Survival Preparedness Homesteading Forum

What is your favorite way to can chicken?

goshengirl — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:18:23 GMT

I ask this because I've seen so many posts about how people just love their canned chicken - so tender and delicious. I figure they must be doing it differently than me, because my canned chicken smells like dog food when first opened up, is rather bland/tasteless, and kinda mushy. I can it because I want the security of having it, but it's always with the attitude of, 'well, if we're starving it won't matter what it tastes like.' But I'd much rather love it. :)

What I've done in the past is to brown the chicken just a little, add it to jars, and add a little broth. Then process it (10 lbs, 90 min for quarts - we're below 1000 ft in elevation).

What do you do? Brown first, or can it raw pack? Add broth or add water - or add nothing? Add a little seasoning, like a bay leaf, garlic, soy sauce - or add nothing? Just learning everyone else's touch might give me some ideas. And I just brought home a boatload of chicken breasts on sale that I plan to can soon (and may go back for more while they're still on sale).

Thanks! :D

Free Ham Radio Classes in Berks County PA

Laura — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:34 GMT

Just confirmed free ham radio classes given in Berks County PA March 24 . The classes are for anyone who would like to learn about this hobby and for those who wish to obtain tech and or general license. They will be given at the Berks County Fire Training Center, Saturday mornings. Contact tele # 717 445 6229.
I have found Amateur Radio to be a "must" in prepping . Communication possibilities are numerous in this field.
Do a search for Ham Radio Clubs and a few calls to these clubs for information to find free classes if you have interest. This is a very friendly hobbie. I know by experience and by reading about clubs lending a hand in tutoring and by helping new hams set up with radio communications.
Good luck!

Ed's Red Firearms cleaning recipe

NaeKid — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:13:44 GMT

I was looking for a recipe for gun-cleaning solution and I thought it was posted here before, but, I couldn't find it. I found on another site the recipe and the story behind it.

http://home.comcast.net/~dsmjd/tux/dsmjd/tech/eds_red.htm

"Ed's Red" - - Revisited

By C.E., "Ed" Harris - Originally posted on FidoNET in 1998

Since I mixed my first "Ed's Red" (ER) bore cleaner five years ago, hundreds of users have told me that they find it as effective as commercial products. This cleaner has an action similar to military rifle bore cleaner, such as Mil-C-372B. Itaner, such as Mil-C-372B. It is highly effective for removing plastic fouling from shotgun bores, caked carbon inn semi-automatic rifles or pistols, or leading in revolvers. "ER" is not a "decoppering" solution for fast removal of heavy jacket fouling, but because is more effective in removal of caked carbon and primer residues than most other cleaners, so metal fouling is reduced when "ER" is used.

I researched the subject rather thoroughly and determined there was no technical reason why an effective firearm bore cleaner couldn't be mixed using common hardware store ingredients. The resulting cleaner is safe, effective, inexpensive, provides excellent corrosion protection and adequate residual lubrication. Routine oiling after cleaning is unnecessary except for storage exceeding 1 year, or in harsh environments, such as salt air exposure.

The formula is adapted from Hatcher's "Frankford Arsenal Cleaner No.18," but substitutes equivalent modern materials. Hatcher's recipe called for equal parts of acetone, turpentine, Pratts Astral Oil and sperm oil, and (optionally) 200 grams of anhydrous lanolin per liter into the cleaner.

Some discussion of the ingredients in ER is helpful to understand the properties of the cleaner and how it works. Pratts Astral Oil was nothing more than acidg more than acid free, deodorized kerosene. Today you would ask for "K1" kerosene of the type sold for use in indoor space heaters.

An inexpensive, effective substitute for sperm oil is Dexron III automatic transmission fluid. Prior to 1950 most ATF's were sperm oil based. During WWII sperm oil was mostly unavailable, so highly refined, dewaxed hydrofinished petroleum oils were developed, which had excellent thermal stability. When antioxidants were added to prevent gumming these worked well in precision instruments.

With the high demand for automatic transmission autos after WWII, sperm oil was no longer practical to produce ATFs in the needed quantities needed, so the wartime expedients were mass produced. ATFs have been continually improved over the years. The additives contained in Dexron include detergents or other surfactants which are highly suitable for inclusion in an all-purpose cleaner, lubricant and preservative.

Hatcher's Frankford Arsenal No. 18 used gum spirits of turpentine, but turpentine is both expensive and also highly flammable, so I chose not to use it. Much safer and more inexpensive are "aliphatic mineral spirits," which are an open-chain organic solvent, rather than the closed-chain, benzene ring structure, commontructure, common to "aromatics," such as naptha or "lighter fluid." Sometimes called "safety solvent," aliphatic mineral spirits are used for thinning oil based paint, as automotive parts cleaner and is commonly sold under the names "odorless mineral spirits," "Stoddard Solvent" or "Varsol".

