Stealth Survival

Memorial Day - 2012

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Remembering those who served our country....

Being Prepared for a Crisis or an Emergency - The 90% Solution

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:01:00 +0000

The advantages of being prepared for a crisis or an emergency should not be overlooked. Knowing that you will be ready if a disaster or sudden crisis should strike unexpectedly is a very comforting feeling. Being well prepared to handle a crisis or an emergency is the best insurance you and your family can have. With proper planning, you can solve 90% of your problems before a crisis happens.

One of the biggest advantages of being prepared is the peace of mind that being prepared gives you. Having a plan in place to handle a crisis or an emergency isn’t that difficult to accomplish but it can reward you with a sense of well-being that is hard to beat. Even when you consider all the different “what if’s” that could occur, you will at least have a plan in place that will allow you to respond to the vast majority of situations in a practical manner.

It’s important to develop different techniques and strategies for surviving a crisis or an emergency that will allow you and your family to remain intact and safe. In the vast majority of cases, you may already have the necessary resources to survive. You will need a plan to effectively manage those resources until more become available. This requires planning and that normally involves time and effort on your part to be successful. Being prepared is about being ready for the unexpected events that can happen in our lives.

Proper planning will also give you the ability to handle a crisis if your resources become limited. Even if the unexpected does happen, you can have a simple guideline in place that will allow you to respond to the crisis in a responsible and positive manner. This will help you solve the vast majority of problems in a crisis or emergency before they reach a critical stage.

Got a plan?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Backyard Bushcraft - Apex Predator of the Insect World - Hippodamia Convergens

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Ladybugs are one of the most commonly recognized of all the beneficial insects and are considered an apex predator in the insect world. They have few natural enemies other than the carpet beetle and have an excellent defense mechanism. They can be a gardener’s best friend and an ally in controlling other insect populations.

Ladybugs have a voracious appetite for aphids and will consume a large amount of aphids during their lifetime. Ladybugs also eat a wide variety of other insects as well. They are beneficial in controlling chinch bugs, whiteflies, mites and other soft-bodied insects and larvae. This can help to reduce your reliance on chemical pest control methods in the garden.

Ladybugs also produce an offensive odor for repelling predators through a process which is sometimes called “reflexive bleeding”. They can actually exude small amounts of blood which contains a toxic alkaloid. They are also brightly colored in a manner that also helps to deter predators. There offensive smell normally doesn’t affect humans.

It’s also important to remember that ladybugs do not feed on wooden structures or any type of stored food products.

Got ladybugs?

Riverwalker

Mrs. RW's Potatoes from the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Mrs. RW recently harvested a couple of rows of potatoes from the garden. She said it was comforting to know that she could at least grow a little something to eat. She usually grows a couple of different types of potatoes for variety. She's also starting to harvest a few ears of corn from the garden but usually tries to pick the ears of corn straight off the stalk before a meal.

Gardening is one of Mrs. RW's best survival skills.

Got potatoes from the garden?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Berkey Guy Announces New Website Look and Features

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The Berkey Guy will be launching their new website on May 21, 2012! The website address will remain the same but have a new look and some great new features to enhance your shopping experience. They will continue to offer some of the best products on the market for water purification along with other great preparedness items.

Visit http://www.directive21.com/ to view their website’s new look and features.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Tree Cactus Squirrel

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Even the smallest of nature's creatures knows the value of thorny plants for protection.

Got cactus?

Riverwalker

Dealing with Appetite Fatigue - The Common Sense Approach

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Appetite fatigue can actually overpower your feelings of hunger. Your mind and your body may simply refuse to eat if you develop appetite fatigue. This simple fact could cause some very serious issues with your ability to survive. If food supplies become severely limited, you will need to have a plan to avoid appetite fatigue. It is a problem that can be dealt with if you use some common sense. Your meal planning, your food storage and your cooking techniques all play an important role in avoiding the dangers of appetite fatigue.

Meal Planning

Planning your meals can be a critical component of the ability to maintain a diet that is effective for your survival and helps to avoid appetite fatigue. One of the main areas where you should focus your efforts is in portion control. Proper portion control actually deals with two major areas of your meal planning.

