Destiny Survival

Put Your Own Storage Food in Your Survival Pantry

John Wesley Smith — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:13:21 +0000

The March/April, 2013 “Backwoods Home Magazine” (Issue #140) gives you advice on how to put your own storage food in your survival pantry. It’s part of the “Food Security 101″ series. I’ve put an excerpt below for you.

Food security 101, part 3: Why I love my vacuum sealer (and more)

By Rowena Aldridge

In parts one and two (Issues #138 and #139), we covered basics and homemade convenience foods. Now that you’ve become so proficient at making delicious, nutritious, and economical foods for your family, how in the world are you going to store it all? How will you keep it from losing quality and going bad?

I do this by making frequent use of my FoodSaver® vacuum sealer. It’s my BFF — best friend forever — when it comes to food storage.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/aldridge140.html

Excerpt used with permission of Backwoods Home Magazine.
http://www.backwoodshome.com 1-800-835-2418.

Find vacuum sealers and canning supplies at Pantry Paratus.

Get more info on building your survival pantry in The Prepper’s Cookbook, by Tess Pennington or Meals in a Jar, by Julie Languille.

Which kitchen tool or gadget do you find most helpful for preparing and storing food? Leave a comment and help others build a survival pantry.

Prepare Magazine Offers Hope and Help for Preppers Like You

John Wesley Smith — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:01:18 +0000

The world seems to be getting crazier every day. You already see a need to prepare for strange and difficult times, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now. But prepping can get overwhelming and downright frightening, especially if you’re just starting out. Or sometimes you just need a little boost along the way no matter how long you’ve been prepping.

Enter “Prepare Magazine.” It offers hope and help to preppers and seeks to lend encouragement and helpful motivation. On yesterday’s DestinySurvival Radio I spoke with Joseph Miller, founder and chief visionary officer behind the magazine. “Prepare Magazine” is celebrating its first anniversary. While it’s had its share of growing pains, Joseph and his staff are moving forward, and you’ll want to be in on it.

The Man and the Mission

To give you some perspective on the magazine, let me tell you a little about Joseph. He’s not new to preparedness. He felt a call to prepare over 20 years ago, and since that time, he and his wife, Donna, have been on the Preparedness journey.

By the way, you may know Donna from Millers Grain House and Your Preparation Station on the Preparedness Radio Network. I’ve been on her show a few times, and she’s been on mine.

Joseph’s background is in community service. He served over 20 years in a not for profit organization helping families and children. Then he spent some time in the corporate world, which gave him a different kind of knowledge and training. It all worked to bring him to where he is today.

His call to prepare gave rise to his vision to start “Prepare Magazine.” Though he’d never published a magazine before, he saw a need to counter the fear and negativity often associated with preparedness. It’s his desire to publish a relevant preparedness magazine with a focus on sharing expert resources, purpose-filled training, and support and encouragement for others who are on the preparedness journey.

The Magazine and the Message

“Prepare Magazine” is available free online and is just now coming out in print for paying subscribers. While the print edition will have some of the same content as the digital edition, it will be different. Expect the digital version monthly and the print version every other month. Premium subscribers will have access to even more resources.

Joseph estimates they have 15,000 to 20,000 subscribers to the digital version, and they’re growing. Much of that growth has come through word of mouth and social media. The numbers are amazing, considering they’ve been around only a year. I’d say God has blessed their efforts.

The magazine won’t be overloaded with advertising. They’re selective about advertisers and want to emphasize good content. The goal is to cover a broad array of topics and themes of interest and importance to preppers, such as gardening, alternative energy, alternative health, bartering, mindset and community.

Contributors come from within the preparedness movement who write from their experience and expertise. They’re not writing about theory or regurgitating something from online.

The magazine doesn’t engage in politics. However, they are open about sharing the Christian faith and hope in Christ. They’re not heavy handed about it though.

It’s Joseph’s hope that “Prepare Magazine” will provide excellent value to subscribers. He’s sensitive to the needs of readers. It’s also his desire to help bolster community among preppers.

Find Out More

There’s more to my discussion with Joseph Miller, and I encourage you to hear the whole interview when you listen to DestinySurvival Radio for May 16, 2013. To become a subscriber, contributor or advertiser with “Prepare Magazine,” go to www.preparemag.com

I’m a subscriber and appreciate what Joseph and his people are doing. There are other publications out there which have useful info for preppers. But for something just a little different, give “Prepare Magazine” a try. Join them as they grow, and you’ll move forward in your preparedness journey, too.

