Failing to Prepare is Preparing to fail

"Surviving to Fight means Fighting to Survive"

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Sunday 31 May 2015

Show Contents 31st May 2015

Show Notes
This week I begin my show with I have launched my "SURVIVAL BLADE" the Titan then THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW, the Blizzard Survival 10% Discount offer, The Pits & Bits Review, What to do when you bring the bacon home? Disaster Prepping Hits The Mainstream, The Ribzwear 30%Discount Offer, Prepare, Prepare, Prepare NOW, The Wilderness121's 10%Discount Offer, How to Choose a BOL, The Mid Wales Bushcraft Show and Wild Camp, Travelling with Vehicles during a Crisis or Survival Situation, The Mid Wales Bushcraft Show and Wild Camp, Survival Thoughts, Training to Survive, The Midimax 10% Discount Offer, Grow your own Grub, The 5 P’s of Preparedness , Home-made Cheese, The field leisure 10% Discount Offer, Survival Cooking Risks, The Buggrub 10% Discount offer, THE TWELTH WILDERNESS GATHERING 2015 13th to 16th August, The Hunters-Knives 10% Discount offer, Two Basic Survival Basics.
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I have launched my "SURVIVAL BLADE" the Titan

It is with great pride and excitement that I announce that the launch of My "SURVIVAL KNIFE" will on the weekend of the 2nd to 4th May at the CUP Bug-Out weekend.It is designed by me and hand-made by a true craftsman Mr David Tilling from Welsh Knives, his Face Book page is here. https://www.facebook.com/WelshKnives?pnref=story

Titan is an all rounder, built of 8 mm. 01 steel, hardened and tempered with a choice of wood or mycarta scales and a leather or kydex sheath. I think it is "THE" survival blade.

Titan with Wood Scales


 
 Titan with Micarta Handle


A Zippo on Titans back



THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW, SET TO ENTHRALL & ENTERTAIN FAMILIES
MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

When: 23 – 25 May 2015 Where: Beehive Farm Woodland Lakes, Rosliston, Derbyshire The Bushcraft Show is set to enthrall and entertain families and individuals of all ages in a celebration of all things bushcraft over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Visitors are travelling from around the world to attend the most exciting, entertaining and educational bushcraft event of the year.

The show provides an all-inclusive experience that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world… Why? Well all the way from Australia is Major Les Hiddins, aka the ‘Bush Tucker Man’ coming to The Bushcraft Show 2015.

You can hear the Australian Army soldier and Vietnam war veteran on the Main Stage and listen as he shares his love of the Australian bush and his skills and experience.

John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman, author of The SAS Survival Handbook, says he wouldn’t miss coming to The Bushcraft Show for the fifth year running! This survival expert led numerous operations including involvement with the SAS Counter-Terrorist Team that ended the Iranian Embassy siege in London and brought the SAS into the media spotlight, he also ran the SAS Survival School and trained the first members of the US Green Berets who returned to the USA to form the famous Delta Force (US Special Forces).

Would you believe it, if I told you that wolves are coming to The Bushcraft Show 2015? Well they are and this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk with wolves.

Join a wolf hybrid pack, learn evolution, physiology, social structure, communication and conservation of the wolf, intricacy of social ranking and the subtle art of canine communication on a magical walk through the woodlands as part of the pack.

Andrew Price, ITV’s Coast & Country Presenter, owner of Dryad Bushcraft, Bushcraft and Survival Instructor and experienced practitioner of a wide range of outdoor pursuits will be speaking at The Bushcraft Show.

We also have one of the world’s most renowned and highly respected explorers, Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE, former British Army Officer, explorer and author coming along to share his adventures and expedition advice on Sunday 24th May 2015.

Tracking Expert PERRY MCGEE, son of the late Eddie McGee author of No Need to Die, will be teaching you essential tracking skills. In addition, there are many leading bushcraft, wildlife, woodland craft and survival experts speaking, demonstrating, instructing and on hand at the show for a chat.

I think you have to agree that is an impressive line up. Full details are available here http://www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk/

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BREAK

You are listening to the UK preppers Radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden

The Pits & Bits Review

Whether you are on a practice bug-out, wild camping, fishing, hunting or to be honest simply away from a water source the waterless Pits and Bits Body Wash will keep you clean when away from any shower facilities.

All you have to do is squeeze a little out of the bottle, rub in to remove any sweat, grease or mud and then towel down with a micro towel, if you have one.

Or why not use with the Pits and Bits Expandable Wipes for a really good clean.

I really like the waterless body washes, Pits and Bits Body Wash is unfragranced, so is just what you need when hunting.

Although it has no alcohol like conventional sanitizers, it removes dirt/grease from your skin and onto your towel, ensuring no loss of essential oils and also providing another great use as fire lighting tinder.

One of the hardest stains I find to remove is the combination of grass, wood and dirt especially in the wet, and another is not only the blood but the smell of your hands after processing game in the field.

Well Pits & Bits did the trick, each day at the CUP Bug-Out weekend I left it as long as I could without washing my hands and let their waterless products do the business and that is exactly what they did, time and time again.

And as for the under arm, groin etc. wash they removed odour and the reason for it.

Another use is wiping after no2's to wash clean that is in fact all personal washing needs are taken care of by Pits & Bits.

Yesterday I shot a woodie and removed the breast meat to eat and as usual there is that gamey smell left on my hands again they were cleaned and the smell was removed all without water which is a novelty to say the least and a total must for those whether bugging-in or bugging-out.

The waterless shampoo is amazing even for me with close cropped hair after using it my hair felt clean and soft which is all I can ask of any shampoo, and imagine the saving in water too.

The waterless instant use toothbrushes are perfect for a quick brush, no mess and no fuss yet safe to swallow. The toothpaste is stored in the head of the brush so just brush and carry out LNT.

The expandable Wipes can either be used in combination with the body wash for a soapy wash or used to clean pots and pans etc. as a wound dressing and of course as tinder, there will be many other uses I am sure.

I cannot recommend these products highly enough, having a range of waterless personal hygiene products opens many doors for the bugged-out prepper, survivor or outdoors man/woman.

You can now wash in your shelter in the desert on a boat, in your vehicle, at home with no running water, on holiday on the beach, anywhere you want and that feels great.

Jess from Norinse emailed me and has offered you dear listener a 10% Discount by using the word "prepper", thank you Jess. You can order yours at https://www.norinse.co.uk/pits-bits.html

What to do when you bring the bacon home?

As good as mass-produced bacon is, curing and smoking your own at home kicks things up to a whole new level.

Once you master the technique, the flavour options are endless. Like your bacon with a kick? Bump up the red or chilli powder.

