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Tag: preparedness

  • Marking Your Magazines

    Marking Your Magazines

    This is a Blast From the Past from a few years ago about marking AR magazines(or any mags) for easy identification. Figured some of you may have missed it. Well, here it is……

    I’ve recently started marking all my gun magazines. I’m doing this for a couple different reasons.

    First – if I have any type of firearm performance issue I will be able to differentiate the suspect magazine from other mags for the same gun. This will help narrow down if the performance issue is related to a specific magazine or possibly ammunition or a gun problem.

    Second – ownership is a consideration. Numerous times I have been shooting with friends and having common armament has led to confusion on who owns which magazine. Marking them solves that dilemma.

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    For rifle magazines I use a stencil with numbers/letters. As can be seen above the first few I had some overspray. I took the plastic front cover off a 3-ring binder and cut a square to place the stencil. This stopped the overspray issue. 

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    I am using large characters on the AR magazines for easy recognition. A small number on the floor plate would work but I want maximum visibility.

    For pistol magazines, a simple Sharpie does the trick.

    Some shooters I know only mark magazines they have problems with and then chuck ’em if the problem repeats. That’s fine just not my preference. I’ve seen in forums that some people put their initials and even their address on them. Gotta pass on those two choices.

    One last use of magazine markings is to identify the type of ammunition used in the magazine. It may be advantageous to know that Magazine #4 is loaded with 28 rounds of XM855 while the others have standard XM183’s.

    Thoughts?

    Rourke

    Follow this link or click the image above for a great selection of AR magazines

    From the Supply Depot: RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

    PRI-G Fuel Stabilizer/Storage Additive

    Maxpedition Mini Organizer

    OD Musette Bag

    Tremors 5: Bloodlines DVD

    Stanley Adventure Camp Set

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    Recommended reading for every Patriot? 

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  • Small Buried Cache

    Small Buried Cache

    For a variety of reasons, people look to bury supplies or create a cache. These reasons range from security to pre-positioned supplies along a planned travel path. Caches can be buried or even stashed at a friend’s house. These caches can contain a massive amount of supplies or just a few small items. That’s the beauty of it.  You can customize a cache to be whatever you want it to be.

    The following example is a small cache using a MTM Survivor Cache.

    20160730_144457

     

    Contents:

    Taurus G2 9mm pistol

    3 – 12 round magazines

    100 rds. 9mm ammunition

    flashlight

    extra batteries

    cup

    bottle of Rem-Oil gun lubricant

    LifeStraw

    Bic Lighter(maybe a couple)

    Mora knife

    small first aid kit

    *******NOTE: Each item is individually bagged and all metal items well oiled

    This cache just as well could have been made with a more durable container such as a .50 caliber military ammo can. Most would agree that using a plastic case such as the MTM Survivor raises the risk of damage from water and pests although it is extremely rugged.

    This is merely an example of a cache. The combinations of containers and ingredients are endless.

    Rourke

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  • Celebrities Buying Bunkers…..Really?

    Celebrities Buying Bunkers…..Really?

    Seems like every year or two there’s a story about how the rich and famous are buying bunkers. This has been going on for many years. What exactly this is supposed to prove escapes me. Is it a sign that things are getting really bad and the apocalypse is just around the corner? I don’t particularly place a lot of faith in the rich and famous for being particularly smart or prophetic. If I had countless millions and could just throw money around and buy a bunker on this coast ad another on this coast – why not?

    I could give two sh$ts what celebrities do and they have absolutely no bearing on me. What is prudent for most of us is to minimize debt, live as frugal as possible, stock up on the necessities as well as common comfort items, and gain a mindset towards preparedness and self-reliance.

    Let’s use commonsense and logic to make decisions that will lead us to better outcomes in the future.

    Maybe I’m crazy but that seems to make sense to me.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

  • 5 Things to do Right Now to Prepare for 2022

    5 Things to do Right Now to Prepare for 2022

    Sometimes I sit back and think about the last two years and the impact TIME has had on people’s lives. These last two years, for me, have been extremely eventful. I consider myself lucky as many have lost family due to natural as well as not-so-natural means.

    For me – I lost my job back in early 2020(over 20 years for the same company). I went through a divorce between 2018 and 2021. I moved from the Charlotte, NC area to Georgia – then forced(let go from job) to relocate in mid-2020 back to South Carolina not far from Myrtle Beach. Went from living in a 2,000 square foot house to a rented room – to an apartment. Shortly thereafter to a small camper. After 6 months or so bought a larger camper and that’s where we live now. Not all is bad as I met my soulmate – Maine Prepper Girl.

    Crazy how life is completely unpredictable and you just never know. I’ll admit I’m nervous about 2022. I’ve earned a promotion and will be moving to Kentucky(still in my camper) very shortly. When I think about 2022 the word that comes to mind is “uncertainty”. With all the craziness going on in the world – preparedness should provide some comfort AND be an absolute necessity.

    In the following video, I discuss 5 things we should all be doing to prepare for what awaits us in 2022.

    Stay safe everyone and take care.

    Rourke

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  • Tent Shelter Option for Grid Down

    Tent Shelter Option for Grid Down

    In the campground I stay at full-time there is a woman who has lived here for several months in a tent. She seems nice enough and I have seen her campsite change over time. She started with a traditional tent for 3-4 people. I wondered how she handled the extreme heat of this area. There are electrical hookups on the sites so I assumed fans were being used to cool. She also has a medium-sized dog.

    A couple of months ago a small homemade camper on what appears to be a 6-foot trailer showed up. I could tell she was staying in the trailer and using her tent for storage. I had seen her at the pool and heard her talking to some of the other long-term stay people and she seemed pretty nice.

    A few weeks ago the homemade trailer diapered and a fairly large square cabin-tent showed up. During a recent trip over to the storage area where I have a cargo trailer stored, I took a close look. She has a refrigerator-freezer just outside the tent. The tent is fairly large and might be an open-bottom. Not sure. I can see a large tarp under the tent and she puts out what appears to be a roll of carpet on the front of the tent I assume to keep the cold night air out. Around the perimeter, there are pieces of 2×4’s keeping things in place. She has a trash can and a 10×10′ gazebo just outside the entrance.

    I have seen her washing dishes using a 3 container system. Soak – wash – rinse. There is water on the site.

    I’m not sure what her story is and I think I’ll strike up a conversation. Yeah – I’m a bit nosy but I also am just concerned for her well-being. If that was my mother I would want someone to look after her.

    Her entire situation reminds me of the “what if” the grid was down and we needed to live in something similar. No electricity and no water. Solar would help. Local ponds and streams with filtration would help.

    As I live in a camper full-time and talk to a variety of folks who pass through more and more people are changing their lifestyles to adapt to changing economic conditions.

    Take care folks.

    Rourke

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  • VIDEO: Everyone Knows Something Is Coming

    VIDEO: Everyone Knows Something Is Coming

    I recorded this video a few days ago after traveling to Leesburg, FL to attend a motorcycle rally. I’ll let the video speak for itself, however, I will say this: Many of us can “feel” that things are aligning in such a way that continuing preparation is a must. By the way – when I say we “feel” I am not referring to some mystical 6th sense. No. We are looking around at the insanity that is going on in the world and can plainly see that things are not right nor are they heading in the right direction. I’ll be discussing this more very soon.

