Full SPR 13

THE GO BAG
SMART GEAR FOR

SHORT TRIPS
HURRICANE
WISDOM FROM A STORM
NAMED SANDY
HANDGUN
CONCEALED CARRY
BUYERS GUIDE
WWW.LIVINGREADYONLINE.COM
FnL1 03 0084 01 CUYrVyBNZWRpYQ9HcmVnb3J5IEtydWVn
02 ZXIAUQfLbwQxMC40AjgwATEFVVBDLUEM
03 MDA5MjgxNTAyNzQ2lQ==
09281 50274 0 6
30
US $5.95
Display until May 27, 2013
PREPARED | SKILLED | AWARE
SPRING 2013
L
I
V
I
N
G

R
E
A
D
Y

W
W
W
.
L
I
V
I
N
G
R
E
A
D
Y
O
N
L
I
N
E
.
C
O
M

S
P
R
I
N
G

2
0
1
3

WW.LIVINGREADYONLINE.CO
F+W OUTDOOR SPORTS
Sustainable
FEAST
PREPARE FOR THE
UPCOMING SEASON
SHOTGUN
UNMATCHED
VERSATILITY
SURVIVAL
MEDICINE ADVICE
FIT TO
SURVIVE
ARE YOU STRONG
ENOUGH?
LIFE IN TORNADO
COUNTRY
GEAR BRILLIANT
ILLUMINATION TOOLS
WWW.RUGER.COM/1022TAKEDOWN
2013 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 020513
The Ruger
10/22 Takedown
combines all of the features and

functionality of the 10/22
rie, Americas favorite rimre rie, with the ability to easily separate the
barrel/forend and action/buttstock for convenient storage and transportation. The simple reassembly of the barrel and action
is secure, ensuring an accurate return to zero for consistent, reliable performance when you need it most. Packed in a rugged,
ballistic nylon case (included with rie), the Ruger 10/22 Takedown makes it easy to keep Americas favorite rimre by your side.
CONVENIENT FOR STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION
RELIABLE PERFORMANCE FOR WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
4 WWW. L I VI NGRE ADYONL I NE. COM
C O N T E N T S
50 FIELD TO TABLE
BY STACY HARRIS
Grow your crops using heirloom
seeds and perpetuate a healthy
history
53 SUSTAINABLE
FEAST
BY DEANNA CASWELL AND
DAISY SISKIN
Try these easy-to-replicate plans
and grow your own food this year
66 COMPOSTING 101
BY STEPHANIE DAVIES
Harness the power of Mother
Nature, microbes, and worms to
make black gold for the garden
74 THE ADAPTABLE
SEED BANK
BY LAURA MATHEWS
How Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
champions genetic biodiversity for
our culinary independence
Spring
Homesteading
Features
Cover photograph by Tess Rousey
(www.tessrouseyphoto.com)
6 Editors Notebook
8 The Living Ready
Community
53
SPRI NG 2013 5
78 IN THE DARK HEART
OF MANHATTAN
Diary of the Big Apple black out during
Hurricane Sandy
85 FIT TO SURVIVE
The reality check to make now that
could save your life
90 THE DARK AND
VIOLENT SKY
Fascination and fear in Tornado Country
94 HARD TARGET
Stay aware, stay alive. Its that simple.
98 WISE WORDS HEEDED
Quotes to keep you inspired to live
ready
34 SURVIVAL ON THE FLY
Fly shing as a means to a meal
37 PROPHYLACTIC
PREPAREDNESS
Ingenious uses for that little bit of latex
41 HACK YOUR HOME
Think like an intruder to make your
home safer
46 FREEHAND
SHARPENING
How a Sharpie helps to make the
sharpest edge
48 ASK THE SURVIVAL
DOCTOR
Our emergency medical expert
answers your questions
Skilled
Prepared
10 THE GO BAG DEFINED
What is in a go bag depends on who you are and
where youre going
12 THE GOLDEN AGE OF
ILLUMINATION
These arent the ashlights you remember as a kid
15 BE A TURNCOAT
Choose reversible outerwearits the smartest choice
for your safety
16 SLEEPING BAG VS.
SPACE BLANKET
Field-tested results help you build the best car
survival kit
18 HOW TO CHOOSE A
CONCEALED CARRY
HANDGUN
Expert advice for selecting the gun that is right for you
21 THE VERSATILE SHOTGUN
A bulldog defender and an all-purpose hunter
22 WHY AIR MATTERS
The modern air rie as an elegant and efcient
survival tool
Aware
78
34
15
www.livingreadyonline.com
E-mail us: livingready@fwmedia.com
Editor
JAMES CARD
Designer
SHARON BARTSCH
Online Editor
BEN SOBIECK
Contributors
Chad Love, Dr. James Hubbard, Corey Graff, Scott
Wagner, Laura Mathews, Ron P. Swegman, Creek
Stewart, Jim Cobb, Stacy Harris, Michael T. Rayburn
Advertising Sales
888-457-2873
LORI HALLMAN x13642
Lori.Hallman@fwmedia.com
CORY JOHNSON x13406
cory.johnson@fwmedia.com
Advertising Assistant
CAROL BUSSE
F+W Media Inc.
DAVID NUSSBAUM, Chairman and CEO
JIM OGLE, Chief Financial Ofcer
CHAD PHELPS, Chief Digital Ofcer
PHIL GRAHAM, Senior VP, Mfg. and Production
JIM KUSTER, Director, IT
CORY SMITH, VP, Events
DAVID DAVEL, Senior VP, Advertising Sales
F+W Media Inc.
LIVING READY Group
DAVID BLANSFIELD, President
JAMIE WILKINSON, Group Publisher
PATTY DUNNING, CONTENT DIRECTOR
SCOTT T. HILL, Newsstand Director
scott.hill@procirc.com
MARK LILLA, Production Coordinator
Customer Service
US and Canda: 1-800-829-9127
Outside the US: 386-246-3417
PO Box 421751, Palm Coast, FL 32142-1751
All contents of this issue of Living Ready are copyrighted by
F+W Media, Inc., 2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or
in part is prohibited, except by permission of the publisher.
Printed in the U.S.A.
A Peace of Mind
Im pleased to announce that we are now publishing LIVING READY four times
a year and each issue will be available around the turn of the season. You may
subscribe to have the issues delivered right to your home so look for subscription
cards in this issue and visit www.livingreadyonline.com for more information
you cant nd in the magazine.
In this issue, weve focused on spring preparedness topics such as raising crops
and being aware of weather threats to remain safe. Youll nd an in-depth account
from someone who lived through the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and another
story from a writer that witnessed the destructive tornado that attened Greens-
burg, Kansas in May 2007.
When I rst was asked to
write a mission statement for
LIVING READY, the rst sen-
tence I wrote was that it would
be an adult version of the Boy
Scout motto of Be Prepared.
It seemed pretty straightfor-
ward: who doesnt want to live
a prepared life? Who would
prefer to go through life un-
prepared?
As my colleagues and I
tried to bring this publication into focus, a couple phrases and words kept creep-
ing into our conversations. One was the word attitude. As people like to com-
partmentalize others with a preparedness mindset and label them as survivalists
or preppers, we decided to shrug off such terms. The way we gure it, being
prepared in life is an attitude and a personal choice. Its an approach to life. Its
all about your attitude.
Another phrase that popped up was having a peace of mind. Most people
want that and they will do whatever it takes to achieve it. For some, it is nancial
security but there are times when money will not be of any help and you have to
have other solutions. Sometimes those solutions take the form of skills, the right
tools or just having the wisdom to avoid trouble or know how to handle it when
it comes your way.
LIVING READY means being self-reliant and prepared for whatever the world
throws at uswhether its a challenging economy, a season of drought that hits
our crops, or a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy that stunned the east coast
last year. We think of LIVING READY as a sustainable way of life that assures we
are prepared, and will survive and thrive, no matter the situation.
Back to the mission statement. I mentioned that is was an adult version of
the Boy Scout motto. Why adult? A good example is an article in this issue by
contributor Creek Stewart who brainstorms ways on how to use a condom in a
survival situation. I dont remember that trick in my Boy Scout handbook.
EDITORS NOTEBOOK
PEACE OF MIND: the author teaching his son to sh
James Card
James.Card@fwmedia.com
Mailing Address:
LIVING READY
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
(715) 445-2214
SPRI NG 2013 7
&
IN
TER
N
A
TIO
N
A
L C
U
TLER
Y
FA
IR
+
Join us at the
LIVING READY EXPO
May 31st June 2nd, 2013
at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA
The Expo is Part of the Blade Show, Now in its 32nd Year!
FREE Education Seminars to Sharpen Your Preparedness Skills
LIVE Demos Onsite at the Vendor Booths Within the Living Ready Expo
CONNECT with Other Survivalists
facebook.com/thebladeshow
facebook.com/livingready
@BLADE_Show
For the Latest Show Details Connect with Blade Show NOW! !
FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS AND
TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT:
www.B lad eSh ow.com
PRESENTED BY: SPONSORED BY:
C O M M U N I T Y
LivingReadyOnline.com
Discover sound information and ideas at our online home and . . .
Register for our FREE, twice weekly eNewsletter
packed with links to self-sufciency ideas, thought
provoking blogs and more
Check out our Product Directory listing trusted
resources for products and services for all you need to
live sustainably
Get FREE DOWNLOADS like a guide to edible plants
from Creek Stewart of the acclaimed Willow Haven
Outdoor bushcraft school and the author of the best-
selling guide titled, Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag
Find gear reviews and suggestions for gathering what
you really need (or dont need)
Learn about nding, prepping and storing food and
water for emergency situations as well as everyday life
Much more! Log on now at www.LivingReadyOnline.com
Shop
Our shop will open soon and its shelves will be
packed with books for your resource library (print
and eBooks), classes, DVDs and more. Watch
LivingReadyOnline.com for the Grand Opening
announcement
Classes
Visit LivingReadyOnline.com and watch
for classes beginning in May, 2013. Youll get
connected with experts across a variety of topics
from emergency rst aid to cooking what you
gather from eld to table
LivingReadyOnline.com
LIVING READY ON
E X P O 2 0 1 3
Come to the Living Ready Expo
Make plans now to meet
the Living Ready team at
the Living Ready Expo in
Atlanta, Georgia, May 31-
June 2, 2013. Live seminars
from respected bushcraft
experts, sustainable
farmers, and more! Plus, your ticket is good
for the Blade Showthe worlds largest
knife show.
Visit www.BladeShow.com for more info.
Took the plunge, paid my electronic Shekels and downloaded the Winter 2012
issue. Will read it at work. Looking forward to enjoying the articles.
Clayton A., via Facebook
I absolutely love your e-newsletter and was happy to read there is a Facebook
page! Robbie C., via Facebook
Giving you a like.actually I love your page :) Janie F., via Facebook
If you guys havent already heard of Living Ready the magazine, you should
check them out. Willow Haven Outdoor, via Facebook
Great magazine. Je W., via Facebook
I love your page! Awesome! Game and Garden, via Facebook
I highly recommend their magazine to my central PA friends. Great reading!
John S., via Facebook
IS FAR MORE THAN JUST A MAGAZINECONNECT WITH LIKEMINDED
FOLKS THROUGH ALL OF OUR OUTLETS, VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON,
WHO ARE LIVING READY, TOO!
Prepare. Survive.
T.A.S.K.
Tactical Apocalypse Survival Kit
The all-in-one solution for any disaster scenario. na nario. i
P R E P A R E D
Weve heard of bug-out bags and 72-hour
bags. But what is a go bag? Lets dene what a go
bag is in the following scenario. A massive storm
has struck your community. There is plenty of
chaos and wreckage. The power is out and streets
are blocked by ooding and down trees making
vehicles useless. You have to leave your home
but youre not bugging out. You have to check on
your grandma who lives four miles away on the
other side of town. Night is coming. She could
need help or she might be ne. You grab your go
bag and start the trek into the dark streets.
Most go bags are small sized. They could take
the form of a messenger bag, a small backpack, a
fanny pack, a camera case or a soft-sided attach.
They cannot be too big because go bags are about
going. Youre on the move and cannot be weighed
down by unnecessary stuff.
What is the necessary stuff? Mostly the ba-
sics: a multi-tool, a water bottle, ashlight, a
mini-rst aid kit, an emergency repair kit, and a
re-starting device. The contents of the go bag
should be tweaked to suit your lifestyle and sur-
roundings. If you live in the tropics, bug spray is
a good addition. If youre an urban dweller, extra
subway cards or tokens are a smart choice. Most-
ly what is inside a go bag is a personal choice
and should reect the tools that you will need to
handle most emergencies that you could encoun-
ter in your day-to-day life.
Firearms: if you are committed to the con-
cealed carry lifestyle, a handgun isnt the best
place for a go bag. The best place for it is hol-
stered on your side where you have trained your-
self to draw the weapon from that position. It is
always there and the motion is automatic. Also,
by putting it in a go bag, you risk leaving the go
bag unattended and thereby the weapon could
fall into the wrong hands.
The most important thing inside of a go bag is
emptiness. Leave a good amount of space open.
It could be for a notebook computer, extra wa-
ter bottles, a change of clothes or cookies for
grandma.
WHAT IS IN A GO BAG
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOURE GOING
by James Card
The Go Bag
Dened
Gerber Tactical teamed up with a
number of other companies to create
their version of a Go Bag. Did they get
it right? Lets go through the checklist
of contents.
Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Sight Tool
A good and obvious choice. Multi-tools
should be a standard component of
any go bag.
Gerber DPSF Folding Knife
An excellent choice but not for the go
bag. This tough, lock-back knife is so
lightweight and easy to handle that it
is better suited to ride clipped to your
pants pocket rather than tucked away
inside a bag. It will get more use and
the multi-tool in the go bag has a back-
up knife anyway.
Gerber Recon-M Task Light
Its a great little ashlight for small
tasks. Flashlight acionados will argue
about how much illumination power
one needs but in the case of a go bag,
small is better.
FrogLube CLP
FrogLube is known as a quality bio-
based cleaner, lubricant and preserva-
tive used for rearms. Its a great choice
but is it necessary to carry around
an entire bottle of it? A smaller-sized
disposable packet would be a perfect
additionjust enough to get the job
done.
Pocket REF
A fat, yet shirt pocket-sized reference
book by Thomas J. Glover. It is one of
the oddest books you have ever seen.
It contains plumbing info, chemistry
tables, mathematical conversion charts,
rst-aid tips, and more Wikipedia-like
info than you can imagine. Is such a
book a useful item in a go bag? It is
the kind of book that you could carry
around for 20 years, never reference
it, and then one day it oers a tidbit of
information that saves your life.
Aluminum Water Bottle
A great choice and the latch-hook
bottle top is a nice touch.
Rite in the Rain notebook
A slam-dunk choice. These notepads
are great for preserving your scribbles
even after getting wet and notepads
should always be in everyones go bag.
Maxpedition Mongo Versipack
This bag was designed to be a go bag.
It is of rugged construction and meant
to be used and abused. It rides well on
your hip, has accessible pockets and
enough room to leave some empty
space for swapping out items as your
needs change.
The Gerber
Go Bag
P R E P A R E D
Flashlights, lanterns and other illumi-
nation products have come a long way
in the last few years. Some companies
specialize in tiny lights that wash out
a room in brilliant glow. Others make
ashlights that are nearly indestructible.
There are spotlights that can light up
football elds and some manufactures
have gured out how to increase the
shine time of lights through innovations
in battery technology. What is very in-
teresting are advances in Light Emitting
Diode (LED) applications as inventors
have gured out many uses for this ver-
satile illumination technology.
1. POINT AND SHOOT
Its a small ashlight that slightly
looks like a gun and feels like a gun
when you get it into your hand. The
forward-facing push button to light it
up is like a trigger and feels natural.
Besides being a handy ashlight, the
CL-43 can be used as a companion with
your handgun and it works like this:
draw and point your handgun while at
the same time drawing and pointing the
CL-4. As both hands merge together to
form a two-handed grip on the gun, the
CL-43 will end up parallel to the slide
(depending on your gun and hand size)
and pointing its beam towards the di-
rection the gun is aimed. It kicks out
420 lumens, takes three CR123 lithium
batteries and there is an adapter for it to
use AA batteries. ($140; www.keltec-
weapons.com)
The Golden Age of
ILLUMINATION
by James Card
1
2
3
4
5
SPRI NG 2013 13
2. LIKE A FLASHING
POST-IT NOTE
APALS (All Purpose Adhesive Light
Strips) are small disposable strips that
have an embedded LED light that can
be seen up to a quarter mile away. By
pressing the button, it lights up to a
fast or slow-blinking strobe or a light
that is constantly on. It can run up to
80 hours and is waterproof and shock-
proof. It was designed for war: soldiers
slap them on each others backs so they
dont shoot each other during night op-
erations. For civilians, it is useful for
hikers, bikers and boaters that do not
want to get run over in the dark. (10
pack for $44. www.brite-strike.com)
3. EVERYDAY EXECUTIVE CARRY
The EPLI (Executive Precision
Lighting Instrument) is for people that
have enough crap on their keychain and
do not want to add a tiny penlight to
the jangling blob of keys, bottle open-
ers and mini-Swiss Army knives. The
EPLI is for those that value a sleek
ashlight and prefer to carry a light in
a shirt or coat pocket like they would
a handsome pen. It runs on two AAA
batteries and kicks out 220 lumens that
can be also set on a strobe and a low-
light setting. ($80. www.brite-strike.
com)
4. MORE LIGHT, LESS FIRE
The Lumenyte Emergency Signal-
ing Device makes setting out road
ares look like a primitive practice,
like a caveman fooling around with a
ery stick. About the size and feel of
a hockey puck, set out this blinking
strobe during roadside trouble. It can
run up to 400 hours without changing
the batterydoing the job equal to 700
incendiary ares. With two holes in the
hard plastic case, it can be attached in
various ways as needed. ($20 per de-
vice.www.lumenytesecurity.com)
5. NIGHT BLASTER POWER PACK
Match the Tracer Sport Light 170
VP with their 12v 10Ah lithium poly-
mer battery pack and you have a combo
for a night of fun. The spotlight will
shine across a football eld (over 650
yards) and with the variable power, the
75W halogen bulb can be dimmed or
brightened with the touch of a knob
and the beam tightened or brightened.
Extremely lightweight, it has a weath-
erproof polycarbonate body and can be
run on a 12V cigar plug or the battery
pack.
The battery pack weighs just 25.9
ounces and can easily t in a cargo
pocket. The battery has a built-in fuel
gauge that shows the remaining juice
and it discharges the energy on a very
at curve, meaning it provides power
until the very end rather than trickling
down and out. The Tracer battery packs
can be recharged from a wall socket
or on a car lighter. Besides ring up
the spotlight, it can be used to charge
phones, DVD players and other 12-volt
electronic gadgets. (Spotlight $130,
battery $210. www.tracerpower.com)
SPRI NG 2013 15
P R E P A R E D
A hunter wearing camouage disap-
pears into the woods never to be seen
again. Later when his body is found,
searchers would say they walked right
by him. Another hunter wearing cam-
ouage disappears into the woods. He
breaks his leg, becomes hypothermic
and before he grows any weaker, he
takes off his coat, and ips it inside out.
The new outer shell is blaze orange and
the searchers quickly nd him.
One evening, a woman gets her car
stuck in a blizzard. She gets out wear-
ing a dark wool overcoat and steps into
the road to inspect the scene and is hit
by a passing truck. Another woman
gets stuck in a blizzard on a dark night.
She removes her coat and turns it in-
side out. The outer shell is bright yel-
low with reective tape stitched into
the fabric. As she walks around the car
and gures out how to get out of the
jam, the headlights of oncoming mo-
torists bounce off the reective strips
of her coat and they have time to ease
into the other lane.
Makes sense, doesnt it? Reversible
jackets (and vests, coats or overalls)
have been around for a long time but
are often overlooked as a simple yet ef-
fective way to be seen or spotted when
you really need people to see you. The
blaze orange and camouage combina-
tion used by hunters is the most com-
mon and great for when exploring the
outdoors. The reversible jackets with
reective strips are best for when you
expect to be working around lights
(usually headlights) in an urban envi-
ronment. Also, the jackets with reec-
tive strips looks similar to those used
by emergency personnel and by wear-
ing one of those, youre unlikely to be
mistaken for a looter in the aftermath
of a natural disaster.
Be a Turncoat
Precision Cutting tools for the Human Spirit
ZDP-189: A defense
against the envy of lesser knives
Spyderco.com 800-525-7770
C28GRE
DRAGONFLY3
ZDP-189
C113
CALY3 ZDP-189
C90GRE
STRETCH ZDP-189
C10GRE
ENDURA4 ZDP-189
LGRE
LADYBUG3 ZDP-189
SPYDERCO
ZDP-189
ZDP-189 is a high-performance blade
steel, manufactured through a process
where the steels ingredients are
rendered into a powderized form, then
melted and solidied in a vacuum and
compressed under pressure. The
end result is homogenous steel
with pure and evenly dispersed
alloy elements. ZDP-189 has a
phenomenal 3% carbon, elevating
the steels hardness and resulting
in peerless edge retention.
C11GRE
DELICA4 ZDP-189
HOW REVERSIBLE JACKETS CAN SAVE YOUR NECK
by James Card
Although marketed to law enforcement o cers,
the Reversible High Vis Duty Jacket by 5.11 Tactical
is a useful jacket for anyone. It has a wind and
water repellent outer shell, hand warmer pockets,
cargo pockets and the high-visibility yellow shell
is stitched with strips of 3M Scotchlite tape. $140.
www.511tactical.com
and befor
t
Although m
P R E P A R E D
Five minutes ago: Your vehicle ca-
reened off the road in icy conditions.
Youre OK, but the vehicle is damaged.
Four minutes ago: You tried to drive
out of the ditch, but its no use. Walk-
ing to help is out of the question.
Youre miles from anything.
Three minutes ago: The engine shut
off. It makes awful noises when you try
to restart it.
Two minutes ago: Phone calls for
help went unanswered. Tow trucks are
busy helping others. Friends and fam-
ily arent available.
One minute ago: The sun dipped
below the horizon. The warm interior
of your vehicle dissipated as the cold
crept inside.
Right now: Youre reaching for the
winter survival kit in the trunk. Are
you equipped to stay warm until help
arrives?
Sleeping Bag vs.
Space Blanket
IN AN EMERGENCY,
WHICH WILL SERVE YOU BEST?
By Ben Sobieck
SPRI NG 2013 17
Here in the Upper Midwest, winter car sur-
vival kits are common. And some have either
a sleeping bag or a Mylar space blanket and
I wanted to see how they compared. Which
is the better choice: a sleeping bag or a space
blanket?
I spent a chilly night in my car and tested
both.
THE SET-UP
My experiment took place on a 30-degree
Minnesota night in November. Thats not ex-
treme cold by Minnesota standards, but its
enough to conjure hypothermia. My family
wouldnt want me outside in 10 degrees any-
way. I hit the hay in my 1999 Honda Civic
coupe. It stayed parked in the driveway. The
keys never touched the ignition. I did not
warm the vehicle before or during my experi-
ment.
My attire reected the average not-con-
cerned-about-winter-survival Joe. I wore a
baseball hat, a hooded sweatshirt, jeans with
plenty of tears, socks that were more hole
than cloth and a dilapidated pair of sneakers.
I used a single 4 foot by 6 foot Mylar space
blanket from Lifeline. For those unfamiliar, a
space blanket is the gloried tinfoil you see at
outdoors shops. Its packed into a square the
size of a deck of cards. This particular model
claimed to reect 90 percent of body heat. My-
lar is a brand name owned by Dupont Teijin
Films. Its generic name is biaxially-oriented
polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET). But since
Mylar is easier to say, its become like Kleenex
or Xerox.
The sleeping bag employed was one Ive
had for years. Its a cloth Coleman rated for
sub-freezing temperatures.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
Warm. No surprises here, the sleeping bag felt warm as ever. The 30-degree
night didnt faze me.
Comfortable. The soft, annel lining was far more comfortable than the
austere space blanket. The stu ng padded me against the car seat. Sleep came easy.
No coverage gaps. Unlike the space blanket, there were no coverage gaps. I
slid in, zipped up and felt warm all over. Its shape contoured to mine.
Breathability. No risk of suocation here. I couldve crawled to the bottom of
the sleeping bag without a problem.
Durability. Mice rented the sleeping bag a couple years back. Even with the
damage, the sleeping bag should hold up for years to come. Im not sure I could say
the same about the space blanket. Those punctures could have compromised future
reliability.
Yes, its actually warm. I wrapped the space blanket tight against my body and kicked
the drivers seat back. Despite feeling like a well-placed sneeze would turn it to shreds, the
gloried tinfoil was remarkably warm. It radiated heat in an almost electric way. For such an
unassuming product, this warmth caught me by surprise. It shrugged o the 30-degree night.
Portability. At about the size of a deck of cards, there was no questioning the portability of
the lightweight space blanket. This continued beyond the rst use. I folded it back into a square
and stued it into a plastic bag. Its ready for when I need it again.
It lights up like a Christmas tree. Along with heat, the space blanket reected
light. Whenever a car drove by, the headlights triggered an explosion of light across the blanket.
It would be ideal for signaling help.
Mobility. I adjusted my sleeping arrangements with ease. The space blanket didnt get
caught on the steering wheel or stick shift. Had I some tape and more blankets, I couldve lined
the interior in Mylar. Keep that tip in mind when designing your own winter car survival kits.
Transparency. Mylar is a strange material. Its reective in lit conditions. Turning out the
lights has the opposite eect. With my head above the space blanket and my mobile phone
beneath, I was able to work the dimly lit touch screen with total clarity. This isnt so much an
advantage as an observation. There could be a benet. I just dont see it.
SPACE BLANKET: PROS
SPACE BLANKET: CONS
SLEEPING BAG: PROS SLEEPING BAG: CONS
Zero comfort. If comfort equals morale in survival situations, then the space blanket is
downright depressing. Other than the warmth, nothing about the space blanket added to my
comfort. The average person will want a degree of comfort. On that note, go add a pillow to your
winter car survival kit. My neck sorely missed it during the experiment.
Coverage gaps. It was di cult to get a tight seal around my body. Tape wouldve solved
this problem. I didnt think that far ahead. If space blankets are part of your survival kit, be sure
to include tape. You dont want warmth escaping.
Punctures. Snugging up the space blanket brought on a couple punctures. These couldve
quickly grown into large tears. Surprisingly, the intact Mylar resisted my attempts to rip it outright.
Breathability. The Mylar material wasnt breathable. Tucking my head under the blanket
felt downright suocating. This meant I had to keep my face uncovered. Not ideal in cold
conditions. This was par for the course, though. The packaging contained a suocation warning.
Bulky. The padding is a great feature, but it also takes up more
space. That means its more of a challenge to make everything t.
Had there been other people with sleeping bags, it wouldve been a
tight t. The space blanket provides warmth using a far smaller area.
Portability. My sleeping bag takes a good amount of space in
the trunk. Storing sleeping bags for a family of four would leave little
room for anything else. That doesnt seem practical. Since Im the
only one who ever occupies that car, I can worry about myself. Others
might choose the space blankets for their portability advantage.
No reectivity. Whereas the space blanket could double as
a reective signal, my forehead could reect more light than the
sleeping bag.
P R E P A R E D
In the blink of an eye your con-
cealed carry gun could be the one
thing standing between you and a
threat. Therefore you need to be sure
youre carrying the absolute best
handgun that you possibly can. But
that doesnt mean you need the most
expensive handgun. Or the most fan-
cy. You dont necessarily need a hand-
tted custom pistol, but you do need
one that is reliable.
CONCEALED GUNS TO
FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
As a general rule, choose a carry gun
that will t with your lifestyle most of
the time. If you live in a warm part of
the United States, you might gravitate
toward thinner designs with shorter
barrels, such as the mid-sized 1911, or
the single-stack polymer handguns on
the market like the Springeld XDs,
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, Ruger
SR9, Sig Sauer P239, Kahr CW9 or
Glock Model 36.
In those warmer parts of the coun-
try, youll normally wear t-shirts and
the like, thus you dont want your gun
to bulge or print through your shirt.
A slimmer, more mid-sized handgun
will make it easier to conceal. However,
if youre a woman, there are specialty
purses on the market for concealing a
full-size handgun. In fact, some men
use fanny packs for concealed carry for
just this very reason.
On the other hand, if you live in the
north where cold weather dictates wear-
ing jackets and heavy shirts for most of
the year, consider the full-sized hand-
gun. There are advantages in doing so.
A full-size gun carries more rounds and
thats a good thing. They also have lon-
Choosing the Best
CONCEALED
CARRY GUN
WHATS THE BEST HANDGUN FOR
CONCEALED CARRY? THAT DEPENDS
by Corey Graff
In the blink of an eye your con-
cealed carry gun could be the one
thing standing between you and a
threat. Therefore you need to be sure
youre carrying the absolute best
handgun that you possibly can. But
that doesnt mean you need the most
expensive handgun. Or the most fan-
cy. You dont necessarily need a hand-
tted custom pistol, but you do need
one that is reliable.
CONCEA
FIT YOUR
As a gen
that will t
the time. If
the United
toward thi
barrels, suc
the single-
the market
Smith & W
SR9, Sig
Glock Mod
In those
try, youll
the like, th
to bulge or
A slimmer
will make i
if youre a
purses on t
full-size ha
use fanny p
just this ver
On the o
north wher
ing jackets
the year, c
gun. There
A full-size
thats a goo
WHATS THE BEST HANDGUN FOR
CONCEALED CARRY? THAT DEPENDS
by Corey Graff
SPRI NG 2013 19
ger barrels (wider sight radius) making
them easier to shoot accurately. And
a bigger gun will tend to tame recoil
more effectively (thanks to its mass)
than will a smaller, lighter pistol.
Good choices for full-sized carry
guns include the Glock 17 or Glock 22,
the Kimber Super Carry Custom HD
or Rock Island Armory Standard 1911,
2-YEAR WARRANTY NO FITTING REQUIRED 50-YARD ACCURACY
Marvels 1911 .22 Conversion
PLINKER MODELS ALSO AVAILABLE
MARVEL PRECISION www.marvelprecision.com
P.O. Box 127 Cortland, NE 68331 ORDERS 1-800-295-1987
WINNER OF THE 2001-2002-2003 AH/STI
WORLD SHOOT-OFF RF EVENTS
WINNER OF THE 2001 & 2002
WORLD STEEL CHALLENGE RF EVENTS
FITS GOVERNMENT OR COMMANDER
STI - PARA - SVI
SCOPE MOUNT, ADJUSTABLE SIGHT OR COMBO RIB
SUB 1 50 YARD GROUPS
TEST TARGET PROVIDED
HARD SIDED CASE
SCOPE MOUNT/COMP OPTIONAL ADJUSTABLE SIGHT
USED BY TOP SHOOTERS WORLDWIDE 1911 SINGLE STACK STI / PARA / SVI
A Pistol
in the Purse
It all started at a handgun training
class for women. They showed up
with guns stuck in their bras, in cum-
bersome holsters and in ugly tactical
handbags.
The handbags looked hideous,
says Leslie Deets, founder of Con-
cealed Carrie (www.concealedcarrie
.com), a maker of fashionable hand-
bags that can conceal handguns.
The other women in the class
agreed: the current concealed carry
options for women were pretty un-
fashionable and that gave Deets the
sudden inspiration to start her new
business. A designer by trade, she
studied trends in high-end hand-
bags, drew up her own designs with a
separate compartment that conceals
a handgun securely, yet allows for
quick access.
Each handbag has a removable and
adjustable holster so users can ar-
range the way they draw their hand-
gun according to their liking. The line
of handbags includes totes, satchels,
hobos and computer carry-alls that
come in ostrich and crocodile prints
and smooth and distressed leather.
We had a lot of men purchasing
these handbags for their wives over
the holidays, said Deets. Her phi-
losophy is that fashion should not be
completely sacriced to function. She
even believes her handbags will en-
courage women to carry a handgun
more often since many fashion-con-
scious women would rather not carry
any handgun at all if it means lugging
around a military-styled man purse
or having to wear a holster that sticks
out in the wrong places. Prices range
from $249 to $299.
If women had more
stylish concealed
carry options,
would they be more
inclined to carry a
gun for self-defense?
P R E P A R E D
Springeld XDm, Browning Hi-Power,
CZ P-07 or Heckler & Koch P2000.
While it may seem counterintuitive,
one of the mistakes that well-meaning
boyfriends and husbands routinely
make when buying their ladies a con-
cealed carry handgun is choosing a
small, lightweight revolver, usually in
.38 Special. Dont do it. The truth is,
these cute little guns are among the
hardest to shoot even for large-sted
men with intense recoil that will dis-
courage new shooters. If youre buying
a handgun for a lady, a full-sized (or
possibly mid-sized) semi-automatic is a
much better choice. Itll be much easier
to shoot. And for that shell thank you.
REVOLVER VS.
SEMI-AUTOMATIC
With advances in semi-automatic
handgun design, you might wonder
why anyone would still want to carry a
revolver for concealed carry. After all,
this isnt the Wild West. But the double-
action revolver is simple in design. And
simple promotes reliability. There are
less parts to clean and maintain on a re-
volver, and as such less can go wrong
should the need to draw the gun ever
arise.
Small snubnose revolvers, while
more difcult to shoot, make excellent
backup guns. Police experience proves
that a second backup gun can make all
the difference between winning or los-
ing in a gunght. Think about a revolver
in an ankle holster or pocket holster on
a jacket. You wont notice its there, but
its extra insurance should your main
weapon jam or be inaccessible for some
reason.
A few excellent choices of revolv-
ers for concealed carry include the
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard or Night
Guard, Ruger LCR or Taurus Model
605PLYB2.
Semi-automatics are faster to reload
you simply dump the spent magazine
and insert a new one and youre back in
the game. Revolvers are a bit trickier in
this area. Not only that, semi-autos tend
to be nicer to shoot. Whereas all of the
recoil energy in a revolver comes back
into your hand, in a semi-automatic
some of that energy is dissipated by the
slide action, which uses some of the en-
ergy to chamber another round.
BEST CALIBER FOR A
CONCEALED CARRY GUN
The best caliber for a concealed carry
handgun is the one that allows you to
shoot well and often and carries enough
punch to do the job. For me its the 9mm
(9X19, 9mm Parabellum).
While the .40 S&W is a bit bigger,
and the .45 ACP even more so, 9mm
ammo is simply more affordable.
Which means youll shoot more. And
the key to choosing a concealed carry
handgun is to pick one youll be able
to shoot often enough to become pro-
cient.
Much debate has been made about
stopping power but the fact remains
that the 9mm is still one of the most
popular calibers in use by police agen-
cies and armed citizens. However,
should other factors compel you to set-
tle on a small revolver, the .38 special is
probably the most manageable to learn
how to shoot, provided you get good in-
struction and spend lots of range time to
tame that hot little cartridge.
No matter what caliber you choose,
be sure your gun and ammo combina-
tion is comfortable and affordable to
shoot. When you enjoy shooting your
concealed carry gun, youll shoot more
often. And thats key to being sure
youre ready when faced with the un-
thinkable.
Corey Graff is the online editor of
www.gundigest.com.
WE BIBX'T
IXYEXT
IBXIEALHEXT,
WE JIST
PERFEITEB IT!
DepIoys instantIy from pocket
Combat-access to sIide
AIIows access to magazine reIease
Finger hoIe for positive grip
Style 110
631-841-6300
Dept #
w w w.desant i shol st er.c om
431 Bayview Avenue,
Amityville, NY 11701
LRS3

