Signed up for Bushclass USA

I just signed up for Bushclass USA on the BushcraftUSA forums.  I am very excited to start the basic course work.  The instruction is from people with real world experience.  The courses were designed by a retired qualified Air Force SERE instructor.  I will be posting videos to YouTube for purposes of certification as well as documenting with photos and journal via this blog. Stay tuned for all the updates.

2011 Prepping Goals - the year in review.

So after a long time away from blogging I am back to give an update on my progress towards my 2011 GOALS.  Here we go.

1. build a Go-BAG for all members of my immediate family - Basics are done, but constantly revising and improving.  I also added one for the primary BOV (my 4X4), and I am currently working on one for the backup BOV (wife's mini-van).
2. purchase at least $30 worth of preps each pay period - This was difficult to get past the wife on many occasions but as winter started to set in and as the outlook for the economy did not improve we have been getting things saved up pretty well.  We started with getting the cupboards full first, and are working on more long term and sustainable food, fuel and water options.
3. get first aid certified (completed)
4. get CPR/AED certified (completed)
5. take at least one training course per month (good so far) - I have completed more courses from FEMA as I had shown you via previous posts, but I discontinued posting the certificates as I did not feel it was necessary.  I also supplemented my training by following some courses from various bush craft sites.  They are not accredited but the classes are great.  I also began individual study of knots and rope skills.
6. exercise at least 3 times per week- I was going strong on this one for most of the time away.  There was a time when I was not able to get in as much time as I wanted to due to illness and work schedules.  However, I have maintained a healthier diet and I do get in cardiovascular exercise at least 3 - 5 times a week.  I am also working on Cross fit like exercises (not as intense) because I have limited space, time and attention span when it comes to fitness.
7. practice a skill at least once per week - I have been practicing knot tying and rope skills (lashing, whipping) along with some remedial wood working.  I also have been working on fire building and leather working off and on.  I know I still need to work on stitching and darning skills.
8. gather resources when available
9. work to pay off debt - I did pay off a 2 loans at the end of the year and with some of the savings I was able to begin paying off other debt faster.  This snowball affect will only compound as I make more payoffs.  I am using the extra money saved each pay period to purchase essentials and pay for classes and training.
10. get my family involved in prepping- my wife has started making more meals at home using long term preps for meals.  She is also doing sewing and quilting and more craft work.  She is involved in all the purchases as well as interested in taking some of the training.  This is a big step for her and I am very proud that she is willing to take it.  My daughter is always with me and I have taught her many of the skills I have learned and I involve her in the preparations as well.  She is all for it.  I think she sees that it makes sense to be prepared.

Week 1 of 52: Food Preps

I am trying  to take the 52 week challenge.  Here is what I have so far:

• 3 Jars of peanut butter
• 1 can of chicken per family member
• 1 can of tuna per family member
• 10 gallons water (bottled)
• 24 cans corn
• 24 cans green beans
• 24 cans sweet peas
• 1 manual can opener
• 1 p51 can opener
• 1 permanent marker

I still need to purchase the following to round out my preps for the week:

• 3 boxes of saltine crackers
• 3 boxes of graham crackers
• 2 packages of baby wipes
• 1 tub of protein powder
• 2 tubs of drink mixes 

I am also working on my disaster plan.  I am focusing on the following potential threats:

• flooding
• tornadoes/severe storms
• financial crisis
• blizzards
• EMP
• nuclear disaster (meltdown:live near 2 reactors)
• nuclear disaster (dirty bomb: I live near a Military base)

2011 Prepping Goals: Update

I just completed another online course for the EMI. This one was on Radiological Emergency Management.  This seemed prudent due to current circumstances regarding the two reactors within a stones throw of my location.

The Public Library As A Survival Resource

I am a huge proponent of the public library.  I try to go there at least once a week to check out new books, CDs or audio books.  They even have DVDs now.  My towns library is not large but it is well stocked with a variety of material.  I can get information on navigation, growing crops, working on engines, gunsmithing, forges, carpentry, amateur radio, the list goes on and on!  If you have not been to your library in a while check it out. 

I have also noticed that our library has a meeting area that various groups can use.  It would be a great place to have a Prepper meetup or a workshop on various skills.  It is also a good place to meet like minded people as you see them in the stacks checking out similar books to your own.  So in this digital era, think outside the box and re familiarize yourself with a vast network of knowledge that will still be accessible when/if the grid goes down.

Prepper Recipes: DIY Electrolyte Replacement Drink

Just found another great site today.  I highly recommend that you check it out.  One of the articles that caught my eye was on making DIY electrolyte replacement drinks.  This weekend we are going to try and make some as a family to have over the long holiday.

There are a couple of versions that she listed.  My wife will like the sugar free version, but I think that I will make a batch of the sugar variety for my daughter and I. I will provide an update once we have tested a batch of both.  It should be a learning experience and fun too.

I am especially interested in this as I have seen similar concoctions used by elite soldiers and Dr. in austere locations to replace vital fluids in cases of extreme dehydration.  So if this works and is tasty I will be adding a few packets of this to our GOOD bags too.

Below is the recipe from Tess at Ready Nutrition:

Sugar Option 

This option is made with sugar: When you work out, your body does not only lose water and electrolytes, it burns energy as well. To make sure you can keep your activity level up, it is a good idea to add some kind of sugar to your drink.
2 quarts of water
5-10 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of salt substitute (potassium salt)
1 pack of sugar-free drink flavoring

Sugar-Free Option 

Sugar free: Although adding sugar to your drink will help you keep your energy levels up, it’s not a good option for everyone. People on a low-carb diet or people with diabetes, can choose a recipe that doesn’t add sugar to the electrolyte drink:
Version 1
1 quart of water
250 ml of orange juice (citrus juice is a natural source of potassium ions)
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
¾ teaspoon of salt
Version 2
2 quarts of water
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of salt substitute (potassium salt)
1 pack of sugar free drink flavoring
Artificial sweetener to taste

Weekend update: skills training and quality time with the family

Today I went on a bit of a drive with the family.  We wanted to see how much the Missouri had risen since they opened the floodgates again.  It is amazing.  We took lots of pictures that I will post in the next day or so.  Besides spending quality time together, my wife and I had an ulterior motive for taking the route we chose.  It was one of our  potential GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) routes. 

Since we live near the river we wanted to see how it might affect our travels should we need to head out.  As mentioned in the fine video by AnalyticalSurvival found here, we have multiple LP and RP setup throughout the area.  Periodic "drives" are fun for our daughter and let us stay on top of our routes.  It does not do us any good to have multiple potential destinations if we do not know about the current conditions of the routes to them.

Another benefit of taking these rides is that they are spontaneous and allow us to practice quickly and efficiently loading into the vehicle as we would in a GOOD situation.  These situations also allow us to practice our navigation and map reading skills.  Today many of the roads we would normally take were closed due to flooding or by military or government roadblocks.  This forced us to improvise new routes and sharpened our skills.  Better to sort these things out now than when the SHTF.

Lastly this is just one other way that I can practice an important set of skills that will be necessary in any sort of SHTF event.  Practice and hands on training are key to being able to get you and yours out of a bad situation.