Show Contents 12th October 2014

Show Notes

This week I begin with You could not make it up, then Have you an Infestation of Spiders? I Have, The Blizzard survival 20% Discount offer, Cooking and Eating Acorns, The Ribzwear 30% Discount Offer, Emergency survival Lighting Idea, The Wilderness121 10% Discount Offer, Ebola the Threat, Time for Tea Bags, The Field Leisure 10% discount Offer, Mushrooms the Hidden Danger, Just Some Thoughts on Gear to Carry, The Buggrub 10% Discount Offer What is in your back garden or on your walk? The Hunters-Knives 10% Discount Offer, Baking with Acorn Flour, The Bug out Week end is coming, Alternative Meats, Methods to put Rabbits on your table.

I want to thank you for listening and for making my show the UK’s premier preppers and survivalist radio show.

My show is transmitted to 124 countries around the globe and that figure is growing weekly as new listeners join us and if you are new to the show, welcome.

I have a request from Chris T. on Twitter to promote a petition to demand the release of Marine A. I have placed a link to the petition at the top of my blog please take the time to sign it.

You could not make it up

Seen any walnuts in your medicine cabinet lately? According to the Food and Drug Administration, that is precisely where you should find them. Because Diamond Foods made truthful claims about the health benefits of consuming walnuts that the FDA didn’t approve.

It sent the company a letter declaring, “Your walnut products are drugs” — and “new drugs” at that — and, therefore, “they may not legally be marketed … in the United States without an approved new drug application.” The agency even threatened Diamond with “seizure” if it failed to comply.

The FDA’s letter continues: “We have determined that your walnut products are promoted for conditions that cause them to be drugs because these products are intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.”

Furthermore, the products are also “misbranded” because they “are offered for conditions that are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners; therefore, adequate directions for use cannot be written so that a layperson can use these drugs safely for their intended purposes.”

Who knew you had to have directions to eat walnuts?

Have you an Infestation of Spiders? I Have

She who thinks she must be obeyed is terrified of them and has been stood on the couch many time screaming for me the great white hunter to get it.

Most spiders prefer living outdoors, but all too often, you may run across a few spiders that have found their way indoors in search of food or shelter.

Getting rid of these pests is most easily accomplished by keeping them out, but after they get inside, there are a variety of proven and unproven remedies you can use to scare them off or kill them. Here are a few common pest control methods to use against spiders the next time they infest your house.

Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home

Seal up your home. Patch up cracks and holes leading from the outside in to prevent spiders from finding their way indoors.

Use caulk to fill in large gaps of space in closed doors and windows. Also apply caulk around wires, cables, faucets, and electrical components, since all of these must run to the outside.

Cover your vents and chimney with fine mesh insect screens.

Keep your outdoor lights off. While outdoor lights will not attract spiders, they will attract other pests that can serve as appetizing food sources for spiders.

On a similar note, block indoor lights from shining through your windows by using opaque blinds or shades.

Consider switching to yellow sodium vapor lights. These are less appealing to insects and less likely to draw in a food source for your spiders.

Remove vegetation away from the perimeter of your house. If you have a serious spider problem, consider transplanting shrubs, trees, ivy, and other plants from the perimeter of your house to the opposite side of the yard.

Vegetation attracts spiders because it serves as an ample hiding spot. When spiders need to seek out warmth or new food sources, they crawl from the vegetation toward your home, getting in through cracks.

You should also remove mulch, stones, leaves, or other debris near your home.

Vacuum spiders and spider webs. One of the simplest methods for getting rid of spiders is vacuuming up adult spiders, egg sacs, and webs as you run across them.

This method works best when trying to get rid of a few spiders. It may not be very efficient if you have a large spider population living in your home, however.

On a similar note, you can squash adult spiders and eggs with a shoe or other flat, hard object. The dead spider will need to be rinsed off in the sink or scraped off with a paper towel afterward.

Set out glue traps. Place glue boards in dark corners, beneath furniture, in closets, and next to windows and doors.

Apply a residual insecticide. Spray any corners or cracks with a commercial pesticide containing some form of pyrethroid.

Call in Pest control. If you have a large spider infestation and measures you take yourself are unable to control the problem, a professional might be able to apply a stronger chemical pesticide.

Old Wives Tales

Deter spiders with horse chestnuts. Place a few horse chestnuts in each corner of the house and in any area of the house where you frequently run across spiders.

Chestnuts, walnuts, and the fruit of the Osage orange tree are thought to have the same effect.

Little is known about why this treatment repels spiders, and there is no scientific evidence or explanation backing the solution.

Some speculate that horse chestnuts have some form of noxious chemical that repels spiders based on scent. To this end, consider poking holes in the chestnut or splitting it in half to release the odour.

Spray your house with peppermint oil. Fill a standard spray bottle with water and mix in 15 to 20 drops of peppermint oil. Spray down all the cracks and corners of your house.

The idea is that spiders cannot tolerate the smell of peppermint oil and will run away in the opposite direction when they detect it. As a result, it is most effective when applied to possible entrances to the home.

For a more potent effect, you can dab undiluted peppermint oil onto a cotton ball and stuff the cotton ball into cracks or other possible hiding places.

Attack spiders with vinegar. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Apply it to any area in which spiders gather and spray it directly on any spider you see.

Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is thought to burn and kill spiders upon contact.

You can also place small dishes of vinegar in dark corners to ward away spiders. The odour alone may be enough to repel them. Be brave and good hunting guys.

Blizzard Survival 20% Discount Offer

Blizzard Survival .com have a fantastic offer for you the listener they are offering  a 20% discount on all goods bought from them at www.blizzardsurvival.com

The Ultimate in Lightweight Thermal Protection.

The Blizzard Survival Brand incorporating Reflexcell™ material has become the new standard wherever thermal performance in a lightweight compact package is essential - for military use, casualty care, emergency preparedness, disaster relief, personal survival, outdoor activities...and more.

Reflexcell™ products are totally unique: weight-for-weight far warmer than goose down, yet 100% weatherproof, tough, ultra-portable and re-usable.

