Weapons of Defense

A significant part of survival is to be able to defend one’s self and his belongings.  Self-defense occupies the major part of training lessons for preppers.  In the unfortunate times of SHTF, best self defense is to be mentally prepared for whatever comes your way and creating a win-win position in the head. This not only boosts up the morale but also brings out positive results.

There’re a few golden rules a prepper must learn.  One of which is not to get into a fight unless it is absolutely necessary to defend yourself.  Retreating in a few situations is often viable. Being aware of the situation and assessing it properly helps a prepper to decide whether to retreat or be up for self defense.

When preparing for disastrous situations or natural calamities, weapons and self-defense take on a different purpose for preppers.  Weapons are important for preppers.  Yet these weapons are only needed for protection of prepper’s property and his own self during an attack by invading forces, whatever those forces may be. Besides weapons, keeping a guard dog or a heavy baseball bat are excellent alternatives.

When considering which type of weapons to choose a few things are to be kept in mind.  Disobeying laws never comes under self-defense.  Using a weapon within shooting range is safe.  Best self defense weapons include sharp shooter keychain, which actually tops the list.  It is easy to carry because of its small size and easy fit feature, and also has an advantage of efficient working over pepper sprays and stun guns.   Its power to break coconuts and cinder blocks portrays its strength to stop an attacker in his tracks.

One of the chief silent weapons is a pocket knife.  It is handy and has a key role in self defense.  A pocket knife is an essential component of a bug out bag.  Other important silent weapons include sickle, ax and a hunting knife which is usually kept to keep at distance the predators be it two-legged or four-legged.

The Travel Wrench resembles the karambit, it is such a device that when correctly deployed, it can be extremely effective.  Simple, easy to keep, efficient in working, it is a tool which is definitely worth taking a look at when it comes to self defense weapons.

Emergency kit must include an important weapon, a firearm.  Both a handgun and a rifle or preferable a shotgun should both be available.  There are considered to be must-haves.  Keeping invaders and attackers away with warnings must be the foremost option.

Self-defense is not about carrying a firearm and having a prepper spray.  Self-defense has much more to do with self confidence.  Self-confidence helps a prepper deal with any situation ideally.  In times of trouble, it is hard to imagine living without food and important supplies, protection of these belongings therefore becomes necessary.  For this purpose a prepper needs to be a master at self-defense techniques, keeping weapons as a means of security is a primary option.  Preppers self-defense trainings provide an effective security defense for their own self, property and belongings.   

It must be kept in mind that using a handgun or rifle or shotgun is perhaps the best form of self-defense.  Actively engaging in physical combat is not wise.  There will always be someone out there coming at you that you will not be able to over-come.  Having a firearm will level the field.   Hopefully the mere presents of firearm will discourage the attacker.  If not then you can be safe to assume that talking or mere physical force would be of little use on this attacker.  This is where the firearm levels the playing field no matter the physical capabilities of the individuals.

Solar Energy Can Save You in an Emergency

Dependency on power-run devices and appliances has increased so much that even a small temporary lapse of electricity can create havoc and threaten the very survival of life. Imagining even a few hours without laptops, microwaves, washing machines, air conditioners and televisions etc. renders sadness. While electricity generators and inverters are popularly bought and used for such emergency cases, they are not the most reliable, safe, inexpensive and eco-friendly options out there.  

Why do you need an emergency solar power generator?

Solar energy, one of the cleanest and safest forms of energy, can be a cheap and reliable option in case of emergencies. It can effectively help users to run few important appliances and continue their work and life without feeling exceedingly disturbed by a sudden power cut. No more do you have to fret and worry every time the electricity goes off; you can conveniently derive the required power from your solar power generator and be assured that your work and life won’t be disrupted.

How to Make a Solar Power System

An emergency solar power system can be designed and made by anyone. Preppers will need a set of one or more PV (photovoltaic) panels to generate energy from sunlight, a battery which can store the generated solar energy, a simple charge controller which will make sure that the battery does not get overcharged and an inverter which will convert the solar energy stored in the battery into usable 120V Alternating Current (AC). All these electrical components can be easily obtained from local electricity and hardware stores. These days, special PV sheets have also been launched which are not bulky and can be conveniently pasted on roofing panels of the buildings.

Benefits of Solar Energy Generator

Preppers have several reasons to rejoice as solar energy offers a large number of benefits over the conventional power generators which require diesel or petrol to run.

First and foremost, if you live in an area which receives ample sunshine, a solar power system can be the ideal choice for you as you will always have a generous power backup for emergencies and you won’t have to worry about your survival. Secondly, solar energy is clean and safe; it doesn’t cause pollution or depletion of exhaustible natural resources. Thirdly, installing a solar power system is much cheaper and safer; you don’t have to pay any cost for sunshine falling on your PV panels! Last but not the least, unlike the fuel-run generators, solar energy generators do not make any noise at all.

