Every Prepper Can Attest to this Fact ...

Prepping is a feel-good activity like no other.

Putting away that first quantity of storage food is a thrill. But that’s not the end of it.  All the follow-up additions to your growing larder deliver almost as much satisfaction as the first.

In fact, over time, as your preparedness supplies and gear stowage become more substantial, so does your ongoing sense of inner peace. It is not just a temporary adrenaline rush that others might get when they shop at the mall for “whatever floats their boat.”

Prepping results in a direct release of that anxiety that stems from feeling powerless over one’s future. You know—that low-ebb dread that builds over time as the result of the river of bad news and foreboding headlines that promise a bleak and dangerous future for all.

Smile in the Face of Danger

When you know that you’re actually in a position, due to your own wisdom and sacrifice,  to withstand some or most of the potential disasters that are on the horizon, your confidence and optimism lets you ride through even the worst news reports. Perhaps even with a bit of a smile on your face.

It’s not too late. Join the movement. Prepare for the crises ahead by putting away some long-term storage food and getting together your essential life-sustaining gear while the getting is good.

You cannot wait till the need for supplies is near and present. That’s when the foundations of civil society will be breaking down and chaos and desperation become the norm.

Your Options for Drinking Water in an Emergency

In a survival situation, clean drinking water is your most important resource. Depending on the environmental conditions and your physical activity, a person cannot safely go longer than a few days without water.

If you are embarking on a household preparedness effort, water needs to be at the top of your list. Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day to satisfy drinking and food-preparation needs. Beyond that, additional water is needed for hygiene.

If you can store purified or city-treated water in a cool dark area, that is an excellent start. Ideally, you want to use new water-storage containers or barrels that meet UN and FDA regulations. You should rotate/freshen your water storage every six months or so unless you treat that water with water preserver concentrate that can extend your shelf life to five years. (Household bleach is not a water preserver. In fact, bleach loses potency very quickly—any bleach that is beyond six months out of the factory is largely worthless for purification purposes.)

Purification

It’s good to have on hand several different capabilities for purifying water at the time it is needed.

Boiling: The old standby and probably the best method is the ability to boil water. Boil for at least 10-15 minutes to kill most bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Chemical disinfection: The next best option is to use a proper dosage of a commercially produced water purification tablet, such as Katadyn Micropur, Coghlan’s, or Potable-Aqua. Iodine products such as tincture of iodine or crystalline iodine are also effective. (Important: iodine can be lethal if used in quantities greater than recommended and iodine-treated water should not be used by pregnant women or consumed by anyone for more than a few weeks at a time.) Note that cryptosporidium and other parasites may not be killed using chemical disinfection methods. Be sure to follow directions for each product with measured water volumes.

Portable water filters: The thing to look for with water filters is the filter’s absolute pore size. Filters are designed to remove parasites (Giardia/Cryptosporidium) and have "absolute” pore sizes of 0.1 to 1-micrometer (the smaller the pore size, the better). They will also remove most diarrhea-causing bacteria. Most portable water filters do not remove viruses so chemical disinfection is recommended after filtration.

Chlorine (NOT a good option): Chlorine has been thought by many to be a reliable way of treating water, but it is risky doing so, since chlorine degrades so quickly (within months of manufacture) and loses its efficacy. Iodine or other stable water-treatment chemicals are more effective.

For more easy info on water treatment options, visit:

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm

Stop. Deep breath. Gut-check time ...

Anyone else feeling the hairs start to rise? 

 

I've been in the crisis preparedness business a long time now. I've been through a lot of periods where genuine crises, catastrophes, and tragedies have twisted the macro guy-wires about as tight as they will go. But we are in uncharted territory here.

 

Today, if you are still paying close attention, you recognize that the tension on society's many key guy wires are at the breaking point.

 

"If you are still paying close attention" is an important qualifier here. Over time, conditions where taut, massively stressful environments can assume the position of a redefined "normal" and you can ease into a numbingly comfortable pocket of denial. 

 

• The towering global economy has been sketched, stretched, and become so far-fetched that it quite simply is now a giant, swaying Jenga-saster teetering toward its long-delayed, earth-shaking tumble.
• International tensions across the globe are gearing up to levels not seen since pre-WWII ... and hot wars without boundaries are quite possibly imminent.
• Social, racial, political, and religious confrontations are extending beyond acceptable restraints into the realm of criminal assaults and incendiary media driven cheerleading.
• And speaking of criminals ... is anyone else having a hard time separating the good guys from the bad guys?

