10 things to include in your greenhouse

The dream of a greenhouse is hard to deny, with rows of healthy plants growing happily together indoors. But once you have the structure in place, what’s next? Below is a list of some basics to get you started, as well as some suggestions for other items you may want to add as well. Luckily, you probably already have many of these items. All you need to do is put them in place.

The Basics

The greenhouse provides the warmth and light. You need to provide the plants, something to grow them in, a place to put them and enough water, and you have to manage the temperature. Listed below are some basics to get you started.

1. A mix of pots. Having pots in a range of sizes readily available will let you do everything from seed-starting to growing specimen plants. Begin with a collection of small pots, whether plastic or biodegradable, for starting plants early in the gardening season or encouraging seedlings.

Add a mix of larger sizes as well, so you can transplant seedlings as needed and continue to add plants to your collection. A few larger pots will let you use your greenhouse to protect tender plants that may get large but won’t do as well outside.

2. Seed-starting trays. If you plan to use your greenhouse to start plants from seed, it’s worth investing in a few seed-starting trays. Ones with removable clear covers can help you keep the humidity levels high enough to encourage germination, even when it’s cold outside.

3. Potting mixes and fertilizers. Keep potting soil and other mixes readily available. You can keep them in their bags; store them in a closed container for better protection against the elements and pests. There are a number of options available from commercial suppliers, but a simple metal can with a lid will work well.

4. Garden tools. Have a set of hand tools — such as a pruner, scissors, a small trowel, small stakes, string, a dibble or unsharpened pencil and a small paintbrush or pot brush — readily available to make it easy to get to work. Store them in a terra-cotta pot and throw in a set of thin gardening gloves as well.

5. Labels and markers. Keep a stash of plant markers, a permanent marking pen and a sharpened pencil nearby to label plants and trays.

6. Sprays. Keep on top of possible problems by keeping your favorite disinfectant mix and natural pest spray nearby as well.

Note: Keep in mind that many insects are beneficial to a healthy garden

7. Benches and shelves. You can put your pots on the floor, and you will have to with the largest plants, but having them on a counter-level surface will make it easier to take care of your plantings.

Many greenhouse manufacturers have ready-made shelves that are designed to work with their products. You can also build your own from materials you have around your home or that are available at home supply centers. Having a non-solid top will allow water to drain easily away from the plants.

If you’re working with plants, table or counter height is ideal. You can also mount narrower shelves higher up to keep lighter objects, such as tools, labels, markers and sprays, out of the way of the plants. Lower shelves are ideal for holding heavier objects such as soil mixes and storing larger pots and trays.

8. A place to work. While you’re installing shelves, add in a workbench for yourself as well. It should be large enough to work comfortably at but can be larger. Desk height or counter height works well, especially if you have a stool or chair. Add a solid top to write on.

9. Ventilation. No matter what your outdoor climate, your greenhouse can get too hot and too humid. Be sure you have a way to cool off the interior. It might be as simple as opening up the doors, but many greenhouses come with ceiling vents as well.

Look for hydraulic systems for these, which are easy to install and will open and shut automatically. If you have an easy way to access electricity, consider adding a fan as well.

10. Temperature monitoring. It’s a good idea to add a thermometer to monitor the temperatures inside your greenhouse. It will let you know if things are getting too hot inside when it’s warm, which may mean you need to move plants outside or provide some shade. Likewise, in winter you can use the thermometer to determine if it’s warm enough to start seeds or keep cool-season plants happy.

Beyond the Basics

Your greenhouse can be as elaborate as you want, including turning it into a garden room. But, if you just want to move beyond the basics, here are some ways to start.

Upgrade the flooring. A dirt floor is an easy-care option, but you can also add pavers, which can provide added stability for benches, or gravel to keep it from getting muddy. Lay down landscape cloth first to help keep weeds at bay.

This solar hydropanel can pull 10 liters of drinking water per day out of the air

© Zero Mass Water

SOURCE is a solar-powered and self-contained device capable of harvesting up to 10 liters of clean drinking water per day from the air.