If you’re already a subscriber, why not leave a comment below and let others know how you like the magazine. Would you recommend it to other preppers? Is there something else you’d like to see the magazine cover?

Hick’s Law

DestinySurvival Contributor — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:26:16 +0000

Decision making is a crucial survival skill which we each need to cultivate. Craig Caudill shares insights on it below.

If you come to a fork in the road, you must make a decision about which way to go. If you are on a path that splits off in numerous directions, you are really in a predicament. This scenario is an example of when Hick’s Law comes into play.

What is Hick’s Law? Basically, it is the idea that the more choices a person has, the longer it will take them to make a decision. This belief is applied in marketing strategies, tactical training, teaching and so on.

It can also be applied to survival preparedness. In a survival situation, time is of the essence. Spending a great deal of time trying to make a decision could be extremely costly.

This information is extremely valuable in two ways. The first way is your bug out bag or survival kit. Do not pack a lot of gear that all serves the same purpose. You do not want to make an emergency situation worse by cluttering your mind with “which tool should I use” or “what would work best for this particular job.”

Your kit should contain items that you can practice with regularly. Reusable gear is the key to making sure you are familiar with a tool’s uses and are comfortable using that particular item. It is imperative each piece of gear you do choose can be used for a variety of tasks, not just one. This will help you keep your mind clear and focused in stressful circumstances.

The second way in which Hick’s Law applies to a survival situation is the flip side of the formula. If you are thrown into a survival situation, you are going to have a lot of decisions to make. Each option warrants some contemplation. Do you shelter in place or bug-out? What are your sheltering options? Water and food supplies and so on will all need to be addressed. That is a lot to throw at a person at once. When this happens, you must prioritize your immediate needs to live first and foremost.

Use this information to help you choose what gear to carry in your bag. Remember, keep it simple by choosing tools that are multi-use and reusable. And most importantly, practice with your gear so you know how to use it when you need it to survive.

Craig Caudill is an outdoors instructor who teaches, among many other things, about survival backpack kits both online at Dan’s Depot and offline at his Nature Reliance School.

Any thoughts? How are your decision making skills? Leave a comment below and let others know what’s on your mind concerning what you’ve just read.

10 Must-Have Items for Your Bug-Out-Bag

DestinySurvival Contributor — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:37:17 +0000

Editor’s Note: There’s an abundance of info online and in books about what to include in a bug out bag. Nonetheless, people still have questions. Just the other day I saw an inquiry on Facebook about what to put in a bug out bag. With that in mind, I present the following helpful guidelines from the good people at Food Insurance. – John

Long term food storage plans help us stay prepared for self-survival after a man-made or natural disaster occurs. They’re even great during a financial crisis when you have limited funds to purchase fresh foods.

But, true emergency preparedness is also about short term survival after an evacuation. It’s during these times that you need to have an on-the-go, portable kit. Your kit needs to supply you and your family with the necessary essentials needed for 72 hours. These 3-day portable emergency kits are called Bug-Out-Bags.

Characteristics of a Good Bug-Out-Bag

Easy-to-Tote – It must be portable, and easy to carry. Good ideas include backpacks, bags on wheels, or anything else that’s easy to tote.
Lightweight – There’s no telling how far you may have to carry your bug-out-bag. During an evacuation, you may have to stand in lines, hike… who knows? You need your bug-out-bag to be as light as possible.
Durable – Make sure you purchase a bug-out-bag made of high quality fabric. Who knows what type of weather and other conditions it will have to get you through? So, also make sure your straps, zippers and wheels are all in good working order.

10 Essentials Every Bug-Out-Bag Should Contain

Here are ten essential items that should be in every bug-out-bag.

