16 Things to Stockpile with High Barter Value

Every good survivalist has a stockpile of things he or she recognizes their family may need to survive a natural or man-made disaster. However, many people forget the value of maintaining a barter store as well.
If things hit the fan, particularly in an economic collapse where the dollar is nearly worthless, a number of non-monetary goods will be more valuable than a fistful of dollar bills.
It’s also important to recognize that we can’t possibly store enough of every item to account for every scenario for an indefinite period of time. However, what we can do is have some items on hand to barter with neighbors to plug gaps in our preparations.
Imagine a neighbor with a large garden and some chickens trading a half dozen eggs and some squash for a box of ammo, or a small bottle of Vodka.
Consider stocking up on the following items, even if you have no plans to use them yourself, for their potential barter value.

25 Must know Skills for Surviving a Crisis

Many people nowadays are quite aware that the world they live in is going to the toilet. Aside from the geophysical part that “seems” to be going haywire and could be nothing other than the planet’s cycles, there are plenty of manmade catastrophes that loom on the horizon. Never has the planet had as many people as now and the more people there are the more competition there is for resources. More countries seek nuclear devices than ever before and with advancements in technology this is a much easier process than anytime before. Biological and chemical weapons are also much easier to manufacture because of leaps of technology in regards to computers. Oil markets are much tighter because of the countries of China and India and their increasing need of energy to fuel their booming economies, and new finds of oil fields cannot keep up with the demand. The debacle of the world economies needs no introduction. In short, bad times, really bad times could and probably be coming to a neighborhood near you. Unless you and your family take quite seriously this possibility, if and when something extremely horrible happens, you could very well end up one of the large number of statistics.
Many survival sites have informative and excellent advice on survival that can help you make it through a limited amount of time when everyday life is totally disrupted. However, what exactly does a person do IF the society that almost all of us have become way too dependent on, fails to recover for an extended period of time, if ever again? What IF civilization implodes and only begins to recuperate after centuries have gone by? If you watch some of the ideas people have on survival being interviewed on television, you have to wonder what exactly these people are thinking. The people that have prepared for problems with the world are woefully ready for any disaster lasting for more than a few days at best. One lady thought having a flashlight was being prepared. Even those that have invested in years worth of food and supplies, there are some basic survival skills that need to be learned and understood to better increase one’s chance of making it through a possible long-term survival situation.
The following are 25 suggestions on those survival skills that will likely be needed after a nightmare has hit human civilization with a vengeance. Each of these 25 skills can fill an entire article on learning and teaching of it. So only a brief overlay of each of these will be discussed to avoid pages long descriptions. Further information can be obtained through many survival books and the many articles on each subject. Situations and personal handling of SHTF situations will differ widely, but the foundation will likely be there for almost everyone. The main objective is to get people into learning and practicing these survival skills so when something cataclysmic does happen, they can better deal with and make it through intense human tragedy.

20 Signs That A Global Crisis is Coming!

#1 According to the World Bank, 44 million people around the globe have been pushed into extreme poverty since last June because of rising food prices.
#2 The world is losing topsoil at an astounding rate.  In fact, according to Lester Brown, “one third of the world’s cropland is losing topsoil faster than new soil is forming through natural processes”.
#3 Due to U.S. ethanol subsidies, almost a third of all corn grown in the United States is now used for fuel.  This is putting a lot of stress on the price of corn.
#4 Due to a lack of water, some countries in the Middle East find themselves forced to almost totally rely on other nations for basic food staples.  For example, it is being projected that there will be no more wheat production in Saudi Arabia by the year 2012.
#5 Water tables all over the globe are being depleted at an alarming rate due to “overpumping”.  According to the World Bank, there are 130 million people in China and 175 million people in India that are being fed with grain with water that is being pumped out of aquifers faster than it can be replaced.  So what happens once all of that water is gone?
#6 In the United States, the systematic depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer could eventually turn “America’s Breadbasket” back into the “Dust Bowl”.
#7 Diseases such as UG99 wheat rust are wiping out increasingly large segments of the world food supply.
#8 The tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis in Japan have rendered vast agricultural areas in that nation unusable.  In fact, there are many that believe that eventually a significant portion of northern Japan will be considered to be uninhabitable.  Not only that, many are now convinced that the Japanese economy, the third largest economy in the world, is likely to totally collapse as a result of all this.
#9 The price of oil may be the biggest factor on this list.  The way that we produce our food is very heavily dependent on oil.  The way that we transport our food is very heavily dependent on oil.  When you have skyrocketing oil prices, our entire food production system becomes much more expensive.  If the price of oil continues to stay high, we are going to see much higher food prices and some forms of food production will no longer make economic sense at all.
#10 At some point the world could experience a very serious fertilizer shortage.  According to scientists with the Global Phosphorus Research Initiative, the world is not going to have enough phosphorous to meet agricultural demand in just 30 to 40 years.
#11 Food inflation is already devastating many economies around the globe.  For example, India is dealing with an annual food inflation rate of 18 percent.
#12 According to the United Nations, the global price of food reached a new all-time high in February.
#13 According to the World Bank, the global price of food has risen 36% over the past 12 months.
#14 The commodity price of wheat has approximately doubled since last summer.
#15 The commodity price of corn has also about doubled since last summer.
#16 The commodity price of soybeans is up about 50% since last June.
#17 The commodity price of orange juice has doubled since 2009.
#18 There are about 3 billion people around the globe that live on the equivalent of 2 dollars a day or less and the world was already on the verge of economic disaster before this year even began.
#19 2011 has already been one of the craziest years since World War 2.  Revolutions have swept across the Middle East, the United States has gotten involved in the civil war in Libya, Europe is on the verge of a financial meltdown and the U.S. dollar is dying.  None of this is good news for global food production.
#20 There have been persistent rumors of shortages at some of the biggest suppliers of emergency food in the United States.  The following is an excerpt from a recent “special alert” posted on Raiders News Network….

