PREPARE Magazine June 2014

Encouraging, Empowering and Enriching Your Journey

Can We Catch Parasites from Foraged Food?

In Pursuit Of Wild-crafting

How to Safely Dehydrate Ground Beef

How Off-Grid Can you get?

Foraging from the wild and the garden June 2014

Letter from the Editor

The focus of this digital issue of PREPARE Magazine is skills and know-how for Living off the Land. Depending upon your area this can be a very wide topic. One in which we hope to touch on many aspects to encourage you to pursue new ideas in your preparedness plan.

If you live in suburbia or an urban area, one portion of living off the land may include the skill of “Scrap Yard Prepping.” Of course, learning the skill of “How to Safely Dehydrate Ground Beef” will come in handy to take this relatively budget conscious protein on the go. Or living off the land may be more of a decision you make prior to an emergency since “Food Shortages/Prices may make you rethink Homesteading” and “4 Easy Medicinal Plants to Grow.”

“In Pursuit of Wild-crafting” we have articles that touch on “Foraging from the wild and the garden” and the important additional question – “Can we catch Parasites from Foraging Food?” And as if it were a personal quest or perhaps a challenge, one author poses the question: “How off-grid can you get?” but not without offering some suggestions and his own personal story.

And again we bring another installment of “Apache Battle Tactic #8 – Boy Kills Dragon” to bring home some of the skills and stories that made the skills a part of life for the Apache. And last but not least, we are pleased to have “A Pastor’s Perspective: Preparation through Emotional Unity” to help keep things focused for the trying times that appear to be ahead.

It is our hope that with these articles, you will be inspired to reach further, to plan more options for living off the land into your preparedness lifestyle.

Donna L. Miller Managing Editor of PREPARE Magazine http://www.PREPAREMag.com

Table of Contents 1 - Letter from the Editor PREPARE Magazine www.preparemag.com Publishing Mainline Marketing Group, LLC Advertising 800-361-1797, Ext 8 advertising@preparemag.com Subscriptions www.preparemag.com/subscribe subscription@preparemag.com Support Services www.preparemag.com/support support@preparemag.com Community Connections contributors@preparemag.com Chief Vision Officer Joseph Miller Managing Editor Donna Miller

2 – Can We Catch Parasites from Foraged Food?

3 – Four (4) Easy Medicinal Plants to Grow 4 – How Off-Grid Can you get?

5 - Apache Battle Tactic 8 - Boy Kills Dragon 6 – Foraging from the wild and the garden 7 - Scrap Yard Prepping 8 - Food shortages and prices may make you rethink homesteading 9 - Harvesting Food in the Wild 10 - In Pursuit Of Wild-crafting 11 - How to - Safely Dehydrate Ground Beef 12 - Pastor's Perspective: Preparation through Emotional Unity

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Can We Catch Parasites from Foraged Foods?

By Tom Linden, UK Preppers Radio Network Foraging for food in the wild is in. Let’s be honest; it’s never really been out. Nothing tastes more exotic than a tender spring fiddlehead cut by the river and steamed right away. Who wouldn’t reach for a plump ripe blackberry at the edge of the trail, or a low-hanging apple in the autumn?

I suppose you could say that recent interest in edible wild plants and wild meat has, however, made foraging fashionable.

Is foraging safe? Articles about foraging often focus on identification of wild plants, when to pick them, and what species to avoid. It’s true that whether or not a mushroom or green is poisonous is of more immediate concern than whether it might transmit a parasitic disease, but organisms like parasites rank high in food safety issues too.

So can We Catch Parasites from Foraged Foods?

Think back to the days before plant and animal domestication; our distant forebears were huntergatherers. They foraged for everything, and this was how they acquired most of their parasites (those that

they weren’t sharing directly person to person, such as lice).

Picking up parasites from contact with soil, drinking water, and the wild foods that they ate was the norm.

Make no mistake, those parasites haven’t gone away; so far as I know science does not record any instance of a parasite infectious to humans going extinct.

If anything, we have made things worse. Domesticating crops and animals has given a lot of parasites unprecedented opportunities, but dense human populations, large numbers of domestic animals, and our environmental impact have changed things in the wild as well. For example: All surface waters, everywhere, should now be considered contaminated by intestinal protozoa of humans and cattle.

Human communities in North America support unusually high populations of raccoons, carriers of a deadly roundworm.

Roaming and feral house cats have contaminated soils worldwide with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.

Migrating humans have spread lots of parasites to places where they were formerly not found.

Where droppings from grazing animals wash into streams, liver fluke larvae infest watercress.

Foraged Food and the Risk of Parasitic Diseases While studies of the risk of parasitic disease faced by foragers as a group may be lacking, mountains of literature document the risks of eating and drinking, and even walking, in the wild.

The risk you face while foraging for wild food depends a lot on what you’re looking for, and where you’re looking for it. Eating wild animals can be the source of diseases such as trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, and intestinal flukes and tapeworms.

Plants may be contaminated with human or animal faeces, or they may harbour larval forms of parasites. In some places, picking up a zoonosis – a disease of animals – is the major worry; in others, parasites of humans are more common.

In tropical developing countries, sanitation is often poor and faecal contamination of the environment intense; let’s be honest outside toilets are merely one of the places where we accidentally sow the seeds of wild plants that we eat.

These outside toilets are also good places to pick up parasitic infections; forage there at your peril.

In industrialized countries, wild plants are relatively safe as long as they are not contaminated with animal droppings; although, here too, aquatic plants such as watercress may transmit liver fluke, as I have mentioned.

Pick with clean hands, leave anything questionable, and wash thoroughly. If you want to eat anything raw, wash it with running potable water.

Thorough cooking will kill just about everything, but be careful to clean surfaces that have come in contact with the uncooked food. Wild animals can carry nasty parasites in both meat and faeces so, again, cook well and clean thoroughly (and don’t feed raw trimmings to the family dog).

Foraging for Parasites No discussion of foraging and parasites is complete without noting that, in many cultures, people deliberately forage for parasites.

Some fish, and shellfish such as oysters, are particularly tasty when infested with certain parasites; pea crabs, parasites of oysters are eaten as gourmet foods in North America. Robin Overstreet describes tasty caterpillars, nut-like botfly and warble fly larvae, fried “sweet meat” (liver flukes) from deer, and both fish and mammal tapeworms eaten raw, among other things.