Water – Expert recommendation: one gallon of water, per person, per day. But, that is way too much weight to carry around during an evacuation. Here are some lightweight options for your emergency water supply:

Water purifier
Water filter straw
Water bottle with filter
Water pump with filter

Non-Perishable Foods – Here are three of the most popular choices for emergency food storage:

Canned Foods – Can eat right out of the can, but very heavy to carry around
Dehydrated Foods – Very lightweight to tote, but require boiled water to prepare
Freeze Dried Foods – Lightweight, convenient packaging, only need hot water to rehydrate

First Aid Kit – To keep it lightweight, only pack the essentials:

Antibiotics (just in case)
Sam Splint
Wound-closure strips
Burn ointment
Triple-antibiotic ointment
OTC pain-killers
OTC anti-inflammatory meds
Suture kit
Adhesive bandages

4. Clothing – You should have enough clean clothing for three days.
5. Shelter – Fly, tent, tarp, hammock with rain fly, large poncho, etc… to make emergency shelter.
6. Important Documents – This includes items such as copies of IDs, birth certificates, passports, important phone numbers and addresses, maps, etc…
7. Cash – You probably won’t be able to use your credit cards or debit cards after the crisis strikes.
8. Battery Operated Radio – Your radio may be your only way to stay connected with the rest of the world. Remember that cell phone services may be down.
9. Battery Operated Flashlight – Don’t be caught without it. The stress of being in the dark all night could actually make things even worse during a crisis.
10. Survival Kit – This should include:

· Extra batteries
· Whistle
· Small folding knife
· Compass
Waterproof matches or refillable butane lighter

About the Author

This article was written by Chett Wright of FoodInsurance.com. Searching for a high quality 72-hour kit or bug-out-bag? Click here to visit Food Insurance and see their stock of emergency supplies.

Is there something you must have in your bug out bag that’s not mentioned above? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Let Pantry Paratus Help You Build Your Survival Pantry

John Wesley Smith — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:05:23 +0000

With the growing interest in simpler, back to basics living, there’s a thirst for knowledge about canning and making things like bread and cheese. Wilson and his wife Chaya saw that need. A couple of years ago they started Pantry Paratus to help you build your survival pantry.

For yesterday’s DestinySurvival Radio I interviewed Wilson to find out more about Pantry Paratus and bring them to your attention. Whether you’re new to prepping or have been at it a while, consider Pantry Paratus as a helpful resource.

What’s in a name? One of my first questions was where the name came from. We all know what a pantry is, but what about that word “paratus”? It so happens it’s latin for “ready” or “prepared”. By the way, paratus is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, which has the short a sound.

Who is Pantry Paratus? They’re a small family owned and operated company with a desire to see you and me think seriously about what our families are eating, where that food comes from, and how we can preserve any surplus we may have. The goal is to prepare our pantries for the lean times, whether you go through unemployment or we experience a catastrophic crash.

Wilson says customer service is important because they want you to be able to get the help you need. If you buy a pressure cooker at a big box store, that store likely won’t be able to answer your canning questions. Why not be in touch with people who can walk you through your journey?

With much knowledge lost over the generations, Pantry Paratus offers beginner kits and supplies for skills like canning, bread baking and cheese making. They also sell heirloom seeds and encourage you to grow your own food wherever you live.

What do you need to know for survival? Pantry Paratus puts their focus on four core competencies for homesteading.

Water purification
Bread baking
Pressure canning
Dehydrating

Wilson and Chaya strive to offer you survival supplies they’ve used and can believe in. Also, if you want items that will work when there’s no electricity, they have hand cranked grain mills and grinders, as well as gravity fed Berkey water filters.

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What about ready-made storage food? Have it in your survival pantgry, but be careful to buy food that doesn’t have GMO products in it. You don’t want to eat something in times of stress that would make you ill.

If you know how to grow or raise your own food, you’ll have an ongoing supply. You’ll also put greater value on what you produce yourself.

What about a traditional food diet? Wilson and Chaya are very careful about what their family eats. They avoid foods with long lists of ingredients no one can pronounce. They eat meat, so they’re not vegetarians. They also enjoy whole wheat bread with no worries about gluten or bad carbs.

What about special needs diets? If you’re diabetic or have other dietary concerns, the best thing is to avoid as much processed food as possible.

Find out more. Hear my interview with Wilson when you listen to DestinySurvival Radio for May 9, 2013. Check out what the company has to offer at www.pantryparatus.com.

For further reading… Two books you may find of interest are:

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition, by Carla Emery

Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve recently become affiliated with Pantry Paratus because I like what they have to offer you. . That means when you buy products from them, DestinySurvival gets a small commission. And that helps keep the site going. Click on their link above or find their ad on the Food Storage & Preserving page in the Prep Mart.

Your thoughts? I’d love to know what you have to say concerning what you’ve read here or what you’ve heard in my interview with Wilson. Share any comments you have with me and other readers.

Which Solar Power System is Right for You?