PERFEITEB
e DepI pI pIooooo
Co Co Comb mb mb m
AAI AI AI AI AIIo Io oo Io Io IIII wws ww
B IT! EB IT!
De DepI III
$
41.
99
MSRP
SPRI NG 2013 21
P R E P A R E D
The shotgun is a legendary arm,
and rightfully so. It has a tremendous
amount of close range power, as sug-
gested by the very large hole in the end
of the barrel. It is not difcult to shoot
with the right training, attitude and
equipment. It is versatile and useful for
a wide range of tasks. If you purchase a
gun that allows for the use of different
length/type barrels and chokes, you can
use it for anything from hunting birds or
clay pigeons to hunting bear and every-
thing in between, for home defense, law
enforcement and military situations, in-
cluding lethal and less-than-lethal inter-
actions. Ammo is abundantly available
and I would speculate that 80-90 per-
cent of the jobs that need to be done can
be done with some form of the shotgun.
Home defense is probably one of
primary uses of a shotgun. From the
days where farmers once loaded shot-
gun shells to re rock salt to irritate
and scatter interlopers on their property,
hopefully without killing them, to 21st-
century defense against home invaders
where some form of lead shot is the load
of choice. Even though its popularity is
being supplanted by the meteoric rise of
the AR-15, the shotgun still has a place
in self-defense. Really, the shotgun ex-
ists outside of the basic self-defense
arena, which is dominated by the hand-
gun. Because of its legendary reputation
and brute power, the shotgun is more of
an offensive weapon. It has been used in
warfare since the invention of the pow-
der which powers it, and the military
is not usually in a defensive mission. I
believe it was Clint Smith who said that
the handgun exists to allow you to ght
your way to a bigger weapon, and thats
the shotgun.
A home defense shotgun can take
several forms, and also serve as a
multi-role tool, especially if one lives
on a farm or ranch, where it can serve
animal control duties as well. When we
talk about defending the home, we can
also mean defending the camper trailer
or RV. Traditionally a standard hunting
shotgun is used for this purpose, such as
a Remington 870 Wingmaster, loaded
with hunting loads, since the concept
of a tactical shotgun is relatively new.
While a weapon like this can sufce,
there are some better shotgun congu-
rations to work with.
The Versatile
SHOTGUN
A BULLDOG DEFENDER AND AN ALL-PURPOSE HUNTER, THE
SHOTGUN IS A MUST-HAVE IN THE PREPAREDNESS TOOLBOX
by Scott Wagner
What is a Tactical Shotgun?
If a product is to be considered truly tactical (and not just an average everyday
product just spray painted black- such as a tactical sledgehammer originally pur-
chased at Home Depot) it must:
1. Be reliable and of high quality. After all we are talking about products designed
for person-to-person ghting situations. It must work each time, every time.
2. Be of such a conguration that it is currently useful in combat-type operations,
whether that means military, law enforcement or civilian operations. The congura-
tion of the item cannot, due to complexity or poor design, impede the basic reason
for which the product was designed.
3. Possess features that give it an advantage in use over the standard version of
that product. Why pay more for something that is marketed as being tactical when
the standard version will su ce?
Shotgun
Review: The
Mossberg Flex
MAKING THE VERSATILE SHOT-
GUN EVEN MORE VERSATILE
by M.D. Johnson
Flex is short for exible, meaning the
shotgun can be quickly and easily modi-
ed to t the situation at hand, be that
bagging waterfowl, gobblers, or protect-
ing your home. Mossberg refers to the
Flex as the ultimate adaptive shotgun
platform. The shotgun starts as Moss-
bergs well-recognized M500 pump-
action 12-gauge, 3-inch shotgun, and
morphs from that foundation through
the Tool-Less Locking System (TLS).
The TLS works in two ways. The
rst are button-like releases on both
the toe of the stock and the underside
of the forearm. When pressed, they al-
low the shooter to remove and replace
the recoil pad and forearm almost in-
stantly. Replacement options include
pads ranging from - to 1 -inches,
and forearms in different camouage
patterns and one incorporating Picatin-
ny style rails for mounting lights and
secondary sighting devices.
The second type of release in the
TLS is a T-shaped recessed latch locat-
ed at the upper junction of the receiver
and stock. Shooters simply pull upward
on the grooved sides of the T, and turn
P R E P A R E D
the latch 90 degrees in either direction
to unlock; the stock can now be eas-
ily removed and replaced with one of
several choices. Select Flex models
feature Mossbergs Lightning Pump
Action (LPA) trigger, easily adjustable
with only an Allen wrench from 3 to
8 pounds. The Flex System is offered
in two basic congurationsa M500,
with a 28-inch ported vent-rib barrel
sporting a 3mm white front bead and
small brass mid-bead ($600), and a
military style OD version with a 20-
inch barrel, ghost ring sights, and an
integral Picatinny rail system atop the
receiver and in the forearm ($900).
I will tip my hat to Mossbergs LPA
trigger, an excellent, easily adjustable
instrument that truly takes the Flex to
the next level, particularly if one wish-
es to use the piece as a whitetail gun.
And nally, theres the foundation for
the Flex, the M500, a reliable, rugged,
undeniably versatile shotgun in and of
itself.
It must be of compact
conguration. For civilian
use it should have an
18-inch or shorter barrel. It
should be cylinder bored
or improved cylinder in
terms of the choke.
It must be fully stocked. The pistol-
grip-only models look cool, but they
dont shoot as cool as they look.
Color doesnt matter, although dark
colors are to be preferred.
It needs to have a high-
visibility sighting system,
no simple bead sight.
Brightly colored front
sights or even red dot
optical sights are a must.
It should
be capable
of solidly
mounting a
weapons light.
It should be capable of
mounting a carry sling.
It should have either a
high magazine capacity or
a spare ammo carrier.
The Basics of a
Modern Tactical Shotgun
MAKING
THE SWITCH:
The Options
STOCKS
Length of pull of the available stocks
range from 12 to 14 inches.
Camouage standard stock
Matte black standard stock
Camouage adjustable dual comb
stock
Matte black adjustable dual comb
stock
Pistol grip
Adjustable tactical with telescoping
stock with a pistol grip
BARRELS
26 inch barrel
28 inch barrel
28-inch ventilated rib
18 inch close-quarters barrel
Cantilever ried
Iron-sight ried
Stand-o breaching barrel
FOREARMS
Matte black
Camo patterns
Black with Picatinny rails.
SPRI NG 2013 23
P R E P A R E D
GUNS4PENNIES.COM
Hundreds of active auctions online, 24 hours a day
New items added all the time!
Win anything from a Glock to a P90!
UZI
Tactical Pen
and Watch
Combo
Gerber
Prodigby
Survival Knife
Surfere P2X Fury
500 Lumen LED
Flashlight
KZ
Executive
Defense Pen
G-10 Push
Dagger
SOGfari Machete - 13
B
I
D
D
I
N
G
S
T
A
R
T
S
A
T J
U
S
T
$
0
.0
1
Curmudgeon Counterpoint
DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUNS:
KICKING ASS SINCE THE
INVENTION OF GUNPOWDER
by Chad Love
One of the more interesting rearms
fads in the past few years is the rise of
the post-Apocalyptic, tactical or sur-
vival shotgun. These imposing-look-
ing weapons have serious-sounding
names and bristle with the latest accou-
trements desired by the ever-expanding
SHTF set. Admittedly, these avors
of the month do have a very high cool
factor, and many of them have a corre-
spondingly (and shockingly) high price
tag. And if youre into that sort of thing,
thats perfectly ne. The zombies will,
Im sure, give you a wide berth. But for
those of us who inhabit the world of
the living and desire a simple, rugged,
reliable do-it-all shotgun, preferably
one not endorsed by an action gure, is
there an alternative?
The original do-it-all shotgun, the
classic side-by-side, have been reliably
serving their self-reliant owners for cen-
turies, with nary a hollow plastic tacti-
cal stock, picatinny rail or a laser sight
to be found anywhere. No, they dont
hold 10 rounds, so you are at a distinct
disadvantage in a charging squirrel situ-
ation, and the lack of laser sights means
you do have to, you know, practice a bit.
And the lack of a radiation-and-rust-
proof nish means that you will, on
occasion, have to actually engage in a
minimum level of maintenance.
But if you can get past these glaring
deciencies, you may nd that your
grandfather may have been on to some-
thing. You would be hard-pressed to nd
a gun more likely to go bang when you
squeeze the trigger than a double gun.
They are simple, reliable, and extremely
easy for even the non-gun nuts among us
to understand and operate.
Better still, good used examples, from
simple, unadorned low-end models to
exquisitely made English game guns, are
easily found in todays tactical-crazy gun
market. You can still nd basic, lower-end
American side-by-side shotguns from
makers like L.C. Smith, Fox, Ithaca and
Winchester, among others, for around
the same price range of those clunky,
ugly, modern plastic shotguns that feel
and handle like injection-molded 2x4s.
For the ultimate in simple, rugged-
ness, a double-trigger, boxlock gun with
extractors is hard to beat, but any of the
various incarnations (boxlock, sidelock,
single or double trigger) make good
choices. Obviously, when youre talk-
ing about buying a used gun, getting it
checked out by a gunsmith is a good
idea. Theres a reason these guns have
been around for so long. Side-by-sides
have served as a survival gun for gen-
erations of farmers, ranchers, peasants
and lords alike. They just work, and un-
like the modern cartoon guns of Zombie
Nation, they look good doing it.
AMERICAN GUNSMITHING INSTITUTE
AGI AGI
www.agioffer.com/introlrd01or call1-800-797-0867
At AGI we are working to preserve the gunsmithing arts and all of our personal freedoms through every course we produce.
Currently there is a HUGE Demand for Gunsmiths. Millions of guns need fixing. Most of the old-time gunsmiths have retired and havent been replaced,
because previously there wasnt a cost effective way to quickly train individuals to become gunsmiths and help them make money fast. This has created a
chronic shortage and a huge opportunity for you. Gunsmithing is a recession-proof business. Even in tough times people spend money to get their guns
repaired or professionally cleaned. Its a lot cheaper than buying a new one and they still want and need them for hunting and self defense. You can even work
part-time right from your home. Your one time investment in the course could provide you with a lifetime of income and opportunity.
Here's how AGIs Professional Gunsmithing Course changed Robert Briskeys life: "Within one short year I opened up my own firearms repair
and custom refinishing shop. My business is exceeding my dreams. The freedom I enjoy being self-employed is priceless. Without the opportunity that AGI's
course offered, my dream would be just that, a dream." Robert T. Briskey, Battle Hen Armory
You dont have to wait to start gunsmithing! It only takes a relatively small investment to get started. As soon as you begin watching the videos you
will be able to start making repairs. Anytime you run into a problem, you just pop in the DVD on the subject or model gun that you need information on and
do a quick review. Make your money back in no time: "I had no previous gunsmithing experience, just basic knowledge of firearms. The course in
my opinion is well worth every penny . . . I have made back what I spent on the course and then some just working at it part-time. I have even fixed a few
guns that other gunsmiths who went to college swore were never able to be repaired." Justin Jones, Justin's Firearms and Gunsmithing, Blountville, TN
Need assistance in getting started or just want more information? We're here to help - call a student advisor today!
In this FREE introductory video gunsmithing lesson featuring
renown Master Gunsmith Robert "Bob" Dunlap you WILL learn:
Why wait?
Get your FREE
introductory video
gunsmithing lesson and
complete information package today!
*
DISABLED VETERANS Have the Government pay for your training!**
**If you are a disabled Veteran with a 30% or more disability rating you may qualify for this program through Veterans Affairs.
Your FREE DVD will come with a complete information package on how to get
started in gunsmithing FAST. *We just ask that you pay $3.97 for priority mail
shipping. President's Guarantee: I am so confident you will learn how to
become a gunsmith by watching this FREE DVD, that I will give you a $10 gift
certificate good towards an AGI video of your choice when you order this package.
Sincerely, Gene Kelly, President, American Gunsmithing Institute
How to ensure reliable auto-pistol feeding and prevent jams
Understanding and timing of Remington 870 cartridge stops
Checking and adjusting "range" on Smith & Wesson revolvers
Troubleshooting ejection problems on the Browning A-5 shotguns
How a gas system works on a Colt AR-15
AR-7 trigger repairs
Secrets of fast and easy gun repair!
Exclusive teaching method demonstrated in proven
video format that makes learning a snap and much more . . .
www.agioffer.com/introlrd01 to get your FREE DVD go to:
The American Gunsmithing Institute is the nation's PREMIER gunsmithing school!
www.agioffer.com/introlrd01 1-800-797-0867
SPRI NG 2013 25
P R E P A R E D
Why Air
Matters
INTRODUCING THE AMAZING MODERN AIR RIFLE
By James Card
The air we breathe powers the
projectile at 1,000 feet per second.
Air is composed of nitrogen, oxygen,
argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium,
methane, krypton, hydrogen, and xenon.
That is what goes into our lungs.
That is what goes into the gun.
It is eco-friendly
and sustainable.
It is quiet, efcient,
and accurate.
y
WHICH TYPE OF AIR RIFLE?
There are multiple ways the air is
compressed into the rie and each has
benets and drawbacks. First are the
multi-stroke pneumatic airguns. These
are the ones many people grew up with
and to power the gun you simply cock
a lever mechanism which is usually
the forestock. Cock it once; you have
a little bit of air inside the gun. Cock it
more and more air goes inside. Usually
the limit is around eight to ten pumps
before the gun can no longer hold any
more air. These are basic air ries and
can be lots of fun but the main draw-
back is constantly pumping the gun
back up after every single shot.
Single-stroke pneumatic air ries
require only one cocking motion. Typi-
cally, the rie breaks in half near the
forestock and you crank the barrel
backwards as it compresses air into
the gun. As it requires only one pump,
more muscle is needed to push the
barrel back to compress the air. Once
cocked, the barrel snaps back into place
and the rie is pressurized. These types
of ries are often used in competitive
air gun markmanship events.
Spring-piston air ries have a lever
to cock back a spring that pushes down
a piston. Upon ring, the spring blasts
forward hitting the piston that shoots a
burst of air that propels the pellet.
Cartridge-powered air guns use car-
tridges that are like mini-CO2 tanks
(sometimes called powerlets). You load
one into the air gun and the powerlet
disperses the pressured air for you. No
cocking or pumping needed. The draw-
back: you have to keep buying the car-
tridges and with lots of target shooting,
they can go pretty fast. They also dont
work well in cold weather.
Precharged pneumatic air ries are
loaded with air from an outside source.
Air is pumped into a cylinder on the
gun that holds a supply of air. Since the
air is already inside the gun there is no
cocking. There is a control regulator
that can be tweaked to adjust the power
of each shot. The gun can be loaded by
either a hand pump, an air compressor
or a Scuba-like air tank. These air ries
pack a lot of power for hunting and are
used in world-class air rie competi-
tions. They are also quieter than other
types of air ries. If you are interested
in pushing the limits of distance, these
are the ries to experiment with. The
drawback: you are dependent on an
outside piece of equipment (air tank or
pump) to power the rie and they are
the most expensive types of air ries in
the market.
So of these types of air ries, which
P R E P A R E D
SPRI NG 2013 27
is the best choice as a survival-utility
gun? The winner is the single-stroke
pneumatic air rie (along with the
spring-piston types) as it is completely
self-contained. With one cocking mo-
tion, the rie is charged. The multi-
stroke air rie isnt the best for small
game hunting as cocking the rie ten
times is a jerky, noisy affair that will
tip off the game animals being pursued.
Also having to pump the gun multiple
times after shooting doesnt help with
taking a quick follow-up shot. The
guns powered by CO2 cartridges are a
money drain and unsustainable. You are
left with empty cartridges to recycle or
deal with. The precharged ries are in-
credibly accurate and powerful but you
have to haul around the equipment to
pump the gun. The single-stroke air
rie is truly the grab-and-go rie of the
air gun family.
WHICH CALIBER?
Air ries come in a number of cali-
bers but the two main ones are .177
and .22. The .22 caliber is larger and
heavier and thus, is slower than the
.177. Both are powerful enough to take
down small game but the .22 is the best
choice if you plan to do a lot of hunting
with your air rie.
BEGINNERS AND EXPERTS
Air ries are a great way to teach a
beginner the fundamentals of marks-
manship. With almost zero recoil, the
new shooter will not develop a inch.
There is also no intimidating report
like one coming from a deer-hunting
rie. Likewise, no ear protection is
needed although safety glasses are nec-
essary. Since the ammo is inexpensive,
the beginner can practice for a long
time before the pellet stash runs empty.
Specs:
Caliber: .22
Velocity: 950 fps
Barrel Length: 15.25 inches
Overall Length: 43.0 inches
Shot Capacity: 1
Cocking Eort: 33 lbs.
Barrel: Ried
Front Sights: None
Rear Sights: None
Buttplate: Ventilated rubber
Trigger Pull: 3.5 lbs
Action: Break barrel
Safety: Manual
Power: Gas piston
Weight: 8.0 lbs
Optics: 3-9x40mm
Price: $279.95
www.crosman.com
Trail NP All
Weather with
Realtree APG
P R E P A R E D
For those that are already expert rie
shooters, air ries are excellent prac-
tice surrogates for regular ries for the
same reasons stated above. The basic
skills of breathing, steadiness, focus,
stance and posture do not change.
SELF DEFENSE
Is an air rie a viable weapon for de-
fensive use? The rst rule of a gunght
is to have a gun and if an air rie is the
only thing you have then it is better
than nothing. The single shot that you
are limited to before reloading again
may be enough for you to get to anoth-
er more powerful gun, to escape, take
cover or call for help.
While testing the featured air ries, I
nailed a piece of half-inch plywood to a
tree and stapled paper targets to it. Af-
ter a couple of hours of shooting, I was
chainging the targets and I happened to
look on the backside of the plywood.
It was an enlightening and horrifying
sight. The plywood was chewed and
splintered and cracked apart. Some
pellets were still embedded in the wood
and others blasted right through into
the tree. I asked myself if an air rie
can to that to plywood, what would it
do to human esh?
A British study published in the
Journal of Clinical Pathology in 1998
looked into the damage an air rie
could do to the human body. Here is
a brief summary of the abstract: Five
cases of fatal airgun injury were identi-
ed by forensic pathologists and histo-
pathologists. Three of the victims were
adult men, one was a 16-year-old boy,
and one an eight-year-old child. Four
of the airguns were .22 air ries, the
other a .177 air rie. Two committed
suicide, one person shooting himself
in the head, the other in the chest. In
both cases the guns were red at con-
tact range. Three of the cases were
classied as accidents: in two the pellet
penetrated into the head and in one the
chest.
The researchers also noted that one
person dies each year in the United
Kingdom. An Internet search reveals
that air rie fatalities throughout the
world are not uncommon.
The British study, which included
some gruesome photos, concluded:
Non-fatal injuries following airgun
pellet penetration include signicant
brain damage leaving permanent im-
pairment. Those involving damage to
eyes may result in blindness . . . Pen-
etration into the chest or abdomen may
require surgical intervention . . . A re-
tained airgun pellet may raise concerns
about lead poisoning. . . The adult skull
SPRI NG 2013 29
is vulnerable to penetration by airgun
pellets, and if the temple region is cho-
sen as the entry site, suicide may be
achieved.
Although that may seem obvious to
experienced shooters of air ries and
mothers (That thing will poke your eye
out!), it is nice to know that if you were
in a self-defense situation you might
not be as undergunned as you think
you are.
COST-EFFECTIVE SHOOTING
Air rie pellets are usually sold in
hockey puck-sized tin canisters that
hold 500 pellets. For the common
calibers they cost around $8 to $15
depending on the design. Some hunt-
ing pellets have plastic pointed tips de-
signed to penetrate small game. Other
lower-end pellets are just meant for
backyard plinking. Flat-headed pel-
lets are useful for rodents and practice
shooting. Round-headed pellets are
good for longer ranges and penetra-
tion. If one were to buy $200 worth of
pellets at $10 per canister that would
be 10,000 pellets. Even .22 rimre am-
munition, the cheapest of all rearms
ammo, doesnt come close to such a
bargain. If you stockpile the pellets,
they will never go bad. Under the right
circumstances, rearms ammunition
can last for decades, but there are many
environmental factors that can make
them become duds. Pellets have an in-
nite shelf life.
LEGALITY AND POLITICS
Although there may be some re-
strictions in certain areas, air ries are
largely unregulated. Unlike other re-
arms, there is no background check
and no three-day waiting period. The
Specs:
Caliber: .177
Velocity: 1,000 fps
Barrel Length: 15.75 inches
Overall Length: 42.13 inches
Shot Capacity: 1
Barrel: Ried
Front Sights: None
Rear Sights: None
Trigger: Two-stage adjustable
Buttplate: Plastic
Safety: Automatic
Power: Spring-piston
Weight: 8.0 lbs
Optics: 3-9x40
Price: $267.75
www.umarexusa.com
RWS Pro 34
P Compact
P R E P A R E D
government does not care if you own
one. You can usually keep one where
other rearms are not allowed and may
even be able to re one where other
types of recreational shooting is forbid-
den. Check your local laws and see if
anything applies to your personal situ-
ation involving air gun ownership.
MAINTENANCE
Ive always liked cleaning guns. It is
part of the process of mastering them
and getting to know how they work.
But consider what happens inside of a
conventional rearm: the gunpowder
creates an explosion and that leaves
traces of fouling that builds up after ev-
ery shot. The more you shoot, the lthi-
er the gun becomes. Some ammo burns
clean and other ammo burns dirty. The
residue requires solvents and there is
an entire cottage industry that supplies
all kinds of gun solvents, lubricants,
preservatives and cleaners to keep re-
arms functioning. For air ries, the care
is minimal. The only explosion is one
of air. Think about it: every time you
shoot, you are blowing tiny particles
out of the barrel of the rie. It almost
cleans itself. Other than an occasional
lubricating of some parts and cleaning
the barrel as directed in the owners
manual, maintenance of an air rie is
nothing compared to shotguns, ries
and pistols ring gunpowder cartridg-
es and shells. For the outside nish, a
couple drops of oil on a rag is enough
to give the rie a wipe down that will
protect the metal parts from rust. Some
manufacturers also sell specialized
cleaning kits for their line of air ries.
QUIET
Break-barrel air ries are pretty qui-
et yet they do make a distinctive sound
that is a cross between a thwack, ponk,
or crack. It is not as loud as a .22 nor
is it obvious and distinctive as a gun-
shot. Some air rie manufactures are
building suppressors into their bar-
rel to make them quieter. Unlike sup-
pressors for regular rearms, there
are no restrictions on suppressors for
air ries. This quietness is very much
appreciated when you do not want to
disturb your neighbors when taking
out a varmint in your garden or when
you are out hunting and go not want to
giveaway your position.
FOR HUNTING
For years air ries have been used to
take all kinds of small game animals,
with squirrels and rabbits as the most
common. Farm boys have used them
to take barn pigeons to make squab
SPRI NG 2013 31
and they can easily take down a crow
(yes, you can eat crow and with the
right recipe it can be delicious). The
key for a clean kill is shot placement
and for small game, the vital area may
be only an inch in diameter. Practice is
essential and there is no excuse not to
practice as the ammo is so cheap. Also,
air ries do not have the range of other
rearms, hence, you need to get closer
to your prey and that makes you a bet-
ter hunter. The maximum range for
hunting is about 50 yards. Shots around
30 yards or closer are ideal for the best
shot placement and penetration.
Ive heard of turkeys being taken
with headshots and ground sluicing
all types of gamebirds such as pheas-
ants or grouse is easily done if you can
get into range before the bird ushes.
Jeff Foiles, a former waterfowl hunting
guide, once used an air rie to park
geese. He would head to a park and
shoot the suburban geese to collect
their waterfowl leg bands. He is now in
prison on multiple wildlife violations.
As with any kind of hunting, be sure to
check the regulations to see if air ries
are permissible on the species that you
want to hunt.
SUSTAINABLE
When shooting air ries, you leave
a pretty small footprint. Other than the
tiny lead pellet (to wit, some pellets are
made of other metals), there is only the
air. There are no plastic hulls, no gun-
powder, no spent brass cases, and few
chemicals used for cleaning. It is a lean
and frugal and efcient form of shooting
and an air rie has a spot among those
rearms deemed as survival guns.
Specs:
Caliber: .177
Velocity: 1300 fps
Loudness: 3-Medium
Barrel Length: 18.0
Overall Length: 43.0
Shot Capacity: 1
Barrel: Ried
Front Sights: Fiber Optic
Rear Sights: Fiber Optic
Trigger: Two-stage adjustable
Buttplate: Rubber
Safety: Manual
Power: Gas piston
Weight: 7.15 lbs
Optics: 3-9X40
Price: $249.95
www.gamousa.com
Gamo Silent
Stalker Whisper
P R E P A R E D
SLEEPING BAG PAGE 17
THE LIGHT BULB
After sawing logs in both options,
a light went off in my head. What if
I combined the two? I wrapped the
space blanket over my sleeping bag.
The combination was hardly a
gamble, but even I was surprised by
the results. I didnt become warmer,
but I didnt lose heat, either. Adding
the space blanket prevented the usu-
al cooling of a frigid overnight in a
sleeping bag.
CONCLUSION
If I had to pick just one, Id go with
the sleeping bag. The comfort factor
went a long way with me.
But in the real world, Im going
with both. Tossing a few space blan-
kets next to my sleeping bag isnt go-
ing to eat up much trunk room.
Thats a few space blankets, not just
one. Theyre small and inexpensive.
Why not keep a pile? While youre at
it, pick up some tape.
The overnight experience made me
realize how many ways space blan-
kets could be used. Line tent walls
with them to keep in warmth. Or put
them on the outside to reect heat in
the summer.
Wrap a bottle in them to keep con-
tents warm or cool. Signal rescuers.
Side your water heater with them for
better efciency.
However you use them, space blan-
kets are an essential for winter car
survival kits. So is a sleeping bag.
Use both, but dont stop at that. In-
clude tools, food, re-making items, a
snow-melting tin, clothes and a phone
charger. Youll be at your best when
things are at their winter worst.
Ben Sobieck is the online editor of
LIVING READY. He is the author of
the crime thriller novel, Cleansing
Eden: The Celebrity Murders, the
cult hit Maynard Soloman crime hu-
mor series and numerous short sto-
ries. If he ever becomes stranded in
his car, hell sleep like a baby.
Handgun Training for Personal Protection
is a must-read for anyone who is serious
about maximizing their self-defense skills.
This latest title from handgun authority
Richard A. Mann teaches you how to get the
most from your training.
www.gundigeststore.com
(product U2147)
Download to your Kindle,
Nook or iPad tablet
Call (855) 840-5120
(M-F, 8-5 CST)
3 EASY WAYS TO ORDER
This book belongs in every
shooters library. Mann
provides a practical, hands-on guide
to working with your handgun and the
equipment that goes with it. Along the
way, common misconceptions are
corrected, and often neglected topics
are explained. This book will become
your go-to reference.
Il Ling New, Gunsite Instructor
P R E P A R E D
SURVIVING
ON THE FLY
Fish are a ubiquitous food source high
in protein and vitamin-rich oils. Dis-
tributed globally, edible raw or cooked,
sh are a rst-in-line item on any sub-
sistence menu. Someone venturing
into the woods, up a mountain, or out
to sea should always reserve the option
for taking sh. Almost every body of
water supports some species that can
be caught and subsequently consumed.
Fly-shing is, for all of its storied
gentility and complexity, the most ef-
fective way to fool, hook, and land a
sh. Live bait shers might disagree at
rst, but imagine a scenario set in win-
ter. You cant dig for worms in frozen
ground and there will be no insects y-
ing or hopping about large enough for
a hook. There are also situations where
the sh are quite small, minnows even,
and feeding on minute creatures such
as midges that hatch even during the
cold months. You can use this method
to catch and keep in any type of weath-
er, in fresh or salt water, for large and
small sh. This broad exibility illus-
trates y-shings potential as an effec-
tive survival technique.
THE NECESSITIES
Fly rods, reels, and lines are graded
on a scale ranging from 0 to 14, with
zero being the lightest and fourteen
the heaviest. Out of these options, the
5-weight nine-foot rod is regarded as
the most useful and adaptable shing
instrument. A four-piece 5-weight y
rod and reel rigged with a oating line
to match can handle pansh, trout, and
bass, as well as small saltwater sh.
The size of this outt, stored in its
travel tube (a standard accessory), falls
within the dened size requirements of
a personal item suitable for taking on a
plane. Were talking an extremely por-
table object two feet in length and less
than a pound in weight.
At the business end of the line is the
y; the anglers ammunition. Numer-
ous varieties, called patterns, have been
created and now number in the thou-
sands. This vast hive of options can be
simplied into subsets: insect patterns
that oat dry ies those that sink
FORGET ABOUT RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT MYSTICISM. FLY FISHING
CAN BE A DEADLY EFFICIENT WAY TO HOOK INTO A GOOD MEAL.
by Ron P. Swegman
SPRI NG 2013 35
wet y or nymph and those that
imitate small sh streamers some
of which skim the top, others that can
swim subsurface. A good rule to follow
is to have a few examples from each of
these basic categories in order to effec-
tively nd the water column where sh
are holding. Another important idea to
keep in mind is that in an emergency
you are shing to ll your stomach, not
a trophy room, so smaller y patterns
are a safe choice. A large y can lure
the occasional big sh to the net, but
little ies will consistently catch all
manner of sh, including the small fry
that can save the day.
Casting and catching a sh on the
y is not as hard as it may look on a
television show. Most y casts require
only a gentle wave or two of the rod
combined with a simultaneous release
of the line forward toward the targeted
shing spot. The current of a stream or
river does the majority of the work. An
exception occurs when using a stream-
er pattern, which requires the angler
to strip in the y at intervals in order
to resemble a swimming baitsh. The
same action is used in stillwaters such
as ponds. After the angler uses the rod
to cast the line, the y can be animat-
ed by random twitches of the rod tip;
movements that allow the imitation y
to look alive on the water.
THE TENKARA OPTION
Tenkara is a traditional Japanese
method of y shing that uses a long
telescoping rod without a reel. Rod,
line, and y only: a perfect match for
mobility and practicality.
Evolved over time for alpine trout
shing, tenkara has become quite
popular in America since 2009 when
angling entrepreneur and Japanophile
Daniel W. Galhardo formed Tenkara
USA (www.tenkarausa.com) to pro-
mote and sell the style to American
anglers. Advocates of the style have
branched out to pond shing for bass
and pansh as well as light saltwater
angling in estuaries and other shallow-
water environments. The simplicity
extends to the y pattern itself. Many
tenkara anglers adhere to a one y
principle that emphasizes manipulation
of the pattern over a box full of shapes,
sizes, and colors.
Great for backpackers, a tenkara rod
combines the simplicity of cane pole
shing with the nesse of y casting.
The rod consists of nine or ten seg-
ments that fold into a compact, self-
contained twenty-inch package that
in its rod sock or travel tube weighs
between three or four ounces. When
extended, the rod reaches twelve and
fourteen feet in length, depending on
the model. The rods tip is a knotted
sturdy silk line called a lillian to which
the y line is attached with a simple
slip knot. The braided or monolament
section, equal to the length of the rod,
casts as easy as a conventional y line.
The long rod also allows an angler to
reach tough-to-manage spots where
sh often hold; beside half-submerged
structure like rocks or tree stumps.
When a sh strikes, the sher simple
raises the rod to set the hook, and then
brings it steadily to a position perpen-
dicular to the water. At this point the
bending rod has brought the hooked
sh to the anglers feet where it can be
netted or beached.
When the shing has ended, the line
is easily removed from the lillian by re-
leasing the slip knot and can be stored
by winding it back onto a spool. The
rod itself collapses and is contained
within the handle. A simple Ziploc
sandwich bag has room enough to hold
the spool, which has the capacity for at
least two complete lengths of tenkara
line, as well as a pair of clippers and a
full y box. Any bug-out bag can ac-
commodate this time-tested and sim-
ple-to-use food-gathering tool.
Ron P. Swegman is an avid y sher,
y shop employee, as well as the au-
thor of two books: Philadelphia on the
Fly: Tales of an Urban Angler (Amato
Books, 2005) and Small Fry: The Lure
of the Little (The Whitesh Press, 2009).
He lives and shes in New York City.
Originally created for shing Japanese creeks, tenkara can be adapted for shing rivers and lakes
Although not thought of as a gamesh on the y, this walleye hammered a black wooly bugger.
P R E P A R E D
CampingSurvival.com
Its not about the END of the WORLD - Its
not about surviving a hypothetical PLANE
CRASH - Its about the SATISFACTION YOU
GET knowing you can take care of yourself
and/or your family in ANY SITUATION,
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE!
A
ro
u
n
d
sin
ce 19
5
6
. V
etera
n
o
w
n
ed
.
JHL Supply
800-537-1339 ext 221 Fax: 315-592-4796
s not about the END of the WORLD Its Its
Condence Born of
Preperation
Over 16,000 items for urban and wilderness survival.
Over 77,000 fans here.
Find us on Facebook. Camping Survival. Over 60,000 fans.
Facebook for women. Camping Survival Women. Over 19,000 fans.
WOOLY BUGGER
It resembles a bit of everything.
Black and green are the best colors.
Get ones with beadheads so they
can sink into the deep holes.
Freshwater Fly Picks
DISCO MIDGE
Although they are popular for trout, pansh like bluegill and perch
will snap at this y as well. These midge ies are so small they are
nearly weightless so its worth stashing a bunch in your kit.
HORNBERG
It can oat like a dry y and you can swing it
underwater like a wet y. Impart motion by
stripping the line so it swims like a tiny baitsh.
SPRI NG 2013 37
S K I L L E D
Your most important survival skill is
your ability to improvise. Using what
you have to get what you need will
almost always dene the outcome of
a sudden survival scenario. Like all
survival skills, practice makes perfect.
Practicing the skill of survival impro-
visation should be a part of your regu-
lar preparedness-training regimen. Its
simple - choose an item or product not
specically designed for survival and
then brainstorm as many survival uses
as you can. When brainstorming, con-
sider the following survival categories:
shelter, water, re, food, rst aid, and
self-defense. You may or may not have
survival solutions for every category
and that is ne.
Lets take a very unlikely and random
candidate: the condom. You might be
surprised at how many ways you can
use a condom to help meet basic hu-
man survival needs. Unconventional?
Sometimes those are the best solutions.
8 WAYS A CONDOM CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
by Creek Stewart
Prophylactic
Preparedness
2. TINDER
The most obvious way to use a condom to
aid in survival re is to protect dry re tinder.
Just because the weather is great NOW doesnt
mean its going to stay that way. Finding dry
re tinder in wet and rainy conditions can be
very difcult. Protecting dry re tinder during
inclement weather is very easy when you have
a condom. Simply stuff the condom with your
best tinder and tuck it away for a rainy day. No
rocket science here. One condom even protects
this entire bracket fungus which contains a
load of excellent natural tinder.
1. WATER
Im certainly not the rst
person to include condoms in
a survival kit. They have been
packed in mini-survival kits
for as long as I can remem-
ber. They make amazing com-
pact water containers that can
hold as much as two liters of
water if handled properly. The
elasticity of latex condoms is
shocking and they will stretch
to sizes that will surprise you.
While condoms excel in
elasticity, they lack in dura-
bility. The thin latex walls are
very susceptible to sharp ob-
jects and puncture. There is a
strategy for carrying water in
a condom and the easiest Ive
found is to take off your sock
and ll the condom inside of
it. Not only does the sock pro-
vide stability but it also provides protection. It still needs to be coddled
but its not as delicate. Other options are to wrap it in a t-shirt or even ll
it inside a backpack or helmet. It helps to stretch the condom a little bit
rst like you do when getting ready to blow up a balloon.
Tie the mouth of the condom off around a stick about the diameter of
your thumb. This way, you can fairly easily untie it. Just knotting it off
with no stick makes it very difcult to open back up again. You may need
to use it over and over again so dont rush it.
S K I L L E D
5. THUMB LOOPS
Fire-by-friction is another re
starting option. The hand drill is
probably the hardest of all primi-
tive re starting methods. Without
practice, it can be very difcult to
get the right combination of pres-
sure and spindle speed to generate
enough heat to create an ember.
Thumb loops help facilitate this
process and allow the user to apply
more pressure on the spindle and
also spin their hands in pretty much
one place. Make the thumb loops
by notching the top of your spindle
and tie each end of the condom on
your thumbs.
3. BURNING RUBBER
The condom itself also makes excellent
re tinder. With an open ame such as a
match or cigarette lighter, a latex condom
will ignite almost instantaneously and burn
furiously for several minutes allowing you
plenty of time to build your re. In damp
re starting conditions when dry tinder is
hard to nd, burning latex may be the edge
you need to get a survival re started.
4. MAGNIFY
If you dont have matches or a ferro rod,
a condom full of clear water can be manipu-
lated, shaped and used to magnify sun rays.
These tightly focused sun rays can be used to
smolder dry re tinder such as punky wood or
cattail down. Once an ember is created, that
ember can be placed into a tinder bundle and
blown into ame.
SPRI NG 2013 39
Creek Stewart is an expert in outdoor living and survival skills. His latest book
is titled Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit.
Look for his new book titled The Unofcial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival
Guide. Creek is the owner and founder of Willow Haven Outdoor, (www.willow-
havenoutdoor.com), a survival training facility.
205 N. Center Drive
West Memphis, AR 72301
(870) 732-2452
www.crawfordknives.com
email: patcrawford1@earthlink.net
All in one package
Made from Hard Aircraft Aluminium
$294.95 - Ready for delivery
CRAWFORD KNIVES, LLC.
THE SURVIVAL STAFF
By Pat and Wes Crawford
Handmade for 25 years
Hiking
Staff
Walking
Stick
Baton
Blow Gun
Lance
ADAPTER & CONVERSION UNITS
OF ALL TYPES:
INSERTS FOR BREAK-OPEN
SHOTGUNS
CHAMBER ADAPTER FOR RIFLES
CHAMBER ADAPTER FOR SPECIALTY
PISTOLS
ANTIQUES & WILDCATS
CUSTOM MADE!
These inserts/adapters allow rie owners to target
practice at local indoor ranges where full power
loads are prohibited, or take small game without
the noise, meat destruction or the expense of full
loads. As a survival device, my adapters are
unequalled, allowing a single rie or pistol to re
a variety of ammunition. New shooters will learn
marksmanship without ghting recoil and loud
muzzle blast.
MULTI CALIBER
ADAPTERS
SUB CALIBER ADAPTERS AND BARREL INSERTS
22LR/ 22MAG, 22 JET OR 22 H-TC
22LR OR 22 MAG/ 218,221, 222, 223 OR 22-250
22 HORNET/ 223 OR 22-250
32 ACP OR 32 H+R MAG/ 30-30, 308, OR 30-06
30 LUGER, 30 MAUSER OR 30 CAR/ 308 OR
30-06 BLUE STEEL $20 PPD STAINLESS $28 PPD
(Specify if adapter is for T/C.)
CHAMBER INSERTS:
7.62X39 TO 30-06, 308, 7.62ARG & 7.5FR
308 T0 30-06 KITS $25 PPD
Send (2) current 1st class stamps for catalog:
M.C.A. SPORTS/ACE BULLET CO.
2800 WEST 33RD ROAD
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99517-2201
907/248-4913 PHONE/FAX
ACE A. DUBE (E-mail = lilred@sinbad.net)
WEB SITE http://mcace.com
6. SLINGSHOT
Condoms can make a very effective slingshot. Dont underestimate the small
game hunting power of a simple slingshot. Ive killed frogs, birds, rabbit and squir-
rel with a slingshot and would love to have one in a survival scenario. Instead of a
pouch, I carved notched mini-darts which hook onto a piece of string that connects
the two sections of condom bands. This turned out to be a very powerful and ac-
curate improvised small game slingshot.
8. FIRST AID
Worse case scenario, a
condom can be used as a
crude rubber glove while
dealing with any rst aid re-
lated issues. It will protect
the wound from your nasty
hands as well as protect you
from the wound if youre
dealing with someone else.
7. BOBBER
A makeshift condom bobber is
pretty effective for shing. Ive
found that rather than just tying
off an air bubble in the condom, it
works a little better if you stuff in
some cattail uff. Cattail down is
naturally buoyant and also water-
resistant so its the perfect bobber
lling. This shing set is made us-
ing natural bark cordage, a bone
gorge and a condom bobber.
Survival SkiL s
as Strong as
Your Survival Gear
Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to
make it out of a bad situation. The indispensable,
feld-tested skills found in this guide include:
Natural shelter building
Advanced water
coLecting methods
Survival fire lays
Making cordage, water
containers & knives from
natural resources
TraPing & wild edibles
Survival first aid
Navigation skiLs
for rescue and evasion
This book is the perfect way to teach your
entire family the survival skills they need.
THE UNOFFICIAL HUNGER GAMES
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL GUIDE
Item #U1956 978-1-4403-2855-8
192 pages Retail Price $17.99
Available from bOkseLers
nationwide and
Also Available by Creek Stewart
BUILD THE PERFECT BUG OUT BAG
978-1-4403-1874-0
SPRI NG 2013 41
S K I L L E D
PATIO DOORS
These sliding doors can be something of a nightmare in
terms of security. Most homeowners know the trick of laying a
wooden dowel in the track at the bottom of the door, preventing
the door from sliding open. This does work reasonably well,
provided the intruder has a reason to not just smash through
the glass. Replacing the glass with shatter-resistant plastic
will help eliminate that option. With a little effort you can nd
special bar locks and dead bolts that are made specically for
sliding doors. These generally work very well and are a great
option to explore.
HACK
YOUR
HOME
G
There are several basic concepts common to all security
plans, whether for a single-family home, a multi-acre retreat,
or even an ofce building. One of the most fundamental as-
pects of security planning is the knowledge that no plan will
ever be perfect. Given enough time and motivation, an aggres-
sor will always be able to defeat any security plan. No lock
is ever totally pickproof. No gate is ever really impregnable.
Thus, the focus of an effective plan is to increase the amount if
time and motivation to defeat the plan.
COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS
FOR KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE
by Jim Cobb
S K I L L E D
WINDOWS
Windows generally prove to be not
much of a deterrent to an intruder. Any
parent of a child who loves playing
baseball is well aware of how easy it
can be to break a window. This can be
mitigated by replacing the glass with
shatter-resistant plastic. Sold under
brand names like Lexan, it is strong
enough to withstand blows with a ham-
mer. You can buy it in sheets and cut it
to size using a circular saw with a ply-
wood nishing blade or a jigsaw with a
metal cutting blade. Go slow to avoid
chipping. Absent being able to smash
through the glass, an intruder will have
to somehow force the window open.
For double-hung windows, this can
be prevented simply by drilling a hole
through the window sashes and sliding
a nail slightly smaller in diameter into
the hole. The hole should go at least
-inch into the bottom rail of the top
sash. You want the hole a bit larger
than the nail so you can easily remove
the nail to open the window as needed.
Angle the hole downward so the nail
wont just fall out on its own. Do this
twice for each window, about 2 inches
from either side.
Horizontal sliding windows can
be secured like sliding doors as men-
tioned earlier. Casement windows are
tricky but generally they are very dif-
cult to open from the outside to begin
with (and in my house, almost impos-
sible to open from the inside as well!).
However, for added security, you can
add special latches that require the use
of a key to open.
One key thing to remember when
it comes to securing windows is that
by installing any of these various mea-
sures, you are not only preventing ac-
cess from the outside, but also possi-
bly trapping yourself and your family
inside in the event of a re. If you are
considering installing permanent se-
curity measures such as the window
grilles, weigh this carefully against the
potential need for rapid escape.
THE MOST OBVIOUS:
SECURING THE DOOR
The strength of a door is measured
in two ways. The rst is the material of
which the door is made. A cheap, hollow
core interior door wont withstand much
more than a simple kick before it splin-
ters. A solid wood exterior door will
hold up to more abuse, but if half the
door is glass paneled, how hard do you
think it will be to break into? A steel-
encased door would be ideal, but few
people would want to install one, due to
aesthetics as well as expense. So in most
cases your best choice is a solid wood
door with no windows of any kind.
The second way in which the
strength of a door is measured is how
many points of attachment it has. The
more places the door is attached to
the frame, the stronger it will be. At a
minimum, the door should have three
hinges, a locking doorknob, and a dead
bolt. This gives you ve points of at-
tachment. An additional deadbolt to-
ward the top of the door and another at
the bottom will provide additional sup-
port against brute force entry.
Hinges and Stop Molding
Most hinges are sold with very small
screws attaching the door to the frame.
Get rid of those and purchase screws
long enough to go through the door-
frame and into the stud. This provides
quite a bit of added strength. With most
hinges, it is a very simple matter to take
out the hinge pins, allowing the door to
be removed. For this reason, whenever
possible you should install hinges on
the interior side of the door.
The stop molding is the strip of wood
that runs the height of the door and pre-
vents it from swinging too far. When
you slam a door shut, this is the piece
of wood the door hits, causing that sat-
isfying wham. If the stop molding is
accessible from the outside of the door,
it could be pried up, allowing access to
the bolts and locks. Given that these
moldings are typically just tacked in
place with small nails, that is not too
difcult to accomplish. The way doors
are usually installed; either the hinges
or the stop molding will be accessible
to someone outside.
For better security, remove the stop
moldings, take out the nails, and rein-
stall the molding using wood glue and
longer nails. If the nails you are using
are considerably thicker than the ones
previously used, you may want to drill
Window Grilles
While not the prettiest things in the world, bars installed over windows will
certainly deny access to most intruders. However, these can be di cult for the
average person to install correctly. The grilles should be anchored to the most
solid part of the wall available. Use strong lag bolts for this rather than wood
screws, if at all possible. Once the grille is installed, go back to the lag bolts and
use a handheld grinder to round o the heads, making them all but impossible
to remove. If youre forced to use wood screws, use the grinder to deface the
heads enough so a screwdriver wont be able to engage the screw head.
SPRI NG 2013 43
pilot holes in order to avoid cracking or
splintering the molding.
Doorknobs and Deadbolts
Honestly, the doorknob, locked or not,
provides so little protection overall that it
really doesnt matter a whole lot which
kind you install. Just make sure it is in-
stalled correctly and is tight and secure,
rather than rattling loosely in the door.
Whether you go with one or several
dead bolts, they are rather simple to
install. The hardest part can be deter-
mining exactly where the strike boxes
should be installed. (The strike box is
the metal box that is installed into the
doorframe; this is what the bolt slides
into when the deadbolt is locked.) A
simple way to do this is to take a tube
of old lipstick and color the end of the
bolt. Then, when the door is closed,
snap the deadbolt so the bolt comes out
and pushes against the frame. Open the
door and youll see exactly where the
strike box should be located. Again,
all screws should be long enough to go
through the frame and into the stud.
SECURING OUTBUILDINGS
If you have sheds, barns, or other
types of outbuildings on your prop-
erty, you need to make sure those are
secured, for several reasons. First, the
contents of these outbuildings would
be vulnerable to theft if not secured.
Second, the tools and equipment inside
could be used to facilitate entry into the
main home (maybe you have a chainsaw
in there that an intruder would nd all
too handy). Third, unsecured outbuild-
ings provide concealment and possibly
cover for the attackers. Secure these
outbuildings using the same techniques
as the main home, paying particular at-
tention to the typically imsy doors and
windows used on sheds and barns. You
should also install some form of early
warning device to alert you to intrusion
attempts. This could be as simple as a
tripwire-activated alarm.
Garage doors typically come with a
bar lock preinstalled. These work very
well in preventing the door from open-
ing. If for some reason the lock itself
doesnt work, the doors generally have a
sliding latch as well. A at piece of met-
al, it slides through a hole in the track,
stopping the door from moving up. Often
this latch will come with a hole on the
end where you can place a padlock. This
prevents the latch from being slid open.
OBSTACLES
Obstacles are generally passive de-
fenses. Some obstacles are there just
to delay and frustrate aggressors. Oth-
ers are intended to funnel the attack-
ers to an area you can better control.
The ideal would be to surround your
home with concrete walls that are a
dozen feet high and a few feet thick,
topped with razor wire, with a strong
metal gate providing access in and out.
However, I can just imagine how that
suggestion would be met at the family
dinner table on Sunday evening. Real-
istically though, there are several op-
tions available for constructing fencing
and other barriers.
Hedges
Provided you have the land to do so,
you could start with a nice thick hedge.
Boxwood is one great option for this
purpose. When you think of the large to-
piary sculptures or even mazes, these are
often boxwood. They can grow to about
15 feet tall. While a hedge of boxwood
or any other plant wont stop a truck, re-
member the point of obstacles is to slow
down your attacker so you have time to
react. A truck coming at your perimeter
will be easily detected either way, right?
The idea here is to funnel your attack-
INVENTORY YOUR GUNS
info@MyGunDB.com
MyGunDB - The leading inventory software for collections!
Available for FREE!
Designed for personal or business use
Print A&D reports, plus inventory,
insurance and nances
View stats about your collection
Manage your ammo, accessories and
more!
Designed for enthusiasts, collectors and
dealers
MyGunDB Inventory software meets ATF
requirements for C&R and FFL digital
boundbooks
Download the FREE version at
http://MyGunDB.com
Runs on Windows, OSX and Linux
Mobile versions for Android and IOS available!
If you have 1 firearm or 100, you need the MyGunDB
inventory program on your PC or Mac