Thus, in the true spirit of foraging in the wild, when we come across a parasite, the first question is “will it hurt me?” and the second is “can I eat it?”

4 Easy Medicinal Plants you can grow

By Craig Johnson As preppers we should seek to become more selfreliant. Producing/growing your own medicine is another way to do that. I have four medicinal plants anyone can grow: Aloe Vera, Peppermint, Garlic, and Sage. As with any product used for Medicinal Reasons please CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR if you think you might have complications from using any of the plants below. I am not giving medical advice only hard research from reliable sources. Please see the links at the bottom of the page for more information on each of these plants.

you go into almost any Health and Beauty section of a pharmacy, grocery, or department store you can see products made from Aloe Vera such as lotions, sunscreen and balms. Traditionally, in folk medicine, Aloe Vera was also used as a laxative when the dried juice called latex was taken orally. Aloe Vera likes sunny spots, but not too much sun. If you live in USDA planting zones 8-11, it is hardy in those climates. Aloe Vera is intolerant of frost or snow so it’s best to take it in when it gets cold.

Aloe Vera

Peppermint

photo credit: http://flic.kr/p/6zLeF

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a great plant for many reasons. Aloe Vera is considered a succulent, meaning its leaves are thick and fleshy. Inside the leaves is a clear jelly like substance used as a topical ointment for skin irritations, cuts, and burns. Aloe Vera has a long and storied history with humans. Aloe Vera is depicted on the stone walls of Egypt over 6,000 years ago and was known as the “plant of immortality.”

Typically it was a gift to pharaohs as a burial item.

The exact distribution of Aloe Vera is unknown.

However, it is thought that it originated somewhere in Northern Africa, the outlying areas such as the Canary Islands or possibly the Arabian Peninsula. From these areas it was spread by human cultivation to East Asia, Europe and finally the Americas. Aloe Vera grows best in sandy well-drained soils. If you are going to keep it in a pot then make sure it drains adequately. If

photo credit: http://flic.kr/p/RGovf

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is an herbaceous plant which is actually a cross between watermint and spearmint. Originally indigenous to Europe it is now spread worldwide.

Natively and in cultivation peppermint grows best in shady moist areas. In home gardening, it is best container grown as it spreads quickly due to its underground runners. Peppermint loves water as long as its soil is well-drained. The tops of the plants are usually gathered, the leaves and flowers, to be dried for use. Peppermint has likely been used for thousands of years for many common ailments. According to research at the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is useful to cure headaches, stomach problems, anxiety, nausea, skin irritations, and menstrual problems. Several studies also suggest that peppermint can kill many types of fungus, bacteria, and viruses. Peppermint contains a

large amount of menthol, the source of its healing ways. I personally use peppermint essential oil and have found it helps me concentrate, reduces anxiety and even helps me breathe a bit easier on runs.

Sage

Garlic

photo credit: http://flic.kr/p/6mWoDX) photo credit: http://flic.kr/p/ciDorC

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a member of the Onion family. Garlic is best known for flavoring food and for warding off vampires and evil spirits. The clove of the Garlic is where the medicinal use comes from. Garlic is used for many heart and blood related problems.

Garlic has been taken for medicinal uses for thousands of years and research has shown it does reduce hardening of arteries and other associated heart ailments. Other chemicals present in Garlic have been found to reduce cholesterol and even help prevent some cancers. I take garlic in pill form to promote heart health. Garlic contains a chemical called Allicin which is where some of its properties derive from. Garlic is native to Central Asia, but has long been used in Asia, Africa, and Europe (especially the Mediterranean Sea region). Garlic is quite easy to grow, especially in mild climates. In colder climates it is usually planted in fall and harvested in spring. Garlic is also easily container grown. Garlic grows best in soils with high organic content.

More info!

Aloe Vera Peppermint

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a perennial shrub with medicinal and culinary properties. Sage is native to the Mediterranean region, but like every plant previously mentioned it has been naturalized to the rest of the world. Sage grows well in well-drained soils and is sun-loving. It is sometimes grown for a low ground cover as it reaches about 2 feet in height.

Historically, Sage was used for warding off evil spirits, similar to Garlic. Sage can be used as a tea to relieve a scratchy, sore throat. According to WebMd it is useful for stomach and digestive problems. Sage has also shown promise in testing for Alzheimer’s patients in improving memory and learning. Sage, combined with rhubarb can also be applied topically to reduce the duration of cold sores.

The plants above are just a start. By growing these and similar plants we can take responsibility in trying to help ourselves. I encourage you to explore the plant world. I started here using native resources to help me help myself. I will continue to do so and you can too.

Thanks for reading and happy prepping!

Garlic Sage

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How Off-Grid Can You Get? LaMar's Story

By LaMar Alexander, Simple Solar infancy and very expensive. I saved up enough from a part time job to afford just a 45 watt system that allowed me to have lights and run the water pump for an occasional shower.

The camper was fine in warm weather but come winter it was freezing cold and so I built on an attached insulated shed and found a used cast iron wood stove and with 2 large dogs sleeping in the bed with me, we managed to survive the first winter.

My decision to go off-grid was forced on me by circumstances beyond my control. A sudden illness and injury ended a teaching career and a divorce cost me the home I had sunk my life savings into leaving me homeless with just $200 and an old truck and camper to my name.

I did have one other possession- a small acre of land my folks had left me that was part of their larger homestead where I and my brothers had grown up.

This sudden thrust into homelessness was a wake up call and I was determined to never be in debt, make my life as sustainable as possible, cut the ties of corporate slavery, and live within my means and pursue my dreams of independence.

So I headed back to my property with that goal of freedom in mind. It was a rough start as the property was completely overgrown with sagebrush and Russian Olive trees so thick I could barely find a place to park the camper. There was no water on the property and the power company had removed the power lines many years before and refused to reconnect without a building permit and an approved home. The cost to re-install power was more than I would make in 5 years.

That was when I started investigating solar and wind power.