The first area of concern deals with cooking too large a portion of a single food item. This can create a condition that is aptly called “left-over syndrome”. This is most often exemplified by the annual Thanksgiving turkey dinner. We prepare a bountiful feast that couldn’t possibly be consumed in a single day. In the process of trying to avoid wasting excess food, we continue to eat that food item in the form of “left-overs”. We often try to consume what’s left before it can go bad in order to avoid waste. This is quite often an unsuccessful attempt. In the process of cooking too much, we actually risk developing an avoidance of that food item.

The second area of concern usually deals with individual portion control. By controlling individual portions of a food item, you avoid the risk of consuming too much of a particular item. This could lead to an avoidance of that particular food item. It’s much easier to serve smaller portions and then serve a snack or dessert item to give the meal a little additional variety and added calorie content.

Food Storage

A commonly overlooked part of a well-stocked food pantry is comfort foods. Comfort foods can be a wide variety of items from chocolate to hard candies. It can also include dehydrated fruits or nuts. While quite often these are not the best item in terms of shelf life, they are an important factor in keeping morale high and stress low. In the stress created by a survival situation, the positive effects of these foods will become very important. Comfort foods will also be vitally important when young children may be a part of the equation. Even simple things like canned fruit can be a big appetite enhancer and help you to avoid appetite fatigue. Comfort foods may even help to increase your awareness and your energy levels.

Cooking Techniques

People are guided by their senses. We use our senses of smell, sight, touch and taste in our environment on a daily basis. Our senses form the foundation for our reactions to everything we do, including eating. This can be an important consideration when preparing meals that will help you avoid appetite fatigue.

We like to touch our food almost as much as we like to eat it. This is something every young child has demonstrated time and again. It’s always a lot better if they can push it into their mouths with their stubby little fingers, especially if they’ve had a chance to squeeze it a little first. This can also be seen in the popularity of the simple sandwich. We not only get to eat it but we get to hold it in our hands and may be a direct result of our younger days. This also accounts for the popularity of certain “finger foods” like French fries. We then derive an almost symbiotic pleasure from its consumption. The touch factor can become almost as important as the taste.

The taste factor is also important. Any meals you prepare must also satisfy our taste buds. Seasonings will make all the difference in the world in satisfying this aspect of our appetite. Properly seasoned food can make a big difference but only if it is done correctly and in the proper proportion. Too much seasoning can also ruin a meal, especially where basic seasonings like salt and pepper are involved.

The smell factor can also play a significant role. We have an automatic defense reaction to things that smell bad. This reaction is a part of our basic survival instincts. We automatically think in terms of illness or death prior to the consumption of anything that smells bad. Any meals we consume must have an appealing smell or we may find ourselves automatically rejecting that food item.

Meals must also appeal to our sense of sight. If it looks good, we tell ourselves it should taste good also. We have even developed conditioned responses to many food items because of their appearance. A pile of plain mashed potatoes is much more appealing to our sense of sight when they're smothered with a little brown gravy.

All of these factors can play a significant role in providing meals that allow you to avoid the problems associated with appetite fatigue. It’s important to remember that some people tolerate a lack of variety better than others. Having a plan to deal with appetite fatigue will help you avoid its problems.

Got appetite?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Frugal Prepping - Using Off Season Marketing to Save Money

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Preppers are notorious for finding ways to save money. They will learn to grow, build or make what they need in order to get by the cheapest way possible. It’s also necessary to buy certain things because it’s cheaper than making your own or you may simply not have the skills or time to do otherwise. So what’s a prepper going to do in this case? Simply take advantage of the “off season” marketing practices of the big box stores.

Many of the big box stores use a very familiar marketing concept that we often forget about. If you let yourself get trapped by the “got to have it now” mentality, your pocket book will suffer as a result. The trick is to save money by altering your spending habits to take advantage of this situation. Buying your preps during the off season will normally save you a bunch of cash.

Now buying blankets and coats in the summertime isn’t the usual practice for a lot of people but that is when you’re going to find the bargains. There will even be times when special circumstances can create a lot of bargains if you look for them. Last year’s drought in Texas is a good example. The lack of rain dropped the demand for rain gear to all time lows and there were some amazing bargains on good quality raingear. Even those cheap plastic raincoats were at almost give-away prices. This fact was not lost on yours truly and some normally high priced and expensive rain gear was picked up at ridiculously low prices. Quality items at a bargain price are definitely worth the extra effort.