Like it sweeter? Try extra honey, brown sugar, real maple syrup or sorghum or molasses or treacle in your cure.

While the curing process takes some time, the recipe itself is a simple one. Any smoker will work, but electric models make it easier to maintain the necessary low smoking temperatures needed to get the bacon just right. Wood choices can be as varied as you want them to be, but hickory and apple are the two most popular. 

Curing bacon at home is so simple that the hardest part of the whole process can be procuring the pork belly itself.

Bacon made from wild pigs is a bit leaner than its store bought cousin, but it tastes pretty good.

Prep Time

7-9 days

Cook Time

6-8 hours on the smoker

Ingredients

A whole pork belly from the butcher shop normally runs around 10-12 pounds.  A belly from an adult wild pig around 4-6.  The following recipe is enough cure for 5-6 pounds, if you buy a whole pork belly, just separate it into two, more or less equal, pieces.

5 pound piece of pork belly, skin on or off, your choice

1.5 teaspoons pink salt (cure also known as Prague Powder number one, available on the internet at around £4 for 250g)

1/2 cup Maldon salt

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup sorghum molasses, if you can’t find that then use molasses or treacle

1 Tablespoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 gallon Ziplock bag

Cooking Instructions

Begin by mixing all dry ingredients into a small bowl. Rub the cure into the exposed surfaces of the pork. Really work it in, make sure the belly is well coated with the cure. Place the pork into a two gallon Ziplock bag and pour sorghum over the top of the meat (honey works well too) and seal the bag. Place the belly flat into a pyrex dish (the bag will leak a little, they always do) and put it in the fridge. Flip the pork once per day for 7 to 10 days.

I often get asked, "How do I know when it is finished curing?" The answer is, when it tastes right to you. After day seven or eight, open the bag and slice a tiny sliver from one side.

Rinse it well under cold water and fry it like you would bacon. If you like the flavour, it is finished. If you would like the salt and spice to be a bit stronger, let it soak another day or two. Remember that the outer surface is always quite a bit saltier than the inner slices will be.

Now that the bacon is fully cured, remove it from the bag and rinse thoroughly under running water. The next step is to let the bacon dry completely to form a sticky pellicle.

I prefer to do this by placing the bacon on a wire cooling rack and running a low speed fan over it for six to eight hours. 

Your bacon is now ready for the smoker. A good remote meat thermometer comes in handy at this point.  

I like to start my smoker at 175 degrees.  Maintain this temperature for 3-4 hours then bump it up to 200 degrees to finish.

You are looking for an internal temperature of 150 degrees on the pork belly. Once you reach this point, the bacon is finished. Remove from the smoker and let the bacon cool completely before slicing.

I like to let mine come to room temperature, then place it into the freezer for an hour or two. The freezer helps to firm the bacon and makes slicing easier. 

The fastest way to slice bacon is on a deli style meat slicer. A good sharp knife works too. Cured bacon will keep up to a year when vacuum sealed and kept in the freezer.  

Use your home-made bacon just like you would bacon you buy from the supermarket. It makes a fine breakfast, wraps nicely around a pigeon breast or chunk of deer or steak, and seasons a pot of camp-fire baked beans like nothing else. After you get the basic recipe down, try flavours to make your own perfect blend.

Disaster Prepping Hits The Mainstream

I’m not sure when the tipping point occurred, but at some point recently the “prepper” movement exploded and became mainstream.

Preppers are people who detect the possibility of calamity and decide to increase their odds of surviving it by putting aside supplies. “stocking up” “prepping” — essential throughout most of humanity’s existence — was common in the United Kingdom up until advances in transportation logistics brought about the “just in time” shipping model.

Suddenly, we could get almost any supplies delivered fresh and year-round to massive community 24 hour supermarkets. What our grandparents called “lean times” became a thing of the past for even the poorest of us.

The expectation that we could always get whatever we wanted whenever we wanted it took a couple of hard jolts around the turn of the 21st century: predictions regarding the “Y2K bug” created a resurgent interest in self-sufficiency, which was further rekindled by the 9/11 terror attacks, the 7/7 London attacks and the foreign wars our politicians have got us into.

A decade later, fears of nuclear terrorism, misunderstood popular views about the end of the Mayan calendar, and ginned-up fears of catastrophic climate change, economic collapse, and violent weather patterns have grown what was once a fringe culture.

Modern prepping has come a long way from the survivalists of the late 1990s. That wave focused on military supplies, weapons, and tactics, and was in many ways limited by their options.

Earlier survivalists had even fewer options — they focused on hoarding and protecting supplies in remote cabins. Yet today’s preppers have a dizzying array of gourmet shelf-stable foods, “green” power options, and even custom-built housing to meet their particular survival needs. Additionally, enterprising companies now cater to nearly every desire the preppers can dream up.

National Geographic’s Doomsday Preppers series featured an episode with prepper Peter Larson, and displayed the work of Paul Seyfried and Utah Shelter Systems. An underground bunker built by Utah Shelter Systems was the core of the Larson family’s preparation plans, and with good reason.

The underground bunkers manufactured by the company and shipped almost anywhere are designed to withstand nuclear, biological, and chemical disasters, and being buried yards underground, they are secure from all but the most determined marauders.

So what kind of person drops a bare minimum of $47,590 on a complete shelter and tens of thousands more on land, installation, and provisioning? Mr. Seyfried fiercely guards the confidentiality of his client list, but will volunteer that it includes “international bankers, hedge fund managers, attorneys, doctors, oil company geologists, business men, and movie producers.”

Like any business, the bunker business has cycles and has seen business expand and contract as events bring awareness of their products. After 9/11, the company experienced an increase in sales in the Northeast, centred around New York. 

Texans have purchased the largest number of shelters, and they range across the Southeast and Southwest, typically as shelters against the common natural disasters that strike the southern part of the country. The most commonly purchased shelter is the $60,750-plus 10′x50′ shelter which offers the best cost per square foot, and customers typically order more bunks to add capacity. 

Most bunkers go to individual families, but there are some small bunker communities of well-heeled preppers coming together for mutual support.

Disasters aren’t the only thing preppers are spending their dollars on. Some look at the economy and prep for the very real possibility of unemployment.

While some might be preparing against floods others might be preparing against drought or unemployment. I think the major thing that connects our customers is a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. They want to be prepared for anything that may be in the future — whether that is a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, or unemployment.

Preppers are also cognizant of the fact that if an event does strike, being prepared is just part of the equation. As we witnessed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, even the normally law-abiding will resort to out-of-character barbarism if they think it necessary to ensure their survival or the survival of their families.