Acetone is included to provide an aggressive, fast-acting solvent for caked smokeless powder residues. Because acetone readily evaporates and the fumes are harmful in high concentrations, it is recommended that it be left out if the cleaner will be used indoors, in soak tanks or in enclosed spaces lacking forced air ventilation. Containers should be kept tightly closed when not in use. ER is still effective without acetone, but not as "fast-acting."

"Ed's Red" does not chemically dissolve copper fouling in rifle bores, but it does a better job of removing carbon and primer residue than most other cleaners. Many users have told me, that frequent and exclusive use of "ER" reduces copper deposits, because it removes the old impacted powder fouling left behind by other cleaners. This reduces the abrasion and adhesion of jacket metal to the bore, leaving a cleaner surface condition which reduces subsequent fouling. Experience indicatesrience indicates that "ER" will actually remove metal fouling in bores if it is left to "soak," for a few days so the surfactants will do the job, when followed by a repeat cleaning. You simply have to be patient.

Addition of lanolin to ER is optional, because the cleaner works perfectly well and gives adequate corrosion protection and lubrication without it. Inclusion of lanolin makes the cleaner easier on the hands, increases its lubricity and film strength and improves corrosion protection if firearms, tools or equipment will be routinely exposed to salt air, water spray, or corrosive urban atmospheres.

I recommend the lanolin included if you intend to use the cleaner as a protectant for long term storage or for a "flush" after water cleaning of black powder firearms or those fired with military chlorate primers. This is because lanolin has a great affinity for water and readily emulsifies so that the bore can be wiped of residual moisture, leaving a protective film. If you inspect your guns and wipe them down twice yearly, you can leave out the lanolin and save about $10 per gallon.

At current retail prices you can buy all the ingredients to mix ER, without the lanolin for about $12 per gallon. I urge you to mix some yourself. I ame yourself. I am confident it will work as well for you as it does for me and hundreds of users who got the "recipe" on the Fidonet Firearms Echo.

CONTENTS: Ed's Red Bore Cleaner

1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.

1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1

1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits

CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.

1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

(Optional 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, or OK to substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store)

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix outdoors, in good ventilation. Use a clean 1 gallon metal, chemical-resistant, heavy gage PET or PVC plastic container. NFPA approved plastic gasoline storage containers are OK. Do NOT use HDPE, which is permeable, because the acetone will slowly evaporate. Acetone in ER will attack HDPE over time, causing the container to collapse, making a heck of a mess!

Add the ATF first. Use the empty container to measure the otherainer to measure the other components, so that it is thoroughly rinsed. If you incorporate the lanolin into the mixture, melt this carefully in a double boiler, taking precautions against fire. Pour the melted lanolin it into a larger container, rinsing the lanolin container with the bore cleaner mix, and stirring until it is all dissolved. I recommend diverting up to 4 ozs. per quart of the 50-50 ATF/kerosene mix to use as "ER-compatible" gun oil. This can be done without impairing the effectiveness of the remaining mix. Label and safety warnings follow:

FIREARM BORE CLEANER

CAUTION: FLAMMABLE MIXTURE -- HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED -- KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Contents: petroleum distillates, surfactants, organometallic antioxidants and acetone.

1. Flammable mixture, keep away from heat, sparks or flame.

2. FIRST AID, If swallowed DO NOT induce vomiting, call physician immediately. In case of eye contact immediately flush thoroughly with water and call a physician. For skin contact wash thoroughly.

3. Use with adequate ventilation. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mist. It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with itsonsistent with its labeling. Reports have associated repeated and prolonged occupational overexposure to solvents with permanent brain and nervous system damage. If using in closed armory vaults lacking forced air ventilation wear respiratory protection meeting NIOSH TC23C or equivalent. Keep container tightly closed when not in use.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE:

1. Open the firearm action and ensure the bore is clear. Cleaning is most effective when done while the barrel is still warm from firing. Saturate a cotton patch with bore cleaner, wrap or impale on jag and push it through the bore from breech to muzzle. The patch should be a snug fit. Let the first patch fall off and do not pull it back into the bore.

2. Wet a second patch, and similarly start it into the bore from the breech, this time scrubbing from the throat area forward in 4-5" strokes and gradually advancing until the patch emerges out the muzzle. Waiting approximately 1 minute to let the bore cleaner soak will improve its action.