By harvesting water vapor from the air and condensing it into liquid, atmospheric water generators can essentially pull water from the air, and these devices hold a lot of promise for providing an independent source of drinking water. And although drought-stricken regions and locations without safe or stable water sources are prime candidates for water production and purification devices such as those, residences and commercial buildings in the developed world could also benefit from their use, and they make a great fit for off-grid homes and emergency preparedness kits.

Some water generators, such as the WaterSeer, get a lot of hype (and a lot of skepticism) but haven't been able to deliver. Others, like the Ecoloblue devices, are a bit more costly and complex, but they actually exist and can be bought and put to work. Earlier this year, I wrote about Zero Mass Water's SOURCE device, which is a rooftop solar device that produces water instead of just electricity, but the pricing and availability weren't quite clear then. The company recently announced that SOURCE hydropanel arrays are now available in the US, where "It works in almost every climate, and almost every day of the year."

A standard SOURCE array is made up of two hydropanels, with additional panels added as needed for the water production or the local climate, and this self-contained unit is designed to be mounted onto the roof of a building, where it can then produce an average of 4-10 liters per day. An onboard 30-liter reservoir holds the collected water and mineralizes it with calcium and magnesium, and the outflow of the device can be plumbed right to a tap (or refrigerator or dispenser) inside the building for ease of use. No maintenance is said to be necessary other than annual filter changes and swapping out the mineral cartridge every five years, which a subscription program delivers when it's time.

According to Zero Mass Water, even those in low-humidity and arid regions can put SOURCE units to work to generate water, which is a question that many skeptics of the system bring up. "Our array on the Zero Mass Water headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona makes water year-long despite low relative humidity. The Phoenix-Metro area can get below 5% relative humidity in the summer, and SOURCE still produces water in these incredibly dry conditions."

SOURCE water generators are costly, at least in terms of the initial investment. A standard array with two panels runs about $4000, plus another $500 for installation, and is said to be engineered to last at least 10 years. That brings the cost to about $1.23 per day, or between $0.12 and $0.30 per liter, when averaged out over the life of the unit.

At The Verge, Lauren Goode took a closer look at the SOURCE device:

More information is available at Zero Mass Water.

Propane or gas: How to choose a lantern and/or stove fuel

Let’s assume an emergency scenario where wood heat/light are not an option.  You can’t use a campfire and a biomass stove is out of the picture.  Maybe there is extreme fire danger, open fires are prohibited, or there isn’t a ready supply of fuel.

Should you have a propane or gas lantern or stove?  Tank or canister?  What are the advantages, disadvantages and what considerations should you be aware of?

My collection includes kerosene, gasoline and propane lanterns. The best choice will depend on the situation, weight, safety and availability of fuel. 

I can’t make up my mind which fuel is best.  I currently have one propane and four Coleman gas lanterns.  I own a dual-fuel campstove, gas backpacking stove, and one small stove that screws on top of a propane cylinder.  My go-to stove for all off grid cooking is a double burner Camp Chef propane cooker that uses bulk propane.  I have a propane space heater for emergency warmth.

Your emergency preparations should include some thoughts about lighting, heating and cooking implements over the long term.  Basically, your choices will boil down to two main categories: propane or liquid fuel (gasoline).

Before you buy anything though, consider where the appliance will be used.  Are you car camping, where weight is not an issue, or backpacking above the tree line, where weight will be a major consideration?  What temperatures will the item most likely be used in?  How important is long term use and the ability to replenish the fuel?

Here are some shopping considerations:

• Convenience and ease of use:  Does the fuel source affect how easily the implement can be used?  There is no pouring, priming or pumping with propane.  With gas, the implement must be filled, and sometimes primed and pumped.  While the gas implement is operating, it will occasionally need to be pumped.
  
