Tag: Prepper

Instant Meals In A Jar: Italian Beef
Clean Living · Prepping · Recipes

Instant Meals In A Jar: Italian Beef

Sarah

It has been a while since I did “instant meals in a jar.”With it being winter, it’s a perfect time for it.

A high-protein/lower-carb recipe, made to take on the go for an “instant” meal or to pack away for long-term storage. It works great in power outages or winter storms.

Italian Beef

Ingredients:

Directions:

Pack ingredients in a pint mason jar or a “MRE” style mylar bag. For longer-term storage, add a desiccant or oxygen absorber and seal. (Discard the packet before cooking.)

To prepare:

Add 1 cup of boiled water, seal, and sit for 15 minutes. Stir well. If it is cold where you are, insulate the jar/bag with a clean kitchen towel.

It can be prepared in a small pot. Bring water to a boil, add dry ingredients, cover tightly, and remove from burner.

Add a pinch of sea salt if desired.

Serves 1.

~Sarah

The Multi-Person Rural “Get Home EDC Kit”
Prepping

The Multi-Person Rural “Get Home EDC Kit”

Sarah

This past summer, Kirk and I sold our car back to the Ford car company after a prolonged issue with the battery array that Ford couldn’t repair. We had been driving a plug-in hybrid since the fall of 2019, and it was long paid off. The issue had come that we were not supposed to plug it in, nor park it near or in buildings…in case of fire. Good times. Eventually, we found that we could petition Ford to repurchase it, which they agreed to do. We were given the total price for it. It was odd saying goodbye to the car, but I knew we had made the right choice.

But that meant I had no car anymore. And we live in rural. It’s a mile+ walk to the transit stop (we are fortunate to have a robust, tax-supported transit system here). That is one of the downsides of living on an island, especially a very large island. You have a much easier life if you have a car to get around in.

We poked around and looked at new cars. The prices for new vehicles have jumped so much since 2019 that I could not say it was worth going into debt to have a car. Then, I injured my arm at the end of June and couldn’t drive until late August. But with the boys going back to school, I needed a car quickly.

Now that they are in middle and high school, they wanted to return to school and are enjoying it. But due to districts (how an island needs 3 school districts is beyond me), they are 16 miles from school. The school bus is 5 miles away because we are going out of the district. They can take the transit bus right to school, but I drive them home every day (because the transit system decided to change pickup times to 2 minutes before school lets out…in their words, they don’t think it was stupid to change the times).

So I bought a car that wasn’t new but wasn’t completely ancient. I paid cash for it. It’s had some learning curves (no backup camera) but seems to be doing fine after getting new tires, bearings, and brakes. And I have no debt. A little steering fluid here and there, and boujie premium gas, and she hums.

The car has trunk space. My previous car (a Ford Fusion) had nearly no trunk due to the many EV batteries. It also heated up during charging and got very toasty. I could only carry one suitcase in it. My trunk doesn’t get hot in this car.

But Raven The Land Yacht?

This car has a vast trunk space. The car is great for teen boys; no one is cramped for leg space.

So it got me thinking: What should I carry there for everyday use? I needed to update my EDC. When we homeschooled, we barely drove. But what if an earthquake happened and we needed to leave the car and start walking home? At 16 miles to home, it would most likely take 1½ to 2 days to get home with the boys. Their feet would get tired, and they’d need breaks. Myself? I could force myself to keep going and make it in one day, but I can’t do that to the kids.

So, I started working on updating what I carry and how I can take it with me if I need to abandon my car. I happen to have the room now to bring a few extra items!

Do people need all of this? No. Water, food, and a way to stay warm in the off-season are high priorities.

