My Guest today is Mark Linderman. He is the Preparedness Coordinator for a local Health Department which he has
served for over 18 years. He is also an instructor for the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University teaching public health preparedness. He also instructs courses in Natural Disasters and Crisis/Risk Communications at Crown College and Ashland University, and Graphic Design for Purdue University. Additionally, Mark is one of 50 professionals in the United States who is certified as a Public Health Communicator, and currently instructs Crisis and Emergency Risk Communications for the Centers for Disease Control, as well as Vantage Point Consulting based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
We talk about pandemics, H1N1, Anthrax, Government Involvement and much more!
We hope you will enter this giveaway for your chance to win this life-saving book. IT’S A DISASTER! …and what are YOU gonna do about it? (5th Edition)has been used in First Responder Training across the country! How much better could your family be prepared than to have on hand the very same book that so many First Responders use?
The book doesn’t read like a fiction story nor is it challenging to ‘get through.’ In fact, it lends itself to reading in short segments of time based upon your need, area of potential disaster or concern. Even if you are in the midst of a crisis, the way this book is laid out – it’s so simple to find what you need in mere seconds that it is a far better as an actual field guide than most other emergency manuals we’ve reviewed.
Not only does it cover the events – it gives you the wherewithal to handle living through them right while they occur. The step-by-step bullet points are easy to spot and follow thus they help you stay on track in the midst of turmoil! It covers so many potential situations in order to help you feel ready with almost countless contingency plans.
The authors also offer this as a Community Preparedness involvement incentive that can become fundraisers for a school, church group or community planners. This outreach is uncommon in that the desire is to get these books in the hands of more grass-roots movements rather than hit a ‘best seller list’. This shows the true heart of the authors – to help communities and people prepare for life’s emergencies.
We praise and stand with them in this work! As the author’s state on their website, the book: IT’S A DISASTER! …and what are YOU gonna do about it? (5th Edition)truly “helps families and businesses ‘be aware, be prepared, and have a plan’ for most types of emergencies and disasters (including Terrorism). The 266-page paperback provides quick-reference instructional bullets in 2-color format. It is not written to alarm people, rather it suggests tips on what to think about and do before, during and after specific types of scenarios, as well as how to administer basic first aid.” If you have not had the opportunity to get your hands on this valuable resource guide, we highly recommend that you do. We hope you’ll enter this Giveaway for your chance to win it and add it to your first aid kit, emergency pack or ‘go’ bag!
Full Disclosure: Yes, there are Amazon Affiliate links throughout this review. This is one way we are able to keep on blogging and sharing. We recommend this book, otherwise we would not be affiliates or offer you the link to find it. If you do not win one, please consider purchasing one of these books through the Amazon Ad below. You’ll be glad you have it!
Book Review & Giveaway: Prepper’s Complete Guide to Disaster Readiness
The Prepper’s Complete Guide to Disaster Readiness by Author Jim Cobb is the quintessential preparedness primer. It is suitable reading for both the novice and seasoned prepper. Almost every topic is covered in this book yet it still it goes into great detail without distracting from the primary focus of laying a strong foundation. Disaster Readiness is a broad topic but author, Jim Cobb knows his topic well and has done a fantastic job of breaking things down into clearly distinct chapters and sections to help the reader grasp the scope of being well prepared.
The chapters offer a wide range, yet build from “Why to prepare” to more specific details such as “Where to go” in a disaster. The Prepper’s Complete Guide to Disaster Readiness will take you on a sequential journey without hype or conspiracy. Unlike day to day life, this book is tightly segmented in its approach so that you are able to locate a particular area on which you need to focus and review to it regularly.
Jim enlightens the reader on areas usually untouched such as how Disaster Readiness affects relationships (Children, Pets and Elderly). This is a book that we highly recommend regardless how long you have been on the preparedness journey.
We here at PREPARE Magazine hope that the winner of this book will be both encouraged and share what he/she learns to help others. This is a foundational addition to your emergency preparedness library!