Life-saving technology has never been so affordable. All you have to do to get a 20% discount is enter the code “PREPPER” at the checkout, it is that simple. Thank you Blizzard Survival.com

Cooking and Eating Acorns

As autumn hits I soon will hear the sound of acorns hitting my deck and of squirrels scampering around gathering this free bounty.

Native American tribes used acorns as one of their primary staple foods. In much the same way they used corn, they used ground acorn nutmeat to make a meal, or flour, for baked goods. They even used them to make acorn coffee.

Acorns are rich in Vitamins B12, B6, folate riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. They also contain iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, copper manganese and zinc, and are good sources of protein and fibre. Naturalist John Muir called the acorn cakes he made the most “strength giving” food he had ever eaten.

But before you start munching on your own baskets of acorns, there is some information you need to know.

First, green acorns are unsuitable for eating. You may harvest mature green acorns to ripen in a clean, dry place, however. Also, all raw acorns contain high amounts of tannic acid, which gives them a bitter taste and which can be toxic to humans and many animals if consumed in large quantities. White oak acorns generally contain fewer tannins than back or red oak acorns.

Tannic acid is water soluble, however, and can be removed by boiling or flushing. Native Americans accomplished this by placing a bag of acorns in a clean, flowing stream for a few days until no brown coloured water was visible around the acorns.

Here’s how you can remove the tannins. To begin, use only ripe, brown acorns that look appealing to the eye. Leave any acorns that appear to be blackened or mildewed for the squirrels.

Next, remove the caps and boil the acorns for 10 minutes. Replace the water three more times, repeating the 10-minute boiling process each time. After the four boiling sessions, the water should no longer look brown and the acorns can be easily shelled.

Another way of removing the tannins is the flushing method. Remove the caps and place the acorns inside a cheese cloth bag. Secure the opening, and place the bag under running water for several hours. Drain the water out of the bag frequently and continue rinsing until the water is clear.

Spread the damp acorns in a thin layer on a baking sheet and in a preheated 200 degree Fahrenheit oven, with the door slightly ajar to let moisture escape. Or if it’s a sunny day, you can place them on a baking sheet in direct sunlight for several hours or until they are dry.

Another method for leaching the acorns is to let them soak in baking soda and water (one tablespoon per quart of water) for 12 to 15 hours before rinsing well.

To make acorn “coffee,” first peel the ripe, blanched acorns. Divide the kernels and place them in a covered ovenproof dish. Roast in your oven on low heat, stirring them frequently. When they have roasted, grind them and use the grounds combined with your regular coffee or on their own. To make acorn flour, follow the same process but sift well to remove any fibres.

Acorns add a nutty, slightly sweet taste to foods. Some Korean noodles and jellies are made of acorn starch, and many Asian grocery markets sell acorn starch in packages.

Other ways to use blanched acorns in your cooking include:

Substituting them in recipes that call for chickpeas, peanuts or macadamia nuts.

Sprinkling chopped, roasted acorns on a garden salad.

Making acorn butter instead of peanut or almond butter.

Adding acorns to stews as you would add beans or potatoes to add more taste and depth.

Here is a recipe for acorn bread or muffins. You’ll need:

2 cups acorn flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup maple syrup or sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons olive oil

Bake in pan for 30 minutes or until done at 400 degrees

Raw acorns can be stored in a clean, cool and dry place for months without spoiling. They also can be used as feed for certain livestock. You will need to follow the same process of avoiding green, unripe acorns and of removing the tannins from the acorns for the health and safety of your animals, however.

30% DISCOUNT FROM RIBZ

A front pack is a pack or bag that allows for access of equipment from the persons chest. Front packs first and foremost allow for easy access of gear without the removal of any equipment.

In many adventure outdoor activities it can be critical to the sport to have the ability to reach essential gear fast without the removal of a backpack. Simplicity is the foremost purpose of the front pack but there are many additional benefits as well.

In all there are unlimited uses for the front pack. Front packs are the best compliment to any outdoorsman’s gear when accessibility, functionality, mobility and simplicity are required. From horseback riding, long distance biking, motorcycling and kayaking.

All sports where fast and easy access of gear is essential, a front pack is your best solution and as you can imagine it is going down a storm within the prepping and survivalist community.

Your summer code is "TRAILBLAZE" and can be used in the coupon section within the Store. http://www.ribzwear.com/store/ Have a Great Summer!

Emergency survival Lighting Idea

An oil lamp can have a number of advantages over candles and mineral oil lamps:

Very cheap to run - can even burn used cooking oil

The fumes are less toxic than those of paraffin candles or mineral oil lamps

The production of renewable vegetable oil is less harmful to the environment than petroleum based products (including paraffin candles)

For the prepper and survivalist, vegetable oil is easier to store in bulk, or can even be produced on the home farm

Due to the wider base, more stable than candles, and the flame of any burning wick falling into the oil will be extinguished

Odour free when using olive oil

Making an oil lamp is very easy, quick and cheap, and gives plenty of opportunity for a creative outlet. The basic element is nothing more than a piece of twisted wire, a length of twine, some vegetable oil and a vessel to hold it all in.
However, if you don't want to mess around with a fiddly job or don't have the tools and materials, you could, instead, buy a lamp or just the holder and spare wicks.

You can get one from a small family business in the USA. If you live in the UK you can now buy the lamp or wick holder (made by the same company as the US wick holder) from www.allthingsgreen.net.

The lamp is an octagonal jar with wick, wick holder and instruction leaflet and at £5 makes a very attractive and unusual gift even for the tightest budget. It would appear that price even includes delivery.

To make one you will need:

Pliers or a vice

Wire cutter (may be part of pliers)

A nail or similar for shaping the wick holding coil (diameter as wick)

Wire

Vegetable oil

Container

Making the Wick Holder

The wire should be thin and soft enough to bend into a small circle. I had a roll of tinned copper wire in my shed which did the job, but you could strip a piece of electrical wire, or use whatever you can lay your hands on which will do the job. Steel wire of the same diameter is much tougher to bend. It needs to be a little thinner than 1mm diameter.

