Author: timothyfrench15

Hello, my name is Timothy French. I’m a blogger, writer, and author of Every Yard Is A Grave. A Post-Apocalyptic Novella.

A damn good sleeping bag

I’ve been hiking in the winter cold all day; It’s almost dark, and the world I left behind is in chaos. The grid’s been down for three weeks; and my neighbors, well they all turned on me when they found my supplies. I just barely got out of there with my life, and I’m too tired to build a fire. All I want to do is sleep, and I can do that because I bought a damn good sleeping bag.

A good bag is a lifesaver when you’re on the move. Having one means you don’t have to start a fire when it’s cold and wet. Just set up the tent, get inside, dry off, and crawl in.

There are three primary types of sleeping bags

Winter bags typically come with temperature ratings of 0°, -20°, and -40° degrees.

Three season bags are the most popular and vary in quality. Fortunately, low quality and high-quality bags cost about the same, so spend the extra money for a good one. Temperature ratings for these bags also vary, but I would not get one rated higher than 20° degrees. Remember your buying a survival bag, and your doomsday can hit any time of the year.

And finally, summer bags are typically lighter but have higher temperature ratings.

What’s Inside Matters

What’s inside the bag matters too, and there are two basic choices, goose down and synthetic. The main thing to remember is, goose down will be lighter, less bulky, and warmer as long as it’s dry and synthetic will be heavier, but will still keep you warm when wet.

The best “rule of thumb” to use when deciding on which bag to buy is to add 10-15° degrees to the actual temperature rating; for example, you should always assume a sleeping bag rated to 20° degrees, will only work to temperatures of 30-35° degrees.

Shape

Their shape is also important. A mummy bag is form fitting and holds heat well, while a square bag allows you to move around in it at the expense of heat loss. There are also other shapes that work well, and some bags have sleeves built into them to hold a sleeping pad.

Other Options

There are other options you can get with a sleeping bag that you may or may not feel you need: right or left side zipper, inside pockets for example.

Just Remember

It is always better to have a bag that is a “bit too warm” than “not warm enough,” when it comes to your survival on a cold winter night.

My wife wanted to know why I bought more salt

My wife asked, “why did you buy more salt?”

And I said smugly, “To cook and preserve food with if the grid goes down. What else would I be buying it for?”

And she said, “Oh, I thought you might be buying it to make industrial chemicals, you know they use salt for that.

It’s used cleaning as well.

De-icing sidewalks, maybe?

How about using it as a poison ivy remedy, or weed killer for that grass in the sidewalk?

You could use it to fix that hole in the laundry room sheetrock if you mix it with a little water and cornstarch.

It’s good for putting out grease fires too.

And since the grids going down, you might want to buy some to put in the water you’ll be using this winter to rinse your clothes with; just a little bit will keep them from freezing on the line,” she said smugly.

And I said… I said nothing because I wanted to live long enough to see doomsday.

How much food can you put in a food grade bucket

In general, five-gallon food-grade buckets can hold:

37 pounds of wheat

33 pounds of cornmeal

33 pounds of flour

36 pounds of rice

35 pounds of dried beans

35 pounds of sugar

37 pounds of whole corn

21 pounds of rolled oats

21 pounds of macaroni

29 pound of spaghetti

Density, size, and shape will determine the exact amount, but at least you have a good idea to go by for whatever you want to store in them.

Firewood, it’s not all the same

The burning properties of wood depend on the type.

Hardwoods are generally denser than softwoods, and therefore burn longer and produce more heat. Hardwoods are also less resinous than softwoods and, therefore, less likely to result in a build-up of tar deposits.

Despite being more efficient, hardwood can be difficult to ignite. Softwood, with its resinous and fibrous nature, is best for starting fires.

Once a fire has been established, it’s best fueled with hardwood to maintain a slow-burning fire with good heat output.

So, It would be best if you took the time to learn about the wood in your area. You will be glad you did if you ever have to start a fire in the rain.

Some common ones are listed below:

Alder is a hardwood that gives off poor heat and does not last very long.

Apple is a hardwood that burns slow and steady, with little flame, but good heat.

Ash is a hardwood with low moisture content. It can be burned green and gives off good flame and heat.

Beech is a hardwood that has a high water content but gives off good flame and heat.

Birch is a hardwood that gives off good heat but burns quickly, good for starting fires.

Blackthorn is a hardwood that gives off good heat with little smoke, and burns slowly.

Cedar is a softwood that has little flame but gives off good heat.

Cherry is a hardwood that burns slowly and gives off good heat.

Chestnut is a hardwood that has little flame and does not give off good heat.

Douglas Fir is a softwood that has little flame and does not give off good heat.

Elder is a very smoky hardwood, burns quick, and does not give off good heat.