    Here’s the video.

    Appreciate everyone who watches and please share with those who would be interested on social media, via email, etc.

    Thanks

    Rourke

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  • Thanksgiving Stock Up Items

    Thanksgiving Stock Up Items

    NOTE: This was originally posted last year and thought it was worth it to revisit.
    Every Fall around Thanksgiving there are certain items that go on sale. This is a perfect time to stock up on a lot of baking and food items.
    Here are some examples:
    – frozen turkey’s
    – flour
    – stuffing
    – canned vegetables especially corn, pumpkin, green beans, etc.
    – creamed soups
    – canned fruit
    – sugar
    – canned chicken/turkey broth
    If you have a deep freeze throw a few turkeys in there. Many grocery stores will have HUGE discounts on items from the list above. Additional discounts can be had using coupons from the Sunday paper.
    This time of year is perfect for adding to the food storage program.
    Hungry yet?
    Rourke

    Paladin Press library

  • The Panhandle Rancher’s Long Range Travel Kit

    The Panhandle Rancher’s Long Range Travel Kit

    It saddens me to announce that Panhandle Rancher has passed away. For those who may not know of him – he wrote numerous articles on my old website and shared his thoughts here as well. He was a frequent commenter at one time and added an incredible amount of knowledge and perspective.  Here’s some additional information that provides some insight into his life: https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/batesville/200373889

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    Readers might be interested in the amount of equipment the wife and I travel with. Depending on how far/where we travel, the M4/M1A is traded out so that we just travel with one long rifle. My EDC includes a 1911 platform, Surefire Chroma, Emerson folder, 4″fixed blade, fire materials, and compass. I’ve laminated the attached list and stored in the safe so that if someone steals the truck, I at least have a list of serial numbers for law enforcement and a list of overall contents for my claim to USAA.
    When leaving the country, we always add a case of bottled water and a dozen cans or so of our favorite soups and the like against the off chance of getting stranded somewhere. Our backpacks, of course, contain a number of freeze-dried foods and re-packaged lifesavers (comfort food).
    The metal box is a top-end commercial box with two sets of chains bolted to the inside of the lid and sides so that the lid can be further secured apart from the factory lock with two internal padlocks through the chains. The big risk with any truck-mounted metal box is someone dropping a chain around the box and yanking it from the bed using their vehicle and then making off with the whole box. My metal box was ordered to fit and is snug against the sides of the bed. The top is also 2″ below the bedsides, again making it hard for the yank it off artist. Of course, I used carriage bolts and large washers so there is no bolt head under the truck bed for a wrench.
    Hope this helps someone.

     

    Contents of metal storage container bolted to truck bed

    Green Blackhawk rifle case containing:

    Bushmaster 5.56x45NATO Model XM15E2S s/n xxx with

    Trijicon ACOG 4×32, Tenebraex kill flash, flip lens caps, NV rail adapter

    LaserLyte LED sight (flat, rail mount)

    Note: rifle has Picatinny rail top, no iron sights, recoil tube single point

    sling adapter, single point green sling

    30 rd magazines x3, 20 rd magazine, eyeglasses,

    100 rd .45acp, M4 bayonet, and sheath, flex cleaning kit in black zip round bag

     

    Ruger takedown 10-22 rifle black rifle case containing:

    Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol 5.56x45NATO s/n xxx

    Picatinny rail with ‘iron’ sights, LaserDevices IR light s/n xxx

    xxx reflex sight, Tapco single point sling adapter and sling

    30 rd magazines x5, 20 rd magazine

    Leica Ultravid HD binoculars 8×32, s/n xxx

    Gerber AA red led light with sling

     

    Springfield M1A SOCOM black fiberglass stock with 12” rail s/n xxx

    Plate Carrier with 20 round M14 magazines x6; 1911 magazines x2, IFAK, dump bag

    .50 US ammo can marked M1A/M14 travel kit, containing:

    20 rd M14 magazines x8

    cleaning supplies and spares

    MICH US combat helmets x2 with flip up NVG monocular adapter

     

    Long US military ammunition can containing:

    Blackhawk tactical pistol holster with .45acp magazines x4 and tac web belt

    Brunton magnetic compass (surveyor grade) s/n xxx

    Leica Geovid binoculars 10×42 s/n xxx

    1 bag of batteries, CR 123, N, AA, AAA, 2032, A23

    Voodoo tactical notebook

    NVD-PVS-14+P pinnacle autogated military NVG monocular

    cage 36ZQ7 s/n xxx

    Picatinny rail adapter for NVD

    Face camo x3

    foam earplugs

    2 LED light, clip on

    Surefire Millennium Combat Light with

    white diffuser adapter and red lens adapter

    Surefire SF IR illuminator with rail adapter

    Surefire light spares containers x2 with CR123s and bulbs

     

    Hoppe’s gun cleaning tubes and bag of patches

    EI Zeta pistol light/laser combo with rail mount s/n xxx

    Cylume IR chemlights x3

    Celox blood clotting compound

    Yaesu VX-6R VHF/UHF H/T in yellow pelican box s/n xxx

    Antenna, adapters, power chargers

    Baofeng UV5RA VHF/UFH H/T in yellow pelican box s/n xxx

    Antenna, adapters, power chargers

    Garmin 530 FRS/GMRS H/T with GPS s/n xxx, LiOn battery, AA adapter

    Garmin 530 FRS/GMRS H/T with GPS s/n xxx, LiOn battery, AA adapter

    Version 2

    12 VDC truck battery jumper cables

    50’ Lariat

    48” Bolt Cutters

    Badlands Summit backpack with mountaineering tent, sleeping bag, qt canteensx4, men’s Filson clothing including oilskin coat with wool liner, Katadyn pocket water filter, titanium cookware and cups, gill net, take down fishing pole and reel, misc. fishing supplies, Silva compass, WAC aviation charts, road maps, topo charts, camp ax, 6” blade knife, misc. camping equipment.

    Backpack with women’s clothing and black zip flex weapon cleaning kit

    Danner boots, men, size 13

    Browning kangaroo leather women’s boots size 5 ½

    Irwin combination tool set 3/8 and ¼” drive socket set

     

    Bag, black with miscellaneous tools including hydraulic jack

    Cloth-backed woven ripstop nylon mat 8×10’, greenish brown with green liner

    200 rounds .45acp in plastic boxes

    Beta magazine for M4/Carbon15 (100 rounds 5.56×45, rotary)

    Chest rig containing 30 round M4 magazines x 6, IFAK, Dump bag

    Gerber folding shovels x2

    Surgical kit, Celox bandages, Israeli tourniquet, x2

    3/8” nylon climbing rope, carabineers, wedges, etc.

    Hearing protectors, muff style x2 (unused, new)

    36” handle single bit Plumb ax

    Gerber machete

    Flexicuffs

    Rourke: This post was originally published In June of 2016.

