The Perfect Refrigerator - August Idea of the Month

Most refrigerators are set at around 36 to 40 degrees, but the perfect temperature is right at 32 degrees. However, if you were to set your refrigerator at 32 degrees, the temperature would fluctuate enough that you would most likely end up freezing some foods. This is why most people tend to set their refrigerator temperatures slightly higher so that things stay cold, but not frozen.
  

If in an emergency, and ice is available, you can actually make a perfect refrigerator. Make this by putting clean ice in a cooler. Then, fill cooler with clean water to the point where it barely covers the ice. Now, put food items in the ice bath in a sealed container.

Make sure to use clean ice and clean water (do not add salt, it changes freezing temperature of water) 

This ice water bath keeps food right at 32 degrees but won't freeze it, and provides a longer shelf life to the foods because of colder temperatures. 

If you'd like to know the science behind this concept, check this out:

 

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/at-what-temperature-does-water-freeze-1120813/

Car Window Hammer - May Idea of the Month

Instead of buying an expensive car window safety hammer (used to break a car window in case of an emergency) you can buy a welders chipping hammer (used for chipping slag off of welds) for around 5 dollars and up.

When you watch REAL safety hammer testing on YouTube a lot of those safety hammers don't work very well. To break glass effectively you need a good sharp point and some steel behind it.

That is why a 5 dollar chipping hammer works so much better.

-----------------Traditional Car Window Safety Hammer Vs. Welders Chipping Hammer --------------------

You will also want to have something for cutting a stuck seat belt. For this you can't beat a good pair of scissors. Put the chipping hammer, scissors, and a pair of leather gloves in a safe but easy spot to get to in your car.

There are a lot of videos on YouTube of people leaving kids and pets in hot cars and people having to break glass to get them out. Having tools like this will make this a lot easier.

Camping Toilet - April Idea of the Month

Ever been out camping and had no where to go when nature calls? 

Here is the perfect redneck solution!

Oftentimes, camping stores will have small bucket toilets 

or regular camping toilets that are just too small. 

Using a regular toilet seat at a regular height is so much more comfortable.

This “toilet” is made from a plastic 55 gallon drum, 

and a toilet seat from a hardware store (the bolts come with the seat).

To make:

1.       Mark the drum, measuring from the bottom up to your preferred height. I chose to make mine 18 inches high, so I marked the drum at that height and drew a line on the drum. Then cut around the entire drum with a skill saw.

2.       Drill two holes where you want the toilet seat to be mounted on the bottom of the drum, then bolt it on. 

3.       Drop the seat and trace along the inside rim. Then, lift the seat up and cut out that hole with a jigsaw.

To use:

             1. Dig a hole approximately 12 inches in diameter, and the 
              depth that you desire. 

             2. Set your "toilet" over the hole and it is ready for use!

It is easy to clean; but most importantly, 

it's enclosed so you don't get splashes on your leg! (eeeeek!)

It also doesn't take up too much space in storage. 

The amazing thing about this setup is when it is cleaned, disinfected, and in storage, you can put other preparedness equipment inside such as cleaning supplies or toilet paper therefore using all available space.

Redneck Vacuum Sealing - March Idea of the Month

Freezing is a very common and useful way to preserve food.
Before putting food in a Ziploc bag and throwing it into the freezer (or fridge),

vacuum seal it to extend the shelf life.

There are many ways that this can be done,

but I find my method to be simple, cheap, and efficient.

How to:
Put food into a Ziploc bag.

Insert a straw into the bag and then seal it up to the point of the straw.

Use your mouth to draw the remaining air out of the bag.

While still sucking, pull the straw out and quickly zip up the bag the rest of the way.

Atmit - February Idea of the Month

What is atmit?

 

“Atmit is a nutritional supplement used to fight famine in impoverished countries. The creamy, nutritious food is indigenous to Ethiopia and is now used to feed the severely malnourished and weakened adults and children. The word atmit originated in Ethiopia and refers to a kind of "thin, nourishing porridge”

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmit

 

My family loves my version of this recipe.

We often eat it for breakfast and make homemade “survival bars” for snacks.

 

 

Atmit

• 3 cups oat flour (you can make this by simply dry blending rolled oats in a blender until it is a powder)
• 1 ½ cups powdered milk
• ¾ to 1 cup sugar 

Directions:

This recipe can be made many different ways. If someone hasn’t eaten for a few days,

then a thin, runny consistency helps to ease their body back into eating food.

My kids like it thicker—some of them even like it with a bit of milk.

With this in mind, the three ingredients up above are added to boiling water (very similar to making oatmeal or other such breakfast foods). The amount of water varies because of preferred thicknesses.

 

 

Atmit survival bars

• Dry atmit mix
• Peanut butter

Directions:

Add small amounts of peanut butter to atmit mix

and stir until you can mold it in your hand without being sticky

Note: additional ingredients of your choice can be added

such as mini chocolate chips, or shredded coconut etc.