  

  Propane or gasoline? Check out the shopping considerations to decide.
• Fuel availability:  The dual-fuel gas implements can use unleaded gasoline, at a fraction of the cost of Coleman fuel or white gas.  I’ve bought Coleman gas at tiny little stores in out-of-the-way areas of northern Minnesota, where the store inventory was sketchy at best.  Conversely, I’ve also seen standard 16.4 oz disposable propane gas cylinders at many of these same stores.  I’m guessing gas is still easier to find, but bulk propane is also very common and cheap.
• Cost:  Last week at the local WalMart, the disposable propane cylinders were on sale for about $6 for two cylinders, versus almost $10 per gallon for Coleman fuel.  The dual-fuel gas stoves and lanterns are the clear winners in the cost-effectiveness category, with unleaded gasoline from the pump costing about $4 per gallon.  Not to mention, a dual-fuel implement can be re-fueled with a siphon hose from a vehicle gas tank.
• Safety:  As a Boy scout volunteer, I see safety around fire as paramount.  I’ve noticed that the propane lanterns and stoves are easier, and hence safer, for the boys to light and use.  There is no priming, pouring or fuel to spill.  The idea of a container of gasoline anywhere near an open fire, with kids around, makes my blood run cold.
• Implement design:  My Coleman model 442 backpacking gas stove has a listed weigh of 24 ounces.  That, in part, is due to the pump and generator required for a gas stove.  My single burner propane stove that screws on top of a propane cylinder weighs less than half that.
• “Green” design:  I don’t like the disposable propane cylinders – they work great, but it seems to be a terrible waste to throw away the empties.  For a long-term situation, such as a lengthy campout, though, a bulk propane tank can be filled for about $2-something a gallon, making that option an economic favorite.
• Temperature:  Cold affects propane’s effectiveness.  In extreme cold, a propane cylinder may not work at all.  Gasoline is not affected.  That’s one reason why I have so many gas-powered implements.

Like anything, the final decision on whether to invest in propane or gas appliances will depend on your individual needs and perceived usage.  Good luck with picking a favorite – I haven’t been able to come up with one yet!

Techy Survival: 4 Technologies Every Prepper Should Invest in

Preppers believe in planning for the worst scenarios. No challenge is too much with the right supplies and some ingenuity. Preppers are family-oriented but wise enough to understand that leisure and luxury mean nothing compared to preserving their loved ones and a certain quality of life. They intend to persevere, no matter the circumstance. Here are some essential technologies that can make that much easier:

1. Get Portable GPS

A stand-alone device is much better than a mobile phone that can be monitored and tracked to locate you wherever you are. If you’re willing to invest in quality, you can get a model that provides stunning 3-D maps of areas all across North America. Many of them allow you zoom in, search for various landmarks, and mark and plot your own locations. You can also take photos, making it easier to find and navigate to what matters for your family.

2. Carry a Satellite Phone

For the reasons mentioned above, you’re probably better off without the cell phone. A satellite phone can allow you to stay in touch from almost anywhere on the planet. The military uses the same satellite technology so the service isn’t going anywhere. The ability to reach out to compatriots for assistance or advice could make all the difference.

3. Buy a Solar Charger

Carrying a big supply of batteries is out of the question, so you need a way to power these devices for the foreseeable future. You never know where or when the electricity will fail, so your best options is a solar charger that’s compatible with your other devices. On a sunny day, you may be able to recharge your electronics in a single hour. Many are waterproof, dustproof, and light enough to carry in a backpack with no trouble.

4. Use Infrared Cameras

These devices can detect a wide spectrum of heat signatures in even perfect darkness. Moving bodies, whether vehicles, human, or animal, can be detected instantly to give advanced warning or spot food sources. Varying heat indications can also give you a good idea of when equipment was last used. A company, like Infrared Cameras Inc, who specializes in infrared technology can provide you with just the right imaging device for your needs.

The right technology can give you advantages that increase your odds of overcoming challenges and staying safe and healthy for the long term. From a pocket knife to an infrared camera, it’s about having the right tool for the right job.