The EDC Car Get Home Kit:

Trolly Dolly

Pair of walking socks (good-fitting, quality socks)

Gloves (for winter and also disposable gloves in case of blood)

First Aid Kit (sized for carrying, not a big one)

Plastic grocery sacks (multiple uses – carrying items, waterproofing, garbage)

Water (both in a 1-gallon and water bottles)

Foldable lightweight dog bowl

Dog food/dog snacks (they need food as well)

Dog poop bags (if trying to avoid being seen while traveling, tossing dog poop far away is essential – and not letting them poop while walking and leaving it)

Shelf stable/freeze-dried food (Add boiled water and wait 15 minutes)

Drink mixes (I carry a box of my favorite sugar-free drink mix sticks)

Backpacking stove (small and easy to carry)

Fuel for the stove (I carry an extra canister of fuel always)

Lighter (and waterproof matches)

Pot for boiling water (a 1.2 to 2-liter size)

Cups to drink out of (I have ones that fit into my pot)

Spoons (While I carry plastic, I also have bamboo reusable ones for my work always in the car, along with matching forks, knives, and chopsticks)

Garbage bags (see above about grocery bags)

Paper Towels (multi-purpose: both for cleaning, clean work surface, and for bathroom use)

Lysol hand wipes in travel-size packs

Blankets (lightweight fleece for dog, lightweight Merino wool for me)

Golf Umbrella (don’t discount it in the off-season – as long as it isn’t super windy, it gives you rain and sun protection and shelter to cook a meal under)

Trekking poles. (I have them in my car, but that is because one never knows when a hike might happen!) They can help you walk safer and longer, and be used to probe the ground for safety. With a tarp, they can also make a shelter if needed.

Take Away Thoughts:

My main view has been that if we need to leave the car behind, we would gut the boys’ backpacks of anything school-related and put things into them from the car if needed. They do not have too much weight, but they can carry water bottles, snacks, and such.

The dog always has a bed and blankets in the car. If we had to leave the car behind, I would load up the Trolly Dolly with everything we needed to take, then put her bed in at the top. While she is a strong animal, I know she will eventually tire, and her paws could get hurt, so having an area she could sit in would be essential. We would have her sit on the top of the dolly, safely tucked in. It would also work if it was windy/rainy or cold, as she would be more protected.

I would also stay with the car if it is safer, but if the reasons are bad, it is best to get moving as soon as possible before things get worse. That would be, say, the event happened during a storm, but you know it will pass in “x” hours, then maybe hold on. But otherwise, every mile under your feet is best. The faster you get to safety (home for example) the better.

~Sarah

Welcome To The Newest Preppers: The Liberal Urban Prepper
Prepping

Welcome To The Newest Preppers: The Liberal Urban Prepper

Sarah

I know I shouldn’t enjoy it, but I am, and by far too much. I’m watching the meltdowns online, with people crying nonstop. How suddenly they need all the things that old-school preppers have been saying for years. But they don’t want to get lumped in with Christian white male preppers. Of course.

Because all preppers look like this, am I right? Especially spilling beans everywhere…….

Even though prepping was never about being male, white, or Christian, plenty of us are women, many are not super religious, and we are fiercely independent. Even the local group of NIMBY people on my island are crying; they need to form emergency preparedness groups, so they can build food stores to use in case of “climate emergencies.” This local group has not been open to preparing for earthquakes, storms, or anything else, but then a major election happened, and they suddenly wanted to organize emergency preparedness pods.

What is far more critical is having a free mind and not doing things because groups fuel your fears.

You must be able to think for yourself. You must have a moral compass that you listen to. That is when you make a good prepper. You have to be ready to accept that the government isn’t your friend, its job isn’t to rescue you, and that if things get bad enough, they will be your enemy (enforced lockdowns, for example, being forced out of urban areas. no food, water off, no power). And that if civil unrest were to become that bad, there would be a point where there isn’t any government left, but rather well-armed soldiers now working for themselves in groups.

