Failing to Prepare is Preparing to fail

"Surviving to Fight means Fighting to Survive"

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Saturday 28 June 2014

Show Contents 27th June 2014



Show Notes
I begin this week with the Blizzard Survival 20% discount Offer, My Light Anywhere Tinder Idea Urban Survival Skills for Surviving Disaster, Support these companies, Vegetarians and Prepping, Ribzwear 30% discount Offer, Preparing for a Disaster, Wilderness121’s 10% Discount Offer, Preparing for a Disaster, Using a Map and compass, Buggrub’s 10% Discount Offer, More companies to support, Nettle tea, Hunters-Knives 10%Discount Offer, Survival Hygiene, Further companies to support, My Homemade MRE, Trapping and Snaring for Food, Getting started, Michael Mills, THE WILDERNESS GATHERING 2014 14th to the 17th August.

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 97 countries around the globe and that figure is growing weekly as new listeners join us and if you are new to the show, welcome.
Have you booked your ticket for the Wilderness Gathering? You can get full details at www.wildernessgathering.co.uk or call 0845 8387062
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My Light Anywhere Tinder Idea
Firstly it is waterproof, it easily takes a spark and flame, and it burns in the wind and rain.
It is so simple to make, in fact it’s just cotton balls and Vaseline dipped in melted paraffin wax or candle wax.
Most of you have probably heard of cotton balls and Vaseline as an effective tinder and I have to agree, cotton balls mixed with Vaseline do make great tinder. The only issue is, if it got dropped in water or soaked from the rain, it will not light.
But this version will.
Step 1: Combine cotton balls and Vaseline. This step is the same process you would do if you were making standard cotton-ball/Vaseline tinder. Just take the Vaseline and knead it into the cotton ball.
Step 2: Melt the wax on the stove. You can use old candles or paraffin wax. Do this over low heat as the wax can ignite at high temperatures.
Step 3: Dip the cotton balls in the melted wax. Be sure that the cotton ball is completely submerged in the melted wax. This will ensure that it is completely waterproof.
Step 3: Place on tin foil and put in freezer. Although this step isn’t necessary, I like to place it immediately in the freezer since it cools very quickly. The foil just keeps it from sticking when it hardens.
Now you may be thinking, “why should I bother with the Vaseline, can’t I just dip dry cotton balls in the wax?” The purpose of the Vaseline is to prevent the wax from being completely soaked up by the cotton. If you skip the first step, the cotton will get completely saturated by the wax such that when it dries you’ll never be able to fluff it up enough to allow it to catch a spark and burst into flame.
Using your tinder is a simple process, for the best results, the following steps should be taken:
Step 1: Cut/Break the tinder in half.  By breaking the tinder in half, you expose the Vaseline mixed cotton inside.
Step 2: Fluff up the tinder. Break up the tinder in your hands and repeatedly pull the tinder apart, trying to create a fluffy mass. The more “fluffy” it is, the easier it will take a spark or flame.
Step 3: Light the tinder. Using flint/steel or some other spark creating tool (of course a lighter or match would be fine as well), light the tinder bundle.
And a cup of tea is on the way.
Urban Survival Skills for Surviving Disaster
Making disaster survival preparations has never been more important than they are today. How soon we forget, but it was only a century ago (less in many cases) that people had to do daily what is now considered "prepping" in order to live from day to day.
Surviving disaster has now brought the past back to the future for many concerned citizens as the "what if" list seems to grow daily. These basic urban survival skills are once again necessary, because...
Political, social and economic instability have never been greater. Tack on the growing number of, and very powerful, natural disasters happening around the globe and prepping for disaster survival is no longer a fringe craze, but a necessity in your life.
Disasters can come in many shapes and sizes and aren't always as extreme as the Indian Ocean tsunami (death toll 250,000+) or the tsunami in Japan (death toll over 19,300), the earthquake in Haiti (death toll between 46,000 and 85,000), attacks of September 11th (death toll near 3,000), but they can be much closer to home.
Although hardly newsworthy certain events can take a devastating toll on you and your family. What if...
Long Term Job Loss
Major Medical Issue
Fire Destroys Your Home
Major Bread Winner Passes Away
What would you do? Would you be able to feed yourself, your kids or your pets if you didn't have an income for the next 6 months, a year, maybe longer?
Would relying on government hand-outs be your plan for surviving disaster whether large or small? Sorry to say, but our government is bankrupt by all definitions. When the UK has to borrow money each and every month to pay its bills we're broke.
Sure they can always print more money, but each time that printing press is fired up each one of our pound coins is worth less and less and less...Until the pound is worthless!
Most legitimate economists feel that the only way out of this massive debt - our trusty politicians have created for us - is hyper-inflation. What does that mean? You can say triple or quadruple costs for bread, milk, gas and the list goes on and on. Thanks Osborne.
I don't know about you, but my disaster survival plans don't include trusting a government to remain solvent that has us TRILLIONS of pounds in debt and spends our money like there is no tomorrow.
It's not all gloom and doom however...Surviving disaster is all about preparation and the more prepared you are before one strikes the greater your likelihood of success getting through the tough times.
"Never put off until tomorrow what could and SHOULD be done today!"
So let’s do a quick comparison of disaster survival preparedness to car insurance. If you have a car accident and then try to buy coverage it's going to be too late and you'll be stuck (fortunately for you it's only a financial loss).
The only way to cover yourself is to buy car insurance "before" there is an accident. You may never have an accident, but the coverage was there to protect you if you had.
This couldn't be any truer with regards to preparing for some sort of disaster. It's too late to prepare after the disaster and you stand to lose much more than some money.
In fact, you get more value preparing for disaster survival and one never happening than you would buying car insurance and never having an accident.
With car insurance it's simply money that is shelled out each month and you get no return on your investment. On the other hand, preparing for surviving disaster will teach you extremely valuable skills and you'll be stocking up on supplies that can be used whether or not disaster ever arises.
Assuming it doesn't spoil, can you ever have "too much" food? Can you have "too much" water? Of course not! In fact, for most people, not a day goes by where you're not eating or drinking.
How is investing in something you use daily and is quite necessary for you to live a bad investment? Answer: It's not!
So What Can You Do?
First off, you want to educate yourself. I hope this show and my blog are a very valuable resource for you and I will constantly be updating it with new inform on surviving disaster.
It is time to make a firm commitment to start preparing for disaster survival. Tomorrow is a good time, but right now is a great time...There's no time like the present!

