Back in May, I pre-ordered the book “Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit”. When it arrived a short time later I read through it and was immediately impressed with the job the author Creek Stewart had done. As I was reading it the thought kept emerging that this book was exactly the sort of detailed how-to that we like to do here at Utah Preppers, but on a larger scale. As it turns out, the book initially started out as a blog post on the art of manliness blog. After receiving a good response, Creek decided to work on expanding the concept into a comprehensive how to guide.
Continue reading “Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag – Book Give Away”
Testing Seed Germination Rates
If you have seed saved from prior years, it is a good idea to test the germination rate before planting your whole garden with it. Depending on the rate of germination, you can decide if you want to plant normally, plant more thickly, plant single sprouts, or just toss the seed out and start with fresh seed.
Testing seed germination also just happens to be a requirement for the Boy Scouts’ Gardening merit badge, so my son got to do this project for us this year while I took pictures. Here’s how we do it.
1. Gather the seed you want to test. Just for fun, I gave him some cucumber seed I had left from the survival seed can packed for planting in 2000. That’s 12 year old cucumber seed.
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Living in the Past: Iron Age Reality
Yesterday I was linked to a BBC show on youtube that I found quite interesting. The video was a follow-up, thirty years after the filming of a show called Living in the past. The show itself was in effect a reality show, but not one designed on conflict, but the actual experience of a group living as a community in an iron age setting in England.
It’s quite interesting seeing a nice summary of their experiences, and how living a truly primitive lifestyle for 13 months changed the way they think.
Continue reading “Living in the Past: Iron Age Reality”
When to buy: Grocery Sale Cycles
Part of being a good prepper is not just buying extra food, but the art of learning how to buy right. Purchasing foods especially can be an art form for knowing when to get the best prices, and best quality. For instance, it’s usually a bad idea to buy a vegetable who’s harvest is about to happen, as you know that means you are getting what’s left from last year. Your food won’t taste as good, and it won’t store as long as it’s already got a year down. Grocery stores know this, so many frugal shoppers have studied the common grocery sale cycles to understand how the manufacturers and stores are working together to move their product most efficiently. Continue reading “When to buy: Grocery Sale Cycles”
Sniper Training – Hitting 1200 Yards out in 3 days!
Have you ever wanted to get real Military training for Long Range Shooting? I did! So I went to Sniper School with DOA Tactical and within 3 days I was hitting targets 1200 yards away – and that was just Level 1 training! By far, the best $800.00 I’ve spent! When the long range practice started, I had a hard time hitting 500 yards out – so you can see the rapid improvement I had. Here’s how it went.
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FREE HAM class at BYU – November 19th
Another HAM class is being offered on November 19th 2011 if you missed the last class.
Here are the details from the instructor:
I must limit the size to 40 people so sign up early to reserve a spot. If you must cancel please let me know immediately so I can free up a slot for someone else. If you must cancel please do it as soon as you know you will not be coming to make room for someone else!!
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One Day Ham Radio Class for the Technician (entry level) license.
Saturday, Nov 19th, 2011 7:30am to 5pm Continue reading “FREE HAM class at BYU – November 19th”
Suture Follow Up – Suture Kits and Instructions!
This is a follow up to my previous post on Suturing a Scalp. At the Self Reliance Expo today, I spent the day with Dr. Bones of the Doom and Bloom Show and he just happened to be selling suture kits for a great price! I showed him my post on suturing a scalp and he loved it, then he agreed to let us offer all of you his suture kits for his show price of $20.00! Click the image on the right to see a much larger picture of it.
The kits come with a Needle Driver, forceps and a pair of scissors along with a sterile field, gloves and 2 sutures. They also come with the step by step pictorial guide that you can see in the picture. These are very nice kits and the price is fantastic! If you would like to order them, send an email to [email protected] and let them know what you would like to order. There will be shipping on top of the cost, of course.
Continue reading “Suture Follow Up – Suture Kits and Instructions!”
Suturing a scalp
Suturing is an important skill to have. Knowing how to properly sew somebody shut isn’t something you need every day, but when you need it – you need it! Sure, right now we can just run to the doctor, but what if you’re way in the outback or things have collapsed and good medical care isn’t easily available. Suturing allows you to quickly close up a wound to help stop bleeding, help prevent infection and to lower the risk of damaging a wound while trying to get to better care – if needed. There are plenty of ways and places to get training in suturing without going through medical school. It’s easy to do once you learn, you just need to look around and find a class you can take.
Quick Skinning, Cleaning and Butchering a Deer
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Gold Prospecting Course in Utah Valley
I was recently perusing Utah Valley University’s web site and found an interesting course on Gold Prospecting offered through the Community Continuing Education program. Given the current high price of gold and the fact that here in Utah we really don’t need to travel far to try finding it, this seems like a great course for a Utah Prepper.
Course Information
GOLD PROSPECTING FOR FUN OR PROFIT
Only 5 percent of the world’s gold has been discovered. With gold currently trading at over $1500 an ounce, panning for gold has made a real comeback. Learn new methods of panning gold that you can use 12 months of the year. Fee includes prospecting equipment you take home with you. No early registration discount. CEUs: 0.15 Hours: 1.50
At $39 this seems like a bargain for an evening of instruction on what could be a fun and profitable hobby. Here is a Link to the course. I hope to see you there!
Food Production Systems DVD Review and Giveaway
Can a two hour DVD turn you into a self sufficient farmer, providing all the food for your family on your postage stamp sized yard? Of course not. (If you think this is possible, let me know. I have a unique business opportunity to discuss with you :D ) However, the Food Production Systems For a Backyard or Small Farm DVD Is a wealth of information on how one family managed to do just that (on a bit of acreage) through trial and error over a decade. A full review of the DVD after the jump.
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Provo Pioneer Crafting Fair
Looking for a chance to get the family out into our delayed summer? Provo has a great event this weekend at their pioneer village (map). It’s a great chance to get demonstrations on some old skills such as spinning, blacksmithing and more. Bring the family even if only just to get a feel for the local history, but even better, hang around and talk shop with people experienced in their crafts. This is probably one of the better local opportunities to get together with people that can teach these crafts.
When:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
And a nice video explaining things via the local newspaper, the Daily Herald