3. For pitted, heavily carbon-fouled service rifles, leaded revolvers or neglected bores a bronze brush wet with bore cleaner may be used to remove stubborn deposits. This is unnecessary for smooth, target-grade barrels in routine use.

routine use.

4. Use a final wet patch pushed straight through the bore to flush out loosened residue dissolved by Ed's Red. Let the patch fall off the jag without pulling it back into the bore. If you are finished firing, leaving the bore wet will protect it from rust for 1 year under average atmospheric conditions.

5. If lanolin is incorporated into the mixture, it will protect the firearm from rust for up to two years, even in a humid environment. (For longer storage use Lee Liquid Alox or Cosmolene). "ER" will readily remove hardened Alox or Cosmolene.

6. Wipe spilled Ed's Red from exterior surfaces before storing the gun. While Ed's Red is harmless to blue and nickel finishes, the acetone it contains is harmful to most wood finishes.

7. Before firing again, push two dry patches through the bore and dry the chamber, using a patch wrapped around a suitably sized brush or jag. First shot point of impact usually will not be disturbed by Ed's Red if the bore is cleaned as described.

8. I have determined to my satisfaction that when Ed's Red is used exclusively and thoroughly, that hot water cleaning is unnecessary after use of Pyrodex or military chlorate primers. However, if bores are not wiped between shots and shots and areand shots and are heavily caked from black powder fouling, hot water cleaning is recommended first to break up heavy fouling deposits. Water cleaning should be followed by a flush with Ed's Red to prevent after-rusting which could result from residual moisture. It is ALWAYS good practice to clean TWICE, TWO DAYS APART whenever using chlorate primed ammunition, just to make sure you get all the corrosive residue out.

This "Recipe" has been placed in the public domain, and may be freely distributed provided that it is done so in its entirely with all current revisions, instructions and safety warnings included herein, and that proper attribution is given to the author.

gentle into the night

headhunter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:04 GMT

The wife and I are rolling into the 3 score and five this year , it doesn't seem that long ago we were young. We have every intent to "shelter in place". Trimming a branch out of a tree 22 years ago I took care of my hip.
Living in the country on 6.5 acres, all heavily wooded, three miles from town - staying home seems best.
However, it seemed to be prudent to start to put down on paper other options.
We needed to have more exercise so it was up and off the easy chairs and climb onto grandma's elliptical.
Step two will be to take the travel trailer behind the truck and the transporter behind the Jeep.
Step three will be the ATVs and ATV trailer. Yes, the tent is in good shape, grandpa and the grand kids spent the night in it last spring.
The last and least is grandpa on his bike and grandma on her trike.
No, we shall not go gentle into the night.

For us veterans

Jezcruzen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:49:15 GMT

In another thread, Oldvet and Hozeybuck got me to thinking about something. They got me to thinking about how I remember experiences and even conversations during my military service so many years ago, but can hardly remember what I had for supper last night... and I was the cook!

I spent four years in the Navy back in the early seventies during VN. Although I volunteered for riverine duty and PBRs, I ended up on a DLG (they call them CGs, now - guided missile cruisers) out of Norfolk, Va. right out of RD "A" school.

I spent a bit over three years on that ship, the USS Josephus Daniels, DLG-27, working as an Operations Specialist assigned to the OI Division. I remember so much - the sounds, the laughter, the smells, the profanity :eek: and the jargon.

"Sweepers, sweepers man your brooms..." "The smoking lamp is light..." "Reveille, reveille... all hands heave out and trice up" "General quarters, general quarters. This is not a drill..."

I still keep in touch daily with a number of shipmates. A few of us actually went to sea again a couple of years ago for a few days on a FFG. We can pick up our conversations where they left off, even years before.

On the other hand, I spent 33 years in the fire service after the Navy. I retired as a deputy chief. I saw a lot and did a lot over those years. But now that I am retired, I hardly ever even think about it. Its like it never happened. It all seems vague and even out of focus. Totally unlike those few years aboard that ship.

I don't think that non-vets can ever understand. Thats not any negative against them. Its unexplainable, thats all.

I gather with other vets every Friday downtown at a local monument from 12 noon until 1300 hours for a "support the troops" rally. Today will be week number 526... in a row... regardless of the weather. I am with vets from D-Day to Desert Storm and beyond. Age, service branch... makes no difference. There is that bond, still. Its a very special thing.:usaflag:

New baby chicks

Clarice — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:29:34 GMT

Received our order of 50 new baby chicks this morning. Yea!:congrat:

2-10-12 Free Kindle Download!!