Food Preservation

Many people are active today in food preservation. Some people store for prepping and emergency food storage before a disaster. Others are saving the harvest from their gardens or after finding great deals at the local farmers’ market. Others save and save and save….but later get disappointment after finding the food has spoiled.

Guide to Composting

I have learned so much from this survival blog and I wanted to give back. So I thought long and hard about what I could contribute. Having read the posts on garden woes for the past few weeks, I thought it might be good to write about composting. I have been compost gardening for a couple of years now, and the difference is marked—increased production, and fewer disease and pest problems.
Why compost? First and foremost, it’s a good idea to improve your soil before a SHTF scenario, and composing is the best and cheapest way to improve your soil. After things go south, we may not have ready access to composting ingredients. Second, post-SHTF there will be little access to fertilizers and pesticides. So, it’s best to learn to garden naturally.

Survival Gardening

Times being what they are we’re all trying to save a little money. Here’s some tips on how to stretch that dollar even further with a home garden. Start planning now for next years growing season.

Choosing what to plant.

Make a list of the foods you eat regularly at their basic ingredients level. You have probably already done this so this part should be pretty easy. For example our family likes to have spaghetti at least twice a month. So this would be tomatoes, basil, savory, garlic, onions, peppers, etc. You can leave off things you know you can’t or don’t have room to grow such as a cow for beef or semolina wheat for pasta. Then cross out items that won’t grow in your area.
The remaining items are your working list. Next, and you may already have this data handy from your thrifty grocery shopping, find out what each of the remaining items cost, and how much of these you buy. I use tomatoes in tons of dishes, and I know it takes about a pound to two pounds of tomatoes depending on the variety to make marinara sauce for two. Tomatoes are x per pound, and I need y pounds per month. X times y is how much I would spend if I bought just the tomatoes.

