As a new resident near the Gulf, I have much to learn about fishing and crabbing and many other disciplines that the Locals here have come to master.  While I am learning, I thought it responsible to improve my stash of survival gear with a couple of useful items.  For around $30, I purchased two tools that even a Newbie like me could use to procure food.  Note:  these items would also come in handy in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, etc …  Just make sure to check State and Local laws before using them recreationally!

1.  Seine Nets – These nets are meant to be drug through the water between two people and are often used to catch bait, though they can also be used to procure fish that are large enough to eat.

2.  Trotlines – A trotline is little more than than long strand  with multiple baited fishing hooks attached at intervals by means of branch lines, called “snoods.”  The ends of a trot line can be secured near the shore, for example by tying to a tree, or can be converted into a “dropline” by tying a weight to one end.  Once a trotline is in place, it can be left unattended and “run” periodically (the Locals around here don’t “check” a trotline, they “run” it.)

Next up on my list – crab traps!  What experiences have you had with these types of gear?

© 2012, John A. Heatherly. All rights reserved.

Photo by Naomi Ibuki

Pine trees are beautiful and abundant, while they offer the following three valuable gifts:

Pine Needle Tea – green pine needles can make a tasty tea that will warm your family’s spirits on a cold day while providing much more Vitamin C than most citrus fruits.  To make the tea: simply clean a few handfuls of green pine needles; break them into pieces; simmer for 10 minutes or so; and let the tea steep for another few minutes.  Simple, nutritious, and flavorsome!

Edible Cambium – the light colored inner bark of pines is called the cambium layer.  It rests underneath outer bark and just above the harder interior of the tree.  Cambium can be harvested by cutting a square shape in the side of a tree (please don’t damage standing trees frivolously – this is a survival skill!) with a knife then peeling away the layers.  The cambium can be peeled or scraped into strips like bacon, then fried or roasted for consumption.

Nuts – Pine nuts can be harvested in the Fall and provide great taste and a lot of protein.  It is best to gather them using a ladder while wearing gloves (the cones that contain the seeds are sticky.)  Store the cones in a sack, and place the sack in the sun for a few days so that the cones will dry out and open up.  It helps to rotate the sack daily.  Cones can also be roasted by a fire or even in an oven.  Once dry they will open to reveal the nuts.

Does anyone have any special experience or alternative uses to offer that involve these delicacies?

© 2012, John A. Heatherly. All rights reserved.

photo by ihasb33r

“The survivor’s attitude is the most important element of the will to survive.  With the proper attitude, almost anything is possible.” 

-Air Force Regulation 64-4 Volume I, p. 53

 “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”           

-Viktor E. Frankl, Holocaust Survivor, Author of Man’s Search for Meaning and Founder of Logotherapy

 “Everyday is a choice – Heaven or Hell.  This is the most important survival skill.”

-Tom Brown Jr, Author and Founder of The Trackerschool

The United States Air Force… Viktor Frankl…  Tom Brown Jr…  These three extremely different but credible sources all state in their own way that “attitude” is the most important survival skill.  Given the success of these diverse sources, I am inclined to believe them.

It is also a skill that requires daily practice.  Years ago I heard Tom Brown speak of the importance of attitude and later studied the Air Force view and the writings of Frankl.  Even though the personal experiences of success and failure have taught me the value of attitude, it is something I need to work on every day.

Do you have any survival techniques that you employ to keep your attitude in check?

© 2012, John A. Heatherly. All rights reserved.

image by Antonio Martinez

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to prepare is to read, and if you can find books for free on survival topics, that’s even better.

The book, Dead or Alive: The Choice is Yours – The Definitive Self-Protection Handbook, by Geoff Thompson is one of those books.  It is serialized chapter-by-chapter here at FightTimes Magazine.

Why is this book applicable?  While the subject matter is unpleasant (and not recommended for direct reading by young children) it is crucial that families consider that crime could be on the rise and predators could be increasing in numbers.  Dead or Alive addresses the PREVENTION of violent incidents by using awareness and avoidance techniques.