Solar Power Generator is undoubtedly the best emergency power kit you can gift to yourself!

Disasters can happen at anytime

Disasters can happen at anytime and the reality is that most of the time a disaster will happen when you least expect it. Situations can occur and at any given time and when those situations do occur, you will not be able to go and get the needed survival supplies. That is why it is best to have a survival kit that is both ready and accessible in the event that an emergency does occur. Here is an outline of some emergency kits what they should contain.

First Aid Kit

The first aid kit is a kit that is intended to dress and treat injuries. It is not intended to provide long term care but it should allow people to treat immediate injury in the event of a disaster. The goals of a first aid kit should be twofold. One goal will be to stop bleeding and the other goal will be to manage pain. The first aid kit should contain the following items.

• Disposable gloves
• Bandages
• Medical Tape
• Scissors
• Anti-bacterial ointment
• Tourniquet
• Aspirin

72 Hour Kit

This kit, also known as a bug out kit, is intended for short term disaster survival. It could include situations like a hurricane, tornado, flooding, or earthquakes. The goal is survive until relief can come. Here is what should be in a 72 hour kit.

• Water—One gallon per person per day for at least three days
• Food—At least a three day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery powered or crank powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid Kit
• Whistle
• Dust mask and duct tape
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and twist ties
• Wrench or pliers
• Can opener
• Local Map
• Blankets

Pet Survival Kit

Many times families forget about their pets when preparing a survival kit. Here’s what you should have in a pet survival kit. Note: This is for cats or dogs.

• Three days worth of pet food
• Water
• Collar and leash
• Pet carrier (for small pets)
• First Aid Kit
• Plastic bags for picking up poop

Auto Kit

The auto kit should be kept in your car. You will never know when you could be stranded on the road.

• Jumper Cables
• Kitty litter (for traction)
• Hand Warmers
• Gloves, Hat, Jacket
• First Aid Kit
• Blankets

Long Term Survival Kit

The long term survival kit should have everything the 72 hour kit has. It also should include items like extra clothing, water storage, and portable shelter. This kit is intended to help people endure through a serious disaster where aid will be unable to reach them on a long term basis. This could include situations like a severe hurricane, earthquake, or tornado. In regions of the world where military strikes are considered normal a long term survival kit will be needed in case you or your family ends up becoming a refugee. Since no one can plan on losing their home on a long term basis, the better planning for long term survival the better.

Making Your Home Safe During a Disaster

While it is highly understood that we live in a dangerous world, in the time following a major disaster your world can suddenly become a living hell.  Not only do you have to deal with safeguarding your food, home damage and downed powers, but you also need to be fully alert of the illegal and criminal parts that disasters bring.  Raiders, looters, and home intrusions are the biggest problem of post-catastrophes because of those who use overworked emergency responders to their advantage in order to get whatever they want.

Protecting yourself and your family in a rapid and wide spread catastrophe is tough and dangerous.  When a majority of the affected population is unprepared and without the things they need for their immediate survival, these people may take extreme measures.  If supply trucks can’t gain entry into the city, even for a couple of days, those who are unprepared will take drastic measures to get whatever they need for survival, even if this means breaking into your home.  As the days, weeks, and months pass, the chance of having to protect your home from intruders skyrockets.  Preppers must go above and beyond the little preparation recommendations that government ran disaster organizations offer.  You must prepare and be ready to defend your home at all costs.

One of the best approaches that you can take to keep criminals far away from your home is to make your house look difficult to vandalize.  Furthermore, create hurdles to make it very difficult for the vandals to gain entry.  This will either annoy them to the point of abandoning their break in plans or slow them down so that you can convince them to retreat (with the noise from your firearm, for example).  Research and obtain firearms and seek training with them, if needed.  Know that you can never have too much ammunition so start stock piling it just like you would any other resources.  During the time following an emergency, crime escalates quickly so you must prepare beforehand.

The below tips and suggestions will lead you on the right trail to protecting your home and help to ensure your survival during a crisis:

• Barricade all the entry points into your home such as your windows, doors, and basement.
• Remove any outdoor objects that can be thrown at your home in order to gain entry (lawn furniture, rocks, etc).
• Consider replacing all of your exterior facing doors with rugged steel doors that have no windows.
• Install heavy duty dead bolt locks. At least 2 are recommended but the more the better.
• Camouflaged outdoor surveillance cameras will allow you see what is happening outside your house without putting yourself in danger.
• Keep a low profile and always keep your noise down.  The sound of generators, chain saws, radios, farm animals, etc. can alert people that you (and supplies) are inside.
• Always keep multiple fire extinguishers in your home in the event of a fire inside your home.
• Build a safe room inside your room.

