preparedness

7 Things a Campfire Needs to Burn All Night Long

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The crackle and pop of a good campfire is one of the best things about staying in the woods overnight. When a fire is in full bloom and the flames radiate up charred logs and lick off into the night sky, you can stare at it for hours. It’s about the best setting for comradery you can find.

Fire making is a basic skill, but like most skills, it can be broken down into many parts. In fact, there are seven unique parts that are crucial to the fire making process.

In this article, I’m going to explore all seven parts of the fire making process. I hope it will help you have more success in starting and sustaining a roaring campfire.

1. Fire Lay

Before you pull a single piece of grass for your tinder bundle, you should consider your fire lay. The fire lay is a part of the fire making process that is rarely talked about but can have serious implications for the success or failure of your fire.

You are looking for a dry, solid surface on which to build your fire. Personally, I am not a fan of building fire on dirt. I would rather build it on stone or even some dry wood. A couple of split logs can make a great fire lay.

If you try to build a fire without a fire lay, moisture from the wet ground is going to kill your fire before it gets going.

2. Tinder

Gathering tinder can become an all-day affair if you are smart about it. On a long hike, you will pass several items that work great for building a tinder bundle. You might pass a field of dry grass, some paper birch, dry bark, dry cattails, fatwood, dry pine needles, and other types of tinder. All of these can be collected and processed as you walk.

Processing is just a matter of tearing and breaking down the materials so they will have more fibers exposed to your spark when you go to start a fire.

Natural tinder is not your only option. While you should know how to find and process tinder, I always bring cotton balls into the woods with me. A small ziplock bag of cotton balls working in tandem with a ferro rod can get a fire going even in terrible conditions.

Be sure you have plenty of tinder and get to know all the natural materials for making tinder.

3. Spark

Of the many aspects of fire making, creating a spark is talked about the most. There are so many videos, tools, and how-tos on creating a spark or ember that it can get a little silly. It can also be very misleading. Beginners often think that having the ability to throw sparks from a ferro rod means they can build a fire. It’s not true.

The spark is important, but so are all the other parts of the fire making process. When it comes to making a spark, there are two implements (outside of a lighter and matches) that work consistently. The ferrocerium rod and the flint and steel are two of the best options. The flint and steel has been used to make fire forever, and becoming familiar with flint or chert or quartz will allow you to spark shavings of steel with just the rocks around you.

4. Airflow

Until now, you have been dealing with tangible things that you have had to gather and process. Now we are going to talk about airflow which is more of a concept, but one you have to take into account. At this point, you will hopefully have a small fire on your tinder bundle.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is to start piling wood on that little flame. If you do that, you will smother it in a hurry. While you have to get plenty of kindling over that fire, you must be very careful and be sure that your small fire has air flowing through it at all times. This is where many people get hung up.

5. Kindling

The best philosophy for kindling is that of Dave Canterbury. He says you want sticks that are about the same thickness of pencils. These seem to work best. Gather lots of them, too. As with tinder, you can pick them up while you’re hiking. Just carry a small bag for gathering them.

Be sure that these sticks are teepee style, allowing the flames to touch them. If they are dry and of the right size, they will catch fire in a hurry. I use about twenty sticks to get things going. Take your time with this step and get the fire stoked well before adding fuel.

6. Patience

This brings us to our next step. If your kindling is starting to burn and you are turning your attention to your fuel, that means it’s time to slow down and focus on the fire, to be patient. If you’re not careful, the addition of fuel could smother your fire.

I like to have a nice base of glowing embers beneath my kindling. I will often add another layer of kindling after the first in order to build that base. From there, I start adding fuel. Don’t rush it!

7. Fuel

Now we get to fuel sources for your fire. We all know that we can never have enough fuel, right? The rule of thumb is to have three times more than you need. After a long day of hiking, there are few people who follow that rule. If you get a fire that is really blazing, you can be a little less picky about what you feed your fire.

But to start, you need some dry, split wood for your kindling fire. Remember, when you start adding fuel to the fire, don’t forget about airflow. Let the flames lick the fuel and just touch it at the tips. It will catch on fire.

Only when you have developed a bed of glowing coals can you sit back and relax. At that point, you have options. You will be able to blow that fire back to life if things get crazy or if you turn your attention away from the fire for too long.

Conclusion

It will always help to look at fire as a series of processes rather than a beginning and an end. This will allow you to make a fire with a minimal amount of items.

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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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