How to Use a Pair of Glasses to Survive in the Wilderness

Anyone who has ever been called four eyes may have felt a little down in life because of their specs, but childhood teasing does not last forever. Those four-eyed individuals will one day be able to rub those bullies noses into the fact that those glasses could be the difference between life and death.

There are several everyday items that can be used to survive in the wilderness, shoelaces to make rope, socks to filter water or a volleyball named Wilson to have conversations with.But one of the most useful at-home items someone can use in the wilderness are eyeglasses.

Notice how the people from Walking Dead, never use glasses to survive. And they keep dropping like flies.

Vision Assistance

Obviously glasses help people see, but out in the wilderness it can be more than that. Sunglasses or transition lenses can protect from blindness against the elements. If someone is climbing a mountain completely covered in snow, there is one basic color, and that is white. The problem with this is when the sun comes out, that white snow becomes blinding. Another area in which sunglasses can protect eyesight is out in the ocean. Just like snow, when the sun shines onto the water it can become extremely bright. A pair of sunglasses protects the eyes from the overwhelming brightness of the snow or water and lets an adventurer see clearly without damaging their eyesight.

Protection from the Elements

Not only do glasses guard against the sun, they also guard against injury. If someone is in a desert area, glasses can be essential to protecting the eyes from the sand. If winds come up, sand can be a vicious thing and having it slice into the eyes can be extremely serious. Even is someone is not in a desert area, a forest or jungle with high winds can carry a lot of small harmful objects that can wedge themselves into an eye.

Starting a Fire

One of the most well-known uses for glasses in the wilderness is starting a fire. The lens inside a pair of glasses works the same way as a magnifying glass. When the sun hits a lens it creates a beam of light that converges all the energy of the sun into one small area, which creates heat. The thicker the lens the better because it results in a stronger conversion. Fire means life when trying to survive. It is what makes food, filters water and provides warmth. A pair of glasses starting a fire can truly save someone’s life.

Create a Useful Tool

The lenses inside a pair of glasses can be used for more than making fire. With the assistance of a sharp rock, a lens can be filed down to create a small sharp knife. This can be helpful to use as a weapon but also a tool. A knife can help cut roots or plants to eat. It can also be useful for cutting meat. If someone has caught an animal, the knife can be used for skinning and cutting out the meat. It is helpful for gutting and fileting fish as well.

Signal for Help

Similar to the process of making fire, eyeglasses can partner with the sun to create a help signal to oncoming travelers. When the light bounces off or transmits through a lens, it results in a small flash or glare. Travelers can often be too far off to hear someone shouting and may not be paying close enough attention to see a someone who is stranded. A glint of sunlight or a glare can be seen farther off, and if someone can manage to shine it into someone’s eyes, they will be more likely to turn around and notice that someone needs help.

Catching Dinner

If someone has wire frame glasses, the temples of the glasses can be used to create a fish hook. The temple tips can be bent into a hook shape and sharpened with a rock. If someone can find some strong roots or vines along with a small bug, they have just created their own fishing pole and dinner is a catch away.

Top 10 things you need to know about water in an emergency.

10) IN AN EMERGENCY, YOUR WATER CAN BECOME DANGEROUSLY CONTAMINATED.

After the initial danger from an earthquake or hurricane or other disaster has passed, the most significant risk to your family’s health could very likely be contaminated water. This is especially true if there is flooding, damage to underground pipes and electricity blackouts. Your tap water (if it’s still flowing) could be contaminated with sewage (bacteria, viruses and parasites) and chemicals from ruptured chemical pipelines, storage tanks, tankers or damaged refineries. The Japanese Fukushima nuclear accident demonstrates that our water can even become contaminated from events that happen hundreds or thousands of miles away.

9) SAFE DRINKING WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PREP.

It’s important to be prepared for an emergency, but keep in mind the priority of your preparation items. Removing your family from imminent danger, such as getting to high ground if a tsunami is headed your way, keeping your family warm in winter and providing your family with a safe supply of drinking water are at the top of the list. If you don’t have a safe supply of water, you could quickly find yourself in a very dangerous situation in which you are sick, panicked, and unable to think and function properly.

