Articles by Lisa Metheny
The image of a Dutch oven is often associated with camping trips or even chuck wagon cattle drives from days gone by, but the truth is Dutch ovens are still being used by many folks today. In a nutshell, the Dutch oven is a timeless alternative for cooking delicious homemade meals without using electricity and is a perfect tool for the home prepper.
The old saying “we’ve come a long way baby” rings loud and clear for many women who actively participate in shooting, hunting, fishing and other traditionally male-dominated activities. In the last decade, we have seen more and more of these types of activities dusting off the welcome mat for women. We also have seen more manufacturers that once only catered to men now engineering and designing more female-friendly gear. Why? Because companies have learned women are like men in many ways and are eager to spend money on their hobbies and favorite pastimes.
One thing for sure, bandanas are here to stay. Why? Because they are cheap, lightweight, easy to find and are useful in many applications. This list is just scraping the surface of possible uses for a bandana.
It is important to point out a compass is only as good as the person using it. Translation, if you do not know how to accurately use a compass you could be wandering around for a very long time. You need to ask yourself a few questions before buying a basic compass. Is it made with anti-fog materials? Is it easy to read with the naked eye? Does it offer a sight window? Does it float? Does it have a lanyard?
Let’s say you are tent camping in the pouring rain, and you are soaked to the skin. Your commonsense tells you to make a fire quickly, but every available stick and kindling you find is equally soaked. What would you do? Not a fun situation to find yourself in, especially if the temperature begins to fall. If you are not careful hypothermia can set in quickly, so it goes without saying, making a fire as fast as possible is vital to your well being.
Prepping does not have to be the extreme measures. But you do need to be stockpiling some of the basics just in case something happens, even if it happens on the other side of the country. For me, the term prepping does not conjure up fear; it does not mean I am crazy. In fact, prepping does just the opposite as it gives me a piece of mind knowing I have done my best to prepare for the unexpected.
All of the material needed to make these do-it-yourself fire starters can usually be found for FREE. We all like free and easy do-it-yourself projects and this one really comes in handy. Lightweight and easy to carry, long-burning fire starters are perfect for backpacking, camping or home use.
Movies such as Hunger Games proved to not only be entertaining, it was a bold reminder we need to start thinking about our daily must-haves for survival such as food and water. Also, what we might have to go through if those items do become scarce.
In the movie, one of main characters favorite pieces of equipment was a bow and arrow. If you are unfamiliar with archery equipment—or tackle as it is sometimes called—here is a quick overview of archery equipment.
Floods are one of the most costly of all natural disasters. In the last 10 years, flooding cost the U.S. more than $2.9 million dollars in damage. Of all presidential-declared U.S. natural disasters, 90% involved flooding. It can and has happened in all 50 states. Flooding can happen in a matter of minutes as is the case with flash flooding. Or you may have several days of advance warning of a threat from a flood, such as the type caused by spring thaws. Although you may live in a low-risk area, emergency preparedness officials want you to remember this, if it rains where you live, even a minimal amount each year, than it has the potential to flood.
Sit down and ask yourself some important questions. What is my first priority? Should I
make a shelter or should I start a fire first? What do I need to do to survive tonight? How
far is help? Can I maneuver this terrain after dark?