Prepping for Special Diets...

I happened upon a most interesting article this morning by a lady that seems to have it wound up pretty tight.  Since Celiac and other food intolerance issues seem to be in the forefront these days, I felt that I would share this. 

Be sure to check her out - Stephanie Dayle 
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/author/Stephanie-Dayle

I'm fairly certain she won't mind my pilferage of her information...I just want to make sure that I get proper credit where it is due!!   I've kept all the links and so forth, hopefully they will work properly.  :) 

Basics of Gluten Free Prepping

By Stephanie Dayle - Mon Apr 23, 7:48 am

Nearly three years ago, after a serious car accident, I began having serious lower intestinal issues whenever I ate.  After a while, I sought the help of my doctor who ran me through a barrage of tests, one of which was a celiac panel.  All came back negative.  So I was given a couple of prescriptions and a diagnosis for IBS.  When the meds I was given failed to have any real effect on me, I saw a specialist who took a look at my celiac panel and declared that while I didn't have the celiac disease (that much was very true), I was still "gluten intolerant."  My regular doctor back pedaled by saying I had a "false negative" test - while my specialist said that there are no "false negatives" there are only doctors who don't know how to order or read the test.
Apparently I've been gluten intolerant my whole life and the stress related to my accident exasperated my gluten intolerance symptoms which, until that time, had been fairly dormant.  No more wheat, rye or barley I was told.  For a little while, I about starved because I didn't know what to do, let alone how this would effect our emergency preparedness plans.  But he was right, my worst symptoms disappeared within days of ditching the gluten and other symptoms (like fatigue and anemia), took a little longer to go away but within a year I was back to my normal healthy self.

Gliadin: The small part of the gluten protein that people react to. Public Domain Image

Quick Review of Gluten Intolerance and Celiac - It's Important to Know the Facts
Celiac Disease is "villous atrophy" (the little finger like structures in your small intestines that absorb nutrients have become short and blunted due to your own immune system attacking it)  triggered by gluten intolerance, however, it is NOT "gluten intolerance".  Celiac Disease results in an autoimmune reaction (where your immune system attacks the body as opposed to the gluten).
Non-celiac "Gluten Intolerance" is when you don’t have villous atrophy yet, but you still have problems triggered by gluten.  "Gluten intolerance" is an immune reaction to the gluten.  Both of the reactions for Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance involve IgA and/or IgG antibodies in your body reacting to Gliadin.  Gliadin is part of the gluten protein that is present in wheat and several other cereals, such as rye and barley.
"Lactose Intolerance" is also different from 'gluten intolerance.'  When you are lactose intolerant, you are missing an enzyme you need to digest 'lactose (a sugar)' in milk.  So when you consume a dairy product, it digests very poorly.  Gluten Intolerance is an Immune Reaction.  They are VERY DIFFERENT.
A "Wheat Allergy" is also not the same thing as 'gluten intolerance'.  Wheat allergies are even more difficult to diagnose, as your standard 'celiac panel' doesn't even cover that one.  Although the symptoms can be very similar to 'gluten intolerance', they are two different medical conditions - someone with a 'wheat allergy' may eat products like Rye Bread which has plenty of gluten in it, and be just fine .  A more in depth 'food allergy'  blood test for IgA, IgG, and also IgE antibody levels to gluten and also to wheat would need to be performed to pinpoint that one.

Millet - Public Domain Image

Gluten Free Prepping 
We make almost all of our own food from scratch, to eat, and to store.  That way, there is no question in my mind as to whether I can eat it or not.  We put many different kinds of grains in storage, not just wheat.  When we do buy freeze dried food, it has to be special 'gluten free'  food.  I have also stocked up on a few extras to treat myself, in case I accidentally get into some gluten.  Here are some things to prep:

• Rice: Not rice pilaf, as it contains gluten, - plain white rice, we have doubled the recommended amount due to it being something I can eat and because you can grind it into flour for baking.
• Fruits and Veggies: Any fruits and veggies you put away yourself through canning and dehydrating will naturally be free of gluten and ready for you eat or make into something else.
• Beans: Besides being a great survival food, some beans also make great baking flour when ground down.
• GF Macaroni and Spaghetti Noodles: These can be purchased relatively cheaply bulk at WinCo stores, through certain co-ops, or individually through health food stores and/or specialty sections of your grocery store.  Notice how I am not mentioning "Whole Paycheck" stores, aka Whole Foods, there is a reason for the nickname!
• Sorghum: Aka Milo, it is a grain can be stored whole then ground for later use as flour.
• Millet: Can also be stored as a whole grain and then ground into flour, it also can be cooked up like couscous or rice).
• Buckwheat: Can also be stored whole and cooked up like rice as Kasha or ground into a flour that can be used to make breads, wraps, and noodles.
• Oats: Are in fact gluten free naturally, but are often cross contaminated as they are usually processed with the same equipment as wheat.  Therefore, care needs to be taken to ensure you are purchasing certified gluten free oats for storage.  You can cook oats up for oatmeal, use it in cereal, and grind it down to make oat flour.
• Corn: Dried corn can be store for long periods of time, it can be rehydrated and eaten, or ground into meal, starch or flour).
• Potatoes: Are easy to grow, can be dehydrated and canned, they can also be liquified and made into potato starch which is often called for in gluten free cooking.
• Tortillas, store Masa Harina: Found in the ethnic foods section of your grocery store, is almost always gluten free and you can make the best tortillas out of it adding only water.
• Soups: We make our own by either canning it or by using dehydrated ingredients to make soup kits.  But you can also purchase some for yourself see links below.
• Condensed Soups: We have a year's supply of condensed soup in a rotating system as they are just so convenient - Pacific Foods makes several wonderful MSG free, gluten free varieties.
• Meats: We use home canning as our main method for storing right now, freeze dried is just too expensive for us but it may be an option for you. (see below)  We store chicken, beef, tuna, hotdogs (Oscar Meyer and Hebrew National brands are both gluten free), ham, and brats.
• GF Flour Mixes: There are a lot of these on the market now, and there is no reason why you can't stock up some.  Just keep in mind that because they are 'pre-ground' flour mixes that their life span is more limited than whole grain.  If you freeze and re-freeze the mixes to kill any insect eggs, and seal them up properly, storing them in a cool dark place they could last up to three years.  But you will want to try to eat them before that time.  As with any other supply, keep your flour mixes in a rotation.  Eat the old stuff first and replace it with new stuff.
•  Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum and Gelatin: Since the gluten found in wheat is missing in gluten free baking, binding agents are needed to help hold the dough together.  These ingredients are handy to for anyone in case you are ever challenged with making bread or baked goods with a grain other than wheat.  They turn mission impossible into mission doable.  Xanthan gum is used to give the dough or batter a "stickiness" that would otherwise be achieved with the gluten.  Guar Gum also helps this process and is often used in conjunction with Xanthan Gum.  Plain powdered gelatin that one can find in the cooking section of the grocery store can also be added to GF breads to help achieve a "Xanthan Gum" like effect in bread.  Gelatin is cheaper than Xanthan Gum and has a longer shelf life making it an affordable prepping option.

Rolled Oats - Public Domain Image

First Aid Needs - Be Prepared to handle your symptoms in case  you can't get into gluten and can't see a doctor:
Since symptoms vary so widely - make sure your supplies are customized to treat your symptoms.

• Imodium: Loperamide
• Pepto-Bismol: Bismuth subsalicylate
• Ibuprofen: Helps with inflammation caused by the reaction.
• Peppermint: Leaves or Tea: Helps settle your stomach and discourages diarrhea.
• Vitamin B 100: Will provide a good 'pick me up' after a reaction to gluten if fatigue settles in.
• Electrolytes: For rehydrating after a reaction.