If you are looking for some new kit then please Support these Companies
The following companies have supported this station and I will support them they are:
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The Lifesaver bottle
For the Knot Bone Lacelock
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Browning Night Seeker Cap Light RGB
Multi lite Multi-tool
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Day Ration Pack
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myFC PowerTrekk
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Is a solar powered phone charger really useful in the UK?
Recharge via mains usb, PC, Car usb and in addition, Solar
Hold charge for months, even when in a pocket
Any direct sunlight will trickle charge the battery.
Get more charges per given capacity and very useful in an emergency
Vegetarians and Prepping
I was talking to a supplier the other day who asked me how would a vegetarian prep to survive.
You know that is a question that I could not answer straight off as, as a meat eater I have not thought of this question as I am not bothered. 
Well I was not bothered until he asked that question it then occurred to me that there will be thousands of vegetarian preppers and survivalists out there who need to know what to do just as much as we meat eaters do.
The question I asked myself was can vegetarians get complete nutrition if they never eat meat? 
Well is seems that they can and all it takes are two simple, timeless ingredients.
Muscles, blood, and bones are built from basic elements found in protein. These elements are called amino acids, and there are 22 of them that the human body needs to keep the factory in business. 
The body can make many of these building blocks for itself. There are nine essential amino acids, though, that only come from food.
Meat is a complete protein. Like a bookshelf from Ikea, it has all the parts in one neat kit. 
There is no single non-animal food that packs in all nine essential aminos. Lucky for vegetarians, protein comes from many sources. You don’t need an all-in-one kit to build a bookshelf.
Beans and rice, diet staples since the first people learned how to farm, each have their own share of amino acids. It’s a mix and match. 
Eat them together in one meal, and they combine to make complete proteins.
Dozens of types of beans are grown across the globe. 
Here is a short list of the most common and healthiest:
Black beans
Pinto beans
Navy beans
Kidney beans
Lima (butter) beans
Don’t hesitate to stockpile beans. Tinned varieties have a shelf life that can stretch as long as five years, under the right conditions. 
That is, the standard Cool Dry Place. Dry beans can be stored even longer; sealed in an airtight container and kept out of the light, they can survive for an amazing twenty years or more, without losing any of their nutritional benefits.
Tinned beans are much quicker to prepare than dry. The downside of precooked beans is a higher level of sodium, added when tinned. 
Also, since they are cooked in the can, there is no way for the complex sugars in the beans to escape. 
Rinse tinned beans very well before using them to wash away as much of the residual sodium and sugars as possible.
Plan far ahead to cook dry beans. 
They need to soak overnight to soften. The soak time can be shortened by briefly boiling the beans first, but there is a risk of food poisoning because they still need to sit for several hours. 
The elevated temperature is a better environment for bacteria than cool water.
You’ll notice foaminess forming on the top of the water; this is the sugar escaping. Dry beans cause less gas than canned beans. 
Sugar is water soluble, and the more you rinse away, the less there is to ferment after you eat it.
Instant rice is not a special variety. It’s merely rice that has been precooked, then dehydrated. It’s popular because it is quick and very easy to cook. 
It’s unpopular because it is bland and chewy.
Cooking conventional rice is not as difficult as it seems; just plan ahead for it. Instant rice is better than none at all, but if you do the easy prep work and cook up some real rice, you’ll see a major improvement in texture and flavour. 
There are thousands of varieties of rice. Here are the basics:
Long grain rice cooks up fluffy. After it is cooked, the grains don’t stick together. 
This type of rice is best for side dishes and stir frys.
Medium grain rice is moist and tender, also good for side dishes, and for soups.
Short grain rice is used to make sushi, rice balls, and risotto. It is very sticky, and has a good strong flavour.
Brown rice and white rice are not separate varieties; they are just milled differently. Whole grain brown rice gets its colour from a layer of vitamin rich bran, which is ground off to produce white rice. 
While brown has more nutrition and better flavour, it takes longer to cook and must be refrigerated so the oils in the layer of bran don’t get rancid. 
White has a much longer shelf life - 25 to 30 years, when stored properly. To compensate for the loss of the healthy bran layer during milling, white rice is often fortified.
For great results, follow these steps:
Wash away excess starch and any possible residue pesticides. Use a large pot; ideally, you want three times as much water as rice while you’re rinsing it. 
Get right in there with your hands and really work it. Drain the rinse water, and repeat. If the water is not running clear after the second rinse, go ahead and do it a third time.
Let it sit in fresh water before you cook it up. The grain will relax, and the rice will need less time on the stove. Soaking is the key to cooking rice with the best texture. 
Thirty minutes is a good start for regular white rice, but it can go as long as 10 hours. 
Once the prep work is done, cook the rice in a heavy pot. Use a little less water than the standard 2:1 ratio, so it won’t get mushy and soggy. 
Don’t boil the water before you add the rice, and no peeking - if you lift the lid, the steam will escape before the job is done.
Beans and rice have been fuelling us since the days of the first farmers.
Every major culture has a variation of this simple mix of staple ingredients. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, a meal of beans and rice is incredibly healthy.
If you’ve looked at purchasing food storage from any number of companies, you’ve probably encountered TVP.  But what is TVP?  And do I need any of it in my food storage?
TVP is an acronym for Textured Vegetable Protein.  It is also sometimes called Textured Soy Protein (TSP), or soy meat.  It is a non-meat product that provides a comparable percentage of protein per serving when reconstituted as meat. 
It is high in fibre and low in fat.
TVP is made from soy flour after the soy oil has been extracted.  The flour is mixed with water, then cooked under pressure and squirted out of a machine to dry.   
Because of the pressure, the TVP fluffs with air pockets when it comes out of the extruder, giving it a texture and mouth feel similar to meat.   
TVP can be dried in various forms like strips, flakes, and crumbles depending on what the final product will be used for.
TVP is also a great protein source for vegetarian’s as it is soy based and has no meat products in it.
In its natural state, TVP is tasteless, so most food storage TVP has flavour added.  There is chicken, ham, beef, and bacon flavours of TVP. 
Why would you want TVP in your food storage when there are perfectly good freeze dried meats and canned meats available?  One good reason is the cost.   
TVP is quite a bit less expensive per serving than freeze dried or commercially canned meats.  Because of the cost savings, TVP is an enticing alternative that can be used alone or as a meat extender to add protein to a variety of meals.
Some people actually prefer TVP to regular meats.  I’m not a huge fan of it personally, but it’s not bad as an extender or occasional pie filler. 