Different times of the year will offer you different opportunities. There’s practically a season for most anything you may need for your preps. Everything from canning jars to shotgun shells can often be found at bargain prices during the off season. There may even be some additional items due to overstocking that may also be available. By altering your spending habits a little, you can often save a lot.

The big box stores even make it easy for you. They will often mark down whole sections of merchandise at the end of the regular sales season for those items. This will make it easier for you to spot the bargains and save money on items you may need. While you’re checking for “off season” specials don’t forget to check the close-out deals that may be available on other store merchandise as well.

Got “off season” savings?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Hidden Danger of Long Term Food Storage

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:58:00 +0000

There should always be good variety in your long term food storage. If your long term food storage is not done properly, you could find yourself suffering from a very real threat to your survival. Basic long term food storage must be done in an efficient manner in order to avoid the very real danger of appetite fatigue.

Appetite fatigue occurs when there is plenty of food available but there is a lack of variety in your diet. This is the old “mind over matter” dilemma. Your mind will eventually tell your body that it is not going to eat the same thing again. As a result, you may find yourself losing your appetite. This will cause you to start eating less, even when there may be adequate food supplies present for your consumption. This could ultimately endanger your ability to survive.

This is where the hidden danger lies. Even though you may have adequate long term food storage, you will need to have a variety of food items to avoid the problems associated with appetite fatigue. While basic food staples are good to have on hand, you will need to incorporate various other food items into the planning associated with your long term food storage needs.

A combination of food storage items that includes different spices and seasonings, flavorings, and sauce packets can help to avoid the problems caused by appetite fatigue. You would do well to also stock both canned and dehydrated food items that will give you a greater variety and more choices in your diet. If you have decent gardening skills, you could also plan to supplement your food storage with fresh vegetables and herbs from a garden.

Appetite fatigue could also be called the “left-over syndrome”. How many times have you eaten more than one meal as a result of left-overs? How many times have you thrown food away simply because your family simply refuses to eat the same thing again? It simply goes bad because everyone refuses to eat it again because they want something different.

Variety is the spice of life. If you fail to maintain some variety in your food storage program, you may risk the development of appetite fatigue.

Got herbs and spices?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Nest Egg

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:16:00 +0000

Nest Egg

Got nest egg?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Preparedness Information - The Preparedness Radio Network

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:42:00 +0000

My good friend John from Destiny Survival hosts a weekly radio program on the Preparedness Radio Network. This site is a great resource for information on a variety of preparedness topics and it offers a great way to stay up to date on some of the most recent happenings in the world of preparedness.

Plans are also in progress to do another interview about being prepared with John for the Preparedness Radio Network. More information will be forthcoming once a date for the interview has been set. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Preparedness Radio Network yet, you may want to check out my most recent interview with John from Destiny Survival here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2012/03/08/destiny-survival-radio

Got Preparedness Radio Network?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review -“Joshua” by John S. Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:59:00 +0000

The will to survive can be shaped by many things. In John S. Wilson’s book Joshua,the will to survive grows out of a relationship between a man and a small boy. In a world turned upside down by chaos and anarchy, their struggle to survive unites them in a common goal...that of survival. This creates “the tie that binds” and together they face the challenges of everyday life that almost seem insurmountable at times.

Together, the man and Joshua, deal with both unlikely friends and inhuman foes in their travels. The book reveals a stunning look at the best and the worst of human nature as they journey towards their goal of hopefully being able to reunite with the only family they may have left in a world where everything has changed.

Here is a brief excerpt from his book:

“All around the nation it was the same. The rioting and killing started in the densely populated urban areas but quickly spilled into the suburbs and then out into the countryside, the blood following the line of the highways like water obeying gravity.”

This book is not your usual post-apocalyptic novel. It leaves you with a good feeling. It shows that even despite what seems like impossible odds, we can survive. It also reveals that our survival depends as much on our morals and strength of character as it does food and water.

This is John Wilson’s first novel and hopefully there will be more books forthcoming in the future. “Joshua” is a quick and easy read and is a nice change of pace from the usual “doom and gloom” of similar novels. It makes you think very hard about your survival and what you would or wouldn’t do in order to survive.

John has the first five chapters of his book available for preview here:

http://joshua-johnwilson.blogspot.com/2011/07/joshua-by-john-wilson.html

You can also visit John's blog here:

http://wilson--blog.blogspot.com/

Riverwalker highly recommends Joshuaby John S. Wilson.