  • Budget Friendly Preparedness Tips – $10 Per Week

    Budget Friendly Preparedness Tips – $10 Per Week

    I previously published this back in 2019 and with new people visiting the site thought it would be a good idea to bring it back around. – Rourke

    While the economy is strong and unemployment is at record low levels there are many people that continue to struggle. While stats and data can be manipulated to prove almost anything, the fact remains that wages in 2019 reached the same point which they were all the way back in 1973. This is, of course, taking inflation and the Consumer Price Index in consideration. The point is regardless of all the positive economic news millions of Americans struggle to not only live week to week – but the challenge to actually prepare for uncertain times seems impossible.

    Seconds make minutes. Minutes make hours. Hours make days. Days make the month. Do a little each week and after a short time progress has occurred.

    Here are a few “$10 per week or less” budget-friendly preparedness tips:

    • A few cans of soup, fruit, or vegetables
    • Create a digital preparedness library with inexpensive USB drives
    • Box of 9mm ammunition(can be found under $10 commonly) – definitely dated…LOL…..Rourke
    • Large bag of rice
    • Flashlight
    • Extra batteries for flashlights and radio’s
    • Candles
    • Fleece blanket
    • Make copies of all important papers such as insurance,
    • Cases of water and/or several gallon jugs
    • Buy 4 pounds of spaghetti and 2 cans of spaghetti sauce
    • A few jars of peanut butter – store in freezer
    • Grab a 5 pack of Bic lighters
    • Watch Youtube videos on different knots and practice
    • Buy a few military-type can openers
    • Pick up some cotton balls and petroleum jelly at the dollar store
    • 100 rounds of .22LR ammunition
    • Pick up several solar garden lights
    • Purchase a tarp or two at Harbor Freight
    • Duct tape

    The list is endless.

    Take a look at what supplies you have in the categories of food, water, defense, shelter, and medical, and focus on the weakest areas first. A little bit at a time adds up and can make a big difference in the long run.

    OK folks – what would you recommend?

    Rourke

  • Overview: The Offgrid Fire Starting Kit

    Overview: The Offgrid Fire Starting Kit

    Fire starting is something many put hours and hours into learning all the different methods so no matter what – fire. Hey – I appreciate that. It’s just something I’ve never really had much interest in. I mean, creating fire from friction generated by woods rubbing against wood sounds like a lot of work compared to flicking the wheel on a lighter. I know, lighters don’t last forever.

    I have a lot of lighters.

    I also have the Offgrid Fire Starting Kit. In fact, I designed and make these kits. Am I biased? Damn right I am.

    The Offgrid Firestarting Kit was designed to be small, portable, inexpensive, and effective. While I am a huge fan of the butane lighter and I have about 80 of them – I realize that having multiple methods to get things flamed up is a good thing.

    So this kit has been designed to make fire via a butane lighter, waterproof matches, as well as a ferrocerium rod combined with charcloth and petroleum jelly impregnated cotton balls. If fire is what you are wanting – this kit has all the options to make it happen.

    Everything comes in a small, durable metal tin.

    Looking at what’s included the butane lighter is the most popular and effective means to get things going towards “El Flamo”. Next up is the ferrocerium rod. The ferro rod has the advantage of thousands of strikes in one rod. The rod included in the kit can be struck thousands of times showering high temp sparks down onto flammable objects such as charcloth, paper, and other tinder.

    Speaking of charcloth, several small pieces are included in the kit in a small waterproof zip-lock bag.

    Lastly – my favorite firestarter is petroleum jelly impregnated cotton balls. I’ve started hundreds of fires using these from camp fires to fire pits. Several are packed into this kit.

    Hey – for $12.99 with free shipping you can’t go wrong.

    Oh – I almost forgot. There are waterproof matches are included on top of everything else!

    Click this LINK if you are interested and grab a few.

    Rourke

  • Cold Steel Trail Boss Hatchet

    Cold Steel Trail Boss Hatchet

    During my recent visit to Prepper Camp my buddy and I stayed at a cabin a few miles from the event. There was a really nice fire pit and lots of wood available. The cooler weather in the mountains was a welcome change and a fire was ABSOLUTELY necessary.

    The provided wood needed to be split into smaller kindling so I grabbed my brand new Cold Steel Trail Boss that has been sitting in my truck box just begging to be used. While my buddy – we’ll call him Hancock – did most of the work I swung the Trail Boss a few times as well.

    Results?

    It performed as it should. Pretty simple. Nothing dramatic like the head flying off or handle splitting.

    The Cold Steel Trail Boss is an inexpensive and compact hatchet that’s great attached to a pack or in the truck box. So far I love it.

    Thought I’d share my experience so far.

    Rourke

  • 10 Essential Preparedness Supplies Less Than $10.00 each

    10 Essential Preparedness Supplies Less Than $10.00 each

    things to get, Top 10, survival, preparedness, prepper, SHTF,

    It doesn’t take a ton of money to get prepared. Many of us live on a tight budgets. I took a trip to my local Wally-World to check out some inexpensive supplies that can be purchased for less than $10.00.

    Here are a few:

    • Batteries – Needed for flashlights, radio’s and any other electronic devices that may be needed in a grid down situation. Purchase alkaline batteries and look for sales. It is also a good idea to try to standardize flashlights and other battery-operated items in just a couple of sizes. This will minimize the chance of running out of one type of battery and making devices powered by those batteries useless. I like AA the best.

    batteries

    • Bleach – Inexpensive and can be used to make water safe for drinking. 1/2 gallon requires between 5 and 10 drops depending on how cloudy/dirty it is. If water contains particles of “crap” – pre-filter prior to adding Clorox Bleach. It is best to store Clorox Brand bleach – no perfumed versions.

    clorox

    • Trash Bags – Imagine how life would be if you had no trash bags. Sanitation will be very important to prevent disease. Whether it’s food wrappers or empty cans of beans they must be disposed of properly or vermin will be visiting. I don’t like vermin.

    trash-bags

    • Candles – Candles have been a mainstay of preparedness for a long time. When the sun goes down along with the grid – candles can provide a warm glow to light the way to the bathroom, upstairs to see the grandchildren or to pour a glass of water.  Inexpensive and safe when used properly. I recommend glass and metal containers.

    candles2

    • Emergency Lighting – If the power fails in the middle of the night will you be able to locate your flashlights and candles? These small “night lights” plug into any outlet and turn on when the power fails to light the area where placed. I have several of these placed in hallways. Makes a lot of sense.

    flashlights

    • Flashlights – Another mainstay item of survival & preparedness. Flashlights provide not only light when needed – but also comfort and a sense of security. If little kids are around they are invaluable. Pictured below is a small LED lantern. I highly recommend that LED-type flashlights are purchased as they are much more durable, bulbs last just about forever, and batteries last much longer.

    flashlights-2

    • Fire – Need to light a candle? Want to start the fireplace? Light the grill? Grab a pack of Bic lights for less than $5.00. Matches are also inexpensive.

    lighters

    • Seeds and Growing Containers – Some crops like lettuce are incredibly easy to grow. Seeds are very inexpensive. Depending upon your housing and living conditions lettuce can be grown in a container on your patio or porch. Have a backyard? A few packs of seeds and some help from a young neighbor or grandkid could provide some food on the dinner table.
     seeds

    pots

    • First Aid Kit – It’s bound to happen – that paper cut from Hades! Having a decent first aid kit around is a welcome addition to your preparedness supplies. Band-aides, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, etc are basic supplies that should be kept on hand.

    first-aid

    Well – there you go. 10 items that cost less than $10.00 each.