To rehydrate TVP, either add boiling water to it, or boil it in water until it is reconstituted.   
Usually it is about 3/4 cup water to 1 cup TVP, but can vary depending on the variety of TVP you’re cooking–check your product label for more specific instructions.
I hope that this has given the vegetarians among us some idea on what to prep, the usual rules on storage still apply and only your lack of imagination will limit your recipe choices.
You are listening to the UK preppers Radio network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden
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Preparing for a Disaster
Emergency preparedness can be OTT. So here's some basic advice for everyone. It won't protect you from hoards of hungry zombies, but it will keep you comfortable, warm and safe.
Unlike other parts of the world we do not suffer from massive tornado’s, tsunamis and earth quakes etc. but we do have our moments I can tell you, but you know it does not take a massive natural disaster for basic utilities to breakdown and emergency service response times to grind to a halt.
Taking some basic precautions against these scenarios can be an easy and cheap way to save you and your family some discomfort or even their lives. The theory here is to prepare for the worst, so the worst doesn't happen, as you hope for the best
Let’s look at the basics, bugging- in preparations you can make to keep you and your family comfortable and safe there.
This isn't the place to scare you with tales of civil unrest, economic collapse, EMP attacks etc. I want to look at what we should have at home to cope with the next snow storm, flood or even just a power cut.
The Shelter, Water, Fire, Food survival priorities remain just the same in a home with no power as they do out in the wilderness. Let's address each one and show you how you can prepare for it effectively, without spending a ton of money.
Storage: Before you log on and start buying online, think about where and how you're going to securely store all this stuff.
I have just about managed to fit all my preps into a built-in wardrobe in my bedroom, much to the annoyance of my other half.
I've seen other people pack this stuff under a big bed or even into a big, secure tool locker in their back yard. The important thing is that your stuff needs to remain accessible post-disaster and should be sheltered from the weather, sun and secured against both theft and animals. You want it to be there and be in good condition if you need it.
Communication: We've all seen how quickly mobile phone networks can be over loaded.
Even if an emergency situation doesn't damage communications infrastructure, a simple spike in call volume could prevent you from being able to contact your loved ones.
So, the best communication in an emergency is communication that's taken place before. Create a basic action plan with your family now: come home, we'll come get you. Whatever it is, keep it simple and memorable.
My family knows that, if a disaster strikes, they have to make their way to my home as quickly as possible. This is also a good reason for keeping a landline in your house. Sometimes they'll work even after power's gone out.
Shelter: Hopefully your house will be fine, but you should prepare for it not to be.
This is very location-dependent. I live in rural North Yorkshire, so even if my house is made uninhabitable I could easily sleep in my garden or the surrounding fields. But, it does get cold and sometimes very wet, so shelter is vital.
I have a big tarp that'll provide good shade and a few hundred feet of paracord enabling me to hang it in virtually any circumstance. It could also patch a hole in a roof if needed.
Shelter is also clothing. If you live somewhere with cold winters, you'll know how important it is to keep warm and likely already have the clothing to handle that. An easy solution is just to rotate old jackets or whatever into a storage box kept with other stuff as you buy new things. A 10-year old pair of boots may no longer look good enough for everyday wear, but they could protect your feet in an emergency.
Make sure you have full, head-to-toe outfits for the whole family that include good footwear. Keeping this setup separate and dedicated means it'll be there if you need it, not at the office or school or in the boot of your car that's now 10 feet under water. You don't want to be stuck wearing high heels.
One note about cold conditions: being comfortable during a quick dog walk or while sledding for half an hour is very, very different from remaining comfortable in real cold for prolonged periods. Inexperienced people that come camping with me in even mild conditions are often caught off guard by how cold 40 degrees can feel when you have to spend an entire night in it.
If you live somewhere cold, you'll also want a post-disaster heat source. That may be as simple as your fireplace, just make sure you keep extra wood on-hand just in case, then don't be tempted to dip into that cache for other uses.
If your home is damaged by a disaster or you suspect it may have been, immediately turn off the gas and electrical supplies. You'll need a wrench for the gas and just switch off the mail fuse for the house.
Water: At a minimum, you need one gallon of water per person, per day. I would say you need to have enough on-hand for 72 hours, I actually have a month's supply.
You can also get a ton of water out of your hot water heater. Know how to drain it and have appropriate containers ahead of time.
You'll also want to store a gallon or so of plain old bleach. A quarter teaspoon per gallon of water will kill any bugs, but it will taste a little like a swimming pool.
Fire: Bic lighters are the best lighters, just make sure they're the real deal and not cheap knockoffs. I like to keep a few different methods of starting a fire to hand, like matches, a pack of lighters and a flint and steel.
Old dryer lint makes great tinder, just keep a container in your laundry room and add too it every time you clean the trap, then move that container to your storage area when it's full.
You want fire for warmth, but also to cook food and boil water. Those last two things are better performed by a camp stove.
Food: Freeze dried backpacking food or MREs are pricey and…not great eating. You'll likely have enough food around the house already to comfortably pass that government-suggested 72-hour period and, if the power's out, you may even need to have a barbecue to use it all.
It's also a good idea to keep ice packs or just a big bowl of frozen water in your freezer. Those will help it stay cooler for longer after the power goes out, turning it into a cooler. If the power goes out, stick perishables in the freezer, then minimize the amount of time the freezer door is open.
If you or a family member have special dietary requirements (or medical needs!), you have kids that need baby food or pets, figure out what foodstuffs that are capable of long-term storage will work for them, and store some of that too.
You won't starve to death for a few weeks, so food isn't a huge priority. You'll be way more comfortable with it though and, if you have to put in some labour repairing your home or walking somewhere far away, you'll need the calories.
Gadgets: There's all manner of bullshit gadgetry sold around survival. Most of it is absolute garbage. Here's a few things that actually will be useful:
Flashlight/Torch Forget the hand-operated ones or those things that double as radios. Just pick up a quality, LED flashlight that runs on common batteries. Buy a few and keep them around the house, in your car and at the office.
AM/FM Radio: You'll want to be able to get information from the authorities and keep abreast of developments. A simple, battery operated am/fm radio will achieve that easily, but most people don't have those around anymore; and it's stored with the other stuff in its original, weather-proof blister packaging.
Batteries: Whatever gadgets you buy, make sure they operate on the same type of battery. I'd suggest AA, just because it's so common. Then, buy a few packs of lithium batteries of that type. Their shelf-life is 10 years and your electronics will work better for longer with lithium.