Thompson begins by discussing Avoidance and Awareness then continues with Attackers and Attack Rituals: Lessons Learned.  Throughout the book he discusses self-defense techniques, and closes with First Aid and Self-Defense and the Law.

The book is not intended to teach us as readers to be professional fighters.  Instead, the author presents valid, and sometimes frightening, material that can be considered in the protection of a lone person or of a family.  As a husband and father myself, my intent is to present the ideas to my family at my discretion and in a way that helps us to be prepared without being afraid.  As with any manual, a reader should take the ideas from the writings and consider what is practical for them.

Many thanks to Geoff Thompson, Paladin Press, and FightTimes.com for making this information available.

© 2012, John A. Heatherly. All rights reserved.

image by fdecomite

Many of us buy, store and use paracord/550 cord, and for good reason.  With a tensile strength of 550 pounds, a paracord line kit can be used for just about anything, to include: securing loads on vehicles and rucksacks; building shelters; setting small-game snares; etc. The possibilities are endless.

Have you ever made use of the inner-core housed within the sheathing of 550 cord?  A normal strand contains seven strands of string, each having a tensile strength of about fifty pounds.  When paired with a large sail needle, inner-core can be used as high-strength thread.  I have used inner-core to repair clothing, backpacks, and blankets with great success.  It serves as the perfect thread when sewing heavy-duty canvas or nylon webbing for improvised bags or sheaths for cutting tools.  I have also seen inner-core used as fishing line on multiple occasions, many times resulting in a brook trout meal being cooked over the fire!

Of course, if you have invested in 550 cord as part of your survival kit, you wouldn’t want to carelessly dissect large amounts of it for inner-core.  Instead, use inner-core when it is needed and do not feel the need to immediately discard an excess section of paracord that has broken or cut as part of a project.  The white strands sticking out of the broken end might just come in handy!

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by Keene and Cheshire County (NH) Historical Photos

By John Heatherly

Preparing for an uncertain future when you have a family can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming.  While most of us have a desire for healthy self-reliance, it is also just as healthy to strive for a sense of community with like-minded people.

For example, even a “jack-of-all-trades” possesses a few skills that they excel at more than others.  One person might be good at clothing repair while another is good with firearms while yet another knows how to can or garden.  A knowledge and skill exchange can make everyone more capable and confident.

If you haven’t done so already, you might consider talking to your best friends or neighbors about their prepping ideas.  By starting the discussion now, you and your friends will have a headstart on dealing with an emergency or natural disaster.  If you’re hesitant about bringing up “prepping”, simply find out what skills and knowledge they have and ask if they’d be willing to share those with you and your family.

Another great online community is the The Survival Mom Forum.  A glance at the forum reveals discussion topics such as: “Oil Lamps”; “Organic vs. Other Foods for Storage”; “Has Anyone Spoken to their Church Community on Prepping”; and “Amount of Supplies Need for One Month,” just to name a few.

Again, self-reliance is empowering, and the creation of networks with like-minded people can be a force-multiplier for the self-reliant.

John Heatherly is the author of The Survival Template.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by lululemon athleteica

Multi-use items save space in a survival kit or bug-out bag, and they are fun!  Here are a few that are worth stocking up on and most are budget-friendly.

Petroleum Jelly – Most everyone you know has used petroleum jelly for chapped lips and dry skin, but how many have mixed it with another multi-use item on our list, cotton balls, to make a quick fire-starter?  Simply mix a few cotton-balls with the jelly in a Ziploc bag and have enough tinder for multiple fires.

Cotton Balls – Of course cotton balls are used for cleaning, sanitation, and skin care.  As mentioned earlier, they can be mixed with petroleum jelly for fire-starter, or even used as ear-plugs or for blister relief.

Shoe Goo – This awesome adhesive can repair shoes, backpacks or purses, and can even be used to glue fishing lures and flies!