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If you don’t happen to win, or you’ve found this blog post after the Giveaway has finished, please consider clicking the links above to shop on Amazon. With the minor affiliate income from your purchase we can continue testing, reviewing, sharing and blogging – and ultimately we hope – encouraging YOU.
Dealing with Garden Pests and Pesticides
Garden Pests and Pesticides – they go hand in hand in some areas. Dealing with Garden Pests and Pesticides is the second in the series of three shows designed to help you get the most out of your garden this year. Hopefully you have had the opportunity to listen to the first show: Tips for Prepping the Garden
In this next episode of the series Scott talks with me about Dealing with Pests: Pesticides, Neighborhood Drift & Natural Options to do away with the pesky bugs (No, sorry no natural tips to do away with neighbors who use pesticides, just the bugs 🙂 ).
Listen here for tips to deal with Garden Pests & Pesticides:
And don’t forget to sign up to learn more and ask your own specific questions while Scott joins us for further training. Register to attend this LIVE, NO COST training scheduled after this series of Podcasts are through. From your own home, you can join in and learn more that pertains directly to you!
“Prepping the Garden” is the first show in a series of three shows I have had the fortune of recording with my guest Scott Peterson. Prepping the garden is also the first step for having a successful growing season.
In our neck of the woods the ‘old timers’ say not to put anything in the ground until after Mother’s Day. Honestly, it’s for good reason too. We’ve had 4 days of frost after the ‘first day of Spring’ and I know our soil temperature is well below what will germinate. So we’re still in the phase of prepping the garden. Maybe you are too and this show is just what you need to tweak a few things before the seedlings go in.
Scott talks with me about Irrigation, Mulching &Timing when to put in your Transplants. Take a listen to this short 30 minute podcast and be sure to tun in to the next one dealing with Garden Pests & Pesticides and the last one dealing with Seed Saving.
We also have a LIVE, NO COST training scheduled after this series of Podcasts are through. You can click that image below to register for it for free. To see more you can also click – HERE
As a long time advocate of dehydrating, I have been remiss and never, ever posted about money saving tips for dehydrating food. I will admit, that money saving, budget stretching, and lengthening the life of food is really the biggest reason we dehydrate at home. I will always say that the more important investment is in a good qualitydehydratorthat will do the most square feet of work for the same amount of time. My personal favorite is the Excalibur 9 Tray Economy Model. I keep ours humming quite regularly in any and all seasons. It has saved us a lot of money over a short period of time and has certainly paid for itself several times over!
Dehydrating from the garden is ideal. But just because you don’t have a garden – it doesn’t mean that dehydrating is more expensive. In fact, for most people, the use of a dehydrator actually can stretch your food budget if you know a few tips and tricks. Here are some of the things I do that save money while saving food:
1. Clean your fridge regularly…
A. If the zucchini looks like it won’t make it another week it’s sliced and dehydrated into chips. This works great for any produce that looks like the ‘life’ of it may not last until you can use it fresh.
B. Almost any ‘left-overs’ can be dehydrated. Mashed Potatoes, Cooked Green Beans, Corn (off the cob), Cooked Peas or Carrots. As you can see you have the makings of a great soup right there after cleaning out the fridge.
2. Dehydrate from the freezer…
A. If you find a great sale on large quantities of something that is in season, but don’t have time to dehydrate it all before it over ripens – freeze it first then dehydrate straight from the freezer. Often berries (which have a little skin on the outside) actually dehydrate better if first frozen.
B. Meat can be easily purchased when on sale, frozen and then sliced & seasoned for dehydrating. This gives you jerky for just pennies compared to buying it already made in the store. That stuff is pricey!
3. What & when you buy saves time and money….
A. Sliced produce at the grocer will go ‘bad’ faster than the whole counter part so they are regularly marked down to move quickly before the store looses all it’s money on rotted food. Also they are pre-sliced, usually uniform in size and easy to simply pour on your dehydrator tray with no prepping on your part.