 

Today, our own country's power complex has assumed the attitude that its own people ... the traditional, conservative backbone of America ... pose the greatest "terrorist threat" to their own continuity.

 

Gut-Check Time

 

I don't really know where the breaking point will turn out to be or in what order the cascade of events will take place. But if you have managed to keep from being lulled into a sense of ill-timed complacency, then you will likely agree with me that we are now well into a period we might call primetime for a prepper gut-check.

 

Clearly the bottom is falling out. Support structures are failing and any social safety nets will be torn away. If you haven't gotten all your gear and supplies squared away by now and started focusing on critical security and self-defense issues, then you are behind the curve, my friends. 

 

At least that's what my gut tells me.

Hedge against rising prices with our Freeze Dried Pork Chops, Limited Quantity

We have limited quantities of Freeze Dried Pork Chops, will go fast.

These Pork Chops are current production over-runs, Manufactured in 2013, from a large military defense contractor. Although actual use is always classified on these kinds of bids, our information is that these are purchased for Executive Branch use, not for our troops in the field.

That usually means these go to underground bunkers for continuity of government use by strategic military leaders, congressional members and sometimes even white house staff or leadership.

• Each chop is 1/2 in thick prior to reconstitution
• #10 Cans
  
• 15-20 Chops per Can
• U.S. Gov't/Military Surplus
• 25+ year shelf life
• No Refrigeration Required
• Soak Pork chops in warm or hot tap water for 20 minutes & cook.
• And Viola they come out looking just fresh like you just bought it from grocer's shop and there is no shrinkage when cooked.
  

Price: $317.70

Members save extra

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• Buy 5 cases get $50 off
• Buy 10 cases get $100 off

Note: discounts will be applied on checkout

Future of Food: Food Security in an Insecure World

Published on Aug 6, 2014

Feeding a growing global population is a challenge that spans industries and governments. A panel discusses how research, technology, policy, and engagement with local farmers could help build a comprehensive strategy for improving our food system.

MODERATOR:
Terry Garcia - Chief Science & Exploration Officer, National Geographic Society

PARTICIPANTS:
Dan Glickman - Co-Chair, AGree
Tjada D'Oyen McKenna - Feed the Future, USAID
Danielle Nierenberg - Co-Founder and President, Food Tank
Jack Sinclair - Executive Vice President, Walmart U.S.

At National Geographic's Future of Food forum on May 2, 2014, leading experts gathered to discuss how we can feed a global population set to top nine billion by 2050.

Berkey Approved info about Algae Bloom

ALGAE BLOOM – FAQ

Below is some information that might be helpful, with respect to the recent Algae

Bloom and resulting contamination of the water supply to Toledo, Ohio:

“...Cyanobacterial cells range in size from 0.5-1 μm to 40 μm in diameter...”

In other words, it's a long skinny bacteria.

http://huey.colorado.edu/cyanobacteria/about/cyanobacteria.php


Internet research seems to indicate that cyanobacteria are even larger, typically

on the scale of 150 micrometers in size.

While we have not tested the specific microbes associated with Algae Blooms, we

have tested other pathogenic bacteria and two viruses, which are a small fraction

of the size of these microbes.

To understand the difference between the size of pathogenic bacteria and

viruses, we suggest the following web link as it will give you a great visual of the

The University of Utah Cell Size and Scale Chart:

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cells/scale/

Slide the scale at the bottom to see the size of virus vs bacteria vs other potential

contaminates and magnify to greater levels.


Black BerkeyTM purification elements have been tested to remove both

pathogenic bacteria and viruses to greater than the EPA purification standards.

This suggests that larger bacteria, such as cyanobacteria, should also be

effectively removed. Without test data on that specific microbe however, NMCL

does not make that specific claim.

The MS-2 virus is 24-26 nm in size.

The Fr Coliphage virus is 25nm in size.


In other words, they are over 1,000 times smaller than Cyanobateria.

Additionally Microcystins, which are the chemical contaminates resulting from

cyanobacteria are an organic chemical. Testing of Black BerkeyTM elements has

demonstrated they are extremely efficient at removing organic chemicals.

The EPA defines Microcystins as: “...toxins produced by cyanobacteria.