S K I L L E D
ers to areas you can more easily control.
Another advantage of natural barriers
like hedges is that they wont look out of
place in most locations. It will not give
the impression that you have anything to
hide, now or later.
Fences and Walls
One of the most inexpensive fences
would be chain link. However, for se-
curity purposes, you get what you pay
for. Even a moderately determined in-
truder could scale a chain link fence in
a matter of minutes. Top it with barbed
wire or razor wire and youll add dif-
culty, but it will still not be insur-
mountable in the long run. A minute
or two with a pair of bolt cutters would
be all it would take to make a slit large
enough to slip through. But that minute
or two may be enough for you to take
further action.
Another option is to build your fence
out of wood. Still not too expensive but
realistically it is even easier to defeat
than chain link. An axe or chainsaw,
while noisy, will make short work of a
wooden fence. Plus, it is difcult and
much more pricey to build a fence high
enough to reasonably consider it se-
cure. Brick and concrete walls are ex-
cellent options for security, but youll
pay through the nose unless youre able
to do the work yourself. That would not
be recommended unless you truly know
what youre doing. Topping it with bro-
ken glass embedded in the concrete is
a traditional touch and does work well.
But a nice, thick concrete wall prob-
ably wont go over very well with the
homeowners association, condo board,
or neighbors. Just food for thought.
SECURE YOUR STASH
Most of us, when we were kids, had
at least one or two hiding spots for our
goodies. Maybe between the mattress
and box spring, maybe at the back of
a shelf closet, perhaps someplace a bit
more ingenious. I knew one classmate
who used an air vent near his bed to hide
magazines he had borrowed from his
old man. Look for places in your home
that can provide secure and hidden stor-
age, especially those that take advan-
tage of idiosyncrasies of the structure
that only you are aware of. Then if un-
desirables do get into your home, you
will be able to keep your supplies and
weapons safe from them, at least in the
short term. This will not only help you
avoid losing your stuff, but also assist
you in ghting back. Devising methods
of hidden storage can certainly be a fun
exercise too. It is an area of prepared-
ness where you can truly be creative
and think outside the box.
PIPES
If you go into your basement and look
up, youll likely see at least a few large
outow pipes for your wastewater sys-
tem. One more run of matching PVC
pipe would not look at all out of place
and would be roomy enough inside to
hide a slim rie, as well as many other
valuable supplies. Hang the pipe so it
looks as though it joins up with an exist-
SECRET COMPARTMENT
FURNITURE
Beautiful, handmade furniture
featuring generously sized secret
compartments. All Amish-built in Holmes
County, Ohio. Please log on to
secretcompartmentfurniture.com
to view our catalogue.
Custom requests are welcomed.
Please call or email Jill at:
secretcompartmentfurniture@gmail.com
330-671-3639
SECRETCOMPARTMENTFURNITURE.COM
SEC
B tif l h d d f it B if l h d d f i
NRA booth #4908
SPRI NG 2013 45
ing run and make sure it is hung secure-
ly, keeping in mind the weight it may
have to hold. Take a good look at how
the existing pipe is hung and whenever
possible use the same type of hangers so
everything matches in appearance. Cap
off the open end of the pipe but dont
use sealant; just tighten the cap by hand
so you can open it quickly when you
need to do so.
AIR DUCTS AND DROP
CEILINGS
Exposed air ducts can also be used
to hide things. Take off one of the vents
by removing the screws and place your
items inside. When you replace the
vent, leave the screws loose enough
that you can undo them by hand. How-
ever, avoid blocking the entire duct;
you dont want to impede the airow
to a great degree. Also avoid using this
method to store items that will be af-
fected by extremes of heat and cold.
If you have a drop ceiling in your n-
ished basement, take down a couple of
the ceiling panels and see whats behind
them. Odds are if you hunt around a bit,
youll nd a suitable location for placing
a shelf on the side of one of the joists.
This would be a great place for canned
goods, a handgun or two, or ammo.
BOXES
In many homes, the basement is the
storage area, lled with boxes of clothes,
books, and other accumulations. Use
this to your advantage and stash items
in boxes, then cover the items with old
clothes. Label the box something like
Grandmas delicates and seal it up.
You can make things easier on yourself
in terms of organization by using the
same sort of label for every box that
actually contains supplies. Scatter them
throughout the storage area to make it
look more realistic. Pay attention to the
weight of the boxes, though. If you label
the box as though it contains clothing,
and hide several boxes of ammo inside,
the weight might be a clue that the box
is hiding something.
This is an excerpt from the new book;
Preppers Home Defense by Jim
Cobb that can be can be purchased
through the Amazon link found on www.
survivalweekly.com as well as from all
major booksellers. Jim Cobb is a di-
saster readiness expert. He has been
a prepper for most of his life and has
worked almost twenty years in the se-
curity management and investigation
elds. Jims primary home online is at
www.survivalweekly.com and he also
writes a daily blog for www.survival-
gear.com. He lives and works in the up-
per Midwest, sequestered in a fortied
bunker with his lovely wife and their
three adolescent weapons of mass de-
struction.
POWER OF AN AXE
CONTROL OF A MACHETE
Free Engraving
Free Full Line Catalog
Dealers Wanted
Lifetime Guarantee
Made in
PA,USA
www.protoolindustries.net
800-708-5191
100% Lifetime Guarantee
Military Issue Since 1941
J Wayne Fears
ULTIMATE
SURVIVAL KNIFE
SPECIAL SALE PRICE
MAG-NA-FIRE
Magnesium Fire Starting Tool
5 TOOLS IN ONE
No Other Like It
SPECIAL SALE PRICE
nteee
MAG-NA-FIR
m Fire St
SAA
LR
Electronic Security
Various types of alarm and surveillance sys-
tems can be had rather cheaply today and
prices continue to drop. Many of the camera-
based systems are sold with three or four cam-
eras, plus a digital recorder. You simply provide
a small monitor to observe the activity. Most of
the cameras sold for this purpose are wireless,
so theres no need to string coaxial cable all over
the place. However, the signal transmitted by
the cameras often isnt all that strong, so youll
need to experiment a bit to determine the actual range available to you. If you
were to place a camera at the end of your driveway and also install a laser beam
alarm, something commonly available at commercial electronics stores as well
as many of the warehouse outlets like Sams Club, you could quickly determine
whether it was a deer or an intruder coming in your direction.
S K I L L E D
Freehand Sharpening
Freehand sharpening is a skill that
must be developed with practice, along
with trial and errorat rst, mostly
error. The key to mastering freehand
sharpening is keeping the angle of the
blade to the stone consistent. If you do
not, your knife will not be sharp. The
edge bevel will be round instead of at.
It will take a while to get the feel of
it, so do not think you can invest a few
hours or a few days and have the tech-
nique mastered.
THE SHARPENER
Invest in a good bench stone. You
have the natural ones like the Arkansas
stones and the man-made ones such as
the Norton India stone. There are also
the diamond-bonded stones like any
of the many that Diamond Machining
Technology (dmtsharp.com) and others
produce.
Select the stone based on your knifes
blade steel. Diamond stones work well
with the high-performance steels such
as CPM-S30V, BG-42, 154CM and
others and they sharpen blades of high-
performance steel though not as quick-
ly as the diamond abrasives. Norton In-
dia, ceramic and Arkansas stones excel
at sharpening low-to-mid-grade stain-
less, as well as all grades of carbon and
tool steels. Also, diamond stones use
water as lubrication, the rest use oil.
HOW TO DO IT
With a black ink permanent marker,
color the entire cutting edge or primary
bevel on both sides of the blade. The
objective is to sharpen off the black
ink. After you remove the ink from
both sides of the blade, it will be sharp!
Take a few strokes on the stone and
then examine the edge bevel. If you
see ink toward the top of the bevel,
decrease the angle of the blade to the
stone. Conversely, if you see ink to-
ward the bottom of the bevel, increase
the angle to capture that part. In other
words, you must monitor any ink left
on the cutting edge and remove it
throughout the sharpening process.
After you have successfully sharp-
ened away the marker ink from the rst
side of the blade, turn the knife over
and repeat the same process for the
second side. After you have removed
the ink from the second side, ip the
blade over to the rst side and care-
fully feel for a small, raised burr across
the cutting edge. The last step is to
lightly wipe the burr off by gently
running the side of the blade with the
burr across the bench stone. When you
complete this step, you have success-
fully sharpened a knife.
sharpernow.com
1-800-731-1340
customerservice@sharpernow.com
StaySharp, BePrepared!
Providing a wide variety of outdoor gear to the
everyday survivalist.
Brands shown in photo include:
GET A RAZOR-SHARP EDGE WITH THE MAGIC MARKER TRICK
by Dexter Ewing
S K I L L E D
You got burned bad.
Now what?
I saw a story about this
TV anchorwoman getting
burned in a propane
explosion and her kid called
911. It got me to thinking.
What if something like that
happened to me and there
was no 911?
When something like that happens,
our brain tends to shut down. Thats
why its so important to have the rst
steps for treating any serious injury
memorized so they become as natural
as slapping your face after a mosquito
bite.
SMOTHER THE FIRE
Duh. But will you be thinking as clear
when your skin is hot enough to roast
a marshmallow? Just remember, a re
must have oxygen, so smother it. Water,
clothing, a blanket, even dirt, will do.
REMOVE THE HOT STUFF
IMMEDIATELY
Even doused with water, burned
clothing or jewelry can remain hot
enough to keep burning your skin.
COOL THE SKIN
Use water instead of ice if you have
it. (Ice constricts blood vessels, de-
creasing vital blood ow.) Aloe vera is
a good alternative. If theres no water
or aloe, anything cool will do as long
as its not greasy. Never use ointment
or butter. That holds the heat in. Youre
not trying to saut yourself here.
You need to try to get medical help
even if its going to be really hard to
come by if:
BREATHING TROUBLE
The burn is around the face or neck and
swelling could impede the airways.
The burn covers 10 percent or more of
the bodys surface area. (The persons
palm represents about one percent.)
If youre dealing with a child or a
deep, third-degree burn (blanched
or speckledburned into the fat or
muscle), cut that to about ve per-
cent.
The burn encircles an extremity and
starts swelling. (Its acting like a tour-
niquet and can cut off circulation.)