Gluten Free Skills
There two really important skills that should be learned if you are a gluten free prepper.  While not necessary for short term emergency preparedness, these skills will help to protect against hardship in the future and help you along your path to self -sufficiency.  One:  To cook from scratch with your gluten free grains,  and the other is:  To grow your own gluten free food, beyond meats and veggies.  Learning how to cook with gluten free grains is different than cooking with wheat.  There is a prominent learning curve, but, with some practice, you'll get the hang of it.  It is also important to be able to do without the aid of a mixer or bread maker.  This doesn't mean you have to do it all the time, but you should at least know that you can do it if you need to.  Next, find a grain that you enjoy, can cook well, and that grows well in your area (for me that's buckwheat, others might be millet or sorghum) and learn how to grow and harvest it.  Visit your local county extension office, explain to them that you would like to grow whatever grain it is that you picked out, and would like some information on it.  Not only will they have information that you can use, they also may be able to sell you seeds at a discounted rate.

Augason Farms Gluten Free Products - See Link Below

Here are some links to help you find some great gluten free prepping products.
http://www.azurestandard.com/ Bulk natural food store and co-op, meet all of your GF grain and bulk food requirements here.
http://www.wildernessdining.com/ Short and long term food systems, plus they have gluten free freeze dried meals for your bug out bags.
http://augasonfarms.com/  Individual and long term kits of excellent gluten free, freeze dried food, dehydrated food, and bread mixes.
http://www.freezedryguy.com/ All Natural gluten free soup mixes.
http://www.glutenfreeemergencykits.com/ Short term and long term gluten free emergency kits.
http://www.gopicnic.com  Small meal packs that are good for short term storage, vehicle kits, camping, and bug out bags.

Any questions on gluten free prepping? Ask away in the comment section! I will respond to questions as soon as possible.

Links for more information about Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease. 

Healthier Without Wheat by Stephen Wangen - Book
Gluten Intolerance Explained Slideshow - Slideshow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celiac_disease - Celiac Disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten_intolerance - Gluten Intolerance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliadin - Gliadin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmunity - Autoimmune response
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten - Gluten
Click Here to Visit My Blog!

So, there you have it - some seriously complete information on gluten do's and don't - and a whole passle of info on how to get around having to deal with wheat.  

Rational, Positive, Creative....and gluten-wise! 
Tabby 

The Humble Potatoe...

Spuds, taters, dirt apples, pomme de terre - pick one.  They are all essentially the same thing.  Even though there are most likely as many varieties of potatoes as there are ways to cook 'em. 

In my in-box this morning was a fine little article on WHY everyone should learn how to grow them....

I get a regular newsletter from the nice folks as Off The Grid News...although an American site, they have some great information.

You can find their site here:    Off The Grid News 

I present to you - courtesy of Off The Grid News - a few compelling reasons that our humble little spud should be YOUR next BFF.