The past response to the threat of violence has typically been to acquire firearms, preferably guns with more capacity and range than anyone you expect to be causing trouble. It hasn’t been until recently that the thought of stopping any inbound fire has become socially acceptable. 

A company called US PALM is in the process of changing that by creating and successfully marketing body armour designed for the civilian market.

The media still demeans the more extreme preppers making bizarre preparations for what most people consider unrealistic scenarios — such as polar shifts or the Mayan apocalypse — but with the current global economic situation, the carnage of recent natural disasters, and the fragility of power grids, other scenarios are no laughing matter. 

“Putting things by” like our grandparents did is now regarded by many as a wise investment against uncertain times, and like any market, there are smart businesses willing to cater to this growth market.

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BREAK

You are listening to the UK preppers Radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare NOW

Today, millions of Britons say that they believe that the United Kingdom is on the verge of a major economic collapse and will soon be entering another Great Depression.   

But only a small percentage of those same people are prepared for that to happen. 

The sad truth is that the vast majority of Brits would last little more than a month on what they have stored up in their homes.  Most of us are so used to running out to the supermarket for whatever we need that we never even stop to consider what would happen if suddenly we were not able to do that. 

Already the UK economy is starting to stumble about like a drunken teenager.  All it would take for the entire UK to resemble East London after the bombers had left would be for a major war, a terror attack, a deadly pandemic or a massive natural disaster to strike at just the right time and push the teetering UK economy over the edge.  

So just how would you survive if you suddenly could not rely on the huge international corporate giants to feed, clothe and supply you and your family?   

Do you have a plan?

Unless you already live in a cave or you are a complete and total mindless follower of the establishment media, you should be able to see very clearly that our society is more vulnerable now than it ever has been.   

This year there have been an unprecedented number of large earthquakes around the world and volcanoes all over the globe are awakening and don’t forget the massive flooding we have seen.

You can just take a look at what has happened in Haiti and in Iceland to see how devastating a natural disaster can be.  Not only that, but we have a world that is full of lunatics in positions of power, and if one of them decides to set off a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon in a major city it could paralyze an entire region. 

War could erupt in the Middle East at literally any moment, and if it does the price of oil will double or triple (at least) and there is the possibility that much of the entire world could be drawn into the conflict.

Scientists tell us that a massive high-altitude EMP (electromagnetic pulse) blast could send large portions of the Northern hemisphere back to the Stone Age in an instant.   

In addition, there is the constant threat that the outbreak of a major viral pandemic (such as what happened with the 1918 Spanish Flu) could kill tens of millions of people around the globe and paralyze the economies of the world.

But even without all of that, the truth is that the UK and the EU economy is going to collapse.  So just think of what will happen if one (or more) of those things does happen on top of all the economic problems that we are having.

Are you prepared? 

The following is a list of 20 things you and your family will need to survive when the economy totally collapses and the next Great Depression begins....

Storable Food

Food is going to instantly become one of the most valuable commodities in existence in the event of an economic collapse.   

If you do not have food you are not going to survive. 

Most UK families would not last much longer than a month on what they have in their house right now, in fact I would say that many would be dead by then anyway..  So what about you?   

If disaster struck right now, how long could you survive on what you have? 

The truth is that we all need to start storing up food.  If you and your family run out of food, you will suddenly find yourselves competing with the hordes of hungry people who are looting the stores and roaming the streets looking for something to eat.

Of course you can grow your own food, but that is going to take time.  So you need to have enough food stored up until the food that you plant has time to grow.  But if you have not stored up any seeds you might as well forget it.  When the economy totally collapses, the remaining seeds will disappear very quickly.   

So if you think that you are going to need seeds, now is the time to get them.

Clean Water

Most people can survive for a number of weeks without food, but without water you will die in just a few days, try going without water for 24hrs, I have and I did not like it.  So where would you get water if the water suddenly stopped flowing out of your taps?   

Do you have a plan?  Is there an abundant supply of clean water near your home? Would you be able to boil water if you need to? OH1 and by the way you will need to.

Besides storing water and figuring out how you are going to gather water if society breaks down, another thing to consider is water purification tablets.  The water you are able to gather during a time of crisis may not be suitable for drinking.  So you may find that water purification tablets come in very, very handy.

Shelter

You can't sleep on the streets, can you?  Well, some people will be able to get by living on the streets, but the vast majority of us will need some form of shelter to survive for long.  So what would you do if you and your family lost your home or suddenly were forced from your home?   

Where would you go?

The best thing to do is to come up with several plans.  Do you have relatives that you can bunk with in case of emergency?  Do you own a tent and sleeping bags if you had to rough it?  If one day everything hits the fan and you and your family have to "bug out" somewhere, where would that be?   

You need to have a plan.

Warm Clothing

If you plan to survive for long in a nightmare economic situation, you are probably going to need some warm, functional clothing.  If you live in a cold climate, this is going to mean storing up plenty of blankets and cold weather clothes.  If you live in an area where it rains a lot, you will need to be sure to store up some rain gear. 

If you think you may have to survive outdoors in an emergency situation, make sure that you and your family have something warm to put on your heads.  Someday after the economy has collapsed and people are scrambling to survive, a lot of folks are going to end up freezing to death.  

In fact, in the coldest areas it is actually possible to freeze to death in your own home.  Don't let that happen to you.

An Axe

Staying along the theme of staying warm, you may want to consider investing in a good axe.  In the event of a major emergency, gathering firewood will be a priority.  Without a good tool to cut the wood with that will be much more difficult.

Lighters Or Matches

You will also want something to start a fire with.  If you can start a fire, you can cook food, you can boil water and you can stay warm.  So in a true emergency situation, how do you plan to start a fire?  By rubbing sticks together?   

Now is the time to put away a supply of lighters or matches so that you will be prepared when you really need them, and just to be sure please include a fire steel.

In addition, you may want to consider storing up a good supply of candles.  Candles come in quite handy whenever the electricity goes out, and in the event of a long-term economic nightmare we will all see why our forefathers relied on candles so much.

Hiking Boots Or Comfortable Shoes

When you ask most people to list things necessary for survival, this is not the first or the second thing that comes to mind.  But having hiking boots or very comfortable and functional shoes will be absolutely critical. 

You may very well find yourself in a situation where you and your family must walk everywhere you want to go.  So how far do you think you will get in high heels?  You will want footwear that you would feel comfortable walking in for hours if necessary. 

You will also want footwear that will last a long time, because when the economy truly collapses you may not be able to run out to the shoe store and get what you need at that point.

A Torch and/Or Lantern

When the power goes off in your home, what is the first thing that you grab?  Just think about it.  A Torch or a lantern of course.  In a major emergency, a torch or a lantern is going to be a necessity - especially if you need to go anywhere at night.

