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Pickle and Relish Page 2 Recipes like Pickled Ginger or Pickled Beets Recipes

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Here is a link for Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, Ohio. The have a lot of non-electric items and other items used by the Amish.

One does not have to be a prophet to know that we are on the precipice of

> some potentially catastrophic--or at the very least, challenging--days.

> In

> fact, most of us are already in challenging days, and some are already

> enduring catastrophic events. That is, if one would call being out of

> work,

> losing one's home, facing life-threatening medical conditions without any

> prospect of medical insurance, several families being forced to live in

> one

> house due to homes being foreclosed, etc., catastrophic.

> 

> The potential for an escalation of cataclysmic events, however, is very

> real. Only a "blooming idiot" would call someone who attempts to prepare

> for

> "the day of adversity" a Chicken Little now. Anyone who does not see the

> storm clouds on the horizon isn't paying attention.

> 

> For example, can one imagine what would happen if terrorists nuked a major

> American city or cities? (Once again, I encourage readers to go get the

> videos of the CBS TV series "Jericho" to get an idea of how quickly life,

> and even civilization, could change.) Imagine if there was another

> 9/11-type

> event. What would happen if some form of Zimbabwe-style inflation hit the

> US? What would happen if anything disrupted the distribution of Welfare

> checks, or food to local grocers? Imagine a Hurricane Katrina-style

> natural

> disaster in your town. I think people everywhere are beginning to awaken

> to

> just how vulnerable we all really are.

> 

> As a result, people from virtually every walk of life have recently been

> asking my thoughts on how they should prepare. Therefore, I will attempt

> to

> share with my readers some of the counsel I have given these folks.

> 

> First, a disclaimer. I am not an economist; I am not a survival expert; I

> am

> not a firearms expert; I am not an attorney; I am not a physician. In

> fact,

> I am not an expert in anything! For several years, however, I have tried

> to

> learn from others. I am an avid reader. My work has allowed me to travel

> extensively. I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of--and

> learning from--many of America's most learned, most trained, and most

> qualified "experts" in a variety of fields. What I write today, I have

> learned from others. I've formed my own opinions and priorities, of

> course,

> but everything I'm sharing has been said, or written about, before. But if

> I

> can share something in today's column that will help someone be better

> prepared for the days to come, then my goal will have been achieved.

> 

> Location:

> 

> First, analyze your living conditions. Where do you live? Do you live in

> an

> urban or rural environment? Is it a big city or small town? Do you live in

> an apartment or condominium? How close are your neighbors? Do you even

> know

> your neighbors? Would you trust them if the electricity was off and they

> were hungry? Could you grow your own food, if you had to? How easily could

> you secure your home? If you live in a cold weather environment, how long

> could you stay warm without electricity? These are the kinds of questions

> you need to ask yourself now.

> 

> Over the past several decades, masses of people have migrated into large

> metropolitan areas. More people live in urban areas than at any time in

> American history. While this may be well and good for times of prosperity,

> it is an absolute nightmare in any kind of disaster. Does anyone remember

> what New Orleans looked like after Hurricane Katrina came through? Can

> anyone recall what happened in downtown Los Angeles during the 1992 riots?

> Needless to say, any inner-city environment could become a powder keg

> almost

> instantaneously, given the right (or wrong) circumstances. And the bigger

> the city, the bigger the potential problems.

> 

> If you live in the inner city, I suggest you consider moving to a more

> rural

> location. Obviously, now is a very good time to buy property (especially

> rural property), but the downside is, selling property is not as

> favorable.

> If you can afford it, now is a great time to buy a "safe house" outside

> the

> city. If you are fortunate enough to have family or some true friends

> nearby, you might want to put your heads--and some resources--together in

> preparation for serious upheaval. Obviously, a team of prepared people is

> much better than being alone.

> 

> If you must stay in your urban location, have some commonsense plans in

> hand

> in the event of a major disaster. Get to know your neighbors: find out

> whom

> you can trust and whom you can't. Keep some extra gasoline on hand, in

> case

> you need to get in your car quickly and leave. Have several exit routes

> planned ahead of time, in case roads are blocked. Have a "bug-out" bag

> containing essential ingredients to live on for 3 or 4 days. If leaving is

> not an option, have a plan to secure your home as best you can. You'll

> need

> to think about things such as food, water, medicine, warmth, self-defense,

> etc. But at this point, to do nothing is absolute lunacy!