8) LACK OF SAFE DRINKING WATER IS ONE OF THE CAUSES OF PANIC.

If we can learn anything from recent disasters, is that the first thing the public does is scream for the government to immediately deliver bottled water. Most people have never experienced real thirst. Water is not an option, your body demands it and it must have it. This biological need can and will override rational thought. By being prepared with safe drinking water, you won’t be part of the panic and will instead be able to focus on next steps for keeping your family safe.

7) CHILDREN AND INFANTS ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK.

Children and infants are more susceptible to contaminants in water. Why? First of all, a child’s body contains a higher ratio of water than an adult’s body and they consume more water for their weight than adults. Children have a lower body mass, thus chemical exposures are greater pound for pound. Also, children’s brains are still developing and chemicals could interfere with this development process.

6) YOU DON’T KNOW WHETHER YOUR WATER IS CONTAMINATED.

You can’t tell whether your water is contaminated by looking at it, smelling it or tasting it. Water could look crystal clear and still contain very dangerous contaminants.

5) MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW MUCH AT ALL ABOUT WATER (INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS).

The truth is that most people know shockingly little about water. This includes many people who should know better including doctors, nutritionists, government officials, reporters, and emergency response personnel. Be careful who you take your advice from.

4) THE GOVERNMENT HAS DIFFERENT GOALS THAN YOU DO.

Governments are terrified of a panicked populous, so their primary goal is usually to keep the populous calm, whereas your primary goal is the safety of your family. After the Japanese Fukushima nuclear accident for example, the Japanese government went to ridiculous lengths to calm people down. For over a month they told people not to worry and that there was no radiation leak. It was only after months had past and people had calmed down that they let the truth leak out in small bite-sized pieces. In reality, the situation was (and still is) an extremely dangerous situation.

3) THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER EMERGENCIES (AND THEY HAVE TO BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY).

Did you know that there are different types of water emergencies? Not only are there different types of emergencies, but different emergencies may require different treatment processes. For example, health agencies often recommend that you boil water in a water emergency if they think that there may be biological contaminants in the water. But, earlier this year there was the West Virginia chemical spill in the Elk River. The LAST thing you want to do for that emergency is to boil the water, because you would have actually concentrated the chemicals in your water.

2) KNOWLEDGE IS KEY.

The most important survival tool that you need is KNOWLEDGE. More than knowledge, you should have a deep understanding of some key points so you know exactly what to do and what not to do, and you can adapt to different situations.

1) YOU CAN LEARN THE KEY POINTS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.

We would like to invite you to join us for a free one-hour, life-saving class about treating water in an emergency on May 15th at 7pm (click here to register). In this class you will learn what you need to know to produce safe drinking water for your family in an emergency. This class is a must for everyone. Seats are limited, so sign up today. Also, share this article with your loved ones and encourage them to also attend the class. Register here.

How A North Korean Electromagnetic Pulse Attack Could Kill Millions And Turn America Into A Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

This is why North Korea’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile is so important.  North Korea had test fired a total of 22 missiles so far this year, but this latest one showed that nobody on the globe is out of their reach.  In fact, General Mattis is now admitting that “North Korea can basically threaten everywhere in the world”, and that includes the entire continental United States.  In addition to hitting individual cities with nukes, there is also the possibility that someday North Korea could try to take down the entire country with an EMP attack.  If the North Koreans detonated a single nuclear warhead several hundred miles above the center of the country, it would destroy the power grid and fry electronics from coast to coast.

I would like you to think about what that would mean for a few moments.  Suddenly there would be no power at home, at work or at school.  Since nearly all of our vehicles rely on computerized systems, you wouldn’t be able to go anywhere and nobody would be able to get to you.  And you wouldn’t be able to contact anyone because all phones would be dead.  Basically, pretty much everything electronic would be dead.  I am talking about computers, televisions, GPS devices, ATMs, heating and cooling systems, refrigerators, credit card readers, gas pumps, cash registers, hospital equipment, traffic lights, etc.