Solar powered or "wind up" torches or lanterns will probably be best during a long-term emergency.  If you have battery-powered units you will want to begin storing up lots and lots of batteries.  

A Radio

If a major crisis does hit the UK, what will you and your family want?  Among other things, you will all want to know what in the world is going on.  A radio can be an invaluable tool for keeping up with the news.

Once again, solar powered or "wind up" radios will probably work best for the long term.  A battery-powered until would work as well - but only for as long as your batteries are able to last.

Communication Equipment

When things really hit the fan you are going to want to communicate with your family and friends.  You will also want to be able to contact an ambulance or law enforcement if necessary.   

Having an emergency mobile phone is great, but it may or may not work during a time of crisis.   

The Internet also may or may not be available.  Be sure to have a plan (whether it be high-tech or low-tech) for staying in communication with others during a major emergency.

A Swiss Army Knife

If you have ever owned a Swiss Army knife you probably already know how incredibly handy they can be.  It can be a very valuable and versatile tool.  In a true survival situation, a Swiss Army knife can literally do dozens of different things for you.  Make sure that you have at least one stored up for emergencies.

Personal Hygiene Items

While these may not be absolute "essentials", the truth is that life will get very unpleasant very quickly without them.  For example, what would you do without toilet paper?  Just think about it.  Imagine that you just finished your last roll of toilet paper and now you can't get any more.   

What would you do?

The truth is that soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and other hygiene products are things that we completely take for granted in society today.  So what would happen if we could not go out and buy them any longer?

A First Aid Kit And Other Medical Supplies

On  a more serious note, you may not be able to access a hospital or a doctor during a major crisis.  In your survival supplies, be absolutely certain that you have a good first aid kit and any other medical supplies that you think you may need, and don’t forget any prescription medicine

Extra Fuel

There may come a day when fuel is rationed or is simply not available at all.  If that happens, how will you get around?  Be certain to have some extra fuel stored away just in case you find yourself really needing to get somewhere someday.

A Sewing Kit

If you were not able to run out and buy new clothes for you and your family, what would you do?  Well, you would want to repair the clothes that you have and make them last as long as possible.  Without a good sewing kit that will be very difficult to do.

Self-Defence Equipment

Whether it is pepper spray to fend off wild animals or something more "robust" to fend off wild humans, millions of us will one day be thankful that they have something to defend themselves with.

A Compass and a Map

In the event of a major emergency, you and your family may find yourselves having to be on the move.  If you are in a wilderness area, it will be very hard to tell what direction you are heading without a compass and a map.  It is always a good idea to have at least one compass stored up.

A Hiking Backpack

If you and your family suddenly have to "bug out", what will you carry all of your survival supplies in?  Having a good hiking backpack or "survival bag" for everyone in your family is extremely important.  If something happened in the city where you live and you suddenly had to "go", what would you put your most important stuff in?   

How would you carry it all if you had to travel by foot?  These are very important things to think about.

A Community

During a long-term crisis, it is those who are willing to work together that will have the best chance of making it.  Whether it is your family, your friends, a church or a local group of people that you know, make sure that you have some people that you can rely on and work together with in the event that everything hits the fan.  Loners are going to have a really hard time of surviving for long.

A Backup Plan

Lastly, it is always, always, always important to have a backup plan for everything.

If someone comes in and steals all the food that you have stored up, what are you going to do?

If travel is restricted and you can't get to your "bug out" location immediately do you have a Plan B?

If you have built your house into an impregnable survival fortress but circumstances force you to leave do you have an alternate plan?

The truth is that crisis situations rarely unfold just as we envision.  It is important to be flexible and to be ready with backup plans when disaster strikes.

You don't want to end up like the folks in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  You don't want to have to rely on the government to take care of you if something really bad happens.

I do not about here in the UK but for example right now the U.S. strategic grain reserve contains only enough wheat to make half a loaf of bread for each of the approximately 300 million people in the United States.

How long do you think that is going to last?

Now is the time to get ready.

Now is the time to prepare.

The UK economy is going to collapse and incredibly hard times are coming.

Will you be able to survive when it happens?

BREAK

You are listening to the UK preppers Radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden





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The new supplier of Purificup to the UK is Wilderness121 and they really mean business, having spoken to the director Rob Williams he has agreed to offer you dear listener a 10% discount just by putting the letters UKPRN into the code box it is that simple.

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How to Choose a BOL

When disaster strikes, you need a safe place for you and the ones you care about to keep your heads down: your bug out location. 

The basic idea is to get out of harm’s way to a prepared area with supplies and gear which can sustain you. Choosing where to locate this prepared area is an important decision that requires planning

Before getting into your personal remote location belonging to you, it is important to note that depending on the kind of disaster and its reach, your best bet may be to drive to another county to stay with a relative. 

Your bug out location does not need to be an isolated piece of owned property, and if you do have family connections you can leverage, it may be your best bet.

This is one of the first things you need to consider carefully. 

At first thought, a bug out location would be as far away as possible from your home to ensure the best odds that whatever disaster it is will not impact you. While there are definitely some merits to the very remote location, there are some drawbacks to consider.

First, if your intention is to stock this location with supplies, you have to understand how difficult stocking it will be if you live extremely far away. If it’s too remote, stocking it from the nearest shop may also be an ordeal.

While you should have extra fuel anyway, an extra-long journey presents greater fuel risks, and at minimum, forces you to carry a little more.

If your location is very far from your house, you may be very unlikely to ever want to go to it when there is no disaster.

If you are spending hard-earned money on rural land, you should want to be able to take advantage of it as a quiet, natural holiday space, and so if it’s prohibitively far away, you lose that advantage.

If there is a disaster where you’re on the fence about whether or not to bug out, the pain in the bum distance might dangerously deter you from leaving.

That said, quite obviously the location has to be a decent distance away from your main home, otherwise there’s a risk that whatever disaster has convinced you to bug out will impact your bug out location as well. 

Depending on where you like, a good two hour drive is probably sufficient.

How you choose your Bug-Out-Location will depend on further factors, such as:

Can you afford to purchase your own location

Do you have a trusted group of people that can purchase a location together

Is it easy for you to get to

Can you get there if you had to walk

Is it safe from the same or other potential hazards

If you’re lucky enough that you can afford to purchase your own location or to get in on one with some other people you will want to look for a location that is preferably in a different region from your main living location. 

The best site will be property you can purchase that also has access to water, hunting, wood, and enough space to grow your own food. Also take into consideration the security of the location as well.