> 

> Provisions:

> 

> During a major disaster, food will quickly disappear. Living for over 3

> decades on the Gulf Coast, I can tell you with absolute certainty that

> whenever disaster strikes (usually an approaching hurricane, for us), food

> and provisions at the store sell completely out in a matter of a few

> hours.

> People panic, and within hours, you cannot find food, bottled water, ice,

> generators, batteries, candles, etc. In a matter of hours, every gas

> station

> in the area will be completely out of gas. Not days. Hours!

> 

> Furthermore, almost all disasters include a complete loss of electricity.

> The water supply is compromised. Bottled water becomes more valuable than

> bank accounts. Dehydration becomes a very real and present danger. I

> remember witnessing a man offer an ice vendor $100 for an extra bag of ice

> during Hurricane Ivan. My wife and I went 2 weeks (14 days) without

> electricity in the aftermath of that hurricane. Believe me, I got a taste

> of

> just how precious bottled water, ice, batteries, generators, fuel, etc.,

> can

> become.

> 

> I suggest you have a supply of food and water to last at least 2 weeks. A

> month would be even better. Personally, I can live a long time on tuna

> fish

> or peanut butter. You can purchase MREs from a variety of sources, as well

> as "camp-style" packaged food from stores such as Academy Sports &

> Outdoors.

> Of course, bottled water is available everywhere during normal times.

> Stock

> up! Plus, I suggest you have some water purification tablets or a Katadyn

> water filter on hand. And, if you are able, prepare to grow your own food.

> Canning food is another very helpful hedge against deprivation. If your

> parents were like mine, this was standard operating procedure.

> 

> Get a generator. Keep a supply of fuel on hand. Stay stocked up on

> batteries, candles, portable lights, first aid supplies, and personal

> hygiene items--especially toilet paper. Trust me, during times of intense

> and prolonged disaster, toilet paper could become more valuable than

> money.

> I also suggest you never run out of lighters or matches. You never know

> when

> you'll need to build a fire, and during a prolonged survival situation,

> fire

> could save your life. If you live in a cold weather climate, you probably

> already have some sort of wood stove or fireplace.

> 

> Obviously, you need to take stock of your clothing. Do you have clothes

> suitable for extended outdoor activity? What about boots? During a

> disaster,

> you would trade your best suit from Neiman Marcus for a good pair of

> boots.

> Do you have gloves? Insulated underwear? What about camouflage clothing?

> These could become essential outerwear in the right conditions. Plus, any

> "bug-out" bag will need to include spare clothing.

> 

> And one more suggestion, while we're on this subject: the best resources

> in

> the world are of little use if one is physically incapable of making good

> use of them. In other words, GET IN SHAPE. During any kind of emergency

> situation, physical exertion and stamina become immensely important.

> 

> Commodities:

> 

> I suggest you have at least some cash on hand. Just about any and all

> disasters will result in banks being closed for extended periods of time.

> That also means credit card purchases being suspended. You need to have

> enough cash to be able to purchase essential goods (if they are even

> available) for an undetermined amount of time.

> 

> Of course, some survival gurus insist that during any cataclysmic climate,

> precious metals will become the only reliable currency. But when most of

> us

> are trying to feed our families and pay our bills, it is difficult to get

> excited about buying gold and silver. Obviously, I would never recommend

> that anyone jeopardize the present on the altar of the future. My parents

> made it through the Great Depression with canned goods and garden

> vegetables; gold and silver were certainly not a priority with them. And

> maybe it should not be with you, either?

> 

> In fact, in a disaster, what is considered a valuable commodity can change

> rather quickly, as the barter system takes a life of its own. What is

> valuable is determined by what you need and how badly you need it. In a

> prolonged disaster, simple things such as toilet paper, canned goods,

> ammunition, and clothing could become extremely valuable; while cars,

> video

> games, televisions, etc., could be reduced to junk status. In antiquity,

> wars were fought over things such as salt.

