Dutch Oven - Cast Iron Comfort Food

Dutch Oven Cast Iron Comfort Food

A dutch oven should be at the top of your survival prep list. It has so many uses from boiling water, to melting snow, baking bread or cooking a nice stew. It comes in handy for camping or especially for SHTF survival. Really handy to have when the weather turns nasty and the power goes out. A dutch oven can be used with many different heat sources. Throw it on the wood stove to heat water, the barbecue or hang it over a fire in the back yard.

The best thing about cast iron, it will actually make food taste better. Try baking some corn bread in your cast iron skillet on the stove, rather than in the oven. This will be the best corn bread you ever tasted. One added benefit of a dutch oven is it will add a little iron to the food. Something important if fresh fruit and vegetables are scarce.

Since they are made from cast iron, a dutch oven is much heavier than a pot made from aluminum or titanium. If not properly seasoned, they can be harder to clean. My advice is buy from a manufacture that pre seasons their dutch ovens. Lodge make a very high quality, made in USA dutch ovens which can easily be cleaned with a green scrub pad. Their dutch ovens come in different sizes to fit your families needs and come pre seasoned. Lodge also makes ceramic coated dutch ovens, these are much easy to keep clean but they will not hold up well for camping use. These are better suited for inside the home oven or stove use. Lodge also makes a dutch oven tripod which will let you hang your oven over the campfire. They also sell cast iron lid lifters and holders.

You can't go wrong by owning a good Lodge cast iron dutch oven, this will out live you and can easily be passed on to your grand kids.

Preparing an Emergency Food Supply

Every family should have an emergency food supply; do you have yours? When planning your food supply there are a few things you will have to consider. You will have to take into account how many people are in your family and what kind of special needs they might have. You will also have to decide how much food to stock. Other considerations are what kind of food to stock up and how long you will want your supply to last are. Some people have enough food stocked up to last five years. There are basically two types of foods that have a long shelf life. There are canned foods and there are dried foods. There are also a few foods that have an indefinite shelf life. Water is another item that should be on everyone’s food supply list.

Canned goods are a great emergency food. Test conducted by the military showed that canned food was still good to eat 46 years after the expiration date. There is a wide variety of canned foods you can choose from. Another benefit of canned food is that it is already cooked. While it may taste better warmed up, there is no need to cook it. Food that does not require cooking or water makes for an excellent emergency food.

Dried foods are another great emergency food. I recommend that all dry foods be stored in mylar bags. Mylar bags have a barrier that keeps moisture and oxygen out of the food keeping the food fresh and free of microorganisms. Mylar bags also come in a variety of sizes. Rice, beans, and pasta are all great dry foods to stock up on. Powdered milk and instant potatoes are also another great dry food item. Spices are a great food item to stock up on. A long time ago spices were used as a form of currency. Dry foods have a long shelf life if they are stored properly. Powdered milk if stored in a Mylar bag in a cool, dry, and dark place has a shelf life of 20 years. The down side with dry foods is that some of them require water and cooking.

Here is a list of some foods that can be stored indefinitely:

• Honey

• Vinegar

• Hard liquor

• Sugar

• Salt

• Corn starch

• White rice

• Pasta

• Vanilla extract

• Corn syrup

As long as these foods are stored properly they can be stored indefinitely.

Water is extremely important to have in your emergency food supply. The average person consumes almost a gallon of water a day. I recommend purchasing 1 to 5 gallon jugs of distilled water. If you collect your own water make sure you filter and treat the water before drinking. There are two main ways to treat water. Boiling water is by far the easiest way to treat water. Boil your water for at least one minute. If you live in a high altitude area you should boil you water for five minutes. You can also treat your water by using non scented bleach. Use 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Do not drink the water for at least 30 minutes. The water should have a slight smell of bleach.

Having an emergency food supply can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Remember to also store your food supply properly.

How to Stockpile Antibiotics

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for what you do with this information. This information is strictly educational. You should always consult your doctor before taking any medications.

What good is five years worth of food supply if you get sick and die because you didn’t have antibiotics? Every person serious about prepping for disaster will eventually run across this problem. Luckily there are a few ways that you can stockpile antibiotics. We will be talking about four ways you can get antibiotics in the U.S. without a prescription.

