Your wish is my blog….

We have spent the last several weeks focusing some more time and energy on the written aspect of our blog rather than the videos.  We have also been hitting the Dan’s Depot Survival Forum, and seeing what kinds of things people are asking questions about, and/or need help.

While we always try to make sure that we are doing helpful videos, we want to do all that we can to make videos that YOU want.  Many thanks to the crew at Dan’s Depot, for making this training free to you guys.

With that said we have gotten a lot of feedback over the last few weeks on topics that you want us to do videos on.  They include the following:

• Tracking
• Land Navigation
• Fire, fire, and more fire (cooking over a fire, tending a fire, woods to use, and more)
• Uses for paracord (wait till we show what we got going on here)
• Urban prep information
• Self-defense (for survival and urban prep needs)
• How to defeat zombies

The rest of this is where you come in.  I am guessing that those who follow this blog are one of two types of people:

• First type, a person who is seeking knowledge because you are just now beginning your study of this type of information.
• Second type, a person who is experienced and is just searching for a couple of new “tricks of the trade” for your own survival methodology.

If you are of the first inclination, then send us your ideas for videos and will put them out there.  If you are of the second variety, and you don’t have your own method for disseminating your knowledge, then let us know.  We will do videos on info you think could help others and send it out there.  We have never said we are experts here, or that we think we know it all.  We are in a constant state of learning ourselves.  We are happy to give credit where credit is due.

So let us know what you are looking for, we will make sure to get it online ASAP.

Until next time we hope to see you on, or off, the trail!

 

 

 

The Six Cs of Hunting for Food

Using animals and their byproducts is probably the least important reason for hunting these days.  There are very few people who feel that it is an useful endeavor.  Rather, they would take the easier route of simply getting their meat protein from a grocery store.  Simply put, I agree with those who do, which probably includes you that are reading this blog.

For those of us who utilize the grocery store as a our main means of support to get food, I would like to introduce you to some reasoning for hunting as a means of getting your next meal in addition to your grocery shopping.

Connected – When you hunt and take your food from the field to the table, you are simply more connected to the process.  You do not have to guess where it came from, you were there when it was taken and KNOW where it came from.

Calories – This is a play on words here, because what I mean is that there is more nutritional content in wild game than in domesticated meats sold at the grocery store.  Fat content is lower in wild game than in domesticated animals.  It is also lower in cholesterol as well.  Many studies have tried to determine the reasoning.  My research says that it dwindles down to the simple fact that wild game eat only wild-organic foods and therefore their meat is not full of impurities.

Cost – This is certainly a debatable topic around most homes where someone is a hunter.  In its simplest terms a pound of meat taken in the field is cheaper than a pound of meat taken at the grocery store because wild game is free, right?  Sort of.   You still need to factor in weapons, clothing, licenses, and fuel to and from your hunting site.  With that in mind, cost is probably about the same.  But particularly if you are using weapons handed down through a family, wild game is certainly less costly than grocery store meat.  Plus you have all these other benefits that are mentioned here, that are not necessarily true at the grocery store.

Continuance – This is the best C word I could come up with that means survival.  :).  Food is an important part of the your survival, whether that survival is day-to-day living, or making it in a crisis event.  I have said often that plant material is a better choice in survival situations and explained my reasons for that.  However, getting an animal allows you to get nutrition from the the meat, bone marrow, and edible organs.  Not to mention (form a primitive skills mindset), all the other uses that animals offer.

Conservation – For those that do not understand how wild animal populations work, it seems rather counter-intuitive to kill an  animal so that its larger populations can flourish.  Nothing could be more true however.  As recent as the early 1900′s, there were very few wild animals about here in the USA.  Unregulated hunting had dwindled numbers of wild animals to near devastation.  Wildlife biologists and conservation officers, along with hunters, have helped to grow many animal populations back form the brink of disaster.  Well regulated game laws, and ethical hunters who follow these laws are the only reason, that wild game populations are back to where they are now.  If these laws and ethics continue, they will continue to be healthy for years to come.