    Know of some other supplies that are great for the budget-minded prepper?

    Take care all –

    Rourke

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  • Survival: Every Journey Begins With a Single Step

    Survival: Every Journey Begins With a Single Step

    Thinking back to my early days in survival. I was 14 years old and saw a TV show talking about “peak oil.” Shortly after that, I saw the TV movie, “The Day After“. I was hooked. I spent hours thinking about what would happen if oil ran out or became extremely expensive. Thoughts of nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States brought me to making lists of things I needed to get to make sure my family would be prepared. Things we would need to survive.

    My mom and I would go to the grocery store and I would sneak an extra can of Bean & Bacon soup in the cart. An extra pack of wooden matches “for the grill” would be added as well as some Dinty Moores Beef Stew. In just a couple months my bedroom closet top shelf showed a hell of a collection of extra food and supplies.

    I was a survivalist.

    Reflecting back, this got me thinking about folks today who are looking around at all the craziness and feel like maybe there’s something to this prepping they’ve heard about. Where do they start? How do they bring up the idea to take precautions and prep to their spouse? Are they crazy for thinking such things?

    Just investing $10-$20 per week will add up. Basic steps towards being better positioned to deal with food shortages, power outages, crime, etc. is not rocket science. A little extra food. Extra water. Flashlights. Batteries. Blankets. Extra propane for the grill. A good first aid kit. A cash stash.

    I should write a No BS Survival Plan.

    Hmmmm……… Maybe.

    Rourke

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  • The One Acre(or less) Homestead

    The One Acre(or less) Homestead

    I previously published this a few years ago and with new people visiting the site thought it would be a good idea to bring it back around. – Rourke

    There’s a movement within the US population to head towards increased self-sufficiency and insulation from the effects of governmental action. What does this really mean? Simply it is taking action to be as independent as possible and reduce the effect of economic and social trends on your life. 

    Being more self-reliant can be very beneficial during times of shortages or rising prices. As preppers, we prepare for interruptions to such things as power, transportation, medical care, and food supply.  Many people are overwhelmed at the thought of running an entire farm to provide the necessary things for their families. There are many examples of people who have created homesteads one acre or less and are incredibly productive. While they may not provide 100% of their year-round food supply, they are very much insulated from the effects of economic downturns.

    The following video is one such example of a one-acre homestead.

  • Review: Streamlight Stylus Pro Flashlight

    Review: Streamlight Stylus Pro Flashlight

    I previously published this a few years ago and with new people visiting the site thought it would be a good idea to bring it back around. – Rourke

    Flashlights are a basic and very important prep item. Who can’t remember the excitement as a kid having a flashlight when the power went out? The experience would have been quite different without the flashlight.

    Streamlight is a well-respected flashlight manufacturer with high marks for quality and value. Over the years I’ve owned several Streamlights and had zero issues with them. One model I’ve had for several years is the Stylus Pro. The Stylus Pro is of the “penlight” category and runs on 2 AAA alkaline batteries. Due to its slim construction, it can be easily carried like a pen in the pocket or tucked away almost anywhere.

    Specifications:

    • Weight: 1.64 oz.
    • Dimensions: L x D: 5.3″ x .6″ (134 x 15 mm)
    • Runtime: Up to 6.5 hours
    • Peak Beam Intensity: 860 candela
    • Light Output: 100 lumens
    • 50,000-hour lifetime thanks to C4 LED technology
    • Made with aluminum alloy
    • Shock-proof, drop-tested and O-Ring sealed
    • Scratch-resistant lens
    • Water-resistant per IPX4 in accordance with specification EN 60529:1992
    • Two operation settings: constant-on or momentary
    • Runs on two AAA alkaline batteries
    • Resilient pocket clip
    • Comes with a tear-resistant nylon holster

    Streamlight Stylus Pro, LED, flashlight, Streamlight, EDC, SHTF, prepper, preparedness

    The Streamlight Stylus Pro is NOT a flashlight meant for mounting on a firearm. No – this is a personal illumination device absolutely perfect for taking the trash out, looking under the couch for the remote – or navigating a trail while backpacking at night. It is NOT super bright. It is bright enough for the purposes listed and many more.

    Streamlight Stylus Pro, LED, flashlight

    The Stylus Pro is operated using an end-cap. A slight press allows momentary on and off. A full “push and click” turns the light on or off. There is only one brightness level which I very much like.

    Streamlight Stylus Pro, LED, flashlight

    I’ve had the Streamlight Stylus Pro for over two years and it has proven to be very reliable and rugged. The clip – which I have used when carrying in a pack – remains strong and tight. This flashlight is waterproof which is good to know when out in the rain. Like most modern flashlights illumination is provided via a LED diode. This means reliable, long-lasting light. No bulbs to burn out.

    If you are looking for a small, lightweight, and durable flashlight with this level of illumination at around $20 – the Streamlight Stylus Pro is worth a look.

    Recommended.

    Tula .223 Rem Ammunition

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    Fantastic Car Pack and EDC Bag

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    Smith & Wesson 10.6in High Carbon S.S. Fixed Blade Knife with 5.2in Tanto Blade and TPE Handle – less than $40

  • A Change in Attitude

    A Change in Attitude

    Rourke: I published the following letter a few years ago and upon revisiting it, I felt it was very valid today. Enjoy!

    We have lived in Alaska for coming on 8 years now and since coming here we have learned a lot about being prepared. We are survivors from hurricane Katrina and evacuated all the way up here to be with family that we hadn’t seen in years. After arriving we quickly learned that an Alaskan lifestyle is a different one. Let me explain. Things here in our fine state move slowly, the mail, stocks of ammo, and fruit comes in green to ripen at the grocery store. We were used to hot weather most of the year and having a garden almost year-round to experimenting with different tactics to grow anything here. So, prepping here is a tad different for us than our brothers and sisters in the lower 48. We have done a great job on building up a food pantry to not only stay off inflation but in case things get interrupted with the shipping, we have ample to survive awhile. Now, with that said, we face a dilemma most don’t and that is if and when the transportation to our state is interrupted at any point, things here will get dicey.

    We have taken a page out of a lot of old-timers books that have lived here for years and paid attention to prices, sales, and things like that to capitalize on building our inventory. Also, coming from a state that had hurricane prep as part of our schooling, we had those kinds of things taken care of, but here with the climate as it is, we were not prepared for the long winters. Sometimes it seems as winter flows right into summer and before you know it, its winter again? A different lifestyle for sure. Anyhow, we have learned that we must keep supplies in our vehicles and ensure we have things to stay warm should we break down somewhere. We also have taken an increased interest in firearms and other weapons that don’t require ammo. This is key, as the prices here are well… crazy. So, we have a backup of a backup just in case.