Got “Joshua”?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Snakes on a Stick

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:43:00 +0000

Snakes on a Stick

It seems that "Staying above the water line!" is very popular with a lot of creatures...including snakes.

Got snakes on a stick?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Frugal Prepping - Testing Used Survival Gear for Reliability and Function

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:55:00 +0000

Most preppers are on a pretty tight budget when it comes to obtaining all the survival gear they may need. One of the best ways to save money is to take advantage of yard and garage sales in your area. Quite often you can find fairly decent gear items at bargain prices that have very little wear and tear. It’s very important to remember that used gear items need to be tested prior to being needed in a survival situation.

Many times flaws and problems with different items of used gear may not be readily apparent. If you fail to do a proper check of that gear, you may find yourself in a survival situation without a reliable resource. The time to check your gear for proper function is before it’s needed in a crisis. Here are some simple tips that can be used to check used gear before you purchase it to find out if it can function in a reliable capacity that will aid in your survival.

Testing Used Survival Gear for Reliability and Function

1. Always check used survival gear to make sure all the parts for proper functioning are included. - Quite often gear items can be found that appear “new and unused” that are still in the box. This may be a bargain but it can also be a money trap. Many times items are purchased and never used. Parts may be missing that even the seller may be unaware of simply because they’ve never checked. It may even have been a gift that was never opened. Whatever the case may be, always check to make sure everything is included. You may have difficulty obtaining or making a replacement part to restore proper function.

2. Always check used gear items in case they can be quickly and easily repaired. - Many times used gear items can be easily repaired to restore proper function. It may even be as simple as replacing a dead battery, a zipper or some other minor repair that is easily performed. A used tent may simply need some additional water-proofing of the seams to make it a reliable piece of equipment.

3. Always check used survival gear to see if it can be used to repair a broken gear item to make it functional. - Don’t automatically discount a broken gear item you may come across. Sometimes the parts from broken gear can be used to fix other items of gear you may already have in your inventory. You can even bargain for a lower price if something is missing and may even be able to get it for free.

4. Always check the primary function of the used gear item. - If the used gear item won’t perform its primary function, it will be of no use in a survival situation. That used manual can opener you bought for 10 cents as a backup is worthless if it won’t even open a can. Any type of used survival gear should be able to perform its primary function or it’s just a collection of spare parts you may never use.

5. Always perform a “real world” test of used gear for proper function and reliability. - Spraying water from a hose on a used tent may not make cause it to leak but setting it up in the backyard during a thunderstorm will let you know real quick if it’s going to perform as needed in a survival situation. Don’t be afraid to be a “little” abusive when testing used survival gear. In a “real” survival situation, that used gear will almost certainly have to be pushed to its limits.

Buying used survival gear can be a great way to cut down on your equipment costs. As long as you check to make sure it functions properly or can be easily and simply repaired, it can be an excellent way to improve your survival resources when on a tight budget.

Got used tent in a thunder storm?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mrs. RW's Flower Pics - Day Lily

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 06 May 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Day Lily

Here's a high resolution pic of another one of Mrs. RW's flowers. She works very hard to keep her garden and her yard looking its best. She's extremely proud of both.

It's also a great opportunity for me to practice my camera skills. Enjoy the pic!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Security Landscaping - The Path of Least Resistance

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:15:00 +0000

Controlling unwanted visitors is an important part of any defense mechanism you may try to establish to provide a greater level of security. While you will not be able to fully control unwanted visitors completely, you can seek to influence their approach and hopefully send them in a direction that will place them at a severe disadvantage. Hopefully, you can then guide them into a more protected area or a position with better defenses that will allow you to stop the intrusion.

While using plants for protection can be an important and vital part of security landscaping, there are other means that can be equally effective and only require a little advance planning, a few basic raw materials or some relatively inexpensive equipment. One of the methods that is quite effective can be achieved by creating a “path of least resistance”.

Human nature is sometimes very predictable. Our behavior quite often forms a basic pattern that can be used to create an advantage over possible intruders. Almost everyone will try to find the easiest manner in which to do something and individuals seeking to violate your security are no exception. This is a typical behavior in most cases in which people will normally seek the easiest way possible to achieve their goals. It is a very normal pattern of behavior that causes us to seek the path of least resistance.

