preparedness

7 Crucial Camping Supplies for Beginners

I spent the entire year of 1994 learning how to become an Air Force Survival Instructor. We learned to survive in all four seasons–on the sand, snow, and water. Every time I went into the wild, I went to learn and to work. What I forgot during that intense time was how to relax in the wild.

The first time I went camping in 1995, I set up my tent, gathered some wood, set up the camp…and had no idea what to do next. It took me some time to figure out how to just enjoy being outside without a specific objective in mind. I learned a few lessons that first time out, most notably that the items I used for work weren’t conducive to relaxing.

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If you’re new to camping, here are some basic camping supplies you’ll need to take with you. Most of these are pretty average for any trip: tent, sleeping bag, cooking tools, something to cook with and something comfortable to sit on.

What I want you to take away from this article are the general traits of the items you need and some choices based on my experiences camping solo and with a group.

1. Tent

If you have never camped, you may think a tent needs to be waterproof and have very thick, sturdy poles. The truth is, tents aren’t meant to be waterproof, they are designed to be breathable to release the condensation from your breathing and any other moisture.

The poles might be very thick and flexible, but they are designed to be that way on purpose. For one or two people, the Coleman tent below is my tent of choice. It fits a queen size inflatable air mattress and is tall enough for someone to stand up in. At least, if that someone is under six feet tall like me.

I also very much like the screen room which is a great place to put shoes and extra equipment you don’t want to keep inside the tent.

2. Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags come in two basic formats: a mummy bag or a standard opening. The mummy bag ones tend to wrap around your head and just leave an opening for your face. I like to take my own pillow when I camp, so I use the standard bag.

Bags are rated according to the temperature range for which they can be used. If you are going to camp from late Spring to early Fall, a bag rated down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit should work just fine. If your chosen area to camp is prone to abrupt weather changes, choose a bag rated for even colder temperatures.

NOTE: Amazon has a great selection of camping items to take a look at. The example below is a great example of what a mummy bag looks like. I am not condoning Coleman specifically as a brand, but they have been in the business for a long time and are a good brand to show examples of.

3. Cookware

If you plan to camp repeatedly, meaning every few months or even just annually, a good set of cookware for the long haul is a good investment. My cookware of choice is cast iron. It is durable, easy to clean, and cooks food well due to even heat distribution.

I have cast iron pans to cook on and a flat grill to toast things on, such as tortillas or bread. I do carry a pot set that is multi-sized and uses a universal handle. All of these pots fit inside one another and in a carry bag. Below is an example of what I use minus the three-quart cast iron pot.

The pot set I use is stainless steel with one handle that fits all three but detaches so when you cook, the handle doesn’t become hot or damaged.

4. Camp Stove

All the state and national campsites I have ever been to have always had a fire ring. A thick metal ring, usually with a grate for cooking, which was the focal point of the camp. Depending on your location, dry conditions may cause fire restrictions which limit the use of open fires.

My go-to tool for hot meals is the Coleman two-burner stove. You can use small one-gallon bottles or use an adapter to attach the stove to a five-gallon bottle.

Even when I plan on cooking over the fire, I still take the stove in case conditions change or I need to cook more than two things at once. It is a convenience but one that is not overly cumbersome or a burden.

5. Chair

I was so used to sitting on stumps or logs that I never packed a camp chair. What I found was that camp chairs are a great luxury to have and come in all shapes and sizes.

Some are loose canvas types, some are more rigid, some come with a very sturdy frame and a side table with a drink holder. That is my particular favorite because not only does it have a place for your favorite tasty beverage, it also has a convenient place to put your plate down.

The one below is the closest I could find to what I use. I have used the floppy canvas ones in the past and have had several whose legs broke or whose fabric tore.

6. Air Mattress

I always recommend an air mattress. When you add up all the nights I have probably years sleeping on the ground with various types of insulation, but now that I am over 45, I prefer a thicker air mattress for two reasons: It’s comfortable, and who doesn’t want that? Also, it makes it easier to get up off the ground when you are higher up.