If others can find it or know where it is, and you have supplies stocked up there is the chance that they could be gone before you get there or even worse taken over and occupied.

Again, as I have already said consider how long it would take for you to get to the location. If you’re travelling alone and have the knowhow to survive the more remote and further away you can make your location. 

If you have a family that you need to take care of you MUST consider locating your Bug-Out-Location closer and will likely have to make it more accessible.

What if you’re not lucky enough to be able to afford your own property? The first thing I would do is find a relative or even a friend who lives in a remote rural location. 

At the very least find a relative or friend that lives outside of the region in which you live that will not be impacted by the same event that would cause you to leave and seek shelter.

Once you choose the relative or friend, talk to them about your plans, and as a start offer to set them up at your location if something should happen to cause them the need to leave their location. 

Once you agree to work together in this respect, you can work together to get supplies and set up your Bug-Out-Location.

As a last resort you can always use the option of Bugging-In which is when you choose to stay put and wait out any event. 

Not the best option especially in a fire or flood situation and you’ll be taking your life into your own hands.

Travelling with Vehicles during a Crisis or Survival Situation

In case of an emergency or crisis situation it is good if you have your vehicle in a good working condition and with some basic gear in it. 

A vehicle can serve as transport for wounded or as fast transport during an evacuation.

A vehicle intended to be used during evacuation is often referred to as a Bug Out Vehicle (BOV). A car with four-wheel drive is good for getting around in off road driving and if the roads are covered with snow. Make sure that the fuel in your car doesn’t get too low, check the tyres regularly and maintain a good service. 

Make sure to keep your windscreen clean so can get a good view. I strongly suggest that you get some extra rear view mirrors so that your passenger can help you keep an eye out as well.

Every year over 3,300 people die in motor vehicle accidents in the UK alone. When you are driving always take your time and use the seatbelt. The faster you drive the more likely you are to get killed in an accident.

Never drink alcohol or use drugs when driving. If the weather is bad or the visibility low adjust your speed accordingly. 

Using Smartphone’s and text messaging while driving are other activities that can often result in accidents. Remember that even if you don’t engage in these activities when you are driving others do. Stay alert.

There are combination safety tools with a seat belt cutter and glass breaker that is very good to have in your car in case of an accident. Victorinox has a model of the Swiss Army knife called Rescue Tool that has a seatbelt cuter, glass breaker and other features. 

A Bug Out Bag (BOB) or Get Home Bag (GHB) in addition with appropriate clothing and footwear should be brought along if you have to abandon your vehicle and make it back by foot.

Vehicle Emergency Equipment

First Aid Kit

Road Map, Compass and GPS

Things that help you stay warm; extra clothing, wool blankets, sleeping bags. It may also be a good idea to include equipment to build a fire and some handwarmers.

Some Water and Food

Some sources of Light; Flashlight or Headlamp and extra Batteries (lithium). Chemical Light Sticks are a good addition if you have to make reparations or change a tire during the night. 

A signal vest is a useful addition if you have to leave your vehicle during low visibility conditions like a snowstorm or during the night.

Extra Fuel

Folding or Compact Shovel like the E-Tool

Axe, Chainsaw or Folding Saw

Short Wave Radio or Citizen Band (CB) Radio

Jack, Spare Tire , Tier Iron and Fix-A-Flat Spray.

Adjustable Wrench, Duct Tape and Screwdriver

Leather working Gloves and Latex Gloves

Fire Extinguisher

Driver License, Insurance Information, Registration and Repair Handbook

Windshield Scraper and Towel

Snow Chains (for winter conditions)

Towing Cable

Jumper Cables

Secure all equipment. If you are in a car crash and haven’t secured your equipment it may cause severe damage to you. Even light weight items may become extremely dangerous in a high speed crash.

Some basic equipment can also be useful to have if you ever get caught in a traffic jam. Especially during winter conditions people often get stranded because of accidents and severe weather. If the weather is severe I recommend that you either wait until the weather clears or take precautions before you leave. 

Anticipate that the travel may take much longer than you first thought and bring extra clothing, a vacuum bottle with something warm to drink, something to eat and water.

Make sure that you always travel with at least two persons in every vehicle if possible.

Always travel with two vehicles or more if possible. If you are travelling with two vehicles walkie-talkies are good tools for communicating between the vehicles.

Make a radio check before you leave. The passenger should act as radio operator and navigator.

Make sure to inform someone about where you are going, what route you are planning to take, who is travelling in the party, what you are planning to do and when you are planning to get back. 

Also make sure that everyone in the party that’s going knows this information.

Don’t let the distance between the vehicles get too big, if you get pulled over at a check point make sure to park the vehicles close together so that no one can get between the vehicles. When you park your car, park in the direction you intend to leave.

Don’t leave any valuable items in plain view, for example on the dashboard. Cover all equipment. Don’t carry fancy jewellery or expensive watches in plain sight.

Close all the windows and lock the doors before you go.

Don’t have alcohol containers, illegal drugs or something else that is illegal or can be seen as suspicious in your car. Be aware of your passengers so that they don’t carry anything illegal.

Bikes are an excellent way to get around and really good exercise. I suggest that you get a good reliable bike that you can use every day and a mountain bike that you can use if you want to go off road. A bike rack for your car is a good accessory if you want to take your bike with on a camping or hiking trip.

The most important safety feature is off course a good helmet, When you take your bike out I recommend that you carry your Pocket Survival Kit and Folding Knife, Swiss Army Knife or a Multi Tool. Wenger has a special Swiss Army knife called Biker 37

A good front light and a headlamp plus a red rear light are good when you ride your bike at night. A small GPS unit that you can mount on your bike is available from Garmin; 

The Edge 705. Gaiters are good for keeping your trousers away from the chain.

Checklist for other Equipment:

Puncture Repair Kit

Pump

Spare Valve

Adjustable Wrench or Barbell Spanner

Screwdriver

Helmet

Water Bottle or Water Bladder

Stick to what you know, keep it simple, think, then act.

BREAK

You are listening to the UK preppers radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden

The Mid Wales Bushcraft Show and Wild Camp

The weekend wild camp is from Friday 29th May to Monday 1st June, this is on our Mid Wales hill/woodland site, and the stall day is on Sunday 31st May held in the Elephant and Castle (pub) conference rooms in Newtown.

The wild camp and entrance fee to stalls together is £20 or just £3 if just coming along to the stalls.

It's best if people contact them for exact details of how to get to the Woodland site, as they would rather people pay in advance and not tie them down on the weekend with having to sort tickets out and handling cash etc. If you have got any questions then let us know. Chris/Kate http://midwalesbushcraft.co.uk/

Survival Thoughts

We not only risk natural and man-made disasters, we risk financial, commercial, political and social collapse. Things can go wrong slowly - or things can go wrong very quickly. 