Fish supply stores carry antibiotics. Fish suffer from infection and disease just like we do. The antibiotics used to treat fish are the same antibiotics used to treat humans. You might be limited on what your local fish supply store carries but over the internet you can find a wide variety of antibiotics in capsule form. The greatest part about buying from a fish supply store is that it is perfectly legal and you do not need a prescription.

Another way to obtain antibiotics is to take a drive to Mexico. In Mexico you can buy prescription antibiotics over the counter no questions asked. Make sure you check all state and federal laws before bringing antibiotics back from Mexico. While it is legal to purchase the antibiotics, there are still restrictions to bringing them back in to the country. Never attempt to bring narcotics over the border.

The internet is a great way to get antibiotics without a prescription. Any country that does not require a prescription for antibiotics will gladly sell them to you and ship them right to your door. Custom officials tend to look the other way when it comes to antibiotics. I have never heard of anyone going to jail because they purchased antibiotics illegally. When buying antibiotics from a foreign country verify that the company is a reputable distributor of antibiotics.

Ethnic stores are another place in the U.S. that you can buy antibiotics without a prescription. Immigrants purchase prescription antibiotics from ethnic markets all the time. Immigrants are used to purchasing antibiotics over the counter at local stores. If you live within driving distance of a bodega, you know where to get your antibiotics.

Remember stockpiling food, and guns are not enough. If you get sick or a family member gets sick you will need antibiotics. If you haven’t gotten antibiotics yet, you’re not fully prepared.

Make your own bullion

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for what you do with this information. This information is strictly educational. Use extreme caution when dealing with molten metal.

Have you ever thought about investing in gold or silver just in case of economic collapse? Well you are not alone; many people are doing just that. You might be thinking there is no way that you can afford to invest in gold or silver bars or any other metal for that matter. Well that's fine, because you can make your own.

Everyday materials contain a wealth of metals that can be melted down and formed. Collecting old soda pop cans is a great way to stock up on aluminum. Copper is used in many electrical devices, especially the power cords, making it easy to come by. Once you acquire the scraps, the next step is to melt the metals down.

You will need to make a furnace. You will also need a crucible to hold the molten metal and tongs to pick up the crucible. Once the metal is molten you will need a mold to cast your ingots.

When making a furnace you will have to decide what kind of fuel source you will be using. There are three common types of fuels used in backyard casting. The three fuels are charcoal, propane, and waste oil. Using charcoal is by far the simplest and cheapest way to go. Although in my opinion the simplest and cheapest way is not always the most efficient. A propane furnace is very efficient but propane can get expensive. A propane furnace design is also a little more complex compared to a simple charcoal furnace. A waste oil furnace is by far the most complicated furnace to build. This type of furnace is great for someone that has a lot of ingenuity. There are not many plans on the internet for this type of furnace so expect to have to do a lot of experimentation. The plus side to a waste oil furnace is that the fuel is free. You will find that friends, neighbors, and restaurants will be more than happy to get rid of their old oil. The efficiency of a waste oil furnace will depend upon your design. I do not recommend a waste oil furnace for the beginner.

Crucibles are used to hold the molten metal inside of the furnace. Crucibles come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your application. Commonly backyard metal casters will use a crucible made out of iron. More expensive crucibles made of graphite or silicon carbide can be purchased through a foundry supply store. You can even make your own ceramic crucibles.

Molds come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can find molds made out of graphite and iron on ebay. You can also make your own. Another way to make a mold is by using casting sand. There is a variety of casting sand available. Green sand is common sand used in sand molded casting. Green sand is a mixture of silica sand, bentonite clay, and water. The great thing about sand casting is not only can you make ingots but you can cast just about anything you like.

Well I hope this information sets you on your way to making your very own bullion. Remember always wear proper safety gear when working with molten metal.

How to Survive Without a Visible Source of Water

Water, without we die and is something we take for granted every time we brush our teeth or flush the toilet. When trapped in the wilderness and there is not a creek or stream nearby you will need to work a little harder to find a source of pure drinking water. A person can live for three weeks without food and only three days without water. The basics of survival are fire, water, food and shelter. The importance of these depends on the time of year and location but water should always be higher on the priority list.