If you could choose just one crop to grow to feed your family in tough times, the potato would be ideal. Potatoes may have a humble reputation, but when it comes to surviving in tough times, they're superstars. Here are eight reasons why.
Reason #1: They're easy to grow and require no machinery or processing
Potatoes are easy for one person to grow and harvest. Growing a family plot of potatoes requires minimal labor and attention. No heavy machinery needed! Unlike grain crops, potatoes don't need to be milled, threshed, combined, or undergo any other processing. You just pull them out of the earth, brush off the dirt, and cook them.
Reason #2: Potatoes are packed with nutrition
Potatoes get a bad rap, but they're actually an excellent source of important nutrients. A typical potato contains over half the day's requirement of vitamins C and B6, and almost half of the potassium. They're also a good source of fiber, folate, niacin, thiamin, magnesium, manganese, and more.
Reason #3: Potatoes are a healthful alternative to grains and beans
Many pre-packaged survival foods rely on grains and beans... but for some folks, that can be a problem. Potatoes are more easily digestible than beans, which often require soaking. For people with gluten sensitivities or who don't do well with grains, potatoes are the perfect alternative.
Reason #4: In a TEOTWAWKI scenario, they provide sorely needed calories
In a total meltdown, you will be doing far more manual labor than you do now. You'll be walking or biking everywhere when gasoline prices skyrocket. You'll be growing your own food. If power is down for extended periods, you won't have machines to do laundry, dishes, or cleaning. You'll be chopping wood for heat. And all that extra effort requires more calories. Home grown potatoes, which require minimal labor, can provide all the extra calories your family needs in a complete off-the-grid lifestyle.
Reason #5: They can be grown even when growing space is limited
It doesn't require much land at all to grow potatoes, but if you live somewhere where there's virtually no ground to till, you can still grow them. People grow potatoes in window boxes, food-grade buckets, cardboard boxes, tall homemade containers, and more.
Reason #6: Potatoes keep for months
Kept at the proper temperature in an old-fashioned root cellar, potatoes will last for months. (Keep them away from onions and garlic, however, or they'll spoil faster.) And if you're worried about using them up before they start to go bad, you have another option... see Reason #7.
Reason #7: They're easy to dehydrate
Scrub 'em, slice 'em, and dehydrate them ... either in a dehydrator or in your oven. Dehydrated, potatoes take up less space and can be stored in airtight containers for very long periods of time. In fact, they'll last for ten years in a sealed #10 can.
Reason #8: Potatoes can be prepared in endless ways
Boil 'em, mash 'em, cook 'em in a stew ... fry them, scallop them, even make potato flour from them for baked goods. Make potato pancakes, potato dumplings, home fries ... even potato vodka!

I don't profess to be a master gardener in ANY capacity - however, I have been relatively successful in growing a few spuds for the house.   I have grown them in soil, in tires, in compost and grass clippings and in horse manure and straw.  Hands down the BEST quality were in good soil with not too much organic stuff.  But in a pinch, they'll set roots pretty much anywhere.  

I have also grown them from super-market purchases, seed potatoes and even a really good one begged from a supplier friend of mine.  

If you're an apartment dweller, you can actually purchase tall bags for growing them. 

Potato Grow Bags at Amazon

I personally have never tried the bags, but have read quite a bit about them.  I don't dwell in an overly urban environment, so space really isn't that much of an issue.  

As you can see (from the spectacular shot of my backyard weed experiment) two towers, of three tires each.  Each tower yielded roughly 20 lbs of potatoes with next to ZERO effort.



They're packed with nutrition, more or less idiot resistant to grow, and they keep through the winter (with a bit of proper storage) and kids just LOVE hunting for the elusive french fry gopher come time to harvest. 

Now that we can ALMOST see Spring...through the snowflakes....it's time to look to the great outdoors and see what you can do to feed yourself.  



Rational, Positive, Creative....and hungry now...
Tabby

  

BOOK REVIEW...The Prepper's Pocket Guide

Well, as promised, here we go.

A little before Christmas 2012, I was approached by Bernie Carr, Author, Prepper and the owner of The Apartment Prepper . 

Apartment Prepper's primary focus is prepping (and other smart things to do) in an URBAN environment. 

When Bernie asked me if I wouldn't mind reviewing the book in exchange for a free copy of it, I jumped at the chance.  I'd never been asked to comment on a REAL BOOK!!  To say the least, I was tickled pink! 

I am, as many know, rather fond of REAL BOOKS.  To my mind, all the wisdom of all the worlds is contained in it's archives.  Books that you can see, and feel, and hold and cuddle up with are one of the few remaining vestiges of civilization in our increasingly tech-driven lives.  And yes, I do understand the irony of posting a BOOK review to an electronic blog.  :) 

So, in getting right to it -

Ms. Carr (yes, that's right....written by a GIRL!!) began her journey into prepping as a form of insurance.  Like most, we pay for some form of insurance and hope we never have to use it.  Well, for the price of LESS than a monthly insurance premium, Ms. Carr has assembled a step-by-step guide that ANYONE can use.   This little gem will run you about $12.95 (USD).  It's conveniently sized - the actual book is only 7 inches tall (17.7 cm) and 5 inches wide (12.6 cm).  YES, it DOES fit in your pocket (well, ok, it fits in MY pocket!)...