In these posts, over and over, they are saying/writing the same bullet points:

  • A way to get home
  • A bug-out bag for both getting home and leaving, if need be
  • A safe place to bug out to/or their home feels safe
  • Cash on hand
  • Food supplies
  • Medicine
  • Hiking shoes
  • Being prepared for ‘climate change’ events (which means flooding, heavy snow and things like hurricanes – which have always happened)
  • Being able to protect yourself (and suddenly, many of them are rather pro-firearm, whereas before, only the government needed them)
  • Civil unrest

That last one is powerful. Four years ago, they were fine living in urban areas where civil unrest was happening constantly. Certain cities had whole corridors destroyed through petty violence. And yet, these same people were OK with it. Because underneath it, they assumed that the anarchists/opportunists doing it would see they were “good people” and leave them be. What they are afraid of now is that this same behavior will occur, but this time, the National Guard will activate and be armed (see Washington State in 2020, where the Guard was not allowed to carry weapons in the Chaz/Chad area), and will enforce the law. And it won’t be to their liking.

They are anxious because “Daddy Don” will tell the states to knock it off and keep people safe. If the states refuse to stop violence, the US government will intervene, and that scares them. Those people won’t care about them or how special they think they are.

Because their very left leanings say it’s OK to take what they “need” (want) because it’s only hurting capitalist overlords. Does anyone remember the 2020 Seattle Antifa riot when the chick stole an entire Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, including the glass dish?

Yeah, I remember it. She was one of the many reasons people quit going to Seattle. They didn’t feel safe.

It’s funny that they want to prep because while that didn’t scare them, law and order does. Suddenly, having supplies is important when you can’t take what you want by stealing.

Takeaways:

They need to learn to shut their cell phones off, live using paper guides, and acquire life skills. That cash is still king—because you can use it when the power is down or when we have transmission problems.

They need to have skills in solar, water collection, cooking, food storage, and finding others to work with.

Bugging out isn’t something to do unless you have a place to go – that is expecting you. They must learn that the country isn’t for them to go to. Nor the mountains. It’s already occupied by people who live there.

There’s nothing wrong with learning new skills and working toward a better life. Resilience is the goal for everyone.

However, as new preppers, they will find their viewpoints change the more they put into it.

Prepper school might change them into being a lot different in a year’s time. And find out that in the end….we are more alike than different.

~Sarah

Freeze-drying A Naturally Sweet Healthy Snack
Freeze Drying · Prepping · Preserving · Recipes

Freeze-drying A Naturally Sweet Healthy Snack

Sarah

We spent the summer and early summer working on freeze-drying food for the winter, especially eggs when they were plentiful in the long days. It works well for us, do the work when it happens and eat later. A Little Red Hen tale always. Don’t be lazy when it is on. Often we freeze-dry a lot of the same things over and over (that we use often).

This treat is one we do often. It uses the prime harvest time or even when the best of it shows up in markets. Process it, and you will eat well for months.

And what is that?

Carrots!

Just out of the Harvest Right Freeze-dryer, ready to be put into small MRE-style mylar bags.

Yes, it is that simple. Raw carrots were freeze-dried. They become even more sweet when dried and can be eaten as a snack. You can, of course, soak them in water and cook with them after drying, but it is so easy that there is no need to blanch the produce beforehand. Just peel and slice up, then proceed.

What is the sweetest vegetable out there? For me, I would say carrots. When you freeze-dry them, they become intensely flavored and even sweeter.

Buying dehydrated carrot dice is easy, but they are not the same. Dehydrated carrots are tiny bits that must be rehydrated before eating. They are pre-cooked, so they work fine for meals with a 15-minute rehydration time or to be added into say stews and soups and left to simmer.

If freeze-dried raw carrots can be found commercially, they are often marketed as a dog treat (lucky them!).

So, if you want a fun snack, it will be a DIY project!

Freeze-Dried Carrot Coins

We usually prep 15 to 20 pounds of carrots at a time. If you are harvesting from your garden, you can process them as they are ripe, and once you have enough, put them on a run in the machine. This makes it very easy.

Try out the carrots. You want them to be as crisp as possible and taste great. You won’t get a good final product if they are soft, limp, or mealy.

This also opens up choices. Buy or grow the fancy carrots for a different look. Freeze-drying white, yellow, and purple instead of orange? Easy!