Alcohol Swabs – These should be saved for medical use in the cleaning of cuts and scrapes, especially when soap and water are not available.  They are also flammable, and in a pinch can be used as an alternative tinder for a fire.

Iodine – 2% Iodine Tincture can be used to sterilize wounds and to purify water.  5 drops will purify 1 quart of clear water,  10 drops should be used if the water is cloudy.

Kids love to learn about multi-use items like these, so the entire family can join in the fun!

What other multi-use items are you stocking up on?

John is the author of The Survival Template.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by Nicholas T

The Rule of 3 is an old stand-by in survival circles.

“Three is two.

Two is one.

One is none.”

Chances are you have multiple ways of purifying water and have more than one evacuation route planned, but have you applied the Rule of 3 to staying warm?

Cold kills, and it’s dangerous to rely on only one source of warmth, especially at a time when indicators point to the very real possibility of spikes in the cost of energy and fuel.  We may see a time when millions of families have to choose between staying warm in the winter and having enough food to eat.

In the meantime, think about how you and your family could stay warm if your usual source of power was gone.

• Do you have enough blankets to add to beds and hang up on windows?
• Is there a way you could protect your outside walls from high winds and extreme cold?
• Can you add extra insulation in your exterior walls?
• In extreme circumstances, would you be able to shut off all unnecessary rooms and contain your living and sleeping quarters in just one area?
• Does everyone in the family have the right clothing for spending time outdoors in cold temperatures?
• Do you know the warning signs of hypothermia?
• Is your vehicle equipped with methods of staying warm in case of a breakdown?

What other options could you add to your home in order to stay warm?  In the coming days, retailers are going out of their way to offer steep discounts on just about everything.  If money is tight, maybe a really good snowsuit or heavy jacket would make a fine Christmas gift in place of a new electronic gadget.  When it comes to staying warm in cold weather, safety takes a priority over luxuries.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by edenpictures

The year is rapidly approaching its end, and for many of us, an annual physical is something we’ve either been procrastinating or have forgotten about altogether.   Schedule an appointment today for that all-important annual visit and then make a pledge to address any and all health issues in the coming New Year.

While you’re at it, ask your doctor a few survival-related questions.

1. I’d like to have an extra month or two of my prescriptions.  Could you give me a prescription
2. In case I am not able to get my prescription for ______, is there an alternative you could suggest?
3. Am I a candidate for any future chronic health issues?  What can I do right now to avoid them?
4. Am I up to date with my tetanus shots?
5. Is there a way to lessen my dependence on my prescription medications?
6. What can I do to boost my immune system?
7. Is there a doctor (or specialist) you could recommend in _________?  (Your bug out location.)

Additionally, become familiar with home remedies, medicinal herbs, and the use of essential oils.  While a medical doctor may not suggest alternative approaches, you can certainly find others is the naturopathic field who will.

Your doctor sees thousands of patients each year, so don’t worry about asking these questions for fear that he or she will remember you and track you down when the SHTF!  There’s no reason to mention your concern for a future natural disaster or, perhaps, a time when medical care isn’t as accessible as it is now.  There are numerous prepper doctors out there, and you just might find that yours is, too!

Make that appointment this week!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by tiny packages

I hit the jackpot this last weekend, and it was a pretty big one.  My kids and I were doing the estate/garage sale route, and one of the estate sales we visited had a huge amount of medical supplies at rock bottom prices.  When I saw boxes of latex exam gloves for a dollar a box, I grabbed them all!  Also on the shelf were boxes of bandaids, sterile gauze pads, rolls of adhesive and gauze tape, and antibiotic ointment packets.  In all, I spent $8 and left with a ton of supplies for our first aid kits!

Very often, elderly patients receiving in-home care accumulate supplies just like these.  They’re perfectly good, sometimes come in never-opened packages, and are a quick and easy way to stock up. You also may find stethoscopes, thermometers, heating pads, and a lot more.  Keep an eye out for estate sales, in particular, especially if you live near a retirement community.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.