She touches on a host of topics most of us are familiar with, and some that the notion had never crossed my mind! 

Starting out by outlining common myth's and misconceptions about "preppers" she pops these bubbles one at a time with calm and rational logic.  Yes, there are some who prep for TEOTWAWKI or SHTF and have long and involved discussions on weaponry and camo-colored tool pouches, but Ms. Carr simply points out that although there are a few heavily-armed conspiracy types that think the world is out to get them....a disaster can be as simple as a job loss or sudden family illness.

Bernie adds her own thoughts and feelings to the guide as well.  This lends it a very personal touch.  I identified with her immediately in the feeling of being overwhelmed by the amounts of information out there and the marked lack of actual skill that I possessed at first.   

She has covered pretty much EVERYTHING you can think of.  Yes, there are 101 valid, well thought out, steps. 

Step 3 - Rethink YOUR mindset.   Step 10 - Create a Personal ECONOMIC disaster plan.  Yep, she even gets into the cashflow of things...

Step 93 - Learn to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee WITHOUT Electricity.  Here's one that had NEVER crossed my mind!  Although I do own a French Press and absolutely ADORE the rich, strong product...it had never occurred to me that I could purchase green coffee beans for less money, and learn how to roast them myself!

Organized into eight chapters, Ms. Carr has stuffed more information into this little book than most people have MRE's shoved in their Bug-Outs!   She covers skills, and canning, and EDC (every day carry) items.  Health and safety, how to make yogurt.  Container gardens and ice storms.  How to distill water, how build your own water filter.  How to navigate without a compass.  And she does this in the RIGHT kind of shoes!

If you know someone that is contemplating learning how to prep...this guide will make a great gift!  If you want to buck up on some skills, pick one up for yourself.  Since I don't live in a city, I couldn't just pop into the local Chapters to see if it was locally available, so here's the link:
 
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+prepper%27s+pocket+guide&sprefix=The+Prepper%27s+Pock%2Caps%2C350

There's even a rather comprehensive list of recommended reading.  You will NOT be disappointed.

You can even get the kids involved with a lot of the projects.  Growing small space gardens, learning how to make beef jerky, making your own jam.  Take a nature walk with the youngun's and together you can learn how to gather water by making a vegetation still.  A little science, an afternoon outdoors with the family, and a survival skill taught.  An afternoon in the sunshine that could one day save a life. 

For those of you in tight quarters, be sure to pop by her blog, she offers up a TON of information geared specifically towards those in urban settings and on set budgets.  Smart, straightforward, simple.  I could quite easily go on, and on, and on....

The only real downside to this whole experience is that I can't personally shake Ms. Carr's hand.  She's done a helluva good job in demystifying "prepping".  Even if you NEVER find yourself in a situation where you will NEED to purify water or cook without your usual stove, you have your insurance policies in place.  Just in case.

Rational, positive and creative....and now on the hunt for green coffee beans!
Tabby 

Survival by Design

There are games afoot! 

Anyone out there that is prepping will know this theory very well.  Well, I would like to take a moment to introduce you to another strategy to survive the crises that we are all facing.

Meet:  Permaculture

Eh?  You say?  Do tell.....

Here's the Wiki to give you a quick course in the ideology:

Wikipedia Definition - Permaculture

I could go on at length on this particular topic, since I am a HUGE fan of the methods and designs.  Although I know actually very LITTLE about the subject (in a big picture sort of way).  I took a quick introductory course at Olds College in Alberta.  It was a two day affair, and we had a great time with Barb Hazenveld of Gorgeous & Edible Landscaping.  She's a Permaculture Design Certified (PDC) professional (and a whole lot of fun!). 

If you are in the central Alberta area and would like to know more about it here's where you can find her:

Gorgeous & Edible Landscaping - Barb & Hendrik Hazenveld
http://www.gorgeousandedible.com/

If you are NOT in central AB, but would like more information, please let me know and I'll do a little digging to see who the PDC pro's are in your area.  There ARE out there!