John Wesley Smith — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:01:51 +0000

If you want to power your home by the sun and even sell some of that power to the local utility company, you might be in for a rude awakening if electricity is out for an extended period of time. You’ll want to be sure you choose the right option for your needs.

So how do you know which solar power system is right for you? Jeffrey Yago presents an informative overview in the March/April, 2013 “Backwoods Home Magazine” (Issue #140). I’ve put an excerpt below.

Grid-tied,
Grid-connected,
Off-grid.
What’s the difference?

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM

Several weeks ago I received a call from a woman in Florida complaining that they just had a power outage lasting several days and her solar system quit working. Although I had no idea who she was and never had anything to do with the installation of her solar system, she was very distressed and I wanted to at least point her in the right direction.

After a few questions it was clear that what she had purchased was a “grid-tie” solar system, and these systems must be “tied” to a working utility grid to operate. These systems do not have any battery backup capability, so their only function is to sell solar-generated power back to the utility grid, which offsets some or all of the metered usage for a given month. Any month the solar-generated power exceeds metered usage of the homeowner, the utility will credit this excess towards a future month when the utility demand exceeds solar generation.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago140.html

Excerpt used with permission of Backwoods Home Magazine.
http://www.backwoodshome.com 1-800-835-2418.

More Reasons Not to Underestimate the .22 for Survival

John Wesley Smith — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:20:21 +0000

The .22 is cast aside by some as only being useful for varmint hunting. But would you and I be so bad off if we used a .22 for self defense?

How far will a .22 LR kill? Farther than you can shoot it accurately.

A .22 rifle is an invaluable survival tool. Don’t underestimate the ability of a .22 firearm to wound lethally. Watch the video below to see proof.

Get more perspective on the .22 here

Survival and Your Money–Work from Home Without Getting Scammed

John Wesley Smith — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:14:43 +0000

It goes without saying these days that many of us are struggling financially. That makes it doubly hard when you’re trying to set aside money to buy storage food and other preps.

What’s a good solution? Should you work from home? And is that possible without getting scammed?

Consider Some Options

You could skip working at home altogether. Get part-time work with an employer near you and not tangle with possible work at home scams. Financial talk show host Dave Ramsey often tells people to get a job delivering pizza. But there are other hourly jobs to help boost your income. Search for jobs in your area on Snagajob.

Another possibility is to work from home and combine that with your interest in prepping. Become a consultant for a company like Shelf Reliance. Do home parties selling storage food. If that interests you, contact Misty Marsh, the consultant who’s helping me with my online Shelf Reliance party.

Or you could start your own Web site or blog related to something you’re passionate about, as I did with DestinySurvival a few years ago. It’s a lot of work and may require learning more about marketing and the Internet than you thought you’d have to know in a lifetime. I can tell you it’s not a get rich quick scheme. While some are wildly successful at it, it can consume more time, energy and money than it’s worth for the return you get.

You already know the advantages of working from home. You’re not spending so much on gas and car upkeep. You pocket the money you’d spend on lunches. And you don’t have to drop a few dollars on that office party for someone else’s birthday.

Perhaps you’ve scoured the Internet for work from home opportunities. But many times it’s hard to get straight answers. Or it’s hard to tell if a company is reputable. There are a lot of scams out there. You could lose money rather than bring it in.

Check Out the “May We Help You” Option

There is legitimate work available. You could even find yourself working for Fortune 500 companies. Many are bringing call center jobs back to America, and there’s potential for steady work for decent pay.

Yesterday on DestinySurvival Radio I talked with Latisha McDougle of MayWeHelpYou.net about legitimate work from home opportunities. She partners with a company called Arise to give you a way to connect with and work for Fortune 500 businesses.

Whether you’re a mother, college student, veteran, retired or disabled, this could be what you’re looking for. Here are a few key points.

You work as an independent contractor.
Put in 10-20 hours or more during a week at times that suit your schedule. (Much depends on what your interests are and what work is available.)
You can make the choice to do customer service, sales or technical support. Make use of your strengths when accepting work.
Pay can range from $9-$19 per hour.
Work for one or more companies if you like.
Work for companies whose services you may already be using for things like phone service, cable TV, travel, etc.

How do you know this is on the level? Here’s a tidbit that may help set aside your concerns. Arise–the company Latisha partners with–is A+ accredited with the Better Business Bureau. MayWeHelpYou.net may soon be as well.