For the first couple of days life would continue somewhat normally, but then people would soon start to realize that the power isn’t coming back on and panic would begin to erupt.

The intercontinental ballistic missile that North Korea just launched traveled almost 1,000 kilometers and reached a maximum altitude of 4,500 kilometers.  We have been told for decades that this would never be allowed to happen, but now it has happened…

This is concerning for one big reason: according to General Mattis, the North Korean ICBM “went higher, frankly, than any previous” and “North Korea can basically threaten everywhere in the world.” This was confirmed by North Korea missile analyst, Shea Cotton, who cited Allthingsnuclear author David Wright, and who told the BBC that the initial estimates of the ICBM test mean that North Korea can now reach New York and Washington DC.

If we had been working hard to develop our anti-missile technology all these years, this wouldn’t be a problem.

But at this point we are way behind the Russians in this regard, and there is a very real possibility that a missile launched by the North Koreans could make it through the very limited anti-missile defenses that we do have.

Once upon a time, discussions about a North Korean EMP threat were mostly hypothetical, but now that has completely changed.  North Korea has clearly demonstrated that they are able to deliver such an attack, and last September Kim Jong Un publicly admitted that North Korea intended to develop this capability…

But most reporters missed a key threat that appeared at the bottom of Kim’s public statement, when he bragged that North Korea had harnessed “a multi-functional thermonuclear nuke with great destructive power which can be detonated at high altitudes for super-powerful EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack according to strategic goals.”So now we know. Launching an electromagnetic pulse attacks against its enemies is one of North Korea’s strategic goals. And for North Korea, the United States is the top enemy.

And like I said earlier, all it would take would be a single well placed nuclear detonation to fry electronics from coast to coast.  The following comes from the Daily Mail…

Theoretically, a sufficiently powerful bomb detonated at an altitude of 249 miles would wipe out all electronics in the US, save the southernmost top of Florida and the easternmost states – as well as affecting Canada and Mexico.

Without power, nothing would get distributed.  That means that very rapidly there would be no food, no water and no medicine available in your community.  An article posted by Fox News this week used the term “post-apocalyptic” to describe what we would be facing…

It all starts to sound very post-apocalyptic when you realize this means no lights or other electric-powered devices in homes and businesses, no water filtration, no regional food hubs, no transportation grid – none of the things we take for granted in modern civilization.

Like I stated earlier, things would be relatively fine for a few days, but then once everyone realizes that the power isn’t coming back on there would be chaos on a scale unlike anything we have ever seen before.  The following comes from an article by Mac Slavo…

The first 24 – 48 hours after such an occurrence will lead to confusion among the general population as traditional news acquisition sources like television, radio and cell phone networks will be non-functional.

Within a matter of days, once people realize the power might not be coming back on and grocery store shelves start emptying, the entire system will begin to delve into chaos. Within 30 days a mass die off will have begun as food supplies dwindle, looters and gangs turn to violent extremes, medicine can’t be restocked and water pump stations fail.

So what kind of a “mass die off” would we be talking about?

Well, some of the top experts in the field believe that “up to 90 percent of all Americans” could end up dead if the power outage lasted long enough…

William Graham, chairman of the former EMP commission and its former chief of staff, Peter Vincent Pry, warned the hearing that such an attack could “shut down the US electric power grid for an indefinite period, leading to the death within a year of up to 90 percent of all Americans.“

Others believe that the figure would be lower, but pretty much everyone agrees that the death toll would be in the millions.

This is one of our greatest strategic vulnerabilities, and our power grid could be hardened against an EMP attack for just a few billion dollars.  This is something that I am pushing very hard for, but right now it is just not a priority for our leaders in Washington.

In fact, they have actually pulled funding from the commission that was looking into the EMP threat…

On Sept. 30, the Congressional Commission to Assess the Threat of Electromagnetic Pulse to the United States of America shut its doors after a failure to secure funding from Congress.