If help is impossible, remember a
burns four main potential complications:
PAIN
Initially, cool with warm rags or use
aloe vera. Use your favorite over-the-
counter pain reliever like ibuprofen
(Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
SWELLING
Elevate the burned area to heart level
or above. Cool compresses can help.
INFECTION
Clean well with soap and water. If
blisters are small and intact, leave them.
They make a great sterile dressing. If
theyre leaking or appear too big to stay
intact, clip them away (if you have ster-
ile scissors). Cover wounds with antibi-
otic ointment (honey is a great alterna-
tive but not on kids under two), gauze or
clean cloths, and tape (or an elastic ban-
dage). Dont tape too tightly. Change the
dressings twice a day.
FLUID LOSS
Large burns causes surrounding tis-
sues to leak out a tremendous amount
of uid. You can become severely de-
hydrated. For a burn covering about 10
percent of your surface area, drink four
quarts of uids per day. Drink an extra
quart for every additional one percent.
Pedialyte or a sports drink is good, or
add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 tea-
spoon of baking soda to every quart of
water. If the burn covers 20 percent or
more of your body surface, youre un-
likely to survive without special intra-
venous uids.
Third-degree burns that are more
than inch or two wide may never heal
without a skin graft. Thats because the
burn has destroyed the full thickness of
the skin layer. The wound can only heal
by growing in from the edges. Skin
cant grow very much that way.
Use of this information is at your own
risk, intended solely for self-help, in
times of emergency, when medical help
is not available, and does not create a
doctor-patient relationship.
Family doctor James Hubbard teach-
es how to survive for times you cant get
expert medical help at www.thesurvival-
doctor.com.
Ask the
SURVIVAL
DOCTOR
SOLID ADVICE FROM OUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXPERT
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
G A R D E N
History has given us many gifts, one of which is the continua-
tion of plants using seeds dating back thousands of years. I love
just dreaming of the life our ancestors lived and the gardens that
they tended and nurtured. My family of nine makes a habit of
visiting historic plantations in different states each year. The one
commonality is that they all have a garden spot, whether it be a
knot garden, square foot garden, or a huge planted garden. I love
them all, as I am sure their owners have through the years.
More than the historical romanticism that I love so dearly,
heirloom gardening affords very practical benets. Many of the
best-tasting, most prolic, healthy, and health-producing plants
are harvested from heirloom seeds. Additionally, family unity
and sustainability as well as being part of history, geography,
science, and wildlife contribute to an abundance of living and
fulllment that very few activities can match.
Heirloom varieties are usually not as uniform in shape as hy-
brid plants, but the avor is exceptional in comparison. We are
used to seeing beautiful, perfect-looking specimens in the gro-
cery store, therefore heirloom produce appears to be less attrac-
tive, but once you have tasted the captivating heirloom varieties,
they become alluringly gorgeous because of what they contrib-
ute in avor, texture, and their extraordinary uniqueness.
Because heirlooms have not been genetically modied, they
are able to produce plants that are just as prolic, healthy, disease-
resistant, and resilient to weather extremes as they did for our an-
cestors. Genetically modied plants have genes added or deleted
from them, causing alterations in the entire structure of the plant.
Genetic engineering is usually done to achieve a trait that is not
normally held by an organism. These genetically modied plants
bear sterile seeds or seeds that revert only to one of the parent
genes, therefore never producing the same plant if producing a
plant at all. Heirloom seeds are open-pollinating seeds, which
mean that they can reproduce themselves from seeds. Nature cre-
ated the cycle of plant life whereby a seed falls to the ground and
the seed produces another plant in its likeness. Why disturb the
perfect means of reproduction given created in nature?
It is truly amazing that by planting heirloom seeds, we are
planting a piece of history. Our own native Indians have provided
us with the original corn, squash, and potatoes that they survived
on. Many seeds traveled over the seas and were brought by Eu-
ropean and Asian immigrants. The Europeans brought cabbage,
pole beans, and carrots. The Asians brought radishes, lettuces,
Plant a
Piece of
History
by Stacy Harris
and onions. We are tasting the same
avors and textures as did our prede-
cessors. History is being seen right in
our ourishing heirloom gardens.
Family stories are connected to
many of the heirloom seeds we pos-
sess. The seeds, just like the infa-
mous family recipes, get passed down
through the generations, along with the
stories of our great-great grandmothers
and grandfathers who harvested and
cooked from these very plants and re-
lied on them for their sustenance. My
dad is passing the purple-hull peas that
have adorned our table for as long as I
remember down to me and my children.
I am sure that our ancestors enjoyed
family unity as I do with my children in
the great outdoors, actually living life
while sharing responsibility and pass-
ing down life-giving truths by teaching
the necessities of life while working
alongside of one another. These real
activities of life give competence to the
next generation and teach responsibil-
ity and care for the earth.
Heirloom seeds consistently yield
a crop of fruits, vegetables, and herbs
with extraordinary avor, life-giving
health, family unity, and life long sus-
tainability. Our ancestors have always
relied on their kitchen gardens as a way
of life, and we should learn to do the
same and pass down our knowledge
and passion for generations to come. I
look forward to passing down my fa-
vorite life-giving heirloom seeds and
recipes to my children and childrens
children as well as to anyone else who
will appreciate them.
SPRI NG 2013 51
Heirloom
Gardening Tips
1. Always order seeds from
a reputable source such
as Rareseeds.com or
Southernexposure.com
2. Be sure to get your soil tested in
the winter to adjust the pH. Send
your soil to your local extension
o ce for results. This tip will save
money and headaches.
3. Many seeds need a head start
indoors. Try not to be too hasty
to plant, because if plants are left
indoors too long, they will become
weak and lanky. It is best to move
them outdoors when the plants
produce their second set of leaves.
4. Be careful to acclimate the plants
that have been indoors for a few
days to a week on a porch or near
the house in the shade before
planting in the ground. This gives
them a chance to get accustomed
to the bright sun and temperature.
5. Keep a garden journal or layout
of what you are planting and
where you are planting so that
the subsequent spring you can
rotate your crops. This will improve
soil structure and decrease the
likelihood of pests.
6. When saving seeds, choose your
most robust and favorite plants
to extract the seeds. Always store
seeds in a dry, cool, and dark
location. I like to use 4-ounce glass
Mason jars and store them in the
refrigerator. The seeds should last
for years.
RECIPES & TIPS FOR
SUSTAINABLE LIVING
by Stacy Harris
Packed with mouth-watering recipes that are sure to
please this book will help you from eld to table and
make the most of what you harvest or grow.
With almost twenty years of wild game cooking
experience, Stacy Harris gives a new twist to older
recipes. She writes for outdoor and hunting maga-
zines, as well as other publications, on the benets
and rewards of eating fresh from the wild.
Available at www.ShopDeerHunting.com
LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE
At Mountain House, we make
comforting, nourishing meals
to help you prepare for all of
lifes challenges.
With decades of experience and
the longest proven shelf life in
the industry, Mountain House
will be there in your time of need.
VISIT US ONLINE AT
MOUNTAINHOUSE.COM
Theres freedom in relying on the land rather than a store for your food. In
Recipes & Tips for Sustainable Living youll nd creative ideas for food you
source in your garden, in nature and on the hunt.
This Guide Incl udes:

grow your own independence
SOURCE
YOUR OWN FOOD
Buy Online at ShopDeerHunting.com
or call 1-855-842-5271 (weekdays, 8am5pm CST)
Stacy Harris
U4689
U2850
$25.99
SPRI NG 2013 53
G A R D E N
SUSTAINABLE
FEAST
GARDENING IS CENTRAL TO RECLAIMING YOUR FOOD SUPPLY
INDEPENDANCE AND BACK-TO-BASICS LIVING
by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin
Nothing Beats Homegrown
Daddy grew up on a farm, but he didnt learn much about gardening. He once asked my grandfa-
ther, Pop, why Pop never taught him how to grow food. Pop said, You never asked. (Which was a
really strange answer because Daddy was forced to go shing, rabbit hunting, and squirrel hunting.)
But, even with his appalling lack of gardening interest and experience, Daddy always had one lone
tomato plant growing in a container on the balcony. The sorriest tomato you ever grow will taste
a thousand times better than anything you can get in the store, hed say. Thats really true, and Ive
grown a lot of sorry tomatoes in my time. So, even if you have no experience, no space, and only one
square-foot patch of sun, follow the instructions in this section and grow yourself something in a
pot. Itll be the best thing you ever ate. Deanna Caswell
G A R D E N
LEVEL ONE:
CONTAINER GARDENING
Youre looking at your typical suburban yard wondering
how on earth to introduce edible gardening into the mix. The
foundation planting is already established, the lawn looks so
. . . permanent. Youre concerned that if you dig something up
and change your mind later, there will be an ugly gaping hole
somewhere.
One solution is container gardening. This option is also good
for apartment dwellers, renters without digging rights, and
people with physical issues that prevent them from traditional
gardening. Its an excellent way to start small and get a feel for
whether or not you want to keep at it.
Container growing isnt particularly complicated, but there
are some considerations that will help ensure your success.
SELECT THE RIGHT-SIZED CONTAINER
Choose a container thats the right size for your plant. Large
vegetables need larger pots. Check a plants size at maturity
(listed on the seed packet or plant label) for clues as to how
large your container needs to be.
Tomato plants or other big growers, like squash or cucumbers,
require containers that are at least ve gallons in capacity.
Smaller containers and bowls are perfect for growing plants
like leaf lettuce, herbs, and mesclun. Remember, though, that
the smaller the pot, the more frequently youll need to water it.
You can plant in any sort of container. It doesnt have to be ex-
pensive or specially designed for plants. Buckets, barrels, boxes,
recycled jugs, and garage-sale nds are all potential planters.
Just ensure that theyre nontoxic, i.e., dont plant edibles in a
container that you suspect is decorated with lead paint.
A collection of less-than-beautiful pots can be corralled in-
side larger containers such as window boxes and baskets. Those
large, white plastic buckets that economy-sized laundry powder
comes in look just ne painted and decorated.
If you repurpose a container as a planter, drill or punch holes
in the bottom for drainage. Put a plate underneath to collect
run-off if you put the pot on your patio or porch.
USE A GROWING MEDIUM
The reason I say growing (or planting) medium instead of
dirt is because container plants are usually grown in soil
that is specially mixed for containers and may or may not con-
tain what we think of as dirt.
We recommend organic growing mixes that contain more
complete nutrients for your plants and are slower to wash out
of the soil. You can purchase organic potting mixes or mix your
own from ingredients available at your local home-improve-
ment store.