    So, what change in attitude am I writing about? Not ours, but that of our friends and work associates. It’s amazing to talk with the same people now that a year or two ago thought we were out of our minds prepping. We now get phone calls on how to set up a pantry, or firearms to have. We are helping families here understand that prepping just makes good sense and will help you thru even in the toughest of times. Even my commie liberal friends are getting on the wagon. I find this very interesting.

    I agree with the masses that I hope that nothing happens to our great country, but just paying attention and reading the news outlets of various places, you get the feeling that something is coming.

    In closing, I want to plead with our fellow peppers to reach out to your neighbors and friends and do your best to get them to understand that our way of life is not fanatical but just makes good sense. You will find that now with things as they are, people are more apt to at least listen to you rather than just dismiss you altogether.

    May God bless our country and your family.

    Steve Dearinger

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  • VIDEO: What’s It Going To Take

    VIDEO: What’s It Going To Take

    My thoughts on the insanity spreading across the United States and the world.

    What will it take for people to stand up and take this country back?

    Rourke

    membership, brigade, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, SHTF

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  • The Truth of What’s Coming

    The Truth of What’s Coming

    “The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.”

    – John Connor

     

    For those who attempt to monitor, track, and make sense of the endless array of craziness going on in the world – it’s maddening. Trying to disseminate the BS presented as fact from all sides of any issue is frustrating, to say the least. Basing opinions and beliefs in facts and logic rather than emotion and fantasy takes work. We are living in a world where one biased side suggests that the COVID vaccine is an absolute necessity – a requirement. The other biased side will say COVID isn’t real and doesn’t exist. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. We have a cancel culture where if you have a certain opinion you will have social media accounts canceled, websites closed, and can even be targeted in your own neighborhood by those with a different opinion. We live in a world where men are allowed to compete against women in sports and American Olympic athletes turn their back to the flag and kneel during the national anthem. We live in a world wherein New York City and a growing list of other locations require special identification to go out to eat, to go to a gym, and engage in other common activities, but, do not require an ID to vote. We live in a world where restrictions are being placed on American citizens while illegals are accepted at our borders and then shipped all over the country.

    Do you want the truth? Can you handle the truth?

    It’s not going away and there is little that can be done to stop it.

    I have completely lost faith in the political system. No white knight in shining armor is going to ride in and save us. Corruption and social decay are far too embedded and rooted into the very fabric of this country. Like weeds completely infesting a lawn, it can be fixed by either tearing it out and replacing it completely – or killing it off and starting over.

    The Next Few Years

    Going much further out than a few years is an effort in futility. Far too many variables to accurately predict conditions 5-15 years out(though it can be fun). Where we find ourselves today is the result of years of slow and steady decay.  The economic challenges of rising prices for food, fuel, and many other products as a result of inflationary pressure will continue to tax wallets and bank accounts alike. Let’s review some of the challenges we will face over the next few years.

    Economics

    The aforementioned inflation is putting millions of families at a point that feeding the family daily is a struggle. Double-digit inflation with many food items has reduced buying power and will continue at least for the next few years.  Fuel continues to rise in cost and hopefully, a reverse trend will be seen soon. Many other products continue to see pricing increase as well as supply chain issues. I recently purchased some o-rings for my Sawyer Mini Water Filter Bucket Kit and found the cost went up 16%. Families will continue to work to either reduce expenses or raise income – or both. We can either fight against changing times with everything we’ve got – or work within the system to our advantage. When it comes to preparing for the future – financial preparation these days is a necessity.

    Steps to Consider:

    Precious Metals – Gold and silver have been used in commerce for hundreds of years. That will not be changing anytime soon. Gold is an excellent hedge against inflation while in a working economy, while silver is as well but also an excellent barter item. I highly recommend Money Metals Exchange if you are interested in precious metals.

    Cryptocurrencies – I know many scoff at the idea of digital currencies. Welcome to the modern era. Cryptocurrencies are becoming more mainstream every day and when looking at ways to increase wealth(buying power) crypto is excellent – and also high risk. For purchasing crypto I recommend Robinhood and Coinbase. Sign up for Coinbase, deposit $100 or more – get $10 in Bitcoin. BTW – I’ve been messing arounf with Crypto for several months and have done very well.

    Debt Reduction – Eliminating or reducing debt must be part of any plan to fight the economic catastrophe. Debt elimination provides freedom of whatever revenue you have coming in. If job losses occur, low expenses will allow whatever income reaches your wallet to go further.

    Secondary Streams of Income – Creating a secondary stream of income can not only provide extra funds for saving, debt reduction, or purchasing – but security in case job change or unemployment should occur. Examples of common ways to generate streams of income include eBay, yard sales, part-time jobs, landscaping, and nude modeling. Ok – just kidding about that last part(maybe).

    Employment – Right along with secondary streams of income is employment. For millions of Americans being unvaccinated will limit the ability to have gainful employment. This not only affects earning power but also the ability to get health insurance. As frustrating as it may be the harsh reality is those who choose to NOT take the jab are going to be targeted. Preparing for such an inevitability should be at the top of your priority list IF you fit into that category.

    Networking

    The “Lone Wolf” ideology used to be popular back in the ’80s. The general consensus now is it takes a TEAM of people to not just maintain a property but to handle all the tasks that need to get done….done. Networking and forming a group is absolutely needed. With multiple members, you have many skillsets and talents. In an economy where certain people may be economically challenged(no damn money) as well as possibly have restrictions due to their “designation”  – having fellow group members who can assist with needed projects is a HUGE thing.

    Let me state it plainly: There may be a time that someone who refuses to accept a vaccine or some other government requirement and they cannot find work. Their earning power is diminished. A fellow group member knows plumbing and is willing to fix a problem for 20 pre-1965 dimes.

    See how that works?

    Being a member of a survival group – a Mutual Assistance Group – provides the benefit of an increased knowledge base and the utilization of the saying, “Many hands make light work.”

    Stuff

    Everyone’s favorite topic – getting STUFF. Securing your beans, bullets, and band-aids is a must. With a left-leaning Congress, White House, Justice Department, and ATF securing desired boomsticks and corresponding components need to be completed…..soon.

    Purchasing components “off the books” is recommended and never a bad option when possible.

     

    Communication

    Something to consider and I am working n this myself is communication. With the recently announced invasion of privacy that Apple will be scanning all cell phone photo’s looking for nefarious material – there is no telling to what extent this will go. While privacy has been absent for many years regardless of what platform is used, this new direct targeting is concerning to say the least.

    What. method of communication will be used within your survival group? What protections can be acquired to make communication as secure as possible?

    I do not have the answers – yet. If you have thoughts please leave them in the comments below. Oh – and I hope GG58 chimes in as Going Gray will take on a new level of importance for many.

     

    Summary

    Insanity. How many of us see the headlines, read about what others look at as “normal” and just shake our heads. If anyone would have suggested back on September 12th, 2001 that the country would be in the state it is today, most would have called you crazy.

    Unfortunately, it’s real.

    I truly believe we need to come together, network, and share ideas on how to best combat the insanity that the enemy portrays as “just” and “good” and “right.”