> 

> Speaking of cars, remember that during a prolonged "national emergency"

> that

> might involve some sort of nuclear attack or widespread civil unrest, an

> Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) might be employed; in which case, most every

> late model vehicle would be completely inoperable. Accordingly, if one can

> keep an older, pre-computer-age vehicle in good working order, he or she

> might be driving the only non-government vehicle capable of going

> anywhere.

> 

> Self-Defense:

> 

> Needless to say, during any kind of disaster, your safety and protection

> will be completely up to you. If you really think that the police are

> going

> to be able to protect you during an upheaval, you are living in a

> dreamworld.

> 

> In both the New Orleans and Los Angeles disasters, police protection was

> non-existent. Lawless gangs quickly took control of the streets, and

> people

> were left to either defend themselves or swiftly become the helpless prey

> of

> violent marauders. In fact, in New Orleans, some of the policemen actually

> abandoned their oaths to uphold the law and joined with the criminals,

> turning their weapons upon the public.

> 

> Face it, folks: in any kind of disaster, you must be able to defend

> yourself, or you and your family will be meat for these animals of society

> that will quickly descend without mercy upon the unprepared, unsuspecting

> souls around them. This requires that you be armed! It also requires that

> you be skilled enough to be able to efficiently use your arms.

> 

> Therefore, I strongly suggest that you purchase firearms sufficient to

> keep

> you and your family safe, and also that you practice sufficiently to know

> how to proficiently use them.

> 

> Now, when it comes to a discussion of which firearms are preferable for

> self-defense, the suggestions are as varied as the people who proffer

> them.

> These are my suggestions:

> 

> I believe every man (along with his wife and children of adequate age)

> should be proficient with the following weapons: a handgun in .38 caliber

> or

> above, a .22 rifle, a center-fire hunting rifle, a semi-automatic battle

> rifle, and a shotgun.

> 

> My personal preference for a self-defense handgun is either a .45 ACP 1911

> (either Colt or Kimber) or a .40 S&W. In the .40 caliber, my favorite is a

> Glock 23. In the 1911, I like the Commander size configuration. I also

> like

> the Glock 30 and 36 in .45 caliber. My wife prefers to carry a Smith &

> Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the snub-nose, J-frame configuration. But

> this is primarily due to the reduced weight of these weapons for carry

> purposes. If needed, she could make a good accounting of herself with a

> Glock 19 in 9mm. If you are someone who has never owned and seldom fired a

> handgun, I recommend you buy a Glock. They are as simple as revolvers to

> operate, reliable, and almost indestructible. Plus, they provide increased

> magazine capacity, and are safe. They are also very easy to disassemble

> and

> clean.

> 

> For a .22 rifle, I really like the Ruger 10/22. For a hunting rifle, my

> suggestion is either a .270 or .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle. (If I had

> to pick one, I'd pick the .30-06.) I prefer the Remington Model 700 BDL,

> but

> there are several fine weapons in this configuration and caliber by

> numerous

> manufacturers. For a battle rifle, I suggest an AR-15-style weapon in .223

> caliber. Here I prefer a Bushmaster. (Please, I don't need to hear from

> all

> you .308 lovers out there. I love the Springfield M1A, too.) For a

> shotgun,

> I suggest a 12-gauge pump. Here I prefer a Winchester Model 1300, which is

> not made anymore. So, you'll probably have to choose between Mossberg and

> Remington.

> 

> Whatever you choose, practice with it to the point that you are able to

> use

> it proficiently. And be sure you stock up on ammunition. A gun without

> ammo

> is reduced to being either an expensive club or a cumbersome paperweight.

> 

> Spiritual Power:

> 

> I firmly believe that man is created to have fellowship with his

> Creator-God. I really don't know how people can face the uncertain future

> that we currently face without the spiritual knowledge, wisdom, comfort,

> and

> power that is made available through Jesus Christ. I believe the maxim is

> true: "Wise men still seek Him." I strongly suggest that you seek to

> possess

> a personal relationship with God's only begotten Son.

> 

> That we are facing challenging days is a certainty. Exactly what that

> means

> is yet to be determined. I trust that some of my suggestions will help you

> be better prepared for what lies before us.

Hard Tack