B. Knowing when to get them is the key. Most stores will make produce and meat down several times a week at the same time. In our store it is Tues/Thurs between 8:00-9:00 AM for meat and Tues/Thurs between 9:30-10:30 AM for produce.
C. And then there are the herbs. Grow them yourself or buy them when marked down (like the rosemary above). Their fresh taste when you dehydrate at home surpasses the gourmet high priced ones.
Pictured below is a recent ‘haul’ of marked down produce of which most went directly to the dehydrator (or fermented) and is still sitting on the shelves in our pantry. 🙂
Shelf-stable foods that require no electricity to keep are vital, yes, but being able to do them yourself and save money over the long run is a skill that is priceless.
I hope you enjoyed this article and it gave you some tips and ideas to motivate you. Feel free to leave your tips, ideas and comments below!
Making Salt is honestly an activity, or rather I should say, a skill that had never seriously occurred to me before meeting my guest,Jim Bordwine: “The Salt Maker”. I was as excited to interview him for my own education as I was to interview him for you to hear!
It turns out, that in the USA there is a major source of salt that is actually harvest-able with out mining. The small town of Saltville, VA has played pivotal roles in the early years of our country – much of it due to the salt and what can provide from preservation to it’s value in war.
Jim graciously shares his wealth of knowledge based on his own family history, his skill as ‘The Salt Maker’ (both in practice and historical reenactment) and little known history of the role that salt played in our American History. You can even connect with him via email atTheSaltMaker@yahoo.com
I hope you’ll listen and not only learn how salt can be but still is made today. You’ll pick up some great DIY tips from Jim and begin to see salt and salt making in a whole new light. You may find yourself quite surprised how this natural commodity, that we often take for granted, turns out to be so very valuable. As are some of the lessons from our history that revolve around it.
The Skills of Native Peoples can help us survive. But how do we learn these long lost skills? Skills that were advanced for their time but didn’t rely on electronic technology. These were and are the skills of survival. It would do us good to learn them, practice and experience them again.
Some folks, such as my guest, Benjamin ‘RAVEN’ Pressley spend their time practicing and teaching these lost arts. I had the opportunity to catch up with Raven and find out about the new things he has to share in our area of the Blue Ridge & Smokey Mountains. If you live in another area, please feel free to connect with Raven to inquire about bringing a class to your area. Listen to the interview below:
Benjamin ‘RAVEN’ Pressley practices and teaches the skills of the past; primitive, survival and wilderness living skills practiced for generations by Native Americans and aboriginal peoples all over the world. Raven teaches all ages. He teaches independently on as needed/for hire basis and through the school he founded called EARTHTEK. He has taught and continues to teach at schools, civic organizations, Scouts, Y-Indian Guides, Royal Rangers, YMCA, museums and historical sites. He has written and self published 13 books on various primitive, survival and wilderness living skills. He is also a writer for magazines, such as:Backwoodsman, Wilderness Way and American Survival Guide. Benjamin has been a Staff Editor for Backwoodsman magazine and the Southeastern U.S. Field Editor for Wilderness Way magazine. He has played in instructional video curriculum and educational television movies depicting life in our country between 1750-1790. Raven is able to bring years of experience to your school, club, civic organization or group. He is also available for personal instruction. Raven is able to offer demonstrations, lectures, hands-on instructional classes and workshops of any length, whatever you have in mind. He is able to offer instruction and presentation of primitive, wilderness living, survival, early American (Historic, i.e. After Columbus), Native American (Historic and Prehistoric) and aboriginal skills and crafts.
What is a Life Cube? Emergency Unit, Bug Out Home and More…
What is a Life Cube? Emergency Unit, Bug Out Home and More…
Have you heard of these before? Ok, I’ll admit to feeling like a little kid when I watch the videos on their site of how easy these things ‘inflate’…I won’t lie. They look fun! But they may remind you of a ‘bouncy house’ for play – but they are far from just for fun! The Life Cube has a myriad of applications from large scale disaster to simplified camping.