Sanitation: This is the least discussed, but one of the most critical elements of preparing for an emergency. If water is off, where are you going to poop? A family of four is going to produce quite a bit of that over a three day period and, if you don't have anywhere to put it, it'll spread disease, attract bugs and make you sick.
The solution is to make a basic toilet out of a five-gallon bucket and rubbish bags. Make sure the bucket has a top which seals good, then keep that lid on when it's not in use. When the bag is full, double it up and tie it off before carefully disposing of it somewhere. A large bottle of alcohol hand sanitizer is going to be a big help here too. 
And that's about it. Lock your doors, pretend you're not home if any zombies show up and play some cards. You did pack away a deck of cards, right?
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Pine Needle Tea
Pine needles are a wonderful source of Vitamin C. Using pine needles in the form of tea, you can get 4 times as much Vitamin C as you can from orange juice. Pine needles also have an elevated Vitamin A content and cannot only be used as an expectorant/decongestant, but it can also as an antiseptic wash.
Pine Needle Tea has long been a favourite of traditional and indigenous peoples, both for its refreshment and for its medicinal values.
You may not realize that Pine Needle Tea contains 4-5 times the Vitamin C of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and is high in Vitamin A. It is also an expectorant (thins mucus secretions), decongestant, and can be used as an antiseptic wash when cooled.
So not only does it taste good, but it's good for you!
Each variety of pine has its own flavour to impart, so experiment and see which needles you like best. And feel free to mix and match!
Just remember that while all Pines are evergreens, not all evergreens are Pines! So head out to the park, positively identify your pine trees, bring back some needles and give this one a try!
Collect a small bundle of green needles, the younger the better. (A small handful will be plenty.)
Remove any of the brown, papery sheaths that may remain at the base of the needles. (They easily pull off.)
Chop the needles into small bits, about ¼ to ½ inch long.
For a Refreshing Tea:
Heat about a cup of water to just before boiling.
Pour the hot water over about a tablespoon of the chopped needles.
Allow to steep (preferably covered) for 5-10 minutes, until the majority of needles have settled to the bottom of the cup. Enjoy your delicious tea!
For a Medicinal Tea:
(This process releases more of the oils & resins that contain the medicinal compounds, and tastes a little like turpentine.)
Bring about a cup of water to a full boil. Add approximately one tablespoon of chopped needles to the boiling water and cover. Allow the needles to boil in the water for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow the tea to continue to steep, covered, until it is cool enough to drink. (Most of the needles should sink to the bottom.) Pour the tea into a mug, leaving the needles behind, and enjoy!
Drink this tea several times a day for maximum medicinal effect. (Make it fresh each time.)
Pine Needle Tea is a gift of health as well as an enjoyable experience.
And since Pine is best used fresh, it's a perfect excuse to get out & enjoy the change of seasons!
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
Using a Map and Compass
OK so everyone knows a few fundamentals of navigation- north is always up, the sun rises in the east, and compasses usually point towards magnetic north. But at some point in time, prepper bugging-out, survivalist or just out for a walk in the wilderness you’ll want to be able to find out where you are, and where you need to go. 
The map is you’re most important tool, as you can always get by without a compass, this I do not recommend.
Essentially, be sure your map- Covers the entire hike. Has a map scale or datum that you are comfortable with and includes features like roads, boundaries and streams.
The compass is your second most important navigation tool, but it is also the most important to get exactly right. Unfortunately, there’s not much room for DIY here.
Your compass should have specific features, and they’re absolutely worth a bit extra.
It should have.
1. A clear base plate- To see underneath the compass.
2. A sighting mirror- To sight objects at eye-level.
3. A rotating bezel, marked with 360 degrees in 2 degree increments.
4. Meridian lines- For map use.
5. Declination Adjustment and arrow- to correct for the difference between magnetic and true north.
Taking a bearing.
This step is pretty simple. When doing any map work, be sure you ignore your compass needle and declination arrow. They are only helpful when you’re using the compass in relation to the world around you. For now, consider it more of a protractor.
This is the simplest of the exercises. Imagine you’re on a mountain and you can see another mountain, what heading is it?
1. Open the Compass, and lay it flat on the map.
2. Move the compass so that the base is along point A (where you are), and the mirror is along point B (the other mountain).
3. Rotate the bezel until North matches the maps north, and the meridian lines line up with a north south line (lat/ long lines).
4. Read the bearing at the top of the compass.
The edge of the map is the ideal line. Any lines that parallel it will work too.
On the bottom of the compass, 180 degrees around, is the bearing from Point B to Point A.
Follow a Specific Bearing on a Map
Alright, you’re on a mission. You know that there’s a cave filled with treasure, unmarked on your map, it’s 308NW of your position.
1. Open the compass and turn the bezel to 308NW
2. Orient the compass with the clear part along your current position.
3. Turn the whole compass, keeping one edge along your position, until the compass matches the maps north, and the meridian lines match North/South lines on the map.
4. The destination is somewhere along the line created by the base of your compass.
Taking a Bearing on a Real Object
Before we use your compass, we’ll have to set the declination.
First, find the declination in your area in the UK by logging onto this site
http://magnetic-declination.com/ then, follow the directions that came with your compass to set the declination properly.
Now you can take a bearing on a real object.
1. Choose an object to take a bearing to. Ideally this is something you can do, then reference on a map. But you can practice with objects that are a minimum of twenty feet away.
2. Stand well clear of your computer. Large, metal objects usually mess up compass readings.
3. Tilt your mirror ~45 degrees in relation to the base.
4. Hold the compass outward, level, relaxed, and at eye level.
5. Close your non-dominant eye.
6. Match the object up in the compass sights. Be sure its level!
7. Turn the bezel until the north (red) needle is in the declination arrow.
8. Read the heading from the bezel.
9. Give the bezel a spin, rinse, repeat.
Step 6: Following a Bearing in Real-Life
You know your campsite is only a mile away, at heading 40NE. But how do you translate the heading into an actual direction?
1. Dial the bearing in on your compass.
2. Set the sight mirror at ~45degrees, hold it level, and bring it to eye-level.
3. Close your non-dominant eye.
4. Turn your body until the north needle is within the declination arrow or box.
5. Take note of an object on that heading. Choose a peculiar tree, peak, or anything else in your direction of travel.
6. Head to that object, then take your bearing.
 Method 2
Take the bearing, then have a partner travel in that direction until he’s just at the edge of your sight distance. Once he’s there, tell him to move left or right to get him aligned. Move to your partner, then repeat. It’s a great method if you need to be super accurate
Step 7: Conclusion
Hopefully you just learned four new skills. I’m not an expert, but this advice is I hope enough to keep most people out of trouble.