Caution when using copper wire - vegetable oil is a fatty acid and when in contact with copper for a while will produce toxic verdigris. I noticed the oil turning blue-green when I used copper wire, probably with verdigris. When using copper wire, to be on the safe side, remove the wick holder when not in use and wipe off any oil to prevent the formation of verdigris.

Caution when using galvanised wire - remove the zinc coating with sand paper or a file to prevent toxic zinc vapours. I don't know if the lamp flame is hot enough to vaporise the zinc coating, but I'd do it as a precaution anyway.

Work out the length by using a piece of twine, wrapping it around the nail about 4-6 times, then tracing the height, the radius of the base, the base circle and the handle the length of wire should be about 35-40cm long.

The height is determined by how much oil you want to have in the container. The top level of the oil should always be fairly close to the bottom of the wick holding coil. The wick needs to be drenched with oil at all times, or it will be burned too fast.

If the oil is too far below the flame, the oil cannot be wicked up as fast as the flame is burning the oil. To avoid the constant need to top up the container, the surface area should be greater than the height, i.e. a wide, shallow container is best.

Here is a good tip drop some pebbles or marbles into the oil to raise the level as the oil is used up.

The handle allows the wick holder to be removed from the container for lighting, and should be long enough to avoid burning your fingers when replacing the holder. If the container is narrow, the handle needs to extend over the edge.

If the handle is likely to be heavier than the holder and base, then the base needs to be counter-weighted by wrapping another turn of wire around the base. The shape of the handle will be determined by the dimensions of the container.

If the container is wide enough to allow the handle to be inside it without the risk of getting burnt when grabbing the handle, then the handle should be below the rim so that the lid can be placed on the jar when not in use.

Start shaping the wire by holding one end of it against the nail with pliers or a vice, and twist the wire around the nail a few times, until you have a coil about 1cm long. Hold the end of the coil with pliers whilst bending the wire parallel with the nail to form the stem, then bend at a right angle.

The Wick

Most plant fibre twine should work. I used cotton twine, but you could experiment with jute, hemp, flax, nettle or any plant fibre.

It should be absorbent and reasonably smooth, which may precludes jute, and other rough cordage. If you have some handy, and nothing better suited, give it a go anyway.

A length of about 40cm will make a reasonable length of wick. Twisting the wick is a bit tricky, and a job best done with another person, though you can hold one end in your teeth as you twist the other end, or tie one end to a door handle or chair leg or whatever, but allow extra length for tying. Twist it under tension until the twine becomes quite hard, then grab the middle, and bring the ends together, still under tension, then let go of the middle, and the two ends will twist around each other to form a thicker, denser cord.

Now feed the twisted end through the wick holding coil from below, until it sticks out about 6mm. The burner element is now finished. Tip: if the wick won't easily go through the coil (it should be tight enough to prevent it dropping out), twist the wick as you thread it in, to firm it up.

Container

You can use any glass jar which gives enough clearance for the flame, any clearance above 4cm should be safe. As stated earlier, the proportions should be more width to height to avoid frequent refuelling. Think of Roman oil lamps, they were shaped like a shallow gravy boat.

If the container is shallow enough for the flame to be above the rim, the container can be of opaque material, like a terracotta dish or heavy saucer.

If you use pebbles to raise the oil level, you may want to use a saucer under the lamp or a small additional dish to keep the oily pebbles after topping up with oil, maybe also a spoon for retrieving the pebbles.

For outdoor lighting it is best to use a sheltering glass container. It is also easy enough to make a portable lantern by wrapping some wire around the neck of the jar, include some loops and hook a long handle into the loops. If the flame is too hot under the hand, you could put the lid onto the container after punching a few holes into it. The beauty of this kind of lantern is that the flame can shine through the base of the jar too, casting more light onto the ground.

Oil

Now you may be thinking, burning vegetable oil must be very smelly. Some oil may be, but olive oil burns very clean and without odour. Smoking oil smells unpleasant, but burning oil does not.

So forget the stench of a smoking frying pan. However, even the smellier types of oils can be used economically outdoors. Perhaps you have a bottle of forgotten salad oil at the back of the cupboard. Here is some use for it.

Or how do you get rid of the deep frying fat after making a few batches of chips (French fries)? Light your porch, patio or garden path. You could even collect waste oil from fast food outlets. Strain it and use it for your lantern.

You could also add a few drops of essential oil for a scented light. The volatile oil will evaporate easily with the nearby heat, before the flame can actually burn it.

Using the lamp

The first time the lamp is used the wick should be allowed to fully absorb oil before lighting it. Keep the wick about 6 mm long, and make sure the oil reaches to just below the coil. If the holder is in a jar, lift it up to light the lamp.

When the flame shortens it is a sign that the wick is also shortening, and it should be pulled up a little with a pin or tweezers. Remove any charred wick. The wick should not burn very fast. If it does, then the oil level may be too low. Top up or drop in a pebble. It is also best not to extend the wick too far, as a large flame is more likely to smoke.

To extinguish the flame use a candle snuffer, purpose made or improvised, or if the handle is inside the jar as suggested earlier, just place the lid on the jar. This will prevent any smoking. Alternatively, the lamp can be tilted and the holder tipped over to submerge the flame into the oil, which will instantly, and smokelessly extinguish the flame.

Wilderness121’s 10% discount

The new supplier of Purificup to the UK is Wilderness121 and they really mean business, having spoken to the director Rob Williams he has agreed to offer you dear listener a 10% discount just by putting the letters UKPRN into the code box it is that simple.

Now pop along to www.wilderness121.co.uk and check out their great range of survival related products.

Ebola the Threat

UN warns Ebola virus currently plaguing West Africa could become airborne

The longer it moves between human hosts the greater possibility of mutation

The risk grows the longer virus is living within the human 'melting pot'

Officials call for 1,000 new Sierra Leone isolation centres to contain virus

British survivor says 'horror' of children dying from disease must be avoided

Will Pooley was first Briton to contract virus after working in Sierra Leone

Thomas Eric Duncan is the first person to be diagnosed in the U.S. 