Conserve any water you do have by avoiding exertion, rest in a shady spot when it is hot and try to keep cool. If you are sweating, your body is losing water. Try to eat less food as it takes more of the bodies fluids to digest food. Avoiding talking and breathing through your mouth. Most of all don't drink alcohol as it will dehydrate you. Be careful of drinking dirty or contaminated water as it can cause diarrhea or vomiting which will cause further dehydration.

Sterilize all water found by distilling or boiling which will take out all bacteria and make it safe. If you don't have a filtered water bottle along like the Lifesaver 4000 than using one of these methods is your best bet for safe water.

Best places to find water are areas where water would naturally drain if there was a rain storm. Water always likes to seek the lowest point so look at the bottom of gullies and dry stream beds. Water in the summer time often will be just under the surface of dry riverbeds or creeks. Dig down and see it the soil is damp. Look for lush vegetation as often there may be a small spring coming out of the side of a cliff or ground.

Look for or keep a plastic trash bag in your backpack as you can collect water from dew or rain. Set up your plastic to create a funnel to run it off into a water bottle or cup. You can even walk trough wet grass or other vegetation and wring out your clothes to get water. Salt water can be boiled and drinking water can be distilled. Be sure to have some tubing in your pack as this will be required to build a still. Keep salt with you as the body will naturally lose salt through urine and sweat. If you are experiencing dizziness, tiredness or muscle cramps this can be a sign you are salt deficient.

Building a solar still is easy and one of the best ways to guarantee a clean and pure source of water. Begin by digging a small hole with a diameter of about 3 feet and 18" deep. Take a piece of plastic trash bag and use a stone to roughen the underneath part to make sure the water droplets will run down to the bottom. Put it over the hole so it funnels down and is indented in the middle. Hold it in place with large rocks so it can't slip. At the very center place a small rock to hold it down in the hole. Underneath this plastic inside the hole you want to place a small cup or anything else that will hold water. When the sun comes up and warms the earth, water vapor will condense under the plastic and run down to the lowest point and drip into the cup. If you have dirty water or salt water, you can use this method distill water into pure drinking water even without a visible source of water.

Water - Food - Shelter 3 Keys to Survival

When preparing for what may come, water, food and shelter are the three main ingredients to survival. We only need to look back a few thousand years and see how our early cousins survived in a much harsher environment. Without clean drinking water we will die rather quickly, food and shelter are equally important to give us energy and protect us from the elements. Tools to hunt with, prepare food, build fire for warmth, and offer protection from all kinds of predators. Both with two legs and four. These are the items that make up a well stocked survival cache.

There are two frames of thought, do you stay put or bug out? Depends on where you are located. Those unfortunate souls that are located in a large metropolitan area, unfortunately will need to bug out. The country folk will be fine for a while until the city masses run out of food and start knocking on their doors for food. Ultimately the safest scenario is to bug out deep into the wilderness for a period of time. This greatly reduces the danger from two legged predators. Unfortunately, for those not fit or prepared to survive the elements, it opens up an entire new set of challenges.

About ISHTF

About

We are living in unsettled times. With extreme weather events, the economy, terror alerts and anything else life throws our way, it only makes sense that we budget for our family's survival needs. This need not become a financial burden. By setting aside a few dollars every week and developing a plan, is simply the best way to start prepping for your survival cache. The nice thing is this can all be accumulated over time. Set your monthly goal create and prioritize a list and save for the most needed items on your list.

We believe it is better to be prepared and not need, than to need and not have.
The items covered in this blog while not only useful in a survival situation, are of high quality so they can be counted on when needed most.

This blog is funded by your support, purchasing items through various Amazon links posted here will be most appreciated. Amazon will pay us a small fee and will not charge anything extra. In fact this is something they would otherwise keep for themselves if you visited their website directly.

Thank You for Your Support, God Bless and Stay Safe!

Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Military-Modular-Sleep-System-Goretex/dp/B002LLPILC%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJT7HBGWUEMQGVETA%26tag%3Ddigitalcrea0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002LLPILC"><img style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 10px 0;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419qmrNSgdL._SL160_.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<ul>
<li>A GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL, U.S. MILITARY ISSUE, GORETEX, 4 PIECE, MODULAR, SLEEPING SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM, IS BRILLIANTLY, CONSTRUCTED, TO INSULATE, THE USER, FROM MILD TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER!!! EACH COMPONENT, CAN BE USED, INDEPENDENTLY, OR TOGETHER, FOR COLDER WEATHER.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Product Description</strong>
A GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL, U.S. MILITARY ISSUE, GORETEX, 4 PIECE, MODULAR, SLEEPING SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM, IS BRILLIANTLY, CONSTRUCTED, TO INSULATE, THE USER, FROM MILD TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER!!! EACH COMPONENT, CAN BE USED, INDEPENDENTLY, OR TOGETHER, FOR COLDER WEATHER.

THE 4 PIECE MODULAR SLEEPING SYSTEM, CONSISTS OF:

A GREEN PATROL BAG, RATED TO 30 DEGREES F

A BLACK INTERMEDIATE BAG, RATED TO -10 DEGREES F, IF USED ALONE AND RATED TO -30 DEGREES, WHEN USED, WITH THE PATROL BAG.

A BLACK COMPRESSION STUFF SACK.

A GORETEX BIVY COVER

THE 4 PIECE MODULAR SLEEPING SYSTEM CONSISTS OF:
GREEN PATROL BAG, RATED TO 30 DEGREES F. IT IS WATER RESISTANT, RIP STOP NYLON. RECOMMENDED, FOR TEMPERATE CLIMATES, BETWEEN 30 TO 50 DEGREES. ADJUSTABLE HOOD.

BLACK INTERMEDIATE BAG, RATED TO -10 DEGREES F, IF USED ALONE AND RATED TO -30 DEGREES, WHEN USED, WITH THE PATROL BAG. WATER RESISTANT, RIP STOP NYLON. RECOMMENDED, FOR COLD WEATHER CLIMATES, FROM 30 DEGR... <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Military-Modular-Sleep-System-Goretex/dp/B002LLPILC%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJT7HBGWUEMQGVETA%26tag%3Ddigitalcrea0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002LLPILC">More >></a>

<a title="Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Military-Modular-Sleep-System-Goretex/dp/B002LLPILC%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJT7HBGWUEMQGVETA%26tag%3Ddigitalcrea0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002LLPILC"><strong>Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack</strong></a>

Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack

Military Modular Sleep System

A GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL, U.S. MILITARY ISSUE, GORETEX, 4 PIECE, MODULAR, SLEEPING SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM, IS BRILLIANTLY, CONSTRUCTED, TO INSULATE, THE USER, FROM MILD TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER!!! EACH COMPONENT, CAN BE USED, INDEPENDENTLY, OR TOGETHER, FOR COLDER WEATHER.

Product Description
A GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL, U.S. MILITARY ISSUE, GORETEX, 4 PIECE, MODULAR, SLEEPING SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM, IS BRILLIANTLY, CONSTRUCTED, TO INSULATE, THE USER, FROM MILD TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER!!! EACH COMPONENT, CAN BE USED, INDEPENDENTLY, OR TOGETHER, FOR COLDER WEATHER.

THE 4 PIECE MODULAR SLEEPING SYSTEM, CONSISTS OF:

A GREEN PATROL BAG, RATED TO 30 DEGREES F

A BLACK INTERMEDIATE BAG, RATED TO -10 DEGREES F, IF USED ALONE AND RATED TO -30 DEGREES, WHEN USED, WITH THE PATROL BAG.

A BLACK COMPRESSION STUFF SACK.

A GORETEX BIVY COVER

THE 4 PIECE MODULAR SLEEPING SYSTEM CONSISTS OF:
GREEN PATROL BAG, RATED TO 30 DEGREES F. IT IS WATER RESISTANT, RIP STOP NYLON. RECOMMENDED, FOR TEMPERATE CLIMATES, BETWEEN 30 TO 50 DEGREES. ADJUSTABLE HOOD.

BLACK INTERMEDIATE BAG, RATED TO -10 DEGREES F, IF USED ALONE AND RATED TO -30 DEGREES, WHEN USED, WITH THE PATROL BAG. WATER RESISTANT, RIP STOP NYLON. RECOMMENDED, FOR COLD WEATHER CLIMATES, FROM 30 DEGR... More >>

Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack

Compass - When Lost this Survival Tool Could Help Save Your Life

Compass - Low Tech Required Survival Tool

Many people reading this may have ever been lost in a thick forest. If you have, than you will know with out a doubt how easy it is to get turned around and how soon all those trees start looking the same. Without a good compass you may even find yourself walking in circles. If you can't afford a nice handheld GPS or even if you can, a compass and map are items that should be in every. Make sure which ever compass you end up buying, it is both rugged and durable so it will hold up for many years, it could very well end up saving your life one day.

Suunto A-10 Compass

Lightweight recreational compass made of durable, clear, scratch-resistant acrylic
Employs Suunto's two-zone system for reliable readings in northern hemisphere
Fixed declination correction scale, jewel bearing, and dual scales (cm or inches)
Ergonomically designed to fin in palm; includes lanyard with detachable snap-lock
This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Product Description
A basic compass, ideal for beginners. The A-Range of recreational compasses is a series of handy, well designed, navigational aids which are assets in any environment. All four models in the series (A-10, A-20, A-30L and A-40) are compact, high-accuracy instruments made from durable, clear, scratch resistant acrylic that have been ergonomically designed to fit into the palm of your hand for optimum ease of use. These light-weight compasses feature a fixed declination correction scale as well as a patent-pending lanyard snap-lock enabling the compass to be easily detached from the lanyard.
Hailing from Suunto's A-Range of recreational compasses, the A-10 is a handy, well-designed navigational aid that excels in virtually any environment. The compact, highly accurate instrument is made of durable, clear, scratch-resistant acrylic that's been ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of your hand. More significantly, t... More >>

SE Military Lansatic Compass, 2-1/8" Dia. Face

Lensatic Compass How to shoot an azimuth for fun and profit: Get the ultimate direction finder, a lensatic compass.
It has a 2-1/8" dia face marked in 5-degree increments, a 1/4" dia sight lens, 9/16" dia bubble level, and a 1-1/2" sight with crosshairs.
Measures 3-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/8" when folded and comes with an 18" long cord and an olive drab belt pouch. For instructions, go to www. armystudyguide.
com, click on "land navigation," then click on "determine a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass." Piece o' cake.

Product Description
Lensatic Compass How to shoot an azimuth for fun and profit: Get the ultimate direction finder, a lensatic compass. It has a 2-1/8" dia face marked in 5-degree increments, a 1/4" dia sight lens, 9/16" dia bubble level, and a 1-1/2" sight with crosshairs. Measures 3-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/8" when folded and comes with an 18" long cord and an olive drab belt pouch. For instructions, go to www.armystudyguide.com, click on "land navigation," then click on "determine a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass." Piece o' cake.... More >>

Suunto MC-2G Global Compass

Compact mirrored compass for taking highly accurate and reliable directional measurements
Global needle works anywhere on the planet; base plate with magnifying lens
Fixed declination adjustment system is ideal for areas with large magnetic variation
Extra sighting hole for added precision; luminous bezel and markings for nighttime viewing
This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Product Description
A high quality compact compass designed with user-friendly features for general use. The M-Series represent durable, reliable, high quality navigational aids, which perform flawlessly in even the most demanding of conditions. Models feature a large liquid filled capsule and adjustable declination correction scale. Another convenient feature of the models in this series is the serrated bezel ring, which is easy to turn even in cold conditions while wearing gloves. Due to their easy-to-read luminous markings and magnifying lenses, the compasses of the M-Series are also ideally suited to navigating in conditions of poor visibility.
Hailing from Suunto's MC series, the top-of-the-line MC-2G global compass is an invaluable tool for people who require highly accurate and reliable directional measurements, such as surveyors, miners, architects, rescue patrols, hikers, boaters, and the military. The MC-2G compass boasts a fixed decl... More >>

SURVIVAL EQUIPMENTS