The easiest place to practice is around home… it may be worth finding a partner to check on your work. If you head out to the wilderness, find a spot where you can pick loads of landmarks. Then take a bearing with the compass, then compare your bearings to the actual bearings on the map.
Remember the best way to avoid getting lost is to stay found. Have fun!
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.co.uk
Here are some more companies to support
72 hour survival pack
Blizzard Survival jacket
Survival Ration Packs
SOL Complete Survival Kit and SOL Bivy Bag
The answer to rough ground sleeping
For all your military equipment needs
NEW MRE’s
The Fire Piston
Great tasty MRE’s
The 95 Puukko Survival Knife
Gold Standard Whey Protein isolates which are 90% pure protein by weight
The RIBZ Front Pack
The LuminAID
Your own water purification system­­­­
Nut, gluten- and milk-free foods for nearly a decade here.
Nettle Tea
Milarepa, the Tibetan saint, was said to have lived on nothing but nettles for decades of meditation. Yet another weed that most of us pull and throw out, like dandelions, nettle is a wonderful health-boosting herb that should never be dowsed with weed-killer, but plucked and dried to make into an herbal panacea that could make the local pharmacy go bankrupt. 
Here are 29 Nettle Tea Benefits
To give you an idea of just how powerful this singular plant is, nettle has the potential to treat the following ailments:
  • Nettle stimulates the lymph system to boost immunity
  • Nettle relieves arthritis symptoms
  • Nettle promotes a release from uric acid from joints
  • Helps to support the adrenals
  • It helps with diabetes mellitus
  • Strengthens the foetus in pregnant women
  • Promotes milk production in lactating women
  • Relieves menopausal symptoms
  • Helps with menstrual cramps and bloating
  • Helps break down kidney stones
  • Reduces hypertension
  • Helps with respiratory tract disease
  • Supports the kidneys
  • Helps asthma sufferers
  • Stops bleeding
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Reduces incident of prostate cancer
  • Minimizes skin problems
  • Eliminates allergic rhinitis
  •  Lessens nausea
  • Cures the common cold
  • Helps with osteoarthritis
  • Alleviates diarrhoea
  • Helps with gastrointestinal disease, IBS, and constipation
  • Reduces gingivitis and prevents plaque when used as a mouth wash.
  • Has been shown to be helpful to in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Relieves neurological disorders like MS, ALS and sciatica
  • Destroys intestinal worms or parasites
  • Supports the endocrine health by helping the thyroid, spleen and pancreas
You can brew stinging nettle leaves in almost boiling water and drink daily as a curative to all these ailments. Just be sure to check with your doctor since nettle can interfere with certain pharmaceuticals. Enjoy nettle tea benefits today!
How to Make Stinging Nettle Tea
Stinging nettle tea is really easy to make and can be made using fresh or dried nettle. If using fresh nettle then carefully collect some from an area away from car traffic, pesticides and animal waste.
Boil four cups of filtered water and remove from the heat
Finely chop four heaped teaspoons of fresh nettle
Add the nettle to the water and steep for 20 minutes with the lid on
Drink hot or cold.
If you can’t find your own fresh nettle then you can purchase a bag of dried nettle leaf from many companies across the globe but here is one based in the UK http://buynettletea.co.uk/contact.php or you can always try Amazon.
Nigel at www.hunters-knives.co.uk has offered you dear listener 10% on all his products simply by
Survival Hygiene
Hygiene and survival, are you really serious? Absolutely! Your best line of defence for disease and other simple, but debilitating conditions, is following good hygiene habits and procedures, religiously.
If your idea of being a survivor is being a “mountain man”, with a big bushy beard, wiping your mouth off on your sleeve and bathing “every so often” you’re in for a potentially life threatening surprise.
If you’ve ever had bum-crack-rot, fat thigh rash, cracked toes with gooey toe-jam funk and other cleanliness related issues you have experienced what in today’s world are minor issues. You can just go take a bath in hot, steaming water and use plenty of soap and some “Lotrimin” (available on Ebay and Amazon) you are “healed”. 
Not so in a survival situation.
In a survival situation you have to strive to avoid developing the problems in the first place. Your first line of defence against disease and functional debilitation is just plain, simple cleanliness. 
If you are in your “bug out place” and you have reasonable water supplies then by all means bathe every day, without fail. At least have a sponge bath and stay clean. If you are hoofing it, you need to take a “cat’s bath”, cleaning under your arms, your crotch, and between your toes at least once a day.
Baby wipes are a good portable solution, just don’t use “kitchen counter” disinfectant wipes as they will cause irritation and actually cause problems. 
Preventively, use Lotrimin or some other anti-fungal on your feet, and talc or some other powder on your privates, thighs, bum crack and under the arms.
If you’ve ever had cracked toes with itchy, gooey, toe-jam, funk and it gets really bad, walking becomes a problem and if you are walking, guess what? 
You could be in real trouble if you have to lie up for a few days to get better or can’t move at all. If you are in place, this should never be an issue. 
Get prepared properly and have what you need at home or in your BOB to avoid this and maintain your foot and other body health needs.
In either case, unless you are being chased you should stop and let a significant problem get healed before hiking off or starting back to work on the homestead. Also if on the hoof you can change your clothes and turn your dirty ones inside out and lay them in the sun or hang them on the outside of your pack. 
This will kill odours, and this is almost as good as washing them.
If you have any problem areas, such as acne or hypersensitivity to plants or other tactile contaminants you must keep them clean as well. If you are in place it is much easier to meet these needs and shave as well.
Unless you have a bona fide hypersensitivity to shaving you should shave every other day at least.
Being clean-shaven prevents odour, dirty skin, boils and reduces lice and other infestations. If you are on the trail try and shave as much as you can, but remember, the heavier your beard the shorter the lifespan of your razor.
The most probable way of making yourself sick is with your hands, either by hand to mouth/nose/face/eye contact or by damaging a very dirty hand or extremity. Hand washing is THE number one disease prevention hygiene habit.
Most illnesses are acquired by touching someone else (hand to hand) or something they touched, and then touching your face/mouth/nose/eyes. Develop the habit of NOT touching your face/nose/mouth/eyes and keeping your hands washed and/or use hand sanitizer, religiously.