Get Started

To work with a company, you start by filling out a profile with MayWeHelpYou.net. You’ll be connected with Arise where you must meet certain qualifications, including a background check for a small fee. Certification with Arise can cost up to $99.

Then you’ll have access to the job board where you can connect with companies with work opportunities. It’s important to determine if they’re a match for you and you’re a match for them. Next you must go through the chosen company’s at-home training procedures, which vary from company to company.

Be advised that you must pay for that training. The cost varies depending on what the company requires. But if you have to spend as much as a couple hundred bucks, consider it an investment. As soon as you start work, you’ll begin to earn it back. Plus, you can write it off as a business expense.

Hard wired Internet service and a landline phone are required. You’ll need a couple of headsets, too. Latisha can help you with more specifics.

Find Out More

I can only summarize highlights here, so I encourage you to listen to DestinySurvival Radio for May 2, 2013. Naturally, you’ll get info by going directly to MayWeHelpYou.net. Latisha will be glad to help you with questions and get you started on your new work at home adventure. She knows the ins and outs of this working arrangement because, as well as operating her company, she works for AT&T.

Latisha’s company, as well as Arise and the companies they connect you with are looking for good workers. Considering that working from home is a more user friendly environment, you may want to consider the “May We Help You” option.

Any thoughts? Why not leave a comment below? I’d love to hear how this works out for you if you try it.

Will You Be Ready to Barter When You Need To?

John Wesley Smith — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:18:27 +0000

From time to time I’ve featured info about bartering, such as the post here with plenty of bartering insights. Bartering should be included in your prepping strategy.

Let’s face it, preparing for every single situation you’ll encounter in an emergency or widespread cataclysm may be impossible. Bartering is inevitable especially when you need some things for survival. Discover more by clicking on the image below.

What if You Hurt Yourself While You’re in Your Survival Garden?

John Wesley Smith — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:22:23 +0000

Spring has been slow to come to much of the country this year. If you’re in such an area, as I am, you probably haven’t been able to do much gardening until now.

When you finally do get outdoors, you’ll want to beware of garden injuries. The March/April, 2013 issue of “Backwoods Home Magazine” (Issue #140) includes an article on how to handle it when you hurt yourself while you’re in your survival garden. It’s by Joseph Alton, aka Dr. Bones of Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy fame.

No, this isn’t about being bruised by a berserk broccoli, punched out by a pompous potato or tortured by a tense tomato. Read the whole article to get helpful advice on real injuries like…

Minor cuts (scratches)
Abrasions (scrapes)
Contusions (bruises)
Sunburns
Insect bites

Garden injuries

By Joseph Alton, M.D.

Cuts and scrapes are the most likely wounds gardeners incur (hopefully, not on that green thumb of yours). In many cases, these could have been prevented by simply using hand protection. Start off your gardening efforts by obtaining a good pair of work gloves; most injuries will occur on your hands.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/alton140.html

Excerpt used with permission of Backwoods Home Magazine.
http://www.backwoodshome.com 1-800-835-2418.

There’s more to come on garden injuries in the May/June “Backwoods Home Magazine.” And, of course, you can get plenty of useful info on many other kinds of injuries and medical situations in The Doom and Bloom(tm) Survival Medicine Handbook, by Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy.

How do you deal with those survival gardening occupational hazards when they happen to you? Leave a comment below and share your words of wisdom with other survival gardeners.

Destiny Survival

Put Your Own Storage Food in Your Survival Pantry

Food security 101, part 3: Why I love my vacuum sealer (and more)

Prepare Magazine Offers Hope and Help for Preppers Like You

The Man and the Mission

The Magazine and the Message

Find Out More

Hick’s Law

10 Must-Have Items for Your Bug-Out-Bag

Characteristics of a Good Bug-Out-Bag

10 Essentials Every Bug-Out-Bag Should Contain

Let Pantry Paratus Help You Build Your Survival Pantry

Which Solar Power System is Right for You?

Grid-tied, Grid-connected, Off-grid. What’s the difference?

More Reasons Not to Underestimate the .22 for Survival

Survival and Your Money–Work from Home Without Getting Scammed

Consider Some Options

Check Out the “May We Help You” Option

Get Started

Find Out More

Will You Be Ready to Barter When You Need To?

What if You Hurt Yourself While You’re in Your Survival Garden?

Garden injuries

Grid-tied,
Grid-connected,
Off-grid.
What’s the difference?