A Thermarest or mattress pad works, but I prefer something thicker. Yes, there are less expensive choices than the one below, but I have found that you get what you pay for when it comes to mattresses. Spend a few more dollars and sleep much more comfortably.

7. Lighting

You will find out which lanterns, flashlights, or headlights you prefer. If in a group, I will take two lanterns and a headlamp for myself. You can spend over $100 on a single one, but there is no need to unless you want to illuminate a large area.

The one factor I make sure of is that the face of the lamp can be adjusted up or down. This way I can aim the light exactly where I want to. My other factor in choosing a headlamp is price because I tend to lose them. Losing a $15 headlamp is less painful than losing a $100 one.

As with any hobby, there is always trial and error. Do you like a mattress or a hammock? Do you prefer a certain cooler over another? Do you want a brighter headlamp?

You will find things you wish you had brought: roasting sticks, lighter fluid, multiple lighters, a camp shower, a rigid water jug over a collapsible one. It really comes down getting outdoors for a night or a weekend and seeing what works for you. I have found that in summer months in the Northwest, I haven’t even needed a sleeping bag–two blankets worked just fine.

Men and women and children all like shiny new things. It is very easy to spend $500, $1,000, or more on “convenient” camping items. Some of these items you will find a use for, many you may find don’t work as well as advertised and were a waste of money.

A good exercise is to go sit in your backyard, or living room if you don’t have a backyard, and imagine you are outside sitting around a campfire and think about what is going to make that experience much more enjoyable. When you go to make breakfast, will you have everything you need to make that delicious omelet the way you do at home?

The last product I want to share is one which we used to make the camping trip more enjoyable for younger kids. Bring a special item along for them and make the trip truly memorable.

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This article first appeared on urbansurvivalsite.com See it here

preparedness

4 No Cook Meals For Surviving The Pandemic And Food Supply Shortages

When it comes to your food supply, you just can’t risk not having enough. These no cook meals will be a great addition to your food supply planning. Check out the recipes below!

No Cook Meals to Help You Through the Pandemic

As of the writing of this article, there are 20 meat processing plants that have been shut down due to COVID-19 infections. We have been worrying about these types of effects on our food supply for months now, and this is the first real sign of how infections can affect the food supply.

When you walk into a supermarket, you might not see all the choices you had in the past. An empty meat case is a humbling thing for your eyes to fall upon. It’s the shocking realization that the seemingly infinite supply of chickens, pigs, and cows that are butchered for us has begun to run dry!

To deal with this issue, we are going to present four no cook meals that will help you create dinners at home that will feed your family without worrying so much about what’s available, or unavailable, in the meat case.

1. Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches

Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

As preppers we get beans. There are a bunch of ways to use beans and this a great example of how you can pack a sandwich with great nutrition and protein.

Serving: Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

Can of White Beans
Olive Oil
1 Avocado
8 Slices of Whole Grain Bread
8 Slices of Salted Pork (Prosciutto, Ham, Virginia Ham)

Instructions:

Begin by draining your beans in a colander then smashing them up in a bowl add a few glugs of olive oil, salt, pepper. This little mix is delicious. If you add some minced rosemary, you can even turn this into a delicious dip.
Pit your avocado and cut it in half and then quarters lengthwise. Leave the skin on.
Lay the bread out on a clean work surface for assembling the sandwiches.
Spread your mashed bean mix onto one side of the bread.
Peel your avocados and slice 1 quarter for each sandwich. Spread slices over the bean spread.
Add a few slices of your pork to over the top of the avocado.
You can finish this sandwich with some lettuces, fresh sprouts, or just eat it as is.

2. Delicious Crab Salad

Canned crab is a protein option that will likely be around through much of this meat crisis. It does have to be kept in refrigeration, but it’s delicious and this chipotle mayo salad is great in the spring and summer.

Ingredients:

1 Can of Crab Meat
1 Bunch of Asparagus
Chipotle Mayo
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Bunch of Cilantro

Instructions:

Drain your crab in a colander and set it in the sink.
Slice your asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Throw them into a bowl.
Thinly slice your onions and your cilantro and throw that into the bowl, as well.
Gently toss in the crab meat.
Squirt on enough Chipotle mayo to coat everything and toss gently not to break up the crab meat.
Chill in the fridge and serve.

3. Simple Greek Salad

Simple Greek Salad | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

The combination of simple summer ingredients makes for an incredible quick salad that you could add other proteins, too, if you wanted. These could be canned meats.

Ingredients:

2 Large Tomatoes
1 Cucumber
1 Red Onion
¼ Cup of Feta Cheese
A Few Sprigs of Fresh Mint
½ Cup of Kalamata Olives
Balsamic Dressing

Instructions:

I like to cut the tomatoes in large chunks and have them kind of be the main course in this salad. Peel and slice your cucumber in half. Remove the seeds and either dice or slice in half-moons.
Peel and slice your red onion in half. Julienne your, or thinly slice, your half onion.
Add all these ingredients to a bowl. Finely slice your mint.
Add your olives, crumbled feta, and mint to the bowl and add enough dressing to coat everything.
Stir it up and allow this to chill for at least an hour for the flavors to really blend.

4. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

Using some similar ingredients and adding a protein like tuna, you can create some delicious lettuce wraps. The key to a good lettuce wrap is to have most of the items around the same size. So, consider that when you are preparing this dish.

Ingredients:

Iceberg or Butter Lettuce
Canned Artichokes
Canned roasted Red peppers
Fresh Cucumber
Feta Cheese
Minced Olives ¼ Cup
2 Cans of Tuna
Green Onions
Basil

Instructions:

Start by peeling all the full leaves from your lettuce. Set them on a plate either cover them with a wet paper towel or put them back into the fridge.
Dice the peppers, artichokes, and cucumbers into cubes. Go no larger than ½ an inch.
Thinly slice your green onions and basil and add them to a bowl with your diced vegetables. Add your loves to this bowl and mix them thoroughly.
Crumble your feta cheese over the mixture.
Drain your tuna thoroughly and then add that to the bowl, as well.
Gently toss this mixture. Try not to break up the tuna and the cheese too much but incorporate it thoroughly.
If you want, you can add some olive oil to the mix or a few glugs of balsamic vinegar. It’s also delicious just how it is.
Scoop a few tablespoons into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and eat up!

These no cook meals should help lessen the stress you feel when thinking of what to feed your family. If you don’t have the specific ingredients, use your creativity, and use what you have. You might discover a new recipe while you’re at it!

What’s your favorite no cook meal recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section!

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This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

preparedness

Billionaire Whistle Blower: Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Over 50,000

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000.

A Chinese billionaire and whistleblower who lives in U.S. exile says Wuhan crematoriums have burned 50,000 coronavirus victims. | Credit: Chinatopix via AP

The official coronavirus death toll in China is a little over 800. But an exiled Chinese businessman says crematoriums are leaking the real figure.
A billionaire whistleblower alleges Wuhan has crematoriums working 24/7. He claims they’ve cremated some 50,000 coronavirus victims.
Guo Wengui is a Chinese billionaire living in exile in the United States.

The official coronavirus death toll is some 800 people in China. The current official death toll worldwide, outside of China, is 774. But a Chinese billionaire with a history of blowing the whistle on his former government says the real figure is much higher.

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000. Wengui made the bombshell allegations in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Whistleblower: 1.5 Million Coronavirus Cases In China, 50,000 Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan

He also claims to have inside information that there are 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in China. Wengui is emphatic that these are not merely quarantined or “under observation” but confirmed cases of coronavirus infection:

China has struggled to contain the coronavirus. But it has also struggled to contain public outcry against censorship and tight control of information. Dr. Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm about the disease, succumbed to an infection and died this week. The Chinese government arrested him for blowing the whistle.

Then officials tried to suppress news of his death. Afterwards, millions of Chinese citizens saw the hashtag #IWantFreedomOfSpeech on Mandarin language social media. But the Chinese government censored that too.

Are Wengui’s Crematorium Claims Credible?

Watch VICE’s 2017 profile on Guo Wengui. At the time, he published bombshell documents alleging corruption in the Chinese government. He got the attention of the media and reportedly the U.S. State Department.

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