Without trade, transport, banking or manufacturing, life could quickly diminish to desperate subsistence. It would be uglier than most people can imagine, and in the worse scenarios, you and your unprepared family will likely die.

Do you see your lifestyle as a birth right? Do you believe that you deserve perpetual prosperity? Will you choose a sustainable lifestyle and reduce your standard of living? You may be forced to make these changes. 

A societal collapse would be fast and deep, and would hurt developed countries the most.

Yet survival will have little to do with luck.

In 1977 New York City suffered a power failure for one night. Over 3,000 arrests were made for looting, 400 policemen were injured, 500 fires were started, more than 25,000 emergency calls were placed and four times the usual number of hospital emergency cases were admitted - all following one lightning strike.

Civilization is a veneer. 

Many empires have declined and fallen. Persia, Greece, Egypt, Rome, Turkey, Spain, China and Russia ... and many of their collapses were self-inflicted, not from being attacked but more often from attacking other countries. Wars are always costly.

American politicians wanted to police the world while maintaining its people's lifestyles beyond their ability to pay. 

America is losing its wealth ... like so many countries before. 

America's military options seem to increasingly focus on exit strategies that are not too humiliating.

So what can you do? An economic collapse will likely hurt the richest countries most, although many if not all other countries will be affected. Survival in any country will require broadly similar strategies.

Decide to live - choose to survive!

Be prepared - most people will do nothing!

Get yourself healthy and understand the risks!

Learn what to do before, during and after a collapse!

Read, read, read! Perhaps start with Global Research

Your best insurance? Decide to survive and stockpile essentials!

Professor Sir John Beddington, (UK government chief scientific adviser), says that the world faces a perfect storm of climate change impacting food, energy and water.

Will your Social Parachute Open?

Little information about the risk of collapse and the difficulties of survival is available in any media. Despite the risk, survival training is nearly non-existent. Government agencies tasked to prepare for and mitigate disaster have been exposed as ineffective. I suggest that you assume that you will be on your own.

Rule One: Don't trust your government to protect you. You can trust them to protect themselves.

At best, life in the coming decades will become increasingly local and smaller scale. This can happen if cheap energy decreases smoothly, if people act intelligently and if global competition for food, water and oil does not trigger world wars or financial hyperinflation.

At best, energy-dependent enterprises and cities will gradually contract as the supply of cheap power (also cheap food, cheap medicine, cheap communication and cheap education) dwindles.

At best, cheap power gradually vanishes, taking industry with it. As cities are products of an industrial revolution based on cheap energy, expect city and suburban homes to lose value catastrophically. Expect people who invested in suburban mansions to lose their illusions of equity. 

Expect the disruption of urban infrastructure to create logistical nightmares for people stuck in cities.

At best, after years of collective paralysis, political expediency and social upheaval will gradually increase. Your community probably depends on electrical machines, electronics and computers ... how fast will your community die without electric power?

At best, expect populations to migrate away from cities and threatened areas, with food, oil and water shortages limiting movement. Greatly reduced food production will result in vastly increased prices. 

Expect a return to rural values - and increasing interest in self-sufficiency and small family farms.

Training to Survive

You will need to build up your physical abilities to be able to survive when SHTF. 

If you have never really carried a full Bergen before then prepare your body for the challenges that lie ahead and start out slowly.

If you are a great swimmer and you think that you are in great condition and could easily hike for hours on end, you can be wrong. 

Hiking up- and hiking downhill on varying terrains and conditions are pretty specific fitness exercises that strain your body in ways that it may not be used to. 

Even if you are used to walking, strapping a 30-pound backpack will suddenly change your entire experience.

The key to training yourself lies in slow but steady progress. There is no fun in draining yourself to the point of collapse. 

Remember that we are walking for with a purpose so it is alright to push your boundaries but do not go too far. 

Make sure to set obtainable and measurable goals. Here are some suggested schedules when you're training for bugging out on foot.

Start off by making small 2-4 km (1-3 miles) hikes on regular intervals (1-2 times per week) under not too challenging conditions and without a backpack. 

Do it near your own home so you can make sure that you are able to be back before sunset.

Steadily increase the length of your hikes until you are able to comfortably make a 15km (9 miles) hike.

On your 15km hikes, you will most likely already be carrying a small day pack with some snacks and drinks. 

Now work on increasing the weight of your load by adding more equipment or food/drinks.

Steadily increase the weight of your expedition pack until you are able to comfortably finish a 15km hike with 10kg (22lb.) backpack.

At this stage, you are set to go on basic day hikes and you can train yourself in more challenging terrains and greater vertical gains.

From this point on, you should steadily increase your distance and the weight and size of your pack. With the proper training, you should be able to carry up to 25-30% of your body weight as Backpack Load.

There is a big difference between hiking on flat terrain and having to deal with uphill- and downhill walking. Steadily increase the number of vertical meters you gain on your day hikes.

Walking for consecutive days is very different from single day hikes with periods of rest between them. Consecutive hikes bring the added challenges of possible blisters, muscle aches and skin irritation. 

Train yourself by increasing the number of consecutive Hiking days.

This training routine should increase your overall fitness level and will get your body adjusted for bugging out.

MidiMax.co.uk is offering 10% off any product by using the code Midi10 so check out www.midimax.co.uk

Grow your own Grub

I met Cindy and Greg at the CUP Bug-Out weekend and they told me that amongst other animals they keep rabbits for meat so I thought I would look in to this for you dear listener so you too may supplement your food source with lean tasty meat from domestic rabbits are highly valued for their low fat, low cholesterol and high quality protein. 

Rabbit meat compares very favourably to chicken, turkey and some fish for its beneficial health virtues and its palatability.

3 to 4 litters of 5 to 10 young can be thrown by a healthy, mature female (doe) each year. 

One male (buck) can service up to twenty to thirty does, but in order to keep the gene pool healthy, you should have one buck for each 5 does.

Make sure you keep records of which does are bred by which bucks, and keep rotating the animals to keep the gene pool as large as possible.

One good breed is the Flemish Giant. The young from this breed will be ready to butcher at 3 months, yielding a very tender meat. 

Most consider the Flemish Giant unsuitable for a meat rabbit, due to the meat to bone ratio, also the amount of food consumed to meat ratio. 

It is okay to cross with a New Zealand for meat production.

Get the right pen. The pen should be a minimum of 5 feet by 6 feet for this large breed, but slightly smaller for the smaller breeds. 

Rabbits need space! The floor should be made of a sturdy wire mesh with about 3/4 inch square holes to accommodate droppings and urine. 

Do give the rabbit some place else to stand, however.

Standing on wire full time can hurt a rabbit's feet. A full tray or box the full size of the floor of the pen with all four sides about 2 1/2 inches high should be slid under the pen to catch the animal waste. 

This tray should be emptied once per week and rinsed with a disinfectant. Be careful when using bleach, as it will react with the urine and give off a harmful gas!

A solid compartment about 1 1/2 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide should be included in the pen to give the doe privacy while she is having her young. 

This will keep mortality of the young down to a great extent. 

Be sure there is plenty of dried hay in the pen when she is "due”. 

Know that female rabbits will conceive at any time they have an "encounter" with a buck. There is no set oestrous period.

The young should be separated from the mother at about 6 weeks.

The doe is ready for breeding immediately after separation from her young.

The rabbit pregnancy period is 28-30 days, with the doe able to mate within hours of giving birth.

Rabbits reach maturity somewhere between 6 and 10 months of age depending on the breed. Smaller breeds mature quicker than larger ones.

The following breeds will weigh approximately this much when fully mature; 

Netherland Dwarf 2 1/2 lbs., Jersey Wooley 3 1/2 lbs., Holland Lop 4 lbs., Mini-Rex 4 1/2lbs., Dutch 5 1/2 lbs., Havana 5 1/2 lbs., Florida White 6 lbs., Mini Lop 6 1/2lbs., Rex 9 lbs., Palomino, 10 lbs., Satin 11 lbs., New Zealand 11 lbs., French Lop 12 lbs., Flemish Giant 13+ lbs.

So why not hop on down to your nearest breeder and enjoy a great source of tasty food.

The 5 P’s of Preparedness

Emergencies typically occur with little or no warning.

As a result, many are caught off guard and are ill equipped to handle such a sudden crisis. 

Preparing ahead of time seems like the only logical way to handle this issue. 

However, the fact remains that a majority of our neighbours and fellow citizens are not prepared. 

One of the common reasons why people do not prepare is because of the overwhelming nature of it all.

Breaking up the enormity of preparedness into smaller compartmentalized sections will help you concentrate on one task at a time until the end result is met. 

Follow the 5 P’s with any disaster you are planning for:

Decide what types of disasters you are planning for (weather related, natural disasters, economic or personal disasters), and prioritize what your emergency plans will be by which emergencies are most likely to occur in your area. 

Also, do not limit your emergency preparedness organization to natural or economic disasters. 

Go a step further and plan for personal disasters that also tend to occur without warning (unemployment, divorce,death in the family).

Planning is the key to survival. Having a plan in place to help determine what steps need to be taken by you and your family members when an emergency arise will ensure that all preparedness needs are covered.

Also, having a guide to assist during the initial disaster preparation will help in determining what steps need to be taken by you and your family members when an emergency does arise. 

When planning for a disaster follow these protocols:

Have a plan in place (choosing the location, let family members know where your destination is, the contact information, a secondary destination, etc.).

Decide on the duration of the disaster you are planning for (3-day, 2 week, short-term or longer- term disasters).

Create a financial plan on how much money you can contribute to your preparedness budget.

Keep the basic needs in mind: food, water, shelter, clothing, safety and communication.

Try and find items that are light weight, functional and versatile so that if you have to carry them for long periods it will not be a strain.

Also, ensure that you have contingency plans put in place in case your first plan does not work out.

In addition, plan for the worst case scenario and have emergency I.D. cards made for each family member (including your pets) with current information provided.

Remember to prepare for disasters in a way that is financially responsible. 

Over time, by accumulating a few preparedness supplies each month will create a preparedness foundation that you can fall back on. 

Remember to fall back on your list of lists to ensure that you are purchasing the needed items for the disaster you are preparing for.

Have a well-rounded short-term supply to compliment your long term food items.   

Store your emergency supplies in an easy to access part of your home where natural elements such as sunlight and moisture are not an issue.

The best way to be better prepared for emergencies is through knowledge and practice. 

Read, watch, and walk through any information on disaster preparedness you can get your hands on. 

We have all heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” This is no different, in the case of preparedness. 

Consistent practice will turn your life-saving plans into muscle memory. This rehearse-to-be-ready concept is how many emergency personnel and even athletes train to condition their mind and body. 

However, being prepared is not only having supplies, it is having a skill set to fall back on if need be. 

Continue practising your new learned skills and avoid making these common mistakes made by preppers.

The end result of the aforementioned is simply peace of mind. Knowing which disasters may affect your family and having the necessary supplies in place to handle these disruptions in our daily lives will ensure that all of your preparedness concerns are covered. 

Taking that extra time to prepare can make all the difference if an unexpected disaster occurs.

Home-made Cheese

What you will need

4 litres of whole milk, 1 pinch salt, 1 large lemon, juiced

What to do

1. Pour the milk into a large pan, and stir in a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the milk from scorching on the bottom of the pan.

2. When the milk begins to boil turn the heat off then stir the lemon juice into the milk, the milk will then curdle. This may take 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Line a sieve with a cheesecloth, now pour the milk through the cloth to catch the curds. What is left in the cheesecloth is the Farmer’s Cheese. The liquid is the whey.

4. Gather the cloth around the cheese, and squeeze out as much of the whey as you can. Then I find it best to suspend the cheese cloth over the sink for example.

5. When it has stopped dripping, I put it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge.

Why not try using herbs or other flavourings.

BREAK

You are listening to the UK preppers radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden

Listeners visiting Field Leisure - The Bushcraft & Wilderness Store at http://www.fieldleisure.co.uk/ can get 10% OFF by entering the code UKPRN at the checkout now Paul guarantees next day delivery all over the UK and fast European and US delivery and that is reassuring and refreshing too

Survival Cooking Risks

So when the brown stuff hits the fan your will bug-out. You will build a shelter, light a fire, hunt, trap and fish and then sit around the fire singing “gin gang gooley” as your food cooks.

It just sounds idyllic doesn’t it?

But according to recent figures this could be the most dangerous aspect of survival camping.

A shocking 94 per cent of more than 2,000 people questioned for a Government survey admit to at least one barbecue habit that is a health risk.

Food poisoning is a real risk at barbecues

FSA Chief executive Catherine Brown

Twenty-one per cent believe they have been ill due to something they have eaten as a result, the poll for the Food Standards Agency found.

Almost a third admit to not checking burgers, sausages and even chicken are cooked all the way through.

The FSA has released a list of tips to cut food poisoning, with the first being to pre-cook meat in the oven and finish it off on the barbecue for flavour.