Sometimes I find it difficult to come up with the words to describe how incredibly foolish Congress is being.

An EMP attack is a greater threat than ever before, and yet Congress didn’t even want to come up with a little bit of funding for the commission that was working on a plan to protect us.

This is yet another example that shows that we need new leadership on Capitol Hill, because right now the people that we have “representing” us in Washington seem to be completely and utterly clueless about almost everything.

Michael Snyder is a Republican candidate for Congress in Idaho’s First Congressional District, and you can learn how you can get involved in the campaign on his official website. His new book entitled “Living A Life That Really Matters” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.

Secure the Grid EMP vulnerababiliity

MODERN ELECTRONICS AND CIRCUIT BOARDS ARE VERY DELICATE AND EASILY DISRUPTED AND/OR PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BY FLUCTUATING ELECTRICAL CURRENTS.

EMP:  Technology’s Worst Nightmare

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a super-energetic radio wave that can destroy, damage, or cause the malfunction of electronic systems by overloading their circuits.  An EMP weapon detonated at high altitude would be harmless to people but catastrophic to our critical infrastructures–electric power, telecommunications, transportation, banking and finance, food and water–that sustain modern civilization and the lives of 326 million Americans.

Given the current state of U.S. unpreparedness for an EMP event, it is estimated that within 12 months of an EMP event, two-thirds to 90 percent of the U.S. population would likely perish from starvation, disease, and societal breakdown.

WHEN, not if…

Nature generates EMP-like effects that can cause similar catastrophic consequences as nuclear EMPs by means of super solar storms which cause large geomagnetic disturbances on Earth.  These natural events occur on average every 150 years; the last recorded Carrington-class solar storm was 155 years ago.  The 1859 Carrington event is the largest super solar storm on record.

A single nuclear weapon detonated at high-altitude will generate an electromagnetic pulse that can cause catastrophic damage across the entire contiguous United States, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.

While much more limited in range than a nuclear weapon, non-nuclear weapons, often referred to as radio frequency weapons, can also generate EMPs that can damage electronics, and could cause the collapse of critical infrastructures locally, perhaps with cascading effects over an area as large as a major city.

National Security Threat

The nuclear EMP threat is not merely theoretical – it is real, a clear and present danger.  Nuclear EMP attack is the perfect asymmetric weapon for state actors who wish to level the battlefield by neutralizing the great technological advantage enjoyed by U.S. military forces.  EMP is also the only means whereby rogue states or terrorists could use a single nuclear weapon to destroy the United States and prevail with a single blow.

Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran have already incorporated EMP attack into their military doctrines, and openly describe making EMP attacks against the United States.

Rouge states and terrorists could use any missile, including short-range missiles that can deliver a nuclear warhead, to exact a catastrophic EMP attack on the United States.  Indeed, Iran has practiced ship-launched EMP attacks using Scud missiles – which are in the possession of scores of nations and even terrorist groups.

Protecting the homeland means more than protecting our borders.

The Congressional EMP Commission, since disbanded, spent eight years developing a plan to protect all infrastructures from EMP – a plan that would also mitigate threats from cyber-attack, sabotage, and natural disasters that could be implemented in 3-5 years at a cost of $10-20 billion.

The Congressional EMP Commission estimated in 2008 it would cost $2 billion to harden the grid’s critical nodes (i.e., roughly 2,000 large and medium-sized transformers and their associated SCADA systems, etc.).  Modest when compared with the unimaginably high costs associated with trying to remediate after an EMP event.  Yet, it has been an excuse for inaction.

MODERN ELECTRONICS AND CIRCUIT BOARDS ARE VERY DELICATE AND EASILY DISRUPTED AND/OR PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BY FLUCTUATING ELECTRICAL CURRENTS.

Machetes In Your Preps

I have always considered the machete to be a jungle survival tool. They are generally seen being used to hack trails through tropical rain forests and jungles. Most North American forests are more open and have plenty of trails and game trails for passage. I was recently scouting a site for future training activities. The area included a lot of high grass and thick sapling growths. I had to wade and push through these obstacles. I realized that a machete would be ideal for clearing paths, campsites and training areas. I would never advocate a machete as a replacement for a good survival knife, but if you anticipate surviving or just camping in swamps, marshes, grasslands or thick growth areas a machete may be a better choice than an axe. Not only can this tool be used to clear trails and campsites, it can quickly cut grass and brushes to thatch a shelter or cut light firewood. What it lacks in weight it makes up for in velocity for cutting. You can clear a campsite, and build a shelter much faster with the big blade of a machete than with a knife. In general the bigger 18-inch blade machetes are not as handy unless you are only going to be clearing grass and brush. The shorter 12-inch blades are easier to use, safer and better for axe work.

These big blades need to be respected. The wide swing arch makes them a hazard to the careless user and anyone nearby. The wide blade can deflect off of hardwood and do serious damage. Some machetes come with a full “D” handle while others provide a safety strap. You can get a good machete for about $25 to $40.00. Beware of cheap ones with flexible blades and unsafe handles. I selected a Gerber ™ machete with a thick 9-½ long blade and a strong composite grip. The full length saw blade on the back will be very useful for the more precision cuts and notches required for building shelters, traps, rafts and other survival devices. As a weapon, the machete is somewhat clumsy, but very intimidating and lethal. It may not be a “must have” item, but it’s not a bad investment if you anticipate operations in the back country.

This Gerber ™ short machete cost about $20.00, but will do a wide variety of survival tasks.

How to make a Bamboo Knife (Video & Transcript)

DIY Bamboo Knife

“You can actually make a knife out of bamboo that is not as sharp as you need it for shaving, but it will help you dismember a small animal. It works on meat or anything soft like that. You can cut yourself with it so be careful. I’ll show you how to make a knife with bamboo.”

“I’m sure your wondering what in the world would you need a knife made out of bamboo since you need a knife like this to make it. If you have to ask that question then it’s obvious that you never traveled anywhere with Elmer. If you’re in a bug out situation with Elmer, then Elmer is not gonna have his knife with him. So, your gonna have to supply him with a knife, but you don’t want to give him yours because he will lose it or break it. So you have to give him a knife made out of bamboo. What you want is this green edge, it’s this hard outer part of the bamboo that is gonna make your cutting edge.”

“I wanna cut off everything except the green. This end to that one. (More cutting and shaping) And this is my cutting edge, but when I was splitting it, it didn’t come off even so I’m gonna peel these pieces off and whats left is going to be sharp. In theory, but no because it dulled the edge so I just need to go again. This is a remarkable piece right there. That split should be sharp enough to cut so before I test it, make myself a handle that’s made to hold. Lets see if that’s sharp and will cut a piece of chicken. This is actually cutting better than it looks like it is. The issue is that I am trying not to scrape this bamboo along the cutting board because its going to dull very quickly. It cuts very well. It’s just that I am stopping before I get to the wood.”

“Okay! We don’t waste anything around here so I am gonna take these little shards and show you how to make a toothpick out of it. I’m gonna cut right here parallel to the green part. I’m just gonna split this right down..k. I’m just pulling these hairs off. Okay.”

“So, this is pretty thin, it is thinner on this end than it is on this end. K? So I’ve got this nice and thin and now I am gonna cut it at a very sharp angle. Cut that. Whatever you do with the toothpick you can do with this thing but you can also bind food together. For instance, if you go out and catch a wild rabbit. Wild rabbits don’t have a lot of fat on them and that meat will be pretty dry but if you happen to have some salt pork you can slice some bacon pieces out of it, wrap pieces of the rabbit meat and then use this to stick the bacon on it and hold it all together and uh also, I mean, you could use this as an intense interrogation device. So for instance your out with Elmer and wake up and find your knife missing or your gun and Elmer won’t tell you where he hid them, you can always use these to extract the information from him. Or you could just use it as a tooth pick. lol”