He flew into Texas from Liberia, touching down in Brussels and Washington

Up to 100 people in Texas are feared to have come into contact with him

Doctors at the hospital in Texas said he was in a serious but stable condition

The UN's Ebola response chief Anthony Banbury, the Secretary General's Special Representative has warned. There is a 'nightmare' prospect that the deadly disease will become airborne if it continues infecting new hosts.

He said: 'in a career working in these kinds of situations, wars, natural disasters – I have never seen anything as serious or dangerous or high risk as this one.'

His comments come as organisations battling the crisis in West Africa warned the international community has just four weeks to stop its spread before it spirals 'completely out of control'.

The number of new Ebola infections is growing exponentially - officials believe the number of new cases is doubling every few weeks, while more than 3,300 people in West Africa have so far been killed.

Save the Children have also warned five more people are infected with the virus every hour.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has deleted information from its official website which indicated that the “airborne spread” of Ebola was strongly suspected by health authorities, amidst efforts by officials in Texas to calm concerns about the first outbreak of the virus in America.

So to CALM the people they remove the warning but not deny that it is or will mutate to being airborne.

My friends I’m telling you it is transmittable through airborne droplets, so if it does become an epidemic in the West you must wear masks.

Think about it, the medical staff wear full one piece protection suits with masks, this is because of their close contact with the infected.

You too could be in contact with the infected but the difference is you “Will not know it”

The only real survival option in this situation is “isolation” and that means preps, water, in fact in real terms you will be bugging-in.

You will have to deny all outside human contact access to you and your family, you will need the very same one full piece protective suit that the medical staff use.

If the government do what they have done in parts of Africa that is to seal off certain areas and enforce a quarantine what will you do then? Will you cope? Can you cope? And for how long.

And if you do not believe me ask the relatives of Thomas Eric Duncan who are being held under armed guard in their own homes.

On the 5^th of October a man died in Uganda's capital after an outbreak of Marburg, a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, authorities said on Sunday, adding that a total of 80 people who came into contact with him were quarantined.

Marburg starts with a severe headache followed by haemorrhaging and leads to death in 80 percent or more of cases in about nine days. It is from the same family of viruses as Ebola, which has killed thousands in West Africa in recent months.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Marburg virus, which is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva and blood or by handling infected wild animals such as monkeys.

The health ministry said in a statement that the 30-year old radiographer died on Sept. 28 while working at a hospital in Kampala. He had started feeling unwell about 10 days earlier, and his condition kept deteriorating. He complained of headache, abdominal pain, vomiting blood and diarrhoea.

Samples were taken and tested at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and results confirmed the man had the Marburg virus.

Doctors said his brother, one of the people he came into contact with, has developed similar symptoms and has been quarantined in a group of 80 others, 60 of whom are health workers.

Those quarantined came into contact with the victim either in Kampala or his burial place in Kasese, a district in western Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Marburg has a shorter incubation period of 14 days, compared with Ebola's 21.

Time for Tea Bags

Did you know tea is the secondly most consumed beverage in the world? If you’re one of the millions of people who enjoy a nice cup of tea then did you know of the uses for used tea bags?

Soothe a Blistering Sunburn

After a day in the sun there’s nothing quite like a serious sunburn from being in the sun without adequate protection. The application of green and/or black tea bags directly onto sunburned skin is a long-lasting home remedy to treat not only pain, but also speed up the healing process.

It appears that compounds known as tannins work to eliminate pain by calming inflammation. Another health benefit? Due to its antioxidant activity, the topical application of green or black tea bags may actively fight cancer formation by stopping cellular mutations.

Regardless of how it works, find near-instant relief from sunburn by applying brewed tea bags directly onto sunburned skin. Allow the bags to sit on the skin for 15 to 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary.

Restore Vitality to Wary Eyes

Dark rings under your eyes? Tired of always looking tired? If so, then try tea bags. The tannins found in green and black tea may reduce puffiness and redness around the eye area.

Brew two tea bags and then place them in the freezer for 10 minutes, or until cold. Sit down and place a tea bag over both eyes and allow it to cool and rejuvenate your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat each night for the most visible results.

Soothe Aching and Bleeding Gums

Aching and bleeding gums can be caused by a host of ailments, ranging from a newly extracted tooth to gum disease. Regardless, find relief by biting down on a brewed green or black tea bag. The antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of tea bags streamline the healing process while simultaneously numbing pain and reducing blood loss. Repeat as many times as necessary to provide the relief you’re craving.

Find Poison Ivy Rash Relief

Anyone who’s experienced the constant itching and pain caused by this harmless-looking plant is well-aware how uncomfortable this rash is. Obtain near-instant pain and itch relief by brewing enough tea bags to fully cover the rash. Once the tea bags have cooled, apply directly on the rash. Allow the bags to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

Tip: Wear gloves when removing the tea bags to prevent accidentally spreading poison ivy.

Polish Wooden Furniture

While tea bags are used as a natural remedy for your body, they’re also an effective tool around your home. Tannins and other active compounds perfectly clean surfaces by removing germs and debris. To use tea bags as a furniture polish, brew one to two bags and allow them to cool for several minutes. Squeeze until excess moisture has been eliminated.

Hold the tea bags in a soft cloth and wipe furniture as you normally would. To prevent accidental stains, immediately wipe the surface with a clean cloth.

Natural Wart Remover

Warts are unsightly, and in some cases, painful. Even though the most effective wart treatments involve acids and other synthetic compounds, they can be painful and expensive.

While this home wart removal remedy has been used for generations, modern science is just starting to support its effectiveness.

MedlinePlus suggests the antioxidant properties found in green tea inhibit wart growth. In fact, green tea seems so powerful, initial studies found evidence green tea may actually kill HPV, the virus responsible for warts.