Elm is a hardwood that has a high moisture content but gives off good heat and burns slowly.

Hawthron is a hardwood that has good flame good heat and gives off little smoke.

Hazel is a hardwood that gives off a good flame, burns quickly, and gives off good heat.

Holly is a hardwood that will burn green, has a good flame, and gives off good heat.

Hornbeam is a hardwood that gives off good flame and heat and will burn when green, but not as good as beech.

Larch is a softwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Lime is a hardwood that has a dull flame and does not give off good heat.

Maple is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Oak is a hardwood that has a dull flame, and the smoke is acrid, but it burns slow and steady.

Pear is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Pine is a softwood that has good flame and gives off good heat. It is good for kindling due to the resin.

Plane is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Plum is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Poplar is a softwood that has little flame and does not give off good heat.

Rhododendron is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat.

Robinia is a hardwood that has an acrid smoke but burns slowly with good heat.

Rowan is a hardwood that has good flame and gives off good heat. 

Spruce is a softwood that burns fast with lots of sparks.

Sycamore is a hardwood that has a good flame but has moderate heat output.

Walnut is a hardwood that has moderate flame and heat.

Willow is a hardwood that has a high water content with little flame, and burns slowly.

Yew is a hardwood that burns slowly and gives off good heat.

Tarp vs. tent, the great debate.

Tarp vs. tent, the subject of many survival debates, but I choose the tent, and here’s why.

The tarp can be used for many things, including shelter, but is always open to the environment.

The tent is good for one thing only, providing shelter from bugs and weather.

The tarp can be set up next to a fire for heat reflection.

The tent cannot be set up next to a fire, but who needs a fire if you have a good sleeping bag.

The tarp takes longer to set up, and you may need to cut wood for poles.

The tent sets up quickly and comes with poles.

The tarp is lightweight and small.

The tent weighs more and is slightly bigger due to poles, but not by much for what it offers.

The tarp is great for bushcrafting.

The tent is great for survival situations, in my opinion, because it offers the best weather protection.

One hour from home, an easy drive, a long walk with a get-home-bag

I was coming back from Charlotte, NC, last night to my home in Lexington, NC. It was raining and cold; I was one hour from home.

As I drove to the sound of a squeaky windshield wiper, my mind wandered, and I began to think about the unthinkable, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). What if one struck right now.

I have grown accustomed to this easy drive, but now I would have to walk the rest of the way home. With 50 miles to go, it would take me 20 hours, walking none stop at 2.5 miles an hour. This was not going to be pleasant, but I would get there; my wife, scared, would be waiting for me.

Luckily we planned for something like this, and I have my GHB (get-home-bag) with me. In it, I have water, rain gear, tube tent, food, medical kit, emergency kit, etc.

Fortunately, this was only playing out in my head.

What if it really happened? Would you be ready for the long walk home?

I recommend everyone keep a GHB kit in their car.

Water storage, a lifesaver during disasters

Water storage can seem overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to store a month’s worth per person. That’s one gallon per person, per day. Luckily we have options

Water Bottles

Bottled water is the first thing people buy when they start storing water, but it can take up a lot of space. The average 24 bottle case of water is roughly 15″ wide by 8″ tall and totals 3.16 gallons of water. You will need to buy 9.5 cases for one person. A family of four would need to buy 38 cases for a one-month water storage plan.

Water Jugs

Water jugs are an option that will take up less space. A family of four would need to buy twenty-four 5 gallon jugs for a one month plan.

Water Barrels

Barrels can store large amounts of water, and they come in many different sizes. For that reason, a family of four could buy three 50 gallon barrels for a one-month supply, or two 60 gallon barrels. Rain barrels could also be used, but the water in them would need to be filtered and purified before drinking.

Water Tanks

Water tanks are the best option for storing large amounts of water, and they are available in a variety of sizes as well. A family of four would need to buy one 120 gallon tank for a one month supply.

Swimming Pools

If you have an average size chlorinated swimming pool at your disposal, you can drink it in an emergency. The recommended chlorine levels in pools are 2 parts per million, and levels below 4 parts per million are safe to drink. The only problem with using this storage method comes from the algae and bacteria that grow in it before and after the power goes out. You will need to, filter, treat, and move that water into storage containers as soon as possible.

Natural Sources

You could reach your one-month goal by having a well, spring, lake, or creek on your property. The only problem with this method would come with some type of contamination or long-duration drought.

In Conclusion

If your space is limited, you will have to store less, so making yourself aware of all water sources in your area is smart.

The best way to keep your water clean is by using chlorine or water treatment drops. You can also treat your water with regular liquid bleach adding 8 drops (almost one-eighth U.S. teaspoon) of regular liquid bleach per one gallon of water to be treated.