Cyanobacteria are also known as blue-green algae and are ubiquitous in surface water

when conditions are favorable for growth and formation of algal blooms. Cyanobacteria

release toxins upon cell death or lysis. When released, toxins may persist for weeks to

months. Toxins of most concern are microcystins. Microcystins take their name from the

genera Microcystis. Most microcystins are hepatotoxins (liver toxins). Hepatotoxins are

produced by species of the genera Microcystis, Anabena, Nodularia, Oscillatoria among

others. Most microcystins are associated with Microcystis aeruginosa. While the liver is

the primary target of microcystins, it is also a skin, eye and throat irritant...”

http://iaspub.epa.gov/tdb/pages/contaminant/contaminantOverview.do


Further, the EPA states that: “...The following processes are considered effective for

the removal/oxidation of microcystin:.... powdered activated carbon (up to 100% for

some microcystins but less so for others), granular activated carbon (time-dependent

from 100% near start up to 38 to 73% at 3.5 months...”

http://iaspub.epa.gov/tdb/pages/contaminant/treatmentSummary.do


Finally, the EPA states that: “...Removal of total microcystins, M-LR, and M-LA, in

water by granular activated carbon (GAC) can be very effective where the effectiveness

is based on the empty bed contact time, the carbon's age, and possible biodegradation

of the toxin. Time-dependent monitoring in a full-scale plant ranged 43 to 60 percent

removal for M-LR. Time-dependent monitoring in pilot-scale studies ranged from greater

than 99 percent at one month to 73 percent at 3.5 months for M-LR, and from greater

than 99 percent at one month to 38 percent at 3.5 months for M-LA...”

http://iaspub.epa.gov/tdb/pages/contaminantProcess/contaminantProcessOverview.do


Based upon the above Internet research, Black BerkeyTM element microbe and

organic chemical removal test data and the information provided by the EPA in

their reference material cited above; these all suggest that Berkey® water

purification systems should be extremely effective at removing and reducing

contaminates resulting from the current algae bloom. NMCL also highly

recommends that whenever possible, the cleanest source water available should always be utilized.

Ultimate in water borne contamination removal | Available in CA too | Free Sports Berkey

World leader in portable water filtration

Berkey water filter systems come in several different models, all shown on this page for comparison. Each model was engineered with a specific set of guidelines in mind. The most important factor to consider is the number of people that the specific Berkey water filter model would be able to supply drinking water for. A second factor is, how would you be using the filter? Would you be using the water filter system to supply just drinking water or would the water from the Berkey also be needed for hygiene and cooking purposes? Finally would you be using the Berkey system for everyday use or only in emergencies? All models produce the same quality of water (purified). The difference between the models is the amount of water that they are able to produce per hour and the size of the storage container. 

Members who signup for our Loyalty program save even more. Members save extra

 

Berkey Water Filters Now in California Too!

 

For several years, Berkey Water Filters could not be shipped to California residents. This limitation was due to somewhat ambiguous regulations that went into effect January 1, 2010. The regulations were not only vague but the related requirements also made it very costly, if not impossible, for smaller companies to comply with the regulations that were unique to the state of California.

The systems that fall under this category and are therefore now available to California residents are:

1. Sports Berkey 
2. Travel Berkey
3. Berkey Lights (with or without LED lights

Summer Traveler's Special Buy travel berkey & get sports berkey FREE !! Berkey is offering a Summer Traveler's Special. For a limited time, with the purchase of a Travel Berkey® system, a free generic Sport Berkey® Portable Water Filter will be included.

The compact Travel Berkey® system is the perfect system for use during travel & any outdoor activities or during unexpected emergencies. The Travel Berkey® system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts & parasites entirely & extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 & trihalomethanes.  It also reduces nitrates, nitrites & unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury.

Travel Berkey Filters

$246

Sports Berkey The Sport Berkey Portable Water Filter is the ideal personal protection traveling companion  - featuring the IONIC ADSORPTION FILTRATION SYSTEM.   $37.00 Crown Berkey Water Filters    The Crown Berkey is our largest purifier model and is ideal for use with very large sized groups (40-150 people) at home, churches, hospitals and orphanages. $325

Imperial Berkey This versatile purifier model is the ideal system for use with large sized groups 25-75 people, at home, churches, hospitals, and orphanages.   $310.00	Royal Berkey Water Filters Versatile purifier model ideal for home use and large-sized families (from 4 to 26 people) or during emergencies. $283