Brew several green tea bags and set aside to cool. Once comfortable to the touch, place a green tea bag directly on the wart. Secure the bag with tape or a bandage. After 15 minutes, replace with the second tea bag and soak the wart for 15 to 20 more minutes. After several days, you’ll notice the wart will turn black, and fall off soon thereafter.

Plant Fertilizer

Desire a natural way to feed your garden? Green or black tea provides essential nutrients to soil, which help plants thrive. Break open a used tea bag and mix the tea leaves with the soil.

Tenderize Your Meat

For meat eaters, there’s nothing as satisfying as taking a bite out of a juicy, tender steak. Unfortunately, not all cuts are as tender as they seem. Black tea is renowned by professional and amateur chefs for its ability to tenderize meat while adding a subtle earthy flavour to meats.

Steep 2 to 4 tea bags in 2 cups of water. Pour the tea, including tea bags, over your meat and allow it to marinate for 1 to 3 hours.

Eliminate Genital Herpes Pain

Genital herpes is not only an uncomfortable experience, but its presence can cause just as much mental anguish as it can physical. Eliminate the pain and outbreak duration through the help of black tea bags.

According to a study published in the June 2013 issue of ‘BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine’ compounds in black tea, primarily the avlavins, stopped the growth and replication of the herpes virus. This study confirms the use of black tea for herpes treatment and many herbal and holistic practitioners have recommended this for generations.

Brew 1 to 2 tea bags for five minutes. Remove from the water and allow to cool. Once safe to touch, place the tea bag directly onto a herpes lesion. Allow to soak into your skin for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat once a day until your outbreak is under control.

I will never look at a used tea bag the same way again.

Now thanks to the Managing Director Paul listeners visiting Field Leisure - The Bushcraft & Wilderness Store    at  http://www.fieldleisure.co.uk/ can get 10% OFF by entering the code UKPRN at the checkout now Paul guarantees next day delivery all over the UK and fast European and US delivery and that is reassuring and refreshing too

Mushrooms the Hidden Danger

Walkers were warned of the dangers of foraging for wild mushrooms yesterday after dozens of cases of poisoning.

Public Health England said 84 people have been poisoned by mushrooms and toadstools so far this year and the foraging season is only just under way. 

Dr John Thompson, director of the National Poisons Information Service in Cardiff, said: 'People really need to be aware of the very real potential dangers.

Now as preppers and survivalist we would never eat a mushroom unless we could identify it as safe 100%.

But as we all know it is always at this time of year that we see a noticeable increase in poisoning cases. Many mushrooms growing in the wild are tasty and safe to eat, it is not always easy to differentiate between toxic and non-toxic species even for people with experience.

As the weather starts to change many of us will be heading out to the countryside to seek out wild food which can be a really fun thing to do as well as a way to enjoy the free fruits of nature.

People heading into the woods this autumn, whether it's to gather wild mushrooms or just to enjoy the great British countryside, should be aware of the dangers that mushrooms can pose. Correctly identifying the mushrooms that are safe to pick and eat is the key to ensuring that foraging is good fun and does not endanger health.

Just Some Thoughts on Gear to Carry

Aluminium Foil – The best thing about foil is you can wrap meat and veggies in it, throw it in a fire, and a few minutes later have a hot meal. It can also be moulded into a bowl, cup, funnel, or a pot for boiling water.

It can also be used to enhance an antenna, to sharpen scissors, to make sun boxes for small plants, to collect dew from trees, and in the summer it can be put in windows to keep the heat out.

Baseball Bats – You might plan on carrying a gun for self-protection if the SHTF, but if you’re caught off guard, nothing’s better than a good baseball bat, it never misfires.

Bicycle and Pump, Extra Tubes, etc. – Remember, if, things get ugly, fuel will be unavailable or unaffordable. If you need to travel long distance for supplies, you’ll need a good bike. Make sure to get a mountain bike and not a skinny-tired ten speed.

Sweets – This is mainly for children, but can also be a great comfort food for adults. Just don’t go overboard with it as too much sugar can weaken your immune system.

Cash – If you can afford to, start setting aside a little cash. In most emergency scenarios, people will still accept cash.

Heavy duty bags- Unlike ordinary black bags, heavy duty bags are very thick and sturdy. You can stuff them with sharp branches and debris or use them to drag heavy objects. They can also be used as a poncho, a lean too, an A frame or a temporary patch for a  leaky roof.

Duct Tape – duct tape is awesome!

Floss – Even if you don’t floss, this stuff is great to stock up on as it can be used for fishing lines, repairing tents or clothing lines, and suture material.

Games – In modern societies, people are so used to having constant entertainment and distractions that they’re likely to become very bored if the power is out. But nothing cures boredom like a good board game, or a game of cards. This is especially important if you have children.

Glasses, Glasses Repair Kit – Most people only have one pair of glasses, but what if your glasses break and all the opticians are closed? It’s good to have at least one backup pair and a glasses repair kit.

Glow Bracelets/Sticks – When the electricity is out, the amazing MULE LIGHT range is FANTASTIC https://www.uvpaqlite.com/ You can use them to mark the location of important objects like doorknobs, flashlights and radios. They make a great substitute for candles, and they’re fun for kids.

Hatchet – This might seem like an obvious one, but I know of several people who haven’t bothered to get one yet (especially those living in apartments). Even if you don’t bug out to some location in the woods, you’ll still want to get a good hatchet in case you need to split wood or chop through the bone of an animal. It also makes a good weapon.

Important Documents – Bank account and credit card records, birth certificates, prescriptions, property deeds, registration papers, titles, and any other important papers. You should make photocopies of all ID’s and credit cards. Put everything inside Ziploc bags and keep them in a safe if you have one. You might also want to include cherished photographs.

Map of Local Area – Nowadays people are used to using Google or Yahoo maps and many don’t even have a physical map anymore. It is so importance to have a good map marked with potentially dangerous areas. It can also be used for identifying the shortest, safest route to a friend or relative’s home, a place with supplies, etc. And don’t forget a good motorway map too.

Paper, Pencil, Pencil Sharpener – For playing games, making notes, or keeping a journal (you’re living in interesting times; write about it).

Paper Plates, Cups and Plastic Utensils – In most survival situations, you’ll want to use no more water than is necessary. This is why I think you should get LOTS of these they can also be used as tinder.

Plastic Sheeting – Not just for keeping germs out. This can be used to repair leaks, collect water, or build a makeshift shelter.

Sewing Kit – Another one of those things that has become less and less common in modern society. You should get a decent kit and learn how to sew buttons and patch/mend clothes because new shirts and trousers might be hard to come by.

Snow Shoes – In a disaster, you might be too busy or tried to shovel the footpath so got a pair of snow shoes. You could also use the back of a chair or tennis rackets.

Tarps – There are many uses for tarps: covering firewood, holding debris, privacy screens, shade, tablecloths, tents, lean to’s, A frames etc.

Whistle – Emergency whistles  are invaluable for people who are lost or in danger.

Wire saw – These take up little space and can be used to cut through bone, metal, plastic, and wood with ease.

These as usual are only suggestions and you as an individual will hopefully choose different one to cover your needs.

Peter at buggrub is not only sponsoring the competition on my website he is also offering a 10% discount on all his products. So have you got the gonads, can you walk the walk, dare you, I dear you to buy some buggrub and then eat it, go on I dare you. Peter’s website is www.buggrub.com

What is in your back garden or on your walk?

How many time have you walked past an edible common plane or as some would say a weed?

Here are some very common free foods that you will see most times as you wander around at this time of the year.

Crab apples – Crab apples are much smaller than the common commercial varieties apples and are found in abundance throughout the UK. Most people use crab apples for jams and jellies due to the high levels of pectin found in the fruit which helps to set them jam but they can also be used to make a great tasting wine. The fruit is ripe from September to November but the edible flowers will be out from early summer.

Rose hips – In a similar way to crab apples rose hips can be used to make great jellies and syrups. The best time to forage for them is late summer to early autumn. Another great use for rose hips is to make a sweet tasting wine that can be stores through the winter months. Rose hips are one of the top natural sources of vitamin C and can be very useful in survival situations.

Dandelion: Dandy lions are one of the most common plants here in the UK and can be used in a whole multitude of edible dishes and drinks. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to keep working in top condition so it’s well worth keeping a eye out for them well out foraging. One of the more famous used for dandelion is making a coffee substitute although this dose take a lot of time and effort due to processing it tastes.

Common nettles – Perhaps the most common of all wild foods here in the UK is the humble nettle, you would be hard pressed to walk anywhere in this country without spotting some of these natural alternatives to spinach.  It is possible to eat nettles raw but you must be careful to avoid being stung both when harvesting and eating. A more conventional method is to add nettles to soup or stews; they can even be used to make a refreshing drink known as nettle tea.

Nigel at www.hunters-knives.co.uk has offered you dear listener 10% on all his products simply by using the code PREP10.

Baking with Acorn Flour

As I have talked about in another post, acorns are an uncommon attractive source of food if you know how to deal with them.

They contain tannic acid that must be leached before eating, as it can cause stomach aches. After processing, there is a wide range of ways to use acorns, and baking with their flour is one of the most interesting.

Some acorns may require no more processing than shelling them to eat, as they are low in tannins and it may vary with the different species of oak. However, British native species contain enough tannin and leaching this bitter substance out is a great idea.

Clean and select your acorns

After collecting your acorns, drop them into water, discarding the ones that float. That indicates the presence of nasty maggots and you will notice some of them have black holes.

Supposedly, you are not using all your acorns straight away, so you will need to dry them in the sun. This event is very improbable in a typical British winter, so you can put them in the oven at 150ºF for 15 minutes instead.

You don’t need to cook the acorns, just dry them off for storage and make them easier to shell. Put them in different batches if they are too many.

Shell your acorns

The first step in processing acorns is to open them. It is not an easy task and it will be a tiring job dealing with them. The nuts have a shell not very suitable for nutcrackers, so they are best opened with a knife or a hammer, just crack the shell, but don’t smash the kernel. Put them into water to prevent oxidising.

Leach your acorns

There are several ways of leaching acorns.

Boiling acorns in water.  As soon as it boils, pour the water off into the sink and repeat the process with up to five changes of water until it stops turning dark.

Boiling the acorns will remove the tannins and bitterness and will make the meat soft and sweet. Some people prefer to boil them with shell in order to not overcook.

When boiling, you are also precooking the starch and boiling off their natural oils, reducing their nutrition. They will be good to cook in the oven as a whole nut to eat as a snack, but the flour will not act as a binder when baking.

Filling the bowl of acorns with medium hot water. After half an hour, drain the water off and replace the water again. Then, repeat the process as much as it is necessary and the water no longer turns tea coloured. You will not boil the nutrients, but probably you will have to change the water more times.

This method suits baking as long as the temperature is not extremely hot, because the starch will not be cooked and will thicken when baking.

Grind the acorns into meal, put in water and let it set. Then strain, to add more water again, changing the liquid as much as it is required and the water runs clean. Being cold processed, it is the most suitable for baking and you will not need any extra binder, yet it will be more time consuming.

Dry your acorns

Make sure you dry well after leaching, as acorns are rich in fat and the meal will spoil and get mouldy if left damp for long. Whole acorns can be patted dry on a tea towel, but then roasting brings out the sugars in acorns and helps to preserve them.

Make sure you check the acorns in the process, as some may roast faster than others.

Use a jelly bag for the grinded meal and squeeze the water out. Dry it in the oven at the very lowest setting for 30 minutes if you don’t have a dehydrator, making sure you stir the meal to prevent top layer burning.

Grind your meal into flour

The term flour refers to the final product, the finely milled meal of the acorns you want to make now. Once the meal is completely dry, it may be a little coarse.

You can put it in a coffee grinder or a food processor and process in batches for about 1 minute, to then remove any big particle with a fine mesh sieve.

Storing your flour

Once your flour is completely done, store it in an airtight jar in the fridge, as the fat and oils will make it rancid otherwise.  For long time storage, it is best to put whole acorns and flour vacuum sealed into the freezer.

Bake!

It can also be used as a normal flour to give your bakes a nutty flavour.

However, acorn has no gluten, so it is usually mixed half and half with white or wheat flour. It also does not need too much sugar in cakes, as acorn flour increases sweetness when baked.

You can bake whatever you fancy from breads, to cakes, cookies, wraps and even pasta, there are no limits.

The Bug out Week end is coming.

Community of UK Preppers on FB are having a (Bug out weekend)
So why not join them on the 2nd to the 4th may 2015 to share and learn ideas with other like-minded people

Location

The location is Winteringham Lane, West halton. DN15 9AX

Available Spaces
All spaces are designated specific areas of the Bug Out Weekend location that are suitable for that type of bugging out system as the location is a wild managed area and has a range of different types of ground.

All the places listed here are for the tree covered areas of the location.

1. Hammocks: ---------------------15 spaces.

2. Tarps and tents----------------10 Places

3. 4x4 and off road vehicles----20 places.

4. Campervans and trailers----15 places

There is a large open ground area of the location for the Bug Out Weekend to use whatever system you choose, but I will be limiting these spaces to 40 spaces.

Admission Fee
£20.00 for adult over 16 years

£10.00 for child under 16 years

Free for child under 10 years

Traders and promoters are welcome for no extra cost to the entrance fee

Anyone who says they are going to the event must pay a non-refundable £5.00 deposit per person to secure their place.
How to make deposit payment.
Only if you wish to attend say you are going and I will message you and give you the Paypal address with a payment reference number.

Once payment has been made i will send you your payment receipt reference number. This number is to be presented on entry to the Bug out Weekend where the deposit will be deducted from the admission cost.

Arrangements
Please arrange any train Tickets to Scunthorpe as soon as possible (ASAP) as this will save you money and could be cheaper than your own car.
We can arrange to pick you up from Scunthorpe Train Station and drop you back off for a fee of £3.00. Please let me know as soon as possible if you require this service.
Facilities

There will be a toilet facility in place.

There will be ranges for Archery, Crossbow, Air rifle, live round rifles and shotgun too.

There will be a solar Shower available with hot water available if needed..

There will be a Marquee set up in case of any wet weather so it won't stop people who want to do a bit of socialising

There will be a BBQ for anyone who wants to have a good old meat feast at the cost of £5.00 per head

UK Firearms Licensing Act

For anyone who wishes to bring along a gun or rifle that requires to be licensed under the UK Firearms licensing act 1968.

It is every owner’s responsibility to ensure they are covered under the Uk Firearms licensing act and proof of cover for any such firearms must be shown before you are allowed entry to the Bug out Weekend meeting.

The organisers or associates will not be held responsible for any transportation of unlicensed Firearms to or from the Bug Out Weekend.

See the link below
https://www.gov.uk/firearms-licensing-police-guidance
Ranges

Strict safety rules and timing guidelines at the range points must be followed at all times.
Disclaimer

All guidelines and disclaimers will be presented on entry to the Bug Out Weekend meeting by security staff.

All guidelines and disclaimers must be read and understood before entry to the Bug out Weekend.

To be sure of a place go to FB and find The bug out weekend “CUP”

Alternative Meats

Rabbits, goats and horses are familiar animals to those in the UK and the US but rarely appear on a meat-eater's plate. Why is there so much conservatism when it comes to eating particular meats?

A Dartmoor hill pony charity recently suggested that the UK should start eating the creatures in order to help save them by encouraging organised breeding.

It produced a welter of criticism. There is a long-standing history of disgust in the UK and the US about the idea of eating horse.

Other animals have been historically eaten but declined to little more than fringe foods. There were protests in the US in August when Whole Foods were branded "bunny butchers" for starting to sell rabbit meat.

The company claimed that customers had asked them for years to stock rabbit. But the outrage culminated in a "Day of Action" to let Whole Foods know "what wonderful animal’s rabbits are and remind them how popular rabbits are as pets".

The US and the UK actually have long histories of eating rabbit - especially during World War Two - but it's since become less mainstream. It's now a small-scale industry, with the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lumping rabbit meat figures in with game birds and other ground game.

There's been something of a revival in certain restaurants and gastropubs, but it's far from being widely eaten. Sainsbury's doesn't stock rabbit. Waitrose used to stock it but has since stopped and Morrisons and Asda to my knowledge do not either.

The main exception is venison. Fuelled by an abundance of deer in the UK - which has led to calls for 50% culls - sales of venison soared over the last year, causing supermarkets to expand their ranges.

Eating rabbit before SHTF is a great idea because it is cheap and it is tasty meat and we would usually combine the meal with vegetables and that way we would have the vitamins and protein we need.

We as preppers and survivalists have already tried the tasty rabbit and know its value but as we know rabbit meat is so lean that if a person ate it exclusively they could develop something called “fat-hunger” also known as “rabbit starvation.”

Rabbit eaters, if they have no fat from another source venison, fish (or chicken, pork, or beef)- will develop diarrhoea in about a week, with headache, lassitude, a vague discomfort. If there are enough rabbits, the people eat till their stomachs are distended; but no matter how much they eat they feel unsatisfied.

But the issue remains- should a person include rabbit meat as a back-up plan for survival situations? 

No, there are better sources of balanced nutrition I would suggest.

The reason rabbit breeding is popular among preppers (especially suburban and city dwellers) I think is because it takes so little space to do it and they breed well, like rabbits.

Rabbits are easy to breed, maintain, kill and dress for cooking.

That’s why everyone is so gung-ho about it. We don’t have the acreage for cows or pigs but we do have enough space and grass for rabbits.

Every domestic rabbit represents 1 meal for a family of four, plus a pot of stew. Each is also a defence against hunger in the face of interrupted income, food supply, or other threats to one's well-being.

With a little bit of rabbit care, the meat "stores" very well on the live rabbit in its rabbit hutch.