Chance – Chance encounters is what I mean here.  There are certain things that one only sees if they hunt a lot or simply go to the field often and sit quietly.  This past weekend alone my son and I had a turkey almost get into our pack, an owl try to take my hat off, a mother raccoon chasing down a baby raccoon that had wandered from the nest, song birds too numerous to mention, squirrels too active to take it all in, redtail hawks, chipmunks, a buck deer chasing a doe with love in the air, and on and on.  I should have written a book years ago about all the chance encounters in the woods.  My experiences mirrors thousands of other hunters who see them as well.

These are a few of the reasons to consider hunting as an alternative to grocery shopping for meat protein.  I don’t think it would be wise to immediately stop the grocery shopping and start a hunting lifestyle.  It certainly would not come easy, as hunting is an activity like any other in which there is quite the learning curve.  As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  I will be happy to help you get started.  Also check out new forums , on the Dan’s Depot site.  You can start a hunting discussion there!

Until next time, I hope to see you on, or off the trail!

 

Bananas & Oranges – Nature’s “Super-fruits”……

 

In my previous blog I discussed some basic essential vitamins & minerals. I’m now going to take the opportunity to discuss two “super-foods” which you can throw into your bag before your next hike or have at home at all times in order for good overall health & nutrition as well as to pack in the event you need to “bug out”. Two of my favorite & most practical “super – foods” are bananas & oranges. They are very nutritious & come in convenient travel packages (their peels).

Bananas:

Nutritional benefits:

One banana has 11% of the RDA of dietary fiber and only about 108 calories.
Bananas also contain high levels of fructooligosaccharide which helps promote calcium absorption, it further helps in glucose metabolism so that it lowers the chances for someone to be hyper- or hypo- glycemic. Fructooligosaccharide further nourishes healthy bacteria in the colon that manufacture vitamins and digestive enzymes that boost the body’s overall ability to absorb nutrients. Just one banana has 34% of the RDA of vitamin B6, which serves many important roles in the body’s health as discussed in my previous blog. Bananas have twice as many carbohydrates as an apple, five times as much Vitamin A & iron, and three times as much phosphorus. In addition, bananas are also rich in potassium and natural sugars. Eating only two bananas will give you enough energy to exercise or workout for an hour and a half.

Bananas have a chemical called tryptophan – the same chemical that turkey contains.
This mood regulating substance contains a level of protein that helps the mind relax so you feel happier. What couldn’t be better if one is “roughing it out”!

Practical uses:

Before you throw those peels away, rubbing the inside of it along a mosquito bite will help reduce the itching and swelling. Banana peels are also good for application to first or second degree burns since they contain antimicrobial properties as well as have a cooling / soothing effect. The vitamins & minerals in the peel also promote healing. Banana peels are also excellent for composting & I have read data which shows that burying a banana peel in a garden will help the plants / flowers around it.  So, if you’re out in the wilderness – burry that peel instead of littering and you’ll actually be doing Mother Nature a favor!

Oranges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nutritional benefits:

Oranges have many health benefits. They are rich in Vitamins C and A, flavonoids, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, potassium, & dietary fiber. These antioxidants are also helpful in reducing harmful inflammation.  Magnesium in oranges helps to maintain the blood pressure.  Studies show that polyphenols found in citrus fruits protect against viral infections and this is critical since one cannot afford to get sick while out in the wilderness. Also, as I have discussed previously, oranges contain iron and Vitamin B6 which help in the production of hemoglobin and increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Oranges also contain Beta Carotene (the substance that gives oranges & carrots their color) which is a powerful antioxidant essential for cell strength & repair as well as being beneficial for eyesight.  Oranges are also good for your kidney since their juice helps break down small kidney stones as well as prevents them from being formed in the first place. This is especially applicable since if one is in the wilderness for an extended period, it’s very easy to become dehydrated & dehydration is one of the most common ways to develop kidney stones.

Practical uses:

Dried orange and lemon peels are a good choice for use as kindling. Not only do they smell good, but they produce less creosote than newspaper. Also, flammable oils found inside the peels enable them to burn longer and can keep your campfire hotter. Orange peels also serve as a natural ant, moth & mosquito repellant. Orange rinds can also be used to scrub clean cooking equipment & eating utensils.

Until next time – stay healthy!
Dr. E
MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER The Author provides the information & content contained therein for informational purposes only. The Author does not provide any medical advice on the Site, and the Information should not be so construed or used. Using, accessing and/or browsing the Site and/or providing personal or medical information to the Author does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and the Author. Nothing contained in the Site is intended to create a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a licensed, trained physician or health professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of a physician or trained health professional licensed in your state.

Essential Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins
As you all know, the common theme here is that of preparedness. A factor often overlooked is one’s own personal health. In my opinion, one should strive to be in the best health possible not only for your overall wellbeing, but also for optimum performance in a variety of situations. You all “know your body” and I’m confident that as you read this you’re either telling yourself that you’re pretty healthy and have nothing to worry about or, on the other hand, your medical history may be running through your head right about now. Aside from maintaining a healthy weight as well as a healthy level of conditioning, I advise patients on a regular basis to use vitamin supplements. Even if one has a “healthy” diet, it doesn’t hurt to take some supplements. This is of course after checking with your healthcare provider.
Now, let me be clear, I DO NOT advise taking supplements if one is in a survival situation. There are a few exceptions & I will discuss those later. When a person is in a survival situation, dehydration is a common problem. If you start taking vitamins, this can make the dehydration worse & cause other problems like gastrointestinal upset as well as kidney stones. We are discussing preparedness as well as “optimizing” your nutritional status in order for you to be metabolically prepared for whatever nature “circumstances” you may be thrust into. I’ll review some vitamins & minerals and briefly discuss why you need to have the adequate levels of these in your body & how it pertains to performance & survival.
Zinc, Magnesium & Calcium:
Zinc, Magnesium, and Calcium are three of the most important minerals essential for good health. Magnesium aids in the absorption of calcium by the body, while zinc actively supports the body’s immune system.
The immune system is adversely affected by even moderate degrees of
zinc deficiency. Zinc is required for the development and activation of
T-lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell that helps fight infection.
Magnesium & calcium are also essential parts of the healing & maintenance of skin and obviously bones. Magnesium is further necessary to aid certain blood & tissue cells in “traveling” to areas of injury and thereby aid in tissue repair.

Copper:
Copper is also necessary for healing of tissues. It is further needed to absorb and utilize iron and is also a key player in how the human body makes energy.
Synthesis of some hormones requires copper, as does the synthesis of
collagen (the “glue” that holds connective tissue together).
B Vitamins:
B-Complex vitamins are co-factors or co-enzymes in a number of
metabolic functions involved in wound healing. They are particularly useful in the
energy release from carbohydrates. Several biochemical reactions
depend on vitamin B, most specially the synthesis of amino
acids — the building blocks of the body’s proteins. It also helps the body form hemoglobin (the oxygen carrying part of red blood cells) as well as the neurotransmitter,
serotonin, which carries messages in the brain and influences a wide
variety of behaviors, including sleep.
B vitamins are found mainly in organs and meats (beef and chicken
livers, turkey, and chicken breasts), tuna, whole grain cereals, legumes,
bananas, beer, nuts, spinach, potatoes and eggs.
Vitamin C:
Vitamin C has an important role in the immune system as well as in skin / tissue healing. . There is loads of evidence showing increased requirements for vitamin C during injury, stress and
infection, but there is no evidence that mega dosing helps. Vitamin C is probably the only vitamin which I’d supplement during stressful situations such as survival in the wilderness but before I’d “pop a pill” it’s much healthier to take in as much Vitamin C you can from natural sources. Some natural sources of Vitamin C are citrus fruits, peppers, and green vegetables. Strawberries are full of fiber and antioxidants, including vitamin C in much higher concentrations than on oranges. Excessive vitamin C can cause diarrhea – so once again, here is a good reason not to “mega dose”.
Vitamin K:
Vitamin K is involved in the formation of thrombin which is a clotting factor. Too much vitamin K & you can have a heart attack, stroke or it can block the effects of “blood thinning medications if you are on them. Too little thrombin and one can bruise or bleed excessively. This is a vitamin which I do not encourage supplementation of since adequate amounts are usually ingested with common foods. Generally breads and green vegetables / plants have the sufficient amounts of Vitamin K – but it is worth mentioning for completeness sake.
These are just a few examples of some nutrients that you need for overall general health as well as for optimal health preparedness in the event of an unforeseen emergency. I have a small “stash” of a Vitamin B-complex/ Vitamin C combination. This combination is readily available in the vitamin aisle of the grocery store. This is probably the only one I’d pack in my camping / survival pack since it helps on so many levels namely immune, energy production and healing.

Until next time – stay healthy!
Dr. E
MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER The Author provides the information & content contained therein for informational purposes only. The Author does not provide any medical advice on the Site, and the Information should not be so construed or used. Using, accessing and/or browsing the Site and/or providing personal or medical information to the Author does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and the Author. Nothing contained in the Site is intended to create a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a licensed, trained physician or health professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of a physician or trained health professional licensed in your state.

How to make your own chicken stock

My brother in law told me I was crazy. He informed me that chicken stock “is, like, 99 cents a can at the grocery store…” during our discussion on my prep for this post.  Yes, I make my own stock whenever possible, and yes, I know it’s 99 cents a can at the store. But I ask you: what’s IN that stock? Can you vouch for the chicken (not his morals, or where he was on Tuesday at noon) but was he doped up on more hormones and steroids than an Olympic runner?  Where did the veggies come from? I like to know these things.  Read more

Canning Potatoes: a Healthy, Flavorful Way to Store

 

Two years ago, my husband got bored and planted 25 rows of potatoes. I wish I could explain what happened in his brain to do such a thing, and yet, he does it every year on some level or another. That year it was potatoes, the next year it might be green beans…but he always over plants. And this leaves me with WAY too much food. During the year of the potato, I ended up with 1,500 pounds of them–many of which were no bigger than a golf ball. What in the world was I going to do with all those things? Well I’ll tell you what I wasn’t going to do with them–peel them. Because if you think for one minute I’m going to store 1,500 pounds of golf balls and then peel 50 every time I want mashed ones, you’re nuts. Read more

Yes you “Can”!

The weather here has been brutal for gardening this year and if you live even further west you know this first-hand. The dry weather has really hampered the normal production of my garden and I’m frustrated that I haven’t had the kind of production I normally get. But, nonetheless, late rain has allowed a few things to grow and even though it’s late we should never overlook our lessons on home canning. And since many people put out a fall garden (usually planted in about July) you may still be preparing to can as the weather gets cooler.

Even if you have never canned before, let me encourage you. It’s not scary, it’s not hard–but it is time consuming and not something you can do on the fly. But when you’re finished you’ll be proud looking at all of your hard work and knowing that you made it, and that you know exactly what’s in it. This will take several posts to properly cover, so be patient as we start with the basics. Read more

Pinto bean fudge with food storage

I know you’ve missed me. And I’ve missed you too. I’ve been scrolling through the most recent posts and I’m wondering: where’s all the bread baking, the bean canning and the fudge making? Well, it’s right here baby. We’ll let Craig trek you through every dale and valley nature’s back roads have to offer–but when you take a break you’re gonna need some of my food storage pinto bean fudge and here’s where you get it. Well, the  recipe anyway. Read more

A 100% Surefire, No Risk, Can’t Lose Investment. No Kidding.

DEAR GOLDBUGS,
You’ve been waiting all your life to put your money in a 100% Surefire, No Risk, Can’t Lose Investment.  Well, I have one for you and this is no Brooklyn Bridge.  There wasn’t room in the title of this article to say it all, so let me also add that besides being No Risk, this investment is Guaranteed To Make Money and it’s Designed Entirely By You To Fit Your Needs.  It allows you to Invest Any Amount of Money, Large or Small and you very well might Double Your Money in just a few years or less.  At the very least you will Beat Stock Market Returns hands down.

To top it off, if you decide you aren’t happy with this deal, you can very easily bail out of this investment and walk away any time you want With No Penalty!  Actually, it just keeps getting better, since this investment requires No Paperwork and has Tax Free Profit with No Government Reporting!  Plus, it can be passed on to your heirs with No Probate or Inheritance Tax.  

I could go on, but I think it might be more fun if you draw up your own list of advantages after you hear what this investment is all about.  You’re going to get that information in just a second, but first I promise that No Salesperson Will Call and I promise you will Never Pay Additional Shipping and Handling.

Ready?  Sure you are, so here is Read more

Two Misunderstandings About Survival Skills Practice

Survival skills practice is no different than any other type of practice with a physical component.  There are two considerations that you always hear mentioned in such areas of life that we will address.  Both of these are simply incorrect.

One is that “practice makes perfect” the other is “muscle memory”.

Practice makes perfect.

While this seemingly makes alot of sense, it is faulty.  You can practice all you want but if you are practicing incorrectly, will set yourself for trouble later when you need it.  For example, if you always use a specific knife in outdoor survival training and you never practice doing skills without it, then what will you do when you find yourself in need of it and you don’t have it in your possession?  If you have ever attended, or wish to attend in the future, one of our outdoor training events you will find a unique test on the last day.  Rather than just teach you skills, we teach these skills and have you practice them throughout the class.  On the last day we have you put them in to practice under stressed conditions. (How do we do this safely??, come and find out)   Therefore you need to practice, but certainly do your best to practice perfectly, and to continue to practice perfectly under stressed conditions.

For example, I taught primitive fire making class this weekend and it happened to be raining at the time.  Once you practice enough, bow drill fire making is a an incredible skill to have.  In this particular instance though I was demonstrating in front of about a twenty people and it was raining.  A good way to practice the skills, under pressure, wouldn’t you think?   How much harder would it be if it had been 20 degrees outside, and I had a very cold wife and kids needing a fire?  For me, and probably you, this would prove to be stressful.  My point is that you need to practice these skills, under pressure such as this, as often as you can.  In that manner you can start developing perfect practice, under pressure.  This has much more usefulness than, simply being able to do these things over and over under picture perfect conditions.

Muscle Memory

I hate to break this to you, but muscles don’t have brains.  Therefore, muscle memory is a bit of a misnomer.  However, it is proven with any physical skills you will improve upon your skill set if you do lots of repetitions.  This is true of free throw shots, judo throws, and bow drill fire making.  As is typical with lots of movement, you will make mistakes.  Hopefully, you will find a good teacher who can help you with such things.  That is why Dan’s Depot offers all the free teaching here and on youtube, as well as discounted rates for participants to go to weekend classes with lots of hands-on practice and instruction at Nature Reliance School.

The last thought that brings this together is you need to practice with your tools.  You need to have a knife, a pack, a shelter that you can setup, sleep in it, and pack it away and do it again and again.  We recommend when looking for a survival kit, that you shop around.  One of the first things you need to ask yourself when looking at it, “Can I practice with these items, and re-use them over and over?”  If the answer is no, then do not waste your time or money with such a kit.

Please keep checking in with us, as we are about to start a series on firebuilding, which will include a Finding Firewood series, and a series on how to cook over a fire.

Until then, I hope to see you on, or off the trail!

Craig Caudill, Director

Nature Reliance School

 

 

 

 

 

 

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