Health Benefits of Different Herbs and Spices

This is a list of some of the Spices that you may be storing or decide to store for teotwawki after reading some of their benefits.
A - All Spice can help to aid in digestion and relieve any discomfort that is associated with indigestion. Who doesn’t need that when you have all those beans to eat? All Spice can also help calm the nervous system, which can help with anxiety and stress.
B - Basil, an excellent source of calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and also small amounts of magnesium, manganese, and Vitamin A. Basil can help calm your nervous system, and aid in digestion.
C - Cinnamon is highly antiseptic meaning that it can be used for a very effective mouthwash, or it can be very useful as a flu or cold remedy. Cinnamon can also relieve a toothache, help with nausea and vomiting, and can help regulate blood sugar levels in people with type2 diabetes.
Cumin is an excellent source of iron. It can be used to treat pneumonia and coughs, and can reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
D - Dill is a great source of calcium, iron and magnesium. It helps with strong bones and teeth. Dill can also be used for an antiseptic and for treating wounds.
F - Fennel is mostly used to settle the stomach and digestive system. They can increase the flow of breast milk, and can suppress hunger!
G - Ginger can relieve nausea, poor circulation, and is a strong anit-inflammatory. It also stimulates the liver along with eliminating waste and harmful toxins. Ginger can ease a tooth ache, lower high blood pressure, and can help prevent some forms of cancer. I am well stocked up on ginger.
N - Nutmeg can help stimulate the appetite. This could come in handy for you and your group if people are getting food fatigue.
O - Oregano is a great source of Vitamins A, K, and C. Along with being a great source of calcium, iron, and manganese. Oregano can relieve migraines, aid insomnia, and increase appetite.
P- Paprika comes from Red Peppers. It provides Vitamins A, C, E, and K. These vitamins help with the health of your veins and capillaries. It’s also a good source of iron, potassium, along with containing levels of magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. Besides helping with your veins and capillaries, paprika also is known to help with lethargy, depression, energizer, and an excellent stimulant! Paprika like most of your food preps should be stored in a cool dark place for longer shelf life.
Parsley – Parsley is full of vitamins. It has vitamins A, several B vitamins, Vitamin K, and has more vitamin C than most citrus fruit. Parsley can boost the immune system, and can also be helpful with preventing or easing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. Parsley can also help freshen your breath after eating some garlic or onions. It helps clean and strengthen Kidneys, and it can help prevent bladder or urinary infections! Helps strengthen bones and teeth, reduce joint pain, and help protect the body from heart and cardiovascular disease. Parsley can be grown year round!
R - Rosemary is said to have the ability to enhance to memory, stimulate the brain, and improve concentration. Rosemary is a good source for manganese, calcium, Vitamin C, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Potassium, and Copper. Rosemary can relieve phlegm from the chest, help with lethargy, exhaustion, and help treat dandruff when applied to the scalp.
S - Saffron is useful in treating stomach and gastrointestinal disorders. Saffron promotes sweating and perspiration which can help relieve high fevers. It can be taken to combat cancer, and slow down the growth of tumors.
T - Turmeric has significant anti-inflammatory qualities that rival some of the top drugs that we currently have. Turmeric can also lower the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood. It can be used to treat inflammatory bowl disease (IBD), help with colic, and treat stomach disorders such as gastritis.
Thyme can be used for respiratory infections. Boil thyme in water breath in the steam, and then let it cool and gargle with it a couple of times a day
V - Vanilla can increase levels of catecholamine which includes adrenaline. You may need a couple drops of this in your tea or coffee to keep you awake.
W - Winter Green can be used in place of aspirin. For example 30 ml or 1fl oz is equivalent to about 171 adult aspirin.
These are just some spices that you may want to consider storing based on what they can do. Please, do not substitute any of these spices for any of the medication that your doctor has prescribed. I know that we are all stocking up on vitamins, pain relievers, and medicines.
But what will you use when they run out? Spices don’t just help make bland food more edible, they can help with some of our other health issues if we get to teotwawki. I would love the wolfpacks input on what spices they store and why. Is it just for your food to taste better? Or is it because you see some health benefits?

Medical Kits

The purpose of this post is to initiate a dialogue about medical kits. I am researching what I should include in such a kit. Based on the research I have done, here’s a list of essential items along with a brief description of their purpose.
Our lives may depend on how thoughtfully we stock our medical kits. Please read through the list I’ve made and help me brainstorm for a more complete list.
The basic approach I’ve taken heeds Patriot Nurse’s statement that the three primary causes of preventable death in a SHTF scenario will be improper would care, upper respiratory infection and diarrhea. Note that in a SHFT scenario we may not have access to running water. It is clear that the hygienic conditions of our ordinary, everyday lies will degrade quickly. In this environment, diseases such as Chorea will be problematic.
The following list assumes you have already stocked basic hygiene items such as soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, etc. When personalizing a list for you and your family, add necessary prescription medications.

Home Births

Our society today views childbirth as a sickness that can only be managed by “professionals” in the hospital. Babies that might come out blue and unresponsive, possible hemorrhaging, and babies that get stuck in the birth canal are all things that deter families from having births at home.
These are real issues and should not be ignored, but they make up only a small percentage of birth outcomes. The vast majority of women in the world can and do give birth safely at home. As fellow survivalists, we understand that the government and media either hide statistics or distort them.
The fact is that the U.S. is ranked 24th in infant mortality following such countries as Cuba, Portugal, and Singapore. When one looks at the countries with the lowest mortality rates, at least 70% of the births are attended by midwives. At the turn of the 20th century, that same statistic was true for our country.
Now home births account for less than 3% of all births. In fact, in some of our major cities, nearly 50% of births are performed by a major surgical procedure known as Caesarean. When one investigates the facts concerning the safety and reasons for home birth, it is not hard to see that it is a better way to birth.
Regardless of opinion and inclinations during normal and peaceful times, in a survival situation caused by economic collapse or natural disaster, childbirth will have to be dealt in possibly less than ideal conditions. I believe that in such a situation, midwives will be an invaluable and precious asset.

