Three Days Without Water and You're Dead. How To Store Enough to Survive.

Humans need water to survive. You will die after just three days without it. Every living cell in the body needs it.

Our bodies lose water constantly through sweat, urination, and even breathing. When you exhale, you lose water with every breath. If that water is not replaced, it can be fatal. 

You can get some water from your food. However, it is impossible to get adequate water from food alone. And of course, other beverages like milk, juice, and even bottled tea can help. But the best way to prevent dehydration is to drink water. 

And yet, most of us have less than 12 hours worth of water in our homes. That's why being ready to store at least two weeks worth of water is the most important thing you must do when beginning to become crisis-ready. 

I have read and researched all I could find on water storage containers. They come in a variety of sizes, materials, and price points. Some are sturdier and more portable than others. I have tried several of them for myself. And there are several that do a great job. But for the purposes of home storage of water for a reasonable cost, I am going to recommend just one. I use it and am quite happy with it.

The emergency storage water container I use at home and recommend is the Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container. For about $15, these are fairly sturdy and practical. They aren't as durable as some of the higher cost models, so don't stack them when full, but I have 3 of them and I have been impressed with how well-made they are for being so inexpensive. And they come with a five-year warranty. Two of them will hold enough water for one person for two weeks.  

I did notice some reviews on Amazon say they leaked and so I did purchase O rings as many of the reviewers suggested. But so far I have not experienced any leaking. These fit quite nicely under the shelves in my pantry, which is perfect for being out of the way but easily accessible. They also come with a hideaway spigot which makes it easy to dispense water when needed. 

If you are looking for reliable water storage on a budget, this is definitely the way to go.

Get Started Growing Microgreens Using the Microgreens Window Garden Kit

Ready to dip your toe into growing microgreens? This is a great little kit to get started with. It provides everything you need plus instructions to grow your first crop. 

And if you decide microgreens are for you, I can hook you up with some experts. 

Enjoy!

6 Things To Do If You Think You Are Being Followed

Are you being followed? That may seem like an odd question. But it's not as unlikely as you may think, especially in today's upside down world. 

Getting divorced? Your spouse may be having you followed to collect evidence of an affair. Are you financially well-off? You may be followed so thieves can learn your routine and know when it's safe to target your home. I hate to mention this because to me it's unthinkable, but if you are a parent, you may be followed by those who have an eye on your children. Women are followed by stalkers. Abused women are followed by their abusers. And when SHTF, you may be followed because you are prepared and others are not and they want what you have.

It's important that you be able to detect when you are being followed. Unfortunately, it's not something they teach in school. I learned in the Navy. And only then because I was training for the base auxiliary security force. Even there, it's not a skill that is taught to everyone. But think how many kidnappings, rapes, and other crimes might be prevented if you could know you were under surveillance.

Here are some tips:

1. Be observant. Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for things that seem out of place. A strange car repeatedly in the neighborhood. Or a car that has been behind you for several miles. Seeing the same person if multiple places that you frequent. Someone at your door who just doesn't seem like they belong. Someone loitering for an extended period. You know what's normal for your neighborhood, your job, all the places you go regularly. Watch for things that are out of the ordinary. 

2. If you suspect you are being followed, the easiest thing to do is to change your routine. Leave the house for work earlier or later. Take a different route to work or the store. Ask your husband to pick up the kids from school. Shop at a different store. There are lots of ways to change your daily routine. It might be a little inconvenient but it makes you unpredictable. And most criminals like easy, predictable targets.

3. You can often verify if you are being followed by using a simple method. Whether driving or walking, simply "go around the block". Make continuous left or right turns until you are back where you started from. If the car or person you suspected of following you is still behind you, you are probably being stalked. You have now also let them know that you are aware of the surveillance which is often enough for them to pick a different target. 

4. Get lost in the crowd. If you are driving, go to a busy parking lot or any business where there are people outside. If you are on foot, go into a store or restaurant or coffee shop. Stalkers do not witnesses! 

5. If you feel frightened or uncomfortable, call a friend or family member. You can also download the BSafe app to your phone. This app offers a variety of safety features and is available for both iOS and Android. 

6. If you feel you are in imminent danger, call the police.

If you feel you are being followed, it's important to stay safe. Use these tips to protect yourself and your family. 

Don't Go Camping Without Your Best Friends!

Some of us love camping. Some of us...not so much. And I would love to tell those folks that if you prepare properly, you won't ever have to. But I'd be lying. There may indeed come a time when you find yourself having to survive in the great outdoors. So make sure you take along the following items. I consider them to be essential. My best friends on a camping trip.


Let's be real. If you are going to be camping you want practical equipment that's easy to take with you. Stuff that doesn't require electricity. So here's my list of the camper's best friends.


1. A tarp - Yes, this is pretty basic. But I promise you, all serious campers have one. Mine is pretty tattered but it's still functional. What makes them so wonderful? They can be used for just about anything! They can be used to block moisture from the bottom or rain from the top of your tent or shelter. They can help wind or sun. They can cover firewood or equipment...or you. They can be used to transport things. And even though they are so versatile, they are relatively inexpensive.


If you don't have a tarp, I highly suggest you get one.  Here's one of my favorites.


2. A Dutch Oven - Because you can cook just about anything in a Dutch Oven. It's like the tarp of cooking equipment. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Soup, stews, cakes, muffins, eggs, you name it. Granted it's not the most portable piece of gear. But if you aren't actually hiking to safety, the Dutch Oven is a godsend.


A good Dutch Oven can be a little pricey, but it's well worth the investment. Here's the one I have.


3. Foil - Yes, good old aluminum foil. You can use it to cook. Fresh fish in foil packets over an open fire...YUMMY! You can wad it up and use it to scrub some of your camping equipment. You can use it to wrap up small pieces of equipment for storage or transport. Once again, there are multiple uses for this camping essential. Just make sure you use good quality heavy-duty foil. Not the bargain brand.


4. A Survival Knife - Every prepper has a survival knife in his camping kit. And if they don't they should. Like everything else on this list, it has a multitude of uses. Open cans. Blaze a trail. Cut wood. You can even hunt or if necessary, defend yourself.


I could do an entire post on how to choose the right knife. And I might at some point. But for now, I will simply tell you which one I recommend - The Fallkniven A1. This is a heavy-duty, all-purpose survival knife and should last you a lifetime. It is extremely sturdy and corrosion resistant and can be used even in the harshest of weather conditions.


5. An Axe  - If you have ever had to collect wood for a fire, you know how important a good axe is. And my favorite is the Schrade SCAXE2. A good axe can be expensive. This one will do the job for a lot less cash.


Of course, there is an entire list of other items you should have in your camping kit. Lanterns and flashlights. A first aid kit. A compass. A whistle. Insect repellant. Sunscreen. Just to name a few. But most of those are pretty common sense. My five best friends are probably the ones you might not have thought to invite along before. Until now.

My Go-To Snacks

If you've been following me ANYWHERE for a while, you know I'm a snacker.

Snacks can be a great way to curb your appetite between meals and boost your energy levels. I always make sure I have something "snacky" in the house.

Recently, I was asked if I had some favorite snacks to keep in my food storage area. And I said...of course I do!

It's important to choose the right snacks for your emergency food supply. Simply put, not all snack foods are created equal. Some have more fat, sugar, or preservatives than others. Some are simply empty calories...and a lot of them at that.

So here are my go-to emergency snacks!

1. Dark chocolate: You knew chocolate was going to be on the list. In my house, it's an essential food group! Right up there with coffee!

Besides satisfying that craving for something sweet, dark chocolate has all kinds of health benefits. It's loaded with nutrients, including powerful antioxidants.

The trick is to be sure you select the right chocolate. Not all chocolate...even dark chocolate...on the market is healthy. So make sure you choose quality stuff - dark chocolate with 70% or higher cacao. And of course, check the label for added unwanted things like artificial anything or excess sugar. Dark chocolate will have some sugar but the amount should be small.

Make sure you buy it well ahead of the expiration date and ensure the packaging is intact.

Your chocolate stash may have to be rotated into your regular food supplies periodically if it approaches it's expiration date. But that just gives you an excuse to have a little extra treat!

2. Almonds: I like nuts of all types. I am especially fond of cashews and pecans. But my all time favorite nuts are almonds. I always have a can in my pantry. And if I run out, I have been known to pick the almonds and cashews out of the jar of mixed nuts we always have on hand.

Almonds are a great source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients. And they are loaded with fiber which helps you feel fuller longer. That can be important in an emergency. Plus their extremely versatile. They can be eaten alone. Just grab a handful and munch away! Or you can make a trail mix with dark chocolate chips, dried fruit and pumpkin seeds. You can also add them to hot or cold cereal, as well as using them to add a little crunch to a salad.

Again, make sure you are choosing the right kind of almonds. Look for plain, raw or dry-roasted almonds.

3. Dried fruit: Raisins. Dried cranberries, apricots, mango, or cherries. Freeze dried strawberries. All tasty. All good for you. All make great snacks on their own or combined with nuts, seeds, and chocolate to make trail mix. And just like the almonds, you can add dried fruit to hot or cold cereal, salads, or use in homemade breads and muffins.

4. Jerky: I love good beef jerky! And generally speaking, it is a healthy and nutritious snack. It's high in protein and low in carbohydrates. And it has a long shelf life. Plus it's extremely portable. It can be very high in sodium and so should be eaten in moderation. But eaten as part of a balanced diet, it can be a welcome addition to your snack stash.

The right snacks can be an important part of your emergency food supplies. There are plenty of options to choose from. Just make sure they are shelf stable and have long expiration dates. But if you aren't sure where to start, these are the ones I always have on hand.

What are Microgreens? And Why Do I Care?

You may have heard of microgreens already, especially if you are into current health trends. You may even have spotted them for sale in your local grocery or health food store. You may also have spotted their hefty price tag compared to their small size! 


So what exactly are they? Microgreens are the very young seedlings of vegetables and herbs. They are different from sprouts. Microgreens are harvested later than sprouts, after the first leaves have appeared. This is not to confuse them with baby greens, which are harvested later. .


As preppers, there are two reasons why you should be interested in microgreens.  One because of they are extremely nutrient-dense. And two, because they are a cash cow at the moment.


First let's talk about the nutritional value. Microgreens have all of the same vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients as their fully-grown versions but in a much smaller package. That means you can get much of the nutrition you need from just a modest amount of food.


And since almost any fully edible plant can be grown as a microgreen, a variety of microgreens can provide a wide range of required nutrients. Some of the more popular include basil, beets, broccoli, swiss chard, parsley, kale, pea, sunflower, and watercress.


Now for the financial benefits. Growing microgreens for profit can be a great way to turn your gardening skills into a solid income from selling your microgreen crop to local grocers, individuals and restaurants. The steady demand and ease of growing makes them a great crop for anyone with gardening skills. Because they are so small, they can be grown almost anywhere, even indoors, so you can always have a crop available.


I know you are asking...why are you talking about these here? Why not in the health blog if they're that good for you? Or in the business blog if it's such a great way to make money?


Because those two things combined make microgreens perfect for preppers!


Microgreens offer a year-round source of food. They can be grown easily and with very simple equipment. You don't even need a garden! If you have a sunny windowsill, you can grow microgreens. Which means when other food sources are scarce, you can have a supply of fresh, nutritionally-dense greens - even in the depths of winter!


Since they are a great source of income right now, a microgreens business is also a wonderful way to bring in some side cash to either invest, get out of debt, or use to set yourself up to be more prepared for the future.


They can also be a useful item for barter.


I'll be sharing more about how to grow and harvest microgreens. But for now, I just wanted to acquaint you with these little green gems.


If you want to try some microgreens right now, check out this Window Garden Microgreens Starter Kit! It's how I started growing mine. I'll be sharing a video later showing just how this kit works.

Are You New To This Whole "Prepping" Thing? How To Get Started.

If you are like me, you've probably been "prepping" for years. It's how we were raised. Our parents went through a world war. A depression. They were smart enough to pass the lessons learned on to their children. Stock up when non-perishable items are on sale. Plant a garden so you always have vegetables. Make sure you have a large enough supply of essentials on hand to last for a while...just in case. Learn how to make and do things for yourself. If you looked in my pantry or closet or freezer at any given time, you would see that there was always enough in there to supply a small army for several weeks. I might not have called it "prepping". I just knew I was ready for emergencies.


Many of us passed those lessons on to our own children. Or tried to. Some of them weren't very receptive. For those kids who took the lessons to heart...good for you! You probably weren't out hoarding hand sanitize and paper towels. For those kids who thought their parents were being conspiracy theorists, doomsayers, and general whack jobs...how's your supply of toilet paper holding out?


If recent events have made you see the light and you have decided not to be caught unprepared again, now is the time to get started. Just follow these steps:


1. Conduct a risk assessment. Depending on where you live and your family makeup, you and I could have very different needs. Do you live in an apartment? A house in the city? A suburban home? Country home? Are you living the van or RV life? Each of these could situations could prevent a very different set of needs. 


What are the risks associated with your situation? Are you at risk from natural disasters? Which ones are most likely? Based on your geographical location are you at risk for floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, blizzards, or even volcanic eruptions? How close are you to a city? Could you be in danger from civil unrest? In the case of the current pandemic, are you far enough away from others that you minimized your risk of infection? Is your location defendable, if necessary? Are there children or elderly family members that will have special needs? Family members with health conditions or disabilities that will make them more vulnerable? Do you have pets that will require care or that could make you more vulnerable?


Carefully and thoroughly assess your situation. Be objective. Do not let emotions cloud your judgement. As much as I would have liked to believe otherwise, if my dad were still alive and living with me, he would be a huge risk factor and all of my plans would have to take that into consideration. If you have pets, are prepared to assign valuable space and resources to their care or will you turn them out to survive on their own? (Mine are family so yes...we will care for them. We are well able to do this.)


2. Once you have determined your most likely risks, it's time to start to prepare. Looking at the results of your risk assessment, determine what you would need to survive in the event of occurrence. Obviously, the top three are food, water, and shelter. But depending on the situation, you may need one more than the other. For example, the current pandemic has not impacted my ability to shelter or access fresh water. It has impacted the ability to obtain food as store shelves quickly emptied and there are signs of further disruption of the supply chain. Examine the most likely risks you will face and determine what you would need to have access to in order to survive. I recommend being prepared to survive on your own for 3 weeks. I know some other preppers say 14 days. Some "official" sites say 3 days. I say 21 days. As we have already seen, government response isn't all it's made out to be. Better to be overprepared and not need it, than to need it and not be able to get it.

• Water - if your supply of water was disrupted, how much water would you need for your family to survive for 3 weeks? The rule of thumb is one gallon per person per day. How and where will you store it? Do you have pets that will require water? How much will they need each day?
• Food - if you are unable to buy food, either because you are cut off from stores or because of disruption of the food supply chain, how much food would you need for your family to survive for 3 weeks? This should be non-perishable food that is easy to prepare. How and where will you store it? Do you have pets that will require food? How much will they require?
• How will you survive for 3 weeks if you lose power? Will you need an alternate source of heat or air conditioning? Do you have family members that need medical equipment like CPAP machines? Do they require electricity?
• How will you survive for 3 weeks if your primary shelter is destroyed or damaged? Do you have family with disabilities that will have trouble moving to an alternate shelter if necessary? 
• If you or a family member requires regular medication, do you have a 3 week supply on hand? Do you have enough first aid supplies to last 3 weeks in the event of injury or illness?
• This last question may be a bit touchy for some people, depending on your personal beliefs. Are you prepared to defend yourself and your family until help arrives? If you think I'm being melodramatic, remember the guard that was shot at a Family Dollar simply because he turned away someone who wasn't wearing a facemask in compliance with statewide orders. There are people who are not prepared that will see that you are and may decide they want what you have. Are you prepared to defend yourself if necessary?

3. Now that you have determined what you need, it's time to set up a place to store everything. Again, how you do this will depend largely on your personal environment. I have a central place in my home where everything is stored. We also have "go boxes" in every vehicle and additional boxes that are packed and accessible that can be grabbed on a moment's notice in the event we are forced to evacuate. Each pet has their very own "go bag" packed and ready to go. However and wherever you decide to store items, make sure it is readily accessible in an emergency and defendable if necessary.


4. Now that you know what you need and you have storage for everything, it's time to start acquiring supplies. Fortunately, the easiest things to acquire are also the most necessary - food and water and prescription medications. Acquire your 3 week supply of these first. Once you have them, then you can work on alternate sources of power, shelter, and whatever else you determined you will need.


5. Get the necessary skills. A first aid kit is useless if you don't have basic first aid knowledge. If you decided to purchase firearms to assist in the defense of your home and family, then training to learn how to properly use and care for them is vital. Evaluate what skills you and your family already have and then learn the ones you need.


Yes, there is much more you can learn. More you can do to be ready. I can survive for many weeks on my own if necessary. But these 5 steps will get you off to a good start. Once you have the basics to survive for 3 weeks, you can work on the rest.