Now, as much as this sounds like I'm spouting off, there is (as always) a method to my madness.  As far as I am concerned, Permaculture is the single, most intelligent method of agriculture out there.  So, if you like to eat - then you should learn about this method. 

Mr. Geoff Lawton is a recognized authority on the subject of Permaculture, and with his permission, I present to you his new video on "Surviving the Coming Crises".  Take the time to watch this vid...I think you will be quite impressed.

Surviving the Coming Crises - with Geoff Lawton 

Since we are all getting a little bit twitchy as the winter drags on, I think we could toss Permaculture into our design plans for the coming gardening season.  Although not overly applicable for apartment dwellers, it can be applied in an urban environment quite nicely.  If you are like us, and have land available, then definitely contemplate the notion.

Rational...Positive...Creative....in all things!
Tabby

Gettin' the word out...slowly...

Had an e-mail from a Prepper buddy up north today...I had totally forgotten about the radio folks!  Yes, News Talk Radio interviewed me for a series they've been working on about prepping...be sure to check these links out...

Part 1 - http://www.newstalk650.com/story/being-prepped-safe-haven-woods/85005
Part 2 - http://www.newstalk650.com/story/being-prepped-life-part-time-prepper/85091
Part 3 - http://www.newstalk650.com/story/being-prepped-develop-skills-survive/85200

She’s working on a part 4 – but so far, I haven’t heard when it’s going to air.
 
News Talk Radio - Prepping Series.

Since most prepper's think that it's necessary to hide, I'll stand up and be the one in the spot light...or cross-hairs, depending on how you want to look at it.  :)  To me, personally, prepping in just a matter of common sense.  You watch, you learn, you develop skills, you maintain relationships and networks.  It's a simple fact of life. 

Too many have stuck their heads in the sand when it comes to being ready for disaster, and I think we should all stand up and make a move to change that.

What do you think?

Rational, Positive, Creative....and in the news!! 
Tabby

Ridgerunner...belts and other GREAT stuff!

T''was the week before Christmas and all through the house...last minute this and that, the usual...so, I made a cup of tea and was hiding in my office contemplating the end of the world (see my post re:  TEOTWAWKI) and in my usual, easily distracted fashion, I happened to surf across an interesting site. 

I don't consider myself to be a PRO at much of anything, so I'm always on the hunt for things I don't know about, find interesting, etc.  I happened upon Ridgerunner Belts.  HOW I found him, I couldn't tell ya.  But WHAT I found there has grabbed my attention.  The main photo on his site looked like just the thing for my youngest son.  I liked what I read.

A quality product at a fair price. 

That was draw enough for me to stop and really read through the site.  His belts are made from paracord.  A HIGHLY useful substance.  For those unfamiliar with it, here's a quick Wiki link for ya...
Paracord Definition .

The more I read, the more goodies I found.  Bracelets, dog leashes, belts (with your choice of buckle) and gun slings.  All in YOUR choice of colors and combinations.   

I fired off an e-mail inquiring as to lead times for belts and gun slings.  Within the hour, I had a reply! Although it was too close to Christmas to place an order for gun slings, we exchanged some ideas and he kindly asked me if I would be willing to review his products.  I agreed.

On Christmas Eve I did find in my mailbox a little package containing two of Ridgerunner's paracord bracelets.  One in Oh My God That's Yellow and the other in Don't Shoot At Me Orange. Each bracelet has a total length (including clasp) of 9 1/4 inches (just shy of 24 cm for the metric among us).

I tend to be to the larger side, and found the bracelets fit quite nicely.  Not too snug, not falling off loose either.  I rather like the feel of the paracord and find that after a while I tend to forget that I'm wearing it since they are so light.

I enlisted my youngest son (who happened to be home for the holidays) and to the basement we did go to test out these light little bracelets.  After testing a number of ideas, we decided to try this.  The brace under the heat run seemed to be the sturdiest.  My baby-boy (shown) is 21 and just shy of 170 lbs.  As you can see, there is certainly a degree of strength in the clasps!

