Welcome to this week’s Sunday Survival Buzz – a roundup of preparedness news, tips, articles and recommendations from around the web. But first, an update on my own preps.
Have you seen the movie On the Beach? I could not find a copy of the original, 1959 version, but our library had a the version that aired as a mini-series in Australia in 2000. I don’t know if I did myself any favors watching this but with everything going on nuclear-wise in the world, it was quite chilling. Suicide kits? I leave it up to you to watch the movie or read the original novel. (And by the way, I have since found the original version of the movie on YouTube.
Food storage wise, I purchased a large – okay huge – bag of M&Ms to seal in mason jars as comfort food if and when I need it. I do have a two-legged varmint in my household that tends to get into these types of things so just thinking out loud, I may need to get a second or third bag.
In addition to the M&Ms, I purchased 10 additional pounds of oats. Coupled with instant powdered milk and freeze-dried fruit, oatmeal makes a satisfying meal anytime of the day and is quite thrifty as well. And then, for Thanksgiving, I made stuffing using croutons and ingredients from food storage (FD onions, celery, dried apples, and chicken broth). There was no chopping or clean-up involved. I love cooking from food storage!
This week my Amazon prepping haul consisted of some additional pump dispenser bottles for my homemade toiletries and some cobalt blue glass roller balls for my essential oil concoctions. (More about that later this week.)
Okay, enough about me except to let you know that I am back to about 95% normal following my little medical procedure. Thank you for all of your good wishes. Let’s get on to the Sunday Survival Buzz.
SURVIVAL NEWS & ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB
Urban decay to be replaced with farmland in Detroit: A private company is snapping up 150 acres on the Motor City’s East End — property where more than 1,000 homes once formed a gritty neighborhood — and turning it into what is being billed as the world’s largest urban farm. Hantz Woodlands plans to start by planting trees, but hopes to raise crops and even livestock in the future, right in the midst of the once-proud city.
Cancer Patient Who Says Obamacare Canceled His Health Insurance Now Says He’s Being Audited by the IRS: Coincidence? These days, you just never know.
City Orders Bar to Remove Sign That Says ‘Thank a Veteran for Your Freedom!’: The sign has been there for over 30 years so what is the problem?
How to Reduce Your Risk of Radiation from Fukushima: This is superb article and something we should all print out and keep – especially those of us on the west coast of the United States and Canada. I am not someone who takes supplements but this is giving me pause to re-think my supplementation strategy.
Insider Reveals Who Really Paid the Bill When Wal-Mart Gave Away Unlimited EBT Access: According to one employee (who has spoken on the condition of anonymity) it is the hourly employees who have paid these bills. Within days of the spree, Wal-Mart employees, who make minimum wage or just over, were sent home early. Schedules were revised, hours were cut, and shifts were cancelled.
Ohio Man Endures Every Legal Gun Owner’s Nightmare After Calling Police to Report a Shooting: An Ohio man will finally get his legally-owned pistol back nine months after police confiscated it following his controversial arrest in February. He was never convicted of any crimes and his arrest occurred after he called police to report a potential crime in progress.
Don’t sabotage your wallet this holiday: Here are some of the excuses people use to over-spend during the holiday season. I especially liked this one:
But… if I don’t buy something expensive, so-and-so will think I don’t love him. “Unfortunately, some people do equate love with the price tag of the gift,” says Leahy. The best way to approach this is to discuss what gifts mean — and what they don’t mean. (You can also have that person read the dictionary definition of “materialism” out loud.)
5 most uplifting stories of the week: Sometimes we all need a feel-good story. These are good.
BACKDOOR SURVIVAL MAIL BAG & READER TIPS
From Erin:
We had to evacuate last month because of bushfires. We had notice so I worked out 5 minute, 15 minute and 30 minute evacuation lists. I have made sure previously what the kids were to do if there was a house fire, so the 5 minute was well known. We all have emergency kits that I store out the back of the house so that if there is a fire, we can still get out and get them. Even with all that preparation, it was still a stressful time.
One thing I need to add to my kits is Rescue Remedy – a Bach Flower preparation. No matter how prepared you think you are, there will always be something else needed.
We can all learn from this. I did. More specifically. thinking through in advance various timed evacuation scenarios is an excellent idea. Having a 5 minute, 15 minute, 30 minute and even a 60 minute plan is great and is something I am going to work on for Shelly, Tucker and myself. You should too.
And by the way, I had never heard of Rescue Remedy . According to Wikipedia:
Bach flower remedies, also known by the popular name of “Rescue remedy”, are extreme dilutions of flower material developed by Edward Bach, an English homeopath, in the 1930s. Bach believed that dew found on flower petals retain healing properties of that plant. The remedies are intended primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress.
AND THE WINNER IS . . .
Helen has one a copy of Home Remedies by Alex Smith. Here is how she answered the question What is your all-time favorite home remedy?
“I use hydrogen peroxide after I brush my teeth, and it keeps my gums healthy and slowly whitens my teeth. Also use HP to clean my counter tops. Love herbal tea, honey and lemon for sore throat.”