I buy carrots when I see them at good prices or when the harvest flow is happening. I give them a good wash, then peel and trim.

Slice into coins or on the bias (so at an angle). We have done it both ways. I find that the bias cut is best for enormous carrots. For smaller carrots, cut coins.

I spread them out on rimmed baking sheets and freeze them. Unless I work on a big lot (say 15 to 20 pounds at once), I transfer to bags once frozen and keep them frozen until I have enough. This lets you harvest carrots over a couple of weeks in summer and early fall. (We have a Large size unit, so we pack it pretty full)

Once you have enough to run a batch, lay the carrots on the freeze-dryer sheets and put them on. The machines are automatic, so it is quite easy.

Once dry, open the machine and test a carrot to ensure it is fully dry. If not, put it on for a few more hours. Otherwise, bag the carrots (or put it into mason jars) and seal it with a desiccant and an oxygen packet. If you use the small MRE-style mylar bags, you have a ready-to-go trail snack. Be sure to note the date dried and what is in the bags.

Enjoy your naturally sweet and crunchy treat!

Tip: When enjoying freeze-dried treats, drink water with it. Your stomach will appreciate you.

Want to see what else we have freeze-dried?

All the tutorials.

The Black Friday November Harvest Right Sale Is On!

This is Harvest Right’s best sale all year long, with the machines hundreds of dollars off. If you have been contemplating getting one, this is the time.

~Sarah

It’s Never About The Apocalypse
Prepping

It’s Never About The Apocalypse

Sarah

I was thinking the other night as I fell asleep how this symbol means so much to those who live on the water in the Pacific Ocean and the Salish Sea. I had spent the day on the other side of the Salish Sea, fully dependent on the ferry system to get back home. I tend to pay attention, while others often do not. When you are only on your feet, you must pay attention to how you might get home—or even be safe, even if all is well and safe because you do not know when something might occur.

Seven circles. If you listen and pay attention, it could save your life. It’s not if it will happen, but when it happens. It’s the price we pay to live here, on the water, in an area known for earthquakes.

It is a tsunami alert beacon located along the water. They are supposed to activate if an alert goes out after an earthquake (and it could be an Earthquake across the Pacific Ocean, all the way in Japan, with the wave coming at us).

It’s time to drop everything and start running uphill as fast as you can. If you feel a long and deep earthquake, you should move as soon as the shaking stops.

Had these been more prevalent in the past 20 years, many people might have lived after the major tsunamis in Asia. I grew up always being told never to turn my back to the ocean, but my husband who didn’t grow up in the PNW had no idea what a tusnami could do, when we watched the one in 2004 in Thailand, he was shocked. In all those events, people actually walked out onto the sand and followed it, many to their deaths. It was unfortunate. My Mom was a child on the Pacific Ocean when she and her sibling’s housekeeper (what you’d call a nanny now) looked up and saw my Mom walking out as the water receded oddly. It wasn’t a major one, but it wiped the beach clean. She grabbed the kids and ran up to the top of the bluff with them, potentially saving them.

And that is something important: simply paying attention so you can hopefully not be a victim if anything happens. If you are paying attention, you may be able to help others.

It parallels with food security.

Sometimes, the biggest point in being a prepper is being able to help others when they have nothing. If you are prepared, and others are not – or worse – they lose everything they have, you may be able to step up and help them out.

I don’t see prepping as preparing for the apocalypse, where civilization ends, but rather as preparing for events where you need a week, a month, or more of help.

Right now, our country is in a crisis—one that the legacy media is attempting to cover up. Life isn’t, and will not be, normal for many people for a very long time. They lost everything. But so many people have gone to help with physical labor, food, water, money, and fuel. Those who survived are helping those who have nothing.

By being ready, you can help others if you are safe and have your needs met.

And as I closed my eyes, and sleep took over, I prayed a thankful prayer that for now I am safe. But we don’t know what the next day holds for us. For if bad things happen locally and I am OK, I will seek out those who need help. And if I need help, I will be appreciative of those who come to help us.

It is the way.

~Sarah