Urban Survival!

 
No mater how much I bitch and moan, some of you just don’t listen, letting my advice go in one ear out the other. I tell you to get out of the major population areas, but you refuse, thinking you will pack up your bug out bag and head for the hills moments before the first flames light the night and the mushroom cloud hovers overhead.     
Even if you are fortunate enough to have a retreat out in the country getting to your safe haven maybe impossible during upheaval. Roads blocked by wrecked and fuelless vehicles will stop most bugouters in their tracks. Maybe you were born lucky and can make it out safely before the balloon bursts, then what?     
People in rural areas, will start shooting if threatened by mobs of refugees fleeing the city. Don’t expect to be welcomed with arms outstretched. Most country folks don’t trust outsiders; you will likely be greeted with a load of buckshot and not the cup of fresh coffee and meaningful conversation you hoped for.     
After the cities are in ruins, criminal gangs will start to migrate to the country where they will continue their business of stealing and terrorizing in more fruitful territory. If you can stay hidden and survive the first weeks after a collapse you may at some point have the entire city pretty much to yourself. If you can’t or won’t get out NOW at least start making plans to survive where you are.

What You Need to Know About Homemade Cleaning Products!

My first prepping goal was to stock a year’s worth of everything we normally use that has a year plus shelf life. This took a few months but we were able to accomplish the goal. (We did allow for freezer storage for this interim goal, so we’re really more prepared to not have to buy groceries for a year than being REALLY prepared if things hit the fan.

One thing I noticed is that the storage takes up A LOT OF ROOM! We have a bedroom, a walk-in closet, an upstairs ‘landing area’ plus several other small areas for all of the storage. We want to downsize when we buy land soon, so I’ve been trying to figure out how streamline as much as possible.

Over the past several months I have also started getting more concerned about many of the chemicals we bring into our house, and decided to try some of the homemade green cleaners I’ve read about. After using a few of them I realized how much less storage space they take up. Most of the homemade cleaners utilize common ingredients, so you could theoretically make all of the cleaners you need from a pretty short list of storage items. I also realized that most of the ingredients are a lot cheaper than buying pre-made cleaners. There are a few items that require an up front investment (like essential oils) but the amount used in these is very small so they will last a very long time.They are also better for your family and the environment.

The Best Survival Tool is Knowledge

Preparedness has been debated and will be debated until the end of time is truly upon us. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to prepare. Preparedness can be broken down into physical preparedness and mental preparedness. How to physically prepare to survive is discussed in-depth by many and is a subject of great debate. However, mental preparedness is not nearly as popular as it tends to be more difficult.

Preparing Children for a Crisis

As many of us are working on our bug out location, stocking food and water, which we all know takes both time and money. You might be working on living off the grid, solar, wind and water which again is time-consuming and costly, securing guns in case martial law goes into effect, and it seems the list of things grow each time you think about what you will need. In our home, the food and water storage is the work of both of us, the off grid falls on my husband as well as working on securing our safety with guns, gas and wood. My job is securing the future of our grandchildren.

So much has been posted on the above, but I have not read much on the children who will be impacted the most in the worst case scenario. Our grandchildren range from the ages of entering the world in October 2012 to eleven and it is very important to me that life keeps some normalcy for them in changing times. Since nobody knows how long life will be effective, preparing for them is my top priority.
Preparing both our local bug out location and our second, where we will end up and hopefully live out the major portion of our time, takes planning. As some of our grandchildren are not of the age to walk far (a consideration that truly needs to be addressed by all) if the need arises, and ground needs to be covered to reach your location, have you considered how to move them if needed. A bike with a cart in tow is one option if you have the means to get them or build them.

80 Incredibly Healthy & Healing Herbs You Can (Legally) Grow at Home

Tired of the perpetual barrage of artificial chemicals and questionable side effects, many individuals have turned to ancient and completely natural solutions to quell their various ills. DIY types with a bit of space to spare – even a windowsill will do! – may want to take their pharmaceutical pursuits one step further and create for themselves a garden full of traditional herbs and plants. However, it is always a good idea to execute plenty of research before committing to whipping up remedies medicinal herbs. Obviously, not every climate stands as suitable for every botanical, so be sure to discuss which ones thrive best in a given region. Second, one must always consult with a physician and/or pharmacist before committing to any herbal treatment. They are not regulated by the FDA, so caution needs to be taken when it comes to allergies, negative reactions with certain medical conditions or toxicology. Never enter into such a pursuit blindly, though responsible care and use of a medicinal plant can certainly yield plenty of hearty and healthy rewards.