Additionally, raising rabbits for meat leaves a very small ecological footprint. Unlike a cow, for example, it is easy to butcher one rabbit and use the entire animal without refrigeration. No need for electricity.

To whatever degree one can practice self-sufficient living, to that degree one protects himself from going hungry.

Yes, you can raise rabbits in the big city, and in the country, for survival preparedness, self-sufficiency and improved nutrition.

Just make sure that your meal consists of veg as well.

But here’s the thing- if you have a garden big enough for rabbits then you probably have a garden big enough for a chicken coop as well.

My advice would be to put your efforts into keeping chickens and take up fishing to help keep your protein sources varied.

There is plenty of evidence that eating more poultry meat is good for your health.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has shown there are lower levels of fat in poultry compared to other meats and data from the US National Institutes of Health supports this.

For instance, a skinless turkey breast contains around 3 grams of fat per 100 grams weight, compared to 10 grams for a beef steak or lamb chop.

Moreover, the proportion of saturated fats in poultry is much lower than for red meat. Eating more chicken and turkey and less red meat will lower consumption of saturated fats which contribute to current obesity levels.

Chicken also does not contain the trans-fats that contribute to heart disease, and which are present in beef and lamb. So as well as fighting obesity, eating poultry is good for heart health.

Methods to put Rabbits on your table

Do you want to hunt or control wild rabbits? Then the first step is to learn all about them. Knowing your prey increases your chances. So whether you want to exterminate, hunt or admire rabbit, its best to know your facts.

The European rabbit is an amazing animal. Although they originated from the extreme south-west of Europe, the all too familiar cotton-tailed bunny has managed to spread and multiply across the whole of Europe. The problem grows greater and greater despite the Myxomatosis virus wiping out around 90% of the population in Europe and continuing to kill around one third of all rabbits in the UK today!

With many natural behaviours and habits the European rabbit is a fairly easy animal to out-wit. It is safe to say most people know where to find them, but can you tell when a hole was last used? Do you know what they eat other than grass? And can you tell when a rabbit has Myxomatosis? Knowing all of these things will give you the upper-hand on the field no matter what kind of control or sport aspect you are in to.

Many people are shocked at just how complex and unusual our nation-wide pest is. Did you know that bunnies where farmed in the UK and around Europe before they ran away to dig their own warrens? And that about 20% of a rabbit’s weight is made up from its digestive system? I was shocked to find out that rabbit fur used to be one of England’s most valuable resources, seeing as I can’t give the stuff away.

Understanding rabbit control is a 100% must for all farmers or small land owners. Even a small group of wild rabbits can ruin hours of work and cause costly damages. This pest control can be achieved with different hunting methods, repellents, traps and cages and all manner of fences. So which is best for you and your land?

Deciding which method is best often depends on your outlook and what land you are trying to protect. Farmers will need more extreme extermination methods while gardeners will want cheaper and easier techniques. Do you plan on hunting yourself or hiring others? Or do you just want to try to prevent your pest from entering your garden without ever interacting with them?

Which Rabbit Hunting

Method is the best?

When it comes to rabbit hunting for extermination, there is a lot of choice! It can be hard to decide which method is best for you and your needs. Here is just a few of all the rabbit hunting methods there are out there, split into advantages and disadvantages.

Ferreting

Ferreting is using polecats or ferrets to flush rabbits out of holes, normally into nets placed around the holes. It can be combined with dogs, long nets or a shotgun.

Advantages

All holes are searched; meaning next to no rabbits can get away

A very high kill rate for the areas ferreted

A humane and clean kill is easily achieved
Meat is unspoiled

No damage to the land is caused

Disadvantages

If you want to do ferreting you will need ferrets. Keeping them is a large commitment and I strongly discourage it unless you plan to hunt places other than your own land (or if you own miles of land!).

It can be very time consuming, if you have large sets (groups) of holes you will need more people. For example, if you have holes on both sides of a hedgerow you will need at least two people

Due to the fact that rabbit pups and pregnant mothers will not bolt, ferreting is limited from early autumn to late winter

This sport is Very physical, demanding and hard to master

However it is a very powerful method of rabbit hunting that can really hit your pest population. But sadly not in a way that makes it accessible to anyone.

If you speak to other land owners you know about ferreters, they might be able to tip you off on a keen rabbit hunter willing to work for free. It can also be worth asking your local butchers (when you see wild rabbit meat in the window of course) if they will buy your rabbits from you.

Shooting

Pretty much every farmer has a shotgun right? Making shooting rabbit assessable and simple, but it has many downsides of course.

Advantages

Assessable to those with fire arms

Great fun and can easily be done by anyone with the training

It is good for plucking off ‘that bunny’ that other extermination efforts have missed

Can be used with a large mix of methods such as use with ferrets or dogs

Disadvantages

Owning and using any firearm is a legal minefield

Safety issues have to be taken into account

The cost of buying and maintaining a weapon isn’t cheap

A clean kill is not assured, especially for less experienced marksmen

If you have a gun and want to stalk, lamp or flush, you have rabbit control as the perfect excuse. I wouldn’t rely entirely on shooting the problem away, but it can really aid an extermination drive.

Snaring

One of the lesser used rabbit hunting tricks, snaring is the use of wire based traps to snare the rodent.

Advantages

The cost of snares is next to nothing, especially if they are homemade

Possible to achieve very large catches

They can be used for ANY kind of land, of any size

Has a low physical demand

Disadvantages

Setting the snares is fiddly and easy to get wrong. It will take most people a long time to get the method to a good standard

Snares are often considered cruel, as the victim can strangle themselves or possibly pull off parts of their own fur or skin.

Snares will often get lost, it’s just a fact. You will lose them and they will get stolen.

Using that little wire loop can really produce a large number of rabbits and therefore feed you and yours. When it comes to rabbit hunting in general, I would suggest everyone at least looks into snaring; it’s not for everyone but can be devastating.

There are other methods of rabbit control including falconry and long netting for example but I have mentioned the ones I feel will be accessible to most of us.