What is E.D.C. - Every Day Carry?

E.D.C. or every day carry is the term used to describe the items carried on your person on a daily basis, or the practice of keeping a set of items for such purpose.

Most people these days never leave home without their wallet, keys, and cell phone. This is the most basic of every day carry. But many people see the benefit of adding a few more items to facilitate their day to this list. Perhaps it's a set of ear buds, a pocket knife, or packet of chewing gum. Maybe it's a cell phone charger, a baseball cap, or first aid kit. What ever you carry, it is usually a personal choice and varies from person to person.

Maybe you have a grandmother or know of one who carried a purse that always seemed to have everything in it when needed.  A Mary Poppins bag of sorts. Women can carry a purse, and men sometimes carry back packs. There was even a fad of fanny packs, before they fell out of favor. You can keep EDC to what you keep in your pockets, or you can expand it to the bags and accessories you bring with you everywhere you go. The choice is yours.

The more you bring the more you are prepared for but the more you look like the crazy bag lady. Hauling around a bag or two of heavy rarely used items can be overkill on most days. But having just your cash and I.D. will be a bit too minimalist for most as well.

EDC is not static. It can change from day to day. You might need completely different items on work days than you would need on your day off. Summer vs. Winter can change things too. Anyway you look at it EDC is a very personal choice.

So, what do you EDC? What items can you not live without on a normal day, or a not so normal day? Comment below and share your EDC List and why.

I'll start you of with one of my personal EDC lists.

Basic Day Off of Work List:
Digital Wrist Watch, Credit Card Wallet*, Cash Wallet, Cell Phone with Case, Bandana, Pocket Knife, Pocket Flashlight, Chapstick, Bic Lighter, Fisher Space Pen, Two Hair Ties, and a Eight Foot Hank of Para-cord. (* indicates some smaller items included in wallet not called specifically at this time. Covered in future post)

Later we will dive in to some of the most common items and discuss why to carry it and what can be done to make it better.

What is a Bug Out Bag (B.O.B.) and why do I need one?

The Bug Out Bag or B.O.B. is a backpack or pack of some sort that you have packed and ready in case of an emergency that forces you to leave your home at a moments notice.

When most survivalist talk about a Bug Out Bag they usually are focused on items in that bag that can be used to survive in the wild. Items may include a shelter, ax, water filtration, fishing kit, etc.

There is however another way to look at a Bug Out Bag that is not quite so drastic. Consider a bag you can grab that is prepared for the everyday emergency. Such as a weather emergency that has the local authorities calling for evacuation. Perhaps a friend or family member is rushed to the hospital and you need to get there ASAP. Packing in a situation like this, you are bound to forget a few important things.

Having a bag filled with necessities at the ready, can be very helpful and bring peace of mind. You could start with an Everyday Emergency Bag (an Overnight Bag) and complete a Wilderness B.O.B later, this way you have a choice of what to grab when the need arises.

The term Bug Out Bag is just one term used to describe a prepacked bag you can grab when needed. Some other terms include, Go Bag, I.N.C.H. Bag (I'm Never Coming Home Bag), Get Home Bag, S.C.A.R.E. Bag, Just In Case Bag, or Overnight Bag. Some of these terms are interchangeable but others denote a specific situation or reason to carry it.

No matter what you call it, having something prepped ahead of time in case of emergency is just smart. I recommend starting with an Overnight Bag, a bag packed in case of having to stay overnight somewhere at a moments notice, this figures on staying in a house or building with running water and electric, no social unrest or weather emergency. Things you may include might be a change of clothes, a small toiletry bag, charger for you cell phone, etc.

After you have one of these bags feel free to build a bag suited to whatever emergency you feel is most likely to happen where you are, flood, hurricane, volcano, earthquake, zombies, etc.

Keep your bag somewhere easy to grab, and check it's contents on a regular basis to make sure seasonal items are suited to time of year, items still fit, etc. Consider also packing a bag for each member of your family. Don't forget to include your furry family members, and other pets you would take with you in an emergency.

What would you keep in your Bug Out Bag? What emergency situation do you think is the most common? What should we be prepared for? Comment below and let us know.

What is Aquaponics?

What is Aquaponics?

The definition of aquaponics is in its name - it is a combination of AQUAculture (the growing of fish) and hydroPONICS (the growing of vegetables and herbs). Aquaponics is a perfect example of sustainable food production, and many people are turning to this system of home food growing. Using aquaponics to grow your food will save you lots of money and give you food that is organic and of higher quality than what you'd buy in shops.

In an aquaponics system, the water from the fish reaches the hydroponic beds. The plants will take up some of the water, and with it the nitrogen in the water. This nitrogen will have originated from fish manure and decomposing feed. If the nitrogen is allowed to build up in the fish tank, it will reach toxic levels. However, this nitrogen happens to be a perfect fertilizer for the vegetables! This saves you from having to add artificial fertilizer, which is expensive and contains synthetic chemicals that are potential harmful. After the plants have taken up the nitrogen, the water returns to the fish pond squeaky clean. Hence, you won't need complicated filtering systems for the fish water, as the plants will do this work for you!

The benefits of aquaponics are many. It is a sustainable system of food production, where nutrients are recycled and external inputs are minimal. It is the most efficient method of food production as it can produce large amounts of food in the least amount of space and with the least amount of expenses. It is a very flexible system, allowing you to grow a large variety of fish and plants. And it can be set-up practically anywhere! In addition, it is very easy to scale according to needs, as the equipment required can easily be built at home. In other words, make it as big as you want. Maybe you just want a small unit to produce food just for your family. Or maybe you want to dedicate a whole room to it so that you'll have lots of vegetables and fish to sell for a profit! Remember that all the foods grown in an aquaponics system are organic, as no additives are used. And, as you know, organic foods are of better quality and fetch higher prices than non-organic food. In fact, many are turning this hobby into a source of income.

Once you understand the concepts of aquaponics, you'll realize that the set-up required is actually very basic, and it can be easily constructed using materials from around your house or purchased cheaply at any local hardware store. All you need are some core instructions and a few diagrams to get you started.

Learn more about aquaponics, and how to build your own system in Aquaponics 4 You 

Stages of Preparedness

The stages of preparedness: How much do I need?

While for many the ultimate goal of prepping is an indefinite self sustained lifestyle, not everyone has the need, time, or resources for a forever prep. Sometimes the goal is much smaller.

By breaking down preps in to smaller stages we can build up to a level of comfort while still covering all bases. Each Stage is a time frame goal, designed to cover all needed supplies for that time period. 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, Etc.

Your desired stage will be determined by the situation you are preparing for. Choosing a smaller goal and working up will help keep you from getting discouraged. It will also show your preps strengths and weaknesses. You may have a years worth of food storred away, but come to realize you only have enough water for one month.

When it comes to prepping, it's not a one time expenditure. It's an ongoing process. Or as I like to call it, a Perpetual Prep.

1 Day:
This is the most basic level of prep. It means you have an extra, an extra box of pasta, and extra bottle of oil, an extra flashlight, an extra of anything. For some things an extra is one days worth, and for some things it is not, but it is a start.

3 Days:
Most news stations broadcast before a major storm and warn residents to maintain a 3 day supply of necessities. This is where most will start, calculating how much of each staple you use per day per person and storing 3 days worth.

1 Week, 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months, and 1 Year:
You can set any timeframe as a goal. Calculating the ammounts needed for each time period and storing accordingly. These can be end goals, or they can be milestones, when you reach 1 month worth, you raise the goal to 3 months, and so on.

If your stuck as to where to start, start with an extra and work up from there.
It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Start today!

3 Day Water Supply

Water storage basics: The 3 day supply.

At the beginners level it is recommended that you should store 3 days worth of water per person, for each member of your household. This water will be used for drinking, food preparation, and sanitary needs, in the event there is no more running water. 3 to 4 gallons per person is a typical suggestion of a per person per day water requirement.

How and where to store the water can vary, but the important thing is to get started. If you drink bottled water like most American's it's simply a matter of buying and storing an extra case here and there to build up your supply.

One 24 pack of .5 liter bottles of water is the equivalent of 3.17 gallons. Therefore one case is a 3 day supply for one person. You should have at least one case per person stored away in case of emergency.

If you prefer you can buy and store the larger 2.5 gallon water jugs with the spout for dispensing. These jugs store well and usually come out cheaper per gallon than bottled. Again buying an extra jug whenever your at the store as an easy way to build up your stockpile.

Storing water for larger families or for emergencies lasting longer than 3 days will take up some considerable space, and may required dedicated storage methods than can raise the initial costs. Large storage drums, barrels, or cisterns may be a better long term option.

If you are stuck as to where to start I recommend starting with cases of water bottles, and growing you plan from there, the main thing is that you start, and once yo do you can change the method later. It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Start today!

Food Dehydration

Food Dehydration

Dried fruits and vegetables, jerky, fruit or vegetable leather, dried spices, dried herbs, and even dried flowers. Dehydrating has been a process used for hundreds of years. Today there are Modern Electric Dehydrators, back before the dawn of electricity man used various non electric methods to dry their harvests, from hanging food over a fire, to basking food in the hot sun on a breezy day. All these methods are available to us today.

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration is simply a process for removing the majority of water from a food or flower so that bacteria, yeast and mold can not survive, while leaving behind the enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Since the temperatures required to dry food in this manner does not reach very high, dried foods are still considered healthy raw foods. Water is removed, intense flavor is left behind.

What can be dehydrated?

Dehydration can be used year round to make use of your seasonal harvests. Dehydrate your extra vegetables and fruit, make jerky from that deer you bagged this season, dehydrate pineapples and strawberries in the Summer so you can have them all Winter long. The possibilities are endless.

What do you dehydrate? Comment below and let us know!

How hard is it to dehydrate?

Dehydration is one of the fastest and easiest methods of long term food storage. When compared to Canning; Having to wash and sterilize the jars, lids, and utensils, boil water, prepare the food and undergo the canning process itself. Dehydrating food is a fairly quick and easy process.

1. Slice fresh foods in to appropriate sized pieces
2. Blanch if necessary
3. Arrange on tray
4. Set the machine or set out in the sun
5. Wait

How well does dehydrated food store?

Dehydration removes the water and with the water goes much of the weight of the food. Dehydrated foods take up less space and if stored properly can be kept for years; Making dehydration a simple and inexpensive way to preserve food at home.

How do you reconstitute dehydrated foods?

Reconstitution of dehydrated food is easy as well. There are four basic methods.

1. Boil: add fruit or veggies to boiling water and simmer till plump
2. Cook: add approximately 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of dried fruit or vegetable
3. Soak: place dried food in a pan with water and allow to soak for 1 - 2 hours
4. Steam: place dehydrated food in the steamer basket, the dry food will plump as it absorbs the water from the steam

Want to learn more about Dehydration?

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The Chainsaw

The Chainsaw

If you live in an area with trees, you need a Chainsaw. It happens year round, high winds, heavy snow, and drenching rain. No matter the cause, a downed tree or it's limbs can cause a lot of damage. They fall on sheds, fences, homes, power lines, and vehicles. They block roads, and clog up streams.

Are you prepared for storm damage?

Make sure you are prepared for storm damage by having and knowing how to safely use a chainsaw.   Having a tool to quickly deal with problem trees can prove very useful and time saving. 

Clearing problem trees can be back breaking work, but there is a bright side, firewood. Even better, with some forethought and a little effort you might even be able to prevent tree problems from the start. By maintaining your property you can reduce the probability of weak or sick trees from coming down in a storm. 

Once you are confident in your chainsaw skills, you can even turn a buck, or quickly build your firewood pile, by helping neighbors take care of their fallen trees after a storm.

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