Free Prepper Ebooks Feb 3, 2015

There are some great free ebooks currently available on Amazon. Be sure to check your cart before you check out, if the free offer has expired and you get charged it's not my responsibility!

To read these you'll need either the free Kindle Reading App or one of these Kindle Readers.

The 1894 Frontier Doctor's Medical Handbook

I guess the free offer for Book 1 ended yesterday and it is back at it's regular price of $2.99.  Still not a bad deal for a very interesting book, in my opinion.


While browsing titles related to prepping on Amazon I found the 1894 Frontier Doctor's Medical Handbook: Book 1: Home Remedies, General Health and Wellnessavailable for FREE in the Kindle Edition. Also available is 1894 FRONTIER DOCTOR'S MEDICAL HANDBOOK: Book 2: How to Gather and Prepare Medicinal Herbs and Barks, Poultices, and Select Emergency Measures (1894 FRONTIER DOCTOR'S HANDBOOK) for $2.99, which seems like a pretty good deal.

Whether or not you buy Book 2, you should click on the link for Book 1 and get it while it's free!

 Standard Disclaimer: Any Ebooks listed as free were being offered by Amazon as free at the time of posting. Check to be sure they are still free before you click and "purchase". If the free period is over and you click on it anyway I am not responsible! 

Free Kindle Ebooks

Amazon is offering the following Ebooks for free in the Kindle Edition at the time of this posting.  

Be sure to check your cart at checkout to make sure the free offer hasn't expired and that you are not being charged. If you do not check and are charged for the Ebook it's NOT my responsibility!

I bet those one pot meals will cook up great in my Power Pressure Cooker!

Free Canning and Preserving Ebook

Amazon is offering the following Ebooks for free in the Kindle Edition at the time of this posting.  

Be sure to check your cart at checkout to make sure the free offer hasn't expired and that you are not being charged.

Some Random Thoughts

During a recent conversation with a prepper a couple comments were made that has me thinking about a few things.

The first one was when I was asked if I belonged to any prepper groups. I don't. I think there are good and bad to belonging to groups. Good aspects are the networking and sharing of knowledge. Bad aspects are the fact that I believe any prepper group probably has someone from at least one of the Alphabet Agencies taking notes of who is there and who says what. Not to mention, a bad apple in the groups could be keeping notes of who has what in the event they need to obtain items in a pinch.

Another comment was made about wanting to "be invisible".  I really do not believe that's possible in this day and age. I know folks who work at various departments and agencies, and from comments I've heard I think we don't grasp just how much surveillance really goes on. I'm sure I don't. I think the best think a person can do is try to keep a low profile and not draw attention to themselves. Like by writing a blog.  LOL  I figure I'm already known so adding a small blog isn't going to hurt anything.

In the coming days I'm going to try and expand on some of my thinking and why I feel in certain situations certain things will be good and in other situations they won't.  So stay tuned.

Everyone Should Have This Soap

A recent line in an article caught my attention.  It said, "If you could only have one soap, what would it be?" That was an easy one for me.

Ivory soap can be used for just about anything.  Your hair & body, dishes and laundry.  

Using Ivory to bathe should be pretty self explanatory.  

To use it on dishes you can do it several different ways, I'm going to mention the 2 easiest here (we are talking about prepping after all). 

#1 is to simply toss the bar in the sink or wash pan as you're adding the hot water.  Let it set for a bit to allow the soap to melt a little bit, then slosh it around a bit to circulate.  Wash the dishes with a rag and rinse.

#2 Grate a small amount of soap into sink or wash pan before adding water.  Add water and allow to sit for a bit to melt.  Add dishes and wash.

For laundry it is similar.  First wet any heavily soiled areas and rub the bar directly on the soiled area. Add about 1 tablespoon grated soap (the finer the grate the better) to a washing machine, run hot water for about 6 inches and stop the filling to allow soap to melt. After allowing about 10 minutes (all soap may not be melted) resume adding water if you are washing in hot or warm water.  Wait until soap is melted if you are going to use cold water the rest of the way.  

If you are hand washing the process is similar.  Wet and treat any soiled areas with the bar.  Add a small amount of grated soap (you'll have to allow for the size of your washtub as to decide how much, but I would not go over a tablespoon) to your washtub and add water.  The hotter the better, if you need to add hot water and let it melt the soap and cool before adding clothes. Agitate clothes and when clean, rinse well!

There you have it, why I think Ivory Soap should be the choice if you could only have one soap.

I have a few more thoughts I'm going to be posting soon, please follow my blog to get notices when it's updated.  It will only be one or two items a week so you won't be inundated with items.  Thank you.

Why I'm a "Simple Prepper"

You've probably seen (or heard of) the Discovery Channel series "Doomsday Preppers."  Like any other "reality" show, they focus on the most extreme people they can find.  Personally I think those folks are wasting their time and money. Maybe someday, if the mood hits, I'll write posts about why I think they're misguided and why I think they give the idea of being prepared for a disaster a bad name.

Enough of that.

I grew up and spent most of the first 50 years of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area.  AKA "Earthquake Country." I lived around 1/4 of a mile from the Hayward Fault for a long period of time. As far back as I remember, FEMA and the CA Dept of Emergency Services have recommended having 3 days worth of food & water on hand.  I was blessed to have been in a home where food was always available. I really can't remember a time when we didn't have food in the house.  In an emergency situation it may not have been exactly what we wanted, but I am sure between the freezer, pantry and cupboards we probably could have gotten by for a couple weeks, maybe longer. A habit I carried over when I had my own place. Back then no one stored water.  I don't even know if you could buy drinking water back then, the only water I recall being sold in stores was distilled water.

Back in those pre-internet days news was disseminated via the TV and Newspapers.  TV for the headlines, newspapers for the in-depth stuff. Mainly the Sunday paper. I was a voracious reader of the papers back then, often reading two or three a day.

I recall reading a newspaper article (which paper I've forgotten) after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. It stated that in the event of a major earthquake, the water supply to the area could be destroyed.  The article stated that in that type of event, it would take 6 months to restore limited service to the area and two years to restore full service. That was probably the beginning of my "prepping", although I don't think that was a word back then.  :-)

My plan then, and now, is in the event of a localized disaster is to have enough on hand to last a few months. Somewhere within that time frame I am sure will be the opportunity to leave the area and drive to a friend or relative outside of the disaster zone.  And I have them all over the country.  :-)

What is the essence of "simple prepping"? Simple  ;-)

• Keep the tank on the van full of gas.
• Have an emergency supply of meds for my folks.
• Have a few months of food & water on hand.
• Keep a reasonable amount of cash on hand.
• A reasonable amount of personal hygiene items on hand
• Same for cooking items and such.

Some of these items are subjective and I will go into more detail in future posts.

You don't have to be a "Doomsday Prepper" to be ready for an extended emergency!

Awesome Survival Hacks

While cruising around I found a post about Survival Hacks.  It linked to a video and I seldom watch videos online, and even fewer are the times I'll click on a link to one.  (If I'm going to watch a video on this thing it better be something I really want to learn, or music I really want to hear).  SO I did a search for "survivial hacks" and found this one, which features 37 "hacks".

I hope you like it, I did.

He's BTDT (Been There, Done That)

In a recent article on the Natural News website  a Bosnian tells about his experiences and gives some tips on what items to have.  It is definitely worth the read as there is some good advice given.

Happy Easter

The Top 9 Hydrating Fruits

A neat infographic from Visual.ly

Top 9 hydrating fruits infographic

Don't Forget the Tactical Peeps! ;-)

As Easter approaches, I felt it would be a good idea to remind fellow Preppers to get some "Tactical Peeps".  ;-)

via TacticalGear

Yes, we have no Bananas....

That was a line from a depression era song. Fortunately that's not a problem today!  Over on The Ready Store Blog, they have a post about "10 Helpful Uses For Bananas". They also put their freeze dried bananas on the "Daily Deal" at 20% off! Check it out and order a can of banana slices for munching on while you surf the 'net!  :-)

Five Dollar Friday

I've missed the last 2 Fridays because I have been so busy I didn't stop and look to see what could be had for a "Prepper Stash" on the cheap.  Today I'm going to report on one product and tell you about another.

A while back I bought a 4-pack of toilet paper at The Dollar Tree for...you guessed it... $1! I finally got around to putting it in the bathroom for usage to see what I thought.  Normally we buy Charmin Ultra-Strong.  That seems to be the best, at least in this household's opinion.  The Dollar Tree paper was noticeably stiff and thinner.  Still it did it's job.  The roll is smaller then the Charmin roll.  Quite frankly, by catching the Charmin on sale I think the cost is equivalent or pretty close.  So the Charmin will remain the choice for the stash.

Both Walgreen's and CVS have had AIM Tarter Control toothpaste for $1.  I tried a tube of that and it seems fine.  My normal brand is Aqua-Fresh, and I will probably stick with that but stock the Aim brand for the stash.

On a final note, The Ready Store has Bega Canned Processed Cheese on special today only.  This is similar to Velveeta in texture and spreadability with a mild cheddar taste. A case or two is a good addition to any stash!

What Are You Prepping For?

In a post I wote on my "Random Thoughts" blog, I asked "What is a Prepper?"  Now I'm going to ask, What are YOU prepping for? Natural disaster? Socio-economic collapse? The end of the world as we know it?

My prepping started when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.  As you may have heard, that is considered "earthquake country".  As with most places in the country, FEMA, State and Local Emergency Management Agencies all recommended a 3 day supply of food and water be kept in case of a large earthquake.  Every time there was a major earthquake somewhere in the world, and definitely during "Earthquake Preparedness Month", the newspapers would roll out the stories of what could happen to the infrastructure.

In an article that was before the computer age, I recall reading that should a major earthquake collapse the water delivery system for the Bay Area, it would take 6 months to get minimal water service restored and 2 years to restore full water service.  While stockpiling a 6 month supply was unrealistic, it sure showed a 3 day supply was woefully inadequate.

Other articles about the possibility of freeway overpass collapses (and recalling the collapse of the Cypress Structure during the Loma Preita Earthquake) pointed out that a decent food storage supply would also be a good idea. If the freeways are wrecked, food supplies to stores will be impacted, right?

Some items are problematic. Storing gasoline for example. I know there are ways to do it, I just don't have the place for it right now.

Now I live east of Sacramento, still in the Sacramento Valley, so an earthquake is less of a concern.  But I am still prepping, given the current state of events I think that is a wise thing to do.

Coming up I plan to blog about things I've done to prep, things I do or am in the process of doing, and things I am thinking of doing.

So please consider following this blog by signing up for the RSS feed.  I also invite your comments, suggestions and opinions.

Thanks!

Storing Coffee and Other Tidbits

I have been thinking a lot about coffee storage lately. How is the best way to do it? Vacuum sealed ground coffee? Whole green coffee beans, vacummed sealed and roasted as needed? Instant coffee?

Surfing around the internet, I found this thread on the subject.  We drink about 2 to 3 pots of coffee a day, which translates into about 3 - 2# cans a month. What we used to call a 2 pound can now has 29 ounces, but I still refer to it as a 2 pound can.  Just as I still call a 750ml bottle of liquor a pint while it actually only has 12 ounces.  But I digress.

From the thread it appears both instant and regular ground coffee, kept in a cool place in their sealed containers, is the way to go.  I'm going to start setting aside some of both, hopefully never to be needed but there if they are.

I found this on Amazon, it works out to $6.50 per pound which is a very good price.  With 2 cans you get free shipping, so I'm going to be ordering a couple very soon!



Over on The Ready Store Blog today, there is a post with some good basic info about how to navigate using the Stars, Sun or the Moon.

Magpul, the maker of one of the most popular AR-15 magazines, the PMAG, along with other AR-15 accessories has posted an open letter to their customers and Colorado lawmakers. Full story here, via Guns Save Lives.

Ever thought of Chickens?

If you've got chickens, or have been thinking about raising chickens, The Ready Store has a couple of blog posts you might find interesting.

First up is "The 10 Mistakes of Raising Chickens", a post with some good general info.  Also they have "How To Make Your Own Chicken Coop", complete with printable instructions.

On a somewhat related note, they even have a post on "How Much Land Do You Need To Live For A Year?"

Check them out, you may find something interesting! :-)

Shaving After The Zombie Apocalypse

Sundries are items that are often overlooked in prepper articles I've read. While shaving may not be a requirement, looking clean and good can make one feel better. One thing preppers are always looking at are space needed. To set aside a bunch of space for disposable razors just doesn't fit my idea of good use.

Time to go "old school."

 Not as in a straight razor, but as in a double edge razor like our daddies used.




I've been using a double edge razor for a couple years now.  I started with one, then switched to various disposables for the next 30+ years. It took a little bit to get used to using a double edged razor again, but it came back quickly. One of the good things was price.  The best price I could find for my 3-blade disposables was about $1.25 each.  Since I'd use 1 a week, that was about $65 a year.  I paid $67 for my razor and 105 assorted blades.  It also came with 5 blades, so I had 110 to try out. I use a blade a week, more or less, so that was a razor and 2 year supply of blades for the cost of 1 year's worth of disposables. Now it's just buying blades so a 2 year supply of blades will cost from $9 to $23 depending on brand.  The good thing is a spare razor and a 2 year supply of blades uses about the same space as 2 - 8 packs of the disposables.




All of the blades above are stainless steel. The Derby blades are the lowest priced, and are of OK quality.  The Shark blades are better quality and are one of my favorites.  The Wilkinson Sword blades are probably the best quality.

What about Shaving Creme?  I've also went "Old School" here, going back to shaving soap and a brush.  Frankly, I like it better then the stuff that came out of the can.  I bought an inexpensive set to start:


This set came with a bowl, brush and soap for $10.  It all fits in a small (maybe 3"X6") box that doesn't take a lot of room in your storage box.  Replacement soaps are $18 for a dozen.

Each bar lasts me about 3 months. Since I used to by shaving gel at $3 a can that would last 4 - 6 weeks, the soap is much less expensive.  Why am I pointing out the cost saving?  The more you save on shaving gear, the more you can use for other prepper items.

Storage: 
To store a razor and blades put them in a zip lock baggie with an oxygen absorber and a silica packet (for moisture). Squeeze as much air out as possible, zip it closed and place it in another bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible, close and tape seal the outer bag.

The soap bars come in a plastic tub which seems to seal pretty well.  These are designed so the soap doesn't dry out while in the store so I'm not sure how well they'd do for long term storage.  I take the soap while still in the box, give it about 3 wraps of plastic wrap in one direction, turn it and give it another 3 in that direction.  Tape seal.

Final Notes:
I have dry, sensitive skin. I have to be careful what products I use.  The above products have given me no problems.  Also, the graphics above are links to the product page on Amazon.com.  If you decide to purchase these as a result of this post I'd appreciate to using those links. Thank you.

Five Dollar Friday

Today is going to be the first in what I hope is a continuing series of Friday posts about things you can get for your prepping that are inexpensive.  I call it "Five Dollar Friday" because I usually limit myself to 5 or 10 dollars a week on these types of items.  I have to limit myself or I'd spend a bunch and forget about some of the higher dollar items I'm saving towards!

Anyway, for today I found a 6oz can of chicken and one of turkey at Dollar Tree.  I also picked up a box of red beans and rice and a 7oz packet of their "Breakfast Blend" coffee.  After trying the coffee, it gets a thumbs down. A final item, which will actually push the total to $7, was found at Walgreens.  It was a packet of 6 - 0.11oz tubes of super glue for $3.  Super Glue is something that should be in every preppers bags, along with duct tape.  :-)

There you have it, this weeks Five Dollar Friday finds.