To make your own, combine:
1 part well-aged homemade compost (or a mix of several
different store-bought composts)
1 part coir or peat
1 part sharp (builders) sand
With this mix, add organic fertilizer according to the label.
Recommended Edibles
for Containers
These edibles are your best bets when it comes to
containers. In addition to these, practically any herb will
thrive in a pot.
Beets
Carrots
Dwarf cucumbers
Dwarf peas
Dwarf tomatoes
Eggplants
Leafy greens, including
mesclun and misticanza
Lettuces
Kale
Onions
Peppers, both hot and
sweet
Radishes
Strawberries
Swiss chard
WORLDS FASTEST
SPLITTER!
PATENT
PENDING
7
8
3
9
3
3
X

2
0
1
3
The new
DR
RapidFire
Log Splitter
slices through logs in under two secondsup to six
times faster than ordinary log splitters. Weve replaced
hydraulics with two hefty cast iron ywheels that
generate massive splitting
force. Split dense hardwoods
up to 30 in diameter.
NEW Lower-Priced
Models!
1-888-212-2421
www.DRchipper.com
Call for a FREE DVD and Catalog!
TOLL
FREE
WORLDS 1ST
Self-Feeding Chipper
Just load a DR
RAPID-FEED
CHIPPER, step
back, and watch it chip branches up to 5

" thick!
7
8
3
9
1
X

2
0
1
3

SELF-FEEDING saves time and energy. Most branches can be dropped
into the hopper and will self-feed, instead of you having to force-feed them.
OVERSIZED HOPPER accepts limbs with side branches even
small trees with less time spent pruning.
TOP-DISCHARGING is standard on all models, for easily
collecting discharged chips in a container or cart.
PRO-SPEC
CHIPPER KNIFE is made of forged alloy tool steel, making

it exceptionally strong with an excellent edge-holding ability.
CHIP BRANCHES UP TO 5-1/2" THICK with powerful
engines up to 18 HP.
TRACTOR OWNERS! 3-Point Hitch,
tractor-mounted models also available.
For Homeowners
FREE
SHIPPING
For a Limited Time
888-212-2421
www.DRrototiller.com
TOLL
FREE
7
8
3
9
2
X

2
0
1
3

FAR FASTER & EASIER
to use than hard-to-handle,
walk-behind tillers.
BIG ENGINE POWER
is ideal for large
gardens, landscape
projects, and food plots.
TILL A 3-FOOT SWATH with
each pass twice the width of most
walk-behind tillers!
CREATE PERFECT SEED-
BEDS with the smooth and deep-tilling
action of 24 steel bolo tines.
For the Serious Gardener
DR
ROTO-HOG

POWER TILLER
For smaller jobs...
The new
DR
ROTO-HOG

Mini Tiller is
perfect
for cultivating. FREE SHIPPING
For a Limited Time
888-212-2421
www.DRLogsplitters.com
TOLL
FREE
FREE SHIPPING
For a Limited Time
NEW
Lower-Priced
Models
Available
G A R D E N
Always thoroughly wet your plant-
ing medium before planting. Place your
planting medium in the container (or a
bucket if you want to keep your con-
tainer clean) and add water. Stir, mak-
ing sure to eliminate any dry spots, like
youre mixing up a batch of mufns.
Simply lling a pot with dry potting
mix and watering over the top will en-
sure the water runs straight out the bot-
tom without being absorbed through-
out the soil in the pot.
CHOOSE CONTAINER-
FRIENDLY PLANTS
While any vegetable will grow in a
pot, some types are more suited to con-
tainer gardening than others. Here are
some criteria to keep in mind to help
you pick the right plants:
1. Yield. Pick plants that will make it
worth your while to grow. One con-
tainer of blackeyed-pea plants might
give you just one bowl of peas and
one green-bean bush isnt likely to
grow enough beans in the entire sea-
son for more than a couple of serv-
ings. Thats a lot of space, time, and
effort for a very small yield. How-
ever, one tomato plant will give you
a huge yield, so its worth growing. A
single hot-pepper plant is also good
bet, as it can produce a years supply
of hot sauce.
2. When possible choose bush vari-
eties. Bush varieties of plants have
determinate growth, which means at
a certain point they stop putting out
new shoots (new growth) and con-
centrate on ripening what they have,
making them smaller, more compact
plants, perfect for containers. This is
especially true for cucumbers, beans,
and tomatoes.
3. Choose plants that like close quar-
ters. In general, when planting in
containers, you can space plants
closer than recommended on the
seed packet or plant label. Use the
between plant spacing to gure out
how close they can go and ignore the
between row spacing. If you want
tomatoes and basil in the same pot,
theres no reason to put a two-foot
row between them.
PLANTING IN A CONTAINER
When you are ready to plant, be sure
your soil is thoroughly damp when you
place it in the container.
With container gardening, as with
traditional gardening, you can plant
from transplants (seedlings or mature
plants) or from seed.
To plant from transplants:
1. Fill the pot about halfway with soil.
2. Hold the transplant with one hand
while backlling the pot with soil
with the other hand.
3. Continue lling, gently patting in
and around the transplant (like pat-
ting a baby).
To plant from seed:
1. Fill the pot to an inch from the rim,
patting the soil down lightly (like pat-
ting a baby).
2. Use a pencil to poke holes in your
medium (usually no more than a
[13mm] deep; see your seed packet)
3. Place the seeds in the holes and
sprinkle them with another handful
or two of wet soil and give it another
gentle pat.
PUT YOUR CONTAINERS
IN SUNNY SPOTS
For some, such as apartment dwell-
ers who have only patios or balconies or
one outdoor area to call their own, their
locations are limited. The essential thing
to remember is that vegetables require
at least six hours of sunlight every day.
This amount of light is usually found on
southern and eastern exposures.
To nd the exposure:
1. Put your back to the building or wall.
Point directly in front of you.
2. Using a compass or a landmark,
name the cardinal direction you are
facing. That is your exposure.
Eastern exposures get morning and
afternoon sun.
Southern exposures get lots of sun.
Western exposures get soft evening
sun.
Northern exposures dont get a lot of sun.
Other considerations are shade from
trees and buildings. If youve never
done so, spend one of your days off
paying attention to where the sun hits
your surroundings. Take note of the
sunniest spots, and plot to locate your
containers in those spots if possible.
If you live in a cooler climate, plac-
ing your containers against south-facing
Beginners Lists
Picks and Pans
These are my top beginner
plants according to maintenance
requirements, space, and yield:
Beets
Bush green beans
Bush sugar snap
peas
Edamame
Green onions
Hot peppers
Leaf lettuce
Okra
Radishes
Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
These plants are popular and not
very difficult, but they do require
more attention for frequent watering,
trellising, and pest control:
Bell peppers: good yield with
consistent watering
Cucumbers: great yield with proper
trellising, checking for pests
Greens other than chard: great yield
but more prone to pests than chard
Pole beans: great yield with trellising
and attentive harvestingthe beans
get tough and stringy if overripe
Tomatoes: great yield with staking,
consistent watering, and checking for
pests
Not good choices in raised beds:
Carrots: beds arent usually deep
enough and thinning is di cult
Corn: not enough room for enough
plants to pollinate
Dry beans: theres not enough room to
grow enough for more than one meal
Grains: a raised bed will only grow a
couple of servings
Peanuts: theres not enough room to
let them spread out and op over to
put down nuts
Potatoes: beds usually arent deep
enough; they are better suited to large
deep containers or traditional row
gardening
Squash: Pests! Unless you are willing
to use chemical pesticides, this is an
art weve never mastered. I grow big
bunches, because I use Sevin dust.
Daisy is 100 percent organic, which, in
our area, equals no squash.
Exaco Trading Company
G R E E N H O U S E S
C O MP O S T E R S
R A I N B A R R E L S
www.exaco.com
P R E P A R A T I O N P
Requires Proper Tools
Year-round food production
Self sufcient nutrients/recycling
Water harvesting and conservation
G A R D E N
walls (southern exposure) will keep your
plants warmer by radiating the absorbed
heat from the structure. This works par-
ticularly well if the wall is made of brick,
stone, stucco, or other masonry.
WATERING YOUR
CONTAINER PLANTS
The planting medium (soil) in con-
tainers dries out faster than the ground
in a traditional garden, which means
containers need more-frequent water-
ing, and often daily watering.
Vegetables grow better when the soil
is never allowed to dry out complete-
ly between waterings. The soil stays
moist, but not waterlogged.
ADDITIONAL CONTAINER-
GARDEN TIPS
As your plants grow, provide sup-
port for tall and climbing plants (like
tomatoes and peas) with trellises,
cages, or stakes. Going up instead of
spreading out is one way to optimize
limited-space gardens.
Top the surface with mulch to help
retain moisture and rebuff weeds.
You can use shredded leaves, straw,
or bark or decorative items such as
pebbles, stones, marbles, or cork as
mulch.
Dont forget beauty. Planting owers,
especially edible owers, such as nas-
turtiums, violas, borage, calendula,
and marigolds, adds to the function
and attractiveness of your vegetable
containers. Herbs and vegetables
mixed is a natural combination.
Each year, dump your used container
mix into your compost for renewal.
When you replant the next year, start
over with a fresh batch.
LEVEL TWO:
GARDEN IN A BOX
There are many books on raised-bed
gardening. Weve read lots of them.
No matter what the hook, the process
is basically the same. With raised beds,
theres no magic ingredient, no little
detail that will make or break the whole
shebang, so just go with our simple for-
mula for your rst year and get fancy
with the details.
And remember, these beds arent
Build and Set Up a Simple Raised Bed
You will need:
4 28 boards, each 4 (1.2m) long
12 deck screws or nails
electric drill or hammer
1 small roll of weed blanket (any kind)
tarp
5 cubic feet of good potting soil
(the cheap stu is often way too
heavy and sandy)
5 bags of dierent composts
water source
1. On your driveway, screw (or
nail) together your boards in
a square. Dont worry about
how crooked the screws
are or how maimed the
heads of the nails end up.
Just make the boards stay
together in a square-type
shape long enough for you
to get it to the backyard.
2. In a sunny location, lay down your square. Cut a piece of weed blanket large
enough to cover the bottom of your square (or layer it if necessary). Use a compass
to gure out where north is because youll be planting your large and tall plants on
that side.
3. Mix all your dirt and compost on a tarp.
4. Fill the box with your dirt mixture and water it until its damp all the way through.
Stir it with a shovel to get all the dry spots.
G A R D E N
permanent. If you hate them, you can
always move them or get rid of them.
The grass will grow back before the
next season, so give it a try!
BASICS TO KNOW BEFORE
YOU DECIDE WHAT TO GROW
There are many beginner plant lists
out there, and while they can be good
places to start, its important to cus-
tomize your selections for your needs.
Rely heavily on the advice of local, ex-
perienced gardeners. They will be your
best resource. Check with your local
cooperative extension ofce to nd
master gardeners in your area.
As you select plants, keep the following
in mind:
Your Climate
Ask the person in the garden section
what your USDA Hardiness Zone is,
or look it up online. The department
of agriculture established these zones
based on average temperatures. Most
seed packets and plant tags specify the
zones the plants will thrive in.
Check the plant tag or seed packet
to make sure your zone is on the list
for that plant. Only buy plants or seeds
that thrive in your zone. Yes, you will
nd plants that dont thrive in your
zone in your local store. Dont assume
that because its there it works for your
climate.
Before you buy, ensure the plant
likes your areas climate. Some plants,
such as tomatoes, thrive in hot sun.
Others, like lettuce, wilt at the rst
hint of hot weather. Some, like melons,
need a long growing season to come to
maturity.
Planting dates are often provided for
your zone. If they are, obey them. If its
June, but youre determined to plant
broccoli, you will be disappointed.
If planting dates arent provided for
your zone, go to www.burpee.com and
click on a similar plant, under growing
instructions at the bottom. Type in your
zip code and Burpee will tell you ev-
erything you need to know.
Space
As with container gardening, you
can ignore the between row space re-
quirements. Only the between plant
spacing is necessary. If your plant calls
for 6 (15cm) spacing, you can t up to
sixty-four plants in an 8 8 (20m
20m) raised bed.
Unless you build a lot of beds, its
unlikely you will have much luck with
certain crops, such as sweet corn. You
wont have any trouble getting corn
to sprout and grow, but it needs to be
planted in a large block for proper
pollination to occur. With a necessary
spacing of one foot between each plant,
corn takes up some serious room. It
also grows up to eight feet tall, so it
will likely shade too much of your pre-
cious space to be worthwhile.
Melons are another space hog, al-
though with sturdy trellising, they can
be done.
Yield
As with container gardening, some
crops are more worth growing than
others in raised beds.
I love to grow a succession of sow-
ings of mixed salad greens from which
I can harvest the larger outside leaves,
leaving the inner leaves to grow, and so
get an almost continual supply for my
familys unquenchable lust for salad.
Other high-yield plants are cucum-
bers, eggplants, peppers, annual herbs,
and, of course, tomatoes, all of which
Vertical
Gardening Tips
1. Some plants like to climb. Cu-
cumbers, spaghetti squash, peas, pole
beanstheyll climb up whatever you
give them. If you give them nothing,
some (peas) will just tie themselves up
in knots.
I avoid pole beans entirely. They get
tough before I know it anyway. I plant
bush varieties.
I let spaghetti squash and pumpkins
scramble wherever they like. I just
direct them outside my box and into
the yard.
For cucumbers, I ram two 6 (2m)
stakes through my weed blanket
and stretch 1 or 2 (30cm60cm) of
4 (1.2m) chicken wire across them,
securing with zip ties.
2. Some plants dont climb, but need
support. Tomatoes and bell peppers
need support, but theyre not going to
help you by holding on or doing the
climbing themselves. I prefer cages
for these plants. They go with my lazy
nature. But for a more economical
option, drive in a stake (we recommend
a piece of wood or bamboo, or those
pointy green metal things in the garden
section of the home-improvement
store). Use gardening tape or shreds
of pantyhose or fabric to tie the plant
to the stake. Twist ties and zip ties will
damage the tender stems. Just remem-
ber that with a stake, you will have to go
out and physically tie the plant. Cages
take up more space but are largely
maintenance free because they oer
support on all sides.
3. Some plants dont need to go
up, but can be forced up if you have
limited space. These include squash and
zucchini. Ive done this before, and its
work winding the little plant around a
support every day or so. I dont recom-
mend it, unless youre really motivated.
If youre interested in giving this a try,
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bar-
tholomew recommends training plants
with a structure made from electrical
conduit and garden netting. Its brilliant,
unbreakable.
Built in America. Believing in America.
STIHLdealers.com
For product information: STIHLusa.com
STIHL believes now, more than ever, in the productivity
of America. The Americans who work at STIHL join all
the other proud U.S. manufacturers who are rebuilding
our countrys economy one brick, one car and one chain
saw at a time. Even better, were the ones doing the
exporting sending STIHL products to over 90 countries
around the world.
of our 8,000 Dealers nationwide, or our customers who
demand dependability, there is a common thread. They
are real people. And they are STIHL people.
*A majority of STIHL products are built in the United States from domestic and foreign parts and components. Number one selling brand is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent
consumer research of 2009-2012 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers. 2013 STIHL STN13-2LR12-108598-2
We export power.
Jeff Wilson Injection Molding Engineer Candace Mugridge Assembly Tolliver Roberson Assembly
G A R D E N
keep producing over a period of time.
Additionally, these veggies can be pric-
ey to purchase at the market, especially
the organic versions. Growing my own
means I can luxuriate in unlimited or-
ganic mesclun every day of the week if
I want to. And I do want to!
I tend to avoid one-off plants
that take a long time to maturity, hog
bed space, and are harvested all at
once, such as heads of cabbage, cau-
liower, and broccoli. This isnt to say
you shouldnt grow these things. Just
be aware that because the capacity of
raised beds is limited, you need to con-
centrate on maximizing it both in terms
of space and your wallet.
Pests
Almost every beginner plant list in-
cludes some type of squash, but squash
is off my easy-to-grow organic list
because my area has problems with
squash pests of all kinds. The plants
take off well and grow big, but bugs
keep them from maturing to harvest.
Ask local gardeners what the local
bullies are and stay away from the bul-
lies favorite victims unless youre will-
ing to resort to nonorganic methods.
This goes for furred and feathered
nuisances as well. Suburbanites can
have problems with rabbits, squirrels,
birds, and even deer. Choose plants that
arent on the top of their favorites list if
you nd you are likely to have a battle
royal on your hands. Find more pest ad-
vice at the end of this chapter.
Personality
Some plants are more forgiving of
neglect than others. If you are unlikely
to want to spend time tending to the
needs of a garden diva, choose less
high-maintenance plants.
Tastes
Peas may grow great in your area,
but if everybody in your family hates
peas, theres little reason to waste space
on them in your garden. Show your
tentative list to your family members
and get some input before you plant a
whole bed of beets to discover youre
the only one who loves them.
EASY RAISED-BED
MAINTENANCE
Make your garden easy on purpose.
One of the main reasons I enjoy my
garden as much as I do is because Ive
tailored it around my laziness. Over
the years, Ive noticed what I will and
wont do to maintain it, and I made
changes based on my tendencies.
If something dies or a particular bed
keeps getting away from me, it usually
isnt hard for me to gure out what
went wrong. Everyone is different, so
listen to your own reluctance to do this
or that and think about what needs to
change to eliminate the difculty.
Here are some of my issues. I think
theyre pretty universal:
I hate hose wrangling. If I have to do
a lot of unscrewing and winding and
lugging of hoses, I soon dread watering,
and my garden thirsts to death. I bought
two petite
marigolds
one cherry
tomato
one salad
tomato
two petite
marigolds
one
basil*
one
pepper
one
pepper
one
basil*
nine bush
beans
four
chard
four
chard
sixteen
onion sets
nine bush
beans
eight
radishes
eight
radishes
sixteen
onion sets
North Side
two petite
marigolds
two petite
marigolds
*People in cool climates may be able to put up to four basil plants per square.
Sample Garden Plan
When I first started gardening, I had no idea what to plant, where to plant it, or what grew well with what. So, for you beginners,
were going to skip all that and just give you a recipe.
You will need:
2 tomato stakes (any kind)
1 cherry tomato plant
1 regular tomato plant
2 pepper plants
1 bunch onion sets (at least 32)
1 package petite marigold seeds
1 package chard
1 package basil seeds
1 package bush-bean seeds
1 package radish seeds
1. Smooth the surface. Using your nger (or what have you), divide
the square in half both ways and do it again on each side to get
sixteen squares.
2. With your ngers, poke (13mm) holes in your raised bed. Place
them according to the chart on this page.
3. Open your marigold seeds. Pinch out four seeds. Put two in the rst
hole, and two in the second, and cover them. Put two seeds in each
hole in your garden corresponding to the names on the chart on
this page.
4. Put your plants in the dead center of the corresponding squares on
the chart. Dig down to the bottom of your bed and set the tomato
plant about an inch from the bottom. Bury it up to the gizzard. I
also do this with my peppers, but you dont have to.
5. Go eat dinner.
6. Water it tomorrow, and the next day, and as needed after that.
Technology to Get Things Done
The future of lawn care is here, and it doesnt run on gas. The STIHL Battery
KombiSystem combines performance, portability and convenience all in an
environmentally conscious package. Each tool in this innovative battery system is
powered by Lithium-Ion technology, delivering long run times with no gradual drop
in power. And because our Lithium-Ion batteries are designed to work with any
STIHL Battery KombiSystem tool, you can use a single battery to tackle a wide range
of outdoor projects. No gas. No cords. No exhaust emissions. No compromise.
Learn more at STIHLusa.com
2013 STIHL STN13-3LR12-108598-3
ONE BATTERY. MULTIPLE TOOLS.
BATTERY-POWERED
Outdoor Power Equipment
G A R D E N
a good hose long enough to
reach my plants and I leave the
thing out in the garden all the
time. All I have to do is turn on
the spigot and go.
I was raised to despise grit
and it takes some of the plea-
sure out of gardening when
cleaning lettuce and greens
becomes a huge chore. Having
raised beds gives me salad so
clean I hardly have to wash it
at all. It is pure pleasure.
If I could stand the wait,
though, I would start my gar-
dening rst with a massive
composting effort rather than
bothering with the expense
and uselessness of store dirt.
It is virtually lifeless, lacking
in the benecial microbes and
worms and nutrients of real
soil.
Be honest with yourself
about what you will and wont
do. The growing season is a
long one, and when you enjoy
your garden, it will be less of
a chore and more of a joy.
Deanna Caswell and Daisy
Siskin are the authors of
Little House in the Sub-
urbs. They blog at www.little-
houseinthesuburbs.com.
FROSTFREE DATE SOW OUTDOORS TRANSPLANT
8 weeks before spinach

7 weeks before spinach

6 weeks before kale, kohlrabi, mustard
greens, onion sets, potatoes,
radishes, turnips, spinach,
collards, leeks

5 weeks before beets, peas, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, cabbage, cauliower,
mustard greens, onion sets, leeks, onion, parsley
potatoes, radishes, turnips,
spinach, collards, leeks

4 weeks before chard, beets, peas, kale, Chinese cabbage, collards,
kohlrabi, mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliower,
onion sets, potatoes, radishes, leeks, onion, parsely
turnips, spinach, collards,
leeks, lettuces

3 weeks before carrots, chard, beets, peas, brussels sprouts, collards,
kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, Chinese cabbage, broccoli,
onion sets, potatoes, radishes, cabbage, cauliower
turnips, spinach, collards,
lettuces
2 weeks before carrots, chard, beets, brussels sprouts,
radishes, lettuces leaf lettuce
1 week before carrots, chard, beets, leaf lettuce
radishes, lettuces
Frost-Free! bush beans, lima beans, eggplant, okra, tomatoes,
pole beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers, leaf lettuce, sweet
pumpkins, summer and potatoes, melons, pumpkins,
winter squash, melons, carrots, summer and winter squash
chard, beets, radishes, okra,
lettuces
1 week after bush beans, lima beans, pole eggplant, okra, tomatoes,
beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers, leaf lettuce, sweet
winter squash, melons, carrots, summer and winter squash
chard, beets, radishes, okra
2 weeks after bush beans, lima beans, pole eggplant, okra, tomatoes,
beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers, leaf lettuce, sweet
winter squash, melons, summer and winter squash
carrots, chard, beets,
radishes, okra