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I had the opportunity to interview Nick Pederson form Life Cube to get the scoop on this revolutionary building. You can listen to our interview by clicking this link below:
Besides the primary use of providing emergency shelter,some of the other potential uses of the Life Cube are:
Field medical
Communications center
Virus/disease containment
Recreational
Nick and I also discussed, that how it appears that so many Americans are unwilling to adequately prepare for disaster/emergency situations until it is too late. According to Nick, one of the things that contributes to this apathy are that most Americans think nothing bad can/will happen to them (American Exceptionalism). One major thing we tend to forget in America is that Mother nature does not play favorites.
At Life Cube, they’ve tried to make note of the fact that for every $1 spent in disaster prep, people will have to spend $4 in disaster relief. You would think that savings that high paired with the fact that preparation saves lives would be enough incentive to prepare but apparently not.
On their website, lifecubeinc.com, it’s mentioned that emergency shelters are stuck in the 20th century and that the 21st century needs a 21st century solution. So we discussed what makes the Life Cube so much more advanced than other shelter systems currently in the market. Some of the unique things that Life Cube offers:
Mobility both on and offsite
Self-sustainable power
Rapid deployment (these things ‘blow up’ in minutes and can be set up by one or two people!)
Like previously mentioned, it can be equipped for a number of uses depending on what the user needs
Currently, no other shelter system combines all of the aforementioned features and most don’t have any of them at all!
Of course Preppers and Outdoorsmen/women have shown interest in the Life Cube, but also certain government officials and organizations have expressed interest as well, and for good reasons mentioned above.
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You’ll have to listen to the show above to hear how the idea of Life Cube came from napkin to prototype. It’s a rather global humanitarian effort in addition to the practicality for recreation and preparedness. One of the most ingenious things about the Life Cube is its versatility. We hope you will connect with them and see it for yourself. I look forward to what Life Cube can do for the masses in a disaster situation and for the individual who just wants the added security of self-sustaining shelter in an instant.
A little more about my guest, Nick:
Nick Pedersen is the Business Development Manager for Life Cube, Inc. A former student of UC Santa Barbara’s Entrepreneurship School, he partnered with Michael Conner, President of Life Cube, to explore the feasibility of Michael’s technology. After winning the New Venture Competition, he joined the company full-time to acquire the early stage investments that allowed the company to build the first set of prototypes, expose the product to government agencies around the country, and expand the core team. Alongside this amazing team in Santa Barbara, California, Nick works every day to spread the vital message of preparedness.
Here are some great ways to connect with the folks at Life Cube
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Please share so we can all help each other be better prepared! Thank you!
Learn to Grow a Straw Bale Garden with My Guest, Author Joel Karsten
Learn to Grow a Straw Bale Garden with My Guest, Author Joel Karsten.
I had the honor of interviewing Joel and leaving tremendously encouraged about this method of gardening. As think and prepare for my elderly years, gardening is not something I am willing to give up simply due to physical limitations and straw bale gardening sounds just like the ticket to keep at it! It is not only for the ‘seasoned’ gardener, as Joel puts it, but it is great for so many other circumstances and living environments.
He is going to be one of the speakers you can learn from FOR FREE at the Home Grown Food Summit! But you’ll want to register SOON so click this banner just below. You’ll see several people with whom you are likely familiar.
JOEL KARSTEN, a farm boy who grew up tending a soil garden like other gardeners have for centuries, shook up the gardening world with his first, award winning book, describing his breakthrough Straw Bale Gardening concept. The New York Times called Straw Bale Gardening “a revolutionary gardening method” and his ideas have been enthusiastically embraced globally, making his books best-sellers in many languages. Karsten earned a BS in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and spends his summers tending his vegetable garden, doing research, and experimenting with new ideas and methods he can pass along to his followers.
has been used in First Responder Training across the country! How much better could your family be prepared than to have on hand the very same book that so many First Responders use? 