    Rourke

    membership, brigade, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, SHTF

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  • How to Plug a Tire

    How to Plug a Tire

    A flat tire is a real-world event that can happen at any time. AAA is a great thing and calling a buddy to come to pick you up can be done, however, a tire plug kit can get you back on the road quickly.

    This is a good video that shows how to use a tire plug kit.

    Drive safe everyone!

    Rourke

  • Does the reason for a storm matter?

    Does the reason for a storm matter?

    In the 30+ years I’ve been a survivalist I’ve seen many different perspectives on survival & preparedness. One group believes that it all comes down to grid down/civil unrest and how you get there really doesn’t matter.  EMP, massive polar shift, civil war, terrorist attacks? If the end result is the grid goes down and the resulting civil unrest takes place – it’s all the same.

    The other group believes in preparing for “whatever” and requires paying attention and trying to predict that which would cause grid down/civil unrest conditions. Due to the particulars of different situations, they require specific actions to complete to best prepare. I can see that.

    Of course, there are some who fall outside these two philosophies, however, most sit squarely in one or the other.

    The unfortunate thing is there are debates over which philosophy is correct. Much like how many believe there is no link between politics and preparedness, or the volatile weather of late and climate change – in the end, we are all in the same community and can see the fit is going to hit the shan.

    One can go bonkers trying to track all the craziness that’s going on right now. Even without doing so, all those pieces of the puzzle are coming together and the corresponding image is worse than seeing Nancy Pelosi naked. Well – maybe not.

    What do you think?

    Rourke

     

  • Scenario: At Work and Then……CYBERATTACK

    Scenario: At Work and Then……CYBERATTACK

    Here is a scenario that many of us could find ourselves in while we are at work should this unfortunate event take place.

    Thursday morning: Typical Thursday morning. Alarm goes off at 5:30am and you reach over and hit the snooze. Grab your cell phone and check for text messages and emails. You see a post was published last night from 1776PatriotUSA.com on preparing in case an army of bigfoots attack. You think – “That Rourke is an idiot.”

    After showering, getting dressed, and downing a cup of coffee you hear on the news that there was an incident between Israel and Iran. Israel launched an airstrike against a weapons factory in Iran. Details are sketchy, but, it’s reported that the US assisted Israel with the strike.

    7:00am arrives too quickly and the drive to work starts. The news doesn’t report much as far as details regarding the strike. Iran is strangely silent about the incident.

    Work starts a little before 8:00am and is another typical day. At 11:30am the power goes out. “Early lunch”, you think to yourself. You grab your keys and head for the car. You overhear someone as you’re heading out the door their cell phone doesn’t work. Halfway to your car, you pull your phone out – no signal.

    The worrying begins.

    You get in the car and quickly insert the key. It starts!! You throw it in drive and head home. You turn on the radio and begin to get an understanding of what’s going on. A cyberattack has taken down the majority of cellular communications as well as banking. “Banking,” you think to yourself. If credit and debit cards aren’t working that’s going to be a problem.”

    “EBT? What about the EBT system? Crap – if that’s down people are going to freak.”

    Questions:

    How much cash do you have in your vehicle? At home?

    What tools of self-defense will be carried for the trip home?

    How much gas is in your car? Will you need to stop for gas?

    Do you have any SOP’s(standard operating procedures)set up with the family so they know what to do in case something like this were to occur?

    Do you have an alternative method to communicate with family, friends, group members?

    What challenges would you expect to see over the next few days? A week?

    What if the cyber attack knocks out all cellular communications and banking for a month or more?

    This scenario is very possible and thinking through these questions as well as others that come to mind can lead to making better decisions towards preparing.

    Rourke

     

    Designed by John Rourke………

    The Patriot Brigade

  • When to Close a Wound

    When to Close a Wound

    Rourke: This post was originally published over at DoomandBloom.net and republished here with permission.

    There are many injuries that a medic will face in a survival scenario, and a common and potentially life-threatening one occurs whenever the skin is broken. Your skin is your body’s armor; when it is breached, infectious organisms enter a highway which can transport them to just about any part of the body. Therefore, it makes common sense that you’d want to close that breach to speed healing and lock out infection. Indeed, that’s exactly what happens thousands of times daily in emergency rooms in normal times.

    The off-grid medic has a dilemma, however: Most wounds in survival will be dirty, and providing a sterile environment for a surgical procedure is a difficult challenge. You could make the work area as clean as possible, but sterile? Not likely. As such, you should wisely choose what wounds should be closed and what wounds should be left open.

    Many medics can’t imagine not closing a tear or cut in the skin (called a “laceration”), but it’s a reasonable way to deal with contaminated wounds in situations where you can’t assure a sterile or even clean, field on which to work. Lacerations that are kept open must be dressed and cleaned regularly until they’re fully healed.

    Open wounds heal through a process called “granulation”, where new tissue forms at the base and sides until the defect in the skin is fully healed. Essentially, “from the bottom up”. This tissue is somewhat granular in appearance, hence the name.

    “To Close or Not To Close?”

    To paraphrase Hamlet, “To close or not to close? That is the question!” To answer this questions, we must examine what our goals are in closing a wound. Among other reasons, you close wounds to:

    • Repair the defect in the body’s armor, thus preventing infection in a clean wound.
    • Accelerate the healing process. Wound edges that are touching heal faster than those that aren’t.
    • Decrease scarring. Scarring is less of an issue in survival, unless the scar would, say, limit the range of motion of a joint in extremity.

    A note about bleeding: Although closing a wound may apply pressure to bleeding areas, it is not a substitute for hemorrhage control, also known as “hemostasis” before closure. Consider the application of direct pressure first on the bleeding area, a method that succeeds in many cases. Also, for major blood loss, have tourniquets, hemostatic agents like Celox or Quikclot, and pressure dressings as part of your medical storage.

    So what factors come into play when deciding to close a wound or to keep it open? Consider keeping the wound open in these circumstances:

    The wound is dirty. Are the circumstances suspicious for contamination? In survival scenarios, the answer is often yes. In austere environments, even WHO (the World Health Organization) agrees that the safest course of action is to keep it open.

    Candidate for closure IF clean

    Here are some circumstances where wounds should be kept open:

    • The wound is infected. Infected wounds have a certain appearance: They are red, swollen (sometimes appearing “shiny”), warm to the touch, and may drain pus.
    • The wound is colonized (infected but not yet showing signs). Even the air has bacteria; you can expect a wound to be colonized within 6-8 hours or so.
    • There is dead tissue in the wound. This tissue won’t bleed when it is cut and often appears discolored or black. No closure should be performed without removing dead tissue first (a procedure known as “debridement”).
    • Puncture wounds, especially from mammalian (including human) bites have lots of bacteria and shouldn’t be closed. Interestingly, snake bites become infected less often than, say, cat or dog bites, but don’t close them either.
    • The wound edges are so far apart that closing them would cause undue pressure. This occurs with injuries like “avulsions”, where entire areas of tissue are missing.

    wound infection

    Here are situations where you should consider closing the wound:

    • You’re certain the wound is clean. This usually requires witnessing the injury as it happens.
    • The wound has been open less than 6-8 hours.
    • The laceration is long or deep enough to penetrate the entire thickness of the skin. A deep wound would allow you to see underlying tissue such as subcutaneous fat.
    • The wound is located over a joint. A moving part, such as the knee, will constantly stress a wound and prevent it from closing in by itself.
    • The wound gapes open loosely, suggesting that it can be closed without undue pressure on the skin (and won’t close at all without your intervention).