PamsPride — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:07:20 GMT

Snatch these up while they are free! I don't know how long they will be free for! Check the "buy Now" tab before downloading to make sure it is still free. If you don't have a Kindle you can download the Kindle for PC App for free on the Amazon homepage!

The Patriot Paradox

(The Reluctant Hero Series, Book One)
"A plot to kill a nation, hatched by a secret cabal of ex-cold warriors intent on finishing the war that defined their existence. One man, who in a crisis of conscience, passes information about the plot to his brother, a shattered soul living on the edges of society.

When Kurt Vetter learns of his brother's murder, he has no idea how far he will travel, how much he will sacrifice, in order to uncover the truth. With the help of Amanda Carter, a shadowy figure from his brother's past, he races across the globe, staying one step ahead of a trained assassin, in a desperate bid to prevent the unthinkable from becoming reality."

Summoned The Novel

"In the future, a government plan goes awry, only the evil will suffer. Genetic Research Scientist Dr. Michael Stein is summoned by the U.S. Department of Defense and the military, to help build the most advanced Reconnaissance Aerial Vehicle this world has ever known. This part biological and part machine, this unique flying apparatus, will put the U.S. military years ahead in advanced war fare.

Dr. Michael Stein uncovers a secondary plan, which the military has in using his unique abilities to isolate and extract DNA strands; to secretly build something so hideous, that once unleashed, it will cause billions of people to be stung. But only the evil will suffer."

The Path to Freedom (Task Force 125)

"Book 1 in the Task Force 125 Series
In the war on terror...sometimes the best weapon is a woman...
Sarah Stevens is a washed-up military cop whose life is a shambles until she is offered a position as an agent with the CIA.
The thirty-year-old, overweight, down-on-her-luck Stevens goes to a secret training camp where she is transformed into a sexy and deadly agent whose mission is to stop, by any means possible, the financiers of terrorism against the United States and its allies.
Sarah soon discovers that this is an exciting new life loaded with adventure, danger and undeniable temptations�"

This one has been free several times:

State of Rebellion

(A Pug Connor Novel)

explain "10 Meter'...

tinkersdelight — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:01:23 GMT

I'm a novice at this for sure...browsing for comm gear with more range than a CB base station and came across "10 Meter' . Is this really ham or something less and does it have any value in preparedness comm?

Doomsday Prepper has his guns confiscated by the State of TN...

geoffreys7 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:00:45 GMT

Why you shouldn't brag about your preps on TV, he had all his guns taken away and he was held for psyciatric (sp) evaluation after appearing on a prepper show: :(

You Tube

"The State of Tennessee and a Cardiologist have ended the need for me to prep. To a person of my political beliefs this might as well be a life in prison sentence. I can now no longer work with the schools or target practice with my guns (one of the few sports I could still do) Therefore
Prepping for me has come to a end, as everyone knows there is no since putting up food and other things without a means to defend them. I CAN NOT AFFORD an attorney and the only person who can expunge the record wont (the Governor of Tennessee) I do not know when or if I will be able to return at this time. "

The Dreaded List

UncleJoe — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:42:56 GMT

The idea that TPTB are created and scrutinizing lists of potential "terrorist" activity based on the ridiculous notion that having food reserves, guns, ammo or hiding their true identity behind screen names such as we use here, is a subject that comes up often on forums and blogs that deal with the ideals of liberty, personal freedom and self reliance.
Of course, most people don't want to be singled out as the one that creates waves of dissent or disapproval in the way things are run even if things are being run full steam towards a precipice with an abyss at the far edge.

So what is one to do to prevent themselves from being included on the dreaded "LIST?"

NOTHING!

In fact, a viable option may be for EVERYONE to make waves. Turn that list into such volume that the Library of Congress would have a hard time hosting it. This forum alone has over 10,000 members. Let's say half of these members have made at least 1 post that addresses the problems facing the world. Now, how many forums like this are there? Then there are 1000's of blogs with millions of followers, all discussing the dire state of the system.
When the "list" turns into a country in itself with millions of names on it, the time it would take to go through and assess the potential threat for each name would be overwhelming at the very least. So what do TPTB do when their list becomes unmanageable? Maybe start a new list with more targeted results in mind. Of course just starting a thread like this will probably put me on the new list :rolleyes:
The point is, nobody here is doing anything wrong so why should we hide and fear reprisals from the .gov for trying to distance ourselves and become less reliant on a system that is beyond corrupt?

BTW. HAPPY FEDERAL RESERVE!! :D

Tire Potato Planter.

dragon5126 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:22:40 GMT

I'm a bit miffed, The pics I had of this seem to have been eaten by the pic gremlin. I cant take credit for the idea just a modification of it.