Chief executive Catherine Brown said: “Food poisoning is a real risk at barbecues and we are reminding people to take good care of their families.”

Survival cooking is bar-b-q cooking is it not? When the shtf there will be no chemist, health centre, doctor or NHS to go to to sort out food poisoning, stomach upsets and diarrhoea, all of which will dehydrate you and reduce your physical ability to provide and survive.

OK I do not want to teach my grandmother to suck eggs by it never hurts to get back to basics.

Charred doesn’t mean cooked, cook your barbecue food thoroughly until you are sure that your poultry, pork, burgers, sausages and kebabs are steaming hot, with no pink meat inside.

Avoid cross-contamination by storing raw meat separately before cooking, use different utensils, plates and chopping boards for raw and cooked food. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry them before handling your food for the barbecue and after handling raw foods including meat, fish, eggs and vegetables. (You should of course wash your hands after touching the bin, going to the toilet, blowing your nose, or touching pets.)

Don’t wash raw chicken or other meat, it just splashes germs. Cooking will kill any bacteria present, including campylobacter. On the other hand, washing chicken, or other meat, can spread dangerous bugs on to your hands, clothes, utensils and by splashing.

Turning meat regularly and moving it around the barbecue will help to cook it evenly. Charred on the outside doesn’t always mean cooked on the inside so, it’s always safer to cut open and check your burgers, sausages and chicken. If in doubt –keep cooking.

Keep plates and cutlery away from raw meat and fish, never serve your guests cooked food on a plate or surface that’s had raw meat or fish on it, and don’t use cutlery or marinades that have been in contact with raw meat. There’s no point in serving up food with a flourish if you’re adding bugs back into the mix.



Peter at buggrub is also offering a 10% discount on all his products, simply by using the code PREPPER. So have you got the gonads, can you walk the walk, dare you, I dear you to buy some buggrub and then eat it, go on I dare you. Peter’s website is www.buggrub.com

THE TWELTH WILDERNESS GATHERING 2015 13th to 16th August

The Wilderness Gathering has over the years become a firm date in the diaries of those who enjoy Bushcraft, nature and wilderness survival skills. The previous eleven years have seen this event grow from a small event in one field with some traders and schools sharing bushcraft skills and knowledge to a festival of wilderness living skills encompassing bushcraft/survival and woodland crafts.

The show has grown into an event with something for all the family with stories and music by the campfire in the evenings and skills workshops and activities throughout the three whole days of the festival.

The Wilderness Gathering has without a doubt become the premier family event for all those interested in bush crafts and the great outdoors.

The show has Bushcraft clubs for all age groups of children to get involved in plus more activities for all including den building and wilderness skills classes for all.

There are hands on demonstrations of game preparation, knife sharpening, basha boat building, bow making, greenwood working, archery and axe throwing and primitive fire lighting to name just a few. There are talks on survival physiology, classes on falconry and wilderness survival fishing. All of these skills are there for everybody and anybody to participate in.

You can probably pick up information on nearly all the skills needed to live in the wilderness and prosper at The Wilderness Gathering.

There is a wealth of good quality trade stands that are carefully selected to be in theme for the show selling everything from custom knives to tipis and outdoor clothing to primitive tools. The organisers have even laid on a free service bring and buy stall where you can bring along your used and unwanted kit and they’ll sell it for you.

There are local scout and explorer groups on site promoting the World Wide Scouting Movement as well helping out with some of the classes and site logistics.

The catering is within the theme of the event with venison and game featuring on the menus plus organic cakes and drinks. The woodland and open field camping facilities (with hot showers) giving you the option to visit for the whole weekend or just to attend as a day visitor.

Check out www.wildernessgathering.co.uk or call 0845 8387062 you really won’t regret it.



Nigel at www.hunters-knives.co.uk has offered you dear listener 10% on all his products simply by using the code PREP10.

Two Basic Survival Basics

Fact white rice has about 90 percent carbohydrates, which makes it one of the best survival foods. But it lacks the protein and fats (essentials in the long term) which you can get from beans (35% protein – the highest protein content of any seed crop – and 14% fats).

Fact white rice and beans can last up to 30 years. White rice lasts for 4-5 years (oxygen free white rice lasts for 30 years) and beans almost indefinitely in the absence of oxygen and light.

Fact they are cheap! The giant 50lb bag of white rice is about £30 to £35. The dried beans can be found at around £2 per kilo. So, 30 lbs of beans is around £28 to £30.

So, a 50lb bucket of rice and a 30lb bucket of beans would cost you about £60 for a 50 days food reserve! which is not too bad at all.

Now before everyone calls and says how much? yes i know that if you look around you will find rice and beans even cheaper but I have quoted the basic supermarket price which allows for the extra bag being bought each week to allow you to build up your food preps.

This was calculated for 2000 calories per day (would be exactly 48.5 days), but we can survive with far less calories per day.

Keep in mind that you will also need a lot of water to cook the rice and the beans.

Rice is rich in starch, and an excellent source of energy. Beans are rich in protein, and contain other minerals. The consumption of the two together provides all the essential amino acids and it is no wonder that this combination is a staple of many diets throughout the world.

Here’s why they are a good combination for long-term survival food storage, and their calories per pound, survival days, etc.

WHITE RICE

50lbs of White Rice

50,000 calories – 25 survival days

1655 calories per pound (uncooked)

590 calories per pound (cooked)

675 calories per cup (uncooked)

205 calories per cup (cooked)

Note: For long term food storage, do not use brown rice (use only white rice) because it will go rancid within a year from its oils.

BEANS

30lbs of Dried Beans

47,000 calories – 23.5 survival days

1574 calories per pound (uncooked)

650 calories per pound (cooked)

670 calories per cup (uncooked)

245 calories per cup (cooked)

There is a slight variation of calories per pound for different bean varieties. Numbers mentioned are an average. They are mostly the same.

After many years, beans lose their ability to soften up while re-hydrating in water and the cooking process may result in al dente. However these beans will remain edible and will not have lost their food value. Maybe you rotate your beans every so many years…

Having at least 30lbs each of rice and beans will provide nearly 50 days of ‘survival’ calories

While you will not want to eat rice and beans every day and every meal, the combination is an inexpensive food storage ‘staple’ as part of your overall food storage diversity.

Some food storage outlets will sell you rice and/or beans already packed and sealed for long term food storage in buckets. However you can also do it yourself by purchasing in bulk and then use Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and your own sealable food quality buckets.

You might also choose to use an ordinary kitchen vacuum sealer and store smaller quantities (which could still be held in these buckets for safe keeping).

By themselves, rice and beans are bland. No doubt there are countless spices and other ingredients you can add to increase nutrition and make them more palatable.