3 weeks after bush beans, lima beans, leaf lettuce, sweet potatoes,
corn, cucumbers, summer melons, pumpkins, summer
squash, carrots, chard and winter squash
4 weeks after bush beans, lima beans, leaf lettuce, sweet potatoes
corn, cucumbers, summer
squash, carrots, chard
5 weeks after bush beans, lima beans, corn, leaf lettuce, sweet potatoes
summer squash, carrots, chard
6-9 weeks after bush beans, leaf lettuce,
lima beans, carrots
SPRING PLANTING CHART
LITTLE HOUSE
IN THE SUBURBS
by Deanna Caswell and
Daisy Siskin
Available at
www.GardenersHub.com
* U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
**********
Independent We Stand is a movement of independently owned businesses
across the country dedicated to educating their communities about the
importance and the benets of buying local. Stand up, become part of the
movement, and encourage local, independent business owners to register at
www.IndependentWeStand.org
TM
www.IndependentWeStand.org
facebook.com/IndependentWeStand
twitter.com/IndWeStand
G A R D E N
Composting
101
SPRI NG 2013 67
Compost has rewards beyond our
imagination. We benet specically in
our gardens and, less obviously, within
our thinking. Finished compost con-
tributes to ourishing gardens because
it contains most of the nutrients that
plants need to grow, including boron,
manganese, iron, copper, and zinc.
These essential elements are not often
found in chemical fertilizers.
Furthermore, using compost on our
gardens actually returns to the soil
what we have been taking away from it
for years, the nutrients of life. The use
of compost on our lawns and gardens
benets all beings. In one application,
we can minimize the toxic effects of
commercially produced fertilizers,
maximize nutrient absorption, and
give soil the life it needs to continue to
maintain our lives on this planet.
In addition to life-giving nutrients,
compost has obvious additional ben-
ets for the garden. It increases soils
capacity to hold water for future use by
plants and it enhances the structure of
HARNESS THE POWER OF
MOTHER NATURE, MICROBES,
AND WORMS TO MAKE BLACK
GOLD FOR THE GARDEN
by Stephanie Davies
Do-It-Yourself Compost Collection
Collecting food scraps is the initial step on the path to composting. If you
dont want to purchase a new countertop compost collector, use something
you already have in the house. Many everyday household items will work just
ne and can become part of the nished product as well. Here are a few simple
collection ideas:
Paper grocery bags: Not only do these work well to hold your groceries, they
contain your kitchen scraps well, too. Simply add a sheet or two of newspaper
or paper towels to the bottom of the bag to collect moisture and start adding
your coee grounds, peelings, and cores. Keep the top of the bag rolled down
to prevent fruit ies from invading when not in use. Once this is full, dump the
contents into your compost bin or pile. The paper bag is also compostable
when added to a large bin or tumbler. If using a worm bin, make sure to tear
the bag up into leaf-size pieces to ensure that the worms can break it and its
contents down faster.
Newspaper: Though most of your newspaper may go to the recycling bin, re-
purpose a few sheets as a wrapper for your kitchen scrap collection. Like wrap-
ping up a large burrito, add kitchen scraps to the center of the paper and wrap
up. The newspaper, like the paper bag, can also be composted, adding a carbon
source to the mix.
Milk cartons: An empty milk carton opens up easily to accept kitchen scraps
and hold moisture in through its waxed lining. This makes a simple countertop
collection device. A waxed milk carton is compostable in a high-temperature
outdoor bin or tumbler as well but should not be fed to the worms. It will not
break down easily within a slow, low-temperature compost bin, either.
Steps to start
1. Think of yourself as a compos-
ter: Know you are able.
2. Become familiar with your hab-
its: Do you spend much time in the
kitchen? In the outdoors? Do you
eat out more frequently than cook?
(Eating out often, and having left-
overs, may t with a home Bokashi
system where you dont need to
monitor the type of food you are
discardingit takes everything:
Meat, dairy, oils and spices galore!)
3. Get up-close and personal with
your garbage: What do you discard?
Yard waste? Veggie scraps? Garden
waste? Paper products? Meat? How
much are you throwing away each
day? Per week? Watch and see how
many garbage bags you are taking
to the curb or alley. Notice how of-
ten you take out the garbage be-
fore its full because its a bit stinky
from the organic waste materials
beginning to break down. Once
you sort and separate your trash for
composting, you will eliminate the
stinky garbage can under the sink
or in the pantry.
4. Start to collect: Begin to collect
your kitchen scraps in a receptacle
on the kitchen counter. Train your-
self to separate as you go. Dump the
coee grounds in rst thing in the
morning, drop the carrot peelings
right in, scrape the leftover stems
and tops o the cutting board right
into the receptacle for later use.
5. Chose your method: Indoor
or outdoor? Bin or pile, worms or
Bokashi enzymes? Sheet/lasagna
composting or trench composting?
Read about each method in the fol-
lowing chapters to determine which
will work best within your lifestyle
and your home. What do you have
time to maintain? How dirty are you
willing to get? How patient are you?
What is your goal? Compost for the
garden or to minimize your garbage
and waste stream? Both?
G A R D E N
the soil. Humus from compost helps
bind sand, clay, and silt particles to-
gether, locking in water and nutrients.
Therefore, compost increases soils
resistance to drought and as a bonus,
humus-rich soil leads to less watering.
Less watering may indeed lead to sav-
ings in your water bill as well as saving
our natural resources.
Taking on the art of composting and
the activities associated with compost-
ing, such as getting our hands in the
dirt and growing fresh vegetables at
home, undeniably opens new perspec-
tives. We remember the natural world
of our childhood. We learn to step back
and slow down before acting. From this
vantage point we can begin to see our
choices more clearly as well as their
effect on the creatures we share this
world with. I cant tell you how many
times I have been distracted and found
myself with my hand in the garbage
can discarding a perfectly beautiful
apple core! When I wake up from my
distraction, I realize that I am denying
Carbon:
Nitrogen Ratio
FOR COMMON COMPOST MATERIAL
GREEN
Aged chicken manure, 7:1
Humus, 10:1
Fresh grass clippings, 17:1
Fresh weeds, 20:1
Rotten manure, 20:1
Vegetable scraps, 25:1
Coee grounds, 25:1
Fruit wastes, 2540:1
Garden waste, 30:1
BROWN
Woody chips and twigs, 700:1
Sawdust, 500:1
Shredded newspaper, 175:1
Straw, hay, 90:1
Pine needles, 80:1
Leaves, 6080:1
Corn stalks, 60:1
Peat moss, 58:1
Nut shells, 35:1
How it Works
Though there are many methods to create compost at home, most individu-
als use the decomposition model. There are many creatures that need to be
present to help decomposition. How decomposition occurs also varies. Some
bacteria do thrive in anaerobic (without oxygen) environments and others in
aerobic-rich environments. A traditional compost pit or bin functions within an
aerobic, oxygen-rich environment.
TEMPERATE CLIMATES
If you maximize the surrounding resources in your area and control the mois-
ture levels, a temperate climate will easily support your compost.
General rules for composting in a temperate region:
Sometimes composting can be a challenge in temperate climates due to the
unexpected amount of rainwater or temperature variations. Balance the wet-
ness of your heap by adding materials such as hay, sawdust, or leaves.
If your pile is too wet, remove the lid from the bin for a day or two to allow
it to dry out. You can also elevate the compost pile so that the excess liquid can
drain from the bottom. Too much liquid can halt the composting process.
Since most soil is likely to be rich and full of worms, position your compost
pile or bin over soil rather than on top of concrete so worms can freely enter the
pile and aid the composting process. Remember, openings in the bottom of a
bin allow ventilation, drainage and access to helpful compost assistants (worms
and insects).
When rst starting your outdoor compost, toss in a shovelful of fresh soil to
introduce an array of soil microorganisms to your bin. Remember, these are the
workers that transform your garbage into black gold. CONTINUED ON PAGE 70
woodmizer.com
And it also helped build the shed. We can help you build your
projects with 12 sawmill models to choose from, starting with
the LT10 at
$
3,950*. Search Wood-Mizer on YouTube to watch
them in action, or call 800.553.0182 for a FREE catalog.
PORTABLE SAWMILLS
Denitely is the
sharpest tool in the shed.
2013 Wood-Mizer LLC

CONVERT DAM
AGED
T
R
E
E
S

IN
T
O
U
S
A
B
L
E

L
U
M
B
E
R
SPRING SAVINGS: SAVE UP TO
$
2,500* NOW THROUGH APRIL 30.
G A R D E N
the worms a fragrant, healthy meal. I
inevitably reach into the wastebasket
and retrieve it (luckily worms dont
mind a bit of dust on their dinner). With
pride, I bury it in my worm bin. It feels
good to snap out of a state of distrac-
tion and engage directly with everyday
life and the choices directly in front of
me. It feels good to feed my worms and
Compost Bins
Enclosed bin systems, often simply
referred to as composters, are the
most common option for outdoor
composting today. These are usually
fully enclosed apparatus meant to
contain your working compost. Most
of these bins are manufactured using
recycled or partially recycled plas-
tic and are commonly seen in black
or green. These simple, light-weight
structures contain waste and odors
while maintaining a neat and ordered
appearance. When kept outside in a
backyard, the container also deters
animals from interfering and keeps
excessive amounts of rain o of the
compost pile. There are countless
commercially available bin systems
on the market in a wide variety of
shapes, sizes, and price ranges.
Cones, box-shaped composters,
and free standing barrels conversely
sit atop the surface of the ground,
and are stationary. They, therefore,
need additional manpower to mix
and aerate the internal contents.
These stationary apparatus usually
have a door or opening on top to add
materials and to access the contents
for maintenance. Remember, it is
best to turn and aerate your compost
regularly to keep the bacteria happy
and hot. If your apparatus has a small
entry or it is too high for you to easily
reach into it with a pitchfork, turning
the compost may, ultimately, be dif-
cult. Its best if you think about this
before the need arises.
Because microscopic soil bacteria
and wiggly worms play such an im-
portant role in composting, many sta-
tionary commercial compost bins will
have numerous small openings along
the bottom surface to invite these
local friends to the feast. This open-
bottom construction is an important
and intentional design feature that
can make a signicant dierence in
the speed with which your waste
transforms into compost. When con-
sidering the purchase of a bin, take
this feature into account. When pos-
sible, the bottom of a bin should be in
direct contact with the Earth. This in-
vites a team of workers into the com-
post. Worms and microbes will travel
through the ground and into your bin
to aid in your composting eorts. Do
not be concerned about the access
to the natural world below; encour-
age it! The open-bottom design also
allows for excess liquid to drain back
into the soil and to allow more gener-
ous airow throughout. Elevated ap-
paratus do not have this feature.
One problem with composting bins that have bottom
entry ports is that it is hard to reach in there with a
shovel to dig out the compost. The good thing is that
you can easily monitor how it is coming along.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 68
SPRI NG 2013 71
48"
48"
48"
48"
36"
Loose boards
for front.
4" 4" posts.
Three-Bin Systems
Three-bin systems allow for com-
posting large quantities of yard and
kitchen waste in a short amount of
time. They are sturdy, durable, and
attractive. Some are made of wood
or plastic slats and can be expanded
as needed to meet the needs of your
materials. The goal is to build up the
contents within the three bins to the
proper size and mixture to heat up
the contents for a hot compost. Some
include covers and some are open air.
With removable-slat front planks for
ease of turning and harvesting, these
systems make transferring various
levels of materials between bins easy
while generally containing matter for
aesthetics. More than one bin allows
you to have a bin for the pile being
built (as ingredients are accumulated
over a period of time) and two more
for piles in more advanced stages of
decomposition. If you have the space
for such a system, and are generat-
ing or gathering enough materials to
keep the bins in use, this can be very
convenient. Having three compart-
ments allows you turn the compost
regularly from one compartment into
the next, keeping two piles cooking
at all times. Usually, by the time youre
ready to start a third one, its time to
empty the rst bin and work it into
a garden bed.
When using a three-bin system,
some people start with the left bin.
Then when its time to begin another
pile, the original pile is turned into the
middle bin, which aerates it and ac-
celerates the composting process. A
new pile is then built in the left-most
bin. When that pile is completed, the
old pile in the middle is turned a nal
time into the right-most bin for nish-
ing, and the newest pile is turned into
the middle bin, making the left-most
bin available for yet another pile. Then
the nished compost will eventually
be removed from the right-most bin.
Call for a FREE DVD and
Catalog!
877-330-9742
DRpower.com/LR
TOLL
FREE
Protect your privacy!
Burn Sensitive Financial Documents SAFELY with the
7
8
3
9
0
X

2
0
1
3
ALL STAINLESS STEEL
Portable Burn-Cage
Now Eliminating Your Financial

Documents Couldnt be Easier!
Clean efcient res. Perforated lid and sidewalls
maximize airow and trap burning embers. High burn
temperatures mean thorough incineration with less
residue and ash.
Lightweight and portable.
Peace of Mind. Its the SAFE way to burn.
Folds for
easy storage
G A R D E N
remember how hard they are working
to take care of my waste. It is through
living in the moment that individuals
can make profound changes. When you
are aware of your behavior and its con-
sequences, you have the opportunity to
act mindfully!
You may also end up with the best
vegetable or ower garden on the
block as well as a crew of new wrig-
gly red worms to keep you company.
Once you begin to reap the rich and
aromatic benets of composting,
you will never go back. It is impossible
not to take pride in the production of
this beautiful and nutrient rich sub-
stance. You become part of the cycle of
life in a very real and fruitful way.
Bins
You can make your own bin using a
regular garbage can, although it may
not have all of the benets of a store-
bought one. Galvanized or plastic
cans can be used, but a tight-tting
lid is essential to keep odors in and
critters out.
Instructions:
1. Drill or punch about twenty drain
holes, to (6mm10mm) in diam-
eter in the bottom of the can.
2. Then, drill twenty more side holes
on the lower third of the can.
3. In a well-drained location, dig a
hole about half as deep as your con-
tainer; set the can into the hole, mak-
ing sure all of the vent holes are bur-
ied, and push the soil back in around
the sides of the can.
Wire Mesh
Enclosures
Aside from a simple heap, wire com-
post bins are probably the simplest
and least expensive way to build a
large and eective compost. A wire-
mesh holding unit is inexpensive
and easy to build out of chicken wire.
Compared to an uncontained heap,
the wire will help keep the compost
in place while building the contents
to a su cient size for hot composting.
Wire mesh also allows for good airow
throughout the compost. Wire is ca-
pable of holding itself upright and can
be used alone, or posts can be added
to stabilize the container. A wire-mesh
bin made without posts is easy to lift
and provides simple access to the n-
ished compost at the bottom of the
pile while the compost at the top of
the pile is still decomposing.
Instructions:
1. Using a 10 (30m) piece of 36
(91cm) wide chicken wire, fold back 3
to 4 (8cm10cm) at each end to cre-
ate a strong, clean edge that will not
poke or snag and will be easy to latch.
2. Stand the wire in a circle and set
it in place for the compost pile.
3. Using pliers, cut pieces of heavy-
duty wire into lengths for ties and
latch the ends of the chicken wire to-
gether.
4. If using posts, space them around
the inside of the chicken-wire circle.
Position the posts tightly against the
wire and pound them rmly into the
ground for support.
A cross-section of a compost bin. Notice how the material breaks down from its solid state on top, slowly erodes
into layers in the middle and nally becomes a perfect dark, rich garden soil additive.
SPRI NG 2013 73
COMPOSGING INSIDE & OUT
14 Methods to Fit Your Lifestyle
by Stephanie Davies,
The Urban Worm Girl
Whether you live on a farm, in the
suburbs or a city apartment, compost-
ing is possible. Composting Inside and
Out will introduce you to the essentials
and explore various methods of indoor
and outdoor composting to help you
nd the perfect t for your lifestyle.
Available at GardenersHub.com
Piles or Heaps
Simple is often better, despite what the marketing companies repeatedly
tell us. A pile, or heap, of organic waste is a preferred method of composting
that dates back before the invention of recycled plastic backyard tumblers and
bins. Heaps are ideal for those who tend towards simpler lifestyles and any-
one with su cient outdoor space. Minimal or no store-bought equipment is
needed to build or operate a compost pile or heap.
Creating a composting heap is quick, easy, and cheap. Here are some simple
directions to get you going:
1. Select a dry, shady spot near a water source.
2. Start with a 4 to 6 (10cm15cm) layer of browns on the bottom. You can
even use sticks and coarse materials for better aeration.
3. Mix grass clippings and other green waste into the pile and bury fruit and
vegetable waste under 10 (25cm) of compost material.
4. Add your brown and green materials as you collect them. Chopping or
shredding large pieces will speed up decomposition.
5. You may want to moisten dry materials as they are added if your heap tends
to dry out.
6. Optional: Cover the top of compost with a tarp to keep it moist.
7. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is
ready to use (this can occur anytime between two months to two years).
Unless you cover your heap, it is going to be exposed to animals and to the
elements. That means you denitely dont want to include meat, bones, dairy,
or sh to keep critters away. Covering the nitrogen-rich materials with browns
will help to keep away unwanted scavengers as well.
G A R D E N
FOR SEED SAVERS, MAINTAINING GENETIC BIODIVERSITY
IS ESSENTIAL TO CULINARY INDEPENDENCE
by Laura Mathews
THE ADAPTABLE
SEED BANK
Jere Gettle with David Kaiser at
the Missouri location of Baker
Creek Heirloom Seeds.
Snow Cap Bean
P
h
o
t
o

c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y

o
f

B
a
k
e
r

C
r
e
e
k

H
e
i
r
l
o
o
m

S
e
e
d
s
P
h
o
t
o

c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y

o
f

B
a
k
e
r

C
r
e
e
k

H
e
i
r
l
o
o
m

S
e
e
d
s
SPRI NG 2013 75
Saving seeds while gardening, which
is a terribly simple process, can help
ease the complex threat of genetically
modied organisms, climate change
and the decreasing genetic diversity
of our cherished vegetables. It is easy
enough to start saving seed. Let let-
tuce go to ower. Let the juice and seed
from your favorite homegrown tomato
stew together in a jar for a bit then rinse
and dry. Scoop seeds from your prized
heirloom Galeux d Eysines squash and
wash and allow them to dry. In the age
of climate change and genetically mod-
ied organisms, the simple yet complex
seed becomes a powerful ally for good
health and culinary independence.
Importantly, not all seeds are created
equal. Only seeds that are open-pol-
linated and free of genetically modi-
ed organisms (GMO) are our friends.
These seeds are the only ones that al-
low nature to work her full wonders.
Seed that is hybridized cannot naturally
adapt to stresses like climate change.
Pure seed formed through natures pro-
cesses subtly changes genetically each
growing season. Seed produced arti-
cially, does not benet from evolution.
We have a choice, said horticultur-
alist Dale Hendricks from Pennsylva-
nia, Evolution can continue to work
for us if we make smart choices about
our seeds.
An important reason people save
seed is because of the genetic adapt-
ability of pure, open-pollinated seed.
Plants grown in a certain soil and cli-
mate will change to thrive in the local
growing conditions. Gardeners aid this
process by saving seed from plants that
are the healthiest, that are most resis-
tant to local pests and diseases and
have the best fruit. Over time, the seed
saver develops a collection of vegeta-
bles uniquely t for the microclimate in
their specic garden. Hybrid vegetable
seed is often sterile, or if not, will not
grow plants and fruit the same as the
parent plant. These seeds wont adapt
as our climate warms and we encounter
different food growing challenges due
to changing conditions.
Opportunities for adaptation within
one open-pollinated variety exist, says
horticulturalist Nancy Wygent with
Bartrams Gardens in Philadelphia.
Gardeners in different areas have dif-
ferent needs from the same variety of
pea and will harvest seed from plants
that ll those needs.
Someone in the Northwest might
need a pea that grows really fast to out-
grow the slugs, she says, Here in the
Northeast, I need a pea that produces
really quickly before it gets too hot.
She says that plants produce seed
adapted to growing methods as well.
Seeds from successful plants raised
organically will continue to prosper in
organic conditions. Chemically raised
seeds wont perform as well in organic
conditions because they arent adapted
to rely on the uptake of natural soil nu-
trients created by soil microorganisms.
Jere Gettle, founder of Baker Creek
Heirloom Seeds, says its possible to
get a jump on evolution by using seeds
from places with climates similar to
your conditions.
There are lots and lots of varieties
from warmer climates places like
Thailand and Africa that deal just
ne with higher temps and drought,
said Gettle, Weve had good luck here
in Missouri. Varieties from warmer cli-
mates have thrived.
As an organic grower, Gettle also
prefers older varieties of seeds because
they often have not been grown with
chemical inputs and the plants will do
better raised organically. Active in the
anti-GMO movement, Gettle is con-
cerned about the speed at which natural
seed is being cross-contaminated with
GMOs. Corn is especially vulnerable
because so much of it is grown and it is
wind-pollinated which allows pollen to
travel great distances.
Over 50% of the heirloom corn
we had tested had some level of GMO
contamination, said Gettle. As con-
tamination spreads, we stand to lose
our biodiversity. He sees corn grow-
ers working toward a solution.
People are starting to do new things
to protect heirloom corn from cross
-pollination with GMO corn, he said,
You can plant at different times from
commercial crops, (so pollination
times dont match) or hand-pollination
is an option. It could be that you see
heirloom corn grown in greenhouses.
Rampant cross-contamination isnt
the only reason to offer options to
GMO seed, which among other con-
cerns, isnt deeply genetically varied.
Work on developing large stores of rare
vegetable seed that maintains genetic
exibility is needed said Hendricks.
As we need to respond to economic,
cultural and environmental shifts yet
unseen, maintaining a deep diversity of
food seeds will help us respond to food
needs as they develop.
Gettle works to build a collection
of rare seeds to increase the variety in
genetic makeup of available seed, both
To save tomato seed, remove the juice and the seed
and let it stand for a few days in a glass container.
The seed will separate from the rest of the uid.
Rinse and let seed dry.
Im not only preserving the health of my family by
producing seed that I know is clean of chemicals and
GMOs, but Im preserving the health of my community
and of the environment around me. Ty Paup
G A R D E N
for healthy biodiversity and for public
health. Restricted seed diversity endan-
gers reliable food production.
If we allow our tomato gene pool
to reduce to several varieties that are
closely related genetically, Gettle
said as an example. We risk losing
an entire tomato crop to a disease. If
you have a broader base of tomatoes
to chose from, chances are, part of the
crop will resist the disease, pest or en-
vironmental challenge and persist.
Speculation exists that foods con-
taining GMO contribute to multiple
health problems from cancer to obesi-
ty. More than 50 countries have banned
GMO seeds. But Gettle says thats not
the only health reason to avoid GMOs
and search out natural and unusual veg-
etables.
Its also important to have a wide
spectrum of colors of vegetables in
your diet, he said, Every tomato does
not have the same nutrient value. Dif-
ferent colors of vegetables and fruit
provide different nutrients. Protecting
the seed gene pool from getting too
narrow due to commercial pressure is a
motivating factor behind seed banking
and seed saving.
Another reason seeds are banked is
concern for our food supply in the wake
of catastrophenatural or man-made.
Internationally there are many seed
banks run by governments. Nancy
Wygent said the way the seed is stored
in big government seed banks is not
taking advantage of climate and re-
gional adaptation.
Big government seed banks like the
USDA use refrigeration or freezing and
control the amount of oxygen getting to
the seeds, she said, So the seed lasts a
really long time.
Local non-prots like the Landis
Valley Museum that preserves Penn-
sylvania Dutch heirloom seeds, store
their seed in airtight containers on sim-
ple wooden shelves. But like seed pro-
ducers, they grow new seed frequently
to keep it fresh, rather than relying on
high-tech storage. Growing out the
plants again provides opportunity for
seed to genetically adjust to climate
change. Seed in governmental banks
can go decades without exposure to en-
vironmental shifts and wont adapt as
well to weather challenges.
Hendricks says local seed swaps are
a better alternative to seed banks. Its a
way to build genetic exibility adapted
to a smaller region while increasing the
local sense of community. Ty Paup, a
Pennsylvania backyard farmer and
seed saving guru, agrees.
It builds excitement to share some-
thing Ive grown, Paup said. Most
importantly, Im not only preserving
the health of my family by producing
seed that I know is clean of chemicals
and GMOs, but Im preserving the
health of my community and of the en-
vironment around me.
Laura Mathews is a garden writer and
photographer. Her interests are local
food, organic gardening, backyard home-
steading and native plants. Read more
of her writings at www.punkrockgardens
.com.
Jere Gettle, founder of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
P
h
o
t
o

c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y

o
f

B
a
k
e
r

C
r
e
e
k

H
e
i
r
l
o
o
m

S
e
e
d
s
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS
Quality Tools at Ridiculously Low Prices
LIFETIME WARRANTY
ON ALL HAND TOOLS!
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or website or by phone. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-
transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/19/13. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 1 - Save 20% on any one item purchased at our stores or website or by phone.
*Cannot be used with other discount, coupon, gift cards, Inside Track Club membership,
extended service plans or on any of the following: compressors, generators, tool storage
or carts, welders, oor jacks, Towable Ride-on Trencher (Item 65162), open box items,
in-store event or parking lot sale items. Not valid on prior purchases after 30 days
from original purchase date with original receipt. Non-transferrable. Original coupon
must be presented. Valid through 7/19/13. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
OFF
20
%
ANY
SINGLE
ITEM!
FREE!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
SAVE
60%
SAVE
$90
SAVE
$150
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
SAVE
$150
SAVE
37%
SAVE
$62
SAVE
40%
SAVE
54%
SAVE
60%
SAVE
$70
SAVE
$80
S
U
P
E
R

C
O
U
P
O
N
!
SAVE
55%
3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT
NINE LED ALUMINUM
FLASHLIGHT
REG. PRICE $6.99
ITEM 65020/69052/69111
Item 65020
shown

$
9
99

REG.
PRICE
$24 .99
29 PIECE TITANIUM
NITRIDE COATED
DRILL BIT SET
LOT NO.
5889
9 FT. 6" x 7 FT. 4"
CAMOUFLAGE TARP
LOT NO.
46411

$
4
99
REG. PRICE $7 .99
800 RATED WATTS/
900 MAX. WATTS
PORTABLE
GENERATOR
LOT NO. 66619 /
60338/69381

$
89
99
REG.
PRICE
$179.99
Item 69381
shown
NEW!