James did a dozen or so pull-ups and then we decided to link the bracelets together and see if he could swing from that.  Just as I was getting the camera set up, one clasp broke.  A clean break, I might add.  Now that I think about it - I could have quickly crazy glued the clasp and the bracelet would have been more than suitable to wear again.  The braiding didn't come loose at all.  If you think about it - it took quite a bit of force to break it.

 The decision was made to disassemble the bracelet just to see how it was done and to find out exactly how long the paracord was.

It didn't take me long to figure out how to undo the braiding.  In an emergency situation, fingernails would be the least of my concerns, without a doubt.  But since we were putzing about in the kitchen, I decided to not forgo my nails.  The knot (shown left) was quite tight.  It took a bit of working to loosen the knot by wiggling it with scissors.  Once I had managed to get ONE side of the cord out of the braid, the second popped out quite readily.

I'm really not too sure what I was expecting when it came to getting the chord off of the clasps and undone.  It took a minute or two to get the unbraiding into a bit of a groove, but once I had the hang of it, I managed to get the entire chord undone in roughly two minutes.  I have read in other posts where folks just cut the chord with their EDC (every-day-carry) pocket knife.  I had thought about that, but then decided I would most likely screw it up and end up cutting the chord in half.  Once the bracelet was disassembled, the total length of the cord proved to be 7 1/2 feet. A nicely useful length.  You wouldn't be able to build a tree fort with it - however, you could:  improvise a horse halter or dog leash, lash one item to another (fishin' pole?), effectively tie splints over a broken bone, and if you have two or three of the bracelets, there is MORE than enough chord to tie up a tarp to improvise shelter.  All in all, I actually had a lot of fun with these! 

Now, to the brass tacks of it.  Entertainment value aside, Ridgerunner's operator, Mr. Bill Watson is just plain quality as well.  He crafts each of his products by hand, one order at a time.  The old fashioned way.  You can find any number of spiffy tactical items out there but for good, solid, practical gear I think Ridgerunner has it pretty much figured out.  His pricing is VERY reasonable, he guarantees his work, he ships promptly.  He's good to his word.  A rare trait these days.

Here's the link to his main page...Ridgerunner Belts, Apparel and Accessories  

If you are in the market for stocking up on paracord items for your kits, definitely swing by Ridgerunner Belts - I'm confident you will be impressed. 

Rational, Positive, Creative...and really happy with my new bracelet!

Tabby 

PS:  The legalities.  Yes, I did receive product at NO cost in exchange for a review.  Mr. Watson also asked that I NOT pull any punches.  I didn't. 

TEOTWAWKI...and other issues

Ok, I have to admit it - I putzed about the house for much of the 21st of December humming the tune "The End Of The World As We Know It" by Rem.  C'mon - be honest...you did too!

So, now that TEOTWAWKI has proven to be just another day at the office what are you going to do with yourself? 

I am quite certain that there are any number of the Doomsday crowd that have their noses out of joint that they couldn't run amok to defend their homes and virgins.  Life tends to be a little funny that way.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions...yes?

Since we have now officially survived the end of the world, I suppose it is time to bump up the education quotient and continue to evolve as a species.  I think Robert Heinlein said it best:

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” 

I think that's a pretty solid notion.  Too many of us think that if we study hard, specialize, unionize, and get REAAAALLLLLYYYY good at just ONE thing, we will be successful.  It's a pretty safe bet that the ideology behind that is, well, flawed in more way than one.  Grant you, it may put more cash money in one's bank account to be say...a medical doctor...a lawyer....or rocket scientist...however, if your knowledge of establishment medicine/the law/rocket science is all you have to share, you could have a problem if things break down. 

So, now that everyone has quit holding their breath and HOPING the world was going to end, I guess we are stuck with cleaning up our own messes and making our own beds.  Back to the "everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten" type stuff.  You know the drill...share, be nice, put away your toys, clean up your own mess...that sort of thing. 

So, now that there was no earth shattering KABOOM...what are your plans?  Let's get some conversation going shall we?

Positive, rational, creating....and carrying on.
Tabby