It seems the one thing most of us have in common is limited space for gardening. Raised gardens produce more but still take square footage. here is a simple one that takes less space that I gleaned and tried from on the net. Simply put stack some tires, the bigger they are the better, fill them with some loamy soil and plant potatoes in them. Remember spuds like loose sandy soil that is full of vegetable matter (peat). What I did is stack three with two fence posts keeping them together,,, I cut most of the side wall out on the top of the bottom tire, both sides of the middle and top to allow more surface area and drilled drain holes in all the remaining sidewall areas except on the bottom one. This allowed the bottom tire to retain water without flooding the spuds out. Others have commented on adding the second and third tire and more soil as the spuds sprout and grow I havent tried this yet and intend to this year but have had a substanitai crop in this set up. to harvest just remove a tire at a time ans scoop the soil into a container to save it, then whe done reassemble and refill, cover for the next season unless you are in the perpetual growth belt, where I would suggest planting a different root crop to keep the soil fresh as crop rotation is very important. and remember, keep a compost pile and add red worms to it to reduce the need for fertilizer (and having to buy fish bait)

What is your cash crop?

RevWC — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:41:43 GMT

When SHTF :shtf: what is your cash crop? What do you have that you can barter with to fulfill your needs?

10 Things You Should Know About The Federal Reserve

UncleJoe — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:27:09 GMT

Haven't brought up the Fed for awhile and we wouldn't want to slip off their radar now would we? Follow the link to read the commentary under each heading.

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/10-things-that-every-american-should-know-about-the-federal-reserve

#1 The Federal Reserve System Is A Privately Owned Banking Cartel

#2 The Federal Reserve System Is A Perpetual Debt Machine

#3 The Federal Reserve Has Destroyed More Than 96% Of The Value Of The U.S. Dollar

#4 The Federal Reserve Can Bail Out Whoever It Wants To With No Accountability

#5 The Federal Reserve Is Paying Banks Not To Lend Money

#6 The Federal Reserve Creates Artificial Economic Bubbles That Are Extremely Damaging

#7 The Federal Reserve System Is Dominated By The Big Wall Street Banks

#8 It Is Not An Accident That We Saw The Personal Income Tax And The Federal Reserve System Both Come Into Existence In 1913

#9 The Current Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, Has A Nightmarish Track Record Of Incompetence

#10 The Federal Reserve Has Become Way Too Powerful

New Virginia Law

RainBoKatchr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:34:00 GMT

This may be off topic, for that I am sorry. BUT I have to get this out!
PORTSMOUTH, Va (Reuters) - Citizens of Virginia could legally use deadly force in self defense against a home intruder under a proposed law approved on Thursday by the state House of Delegates.

The Republican-majority House voted 70-28 in favor of a state law that any physical force, including deadly force, is justified self-defense against an intruder.

The intruder must commit an "overt act" toward the occupant or other person in the dwelling which makes the occupant reasonably believe that they or the other person is in imminent danger of bodily injury.

In another piece of legislation the House passed Thursday, an occupant would be immune from civil liability for injuries or death caused to the intruder.

A number of states enacted what became known as "make my day" laws in the 1980s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Laws on self defense, property and premises vary, but most states have some form of legal protection, according to an NCSL research paper.

Under Florida's 2006 law, a person being attacked has no duty to retreat and can return "force with force" with immunity from criminal prosecution.

Some states, such as Delaware, permit deadly force in the defense of property even when an occupant is not at risk of being harmed.

Opponents said the laws harken back to the so-called "Wild West" when nearly everyone carried a gun, and are unnecessary because those they seek to protect are already protected by common law.

The Virginia measure would turn the state into an uncivilized society, Democratic Delegate Scott Surovell said on Thursday.

"It turns it (Virginia) into a spaghetti western (movie)," he said.

Republican Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark, citing the story of an 82-year-old female constituent who pulled a gun on an intruder in the dead of night, said the measure was just extra protection for law-abiding citizens.

"He (the intruder) took her (the constituent) to court for shooting at him, and he won," Crockett-Stark said.

The state Senate passed its version of the legislation last week, but the House version approved on Thursday would still need to pass the Senate before going to the governor.

Republican Governor Bob McDonnell has not said whether he will sign it into law.

----------------------

Sorry but AAAAHHHHHHGGGGGG!!!!

Sorry, but if some fool breaks into my home that is enough of an "overt act" for me to stomp this roach into a grease spot! No law is going to stand in my way of protecting my family!

Thanks for reading.

PreparedSociety Decals

Austin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:42:56 GMT

Would there be any interest in PreparedSociety decals? Would be similar to the logo.