The best advice to ensure your survival and to protect yourself and your family during an emergency is to become a prepper.  You must prepare sooner than later as you never know when a disaster will occur.  By following the tips and suggestions in this article, preppers will be one step ahead of the rest when a catastrophe erupts.

Emergency Supplies
Emergency Supplies

Example of a Preparedness Report You Should Do of Your City/Area

Preparedness Report for La Pine, OR                  Nov 2013

Information/Emergency Contacts:

·         Fire, rescue, medical, crime reporting (emergency only): 911

·         Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency): (541) 693-6911

·         Deschutes County Health Department (non-emergency): (541) 322-7400

Common Hazards:

Wildfires: Wildfires make up the number one priority natural hazard for Deschutes County, OR, having a high vulnerability to these circumstances as well as a high probability of occurrence. The path and destructive forces of a wildfire will most often be determined by weather patterns at the time (such as wind direction and speed, level of precipitation and drought prior to a fire, etc.), the terrain (often spreading uphill faster than downhill, as heat rises), and the amount of flammable material near houses (trees, shrubs, dead grass, etc.), as well as the proximity of the houses to one another.

Severe Winter Storms: This county is also classified as having a high vulnerability to winter storms, with a moderate level of probability that these events will happen. Winter storms come with a number of hazards including potential loss of power, limited mobility (for both residents and emergency services), and individual risks such as hypothermia, frostbite, etc.    

Flooding: The third highest priority of natural emergencies is flooding with a moderate vulnerability as well as a moderate probability of these occurrences. Flooding will often be a more significant factor following a wildfire as there will be a lack of living vegetation to absorb the rainfall and reduce the runoff. It may take up to five years following a wildfire for vegetation to grow back to reduce the risk of significant flood.

Emergency Shelters: (Marked on map below)

Though emergency shelters in and around La Pine have not been specified in emergency plans available online, the following are school buildings that may potentially be utilized by emergency management personnel for the public in the event of an emergency: (Please listen to the instructions of the emergency personnel on the radio or on TV as to where you should go in an emergency event and follow their instructions.)

La Pine High School
51633 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739

La Pine Elementary School
51615 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739

La Pine Middle School
16360 First Street
La Pine, OR 97739

Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School (South of La Pine)
201 Mountain View Drive
Gilchrist, OR 97737

Three Rivers Elementary School (North of La Pine)
56900 Enterprise Dr
Sunriver, OR 97707

Likely Evacuation Routes: (Marked on map below)

Route 97 South (or North depending on circumstances), and Route 31 South will likely be used for evacuation. Based on a Forest Fire Evacuation Analysis of Bend, OR, south west and south east of the city of Bend are areas that are more prone to wildfires, and therefore southbound roads may be the best option for residents in La Pine, should a forest fire occur in that area. 

Maps:
City-wide view with potential immediate area emergency shelters and evacuation route:

Legend: Blue lines indicate potential emergency evacuation routes (Route 97 and Route 31)

Wide multi-county view with other nearby potential emergency shelters:

Home and Evacuation Preparedness Measures:

In the event a wildfire occurs, should you have the time and means, EVACUATE if emergency personnel instruct you to do so, or if you feel that you are in danger; however, do NOT try to outrun the fire. Follow the instructions in the Evacuation Guide link provided following this section for various scenarios. Should you not be able to leave your home, shelter in place, but note that this is only a LAST RESORT. Some precautions to take to prepare for, and limit the exposure to wildfire events could include: creating a defensible space around your home of at least 30 feet (meaning keeping flammable materials (such as vegetation, flammable liquids such as gasoline, paints, etc.) away from your home); preparing a 72-hour kit to include items such as flashlights with extra batteries, water (at least one gallon per person), a first aid kit, important documents, clothing for each person, and sleeping bag(s); gain information on specific evacuation procedures, such as for schools, child-care facilities, assisted-living communities, where you can take your pet(s), etc.; keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full when wildfires are more likely to occur; and wear protective clothing, such as wool or cotton long sleeve shirts and pants, a hat, gloves, a handkerchief or some other way to protect your nose and mouth, and protective glasses.

Deschutes County Evacuation Guide: http://www.projectwildfire.org/images/uploads/Evacuation%20Guide.pdf

Additional Info/Comments:

ALWAYS LISTEN FOR AND FOLLOW EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, OR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. They will provide you with proper actions to take regarding your specific jurisdiction. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff and other affiliated emergency personnel for the county, “A fire within sight or smell is a threat.” If it is too late to evacuate, stay indoors, and DO NOT go outside until the fire passes.

Sources:

http://www.deschutes.org/Health-Services/Public-Health/Emergency-Preparedness.aspx

http://www.projectwildfire.org/images/uploads/Evacuation%20Guide.pdf

http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/Flood_After_Fire_Fact_Sheet.pdf

http://sheriff.deschutes.org/Special-Services/Emergency-Management/

http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~arrast/CE202_W10_prj/Other/The_real_final_report.pdf

Google Earth

It is a big harsh world out there

It is a big harsh world out there. Natural and man-made disasters seem to occur every month. There's no knowing if or when something could happen to your area, however you can easily take steps to ready yourself for unexpected events. Long lasting food storage is among the simplest and most economical methods to get your family ready in case of tragedies, job losses, or just about any other cause for food shortages...

Even though the majority agree that long term food storage is an essential part of guaranteeing a family's well-being in an emergency, lots acknowledge that they're not as ready as they need to be.

Getting ready for the long run by having an emergency food supply that sustains a 25 year shelf life will pay for itself in reassurance, when disaster strikes.

Advance planning is vital to long-term survival. Families should stock a complete disaster recovery kit, with medical supplies, provision for safe hygiene, emergency lamps and lights, and basic hand tools. Having said that, snug clothing, clean drinking water, and food items which are specifically for lasting food storage would be the primary of these items.

Every week, and quite often daily, you hear media reports talking about droughts, financial downturns, riots, job loss, act of terrorism, earthquakes, hurricanes, power failures, polluted food or water, and more.

Setting up a food storage system helps us discover how to prepare and make use of basic foods. Since lots of goods in a food storage only last a certain period of time you should rotate the food by using older items and changing those things with new ones. When we do this we can learn to use our food storage which in turn will prepare us to know how to use our food storage in the case of an emergency.

water water everywhere nor any drop to drink

Water is extremely important for human survival. Lack of its availability for days may lead to dehydration, weakness and eventually death. Necessities of life, if readily available, are often taken for granted. Their importance is realized only when they’re not around.

Water is a significant preparedness item. Usually preppers think of storing food first when it comes to prepping. But importance of a thing is realized when a person thinks about a life without it. Humans can only survive 3 days without water. When starting off with prepping, the first thing to be kept under consideration is to store water. Drinking and non-drinking water should preferably be stored separately. On average an adult needs a gallon of water per day to carry out activities of life. Therefore, a family of 4 needs 4 gallons of water per day.

Firstly it is important to figure out how much water is actually needed. Usually for a small family 5 gallons a day is more than enough, one gallon for drinking while the rest of four gallons for bathing, washing, cleaning and personal hygiene. For a 10 day crisis approximately 40-50 gallons is needed for one person.

After calculating the exact amount of water one needs, the next step is to look for a safe place to store it. A gallon of water weighs around 8.34 pounds, also the place should be cool, dry and away from direct sunlight. To avoid contamination of water supply, pesticides and harmful chemicals should be removed from the surrounding area. Usually basement is the most suitable place.

Storage of water needs appropriate containers and plastic water containers are the best option for storing gallons of water. They’re cheap, and safe to use. Now, bacteria-resistant anti-fungal growth containers are also available in the market. They’re comparatively expensive and another drawback is that chlorinated water might corrode steel which will make water contaminated and unhealthy to drink.

Contaminated water is of no use therefore, contamination must be avoided no matter what. Tap water has a storage life of six months and to enhance its storage life there’s a tip usually mentioned i.e. water needs to be poured from one clean container to another clean container several times to put air back into it. Disinfectant pills are also available, keep a plenty of these pills along with other stored items.

To get an access to the water in pipes, shut off the valve of the water supply to your home. Place a container under tap and open the tap in cold direction. Then open hot side as well. This allows air to enter pipes and drains all the water from pipes into the container.

Survival is possible if all above mentioned points are kept in mind while storing water. Above all a person needs to know the amount of water to be stored, appropriate containers for this purpose and a safe place to keep this water supply. An individual should be well aware of the fact that only storing water is just not enough. The most important thing is to keep it clean and avoid contamination. For this purpose one should know the disinfection methods or keep disinfectant tablets along.

Preparing Yourself Mentally For a Natural Disaster

It is very advantageous and helpful to be mentally and emotionally prepared and also know how to prepare psychologically before a natural disaster. Preparing yourself for the harsh reality helps you ride out of the storm in the best possible position to handle the aftermath of the disaster.

The Following Are Helpful Hints To Help You Prepare:

1.Positive Attitude. Your attitude will be one of the determinant factors for your survival.

2.First Aid Kit: Having a first aid kit in the house shouldn't be overlooked, even small measures can save life. It should be well stocked with the appropriate items such as antibiotics, bandages and illness related medicines.

3.Proper Education: An aware and well informed family is always in a better position when a natural disaster strikes

4.A Good Plan: Have an emergency plan in place. No one knows when a disaster may occur and your family might not be together, so it's important for everyone to know how to contact one another when such happens.

5.Keep Basic Tools Functional: Basic functional tools such as flashlights and others should be properly check to be sure they are working. Having tools to cut through wood, iron or metal is also important.

The Importance of Being Prepared

1.Being prepared can reduce the risk of serious injury and loss of life or property and also assist the individual in thinking clearly.

2.Being psychologically prepared can help in coping with the stress of the unfolding situation and can help to reduce the distress after the disaster has passed.

3.This includes having realistic expectations that an emergency situation such as a wildfire or cyclone event can very quickly become unmanageable, unpredictable and life threatening.

Just How Secure is Your Home

Everybody thinks that their home is secure.  Today, most homes are now fitted with good quality doors and windows which have good quality locks and bolts upon them.  Often when we are going out in the evening, we will draw the curtains and leave a few lights on to give the appearance that there is someone in.  However there are occasions, especially on those late summer evenings when it is still light as you are going out, that you decide not do this, and this unfortunately is when you are providing an opportunity to any would be burglar to gain access to your home.

Often a would be intruder, rather than trying to gain access through the front door as they are likely to be seen by your neighbours, will then try to gain access to your property at the back.  Unfortunately, it will only take them a few attempts, and they can actually gain access to your home very quickly without your neighbours becoming aware that anything has occurred. 

When this type of break in occurs, then the burglar will only take things that are easy to carry, and in most cases can be placed inside a pillowcase.  Generally, they will often only steal much larger items like TV’s, DVD players and stereos if they feel that they have enough time and are not likely to be spotted any time soon. 

Therefore it is wise that whenever you leave your home for any length of time, both during the day time, and at night, that you make sure everything is secure, and nothing can be seen which is likely to tempt the burglar to try to gain entry to your property.

Also, if you are having any work carried out on your home, it is not wise to leave the work men alone at the home.  I know the majority of work men today can be trusted, but there are going to be occasions when the company you are using are new to you, and you have no idea with regard to the people that they employ.  Therefore when having work carried out on your home, arrange for either yourself or a partner or a close friend or family member to supervise them while they are in your home.

Unfortunately a lot of people today will often arrange to install a burglar alarm or home security system after an intruder has gained entry to their property.  This is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.  It is therefore important that you start looking at ways to improve your home security to ensure that you do not just become another statistic.

Using Rain Barrels to Survive Droughts

If you’re a prepper that has an unlimited supply of water, consider

yourself lucky. There are many of us who live in drought zones where the

garden and lawn watering rules are very constrictive to the healthy growth

of gardens and plants. Many people just give up when they find out how few

gallons of water they are permitted to use, but some of us have just found

ways to cope with less water. There are many ways to optimize ones garden

to conserve water while still keeping it lush.

Some of the ways include drip irrigation (the use of a pipe or hose with

small holes to gradually seep into the roots of the plant), the placement

of plants in groups of equal watering needs (to prevent wasting water on

plants that don’t need it), and using compost or mulch to insulate the

water and prevent drainage.

But one of the best ways to keep your garden alive during a drought is to

take preventative measures. Occasionally a drought will be predicted far

in advanced, or those already experiencing a drought will be given a few

weeks of heavy rain. When this occurs, you should take the opportunity to

set up several rain barrels. Many people think this would be a time

consuming, silly thing to do. But it can save you many gallons of water,

and hardly requires any work.

Finding the barrels will probably be the hardest part. You can use your

own garbage cans, or head to your home improvement store to get a few 55

gallon plastic drums. These can be expensive and difficult to transport,

so keep that in mind before you go to the store. You will probably want to

cover the top of the barrel with a screen of some sort to filter out any

unwanted leaves or debris that might fall off the roof of your house.

Once you have your barrels ready, you’re faced with the decision of where

to place them. Usually during rainfall, there is one corner or segment of

the house that rain tends to pour off of. If you are taking the simple

approach to barrel placement, just place the barrel under all the places

where you see large amounts of drips. However, while this might be the

easiest way to place them, you won’t see very high volumes of rain in the

barrels.

If you want to take a more complicated approach to placing the barrels,

you should consider tweaking your gutter system a bit. If you remove each

individual segment and place it at a very slight slant angle  so that all the

water is diverted to the nearest corner of the house, you can place a rain

barrel at each corner. So essentially your entire house acts as a catcher

for the rain, instead of just a few feet worth of shingles. This is how to

maximize the amount of water your rain barrel will catch.

After a heavy rainfall, each individual barrel probably won’t see very

much rain. If it looks like it won’t be raining more any time soon, it’s a

good idea to empty each barrel into one main central barrel. Seal it and

save it out of the way, for whenever you may need it. Then the next time

it starts to rain, you’ll be able to quickly put all your catching barrels

into place without having to lug around all the water you’ve accumulated

so far.

The use of water barrels might sound like an antiquated idea. However,

when you’re in the midst of a drought and you’re able to spare that extra

couple of gallons for your garden in addition the city allotment, you’ll

be grateful for every bit of time and money you spent on collecting all

that rain. All it takes is a few trips out in the backyard every time it

starts to sprinkle, and you’ll be a very happy gardener when water isn’t

so abundant.

Mulching for Free

I’m sure that if you are reading this, you have used some form of mulch during your gardening career. However, you probably didn’t know that there are many other options for organic mulching that you can explore. These days, many gardeners are discovering new sources of free mulch that has been there all along; an untapped resource. These include clippings from a lawn, or woody prunings from other plants in your yard. You will be surprised by how beneficial all these things can be, and how often the opportunity arises to use them.

Many gardeners have taken to spreading out their excess grass clippings across the rest of their yard. You may think this will look tacky, with big piles of grass just sitting in your yard as if you were too lazy to rake them up. However, if you spread them out enough then you won’t even be able to tell that there is an excess amount. Leaving the extra grass on the yard acts as a sort of mulch by preventing evaporation and weed growth. With this extra water, you won’t have to water nearly as much to keep your grass green.  If you start leaving your grass clippings, you should adjust the frequency of your sprinkler system because you don't want your yard getting too much water.

If your garden is in more need of mulching than your yard, it is not unheard of to rake up all the grass and transport it to your garden. By making a small layer around the vicinity of the plant, you’ll apply all the same benefits from leaving it in your yard. If your yard is rather green on its own, but you often have trouble with your plants staying green and healthy. So, rather than leave the grass clipping in your yard, you can move them all around your plants. It is just a matter of choosing what your highest mulching priority is.

Sometimes, your pruning activities will lead you to have an amazing amount of branches and twigs. If this is the case, you should consider renting a wood chipper to put all of those branches to use. After one day of intense pruning, you would be surprised at just how many branches you end up with. Rather than throw these away, you can turn them into a huge amount of mulch for your plants. However, if your pruning has not left you with that big of an amount, you should bundle it all up and save it to add onto the next batch. This is because the chipping machines can be slightly expensive to rent, and you want it to be absolutely worth it!

Over time, all organic mulches need to be replenished. This is because they will naturally decompose in the conditions of your yard. Usually you can tell for yourself just by looking at it, but sometimes it can look perfectly regular but still have problems. If you start to notice any poor plant growth whatsoever, you should replace your mulch. Always keep in mind that during the process of decomposition, your mulch will use up the valuable nitrogen in the soil. Without this, the plants will be missing a key nutrient. There are several types of fertilizers available on the market that are specifically designed to deal with this problem.

The use of mulches in the yard and garden is something everyone should try. Not only can it save lots of time by reducing the amount of garbage you have to transport out, but it increases the healthiness and integrity of your plants by putting that so called garbage to good use. So if you think you would be able to save a good amount of branches and twigs for chipping, or if you think that you are ready to stop raking up all your grass clippings, then I think that mulching is for you.

Urban Gardening

When one thinks of gardens and gardening we don't think of city life. We think of grass, trees and nature. Gardens bring to mind the beauty of the country side. But, there are those people today that want to have a touch of nature in their homes even though they live in a metropolis like New York.

Urban Gardening is a way of overcoming the restrictions that the city brings with its lack of nature. This is due primarily to the fact that the natural landscape becomes destroyed because of the buildings and concrete. By creating gardens within limited city spaces such as in apartments one can have a touch of nature close to them.

Just because one lives in a concrete city doesn't mean one doesn't seek a way to have green in their lives. Today there are many creative ways to incorporate gardens living in a city environment. You can look up and see window boxes hanging from windows with flowers and plants. People do container gardening in their homes.  Now days both people and their communities utilize spaces like roofs tops as well as empty lots to create urban gardens. Those with terraces attached to their apartments can add a little garden right out their doors. Urban gardening is a way to reconnect with nature in a man made environment.

Urban gardening and agriculture is becoming increasingly more important as many contractors are buying fertile land and building on it. This means that less and less space is becoming available to grow things as a result. The farmers who grow fruits and vegetables are being slowly closed out of land to grow on. Therefore urban gardening is a resourceful way to grow plants and vegetables in the city. It is without a doubt that as more and more cities spring up urban fruit and vegetable gardens are quickly becoming another source for food worldwide. It has been shown through recent studies that aside from the ascetic beauty that urban gardens bring to city areas; urban vegetable gardens have been able to serve as food source in the poorer urban neighborhoods. For many of the world wide impoverished areas this is their only source of fresh fruits and vegetables. Urban gardens are being viewed more than just a way to beautify a city landscape. They are considered sources to improve the environment, community builders and a possible food source for families.

Gardens in an urban environment can vary according to its location, size and the climate depending on where it’s placed. Depending where it is located, it is possible to have a garden grow year round in a city. A balcony is an ideal possibility for such a garden. It is also feasible to have a year round indoor garden in an apartment. All it takes is a little know how and a lot of creativity. 

Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared!

A prepper is a person who has a firm belief that one can overcome even the toughest of situations with bravery and vigor. Determination and focus is needed to overcome harsh unexpected conditions. Preppers are the people who believe that sacrificing today for tomorrow is better than repenting upon it later. For this purpose there are certain essentials to be kept in mind while doing preparations and this blog is designed to help you out in this case.

Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups referred to as survivalists or preppers, who prepare themselves for emergency conditions, be it natural, local or international. Survivalists are often well-trained medically and are able to defend themselves when needed. Other important survival tricks are also taught that helps them to survive in calamity.

It does not matter what you are preparing for, but a disaster preparedness kit and checklist must be kept handy as this provides a better chance for survival. One of the first things to do is to prepare yourself and your loved ones to be self-sufficient. Keeping all the major disastrous conditions under consideration, some suggestions are listed below which a prepper’s checklist must include:

·         Water:

 Storage of one gallon per person per day is suggested for drinking and cooking purposes.

·         Food:

Non-perishable foods e.g. white rice, beans, white sugar, salt, wheat flour, olive oil, canned fruits, meat and vegetables, powdered milk, vitamins and supplements, are to be kept on hand that are enough for at least three days to one week. For small babies, diapers, baby food, medications, ointments, bottles and nipples are advised to be kept.

·         Defensive weapons:

Primary defensive weapons are also essential.

·         Emergency supplies:

It is advised to keep supplies like LED flashlight, extra batteries and bulb along with match-boxes and lighters.

·         Bug out Bag Kit Contents:

A kit is mandatory to be kept which must include the following:

o   Plates, cups, utensils

o   Survival manual

o   Candles or lanterns

o   First-Aid kit

o   Vitamin supplements

o   Can opener and aluminium foil

o   Survival knife

o   Garbage bags

o   Important documents and a fairly large amount of cash

o   Tent and sleeping bag

o   Seasonal clothes

o   Multi-Tool kit

o   Water sanitation tablets

o   Plastic bags

o   Plastic sheeting and rope

o   Local map and signaling device

o   Personal hygiene items and feminine supplies

o   Soaps and detergents

o   Pain relievers and anti-diarrhea pills

o   Extra pair of shoes, socks and gloves

Important documents include phone number, address, birth certificates, passport, identity card, credit card and account numbers, drivers licenses, insurance policies and savings like bonds.

When it comes to self-defense, preppers are trained well. Techniques to use the basic weapons for survival are taught. Self-defense training includes practices like basic knife fighting, using pistols and slingshots. Self defense involves much more than just techniques. It is taught to understand the nature of stress and how a body reacts to it i.e. situational awareness.

As a matter of fact a prepper or survivalist can be anyone who acquires skills for fighting the natural calamities or emergency conditions. The techniques they’ve learned help them overcome any catastrophe they will / might face in their life. 

Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Survival: How to Plan for Family Safety

OK I first have to say that Kindle books are awesome. This book would be around 300 pages if you printed it out. That would cost you around $29.95 for the printed book, even if it was in paperback. This Kindle book is only $2.99, how much better can that get. And you can still return a Kindle book to Amazon just like a print book that stinks.

But here is how much better this gets. "Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Survival: How to Plan for Family Safety by William Cory" would be worth the $29.95 price in print or Kindle.

Mr. Cory goes into great detail describing the many types of disasters we face in everyday. He has a smooth writing style that keeps the reader engaged.

Here is the Amazon Description:

FACT PLUS FICTION

Food. Water. Shelter. Warmth. ... during Fires. Floods. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Winter Storms. Earthquakes. ... depend upon Preparation. Protection. Planning.

AN INTRIGUING COMBINATION BOOK: The first 100 pages, many of them illustrated, tell you how to be ready, cheaply, to provide light and warmth, shelter, food, and water for your family. The last 165 pages, in the novel Neighbors, tell the story of a small group of homeowners, one of whom is a "prepper," and the rest are simply not ready for trouble. They all have trouble even though they aren't directly hit by weather disasters on both coasts.

But that's not all!

What disappears first from Supermarkets
Best barter Items and supplies
Twenty helpful tips from convicted burglars who know their business!
Looters? Schmooters! How to protect your home and family
Affordable ways to be ready without becoming a camo-clad survivalist.

And, the bonus novel, Neighbors, brings to life the value of having certain things available when shortages occur.

"Preparation" seems to have gotten a bad name, as if those of us who prepare are just a little bit strange. That's what my neighbors might have thought. But when power failures happen, and my house has lights and warmth, my neighbors no longer think I'm strange. I'm their best friend! Get your copy of this valuable book today and be ready for heavy weather this winter! And enjoy the story of a group of people who try to make it through some hard times, with the help of one neighbor who is a 'prepper.'

Larry's Review:

This book is very up-to-date as it was published in November 2013. As mentioned Mr. Cory has a smooth writing style that is easy to follow and hard to put down. The book is loaded with live links to the products that he describes and suggest for use. There are also a large number of picture showing these actual products. It took a couple of days to get all the way through the book because of the length and detail that Mr. Cory includes. When Mr. Cory presents a situation and describes how he would handle it, he also covers the same situation from other angles. This is a refreshing approach and gives the reader an honest overview of the situation. The author doesn't just say, "you need to store water." He gives you specific examples of his own water storage as well as alternative methods. Then how to make sure your water is pure, and if it isn't how to make it pure. List are given but they do not bog down the book. Instead they add to the message of the book in a way that pulls the reader in. This is certainly a great book on Disaster Preparedness that you can put to use immediately that will eliminate suffering by you and your family when the time comes when you have to use the information presented.

What is a Prepper?

Simply put a Prepper is someone who is prepared. I've lived through a tornado, a flood and a hurricane in my lifetime. In the aftermath of each of these situations I was forced to rely upon the generosity of others in order to survive. Whether it was neighbors, friends, local community or government help I still needed others to survive. What are we going to do with the time comes and that catastrophe hits, when that disaster happens and it is so widespread that there are no others to offer help? We are going to left on our own. Therefore we must be prepared! A Prepper is simply a person who is prepared.

There are a lot of fancy reality shows on television that show what a prepper is and what a prepper is not. A prepper is not simply a redneck with a shotgun and a supped up pick up truck or a millionaire that has designed an undergrowd fortification that he can survive in for a year. Although these could be preppers. A prepper is a doctor, a taxi driver, a lawyer, a teacher, a plant worker, the mayor who is prepared for the unexpected. Anyone can be a prepper, it can be you!

You need to be a prepper. You need to be prepared. When a disaster hits, when a catastrophe comes your way. You need to be prepared. You need to have a source and supply of water. You need to have a supply of food. You need to have shelter. You need to have protection. You need water first and foremost. Then you need food and shelter. You cannot depend on others. You cannot depend on government. You need a way to defend yourself and your family. The police may not be there. The National Guard may not be there. You must be prepared.

The disaster is so widespread there is no Red Cross to bring you meals. There are no shelters set up by the government. It is just you and your family. What are you going to do? This is why you must be a prepper. This is why you must be prepared. A prepper is probably not the people you see on television or the neighbor who always shows off all his guns to you everytime you visit.

A prepper has water and foot storage for when a catastrophe occurs. A lot of people have food storage but they don't have water storage. They assume water will always be available. They assume that if the water is available that it will be drinkable. What if the water is not there or what if the water is contaminated? They have shelter, they have plans for what happens if they are caught outside of their shelter or must venture outside of their shelter.

You must be prepared. Why would you not be prepared? If you know this is a possibility, why would not be prepared? We have insurance of all sorts to insure against the unexpected. Being prepared insures you and your family have the best chance to come through a disaster safely.

I've lived through a tornado, a flood and a hurricane. In each catastrophe I had to rely on the generosity of others. That is a helpless feeling. What if others are not there. What if others are there but in worse shape than you are. You cannot always run to the store. There will be people that get to the store before you do. A lot of times there will be so many people that get to the store before you do that the store shelves have been emptied.

What if fuel is not available to get to the store. You might have a nice automobile but if you don't have fuel for that car what good does it do you? If you don't have the ability to drive to the store. If that store is sold out of water and food by the time you get there. What do you do? You had better have been prepared and have those things in your home.

The same is true for protection. For self defense of yourself and your family. Your cell phone may not be working. And even if it were working there may not be anyone on the other end of 911. You need to be prepared for your own self defense and the self defense of your family. You must stock up on the weapons you will need including plenty of ammunition. And do not forget the weapons that do not require ammunition. If the disaster last long enough you may run out of ammunition, what will you do then? You need to be prepared for this as well in regards to self defense.

Just like the fuel that goes in you automobile, the ammunition you have will one day run out if the disaster last long enough and is wide spread. You must have methods of defense that do not require the need of ammunition or sources that can be used up.

In closing a prepper is someone who is prepared when a disaster or catastrophe hits. It could be nature, it could be man made. The cause of the disaster is not important. If you need food and water you will not worry about what caused the situation. What is important is you will need water, foot, shelter and protection.

Don't be afraid. Be prepared! Be a Prepper!