And the winner of the Royal Berkey? I am still going through the entries and weeding out the cheaters (and there were some). I will announce the winner next Sunday but in the meantime, I have a new giveaway starting Thursday. The next giveaway is for a Tactical Traveler Emergency Kit from BDS Sponsor, Ready To Go Survival.
The Tactical Traveler
NO KINDLE NO PROBLEM
Click below to learn about the free Kindle Reading App from Amazon. Like I say, no Kindle, no problem!
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Matt at SHTF Preparedness (he shares a lot of my articles – always with my permission) sent me some of this End of the World scented soaps. He has them made by a company in his local community and they are really pretty cool. As the back of the package says, “tested on dudes, no animals”.
I especially liked the Survival scent – it smells like fresh pine trees. The main ingredient is coconut oil so this is the good stuff. Also, just so you know, I have no financial interest in promoting these soaps, just helping a friend get the word out.
THE FINAL WORD
Can you believe that it is already December? I know that I can’t. That said, I always like the new year because it gives me an opportunity to set some new goals and to exchange what I don’t like about my life with something better. One thing is for sure: in 2014, my prepping activities are going to focus heavily on learning to make stuff from basic ingredients that I can stock in advance. Of course I will share my experiences along the way.
What about you – what did you do to prep this week? Until, next time, remember to make every day a prep day!
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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Free or Almost Free: At the time of this writing, this eBook is free. I downloaded it a few weeks ago and at the 99 cent regular cost, it will make a good edition to your prepping library.
Survival Guide for Beginners
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Bargain Bin: For your discernment, here are of some items mentioned today as well as some personal and BDS reader favorites and items from the current Amazon Top 10 and the Backdoor Survival Holiday Gift Guide.
On the Beach (the Novel) : In most cases, books are always better than the movie. The DVDs are too expensive to recommend but the original novel by Nevil Shute is available for a reasonable price. I am anxious to read it although my fascination with the aftermath of a nuclear was is a bit disconcerting.
Rescue Remedy : I plan to check this out. According to the description, Rescue Remedy contains five of the 38 Bach Flower Essences: Rock Rose for terror and panic, Impatiens for irritation and impatience, Clematis for inattentiveness, Star of Bethlehem for shock and Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts.
Survivor Outdoor Fixed Blade Knife with Fire Starter: This knife measures 7 inch long overall, has a full-tang stainless steel blade, is equipped with thick green cord-wrap handle, and has a nylon sheath plus a magnesium-alloy fire starter. How does it work? This is not a Kershaw, Gerber or other high quality blade. On the other hand, the fire starter works great (better than great) and is worth the price entire set.
Morakniv Craftline Q Allround Fixed Blade Utility Knife : Also known as the Mora 511, this is now my favorite knife. It is made of Swedish steel and is super sharp. I paid $12 for mine but it is now about $9.
SE BT20 9-Volt Battery Tester: I do not know anyone that is sorry they purchased or gifted an inexpensive battery tester. Mine sits in my desk drawer and is used 3 or 4 times a week.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter : The LifeStraw is considered the most advanced, compact, ultra light personal water filter available. It contains no chemicals or iodinated resin, no batteries and no moving parts to break or wear out. It weighs only 2oz. making it perfect for the prepper. For more information, see my LifeStraw review.
Leatherman Wave Multi-tool: I did an informal poll on Facebook and asked fans to weigh in on their favorite multi-tool. The number one pick was the Leatherman Wave followed by the Wingman and the Supertool 300. Over 120 of you offered your opinion and ultimately, I chose the Wave for myself.
Spark Naturals Essential Oils: The “Health and Wellness Kit” comes packaged in a tin and includes a brochure with suggested uses for each of the oils. It includes all of my favorites, including Lemon, Frankincense, Oregano, Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Rosemary, Lavender, Amend (Soothing Blend), Respire (Respiratory Blend), Shield (Protective Blend), and Peppermint. Use the code “BACKDOORSURVIVAL” to receive a 10% discount.
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Right now, and through December 5th, Mountain House can are on sale for 25% to 50% off.
Every family should have at least one Tote-able Toilet. I have priced purchasing the bucket and toilet seat lid separately and found that it was more economical to pick up this kit. I have filled my portable potty with sanitation supplies plus, of course, plenty of TP.
I also recommend the Mobile Washer. This is hand operated washing machine. Like a plunger, it uses a technique of pushing and pulling the water through clothes to clean them well without wearing them out. It uses a minimum of water and less soap due to the agitation motion. Use in a bucket (5-gallon suggested), sink or tub. The best part is the price – only $14.95.
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The Amazon Top Ten Most Wanted Survival and Outdoor Items
Emergency Preparedness Items from Amazon.com
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After a ton of research, I am now using essential oils from Spark Naturals for wellness purposes. There are a lot reasons one of which is their commitment to both quality and value. I recommend the health and wellness kit which includes all of my favorites. Be sure to use the discount code “BACKDOORSURVIVAL” to receive a 10% discount.
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