When using tools or engaging in other hand and arm activities, keep your extremities clean. If you skin your knuckles, scratch your arm or have a really bad looking hangnail, be proactive and trim it/clean it up and rinse it with alcohol and put antibiotic on it and a plaster.
If you can manage it the well-prepared survivor should also have on hand tetracycline (Doxycycline), Cipro (or some form of methicillin analogs) and some sulfa drugs. These have different uses depending on what illness/injury you have. 
Some of these drugs can be found on veterinary sites and ordered OTC without a script and used on humans (check this out, thoroughly on your own before using these, and only use them in a dire emergency where medical care is not available but ONLY IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO).
To recap, keep clean and address open wounds immediately. Being on the move is no excuse for not being clean. If you are in place then cleanliness should never be an issue. Stay clean-shaven, cut your hair, clip your fingernails, bathe, wear clean clothes, clean shoes and socks, and wash your hands.
Make sure you have a supply of disinfecting materials, plasters, and antibiotics. Also if you can find one get a Combat LifeSaver (CLS, Army manual) and find a trained individual to train you in it.
These few simple things can prevent you from surviving TSHTF and then dying from something simple like a boil or skinned knuckles.
Be safe and survive well!
Further Companies to Support
Uses natural fuel
EDC steel tools
Highlander Trojan Hydration Pack – Multicam
CUDEMAN HEAVY DUTY OLIVE WOOD BUSHCRAFT KNIFE - 111L
Alum Crystal and natural spa products
Tool logic Survival 11 Credit Card
BackHawk Web duty Belt
Guppie Multi=tool
Go Survival Pack
Beautiful Handmade Catapults
1 Person BASIC Backpack Survival Kit, the back pack that does it all
DD Hammock –The ultimate in Travel Hammocks
Elzetta ZFL-M60 Tactical Weapon-Grade LED Torch
Ultimate Adventurer Survival Kit everything in one kit
Adjustable Knife Lanyard Review
Handmade knives by James D. Sanders
Mini alarm Device with an Ultra bright White LED
Lightload towels
The LUCI light
Fire Dragon Gel
TBS Boar Folding Pocket Knife
Live Fire Emergency Fire Starter
THE ultimate Emergency Survival Fishing Kit
Gerber Mini Remix - Drop Point, Fine Edge
The Mule Light
The BodyGard is the Rolls-Royce of keychain emergency tools. Its two essential (and life-saving) tools are its seat belt cutter and door glass breaker.

The BodyGard also includes a sonic alarm (to attract attention and ward-off a would-be attacker), LED flashlight, and distress flasher (a bright red flashing light).

The BodyGard is compact and smartly attaches to your keychain so it's within reach during an emergency. You owe it to yourself and to your family to carry a BodyGard.
The powermonkey explorer is not just for adventure travellers.  Compatible with the majority of smartphones including iPhone and BlackBerry, mobile phones, iPods, MP3 / MP4, PDAs and portable games consoles, the powermonkey explorer is a portable charger for your 5V devices - giving you 96 hours of standby on your mobile, 40 hours on your iPod, 5 hours on your games console, 48 hours on your PDA and 6 hours on MP3/MP4 players.
My Homemade MRE
I have been looking at the high prices of British Army MRE Ration Packs (About £10+ along with postage!) and I decided to opt for making my own for my bug out bag.
All of these items I bought from Asda recently so these are current prices. I would recommend using a vacuum sealer or Mylar bags with o2 absorbers to make these feasible, otherwise the shelf life I predict is probably not going to be reached due to the nature of some of the items.
Anyway, let’s begin, please note that the numbers after names are Calories, then price!
Breakfast
8 x Belvita Biscuits 445 £0.76
Coffee Sachet 75 £0.14
Lunch
Cup a Soup 90 £0.10
Dinner
Mugshot Pasta 307 £0.68
Lemon + Black pepper tuna tins x 2 340 £1.10
Snacks
Boost bar 305 £0.25
Kendal mint cake 85g 350 £0.88
Pumpkin seeds 566 £0.55
Straberry lances 300 £0.33
Coffee sachet 75 £0.14
So this leads to a total cost of £4.93 and a whopping 2853 calories!
I have also got three vacuum sealed bags of peanuts, raisins and chocolate drops which I would also chuck into the bug out bag, these contain a staggering 1750 calories for only £0.99 and will last for ages in the vacuum seal
I'll add as well, my MRE weighs about 870g, where as a normal British Army one weighs 1750g and also it’s technically not an MRE as it requires water and minimal heating, but that of course is nothing to worry about really!
So it makes the meals even cheaper for now, however it would make long term sense to obtain my own at some point.
This is a very basic but very tasty MRE option and I am sure as I experiment further that it will develop and become more season friendly with both a range of hot and cold meals.
Trapping and Snaring for Food
Having spent well over 30 years studying survival skills I have had first-hand experience of the many processes that each learner will go through to finally achieve each element of natural wilderness survival.
As we all know food is the LAST thing you should worry about. Shelter, fire, water and signalling for help are far more important.
Remember the rule of 3's... You can die from exposure to the elements in 3 hours,
You can die from lack of water in 3 days,
But it takes 3 WEEKS or more to die of starvation.
3 weeks is a long time, so plan for your essentials first. If you have your other bases covered, then you can start planning for food. Snaring and fishing are your best bets, as they allow for you to
"Set and forget", which means that you conserve energy.
All hunting should be done with as little energy expenditure as possible. Find a comfortable spot and wait for dinner to come to you. Rabbits, being very common worldwide, are a good wild game food.
They can typically be found grazing in fields and clearings where grasses and other low lying plants are found. Watch to see where they enter and exit these areas to provide the locations for snares. 
Some people have been known to add impassable brush and wooden stakes along both sides of the path leading to the trap creating a funnel effect.
They can then drive rabbits or other small game in the direction of the trap and be relatively sure that the game will head straight into the snare.
The Rabbit Snare can be used for many types of small game depending on how and where you deploy it. It consists of a noose loosely draped over twigs, brush, or any low-lying points where you can drape it. 
The noose is smooth cord that can easily slide through the small metal ring it is tied to (small key rings work very well for this).
The key to this snare is the bowed branch overhead, and the catch or trigger mechanism. A simple trigger consists of a very simple stake that is wedged at an angle very close to that of the line to the branch. 
It is also sharpened and sits on a smooth rock so that any movement at all will free it.
A rabbit is not very smart, and assumes that the string across its path is simply grass, and typically does not slow down. 