There are numerous ways you can work to create a “path of least resistance”. One of the easiest and quite often overlooked means is through the use of signs. Probably one of the best known signs used by many people is the “Beware of Dog” sign that is found posted in the yards of many homeowners. Most unwelcome visitors will automatically seek a different path in order to avoid what may be a significant problem. Other signs can also be used just as effectively. You can literally stop a person in their tracks with the right type of sign. Utility companies use this practice everyday to prevent people from “messing around” in areas where they aren’t wanted. All it takes is a sign that says “High Voltage” and people will automatically stop or reverse their course quickly. Even a simple sign indicating your premises are monitored by cameras or a security system can act as a deterrent to unwanted visitors.

Strategically placed lighting can be equally effective in creating a “path of least resistance”. You can literally guide unwanted intruders down a specific path as they seek to avoid detection that could be caused by entering a well lighted area of your yard. You can further compound their problems with motion sensitive lighting that they will be unaware of while trying to avoid more obvious lighting in your yard.

Passive barriers can also work to your advantage and help to create a “path of least resistance”. A large rock, a fence, or even a large concrete yard ornament when placed in a strategic position can cause them to change their direction to an area where you will have the advantage. Being in control of a situation is always preferable in maintaining your security. Controlling the movements of an unwanted visitor without them realizing it will place them in a vulnerable position that you can always use to your advantage.

Controlling the manner of approach and direction of an unwanted visitor is just one of the ways you can increase the level of your home security with the proper landscaping. When you maintain control of the area around your home, the advantage will always be yours.

Got Stealth Security?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mrs. RW's Flower Pics

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Rose of Sharon

Mrs. RW thought it was about time to post a picture of some of her flowers. She's got a couple of green thumbs and can grow just about anything. Although there can be danger in nature, there can also be a quiet beauty that is unmatched by anything man can create.

Got quiet beauty?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

MRE’s, Water Filters, Paracord & Other Survival Gear

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:53:00 +0000

CampingSurvival.com is owned by JHL Supply. This is a veteran-owned, family business that was started in 1956. They are a great source for camping supplies, hiking and survival gear and survival food products. They offer a great range of products for preppers, hikers, campers and survivalists.

If you need MRE’s , paracord, a water filter system or simply want a basic first aid kit or an emergency kit for yourself or your family, CampingSurvival.com is the place to go to find some really great products. They also offer helpful tips and suggestions to help you make an informed buying decision. This will help you get the right product for your needs.

They also offer several unique food items such as Red Feather Canned Butter and Yoder’s Canned Bacon . When it comes to survival, it’s hard to go very long without these two basic food items.

Whether you’re a prepper, a dedicated camper, an avid hiker or a die-hard survivalist, CampingSurvival.com can help you find everything you need to be better prepared.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Ten Simple Survival Tips

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

During a disaster or crisis, remembering a few simple survival tips may help you to handle the situation more effectively and efficiently. This will help to maximize your chances for survival.

Ten Simple Survival Tips

1. Remember that disasters don’t follow a timetable and can happen at any time.

2. Major goals are more easily achieved by dividing them into smaller ones.

3. Information is critical and you need to stay as well informed as possible.

4. Without proper maintenance, your equipment may fail when needed the most.

5. It’s important to always keep extra food and water readily available.

6. During a disaster, be prepared for things to change quickly and suddenly.

7. Surviving can be difficult but it can be a lot harder if you do something stupid.

8. During a disaster, emergency services will take longer than normal to respond.

9. Surviving a disaster is easier to achieve when you are prepared for change.

10. Never underestimate your own abilities and maintain a positive attitude.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Firewheels

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Firewheel

The above picture shows a close-up view of a Texas wildflower that is commonly known as Indian Blanket or Firewheel. It is also the state wildflower of Oklahoma.

Firewheels are quite prolific in the early part of summer and will cover the land like a blanket.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Is “Doomsday Preppers” Doomed?

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:39:00 +0000

While the show has some good points, it’s still TV and needs to be entertaining in order for NATGeo to get viewers and advertising dollars. The program has created additional awareness about prepping and the need to be prepared but they have also sensationalized prepping to the point where they may have difficulty finding preppers to participate in their program.