Don't Just Store, Be Prepared!

Many people are setting themselves up for failure, because they are storing items that they wont be able to prepare and eat. Say that you store 200 pounds of wheat and had to get it out and use it tonight, would you know what to do? A lot of people would have no idea how to even get started. You may know how to make bread, but you may not have stored all the ingredients to produce it. You may not have realized that you would need yeast, salt, honey, etc. Even if a person had all the necessary items to make bread, they still will be ill prepared, if they did not have a grinder to make the flour. A person, who stores rice, has to cook the rice in water, but have they stored water or do they have the resources to purify water found locally? What about seasoning, herbs, spices, soups, or other items to mix with the rice? A person can only eat so many bowls of unflavored rice!

Keep Yourself Healthy

The most valuable, priceless thing that a lot of preparers might over look is health. Without it, even the most highly skilled survivalist will falter. Most preparers will have enough food, water, and defenses to get them trough a disaster, but during a crisis, your health is most important. Disease will be widespread and doctors will be scarce.

Uses for Vinegar

    Vinegar is used for cleaning and other applications, since ancient Sumerian times. It is a very useful and affordable product. Vinegar is often used as an acidic agent in cooking, because it is food safe and very sour. What a lot of people don't know is that this natural green friendly product has seemingly endless uses around the house. You can find vinegar in the cleaning or baking aisles at the grocery store.
     Most of the cures call for white vinegar, unless otherwise specified. A few of the recipes may call for apple cider vinegar, mainly because it is easier to swallow. Both the white vinegar and apple cider vinegar will carry out the same goals. You should play around with the recipes, test things out, and see what works for you. With vinegar the possibilities are endless.

Making Insect Repellent

Protection from insects can be extremely difficult, especially in hot weather. A lot of people are allergic to mosquitoes. Mosquito’s bites will often make a sore; this is more often true for children. Mosquitoes can also carry diseases like West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Malaria and Yellow Fever.  Besides it is just not fun to be out with insects, if you don’t have the proper protection. Even if you are not going to be in the heat with insects, you should stay equipped with an insect repellent so you are prepared when you run into these irritating creatures.

     There are many formulas a person can use when making an insect repellent. Creating an insect relent entails diluting different essential oil that insects find unpleasant or which confuses them. Essential oils don’t mix with water, so they will need to be mixed with other oils or an alcohol that is safe for your skin. Essential oils are potent and could cause skin irritation or another reaction, so don’t use too much. If you are pregnant or nursing you should not apply any type of insect repellent, until you have gotten a doctors approval. 

Creative Cooking

     At times when conventional cooking is not an option, there are many ways of being able to cook food, depending on what’s for dinner, can foods come pre-cooked and can be eaten straight from the can, in a time of crisis. Depending on the area in which you live and the season it is, canned foods can be placed outside in the sun for a few hours, so you can be able to enjoy a warm meal. Certain foods such as legumes and grains need to be cooked in order to make indigestible components digestible.

"72-Hour Kit"

Throughout many types of disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc, individuals are frequently ordered to evacuate their residence quickly. They may have to live in an emergency shelter site, such as a public school. If you are a person that this may ever happen to, you may only have a short time to grab some of your belongings and go. And of course you would not have time to pick and chose the articles in which you would want or need to bring with you. So you should seriously consider, list the items that you find important in any emergency circumstances, and prepare a “72-hour Kit” for each family member that will include items specific to each persons needs. Put the kit in a place that is easily accessible.

A “72-hour Kit” is intended to include things that a person need in a time of a disaster, to survive for a three day period. It is most likely that a disaster will last longer that three days, but three days is about how long it will take for help to arrive. Each family member should have a “72-hour Kit” tailored to his or her own needs.

How to make Laundry Detergent

     Have you ever thought to yourself that buying laundry detergent is getting too expensive? Or are you an Eco- friendly person that always is always trying to find a new way to help the environment. Well then I advice you to make your own laundry detergent. It is a very simple process and you only need a few basic ingredients.  Not only is making your own detergent Eco-friendly it is cost efficient. 

How to Make a Water Filtration System

     There is no reason why someone needs to live with unclean water, despite where the water comes from. (i.e.: public water system, well water, lake, pond, etc.) There are many places where you can buy a water filtration system at many different prices. But the major reason why someone should consider building there own instead of purchasing it, is a persons individual budget. If you are preparing for the dollar collapse now and purchasing the things you need, a water filter might be one of the things you will want to put on your list. And if you are one of the people who live from paycheck to paycheck and can’t afford to purchase one, then building your own is the best and most likely the only option you will have when there is no clean water available.