    In future articles, we’ll explore wound closure materials, techniques, and theory.

    Joe Alton, MD

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    Joe Alton, MD has contributed to Survivalist Magazine, Backwoods Home, Self Reliance Illustrated, American Survival Guide, Survivor’s Edge, Prepare, Disaster Survival Magazine, Molly Green, and Survival Quarterly, among others. He is a member of Mensa and collects 19th-century medical books to gain insight on off-grid medical strategies.

    You can visit his website at DoomandBloom.net and shop his medical preparedness store HERE.

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  • Dual Survival

    Dual Survival

    Something about this picture just gets to me.

    I imagine that little kid….scared, but knows his daddy will protect him.

    Daddy’s scared….he doesn’t want anything to happen to his little boy.

    Neither knows what’s out there…..waiting.

    Rourke

  • Basics

    Basics

    My buddy “John Hancock” and I chat preparedness almost daily. We send audio messages back and forth and some of these discussions get pretty deep. Over the past several years I’ve done my best to educate him and correct every one of his opinions that are different than mine(meaning he’s wrong). I’d say his IQ has jumped up at least 25 points due to these talks.

    I’m sure you can tell we joke around quite a bit.

    One of the recent discussions centered around getting back to basics. Interestingly we both came to the realization that most people fail to truly place their priorities in the right places when it comes to preparedness. Take the old adage, “Beans, Bullets, and Band-Aids.” See that very first word ‘beans’? It’s first for a reason. Food(and H2O) is incredibly important. For those preparing for a multi-year event, how many year’s worth of food do you have right now? If the answer is in months this is what we are talking about.

    Food isn’t sexy nor is it very exciting. People don’t mount food buckets on their wall or pull out their #10 cans of freeze-dried Chili Mac and mount the latest and greatest can opener on the side via a picatinny rail. No – food doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

    When the fecal matter comes in contact with the rotating impellers that $1800 Ruger Precision rifle is really nice but many will be wishing they spent $400 on a Ruger American and purchased $1400 worth of……you guessed it: FOOD!!

    No one knows exactly what is going to happen nor when. It certainly seems with each passing day things are getting more $%&@’d up than a soup sandwich. The good news is we have some time. Those of us(yes me included) that need to get back to the basics and get straight need to do so NOW. Later will arrive sooner than you think and it may involve a zombie chewing on your left ankle.

    “Stack it to the rafters!!”

    Rourke

    survival, preparedness, membership

  • Taste Test: Yoders Canned Bacon

    Taste Test: Yoders Canned Bacon

    Bacon. Say “bacon” around a group of people and watch how their attention is instantly drawn to you. Hey – either you like bacon, or you’re wrong. For prepper’s considering what food to stock up on bacon is usually just a pipe dream due to its extremely limited shelf life.

    Enter: Yoders Bacon.

    I bought a few can’s of Yoders Bacon back in 2015. I decided to open one up and give it a try. Why? It’s bacon! I also wanted to see if the taste was good enough to purchase more.

     

    The Test: Yoders Bacon

    Yoder's canned bacon, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, food storage

    Opening the can shows the bacon wrapped in wax paper and pressed in the can. The smell is “bacon-like” and I would not call it exactly good.

     

    Yoder's canned bacon, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, food storage

    Pulling the wax paper and bacon out shows just how everything is packed. There was an accumulation of hardened grease at the bottom. While some may be grossed out by the appearance it was no big deal to me.

     

    Yoder's canned bacon, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, food storage

    The bacon is placed in the can as full-length fully-cooked pieces. They are laid across the wax paper and then folded and rolled to fit in the can. I tried a piece fresh out of the can and it tasted like – well, bacon. It had a little different taste than I was used to. It might be the smoke flavoring – but it was good.

    In fact – if I had come in on a cold winter’s day out hunting and had a piece – it would be VERY good.

     

    Yoder's canned bacon, SHTF, prepper, preparedness, food storage

    I prefer my bacon warm so we spread some out on a pan to place in the oven. There is a lot of bacon in that can. The picture above does NOT represent all of the bacon. There was some still in the wax paper.

    Yoders Bacon is not very thick so while heating some care must be taken to not burn it.

    Shelf life is claimed to be upwards of 10 years. I would assume storage methods would influence this heavily.  Compared to other food storage options for bacon this is excellent.

    RECOMMENDED

    While Yoders Bacon can be found on sale throughout the year the best average price I have found is on Amazon. The more you buy the cheaper per can it becomes.

    As of this publication:

    1 can Yoders Bacon

    3 cans Yoders Bacon

    6 cans Yoders Bacon

    12 cans(case) Yoders Bacon

    This stuff is not cheap! However, if it’s bacon you want to add to your food storage this is one viable way.

    bacon, humor, bacon rules,

    Rourke

  • Practice and Learn- What I Learned From Preparing Auguson Farm Food

    Practice and Learn- What I Learned From Preparing Auguson Farm Food

    Augason Farms Creamy Chicken Flavored Rice 

    I consider myself a prepper in training. I can remember back in the early 2000’s wanting to be prepared for winter time in Northern Maine. The year after that my awareness for the need to be prepared for other situations grew. It was a sixth sense of sorts that is hard to explain.  Wanting to keep my family safe, I thought about potential situations that I could face and need to be prepared for. Each fall time, without fail, I would feel the need to prepare for the winter ahead.

    Planning for the winter ahead included, stocking up the extra freezer I had in the basement with half of a beef from the local butcher. Furnishing the basement with shelves to put extra canned goods to keep was another. I had a camp stove with some small cans of propane to prepare food. Having extra coolers to keep my food cold and safe outside in a snowbank was also an option for food storage if needed.

    Knowing there was a big hole in my plans because I had no secondary source of heat I needed another plan. Without heat, I would have to go to relatives if that was needed. In retrospect, I would have put in a wood stove in the event of a power outage. I had plenty of wood on my 12 acres and would have kept seasoned wood in the basement for emergencies. 

    Many people in Maine put in secondary sources of heat in their homes but both relied on electricity which made no sense to me. Others had generators which was probably what I would have gone with if I had not sold and moved. I ofter saw generators used to keep the heat on if nothing else during a power outage in winter. My next home will have a wood stove for sure! 

    Anyway, back to the creamy chicken rice, my point is that being accurately prepared takes a lot more than just buying stuff. Figuring out what works for you in your environment while considering the needs of those around you and other possible needs BEFORE you need them is crucial. I thought Mr. Rourke was silly for wanting to try some of the freeze dried food. Why would we want to waste good food that can be stored long-term? Well, I am glad that in this instance he was correct.

    I learned a few things that I will consider when buying more freeze dried food.

    1. The first thing I learned was how much water you need to make the meals that come in this kit. The creamy chicken flavored rice needed 5 cups of water and a couple of the other meals needed 8 cups and 10 cups.
    2. Another thing I learned when making this side dish was that it could have easily been made into a main dish by adding a can of chicken and/or a can of veggies. The container says it is 8 servings so adding more would either feed more or let you have a bigger portion.
    3. Also worth noting was that a little garlic salt really made a difference in the taste.
    4. The last thing I learned was that although this kit was for 1 person for 72 hours unless I planned on eating just chicken flavored rice all day I would need a way of storing the prepared food. You could just make half but you would still need a way of storing the packet of dried ingredients for another day.  Containers and plastic storage bags would make things easier when trying to store the leftovers.  

    The Creamy Chicken Flavored Rice was very simple to make. I did have to stand there and stir quite often to prevent clumping but other than that you only need a few things. You will need a pot, measuring cup, 5 cups of water, and a whisk.

    Here is the container of food, how it looked when we opened it, and all the individual bags that come in it.

     

    Here is the nutrition information of all the packages in the 72-hour food supply. We chose to have the Creamy Chicken Flavored Rice. It has 240 calories for 1/3 cup and says it is 8 servings.

    The only thing we had to do was boil five cups of boiling water and add the contents. 


    As stated previously I had to tend to the dish by stirring occasionally to prevent any clumping.

    The final product was very good alone, however, we did add some garlic salt and pepper for a little more flavor. The consistency was a little thicker than what you would expect from a rice dish, but again very good.


    Anyone have any experience with freeze dried or dehydrated food that you could share? I would love to hear about them!

    To purchase the Auguson Farm 72-Hr Emergency Food Kit mentioned in this article follow THIS LINK. Current price is less than $25 with Free Shipping.

    Maine Prepper Girl

  • TASTE TEST: Mountain House Grilled Chicken & Mashed Potato’s

    TASTE TEST: Mountain House Grilled Chicken & Mashed Potato’s

    Mountain House is the most popular long term food storage provider for a reason: Great taste and 25+ year shelf life. Mountain House is so popular now their products can be commonly found at local stores such as Wal-Mart and Academy.

    I’ve eaten plenty of Mountain House freeze-dried food and so far have not found a flavor I have disliked. Last week picked up a pouch of MH Chicken Breasts & Mashed Potatoes. In my food storage efforts, I’ve stocked up on quite a bit of freeze-dried food to add variety.

    Mountain House freeze dried food, grilled chicken, survival, SHTF, prepper, preparedness

    The package states “Two grilled, seasoned chicken breasts with rib meat, mashed potatoes with herbs & chives”. Total weight is 3.7 ounces which may seem like very little until you remember water needs to be added.

    Mountain House freeze dried food, grilled chicken, survival, SHTF, prepper, preparedness

    There are 440 calories in the pouch which is stated to equal two servings. This particular selection – Grilled Chicken & Mashed Potatoes – is very high in protein and carbs. Especially good for energy.

    Mountain House freeze dried food, grilled chicken, survival, SHTF, prepper, preparedness

    Instructions above are fairly simple. I usually go over slightly on the recommended water for Mountain House offerings.  I have found in the past that using the recommended amounts would sometimes come up short thus I would need to add a bit.

    Mountain House freeze dried food, grilled chicken, survival, SHTF, prepper, preparedness

    As seen in the picture above the chicken breasts(left) are dry and broken into a few pieces.  The boiling water is poured directly into the pouch and then sealed to “cook” the chicken. Of course, the chicken is actually pre-cooked.

    After 2-3 minutes, the mashed potato powder is poured in and stirred. While stirring the chicken breaks up into smaller pieces. My impression of the smell was very positive. There is little doubt herbs and seasonings are added for flavor.

    The Final Result:

    Mountain House, freeze dried food, review, taste test,

    The Mountain House Grilled Chicken & Mashed Potatoes turned out very good. The chicken was so tender and the mashed potatoes had a very good texture to them.

    I attempted to eat the entire plate myself for supper and couldn’t get it all down. It was very filling.

    RECOMMENDED.

    Rourke

  • Food Storage Recipe: Oven-Roasted Turkey SPAM and Potatoes[2020]

    Food Storage Recipe: Oven-Roasted Turkey SPAM and Potatoes[2020]

    food storage, recipe, food recipe, SPAM, SHTF, preparedness, prepper, survival

    What foods to store in a food storage program is a popular topic – but what about making meals from that food? Not so much.

    With this recipe, I put together something a little different – Turkey SPAM & Canned Potatoes. SPAM is often considered a joke when it comes to food storage but the truth is it’s a viable source of sustenance. As a kid, I used to eat it on a regular basis thinking it came from small SPAM animals that were raised on a farm somewhere. I liked it but once I was old enough to decide what I ate I moved on to other things like……cake. Cake is good.

    SPAM, turkey, survival, food storage, prepper, preparedness, recipe

    Not knowing how well I would like SPAM some 30 years later I grabbed a can of Turkey SPAM. Out to the grill with a cast iron pan and a can of potatoes.

    Here we go…..

    Ingredients

    • 1 can Turkey SPAM(say that 10 times real fast)
    • 1 can Whole Potatoes
    • salt, pepper, seasoning as desired

    Instructions

    • Apply non-stick spray to frying pan or use a seasoned cast iron pan
    • Set temperature to medium to medium-high
    • Open the SPAM, cut into cubes or slices – place in frying pan
    • Open can of potatoes, drain excess fluid – empty into frying pan
    • Cook until browning has occurred on most pieces of SPAM and potatoes.
    • Apply seasoning when food is almost complete.
    • Turn SPAM and stir potatoes every few minutes until done.
    • Serve and enjoy

    While this may not be the most delectable meal, however, I was surprised at just how good the SPAM was. Very good. I could imagine coming in from a cold winter patrol and absolutely loving this meal.

    At 655 calories(50+ grams of protein) this is very filling for one but could be split between two people as well.

    [TOP – Fresh on the grill]

     

    [TOP – Turned and Stirred – Pepper Added]

     

    [TOP – COMPLETE]

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    Canned SPAM is an excellent source of protein with a long shelf life – and fairly inexpensive. In this specific meal a simple can of potatoes and can of SPAM makes for a pretty tasty meal.

    Now….where’s that cake at?

    Rourke

  • Video: Projects With a Purpose – Flashlight Lanyards

    Video: Projects With a Purpose – Flashlight Lanyards

    A longtime reader of my old website as well as 1776 just recently started his own YouTube channel and he has a wealth of knowledge to share.

    The following video shows just how a simple survival “hack” can be both inexpensive as well as effective/valuable.

    Paracord – such a valuable prepper item to have around.

    Go check out this YouTube video and don’t forget to subscribe to his channel.

    Take care all.

    Rourke

  • The “4 Block” DIY Rocket Stove!

    The “4 Block” DIY Rocket Stove!

    Off grid cooking is one of my favorite outdoor activities. It is also a valuable skill to have should the grid go down. There are several commercially made rocket stoves on the market and those I’ve tried worked well.

    Rocket stoves burn fuel incredibly efficiently. Fuel is typically twigs, branches, and other small flammable items. With fuel sources being so readily available rocket stoves are a great option for preppers.

    The video below features a simple and inexpensive design made from commonly available materials.