Welcome to this week’s Sunday Survival Buzz – a roundup of preparedness news, tips, articles and recommendations from around the web. But first, an update on my own preps.
The most fun thing I did this week, prepping wise, was make my own liquid castile soap. Remember those prepping bloopers I mentioned last week? It took three tries to get it right and ultimately I came up with my own version that was just right. In all fairness, the differences were minor in process but major in results.
I hope to get everything written up for you in the next week or so along with my simple recipe for Tea Tree Wonderful household cleaner. I did say this was fun, right?
I ordered the following two books:
- The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future
(recommended by a Backdoor Survival reader)
- Food Over Medicine: The Conversation That Could Save Your Life
(recommended by a Backdoor Survival reader)
In addition, I received an Aqua Vessel Tritan Filter Water Bottle for review plus a giveaway that will be scheduled for late this month.
And last, my order from Emergency Essentials arrived. The Meat Variety Combo I purchased was 35% off so I felt like I got a deal. More and more, I am cooking with food storage so I get the hang of it. Next up is ham and eggs. By the way, did anyone try the Chicken Chile recipe I posted last week with the EcoZoom review?
Okay, enough about me. Let’s get on to the Sunday Survival Buzz.
SURVIVAL NEWS & ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB
When Your Medicine Makes You Sick: So far this year the FDA reports that drug companies have “voluntarily” recalled more than 30 prescription drugs. (It is quite coincidental that I ordered the “Food Over Medicine” book this week.)
The Missiles That Brought Down TWA Flight 800: I am putting this one out there – you to be the judge. All I will say is that with many things these days, all is not what it seems.
Cooking Weeds – Goosefoot Pie and Sautéed Milkweed Pods: Hey Facebook fans, this one is for you. I listened!!
Are Chemicals Commonly Used in Poultry Plants Masking Salmonella?: Food safety experts are scratching their heads after a Washington Post article suggested last week that certain chemicals used in poultry processing might be masking the presence of Salmonella. It’s a scandalous theory that could explain why government data show big reductions in Salmonella rates in poultry plants while human illnesses have held steady.
Scientists Disclose Plans To Make Superflu In Labs: To quote NPR, “Who do these guys think they are, the Dr. Frankenstein’s of virology?”
How should a senior citizen prepare for SHTF?: A fine article from Graywolf Survival. Here is a hint: “The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the advice for senior citizens is pretty much the core of what everyone should actually be doing to prep.”
THE AUDACITY OF IT ALL
This leads me into a short rant about the AUDACITY of it all. As you know, each week I like to share an article or two from other preparedness websites. Some of these sites are newer and some have been around for awhile. I share the articles because they are informative and offer a wise perspective that is worthy of your time. Many times, the site owners do not know that I have linked to them unless they happen to notice a bump in traffic Backdoor Survival.
No matter. I share good stuff and don’t want or expect anything in return. Now imagine my shock this week when one of the owners of a website I often feature asked if I would like to pony up $50 to be mentioned on her site? I pointed out the many articles of hers that I had posted and that I had never asked for a dime. Furthermore, I had not contacted her for a reciprocal link.
I was just do my Sunday Buzz thing. The bottom line is this: I do not accept payment from other bloggers nor do I pay anyone to post my work. More and more I am beginning to feel the sting of the vultures. Okay, I will get off my soapbox now.
BACKDOOR SURVIVAL READER TIPS
From a reader in Yakima, WA:
Your heads-up article regarding the masks was above and beyond what everyone should know about them. Very informative.
While they are important for potential medical-sanitation reasons… another far more likely potential is protection from volcanic ash air-borne particles. As a resident of Yakima, Washington during the May 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens… I can tell you how fast ANY such masks disappeared from the store shelves after Mt. St. Helens paid a visit to Yakima. It is amazing how fast folks come to realize what is most important when a certain survival situation presents itself. Hopefully, your readers will share with others they know… the value of your website for preparedness.
As a follow-up suggestion… folks across our country as well as the world… should place the potential for world-wide volcanic ash particulate dispersal as a very real and probable threat in our not-so-distant future.
Note: If you missed it, the article was Survival Friday: Surgical Masks for the Survival Kit.
Here is a water conservation tip from “Frederick”:
I have a large bowl (about 1 1/4 gal) in one of my double sinks and rinse everything that has no soap into this bowl, including rinsing dishes and silverware before I soap them. I either empty the bowl directly on the compost pile, garden, or plants near the kitchen door or dump it into a 5 gal bucket also near the kitchen door and then carry this bucket to water fruit trees in the yard.
After the big quake in Coalinga some years back people found they could not get into their garages to get to emergency supplies. My aunt solved this problem, (after they rebuilt) by hanging an ax and a shovel on the outside wall of the house under the eaves.
Thanks, everyone, for the fantastic tips.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?
Reminder: if you are interested in finding a past article on a specific topic, you can use the Search box on the right hand side or select SEARCH from the menu bar.
FACEBOOK HELP
If you don’t do Facebook, you can skip this section since it will bore you to tears. On the other hand, if you do, read on.
Backdoor Survival fan “Daron” compiled these instructions for setting up interest groups on FB. This is one way to insure that posts that you want to see are always shared on your timeline.: How to Create and Interest List on Facebook.
One more thing. The reason I ask you to “like, comment and share” my FB updates is that the more engagement seen by FB, the more they will “choose” to post my updates on your timeline. Apparently it is not a 100% thing. Who knew?
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
I am always surfing Amazon for new survival stuff – it is an addition of mine. This week I took some time to make a list of The Amazon.com Top Ten Most Wanted Survival and Outdoor Items. I plan to keep the list updated so check back periodically with Amazon Top 50 on the menu bar.
Speaking of which, I am still having issues with the new menu bar. There are things I want to add but can not at this time. This is something I hope to get them fixed in the next week or two.
BACKDOOR SURVIVAL BLOOPERS
Last week I had a few readers ask that I share what I will call my product and project bloopers. Gosh, there have been so many that I do not know where to start so it is probably best that I do this on a going forward basis here on the Sunday Survival Buzz.
That said, here are some previous bloopers to get us started.
The lavender and rosemary cuttings I started shriveled up and dried. I am usually really good at starting plants from cuttings and slips (you should see my DIY hydrangeas) so either I lost my touch or this does not work as easily as the original poster indicated in her article.
Every DIY recipe for homemade “Shout” (a commercial spot remover for the laundry) has been a waste of time and ingredients. On the other hand, Hydrogen Peroxide seems to be working great. Throw out the cap, add a sprayer top and you are done. So far, so good. Spots seem to disappear although it does take a day or so – sometimes longer.
Likewise, the DIY “soft scrub” I made to clean crusty, built up crud from my well-used baking pans was a waste. Sorry, I can’t remember the ingredients. This was a few months ago – going forward I will take notes.
Perhaps the biggest blooper was a $35 survival “kit” that I was asked to review and promote to readers here on Backdoor Survival. Spending $5 is one thing but a $35 kit full of half a dozen items that can be purchased on Amazon for less than $2 each just did not cut it.
You might notice that when it comes to kits, I am very careful to remind you to examine the contents thoroughly before making a purchase. This is especially at the low end. Truthfully, it is sometimes better to purchase the individual products yourself.
There is nothing wrong with inexpensive products. I buy them myself. But I do so with my eyes wide open so that I know what I am getting. The last thing I want to do is pay a high price for a low-quality item.
THE FINAL WORD
This came in from John:
Gaye, it is great for you to tell use what you have done to prepare each week. I know this will be an incentive for others to get on board. I need the reviews you give of products out there in internet land to help me on my limited budget. I hate to say this, but you maybe my guiding light, as it seems I have been purchasing many of the products you have showcased.
For this reason, may I suggest you start asking others what they have done this week to prepare, and if they may have wondered across some prepping tool they think we can not do without. I for one would love to hear what others are doing.
If people step up and contribute, I will make this a regular part of the Sunday Survival Buzz. And so I ask:
What about you – what did you do to prep this week?
Please share your preps in the comments area below. Until, next time, remember to make every day a prep day!
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
If you have not done so already, please be sure to like Backdoor Survival on Facebook to be updated every time there is an awesome new article, news byte, or free survival, prepping or homesteading book on Amazon. In addition, when you sign up to receive email updates you will receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.
Bargain Bin: For your discernment, hear are the some of the items mentioned in today’s Buzz plus a preview of the Amazon Top 10.
Aqua Vessel Tritan Filter Water Bottle: This is my new water bottle. The sustainable plant-based filter attaches easily to the straw top, so every sip is cleaned on its way to your mouth. It is tested to remove 99.9% of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and its activated coconut shell carbon reduces toxic chemicals, heavy metals, microscopic pathogens, chlorine, sediment and dirt – so it’s safe to use everywhere from the back country to the office.
Megabrite Wireless Motion Sensor LED Lights: I forgot to mention that I installed a couple of these this week.
The Wonderful World of Dandelions: 40 Fabulous Recipes for Cooking with Dandelions: Dandelions are loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants and can make great low calorie, healthy meals. They are one of the most nutritional dense greens you can eat and are potassium rich, have strong diuretic qualities, a good blood detoxifier and great for the liver…dandelions are a forgotten secret. This book contains 40 fabulous recipes which including dishes which are suitable for both Paleo and Vegetarian diets by incorporating this valuable food source using these delicious, easy to make recipes. “
SAS Survival Handbook: SAS Survival Handbook is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. It includes everything from basic camp craft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster. Also the companion books, SAS Urban Survival Handbook, The SAS Guide to Tracking
Ultralight Backpacking Canister Camp Stove with Piezo Ignition
2 Pack Survival Kit Can Opener, Military, P-51 Model
Elite Forces Survival Bowie Knife
Shop the Emergency Essentials Monthly Specials
The monthly specials at Emergency Essentials feature discounts of up to 35% off sometimes a bit more.
One of the sale items this month is the Meat Variety Combowhich is 35% off. Included are cans of Salmon, Diced Roast Beef, White Turkey, Ham, Ground Beef and Smokey Flavored Chicken Chunks. This month I purchased this combo for my own food storage.
Not to be left out, the Freeze-Dried Fruit Variety Combo is also on sale. Lately I have been using FD fruit in my own “Survival” Sangria and fruit smoothies that also use the Creamy Vanilla Drink Mix
.
In the gear department, this month the Katadyn Combi Water Filter is 34% off at $144.00. There are a lot of other items on sale this month so take a peek!
NO KINDLE? NO PROBLEM
As many of you know, I frequently post links to free Prepping, Survival and Self-Reliance Kindle eBooks on my Facebook page. Did you know that you do not need a Kindle to download and read Kindle e-Books?
Amazon has made it easy for you by offering a free Kindle app for almost every device you can think of including all sorts of e-Book readers, tablets, smartphones and of course, a PC or laptop. Simply download the free Kindle app
That said, a basic Kindle Wi-Fi
Need something else from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.
Shop Amazon Tactical – Great Selection of Optics, Knives, Cases, Equipment
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
Rod Davidson, the author of Survive Any Food Crisis, is a family man that has seen it all during his military career. He has seen the result of food shortages around the globe and knows that we are just one step away from experiencing a food crisis of our own.
Survive Any Food Crisis is a complete A-Z guide on food prepping during uncertain times. You’ll discover everything you need to know and do in order for you and your family to be safe in the event of a food crisis. It addresses the essential foods to store, how to store them and how to create a long term survival plan. You will also learn how you can start stocking up on vital food supplies for pennies on the dollar.
I have been working with Rod for almost a year and can honestly say that he is the real deal. I provided some input into the content of this e-book and thought so much of it that I provided Rod with a personal testimonial that he uses on his web site.
In addition to the core manual, “Survive Any Food Crisis”, you will get some pretty nifty bonus books on water, medicinal plants, and food preparation. The price for everything is $9.95.
BONUS #1: Actionable Checklist for Food Preparedness
BONUS #2: How to Use Local Plants for Medicine
BONUS #3: How to Purify Water Fast and Easy
And of course, there is a no questions asked money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
The Sunday Survival Buzz – Volume 77 is the latest article from the Survival Woman at Backdoor Survival.