The looseness and breadth of the noose allows the game to proceed a couple feet before it tugs the branch and releases the catch.
You must remove all human scent and two good ways that I use are firstly to place the complete snare over a fire and let the smoke do its work (remember smoke is a natural smell) or secondly to place the complete snare into fresh cow dung don’t worry it is only digested grass.
Fishing
Survival fishing is quite different than normal fishing. Survival fishing is often done without you even being there. It's more akin to trapping and snaring than it is to conventional fishing. There are several ways in which this can be accomplished.
Absentee Fishing
If you have fishhooks and line (in a survival kit), then you're way ahead of the game. You can bait a whole bunch of hooks, string them on a line across the waterway, and then walk away. This is "absentee fishing". 
Be careful that the line you string across the waterway is strong (10 – 15 lb line).
Tie it between a couple trees a couple feet above the water, and then you can either rely on the water flow to keep the bait near the surface, or simply put just enough line down to your hooks to not allow them to sink. 
If the water is moving, your bait will be dancing to entice the fish. If there's little or no movement, you can tie some leaf covered branches to the paracord to catch the wind, which also makes your bait look lively.
While waiting for a catch, you can keep yourself busy with important things like fire and shelter, and simply check your lines every few hours.
Fish Fences
If you don't have any hooks and line, then I recommend a "fish fence". A "fish fence" is just what it sounds like. It's a fence that you make out of sticks that will corral the fish for you.
The fence should be dense in fact the denser the better, as long as water can flow through, and fish cannot! This is built on land in sections, and then inserted in a likely waterway by pushing the posts into the mud at the bottom.
There are several versions of this... it really depends on the waterway. If it's a pond, and there's no flowing water, then you'll just make a corral in a shallow area with only one opening that funnels fish in. 
Once they're trapped in the small area, they can be speared or grabbed more easily.
If you're working with a stream, then it's important to determine the direction of flow. Observe whether fish are moving upstream, downstream, or both. 
If the fish are moving in one direction then a basic fence placed diagonally across the stream will concentrate the fish in a small area making it easier to spear one.
If the fish are moving in both directions, you may want to make a "corral" that will catch in both directions. 
If you have built your fencing in sections, it's easier to try different configurations to see which works best for you.
Getting Started
In this article I will be talking about food and water needs in your Bug out Bag as well as other items everyone should have handy for bugging out.
Everyone knows food and water are two essentials that you need to survive. However, if you are really packing a 72 hour Bug out Bag, skip the "food" and opt for high value cereal bars.
This will allow you to save some room in your bag while still maintaining nutritional value. In regards to water, I would suggest carrying at a minimum 3 bottles for each day, each bottle being a minimum of 8oz.
Depending upon your geographic location, your health status and the type of emergency you encounter, this may need to change. To allow this flexibility, I pack the minimum amount stated above in my bag and store additional water with the bag. If I feel that the situation warrants it, I will grab the extra water on my way out.
Better still buy a Purificup, watertogo Bottle, Life straw or some Purinize which will allow you to purify water on the move.
Now is where the real work begins.
When an event occurs, or before an event sometimes, you will be forced to decide whether you are bugging in or bugging out. No matter what your decision, you will need to have plans in place to successfully weather the storm.
Bugging In -
If you decide to Bug In you will need to have enough supplies on hand for yourself and anyone bugging in with you. If you have small children, elderly family members or pets, you will need to consider their needs as well.
General concerns should be: food, water, sanitation, medical supplies, first aid and protection. Also consider a deck of cards or some other small game to help pass the time.
Bugging Out -
Bugging out is altogether different. If you are not bugging out in a vehicle, you will need to work your pack to a weight that is comfortable for you to carry to potentially be able to move quickly and quietly.
If you are bugging out on foot, consider dropping a little of the food weight in order to carry more water. The bug out bag is meant to only support you for about 72 hours, so get to your destination as quickly as possible.
You will need to develop routes for your bug out plan that will steer you towards your objective without placing yourself in danger from other people or the elements any more than is necessary.
Ensure that you understand the topography of your routes, including elevation changes. Bugging Out in a major rainstorm would be rough if your route took you through low-lying areas, for example.
If your destination is further than three hours away (by whatever travel method you have in place) from your home, consider an overnight location between the two sites. This should be some type of facility where you can secure and store equipment, as well as supplies, that you can access 24/7.
If possible, store a cot or sleeping bag in case you need to lay low or rest for a while. Failing to do this could result in being overly tired and committing errors in your judgment that could cost you dearly.
In regards to the placement of your PSS (Primary Shelter Site) location, I highly suggest that the site be no more than 3 days walk, or half a tank of fuel in your primary vehicle.
Your PSS does not have to be a bunker in the woods. You may be planning to go to a family member's home away from the city, a vacation home or a campground you like to visit.
Your PSS is simply a place other than your residence that you can go to in case of any emergency.
So let's review our two days of work and look at where we will need to go on Day 3;
In your Bug out Bag (BoB)
Torch with Batteries
Cash (You should try to keep £100 in there)
Copies of important papers (Insurance, Medical cards, etc.)
Water (6-12 bottles)
Fire-starting materials
First Aid Kit
Duct Tape
Knife
Food / cereal Bars
Relevant maps and a compass
At this point you should also have a designated location that you plan to Bug Out to, known as your PSS (Primary Shelter Site).
You should consider developing multiple routes, at least 2 or 3, to get from your common locations (work, home, school) to your PSS.
Ensure these routes avoid locations that would become overly congested in an emergency situation or take you through areas prone to flooding.
It may take several days, weeks, or even months to get these plans and items in order. Take your time and make wise decisions that will not impede your everyday life. Prepping can consume great amounts of time, effort and financial resources.
Trying to move too quickly will only make it harder to complete your prep.
So "Day 2" of your prep is now complete and if something were to happen today, you would have a source of supplies readily available, a safe place to go to and several routes to get you there. Congrats! You are on your way!
Bugging out-Minimum Impact Fires
A fire means heat, light, and life. To many people, a campsite with no fire is just not camping. A campfire means self-sufficiency, survival, and comfort. Our view of campfires is built on centuries of tradition and historic need. Fortunately, there are many places to camp where a fire is completely appropriate, safe, and welcome.

The ability to enjoy an outdoor adventure with alternate heat and light sources greatly expands your opportunities and allows a more self-sufficient experience. The development of lightweight, very efficient camp stoves has eliminated the real need for a fire in most circumstances so it is now a choice to use a fire or a stove.