$
1
99

INDUSTRIAL
EAR MUFFS
REG.
PRICE
$4 .99
LOT NO.
43768/
60792
Item
43768
shown
Item
38391
shown
3-IN-1 JUMP-STARTER
AND POWER SUPPLY
LOT NO.
38391/60657

$
35
99
REG. PRICE $59 .99
900 PEAK
AMPS
12" RATCHET
BAR CLAMP/SPREADER
LOT NO. 46807 /68975/
69221/69222
REG. PRICE $5.9 9
Item 46807
shown

$
1
99
SAVE
66%
1.5 CUBIC FT.
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL SAFE
LOT NO. 91006
REG. PRICE $149 .99

$
87
99
Electronic keypad uses
four C batteries (included).
30", 11 DRAWER
ROLLER CABINET
LOT NO.
67421

$
149
99
REG.
PRICE
$299 .99
INCLUDES:
6 Drawer Top Chest
2 Drawer Middle Section
3 Drawer Roller Cabinet
7 HP OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT
GAS ENGINES (212 CC)
LOT NO. 68121/69727,
CALIFORNIA ONLY
LOT NO. 68120 /69730/60363

$
99
99
REG. PRICE $179 .99
Item
68120
shown
4 PIECE 1" x 15 FT.
RATCHETING TIE DOWN SET
LOT NO.
90984/60405

$
7
99
REG. PRICE $16 .99
Item 90984
shown
SAVE
52%
2.5 HP, 21 GALLON,
125 PSI VERTICAL
AIR COMPRESSOR
LOT NO. 67847 /69091

$
149
99

REG.
PRICE
$219 .99
Item
67847
shown
3 TON HEAVY DUTY
JACK STANDS
LOT NO. 38846/69597/61196

$
15
99
REG. PRICE $34 .99
Item
38846
shown
LOT NO. 68332
4 CHANNEL
SURVEILLANCE DVR WITH
4 INFRARED CAMERAS

$
249
99

REG. PRICE $399 .99
Over 2500 hours of
recording time.

$
17
99
REG.
PRICE
$39 .99
YOUR CHOICE!
7 PIECE RATCHETING
COMBINATION
WRENCH SETS
SAE
LOT NO.
96654
METRIC
LOT NO.
95552
WITH ANY PURCHASE
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon
good at our stores or website or by phone. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping &
Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon
must be presented. Valid through 7/19/13. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
GRAND
OPENINGS
La Mirada, CA
Vista, CA
Southaven, MS
Richmond, VA
Waterbury, CT
Louisville, KY
Madison Heights, MI
St. Louis, MO
How does Harbor Freight Tools sell
high quality tools at such ridiculously
low prices? We buy direct from the
factories who also supply other major
brands and sell direct to you. Its just
that simple! Come see for yourself
at one of our 400+ Stores Nationwide
and use this 20% Off Coupon on
one of our 7,000 products*, plus
pick up a Free 9 LED Aluminum
Flashlight, a $6.99 value. We stock
Shop Equipment, Hand Tools, Tarps,
Compressors, Air & Power Tools,
Woodworking Tools, Welders, Tool
Boxes, Generators, and much more.
Over 20 Million Satised Customers!
1 Year Competitors Low Price Guarantee
No Hassle Return Policy!
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Over 400 Stores Nationwide
NOBODY BEATS OUR QUALITY, SERVICE AND PRICE!
FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU!
NOBODY BEATS OUR QUALITY, SERVICE AND PRICE!
A W A R E
IN THE
HEART
OF DARK
MANHATTAN
DIARY OF THE BIG APPLE BLACK-OUT
DURING HURRICANE SANDY
by Ron P. Swegman
SPRI NG 2013 79
A W A R E
I. THE SURGE
Our rst oor studio co-op is situ-
ated in Manhattan just one and a half
blocks from the Hudson River. When
we stand on the front stoop of the red
brick building and look to the left, the
width of the waterway can be viewed
at the end of our street. Some days it
ows placid and blue, while on others
it runs grey, tipped by white caps. In
January 2009, we witnessed the most
unusual piece of oating detritus; an
airplane US Airways Flight 1529
giving a deeper meaning to the phrase
just another day in the Big Apple.
Despite this thick city skin, my wife
and I felt especially sensitive during the
waning hours of the last Monday of Oc-
tober 2012. Halloween was just two days
away and the scare this time was based
in reality. Hurricane Sandy was heading
north and the past few days had been
spent listening to the news on NY1, the
emergency broadcast system announce-
ments, and our own sixth sense.
Readying ourselves for a storms af-
termath in New York compelled us to
cover a few basics: clean water, alter-
native power, nonperishable food, and
perhaps most importantly, lines of com-
munication throughout our community;
a most important asset when living in
the close company of eight million oth-
ers, not all of whom are street smart.
Indoors, all appeared normal. The
two cats were snoozing. Maryann and I
sat together on the folded futon, watch-
ing professional wrestling. Both of us
despise wasting food, so we had emp-
tied what remained in the freezer and
shared the last steak with some green
beans while distracting ourselves in the
absurd theater of Monday Night Raw.
Just as a wrestler slammed his hap-
less opponent to the mat for the three-
count, each and every light went out.
Hurricane Sandy had arrived. By half
past eight, the full force of her winds
hit the New York City metro area in co-
incidence with a full moon high tide.
Con-Edison, the regions power pro-
vider, had announced portions of Man-
hattan would go dark on purpose once
the surge of Sandy began to threaten
the underground nerve network of cop-
per cables that serve the electricity for
the citys thirsty sparkling skyline. That
time was now.
The previous year we had dealt with
another storm, Irene, which had given
us a less pressured experience, some-
thing akin to training wheels. Wind
then had been the biggest issue. We
duct taped our windows with an X pat-
tern that would prevent shards of glass
from ying free if windblown debris
slammed into and shattered one.
Our windows were again similarly
braced. We learned quickly this storm
event would also bring water, lots of it.
Earlier in the day we had walked down
to Hudson River Park, a long greenway
esplanade with an impressive view of
the river and the skylines of Jersey City
and downtown Manhattan. The entire
boardwalk was already submerged
under three or four feet of storm wa-
ter six hours before high tide. Irene at
her peak had not even brought us this
much. Lady Liberty glowed in the dis-
tance beneath an indigo sky lling with
misty rain. We headed back knowing
this would be a Big One embodying
the hype stirred up by Mayor Michael
Bloombergs press conferences.
Sitting suddenly in the dark coaxed
us to switch on the rst part of our
emergency plan. Light was provided by
a set of LED tea lights we had picked
up for around eight dollars at one of
the many home supply stores. These
little lamps are designed for safe light-
ing where open ames would be either
dangerous or simply compromised by
wind. In our urban apartment setting,
a scattered dozen cast a warm, almost
romantic, yellow glow on the opening
moments of the crisis. The lights were
guaranteed to provide over 100 hours
of life: enough, we hoped, for several
nights of darkness.
My wife had lived through the East
Coast power outage of August 2003,
and had afterward invested in two
ashlights: one solar-powered; the
other hand-cranked. We quickly found
these invaluable as navigation aids. The
hallway of our building was as dark as
a tomb and the streets, lined by parked
cars and bare trees, were a source of
SPRI NG 2013 81
potential tripping obstacles, or hiding
places for lurkers.
Hindsight revealed that street crime
actually abated during the days after
Sandy. Murders were down 86% from
2011. Burglaries rose, but these were
believed to be impulse crimes tak-
ing advantage of empty or otherwise
compromised residences. The streets,
though they in places appeared drawn
from a scene in Resident Evil, re-
mained calm.
The gentried residential nature of
our neighborhood afforded us the safe-
ty inherent in a community of mostly
like-minded individuals. Flashlight
beams would be seen for several days,
tracing up and down the blocks of the
West Village, Chelsea, and Tribeca
neighborhoods. Many of these moving
lights indicated people walking their
dogs, people who also conscientiously
continued to pick up after their pets de-
spite the temporary lack of organized
garbage collection.
II. THE PENDULUM SWINGS
POSITIVE
After Sandy had dissipated, the blus-
ter remained. Our outside connection,
a little AM radio, peppered us with in-
formation; including the fact Manhat-
tan had been spared the horrors of the
outer boroughs. However, power was
out from 39th Street south. With no
electricity came no stove, so not even a
hot cup of coffee could be had without
a thirty-minute hike uptown.
Water we did have. As addicted selt-
zer drinkers, and committed recyclers,
we had accrued over a dozen liter bot-
tles in the days before the storm. These,
lled with tap water before the storm
surge, guaranteed we had drinking wa-
ter for our pets and ourselves.
Manhattan had certainly got off
lightly. Much of Staten Island had been
submerged for several hours. An entire
neighborhood, some fty homes, had
burned down in the Breezy Point sec-
tion of Queens. Compared to this trag-
edy, the litter and lack of power in our
West Village neighborhood was light.
A few cherished trees had been lost, in-
cluding the one in front of our building,
but no lives.
After the Christmas blizzard of
2010, the administration had taken
Unwanted gifts from Hurricane Sandy. An oil tank and other ruined possessions from a ooded basement line a
street in Belle Harbor, New York.
A W A R E
a lot of criticism for its perceived re-
action. The mayor himself stated the
citys snowstorm response was unac-
ceptable. By the time Sandy appeared
on the weather map, a new zeal had
taken over. Flood Zone A, which in-
cluded Battery Park City and portions
of the southern tip of Manhattan, had
been completely evacuated with no ex-
ceptions. We resided slightly inland, in
Flood Zone B, and Bloomberg News,
the organization founded by the same
man now in charge of City Hall, had
not called for us to depart.
So, there we were, still. Breakfast
consisted of some dry goods we had
stocked up. In addition to the usual
crackers and such, there were sesa-
me sticks, corn nuts, and pistachios.
Canned chickpeas turned out to be
quite tasty, too, as well as sun-dried to-
matoes, which can be described as sa-
vory vegetarian jerky. Our cats settled
for the usual kibble. After their break-
fast, we set out to survey the damage.
Clouds raced by overhead with the
speed of jets. On the ground, the high
tide mark reached deep into Zone A.
We live just half a block from that areas
inland border, which on that morning
was marked by a line of debris we could
clearly see from our front stoop. The
night before, the water had begun to
wash over the West Side Highway by the
time the power went out. Now receded,
the closed roadway resembled a beach
covered in detritus: straw, huge chunks
of Styrofoam, a rusty refrigerator and
several cars poorly parked by Sandy.
Our exploration and survey hike up-
town clued us in on some of the more
pressing concerns of contemporary
city dwellers. When we reached the
power zone unaffected by the black-
out, we began to see clusters of people
inside ATM lobbies, all of them teth-
ered to the wall by cell phone charging
cables. The need to stay connected, to
phone parents or employers, revealed
the Achilles heel of mobile digital
technology. For all of the hundreds of
millions spent on designing applica-
tions and television advertisements,
the battery life of these devices still do
not serve the needs of users for even a
twenty-four-hour period.
Our wireless was compromised as
well, but we had retained our landline to
keep in touch with relatives and employ-
ers at moments like this. Here was one
time we were happy to answer a ringing
phone. We also used it to connect with
one of my wifes brothers. He also re-
sides in the city. This fundamental com-
munity connection allowed us to avoid
the Darwinian competition occurring
around the ATM outlets. We were per-
mitted into his companys ofces up-
town. There we spent a few hours charg-
ing, and catching, up. It was good to
have family and friends in safe places.
This episode clearly demonstrated
what did work throughout a week with-
out power: community. The human
pendulum can swing in one of two di-
rections, to chaos or harmony, when un-
der stress. When weather-related emer-
gencies occur, the latter often seems to
kick in. Living in a city as dense yet
alienating as New York, one begins
to notice that the only time strangers
make eye contact and speak is after a
big snowfall. So it was with New York-
ers, post-Sandy. The only exception, it
seems, was the party crowd. A group of
us, huddled outside a caf kind enough
to share its generator, actually watched
a group of club-hopping women exit a
cab, point to us, and remark how cool
it was to see Sandy survivors helping
each other out!
Lesson learned. Another was this:
those establishments endemic of the
global economy highly integrated
and technologically linked and depen-
dent were the rst to close and the
last to reopen. No fast food or conve-
nience store chain was there to provide
comfort or aid. What sustained us was
a small Jane Street caf, Bonsignour,
which held a potluck and shared its
generator for neighbors to recharge
laptops and smartphones. And then
there was a local eatery, La Bonbon-
niere, which remained open along 8th
Avenue and served BLT sandwiches
and omelets by candlelight.
When the power did return ve
days later, trafc returned, too, much
of it lined up for blocks while waiting
for the gas that remained scarce for
weeks. We walked, rode a mountain
bike, or called our favorite cabby, who
had planned ahead and refueled his
bumblebee yellow sedan in New Jer-
sey early every morning. His experi-
ence showed that being aware of ones
options, even if it means the long way
round, is sometimes the right way in an
urban weather emergency; a bet as safe
as a solar ashlight, bottled water, and
a set of friends one can rely upon.
Ron P. Swegman is an author,
illustrator, and freelance journalist.
He lives in the West Village
neighborhood of Manhattan.
REAL SECURITY?
Alarms, Locks, and Guns are not enough!
$68 ea. 2or more $63 ea. Rells: $14.95 ea. 2 or more $12.95 ea.
Am Ex, Discovery, MC, Visa. $11 shipping per order
See our full product line at burglarbomb.com
or
Contact us for free brochure: 800.235.6961 832 W 1
st
St Birdsboro, PA 19508
Size 2x 2 x 7
BurglarBomb, pepper spray, anti-burglary devices can stop an
intruder in seconds and drive him out empty handed. No other
security system comes close to our 25 year performance record.
Alarms are worthless unless there is immediate human
response: unlikely now and worse as emergency services
break down.
Locks can be defeated in minutes or seconds with
common tools.
A gun is useless unless there is someone present to
shoot it.
You are not prepared unless you can truly
defend your preparations!
Check out GunDigestStore.com/survival
for more products and information
WILL YOU BE PREPARED
W
HEN DISASTER
STRIKES?
The key to survival is to have the right gear and know how to use it
before you are in a life threatening situation. Weve got you covered with
the books, manuals and gear you need for survival and preparedness.
/ i l
SPRI NG 2013 85
A W A R E
One of the real, make-or-break aspects
of preparation cant be packed away
on a basement shelf or tucked inside
of the go bag. Health and tness tru-
ly serve as a persons greatest assets.
Getting through the aftermath of a di-
saster requires being in decent shape
and in good overall health. Theres no
way around it. The best laid, most de-
tailed plans and supporting contingen-
cies could tumble quickly if you lack
strength or are battling weight issues or
chronic health conditions.
Its not an easy truth to account for
in an era where its more common
than not for people to wear a few extra
pounds. Preparedness; however, isnt
about glossing over the uncomfortable
facts. Statistics clearly show those in
decent physical shape have become
the minority. Far too many, meanwhile,
have fallen from average to the lower
end of the scale and are managing their
ways through poor health.
Those concerned about preparedness
should hold real concern about their
physical well-being and make appro-
priate changes to their lifestyles if nec-
essary. It is just another part of prepara-
tion. It should be just as much a part of
your plan as long-term food storage or
assembling a well-stocked go-bag.
DIET
Society at large lives from the drive-
through windows to a dangerous ex-
tent. Aside from those starchy, nutrient
void, deep-fried potatoes that come in
the combo meals, it isnt uncommon
for some people to go for days on end
without getting a single vegetable or
fruit into their bodies. Stovetops and
ovens better used for real foods get far
less use than the reliable microwaves
that make quick work of the heavily
processed goods.
Theres another danger at play. As
time moved on, our portion sizes some-
how grew larger and larger. It would be
eye opening for many to look at recom-
mended, healthy calorie intakes, then sit
down and tabulate what theyre actually
putting into their bodies every day.
Most Americans are eating far too
much. Far too few realize it. Its been
a widespread and troublesome change.
Those heading to the stores today to
buy new sets of plates are typically
getting sets of dishes that are quite
larger than the pieces their mothers
and grandmothers had stacked up in
their cupboards. Compare one of their
dinner plates to the comparable piece
in the China cabinet. It might be eye
opening. It extends beyond the home.
Many restaurants today satisfy their
SOME NOTES ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD
HEALTH IN BAD TIMES
by James D. Nowka
FIT TO
SURVIVE
A W A R E
customers with gigantic portions of
poor foods rather than smaller, reason-
able portions of fresh, local and healthy
selections.
There are a number of resources that
are quickly available that offer solid
information toward developing healthy
and workable diet plans. The U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture recently up-
dated its dietary guidelines, which for
a long time were represented by the
food pyramid. Recommended food
quantities vary for different people
based on their varying daily caloric
needs. Regardless of quantities, it pro-
vides a pretty good road map toward
understanding what people should be
eating. Relying on common sense and
honesty about your poor personal hab-
its provides a great start at getting an
appropriate diet in place.
MEDICINE
Those who recognize preparedness
as a practice in self-reliance should
look at their required, daily prescription
doses and ask themselves just much
they can truly rely on themselves. Med-
icine does some pretty amazing things.
In a survival situation, that might all go
out the window.
Doctors are often reluctant to pro-
vide patients with any extra doses of
medication to pack away for the event
of an emergency. Its understandable
when considering expiration dates.
Medicines are regulated for a variety of
reasons. Some might occasionally nd
doctors who would oblige extra, pack-
away bottles of the prescription medi-
cations they depend upon after explain-
ing their preparedness planning. Some
doctors might offer up some samples
that could be tucked away in the go-
bag. All of that effort might still go for
naught. If thats the best-case option,
an extra 30 days worth of medicines
might not sufce depending on the na-
ture of ailments and the severity of the
disaster situation.
It all comes back to thinking ahead.
Its tough to imagine the helplessness
of having a terrible heart condition and
just a days worth of doses left in the
pillbox. Many have diabetes and de-
pend on daily insulin injections. Those
with any serious ailments could nd
themselves in unenviable positions
when all of the pharmacies in reason-
able distance are dark, locked up or
have an empty inventory.
Medicines are vital to many and
those with strict reliance could face
imminent danger in a crisis. The wise
decision for those who havent reached
the point of chronic ailments is to put
forth some effort in the immediate
term. Proper effort and attitude might
well allow you to avoid a frightening
set of circumstances later.
FITNESS
Should a crisis strike; those in its af-
termath would need the ability to meet
the signicant physical challenges that
are bound to stand in the way of a fam-
ilys recovery. It would require some
walking, and potentially for signicant
distances. It would require lifting. A
crisis might require some climbing.
Each of those tasks would certainly
require some strength and a decent
amount of endurance. Those who lack
these attributes should concentrate on
building up those supplies just as
they would any others. Duty will call
regardless of your aerobic capacity.
Think about a hypothetical, severe
thunderstorm packing high winds that
rips through and topples the old oak
tree in the backyard. You might lose
power for a few hours. The electricity
might continue to ow uninterrupted.
The mess of branches might damage
the fence.
You should stop and think about
whether you have the strength and en-
durance to get that tree chopped up and
out of the way in a timely fashion. After
that wood is hauled off, youd still have
the task of making those fence repairs.
Many today couldnt do it. Moving
through a disaster means a lot of real
hard, exerting, get your hands dirty,
physical work. Depending on the nature
of that disaster, it could mean a great
deal of physical exertion through an
extended period of time. The only solu-
tion is to get ready while you still can.
Those in the worst of shape should
take a moment to think about what they
could possibly do if their very survival
left no choice but go another 10 or 15
miles beyond the rst mile marker. If
its frightening to some, it should be.
Theyd be in a helpless position after
an emergency. Its a recognition that its
long past time to buckle down and get
to work.
Those working through a survival
situation or disaster recovery would
come to realize efforts arent a matter
of strength on some occasions and en-
durance during others. Both would of-
ten come to play at the same time. The
go-bag provides an example. Mine has
a diverse assortment of goods address-
ing shelter, water and food and weighs
in at just more than 40 pounds.
For many folks, that doesnt sound
like all that much, and honestly, it isnt
a big deal to hoist it up and put over
the shoulder. Then again, 40 pounds
while standing in place carries a far
Developing a stash of insulin or other medications is essential in preparing for short and long-term emergencies.
SPRI NG 2013 87
different feeling than 40 pounds while
on the move. That 40-pound bag feels
far heavier after that rst mile, and its
stress on the body only increases with
every step forward. A survival situation
might require a 15-mile or longer walk
with a fully loaded pack on the back.
If the family includes a young child or
two, theres a good chance those young-
sters will be carried for decent portions
of the trek. Itll take some strength. Itll
take some stamina.
GETTING STARTED
The t crowd likes to say that pain
is what happens when weakness leaves
the body. Theres a good bit of truth
there. The importance of maintaining
your tness when considered from
the place of survival or disaster goes
beyond the immediate tasks. Troubles
wouldnt disappear in a day. Fitness
therefore also speaks to how you would
handle the next day and those to fol-
low. Theres no leeway to take a day off
to give the muscles a little more time
for recovery after a good, long bout
of strenuous activity. The challenges
arent going to lie in wait until those
tackling soreness are healed up and
ready for the next round.
Building cardiovascular health is the
primary task for those getting started.
As a very basic yardstick, anyone in
their 40s or 50s should still be able to
walk ve to 10 miles without much of
a struggle. Those in that age group who
arent at that place should make a point
to get moving whether its a brisk walk
or jog on a regular basis. You should al-
ways go a bit further than comfortable
and allow the body to build.
A person will still get the same ben-
ets from 10 minutes of aerobic activity
at several points throughout day as n-
ishing a workout all at once. There are
plenty of options out there to get those
minutes in. Gyms are great resources
that provide any number of means for
people to get that exercise. With that op-
tion, theres often good access to good
advice from professionals on how to
make the best and quickest strides to t-
ness goals. Some arent willing to spend
the membership fees. Others cant imag-
ine getting any enjoyment out of spend-
ing a monotonous hour on the treadmill.
Those who arent sold on the gym option
can nd any number of great means to
get a workout. Some wouldnt cost more
than the price of a decent pair of walking
or running shoes.
THE PREPARED LIFE: THE
WORLD IS YOUR FITNESS
CENTER
The most important pieces of work-
out equipment are your own two feet.
It helps to have a good pair of shoes.
You might not have a gym member-
ship, but you might have a nearby hill.
That alone could be enough to get you
from round to lean with the right effort.
Walk up. Jog down. Repeat. When the
workload becomes easier, you might
jog both ways.
Trails are a great bet. They offer
scenery but also give you shifts in el-
evation and all of the bumps and crev-
ices that could lead to blisters and all
types of soreness for those who arent
accustomed. Its a smart plan to get the
body acclimated early to the rougher
stuff that Mother Nature presents. With
that model in mind, a good endurance
test might be that nearby, public trail.
Self-Assessment: How far
you can go with your pack
before physically crapping
out? Its a key number to
know when travel plan-
ning during a disaster.
WANTED
BELGIUM BROWNINGS
PRE-1964 WINCHESTERS
COLLECTORS COLTS
GERMAN WEATHERBYS
PARKER REPRO SHOTGUNS
BROWNING SXS SHOTGUNS
BEDLANS
PO BOX 244, FAIRBURY, NE 68352
CALL 402-729-6112
Hard Copy Shipping Available
www.gunbrain.net
1-800-356-4759
Immediate download
Crystal clear pictures
Step by step instructions
Schematic on inside front cover
Reassembly tips included
takedownguides.com
Be Your Own Gunsmith
Phil Saccacio
Blue Ridge Collectibles
(540) 456-6405
9075 Critzers Shop Road
Afton, VA 22920
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 10:00am - 6:00pm EST
MAGAZINES - GUN PARTS
BUYING AND SELLING
Magazine clips for obsolete & modern rifles,
pistols and shotguns
Gun parts
Specializing in pistol parts for Modern, WWII and
collectible handguns
Pistol Parts Kits
Includes everything but the frame
From: AMT through Walther
Parts Kits List $2.00
E-mail: blueridgecollectible@gmail.com
SILVER HILL CO
GUNSTOCKS
Many rare patterns and most standard ones.
Starting at $68.00, any grade
from Std. to Exhibition.
Call 336-425-3888 anytime, day/night.
or Email rob@gunville.com
Visit website www.gunville.com
P.O. Box 1434, Linwood, NC 27299
Winchesters, Remingtons,
Marlins, Savage/Stevens, Whitney-Kennedy,
Sharps, A.H. Fox, L.C. Smith
Machine customers wood, Machine inletted
do-it-yourself Stocks. Various grades of
wood for both shotguns and ries.
unstocks, LLC Custom
A W A R E
Take a pack, head out for 20 miles one
day and then sleep the night before
heading back in the other direction.
You could note how you feel and use
that as a gauge to determine whether
your tness level is appropriate when
placed against your preparedness plan.
Exercise is another area in which I
try to live my preparations. I often try
to get some of my exercise in means
that add to my skill base for use in an
emergency. I regularly chop and split
wood. It provides a great workout, but
Im also practicing and know Im rm
in my techniques. Readying wood for
a re after a disaster wouldnt provide
for any major challenge or frustrations
because its already part of how I live.
Swimming is another example. Its a
tremendous cardiovascular workout.
Its also a skill that people might need
in a crisis situation.
This is an excerpt from the Preppers
Guide to Natural Disasters by James
D. Nowka.
9MBSCK
SureStrike 9mm Dry
Fire Laser Bullet Kit
COM-680, Ear
Muffs
with a Sensitive
AM / FM Radio,
SX21R-M
Ballistic LED
Flashlight
12,000 Lux.
Interactive Laser
Trainer Target
System, 50 Yard
Range, 6000 Shots Battery Life
Optik 10x42 WB HD
SLC Water Proof
Roof Prism Binocular
w/6.3 Degree Angle
of View
Green Laser
Gen. II Sight
with LED Tactical Light,
154/187 Lumens, with Universal
Mount for All Picatinny Open Railed
Handguns and Ries.
LE Deluxe Law
Enforcement
System for Pistols
and Sub Guns
CHECK OUR WEB
SITE FOR A FULL
LINE OF:

Guide Rod
Mounted Red Laser
Sight for Generation 4
Glock 26 & 27
PREPPERS GUIDE TO
SURVIVING NATURAL
DISASTERS
by James D. Nowka
www.livingreadyonline.com
One mans work is another
mans workout. Its all a
matter of perspective.
A W A R E
THE
DARK &
VIOLENT
SKY
FASCINATION AND FEAR IN
TORNADO COUNTRY
by Chad Love
There are moments in life, strange,
unsettling moments, when we are con-
fronted with something so hard to grasp,
so utterly beyond our sense of whats
normal, that we simply cannot compre-
hend at the time what we are witness-
ing. Some call it seeing the elephant,
others call it the hand of divinity. What-
ever the cause, my moment came on the
night of May 4, 2007, on a little turnout
on US 183 about 15 miles south of the
small town of Greensburg, Kansas. My
eyes told me what I was seeing in the
cameras viewnder, backlit by dozens
of staccato lightning ashes that lit the
darkened plains like a giants strobe,
was a tornado, a black wedge of de-
struction so massive it resembled a huge
cloud touching the earth.
My brain was telling me that what
I was seeing was impossible, because
no tornado could be so big, so impos-
sibly wide. It had to be a low-hanging
wall cloud, or scud, or something other
than what I feared it was. I knew tor-
nadoes. I had pursued, witnessed and
photographed many during my time
as an amateur storm chaser, journalist
and photographer. I was born and had
lived all my life in the heart of tornado
alley. Tornadoes werent an abstraction
to me, they were a known commod-
ity, and I knew that tornadoes simply
werent almost two miles wide, werent
so big they couldnt t in my cameras
viewnder from 15 miles away. And
then we hit the damage path.
Shattered power poles. Dead live-
stock strewn across the road. Trees
SPRI NG 2013 91
ung across the highway like uprooted
weeds. Combines and other farm ma-
chinery twisted, broken, tossed about
as if by a petulant child. Houses, not
merely reduced to piles of rubble, but
utterly gone, swept from their founda-
tions and reduced to memory. Insula-
tion and other light debris softly rained
down like snow globe akes, even as
we stopped at the remains of homes
along the highway, calling out in the
darkness to survivors. To the north,
power ashes continued to erupt. We
didnt realize it at the time, but the tiny
town of Greensburg was at that mo-
ment being obliterated.
We slowly made our way north along
US 183, driving around and sometimes
through the debris. The tornado hadnt
followed the highway, it had taken a
southwest to northeast track across the
countryside, crossed the highway we
were on, then turned due north, directly
into Greensburg. As we made our way
into the town not long after the tornado
hit, it became obvious it had taken a
major hit. It would take the next morn-
ings rising sun, however, to reveal the
true scope of the twisters fury.
I live a mere 90 miles south of
Greensburg, so after nally getting
home around 3 a.m., I was back on the
road by 6 a.m. and headed once more
for Greensburg. The national magazine
I worked for at the time had called ear-
ly that morning. They wanted me back
up in Greensburg as soon as possible,
interviewing survivors and taking pho-
tographs of the destruction.
A W A R E
Retracing the exact route my chase
partner and I had taken just a few hours
before, daylight revealed the nights
horror. An approximate three-mile sec-
tion of US 183 south of Greensburg
had been scoured clean of any recog-
nizable structures. Houses, barns, gas
compressor stations, pumpjacks, even
the barbed-wire fencing along either
side of the road had been pulled up and
blown away. But that scene paled as I
approached what used to be Greens-
burg, a town I had driven through,
eaten lunch in, and bird hunted around
many times.
The town was simply gone, reduced
to a Hiroshima-like landscape by an
EF5 tornado later estimated to be at
least 1.8 miles wide, and maybe even
wider, with winds in excess (and most
likely well in excess) of 205 mph.
Some 95 percent of the town was gone,
and 11 residents were dead. I couldnt
recognize anything even remotely fa-
miliar as I pulled into a makeshift park-
ing area on the edge of town. I checked
in, received my press pass (by this time
the National Guard and the state police
had taken control of the town) and then
milled about with other media mem-
bers as we waited to be escorted around
what used to be a community. And as
I walked around Greensburg taking
pictures and talking to survivors who
had lost everything, I thought about my
own family, my own home, and I won-
dered just how prepared I truly was to
cope with a similar disaster.
Tornadoes are, quite simply, the
most violently concentrated atmo-
spheric event on the planet. Hurricanes
are bigger, cause more damage, and are
more powerful over a wider area, but
for sheer destructive violence, nothing
can touch the tornado. And nowhere
else on Earth experiences more tor-
nadoes than that central portion of the
United States known as Tornado Alley.
Springtime, of course, is the signa-
ture season for atmospheric violence
in the nations heartland, and a warm
spring day in Tornado Alley is equal
parts fascination and fear. Its some of
the prettiest weather youll ever see,
punctuated by some of the most vio-
lent. On such a day, it seems, the pos-
sibilities are limitless. On such a day,
under a beautiful sky, trouble seems a
million miles away. But trouble may be
forming, unseen, right over our heads
as awe-inspiring atmospheric turf bat-
tles are played out across the impossi-
bly vast swath of Great Plains sky.
The reason for this tempestuous,
ever-changing environment is simple:
meteorologically and geographically
speaking, the central United States is
border country, an atmospheric front
line where huge masses of air and
moisture collide and engage in a sea-
sonal struggle for supremacy. It is a
convergence zone for dissimilar atmo-
spheric and geographical boundaries,
where one weather system or pattern
is continually being evicted by another,
which will in turn be evicted by yet
another. And when conditions are just
right, these skirmishes between com-
peting air masses will produce that
most fascinating, bewitching and ter-
rifying of demons: the tornado.
For all their formidable reputatio,
tornadoes are not nearly as ubiquitous
as many people believe. In fact, for the
number of tornadoes produced versus
the number of storms that occur, the
tornado is a relatively rare occurrence.
Even in my home state of Oklahoma,
the heart of Tornado Alley, we only
average about 54 tornadoes a year.
Tornado
Readiness Plan
All of our important legal papers,
documents, medical records and
sentimental items are now stored in
our saferoom. In addition, I have all
our computer fles, digital docu-
ments and photos backed up to a
portable hard drive that stays in the
saferoom. I made sure the entire
family had extra clothing packed
into the saferoom. I also put together
a tornado tub which is a plastic
storage bin that contains most of the
items youd fnd in a typical bug-out
bag: frst-aid kit, basic survival gear,
plus plenty of fashlights, batteries,
a radio, etc., plus several battery-
powered lanterns and plenty of bat-
teries for everything. I also threw in
a few gallon jugs of water and some
small non-perishable food items like
granola bars and candy bars. If you
have pets, dont forget enough food
for them to last a few days.
Two other important items not to
overlook are your childrens stufed
animals (if theyre young) and a
plastic kennel for your dogs/cats.
For your child, the psychological
comfort of having a familiar toy will
help lessen the shock of losing their
home, and the last thing you want
your dog or cat doing is running free
in a disaster area.
And since surviving a tornado
includes the unfortunate reality of
sifting through the rubble of your
home, I also included knee pads,
heavy gloves, rope, safety glasses, a
heavy pry bar and a basic tool kit.
SPRI NG 2013 93
Furthermore, the average tornado has
wind speeds of less than 110 miles
per hour, a damage path less than fty
yards wide, and stays on the ground
less than ve minutes. The odds, even
in the most active tornado area in the
world, are on your side.
Of course, such banal platitudes
mean very little on a brooding, wind-
whipped evening when a storm is rag-
ing and the tornado sirens suddenly go
off. In such a moment, statistical prob-
ability goes out the window, replaced
by sheer terror. Thats the situation I
found myself in on April 15, 2012, as
a massive tornado was ripping through
my hometown of Woodward, Okla-
homa. My family and I live outside of
town, and we had been tracking the tor-
nados path via stormchaser reports on
television and the radio. We watched
and listened in horror as the twister
made its way through our town. But
that horror suddenly gave way to alarm
as we realized the tornados projected
path would likely take it directly over
the area of our house.
That night we had ve minutes to
grab what we could and get into the
saferoom which in this case was a re-
inforced-concrete bedroom closet with
a steel door, a popular addition to new-
home construction in tornado-prone
areas. So we gathered the children, the
pets, grabbed a rst-aid kit, ashlights,
radio and batteries. We then closed the
door and waited.
Thankfully, nothing happened. After
tearing through our community, kill-
ing six people, and destroying over 100
homes and businesses, the tornado lift-
ed and disappeared before approach-
ing us. A good thing, too, because our
close call made me realize that we were
woefully unprepared for the aftermath
of a tornado. We forgot to gather our
car keys, wallets and purses, or our cell
phones. We had failed to grab a change
of clothes or even shoes for our chil-
dren. We had important papers, pho-
tographs and documents scattered all
over the house that we simply didnt
have time to gather. In short, we were
an unorganized, uncoordinated mess.
But it was an extremely valuable les-
son, and one that spurred me to make
a tornado preparedness plan that will
hopefully cover all the necessary bases
the next time the tornado sirens go off.
Witnessing a tornado from the
chasers position of observational de-
tachment, a feeling of powerlessness
manifests itself as an exhilarating sense
of sheer awe and wonder at the sight of
something so incredibly powerful and
violent.
But witnessing a tornado from a po-
sition of acutely vested interestin
your home, your family, your lifethat
sense of powerlessness isnt quite so ex-
hilarating. Watching as a tornado comes
your way and knowing theres nothing
you can do about it is about as perfect a
metaphor for helplessness as my mind
can muster. All you can do in that situa-
tion is prepare as best you can.
Chad Love is a writer based in Okla-
homa where he lives with his family and
bird dogs.
Deconstructing a Tornado
Debris cloud: Caught up in the in-
tense ground level winds, debris--the
the remains of trees, dirt, vegetation
and man-made structures--swirls
around and within the tornados
vortex, sometimes coming to rest
miles from where it was originally
picked up. Surface wind speeds can
be as low as 40-70 mph in a weak F0
and as high as the 318 mph recorded
in the infamous Oklahoma City F5 of
May 3, 1999.
Funnel: Perhaps the most univer-
sally recognized weather structure in
the world, the tornados funnel can
take many diferent shapes and col-
ors. They can be mile-wide wedges,
straight stovepipes, perfect cones
or thin, sinuous ropes a few dozen
yards wide at the base. There can
be one funnel or several, known as
a multiple-vortex. The funnels color
is determined primarily by viewing
angle in relation to the sun, the type
of the soil or debris being sucked
into the vortex and water condensa-
tion. White, ghostly tornadoes are
caused by the rapid condensation of
water as it enters the low pressure
of the funnels core. They can also
be invisible. Just because a tornado
doesnt seem to touch the ground
doesnt mean it isnt.
Wall Cloud: This is what the tor-
nado descends from. A wall cloud is
simply a distinct lowering from the
main thunderstorms cloud base,
formed as humid air near the ground
is drawn up toward the base of the
storm and condenses. The formation
of a wall cloud, especially a rotating
one, is often a precursor for the for-
mation of a tornado. Most, but not all
tornadoes form from wall clouds.
Storm Tower: The main body of the
supercell thunderstorm. The main
updraft of the storm may shoot up
to 60,000 feet into the atmosphere
and spread outward from the main
body of the storm, creating the clas-
sic anvil shape of the supercell. The
underside of the anvil will contain
mammatus clouds, a series of convex
bumpy clouds that are another hall-
mark of the supercell.
A W A R E
When we think of a hard target ver-
sus a soft target, the rst thing that
comes to mind is that were speaking in
military terms. In military terminology,
a hard target is a military target such as
an army installation, a bunker, or some
other target thats of importance to the
militarys infrastructure, versus a soft
target, which usually involves civilians
like a town or a village.
In terms of your personal survival,
you actually want to make yourself
a hard target. If youre a soft target,
youre an easy mark. Someone who is a
soft target has their head in the clouds
and is not paying attention to where
they are, or who is in their immediate
area. Soft targets are the ones you read
about in the paper whose homes get
burglarized because they go to bed at
night without locking their doors. Soft
targets are victims; dont be a victim,
make yourself a harder target to hit.
By making yourself a harder target
to hit, the bad guys will pass you by for
an easier marka soft target. Crimi-
nals are looking to take the easy way
out. They want something for nothing,
which usually means taking advantage
of someone else. If it comes down to
burglarizing a home where the resi-
dents dont lock their doors at night, or
one that has a fence, a big dog and an
alarm system, guess which one the bur-
glar is going to choose?
Be that hard target and the bad guys
will avoid you like the plague, and
choose someone else to take advantage
of. That someone else may be your
How to be a
HARD TARGET
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOFT TARGET AND A HARD TARGET
IS ALL IN YOUR MIND. HOW TO GET INTO THE MENTAL GAME.
by Michael T. Rayburn
SPRI NG 2013 95
neighbor who doesnt lock his doors,
but thats your secondary concern.
Youve purchased this magazine and
are reading this article because youve
made a commitment to your personal
safety, and the safety of your loved
ones, that is your primary concern. Ev-
erything else is secondary. That may
sound cold to you, but thats life.
But how do you become a hard tar-
get? Well, there are a few simple things
you can do that will make you a harder
target to hit, which will in turn protect
you and your family. The rst is situ-
ational awareness. You need to know
where you are and who is in your im-
mediate area at all times. You do this
by having a 360-degree ring of percep-
tual awareness around you. This ring of
awareness should extend out to a mini-
mum distance of twenty-one feet.
We use twenty-one feet because a
person can cover twenty-one feet in
just a couple of seconds. If youre not
aware of someone within that distance,
or youre not paying attention to the
people in that area around you, you can
be caught off guard, which will cause
you to take longer to react to an imme-
diate threat.
Knowing where you are will allow
you to modify your ring of perceptual
awareness. If you were walking in a
suburban area you could extend that
ring out to a couple of blocks. If youre
walking in Times Square, that ring
would be less than twenty-one feet, be-
cause you cant possibly keep an eye on
that many people all at once, but thats
not to say you cant have a secondary
ring of perceptual awareness around
you. In a congested urban environment
you could have a ring that extends a
few feet where youre aware of every-
one around you, and then a secondary
ring where you just scan the crowd for
potential threats.
Think of it in terms of a Secret Ser-
vice Agent. You have some agents by
the Presidents side to take care of an
immediate threat, and then you have
others scanning the crowd looking for
possible threats. You can do the same
thing; you just have to work a little
harder at it by assuming both roles.
Anyone who looks suspicious in that
secondary ring should warrant your
special attention. That special attention
may be something as simple as cross-
ing the street to the other side.
Part of this perceptual awareness is
being prepared to take action. Whether
that action is resorting to the use of
deadly force, or just crossing the street
to the other side. There are a number
of color code charts out there that deal
with threat awareness, but most are
complicated and confusing, so let me
give you one thats easy to use and easy
to remember. Think of a trafc light.
There are only three colors, green,
yellow, and red. Green means go, ev-
erything is ne. An example of green
would be that youre at home with the
doors locked and that lazy dog of yours
is sleeping by the front door. Theres a
knock on the front door so you go into
condition yellow. Condition yellow
means the same thing as it does on a
trafc light, no it doesnt mean speed up,
it means use caution. You look through
the peephole in the door and see some-
one you dont recognize, so that yellow
light is burning a little brighter.
You go over to a window and covert-
ly look out to see if you can gure out
what this man wants. As you do this,
you see a second person hiding in the
WANTED
PRE-1964 WINCHESTERS
BELGIUM BROWNINGS
COLLECTORS COLTS
GERMAN WEATHERBYS
PARKER REPRO SHOTGUNS
BROWNING SXS SHOTGUNS
BEDLANS
PO BOX 244, FAIRBURY, NE 68352
CALL 402-729-6112
Closed Curtains
and Dog Sense
Always keep your shades or blinds
closed at all times, especially after
dark. You may be able to spot some-
one looking in your windows during
the day, but once it gets dark some-
one can stand just a few feet from a
window of a lighted room and never
be seen by the people on the inside.
If your house is being cased for a pos-
sible burglary or home invasion, why
give the bad guys an opportunity to
learn the layout of your home, and
your position within the house, by
just looking through a window?
Alarm systems are great, but if you
cant aord one do the nest best thing
and get a dog. Go to the pound and
save one. Not only will you be mak-
ing yourself a harder target to hit by
having a dog, but also youll be doing
a good deed for mans best friend.
It doesnt have to be a very big dog,
just one thats willing to get o of the
sofa and bark. Not only do you have
an early alert system, because most
dogs will bark long before a stranger
knocks on the door, but the dog acts
as a deterrent because most burglars
dont want to mess with a dog, no
matter how small it might be. Its not
so much the bite, but the bark that
alerts the homeowner and the neigh-
bors that worries the burglar.
A W A R E
shadows of your front porch. That per-
son is wearing a bandana over his face
and has a gun; you are now in condition
red. Condition red means you are pre-
pared and ready to take action, whatev-
er that action may be. For this example
it may mean drawing your rearm, in
the earlier example it was simply cross-
ing the street to the other side. Condi-
tion red means you have recognized a
threat, or a possible threat, and you are
prepared to take action.
Use this color code chart in your daily
life to help prepare you to take appro-
priate action should a threat arise. Once
you walk out the front door of your
house, you should be in condition yellow
at all times. As you walk down the street
you spot two people you dont recog-
nize walking toward you. That red light
in your head has just come on, so you
cross the street and go back into condi-
tion yellow. The two suspicious looking
characters cross the street with you, so
that red light has come back on, and its
burning brightits time to take action.
That action may mean just walking over
to a neighbors house and calling the po-
lice to report some suspicious looking
people, or it may mean being prepared
to draw your rearm if necessary.
This is not being paranoid; it is a
heightened state of awareness. If you
were walking down the street, not pay-
ing attention to where you are and who
is around you, you would be taken by
surprise when those two seedy charac-
ters approached you. We all know, or
at least we should know, that action is
always faster than reaction. If you wait-
ed until those two guys pointed a gun
at your head before you reacted, you
would be playing catch-up, if you ever
caught up at all. However, if youre
alert to your surroundings and who is
in those surroundings, your reaction
time is cut dramatically.
Think about it: you cross the street
and they cross with you. You cross back
again, and they cross with you. You
now stop, reach inside your jacket, put
your hand on your gun, and take up a
defensive position near a big tree just
in case. These two potential bad guys
may just walk right past you, because
they were never a threat in the rst
place. Or, they saw that you were pre-
pared and decided to pass you by for
a softer target. The good part is youll
never really know, but that doesnt
matter, because you were prepared for
whatever the outcome may have been.
These are just a few simple tips to
help you in becoming a harder target to
hit. By practicing and following these
few simple tips, youll not only make
yourself a harder target, but youll be
prepared should the bad guys make
the mistake of not passing you by for
a softer target. Always carry, be pre-
pared, have a plan and ght back no
matter what.
Michael T. Rayburn has over 30 years
of experience in law enforcement. He
is the author of ve books and is the
owner of Rayburn Law Enforcement
Training. www.combatgunghting.com
* Please read our Customer Disclosure and Transaction Agreement on our website at www.ussecurecoins.com. Texas residents add 8.25% sales
Original hard copy must be in
hand to place order.
AR E YOU PR E PAR E D ?
GE T YOU R G OL D AN D SI L V E R AM E RI C AN E AG L E S
F ROM U .S. SE C U R E COI N S T ODAY
*

C
o
i
n
s

n
o
t

t
o

s
c
a
l
e
, e
n
la
r
g
e
d
to
show detail
VAULT VERIFICATION #ULVRD990313M

2013 ON E DOL L AR
SI L VE R AM E RI CAN E AGL E
$29.
00
E ACH
2013 F I F T Y DOL L AR
GOL D AM E RI CAN E AGL E
$1,588.
00
E ACH
*
*
Ask about our
S K I L L E D
WISE
WORDS
HEEDED
Chance favours the prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur
It is not the strongest or the most
intelligent who will survive but those
who can best manage change.
Charles Darwin
...theres no harm
in hoping for the
best as long as
youre prepared
for the worst.
Stephen King
Before everything
else, getting ready is
the secret of success.
Henry Ford
Climate is what we
expect, weather is
what we get.
Mark Twain
Prepare for the
unknown by
studying how
others in the past
have coped with the
unforeseeable and
the unpredictable.
General George S.
Patton
To cherish what remains of the Earth
and to foster its renewal is our only
legitimate hope of survival.
Wendell Berry
Survival is a privilege which entails
obligations. I am forever asking myself what
I can do for those who have not survived.
Simon Wiesenthal
You can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug,
especially when its waving a razor sharp hunting knife in your eye.
Hunter S. Thompson
America is a country founded on guns. Its in our DNA. Its very
strange but I feel better having a gun. I really do. I dont feel safe,
I dont feel the house is completely safe, if I dont have one hidden
somewhere. Thats my thinking, right or wrong.
Brad Pitt
1-800-797-0867 www.AmericanGunsmith.com
.45 AUTO
DVD#1014
AR15
DVD#1034
SKS DVD#1044
AKS/MAK 90
DVD #1054
GLOCK
DVD#1064
DVD#1074
H&K 91,
93, 94, G-3
S & W
REVOLVERS
DVD#1084
RUGER 10/22
DVD#1094
REMINGTON 870
DVD#1114
REMINGTON 1100 & 1187
DVD#1124
WINCHESTER 1894
DVD#1134
RUGER
STANDARD
AUTO .22
DVD#1144
RUGER MINI-14
DVD#1154
M1 GARAND/M1A
DVD#1184
MOSSBERG 500
DVD#1194
FN-FAL
DVD#1224
COLT S.A.
DVD#1244
WINCHESTER 97
DVD#1254
BROWNING A-5,
REMINGTON 11,
SAVAGE 720
DVD#1274
MARLIN 90 SERIES
& GLENFIELD 60
DVD#1284
RUGER S.A.
REVOLVERS
DVD#1294
MARLIN 39 & 39A
LEVER ACTION .22 RIFLES
DVD#1334
REMINGTON 700
DVD#1354
WINCHESTER MODEL 12
DVD#1344
LUGER
PISTOLS
DVD#1304
CZ-75, E.A.A.
WITNESS
DVD#1314
TAURUS
REVOLVERS
DVD#1324
ENFIELD MKI, MKIII
& ISHAPORE
DVD#3074
UZI
DVD#1404
BROWNING
1919-A4
DVD#1394
STERLING SMG
DVD#1384
THOMPSON DVD#1374
RUGER DA
DVD#1464
CZ-52
DVD#1454
SPRINGFIELD
XD DVD#1444
MAUSER 98 DVD#1434
REMINGTON 742/762
DVD#1484
SAVAGE ARMS
10-116 SERIES
DVD#1474
H&K USP DVD#1504
S&W M&P
SEMI-AUTO
DVD#1494
S&W
AUTOS
DVD#1174
HI-STANDARD PISTOLS
DVD#1214
SIG
DVD#1234
BROWNING
HI-POWER
DVD#1024
BERETTA 92/
TAURUS P92
DVD#1104
WALTHER PPK/S
& FEG PA63 PISTOLS
DVD#1364
The Ultimate How-to Survival and Technical
Manuals for Your Guns on DVD from
Each video course begins with a clear demonstration of the internal workings of the firearm using a cutaway
gun, teaching you how each part is intended to function. We then guide you through the complete
step-by-step disassembly, cleaning and reassembly process, how to make basic repairs, provide tricks and tips,
and show you how to avoid common costly mistakes. These videos easily pay for themselves the very first time
they are viewed and you will enjoy watching them again and again. Only $39.95 each (plus s/h)
DVDs run 90 min. to 2 hours in length and each DVD includes a printable schematic!
1-800-797-0867 www.AmericanGunsmith.com
H&K MP5
DVD#1514
BERETTA
PX4 STORM
DVD#1544
FNH USA
FNP SERIES
DVD#1524
RUGER LCP/
LC9 & KEL-TEC
DVD#1564
RUGER
SR9
DVD#1534
CHARTER
ARMS BULLDOG DVD#1574
SPRINGFIELD 1903
RIFLE DVD#1554
AGI
1873, 1866 & 1876 RIFLES
DVD#1424
1892 & 1886 RIFLES
DVD#1414
MARLIN LEVER
ACTION1894 & 336 DVD#1264
MAKAROV
DVD#1164
M1/M2 CARBINE
DVD#1204
AGI Armorer's Courses
The Ultimate How-to Survival and Technical
Manuals for Your Guns on DVD from
BONUS: With your order you will automatically
receive a 2 Month FREE* Trial Membership in the
Gun Club of America! A $60 value! *Only $9.97 to
cover the shipping and handling for both free issues
with option to continue membership.
Get TWO FREE DVD
Magazines & Newsletters
Offer Code: LRd01a
Limit 3 free with 6 purchased.
Offer expires 6/30/13.
AGI
I c ar r y.
c ar r y o n
It s my choice. It s my right. It s my Taurus.
CarryOnMovement.com/Jessie
Scan to see Jessie in action.
National & World Champion Pistol
Shooter, Team Taurus Captain
9

Full SPR 13

Transféré par

Informations du document

Description originale:

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Full SPR 13

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

THE GO BAG

SMART GEAR FOR

combines all of the features and

CHIPPER KNIFE is made of forged alloy tool steel, making

Now Eliminating Your Financial

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi