Author: Jayce

I’m a Software Engineer that grew in the Pacific Northwest. I moved to Utah for a job in 98 and have stuck around ever since. I’ve always been preparedness-minded, since my family always had that as a focus. I love the great outdoors, enjoying the dichotomy of the split from regular gadget driven life to back country minimalist experiences. An avid scouter, and camper. No farm now, but grew up running an aviary, and logging to earn money.
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Pocket Super Shelter Now On Kickstarter

Local favorite Mikhail Merkurieff has a new survival shelter project on kickstarter that just crossed into the funded category.

I’m a big fan of some of the previous projects he’s done (especially the nice Cabuya Handlines) and I think this is one that is going to be living in one of my kits for sure. The basis is a stronger, lightweight emergency shelter for winter conditions.

I’m sure many of us have used various mylar blankets, or other products to maximize warmth in bad conditions, and make no mistake they can help. However,  there are limitations in most existing commercial products that this product is designed to address. Check out the video, and give it a kick.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1621478444/pocket-super-shelter-life-saving-warmth-in-the-wil

I’m really excited to try out the heat capture, which should give large benefits over the basic practice of directing the opening of a shelter to the heat source.  A little less smoke, and a lot more contained warmth would be very welcome. Getting it in a lightweight package that won’t be destroyed just by using it once is even better.

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2014 Utah Prepare Conference and Expo

September is here and that means it’s time for the Utah Prepare Conference. Located at the Sandy Expo Center, this conference is a nice stop as it is hosted by the USU Extension, and Be Ready Utah. Speakers, workshops and vendors will be ready to help discuss all aspects of preparedness.

Utah Prepare Expo 2014

  • When: Saturday, September 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Where: Sandy Expo Center
  • Cost: $8 ($7 if you use promo code blog1) – registration page

ALSO: We have a pair of tickets to giveaway, which we will pick from people who share this on facebook or twitter! (Selection on September 16th).

The Utah Prepare Conference and Expo started in 2011, and has gone out of their way to be an easy-access resource for Utah families to learn more about preparedness, and resources that are locally available. It’s a great stop for those completely new, to experienced preppers.

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EmberLit FireAnt now on Kickstarter

If you’ve missed previous kickstarters for other folding ultralight stoves, you have one more chance now.  Utah local Mikhail has a new Kickstarter for his FireAnt Titanium Stove. Check it out here:

Also, no need to worry about this project funding, as that only took 6 hours. The price is extremely good for titanium, so worth getting in on the early pricing. Ultralight stoves like this and the Folding Firebox are excellent things to keep in your bags, since they can run on scraps compared to a large fire. They help leave far less traces at your campsites, and use much less fuel to get you what you need.

I’ve already kicked for one, and if you don’t already have a folding stove, you really should take the opportunity on this great deal. Continue reading “EmberLit FireAnt now on Kickstarter”

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New Firebox on Kickstarter

One of my favorite prepper toys over the last couple of years has been my Firebox. A small folding stove made here in Utah by a local businessman. It’s been a wonderfully useful little folding stove, although sadly one of my scouts just lost the two pegs (hey guys, do you sell those individually?).

Now even better news. While small and somewhat light, it hasn’t fit the “ultralight” category that can be really nice. But now there is a new product coming out. Check it, and jump over to kickstarter and pre-order this thing.

Right now my decision is just what level I want to kick it at. If you look they have upgraded packages that include carriers, stable fuel, combos with the 5″ classic version and more. Don’t miss this discounted chance to get an excellent stove.

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Food for Health Sale

For those looking for a deal, food for health is having an amazing sale today only. They are located at 800 east and 800 North in Orem, and have quite a lot of supplies at a great discount.

I stopped by and went through their stuff. They are doing some inventory switching, and most of the food is manufactured between end of 2011 and 2012, so it’s recent enough to be worth getting.

The foods are your common freeze dried, and dried soup type foods. They seem to have put good thought into staying vegetarian, with smart oils so they have a long shelf life.

They have the nice smaller Mylar bagged items in 6 packs, or in the large bulk sealed buckets at pretty amazing prices. Worth checking out.

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Utah Prepare Conference

Utah Prepare Conference Logo
Utah Prepare Conference Logo

It’s that time of year again. And just saying ‘Conference Time’ in Utah doesn’t count, because there is more that one event matching that description next month. The one in question for this post is this years “Utah Prepare Conference & Expo“.

Last year this event was a great success, an informative chance to meet with many of the best preparedness resources in Utah in one place, with a wide selection of classes to attend.  This year the event will be held at the South Towne Expo center making it a bit easier for everybody from the southern area to attend.

This event is put on by the USU Extension office and will be on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Hope to see folks there (look for the people wearing Utah Preppers shirts!)

As an added bonus, use the promo code “prepper” when registering for $2 off each ticket!

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The Demonization of Preppers: Phil Burns Interview

Utah Preppers author, and CTO of the APN Phil Burns was just interviewed by the Blaze network about the dangerous media turn on preppers based on bits of information around the Connecticut shootings. Go check out his interview, where he sums up nicely the confusion many people are making between the term survivalist vs the term preppers.

Also, Phil will be on the Blaze radio today at 1 MST available via: http://www.theblaze.com/radio/

After that, take the time to review yourself. What are you prepping for? What are you doing to be ready for life in general? Are you effective in your decisions?  Remember, preparing isn’t a knee-jerk reaction, it’s adjusting your lifestyle to be ready for what may come.

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Oct-87 Ezra Taft Benson Food Storage Quote

Another excellent quote, from and LDS source, but applicable to all. Specifically aimed at fathers and our responsibility to taking care of our families.

Fathers, another vital aspect of providing for the material needs of your family is the provision you should be making for your family in case of an emergency. Family preparedness has been a long-established welfare principle. It is even more urgent today.

I ask you earnestly, have you provided for your family a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel? The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.

Also, are you living within your income and saving a little?

Are you honest with the Lord in the payment of your tithes? Living this divine law will bring both spiritual and material blessings.

Yes, brethren, as fathers in Israel you have a great responsibility to provide for the material needs of your family and to have the necessary provisions in case of emergency.

 – Ezra Taft Benson, Oct. 1987 (Full Text /video /audio)
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Aquaponic Gardening

As a teenager I was able to visit DisneyWorld, and among the time I spent there I remember passing through the Epcot center and seeing their hydroponic gardens.  They were amazing systems that displayed the potential for growing food without dirt. As a kid of course I thought this was something designed simply for use in spaceships, why else would you not have *dirt*? I learned how the workers needed to make sure the water had the correct nutrients for the plants, all that good soil would normally provide. Continue reading “Aquaponic Gardening”

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Preparedness Quote – L. Tom Perry

“I know of no other way to prepare for these times of adjustment than to be certain that during times of employment, preparations are made for less prosperous times, should they occur. Start now to create a plan if you don’t already have one, or update your present plan. Watch for best buys that will fit into your year’s supply. We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we’re putting away. The instability in the world today makes it imperative that we take heed of the counsel and prepare for the future”
L. Tom Perry

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A Simple Fix For Farming

I was recently pointed to a great op-ed piece in the NYTimes discussing the results of a research article titled: “Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balances Productivity, Profitability and Environmental Health“.  Now of course most people aren’t going to immediately associate that title with something useful to a prepper, but given a second to review it you’ll see it makes absolute sense.  The basic purpose of the article was to test different processes of crop rotation on large scale farming, to see if it reduced water and fertilizer requirements.

The summary, it did, and incredibly well.

Why is that important for a prepper, or people in general? Because it’s not just important to store food, but to be able to grow it. To grow healthy, tasty food that your family can thrive on.  Even if you have a tiny lot and are producing just a little food, crop rotation concepts are very important. By changing what and where you plant you can avoid buildup of various plant diseases, fungus, or pests. Just think, the best prevention for squash bugs is as simple as not planting in the same place every year.

The benefits absolutely increase the larger your production. By adding in animals into your rotation, you get natural soil improvement without any of the chemicals commonly used today.