Why Have a Fire?
A fire warms you on a cold camping trip, but there are much better ways to stay warm. Bringing appropriate clothing and having healthy food means less need for fire. Campfire heat is useful for drying clothing and warming water to put in a bottle in your sleeping bag to make it more comfortable.
Cooking - whether it is boiling water or cooking meat, a fire is used to prepare food for consumption.
Entertainment - watching the flames is relaxing and telling stories around a fire is a great way to complete a strenuous day in the woods.
On any outdoor adventure, a source of heat for emergencies is required. You should always be prepared to start a fire in a survival situation. But, a backpacking stove is a great alternate source of heat from the campfire. Stoves have many benefits over fires:
Stoves have nearly instant, ready-to-cook heat. No waiting for the fire. They also extinguish immediately.
Stoves have no smoke and leave no ash or partially-burned wood. They do not create soot on pots.
They are Safe - the risk of wildfire is nearly eliminated with stoves.
They are consistent - stoves work at nearly any elevation or temperature.
Before heading out on a wilderness adventure, it is a good idea to decide whether campfires or stoves will be used for each day of the trip.
It may be decided to have campfires some days and stoves on others. Some things to consider when making the decision include:
Fire Danger - what will the wind conditions, humidity, and vegetation dryness be like for the location and season?
Fire Restrictions - contact the local land managers to find out what types of fires are allowed in the area.
In some moorland areas in the North Yorkshire Dales National Park fire lighting is banned during dry spells.
Fuel Availability - is there adequate fuel so fires will not deplete or impact the resource?
Group Skills - is everyone in the group able to safely build and tend fires?
Menu - will the food the group takes cook better over a stove or fire
Leave No Trace Campfires
Once the decision is made to have a fire, the expertise of minimizing its impact comes into play. There will be an impact to the area from any fire, but there are many ways to reduce and disguise the impact.
Use existing fire rings - in an established campsite, use the fire ring if there is no fire ring, do not make one. Instead, build a mound fire.
Build small fires - create a fire just large enough to cook the food. Feed it fuel as needed.
Burn all wood to ash - stop adding fuel to the fire well before bed-time or departure time so it has time to burn itself out. This prevents having chunks of partially burned wood to disperse.
Gather firewood carefully:
Use wood that is down. Leave limbs on standing trees, even if they are dead limbs.
Leave larger logs and limbs for habitat and to decompose into the soil.
Take a hike out away from camp to gather wood. Leave close-in wood so it can decompose into the soil. Or to be used by you in a medical emergency for example.
Clean up after the fire:
Scatter unused wood as naturally as possible.
Push unburned ends of wood into the fire as it burns down so it is all consumed.
When the coals have burned to ash, soak well with water and make sure it is completely out. Use water rather than dirt to put out the fire.
Michael Mills
My name is Michael Mills, and I'm a Ph.D. candidate and Assistant Lecturer in the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at University of Kent (England).
I am in the middle of conducting 3 years of research on the preparedness community in America and Britain, which will form my doctoral thesis and hopefully be channelled into several academic and media articles (and other publications - possibly books).
Aware of the several misconceptions that exist around the preparedness community and those within it - most obviously influenced by National Geographic shows and various other media products - my research is an attempt to conduct a more open-minded piece of research on the 21st century preparedness community in Britain and America. 
In particular, I am keen to learn about the reasons that people engage in prepping, how it relates to their assessment of local and national and international politics, and where prepping fits within a wider community and social life for most preppers.
These are each issues that are misunderstood by the wider public in relation to prepping.
In order to conduct this research - which has the potential to reform the public image of prepping and have the effect of correcting misrepresentative stereotypes - and make it worthwhile, I obviously need to talk to preppers themselves who are willing to anonymously speak about their motivations for prepping and several issues related to these behaviours. 
I am therefore looking to conduct face-to-face interviews with as many preppers in America and Britain as I possibly can.
British interviews can be done at any time, and I will be America between early September and late November 2014 with the sole aim of talking to as many preppers as I possibly can. Anyone who is even curious about participating in these interviews should email me at mm645@kent.ac.uk 
It can be immensely hard finding preppers willing to engage with me in this, and I'm very grateful to anyone who expresses an interest in contributing to the research.
All respondents are guaranteed anonymity - you do not need to inform me of your real name or location, and if you did these would not be shared with anyone else. Interviews can take place at a location of your choosing.
Needless to say, any interviews would be incredibly valuable to the research and I'd be immensely grateful to anyone who is willing to come forward and join the other interviewees in providing a realistic impression of the preparedness movement and the broad range of people involved in these activities.
I'm also conducting an online survey (which is much more convenient than any interviews) to be directed to this survey, again, people should email me at mm645@kent.ac.uk 
THE WILDERNESS GATHERING 2014 14th to the 17th August
The Wilderness Gathering has over the years become a firm date in the diaries of those who enjoy bushcraft, nature and wilderness survival skills. The previous ten years have seen this event grow from a small event in one field with some traders and schools sharing bushcraft skills and knowledge to a festival of wilderness living skills encompassing bushcraft/survival and woodland crafts.
The show has grown into an event with something for all the family with stories and music by the campfire in the evenings and skills workshops and activities throughout the three whole days of the festival.
The Wilderness Gathering has without a doubt become the premier family event for all those interested in bush crafts and the great outdoors.
The show has bushcraft clubs for all age groups of children to get involved in plus more activities for all including den building and wilderness skills classes for all.
There are hands on demonstrations of game preparation, knife sharpening, basha boat building, bowmaking, greenwood working, archery and axe throwing and primitive fire lighting to name just a few. There are talks on survival phycology, classes on falconry and wilderness survival fishing. All of these skills are there for everybody and anybody to participate in.
You can probably pick up information on nearly all the skills needed to live in the wilderness and prosper at The Wilderness Gathering.
There is a wealth of good quality trade stands that are carefully selected to be in theme for the show selling everything from custom knives to tipis and outdoor clothing to primitive tools. The organisers have even laid on a free service bring and buy stall where you can bring along your used and unwanted kit and they’ll sell it for you.
There are local scout and explorer group’s onsite promoting the World Wide Scouting Movement as well helping out with some of the classes and site logistics.
The catering is within the theme of the event with venison and game featuring on the menus plus organic cakes and drinks. The woodland and open field camping facilities (with hot showers) giving you the option to visit for the whole weekend or just to attend as a day visitor.
Check out www.wildernessgathering.co.uk or call 0845 8387062 you really won’t regret it.