At that time solar power for small systems was just in its

As I cleared the land with an ax and shovel I made space for a garden, chicken coops and rabbit pens. That supplemented my food supply and with the good fishing and hunting in the area I was able to eliminate most of my food expenses.

The fresh food and hard work helped my health to improve and I started to recover my strength.

I was tired of working for other people and living my life on their schedule, so with what little money I had I purchased a couple of commercial sprayers, some cheap truck signs and I paid for a small county business license to do pest control.

This is something I had done when I was younger and I knew I could handle that work because I set my own schedule and could work when I felt like it.

The land was pretty much cleared by the second year but I was hauling in water in 5 gallon cans and that was not enough for a garden, animals and myself for the long term so I researched well drilling. The land had good high water and some of the wells in the area are only 50 feet deep free flowing Artesian wells. The local well drillers wanted over $3000 to drill a well which was way out of my range but I found a sand point well tip that is driven into the ground with a fence pole pounder and with a whole lot of work and luck that I didn't hit any rock formations I managed to get a trickle well on the property. It was enough for the time being.

My business started growing and after two years I was able to save up $2000 and I decided that the camper was not a long term living solution, so I would need to build a cabin. I researched log cabins but the logs in this area were very expensive and it would take more hands to construct. I had

done architectural drafting in college and worked on construction projects so I knew the basics for building houses. I designed over 100 cabin styles I thought I could build by myself but after contacting the county I was told they would not meet code for size and would have to have a commercial septic tank and water system that would cost over $10,000. For years this area had allowed homeowners to build these systems themselves but a new building inspector was now in charge.

I was mad as hell at the county and wrote several very nasty letters to the paper only to find out many other people felt the same way. We organized and with some petitions and a strong voice at the next elections we got rid of the building inspector and scared the hell out of the county board so that they backed down from enforcing those requirements.

At that time my older brother also decided to move back to the homestead and wanted to remodel Grandad's old homestead. He applied for building permits and jumped through all the hoops. The property I was on was still part of that homestead and so with some research I found out I could build a dry cabin under 200 square feet without a permit and it would be grandfathered in when we changed the deeds into my name.

So with $2000 and some borrowed tools I set about building a 14x14 dry cabin. It would be set up just like a self contained camper complete with water holding tank, composting toilet and shower. Electricity would be from solar electric and later I would add a wind turbine.

Downstairs would be a kitchen, bathroom, dining area and in the full loft would be my bedroom and office. It would be post and beam, fully insulated and designed for off-grid living.

Not having much money I decided to salvage as much as I could for the cabin. The doors and windows were salvaged from an old trailer being demolished and the interior trim came from re-purposed cedar fence. The porch was made from green logs and slabs from the local lumber mill. The lights, sink, cabinets, shower and water pump were all salvaged from my old camp trailer and the camper propane system was installed in the cabin for heating and cooling.

Because the cabin was small and well insulated it needed only a small heater. The wood stove would be too much but would be kept in storage if needed.

I decided to keep a journal and take pictures of all the projects I was designing and document my successes and failures in case someone else might be interested. Over time I wrote a 78 page book called Simple Solar Homesteading.

Surprisingly, it was well received and selling it online brought in enough money to pay for the cabin and expand my solar power system and things I didn't have.

My hand drilled well failed after a major drought hit the area but making a deal with my brother I tapped into a 300 foot deep well on the old homestead and had all the water I needed for my small homestead. Once the cabin was finished we transferred deeds and the county could say nothing. I doubted they would anyway as I developed a reputation in the community for organizing petitions and fighting overzealous officials.

Over time my pest control business grew and I wrote another book called Ultimate Off-Grid guide and started producing videos of my off-grid projects and I can say that with having no house payments and no monthly utility bills I was finally able to put enough away for my retirement and help my kids that are now grown. I have no debt and I pay as I go and I don't need much. Most of all I have the freedom to pursue my dreams and I spend my time adventuring, writing and enjoying my homestead.

I have tried hard to help other people to find that freedom in my books and videos and I am proud to say I have helped many people design their off-grid cabins and systems based on my designs. If you are interested in off-grid living and the systems we use I have books, plans and free videos that may help you find that freedom.

Apache Boy Kills Dragon Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 8

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas the cave on all the battle tactics he would need to hunt and survive once he left the cave.

Painted Woman was considered the first mother of the Apache people. She was the mother of many children, but after a time, Dragon was afraid that they would multiple too much and become greater in power and strength than he. Dragon would smell the scent of an infant, find him or her, and eat the baby.

After the loss of many infants, Painted Woman gave birth again(;) but this time, she hides him deep in a cave and covered the entrance. Dragon came around and smelled the scent of the infant, but he could not find any. He came back, time and time again, looking for the infant but finding none. Dragon approached Painted Woman and said, “Give me your infant, for I smell him and I know he is around!” Painted Woman said, “You have taken all my children and it’s the old smell from the many you have taken before.” Dragon left, but kept lurking around to try and find the boy. Painted Woman was training the boy in

Many seasons had passed and the boy was now too big to hide in the cave. He told his mother that he was ready for adventures outside the cave. Painted Woman warned him to be very careful, because Dragon comes around often. The boy would hide in trees and rocks while he hunted and only came back to the cave to visit his mother. One day, Dragon came around and spotted the boy while the boy was out hunting. Dragon said, “I knew I would find you, for I have smelled your scent for many seasons. You will die today boy!” The Apache boy said, “Not today, for it is not a good day to die for me, but I am hunting, and you will taste better than deer meat.” Dragon laughed and charged towards the boy.

The boy pulled back on his bow and released an arrow.

The arrow went straight and true to Dragon’s heart area, but only one scale fell from his protected body. Dragon laughed again and continued to charge. The boy pulled back on his bow again and released a second arrow. The arrow hit the heart area, but only one scale fell down from its thick coat. The boy climbed a tree and shot at Dragon a third time, but this time, after another scale fell off, he could see the final layer of skin covering Dragon’s heart. As Dragon was climbing the tree, the boy shot his fourth arrow, which pierced the skin and went into Dragon’s heart. Dragon fell down from the tree and died on the ground below. The boy brought Dragon to his mother and she rejoiced over the great news. Painted Woman danced four cycles around Dragon and then they thanked the One Creator for the victory.

Some Native Americans have their heart located at the center, or even the right side, of their body. The Apache Warriors are taught to never assume one strike to the heart area will kill someone. They are told to stab the heart at least four times around the chest area to make sure their enemy is dead. Many times a strike hits the heart area, but misses the main vital areas by a hair width.

When an Apache strikes four times to the heart area and kills the enemy, it is called the Dragon Killer tactic.

“Foraging from the wild and gardening�

By Tammy Trayer - Trayer Wilderness

medicinal uses as well. I put up many of the plants for winter teas and for our winter apothecary.

Picking raspberries supplies you with wonderful edibles for jams, desserts and jellies, and the leaves make a great tea, especially for the women. Raspberry tea is very helpful with headaches, PMS, hormone and many women related issues.

The perfect combination for women is raspberry and peppermint tea, which not only is comforting for the stomach, but provides great relief in so many other ways. It is really important to know what parts of the plants are usable because, for example, elder berries are edible, but the leaves and stems are very toxic. So learn your plants, what is usable from the plant and how they can be utilized.

I have several go-to books for our edibles which can be found on our website under the resources tab.

Two of my passions this time of year on our homestead are gearing up for wild foraging and getting my seeds ready for planting and getting our garden ready.

Spring begins our foraging season which will head all the way into late fall. The dandelions are first on my list and a favorite. The whole dandelion plant is usable and edible. I enjoy teas, salads, infused oils, and jellies. I dry the leaves and flowers for teas during the winter months and I dehydrate and dry the roots for medicinal uses as well.

Gardening is equally important to me; this year especially.

This year is our 1st year here on our homestead that we can have a full blown garden and our greenhouse will be completed. We have a very short growing season here so being able to utilize our greenhouse will be very helpful in generating a good harvest this year.

Everything I plant is edible, from herbs, to vegetables and

Morel mushrooms and coral mushrooms will be next on the list of desired edibles. The morel mushrooms are like the steak of the wild. We will spend a day foraging, head home and fill the skillet with the mushrooms, garlic, our season salt and butter. They are gone in no time and things could easily go from bad to ugly if the portions are not divided up equally!

I forage so much from the wild including huckleberries, elder berries, raspberries, stinging nettle, violets, rose flowers and hips, yarrow, mullein, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, fireweed, comfrey, chamomile, echinacea and the list just continues. We forage whatever we can find and whatever we can get our hands on. There is always caution to be heeded when foraging from the wild because many plants have an evil twin which is either poisonous or sometimes deadly.

Proper plant identification is extremely important and we often suggest that you find someone local that is familiar to help you learn to properly identify things.

Once you learn to forage from the wild you will also want to take the time to learn the many uses for each plant so you are not wasting the free God given resources. Every plant that we forage has nutritional benefits, but they also have

even the flowers in my flower beds. Not only do I get to prepare the soil, plant the seeds and watch them grow, but I will also get organic edibles and harvest and can everything we grow for our winter cache. Your garden could also be a good bartering tool and way of making income currently as well as in the future.

Planting with heirloom seeds is very important. These seeds have not been genetically modified and can be saved every year which will produce year after year so it is an investment that will continue to grow (pun intended). There are many great resources available for your heirloom seeds. You can find a full list on the resources page of my website.

Stocking up on jars, rings and Tattler seals is important.

Tattler seals are able to be reused indefinitely which will allow you to can into the future even if our modern day conveniences are no longer available.

Yard sales, thrift stores and estate sales may be a great resource for your canning equipment. You can purchase used pressure canners, you just need to make sure they are in good shape. The seals and gauges can be replaced and the gauges can be checked at your local county extension office which can be located here: http:// www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/.

I have many videos and books on canning that I recommend on our website under the resources section for your reference.

These are all things that you, yourself can embrace. There is some work involved to forage, harvest and put up your

food, but you will not find finer edibles and imagine the money saved in producing such foods for yourself.

Now is the time to embrace these things. Start slowly by learning and incorporating a little bit at a time as not to overwhelm yourself and to allow you to enjoy it each step of the way.

Visit our site for more information: http://trayerwilderness.com

Scrap yard Prepping What you can purchase at your local scrap yard to protect yourself for the future.

By David Pearce of Naples Iron and Salvage It will be much safer if you are wearing boots and pants you don’t mind getting greasy or dirty, and so on.

What else to bring…(Possible paragraph header) CASH, gloves, rags, and most of all: some tools (no they won’t loan you those).

Which brings us to “Proper scrap yard etiquette”...

What?

Yes, there is a right and a wrong way to behave in any business. Let’s look at some of the ways an ideal buyer would properly conduct themselves.

An often untapped resource is your local scrap yard. A scrap yard is a business that buys and sells metal for a profit. These businesses are mostly family operated and stocked full of interesting items that could be used to protect you and your family in the future.

You may ask “Like what?” and “Do they sell to the public?” These are good questions.

Assuming they do, let’s get a few fundamental things out of the way first.

The first step is locating scrap yards in your area. Check online and in your local yellow pages first, as well as with nearby body shops, machine shops, and any other business which would generate scrap metal materials.

Next, call the businesses to see if they allow “pickers” or if they sell to the public. Many do, but some larger companies will not because of insurance liability reasons. If they don’t, there are likely more to choose from in your area; say thanks and move on.

What to wear… and not to wear.

(May want to use previous sentence as paragraph header) This may be obvious but don’t drive your new white Lexus into a scrap yard, wearing your open toed sandals, shorts, scarf, etc. If you find yourself lucky enough to rummage through the scrap metal pile unassisted, you will soon find out why.

Upon arriving at the yard, try to park in a designated visitor area, or at least out of the way of business traffic. This means do not block the scale or in and out flow. If in doubt, always ask “is it okay to park here?”

Check in at the office, leaving your tools in the vehicle.

Ask to verify that looking around is okay. You might also ask if they sell scrap by the pound or by the individual piece (in our scrap yard we sell both ways). If your children are with you, ask if they are allowed in the scrap area. There are many dangers in a scrap yard, including sharp objects, moving vehicles and equipment, and metal cutting with grinders, saws and torches. !

Whether you are looking for a 55 gallon barrel, barb wire, or plate steel... Ask! It may already be set aside for purchase. Some of the survival items a scrap yard might have include: •Cast iron pots, pans and cooking utensils •Lead and brass for reloading •Perimeter fencing (chain link, barbed wire, T posts, gates, wrought iron, and more) •Metal barrels and tanks for non-potable water and fuel storage •Radio towers or the materials to build one •Plate steel for bulletproofing •Aluminum sheet and boxes for Faraday cages •Tools (hand tools, axe heads, splitting wedges)

•Garden implements (rake heads, shovel heads, hoes and plows) •Rebar •Used 12v batteries (bring a tester, some are still good) So much more, just use your imagination... !

Blacksmiths, artists, welders, and craftsmen visit scrap yards regularly to find their materials. Many would rather pay a local small business owner less than 1/2 the money they would pay a big box store for something most likely made in China. !

If you find an auto part you need, you can save money by removing it yourself. That’s where the tools come in handy, but don’t fetch them and start pulling parts until somebody knows what you are doing. You may also need tools to disassemble things other than auto parts, but most yards have rules against walking around with tool boxes, as well as borrowing their tools.

When you have made your selections, always ask if there is a better deal for buying multiple items (if they don’t sell by the pound only). Keep in mind the yard may reserve the right to sell or not to sell whatever they choose, and some items may not be for sale. Some yards may also be willing to barter or trade, which can make purchasing even more fun.

Finally, remember: scrap yards are the ultimate in recycling- RECYLCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE. There are many projects that can be completed for a fraction of the cost if the materials are obtained at a scrap yard, so be thankful that such places exist. Maybe in upcoming issues we can delve into what we can make out of salvaged materials.

Food shortage & prices may make you rethink homesteading

By Rick Beach, Wolf-Beach Farms Many factors in both the US and overseas are beginning to affect food prices. Food prices have steadily increased over the years yet there is more “food” being produced.

When I say “food” not all of the food being produced is either consumable by humans or eaten here in the US.

The food issues are also affecting alcohol production.

Hard cider breweries are having a harder time keeping up with demand. Due to lack of heirloom varieties and increased demand Cider production may feel the hit as well.

Here in the Midwest and other locations the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has taken its toll on pork farms. It is estimated that 10% of the pork production has been removed due to the illness.

“Removed” - defined as being either killed from the virus or killed to prevent further spread of the illness. Once a Confined Animal Feed Operation (CAFO) has been infected it spreads extremely fast. As a result pork and my beloved bacon prices will be increasing. Pork prices were already on the rise due to increased feed costs.

When you add in the political tensions between the US and other countries where agriculture is a significant export you are looking at all around food increases not only here in the US but across the world. Then add to that the continual erosion of the US dollar, the mismanagement by our government of our debt, and our problematic monetary system and we are looking at massive price increases over the next couple of years.

Across the globe droughts in some areas and flooding in others has played havoc with grain prices. The poor crop production is not only here but UK, Russia, Australia, and China.

I know several larger scale farmers or people working the farms here in the US. Weather plays a big part on when you can plant, when you can harvest. Some days they are in the fields 20 hours a day or on a rotation to keep the equipment running 24 hrs due to the weather window.

The fields are too wet to get machinery out, or too much wind, or the ground is still frozen. This winter did not help many I know.

The hard winter for many here in the US has also hit the tropical crops such as avocados, oranges, lemons and limes. Florida was hit hard by colder than normal temperatures and as a result the orange crops will be affected. For example the number of dropped fruit has increased due to the colder than normal winter, but another problem is facing Florida. A virus spread by an insect is hitting the citrus production hard.

California is in a world all its own. While it once was the breadbasket of America, this year it may be the cause of food price increases. The drought, and lack of snowfall in the mountains (supplies much of the water to the growing valley) has caused some municipalities to turn off the water to orchards and farmland. The drought is not only impacting the fruits and vegetables but also beef and dairy. California was once a major exporter of dairy products to the rest of the world; many ranchers are now sending in the herds for slaughter because it is simply too costly to feed them during the drought.

What does all this gloom and doom about food prices, poor yields, and droughts have to do with permaculture?

EVERYTHING! These problems go to show that our current food production system is unsustainable and this is just the tip of the iceberg. You can reduce your food bills and dependency on what is placed in front of you claiming to be edible. Grow your own. You can do this even if you have only an apartment and no windows.

Stop growing lawns and treating them with mass amounts of chemicals and fertilizers so that you have a “green carpet”. You are doing more harm than good.

What does green carpet do for you? Absolutely nothing.

Even if you were growing it to feed to animals, you have contaminated it to the point it is toxic in order to keep out weeds and make sure it stays green. Permaculture is a method to not only produce for your family but can also be a supplemental income source.

This year our family has made the biggest leap into food production expansion than we ever have before, due mainly to what we see happening here in the US and the world. We are getting dairy goats because we cannot afford to pay $6-8 per gallon of milk that we estimate will be coming in the near future. We have been tracking prices of the food we purchase, and a 5lb bag of cheese went from $8.99 2 years ago to $15.99 recently. If prices like this continue we cannot afford to still eat like we have and cook from scratch. Having dairy goats eliminates the need to purchase cheeses (we like many different kinds: cheddar, cottage cheese, hard cheese, cheese sticks, ricotta etc), butter, yogurts, milk, sour cream, and ice-cream. Add to that the ability to use the goat milk to make soaps and lotions and that is a huge reduction. We can now control what goes into each of these products and we are independent of the price

increases. We are adding amaranth to our crops to reduce grain needs. We have expanded from our own yard, to using two other growing spaces so that we will be able to have in abundance.

When you look at the prices week to week it may only go up a few pennies. Not enough for many to recognize. But when you start looking over the years there are some massive differences. I am in my mid 30’s and I can remember gas under $1.00/gal, bread under $1.00/loaf and being in amazement when a grocery cart full of food was less than $100.00, and to go over $100 meant that we were having a big party, or cookout. Today the same cart will run $3-400. While we only shop every 2-3 months we still only spend around $250 for a family of 6. Why, because we cook from scratch, as well as grow and make much of our own food. We want to see our grocery bill be less than $100 every 3 months if possible. This is NOT unreasonable if you eat seasonally, cook from scratch, and produce much of your own food. I have heard every

excuse you are coming up with, because I have said them myself. “I don’t have time. I don’t know how. It takes too long, etc, etc.” This is utter BS. Turn the TV off, get off the couch, stop going out to eat so much, and eat real food vs. junk that is pre-made out of a box. I was there a few years ago and can tell you it can be done. It isn’t overnight, it is one step at a time, and it can only lead to good things.

Author’s suggested sites and reports to validate his points: PEDV News Wheat Drought Crops US California

Cider Citrus Production by State Citrus Virus Price Basket USDA food prices over the years

Harvesting Food in the Wild

By Donna Miller, Your Preparation Station Most of the so-called domesticated foods grown in backyard gardens and commercial nurseries today started out as wild foods. In years past Native Americans and others would routinely go on food foraging expeditions to look for wild edibles. The people familiar with the area knew the growing seasons and where the foods typically grew. They may have even moved their camps to certain areas when they knew food could be harvested.

Cattail pollen

After a while moving from place to place to follow the foods was not practical so someone decided to try and move the foods instead and that is when nomadic people began to stay in one place and start growing wild edibles literally outside their own back doors.

There hundreds if not more species of plants that are edible in the world. The true sense of edible is that they are not poisonous to humans but it does not necessarily mean the plant tastes good or provides any nutritional value.

There are many (and it must be stressed MANY) plants and berries that are deadly to humans so before consuming any plant, berry or nut found in the wild, you must know for an absolute certainty that it is safe to consume.

Pictures and descriptions are not enough information for you to be able to identify many of the edibles so it is important that you research thoroughly and gain firsthand knowledge of all plant life in your area.

The plants listed below are some of the most common edible wild plants found in the world and many of you are familiar with a lot of them but do you realize they are edible and quite good in most cases.

Cattail

Cattails are commonly found around waterways and they are easily identified. The roots and stalks that grow close to the ground are the best part. The large flower, which is easily spotted, will be covered with yellow pollen in the early spring and many people collect it for flour or use it as a flavoring/thickening for sauces or gravy. The roots and stalks are best when boiled.

Burdock

LINKS

Burdock to most people is a nuisance weed but actually is cultivated for its roots in many parts of the world. The roots are typically eaten by cutting up into chunks and boiling in water or sautĂŠing with oil in a frying pan. In a survival situation, they can be eaten raw but will have a bitter taste late in the summer.

ground into flour many times and certain natural food stores routinely stock arrowroot flour.

Dandelion

Dandelions are very common and all parts of the plant are edible. The leaves can be eaten raw just like any green, or boiled or even made in wine. They are best if eaten before the buds flower.

Indian Strawberry

Black Birch

Birch trees are a source of food if you are in a survival situation. The inner bark (cambium) can be eaten raw, fried, boiled or ground into flour or paste and the leaves can be steeped for tea.

Arrow Root Arrowroot grows typically in wets areas and many encourage its growth because the roots are very good. It is

Some of you may look at this picture and say that is a wild strawberry. There really is no such thing as a wild strawberry in the technical sense. In years past, farmers and others may have cultivated berries such as strawberries, blackberries and so on then abandoned the farmstead or home for whatever reason and yet the plants carried on. Certain plants (like the strawberry) drop seeds, which allow them to repopulate. Birds consume the berry and then deposit the seeds in various places.

The picture above is an Indian Strawberry, which many consider a weed. The berry is edible but the taste does not resemble a strawberry and you can tell the difference by the color of the flower. A strawberry as we know it has white flowers and not yellow ones. The plant is invasive and once started is hard to get rid of, if you want to get rid of it. It makes good ground cover and attracts birds and small mammals which many like to encourage. It will crowd out other invasive weeds in yards and flower beds.

Considerations Over 80 percent of all wild mushrooms are poisonous and it is recommended that unless you are an expert that you never eat wild mushrooms. Ninety percent of all yellow and white berries are toxic to humans.

Myth: Just because birds and other animals eat the berries and plants does not mean it is safe for you to eat. Several examples of this include the moonseed berry, which birds love but are deadly to humans. Box turtles eat mushrooms that are toxic to humans, which mean the box turtle is one of only several reptiles that cannot be eaten by humans because of their diet of foods toxic to humans. The toxin from the mushroom is present in the turtles' flesh.

Moonseed (poisonous and can be fatal)

Strawberry Pine trees are not pictured in this article because of how common they are and easily identified. The bark of all species of pine can be eaten, as well as the nuts produced by many varieties of pine. The inner bark is cut into strips and eaten raw or roasted and eaten like potato chips. The needles can be steeped into a refreshing tea and pine nuts can be eaten raw or roasted. Pine resin is routinely chewed on just like gum and many state that it has medicinal properties.

The pictures and information presented here is for informational purposes only. It is up to you to make sure you know what is edible and what is not. Never consume any plant, berry or nut unless you are certain.

The author is not liable for the action of the reader. This article is not meant in any fashion to replace a full knowledge and education of wild edibles. The intents and purpose of this article is merely to introduce the ability and availability of foraged food.

The pictures and information presented here is for informational purposes only. It is up to the reader to make sure he/she knows what is edible and what is not. Suggested books and courses for more in-depth study and identification can be found: HERE

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In Pursuit Of Wildcrafting By: Ken Youngquist, Survivaltek Up until recent years, before the increased attention to "prepping", most folks didn't have a passing thought about what would happen if their food chain was to be broken by disaster or politics. But now this concept has come to the forefront and folks are trying to do something about it. One approach is to become more informed about edibles and medicinals that surround us.

nutritional and medicinal properties. In addition, we had the opportunity to handle and taste various plants, both in the raw and cooked form. One of the things that I enjoy about gatherings of common interest groups is that there is a wealth of knowledge and experience by those who attend.

This is one of the reasons why I enjoy being an exhibitor at various events, because I learn so much from those I meet.

In my pursuit of more knowledge, I attended a class at my local Community College where a guest speaker, Heidi Berkovitz, a Clinical Herbalist, held a class on these very subjects. Although I offer a variety of information on my edible page, there is much more to learn, and, as in most educational endeavors, we really need to adopt “life-longlearning�.

I would encourage you to contact your local college, library or park's visitors center in order to find classes like this where you can learn from experienced folk about edibles.

There are often flora walks that will show you what grows locally in your area. You can also acquire recipes that will expand your palate and perhaps allow you to stretch your food budget while being prepared for any future interruption in the commercial food delivery system in the event of a natural disaster. And of course, for those who pursue living off the grid, this knowledge can be invaluable.

The class viewed a 149 page Power Point presentation containing important guidelines, pictures, descriptions and recipes of various edible plants, highlighting their

Dehydrating Ground Beef Safely

By Vickilynn Haycraft of Real Food Living Dehydrating food is one of the oldest and safest forms of food preservation as long as simple, but important, safety guidelines are followed. These guidelines are essential when dehydrating ground beef or other meats such as venison, bison or ground turkey. Dehydrated ground beef, also known as "Hamburger Rocks" can be stored in a vacuumsealed container for several years.

or you could use a salad spinner, or place the rinsed meat back into the cleaned pan and cook until dry to remove any remaining moisture.

•

Pre-heat dehydrator to 155-160 degrees for 30 minutes.

•

Place cooked and rinsed ground beef on dehydrator trays. It is easiest to use the fruit leather sheets or parchments to avoid the small particles falling through the dehydrator screens.

• Dehydrate until completely dried, inside and out. They will resemble small pebbles. This may take 8-12 hours, depending on your dehydrator and the humidity in your home.

• Let the Hamburger Rocks cool.

• Place Hamburger Rocks into sterilized and dried canning jars to 2 inches below the rim.

• Place oxygen absorbers into the filled jars and place sterilized and dried canning jar lids and tighten, OR use a vacuum seal the jars with jar lid attachment. Write the date on the jar or lid.

• Store jars in a dark, cool, dry place, away from heat, extreme cold, moisture or light.

1 cup of Hamburger Rocks dehydrated equal one POUND of ground beef rehydrated

To Rehydrate Hamburger Rocks: Image by Rex Roof via Flickr

• Remove Hamburger Rocks from jar and place into a bowl •

Cover Hamburger Rocks with boiling beef broth or water.

To Dehydrate Ground Beef:

•

Cover bowl with a lid to retain steam.

•

Choose extra-lean ground beef, venison, bison or turkey.

•

•

Cook plain ground beef (with no added fat or seasonings) until completely cooked.

Allow Hamburger Rocks to sit until tender. Strain, season and use like cooked ground beef.

•

•

Rinse all fat off with boiling water by placing cooked beef in a colander lined with cheesecloth. This may take several rinses to make sure all fat is removed. *Removing all fat is key to safely dehydrating and storing ground beef. Pat dry to remove excess moisture,

Or, you can simply add the Hamburger Rocks to soups, stews, casseroles (with liquid), chili, sauces or broths and allow Hamburger Rocks to rehydrate while simmering.

•

Enjoy!

Pastor’s Perspective: Preparation through Emotional Unity

By Pastor Jeff Rowland, Jeff Rowland Ministry Think about the emotional stability that would be lost be facing economic collapse. Think about our emotional stability during all-out war. Can we even imagine the emotional structure of a nation or of any people during famine or a breakout of disease?

characterized by the loss of peace and rest in our soul.

Jesus says, if we will come to him. That is we place our faith in Him and develop relationship with him, then he will take the pieces of our self and put us at one with or in unity with our self.

Preparing the necessities for life is only part of true preparation. You can have everything you need for survival but if we haven’t prepared our heart then we will radically be changed in our personality and begin to respond to adversity in ways we had not previously known was in us. One of the things I have learned concerning walking out my own salvation through Jesus Christ is that I was not only introduced to Him as my Redeemer and Lord, but He started me on a journey to introduce me to me. The more I know about me the less impressed I am. I’ve learned my vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and what I see lets me know that I need Jesus more today than ever.

The truth of this verse is that in Christ Jesus alone can we find true emotional stability in order to cause us to think right, feel right, and act right. This preparation could be the most important step anyone could ever make. What if I could introduce you to one who could rain bread down from the sky to feed you and bring water out of a rock for your thirst? Would you be interested in getting to know Him? What if I could introduce you to someone who could give you water that you would never thirst again? What about someone who could stop the wind from blowing and calm the sea?

The scriptures teach us a truth concerning the way we function as people. We do the things we do because we think the way we think, and we think the way we think because we feel the way we feel. The only way to change what we do is to change the way we think, and the only way to change the way we think is to change the way we feel. Now add the adversity that is sure to come in our lives and we have fed our emotions chaos and confusion which in turn will affect our thought life and will change our behavior.

The only way we can make good decisions is to stabilize our emotions to feel in agreement with truth so that we can think thoughts of truth therefore actions of truth will come forth. Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” It is simply amazing the power that statement has to those who possess it.

What our Lord is saying is that we are fragmented and torn apart by the process of life. This fragmentation has caused the loss of rest and peace. If the challenges we are facing could be described as anything they would be

I got to tell you that is where real peace begins. He is such a one that has all the power of heaven and earth.

Get prepared today by allowing Him to set you at one with yourself and bring the stability to your own emotions, which is needed for your heart to be ready for the days ahead.

THANK YOU! The Launch of PREPARE Magazine has been a labor of love, sharing of helpful training and ideas, and a partnership with some wonderful people. We are so thankful for the support and kindness of so many people who have joined with us in the journey and contributed to the creation and growth of PREPARE Magazine. We want to share our sincere and humble gratitude for everyone who has shared their support and encouragement. We simply could not have launched PREPARE without you!

On behalf of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and staff, we wish to extend our heart-felt appreciation to all of you. We believe there is a very special mission for PREPARE Magazine, and are so pleased to be yoked with wonderful people who wish to sow encouragement and help to others in the Preparedness Journey.

Again… To all of you who have contributed and shared financial resources, preparedness training, advertising, testimonials, and encouragement, please know that we greatly appreciate you – and look forward to serving on your behalf.

Joseph and Donna Miller

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Our Contributors...

David S Pearce a NC Native, has been buying, selling and trading antiques, art and vintage auto parts since age 13. He especially enjoys finding valuable items among common ones.

David is the owner of Naples Iron and Salvage in Naples, NC. Prior to this Venture he worked over 25 years in the fields of Military and Law Enforcement. This includes Security Specialist, Pilot, Patrol and Swat Officer. David has an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and other certifications.

Snake Blocker is a member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, is an accomplished martial artists and Apache Historian. He has served in the U.S. Navy since June 2001 and did tours in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the featured instructor in several videos and promotes his signature line of survival products and knives. Snake has been featured on Deadliest Warrior “Apaches versus Gladiators” and Doomsday Preppers “In the Hurt Locker”. He hosts “Snake Blocker Survival” on Preparedness Radio Network.

Donna Miller is a teacher, author, sought-after speaker and trainer. She has been both a guest and host on internet and broadcast radio talk-shows and in television interviews. She enjoys teaching online and local classes & ladies retreats. Donna is happily married and has three adult children, and a daughter in-law. She and her husband (Joseph) are the founders Millers Grain House and YourPreparation Station

Reverend Jeff Rowland

is an Evangelist, Preacher, Author and Accomplished Songwriter. Jeff sang with his family until joining the US Army as a member of the 82nd Airborne.

While in the military, Jeff surrendered into the ministry and was ordained in 1985. After leaving the Army, Jeff has served as a Pastor and Evangelist, and now travels full-time, extensively across the USA sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message God has given him for these Last Days.

JeffRowlandMinistry.com

Craig L. Johnson works in EMS as an EMT-B in Texas. He attributes his knowledge of the outdoors, survival, prepping, and self-reliance to many years in the Boy Scouts and working for more than a decade for both Arkansas and Texas State Parks and Wildlife as a park ranger. He is an Eagle Scout, a degreed Forester, Wildland Firefighter, and is currently pursuing his paramedic certification. Craig enjoys teaching others about firearms, plants and gardening, survival skills and more. His Blog: http://rangermedicnurd.wordpress.com.

LaMar Alexander

is an off-grid Homesteader, author, videographer and designer of offgrid cabins and solar projects. He has dedicated his life to helping others to live a simple and sustainable lifestyle. You can connect with LaMar at his website: Simple Solar Homesteading and his Youtube Channel.

Rick Beach is a recent Graduate of Geoff Lawton's PDC sharing knowledge with whoever cares to listen or read it. He is the Co-Founder/Speaker of Midwest Sustainable Education Conference and Co-Owner of Wolf-Beach Farms. Rick is a jack of all trades when it comes to prepping and gardening. After converting suburbia 0.2 acre into a homestead, he is looking to do the same on a 6 acre homestead.

Ken Youngquist

is the creator of Survivaltek, a website dedicated to teaching the ways and means to survive. From his youth, Ken was captivated by primitive living skills, and in his adulthood was intrigued by the television Series MacGyver. The result has been the study and practice of survival skills and the desire to pass on the mantle of preparedness to others. You can visit and learn more at: http://survivaltek.com/

Tom Linden of the UK Preppers Radio Network, was an N.C.O. instructor with the Royal Observer Corps for 12 years, specializing in the Effects of Nuclear Weapons. He was given exemption from the entry exam due to his level of experience and became a member of the Institute of Civil Defense giving him the appellation M.I.C.D. He was, for 4 years, a North Yorkshire County Council Community Defense Adviser and ran a survival school in North Yorkshire in the 80’s

Vickilynn Haycraft

is the hostess of the Get Real – Get Prepared radio show on PRN. She is the author of: “Wrapping It Up!” and co-author of “Naturally Healthy Cuisine, Real Food for Real Families”.

Vickilynn is a sought-after independent product tester and book reviewer delivering accurate, honest, and trustworthy reviews on products and books for the whole family. Subscribe to Vickilynn at: RealFoodLiving.com, National Product Review Examiner, National Family Preparedness Examiner.

Tammy Trayer

is a freelance writer, soon to be author, radio show host on the Survival Mom Radio Network, web designer specializing in the outdoors, entrepreneur, pioneer, avid hunter, outdoorswoman, homesteader, homeschool mother and wife. She, her husband & Mountain Man of her dreams and family live traditionally off-grid and enjoy educating on autism, gluten free and dairy free cooking, self-reliance, wilderness survival and so much more. She can be found at http://TammyTrayer.com & http:// MountainWomanJournals.com as well as http://YouTube.com/MountainWomanJournals.

Community Connections These groups have meetings in June/July

PACIFIC Edible Gardening & Sustainable Living Group Long Beach, CA Summer Seed Planting Sat June 7, 10:00 AM Moses Lake Preppers Moses Lake, WA Monthly meet-up and training meeting Sat Jun 21, 5:00 PM

SOUTHWEST Austin Primitive Skills and Sustainable Survival Austin, TX Blowgun Tournament Sun Jun 08, 9:00 AM Urban Farms and Survival Phoenix Phoenix, AZ Tree Clinic (Walnuts, Acorn Butter, Pepper, Shade, & MORE) Sat May 24, 8:00 AM DFW Herbalists and Organic Food Growers McKinney, TX Urban Permaculture and Permaculture Principles Sat Jun 14, 2:00 PM

NORTHWEST Colorado Springs Urban Homesteading Colorado Springs, CO Native Plant Hike: Take a Walk on the Wild Side Sat Jun 07, 8:30 AM

MIDWEST Central Ohio Self-Sufficiency & Sustainability Columbus, OH Flying J Farm Tour Sun Jun 22, 2:00 PM Cincinnati Survival/Preparedness Group Cincinnati, OH Preparedness 101 Sat Jun 07, 10:00 AM

SOUTHEAST North Central Florida Preparedness It's Hurricane Season! Are you ready?

Reddick, FL Sat Jun 07, 7:00 PM Fayetteville Preppers Fayetteville, AR Living Off Grid - THE RETURN!!!

Sun June 15, 2:00 PM

NORTHEAST Cape Cod Homesteading/Prepping Meetup Sandwich, MA Potluck and Planning!!

Sat Jun 07, 12:30 PM

OUTSIDE USA The Toronto Survivalism Group Toronto, ON Prepper Legal Ramifications, Rights and Freedoms Sun Jun 08, 4:00 PM

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