After visiting several serious preppers and a couple of beginners in my area, many of my prepper friends seem to be making a decision to avoid the possibility of subjecting themselves to being viewed as extremists on the fringe of society. Many stated they wouldn’t mind talking about their own level of expertise in certain areas. They also stated they wouldn’t mind giving advice and sharing ideas about prepping. They were also pretty clear that they weren’t about to reveal any specific information about their level of preps. No way! No how!

Even a pretty serious prepper like me has picked up a few tips from the show but there have also been some things that didn’t quite make sense to me from a practical standpoint. The show’s producers may also have realized that the “average” prepper isn’t going to have the “shock” value for their audience. They may have also used their editorial control to the point where the preppers involved may have been seriously misrepresented in their prepping efforts for the sake of higher TV ratings. Not a good thing in my estimation.

There are plenty of gardening and other types of programs that are a more accurate portrayal of the types of basic activities preppers are regularly involved in on TV already. After all, how much entertainment value can you get out of a kitty litter bucket used as a nesting box for your chickens? This might be interesting to people raising chickens but probably not everyone.

Personally there is no problem for me when it comes to sharing ideas and advice with other like-minded individuals, just don’t ask for specific details about my level of preps, my address or my bug out locations. That’s private information and known to only a trusted few.

Perhaps the program will make a turnaround and show more of the “common sense” approach to prepping and focus more on the practical aspects. Including a few more basic prepping tips and the various things that can be done to be better prepared would be a good start. The value of being more self-reliant and better prepared is an important aspect of prepping and should probably be given more attention and focus. They might also want to treat persons involved in prepping with a little more respect and consideration. There are a lot more preppers out there than they may realize and they may be missing an opportunity for an even bigger audience.

In recent months, there has been a significant increase in the number of prepper blogs and websites. The prepper movement is growing and will continue to grow. A more accurate portrayal of prepping may make a more interesting program than they realize.

Even one of the most recent episodes was just a montage of previous shows and may be a sign that they are having difficulty finding preppers to profile. While the need to get others more involved in the prepping community is an admirable goal, going on national TV may not be the best way to do it. It appears that there may be an increasingly negative reaction from the prepper community as result.

Is “Doomsday Preppers” going to survive?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Planning Ahead - Shelter and the Shovel - A Story of Real Life Survival

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:21:00 +0000

A close family member used to tell a story that has a valuable lesson for everyone. While serving in the Navy, he did a tour of duty in a place called Adak, Alaska. It was pretty cold, windy and snowed a lot.

He was a storekeeper and was in charge of a large warehouse with all kinds of supplies for the military base. The most popular items requested were always blankets, boots and booze. There were also lots of other items in the warehouse. The most important of which was snow shovels.

His story was really quite short. It left you with the sort of feeling that if you failed to plan ahead, you may not survive very long. It’s the simple things you fail to prepare for that will quite literally ruin your chances for survival. Here is that story.

“He looked up and saw a new recruit entering the warehouse. He knew immediately that he was going to have to drag out some blankets and boots. He doubted the rookie, who had just entered the building, knew what he was in for now that he had arrived at base. He knew the extreme weather conditions could be a real “SOB”. He also knew most raw recruits doing their first tour of duty had no idea of what they were going to be in for now that they had arrived.

The rookie walked up to his desk and reported that he was here to pick up his gear and presented the standard requisition form. He took the form and proceeded to tear it up. The rookie spoke up quickly saying, “Sir, why are you doing that?” He then stated, “Forget all this stuff son. You won’t be needing most of it anyway. Besides, I’ve already got your gear ready and waiting for you in that pile right over there.”

The rookie looked at the pile of gear and the first thing he noticed was a shovel. He hadn’t requested a shovel and had already seen lots of shovels stacked inside the doorways of most of the buildings already.

He then remarked, “But sir, I shouldn’t need a shovel because I’ve already seen plenty of shovels inside most of the buildings already. Besides that, I’ve seen the heavy equipment outside and it’s a lot more efficient in moving snow than a man with a shovel.”

The grizzled old veteran looked at the rookie and could only shake his head. The rookie had given very little thought to his present situation. It was time to tell him about the way things really are and what the rookie was about to experience. He then instructed the rookie to take a seat while he explained how things worked in the real world.

The grizzled old veteran took a few moments to get his thoughts together and then went on to explain a few things to the rookie.

