid your teeth of this glycerine film. Step 1: Recipe & Ingredients… The Recipe… The recipe for ‘Snow Caps’ I found in a book I would recommend to anyone interested in essential oils and their uses, it is written by Valerie Ann Worwood under the very apt title of: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Ingredients… Step 2: Method & Storage… The Method… Storage…
9 Steps To Starting A Survival Garden In a time of economic uncertainty and rising food prices, it it always a good idea to have a garden to provide extra food for you and your family. Besides providing a source of food in an emergency, a garden is also a great source of wonderful vegetables which are MUCH healthier to eat than most of the food you can get at the supermarket. So how do you begin? The following are 9 steps that you can take to get your garden started..... #1) Decide What Your Goals Are - Do you want to grow enough just to add a few vegetables to your dinner once in a while? Some people who want to live "off the grid" end up building a garden large enough that it will provide almost all of the food that their family needs. #2) Evaluate Your Land - Once you know what your goals are, you need to evaluate the land that you are currently living on. If you decide that you want a "mega-garden" but you live in a condo, then you may have to end up moving to achieve your goals. So what is the solution? Comments comments