“You see son, life requires you to plan ahead if you want to survive. You’ve already noticed all the shovels everywhere and you should have realized that they must be important. You can look at your pile of gear and there’s another shovel for you there also.” The rookie responded, “I didn’t even include a shovel on my original requisition form you tore up.”

The old man responded, “Of course not, the newbies never do. But that’s because you don’t know what you’re up against and it’s my job to make sure you have the equipment you need to survive. This place can be one of the coldest and most God-forsaken places on earth and if you’re not prepared, the weather will kill you faster than the enemy. When we get a bad blizzard, it gets bad enough to make a polar bear cry and they’re a lot better equipped to handle the weather than you are. You need to remember that we need shelter to protect us from those really bad blizzards and snow storms.” The new recruit then asked, “But how’s a shovel going to help me survive?”

Once again the old veteran spoke to the rookie. “It’s like this son. When we get a blizzard, you’re going to need that shovel because it’s going to be needed to dig your way out of here.” The rookie briefly interrupted saying “There are already plenty of shovels and therefore I shouldn’t need one.” The old veteran just shook his head and then continued with his explanation.

“Hopefully, there will be two things that you will learn while you’re stationed here. The first thing you need to learn is that everyone is expected to do their share. That’s why everyone, including you, gets a shovel. The second thing you need to learn is that when there’s only one way in, you need to have a plan for getting out. Otherwise, a box with only way in is only going to become a coffin.”

The rookie rose slowly from his seat and walked over to the pile of gear and picked up his shovel. On his way out of the warehouse the old veteran heard him say just one word, “Thanks.”

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping Skills - Being Prepared by Being Organized

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:11:00 +0000

The first stages of almost any type of crisis will be very chaotic. Chaos also breeds confusion and disorder. This is when an already bad situation will get worse. There will be numerous things that will need to be done quickly and efficiently if you are going to minimize the effects of a crisis. Time will become your enemy. Being organized will help you utilize your time more effectively.

There is a simple saying that can guide you in becoming more organized. It’s been around a long time and many people fail to realize the value of the rather simple guidelines it sets forth.

“A place for everything and everything in its place.”

The last thing you will need to be doing in a crisis is conducting a search and recovery mission in your own home and most probably in the dark. It’s a lot simpler to designate space for needed items in advance and keep them there when not in use. You can develop the habit of going to that location to retrieve them and in a crisis your actions will become almost automatic. This will save valuable time in a crisis.

Even organized chaos is preferable to the disorder and confusion that can occur if you aren’t properly organized. It can also be applied to all areas of your prepping efforts. A properly organized BOB will be more efficient in most cases, cover a wider range of needs and perhaps be somewhat lighter in many cases. A properly organized system of food storage and rotation will help to eliminate needless waste, will save you money and be vastly more efficient. An organized plan for getting all family members together in a crisis will help to minimize the confusion. The time to get organized is before a crisis happens or be prepared for the confusion and disorder that will occur.

How do your organization skills “stack up”?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Creepy Crawler

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Creepy Crawler

Got creepy crawlers?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Homesteading Information - Identifying Caterpillars in Field, Forage and Horticultural Crops

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:23:00 +0000

One of the major factors that can affect your garden is the little pests that invade your gardens. They can totally devastate your crops and ruin the yield you may obtain from your garden. It is also important to remember that many of them are also toxic and can cause severe bites or irritating skin conditions if you aren’t careful to use gloves or other means of protection to avoid inadvertent contact.

Not only can they damage your crops but they can damage you as well. It helps to be well informed as to what these pests look like and the dangers they may pose to avoid an unpleasant situation.

The hickory tussock moth is just one example. It starts its life as a white caterpillar and it has a set of black tufts along the middle of the back. It also has a black head. They normally feed on the leaves of hickory, pecan and ash trees, among others. They are considered venomous and can inflict a painful rash if they are improperly handled.

Staying well-informed about the pests that can affect both you and your garden will help you to maintain more control over your garden and its yield. It will also help you avoid those “unpleasant situations” when you come into contact with these pests in your garden.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service has an excellent brochure entitled

“Identifying Caterpillars in Field, Forage and Horticultural Crops”

It is available for download at this link:

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1121/ANR-1121.pdf

You can also view the most dangerous caterpillars at this link:

The Twenty Most Toxic Caterpillars

Information is always a critical part of survival and should be given a priority status in your planning.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker