Elephant? What Elephant?

"When there’s an elephant in the room, introduce him." Randy Pausch (1960-2008) American Author and Lecturer We've saved the best for last today, so be sure to read this issue all the way to the bottom. And don't cheat! This Week's Sponsor: June Special from Freeze Dry Guy A full month of rewards! 10% back in "Survival Bucks" on any purchase, plus FREE SHIPPING! All Freeze Dried Foods All Dehydrated Foods All Heirloom Seeds Preparedness Items Instant Savings on any of the FDG Clubs: up to $100 back!! Get the details here. Hurry! Offer ends June 30, 2010. The Prepper Shaker: When the Elephant Knocks at Your Door Disasters of all kinds, including the unfolding catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, can and do have the potential to forcibly evict millions of people from their homes. Americans are told that they should have on hand at least 72 hours worth of preparedness supplies. While that doesn’t guarantee your survival in an emergency, it’s better to have resources available to grab and go than to find yourself asking where your next meal is going to come from or where you can get drinking water when the elephant comes knocking at your door. How do you put together a 72-hour (or longer) emergency kit on a budget? BlindSquirl, a new contributor to Doctor Prepper's Journal, shares what has worked for him, with focus on affordability and function. Download: 72-Hour (or Longer) Emergency Kit on a Budget From the Funny Farm: How to Meet God Prep Talk: Got Your Ears On? A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square. It was during the noon lunch hour, and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket." His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!" "No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket." "That's crazy," said the friend. The Native American listened carefully for a moment. Then he walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. "That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have super-human ears!" "No," said the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for." "But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise." "Yes, it's true," came the reply."It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, discreetly dropping them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, every head within twenty feet turned and looked to see if the money that clinked on the pavement was theirs. "See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you." - Author Unknown Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Bee-Prepared! A man was driving down the road and ran out of gas. Just at that moment, a bee flew in his window. The bee said, "What seems to be the problem?" "I'm out of gas," the man replied. The bee told the man to wait right there and flew away. Minutes later, the man watched as an entire swarm of bees flew to his car and into his gas tank. After a few minutes, the bees flew out. "Try it now," said one bee. The man turned the ignition key and the car started right up. "Wow!" the man exclaimed, "What did you put in my gas tank?" The bee answered: ...Wait for it. Wait for it... ...C'mon now--you're a prepper. You can handle what's coming!... ...You're just gonna love this... I see you smiling!!! Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at doctorprepper.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

My Gosh! Who Ordered Squash?

"It is not all bad, this getting old, ripening. After the fruit has got its growth it should juice up and mellow. God forbid I should live long enough to ferment and rot and fall to the ground in a squash." Josh Billings (1818-1885) American Humorist This Week's Sponsor: May Special from Freeze Dry Guy 25% off all #10 cans! 25% back in "Survival Bucks" on any purchase! It’s easy! Just make your purchase online at www.freezedryguy.com or call 866-404-3663, and Freeze Dry Guy will send you 25% back in Survival Bucks to be used toward your next order. New! Non-GMO heirloom seeds.Quantities limited. Order yours today! CLICK HERE. Hurry! Offer ends May 31, 2010. The Prepper Shaker: Getting Back to Basics Concerned about the economy? I certainly am! It's time to get back to the basics. Yes, you know that, but perhaps you just need a reminder... The great football legend, Vince Lombardi, on the first day of training camp would gather his tough, burly, seasoned football pros in a meeting, hold up a football and say, “Gentleman, this is a football.” Getting back to basics means addressing your needs and the needs of your family, and examining what you need to do to be prepared for even worse conditions that are surely coming in the near future. It means getting your mind off all the "doom and gloom" and focusing on taking positive ACTION: Recognize Reality––It’s time for some serious, no-holds-barred analysis of where you are in your personal and family preparedness. Listen To Your Inner Self––Find out where you are in need of preparedness and how you can resolve the situation. Devise Realistic Plans––Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Set attainable goals. Be realistic in your planning––financial as well as your other plans. Then, be diligent and persistent to reach your realistic goals. Realize that preparedness is normal––and laudable. Optimize your budget now to include extra provisions for your family. During WWII the popular song, "Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative..." was the mantra of an embattled nation. That advice is just as relevant today when considering your choices of what to do with your limited resources. There's no better time than RIGHT NOW to make preparedness for yourself and your family your first priority. It's as simple as that! --Doctor Prepper From the Funny Farm: Redneck Motorcycle Prep Talk: The Dark Side of Zucchini Prosperity Do you like zucchini? I do, especially when it's fried in olive oil or mixed in with in other yummie veggies in one of my favorite Italian dishes. Anyone who has successfully grown zucchini will tell you that that healthy zucchini plants are extremely prolific. Once they start producing they can easily overwhelm you with their bounty. Yes indeed: zucchini prosperity is such sweet bliss...especially if you have lots of friends with which to share it! Did you know, though, that zucchini is susceptible to a fatal disease that can topple a seemingly healthy plant in just one day? It's called "root rot." We all know that zucchini plants, like people, can die of dehydration (not enough water) in just a few days. Drought is a known killer--a disease of prolonged insufficiency. Just the opposite happens with root rot, however. Due to excessive rain or overwatering by well-intentioned humans, the roots of a plant can get saturated (over-hydrated) with water to the point where they are no longer able to "breathe" properly and they die off, leaving the top of the plant without support or sustenance. On the surface it looks like sudden death: one day the plant seems fine, the next it's a goner. "Root rot" due to excess [water] consumption kills quickly. So if you are a zucchini plant, take notice! Now...aren't you glad we're talking about zucchini and not about the economy? After all, people don't have "roots," do they? Or DO they? Hmmmmm... Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Just for Preppers! The Dewalt Nail Gun This is a prepper's dream. It can drive a 6-D nail thru a two-by-four at 200 yards! Get the details HERE. Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at doctorprepper.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

Fresh Spring, Preppers!

"Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through!" -- Jim Rohn This Week's Sponsor: April Special from Freeze Dry Guy Mountain House Freeze Dried 108 Day Fruit Unit; $170 3 cans of Freeze Dried Strawberries = 48 ½ cup servings 3 cans of Freeze Dried Banana Slices = 60 ½ cup servings (108 ½ cup servings = 3 ½ months of fruit) 1 Case = $170.00 + Free Sparkie + Free Shipping 2 Cases = $330.00 + Free Sparkie + Multi Case Discount + Free shipping How to Order: Call: 866-404-3663 or CLICK HERE to visit our webstore. The Prepper Shaker: Simplify Your Life! The essence of prepping is simplicity. If the doing of it seems too complicated, then you're doing it wrong! It's time to look at things from a new perspective. How to Simplify Your Life From the Funny Farm: Noah Kidding!!! Q: Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A: Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Q: The top story of the ark had windows to let light in, but how did Noah get light to the bottom two stories? A: Wadda 'ya think? He used floodlights! Q: Where did Noah keep the bees? A: In the Ark-hives, of course. Unfortunately, the woodpeckers got out! Prep Talk: Pull out all the stops! Make an extraordinarily good first impression so that people remember you in a positive way. Render extraordinary service. Go the extra mile. Do more than is asked. That alone will set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Be extraordinarily prompt. Arrive 15-20 minutes early for appointments and meetings. Answer your email and voicemail with extraordinary speed. Watch your prospects turn into extraordinarily loyal customers as a result. Show extraordinary courtesy. Good manners, soft speech and kind words are in all too short supply nowadays. Let everyone know you have more than enough to go around for all. Give extraordinary praise and thanks for all you receive. Be extraordinarily diligent in sending a personal "thank you" to each and every person who does you a good turn, no matter how small. Make an extraordinary donation to your church or favorite charity. Keep an attitude of gratitude about you and you'll find yourself working more "in the zone" where you function at extraordinary levels of energy to produce extraordinary results in extraordinarily short periods of time. Practice these 5 things every day, every hour, every minute until they become a habit, and you'll be unstoppable! Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Be careful where you nap! Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at doctorprepper.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

Prepping...in sickness or in health?

How important is health to a prepper? "In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties." -- Henri Frederic Amiel This Week's Sponsor: The Prepper Shaker: TV or not TV? Television is one of the greatest inventions of all time. Yet, in its current state, TV produces more problems than blessings. What effect does TV really have on our physical and mental health, and why? This article by Chuck Gallozzi is a "must-read" for every prepper! TV or not TV? That is the question... From the Funny Farm: Go Figure! Prep Talk: Health or Wealth? Are you in business for your health? If you aren't, maybe you should be. Yeah, I know the old saying: "I'm not in business for my health. I need to make money." What good is money, though, if you don't have the health to enjoy it? How effective can you really be without good health? How much money can you really make? In most cases what we call "lack of ambition" or "lack of motivation" stems directly from poor health. How many people will you contact; how many sales will you make today if you barely have enough ambition to get out of bed? If the business or line of work you're in doesn't improve your health in some way (meaning your physical health, your mental health, your emotional health and/or your spiritual health), then maybe it's time for a change. Simple, huh? It's a matter of putting first things first. Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Prep-Posal! Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at doctorprepper.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

Chicken In..or Going Whole-Hog?

How committed are you to prepping? Are you just "chicken in" or going "whole-hog?" In a bacon and eggs breakfast, the chicken is involved, but the pig is totally committed! This Week's Sponsor: The Prepper Shaker: Spring Chickens! Which came first: the chicken or the egg? That puzzle may never be solved but if you are thinking about raising chickens the brooder and the chicken coop should probably come before your chicks do! I have raised many chickens from chicks and it is a very enjoyable hobby and a great way to become more self-reliant. I have had white leghorns, wyandotes, buff orpingtons, and finally settled on rhode island reds because they handle our cold weather better. Here is a chart to help you pick chickens that will work best for your location: Main Chicken Breeds Chart Here are some videos on building brooders and coops: Table-Top Chicken Brooder: Fun and Easy! My Chicken Coop Chickens for Eggs on Small Homesteads Build a Basic Low-Cost Chicken Coop I use a round kiddie swimming pool for my brooder covered in some garden mesh and a red or blue bulb brood lamp. Pine or aspen shavings are recommended but I just use newspaper and have never had a problem. Chick crumbles (chick starter) and fresh water are all they need for two weeks then add some scratch. I buy my chicks through the local feed store for $2 each but you can order chicks right through the mail. They are available now most places so go get you a flock! --LaMar Alexander http://simplesolarhomesteading.com/ From the Funny Farm: An Egg-Sighting Breakfast! Prep Talk: If You Marry a Fisherman, Beware! If you marry a fisherman (or ~woman), beware: At some point you're gonna get "up close and personal" with some mighty strange critters. Take nightcrawlers, for example... For those of you non-fishin' folk, nightcrawlers are those big, fat, juicy earthworms used for fish bait. Here's a picture: Best time to catch 'em is at night just after a good soaking rain. You go out with a flashlight, a container with a lid, a pair of sharp eyes and some fast, nimble fingers to grab those critters and hang on when the light hits 'em so they can't escape back into their holes. My adopted dad taught me how to catch nightcrawlers. Our favorite way of keeping them alive and fresh for the fish was to store them in the 'fridge in a plastic sour cream or cottage cheese container with a piece of moist burlap in the bottom for them to munch on. They'd stay good for 2-4 weeks that way. In my first year at college I shared a dormitory apartment with 5 other women. One evening some guys came over and announced they were going fishing the next day. I offered to catch them some nightcrawlers in exchange for some of the fish. They agreed, and out I went. I caught a big bunch of nightcrawlers and put them in a container in the 'fridge just like my adopted dad and I used to do. Then it happened... Valerie, one of my roommates, got home quite late. The rest of us were already in bed when she arrived. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a leftover baked potato from the 'fridge along with (what she thought was) a full container of sour cream. She warmed the potato in the microwave, picked up the container of "sour cream," lifted the lid and started to pour... Then--you guessed it: she got "up close and personal" with my nightcrawlers! You wouldn't believe how she screamed... The guys by came the next morning for (what was left of) the nightcrawlers and had a great day fishing. They brought us some really nice fish to eat, which all of us (even Valerie) enjoyed. But nightcrawlers were banned forever from our 'fridge. So--what are YOU eating for supper tonight? If you're married to a fisherman, beware! Bon Appetit! Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Fowl Line A farmer with lots of chickens posted the following sign: "Free Chickens. Our Coop Runneth Over." Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at familypreparednessguide.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

Weighing in on...preparedness!

What's holding YOU back from prepping? So loaded down you think you'll drown? Time to tip the scales in your favor! This Week's Sponsor: The Prepper Shaker: Survival Fitness Prepping for the future without prepping your body is like buying the paddles without buying the canoe...Hello? Whatever method you choose to improve your physical fitness will be an expression of you and your interests. You might be surprised at how beneficial and empowering this can actually be! Your survival fitness program could spill over into other areas of your life and improve your overall quality of living in general. Is it worth the risk? You bet! You'll feel better and be better prepared for what life throws your way. It's simply a matter of getting back to basics! Read the rest here: Survival Fitness From the Funny Farm: Widdle Wabbits A precious little girl walks into a PetSmart shop and asks, in the sweetest little lisp, between two missing teeth: "Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?" As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level and asks: "Do you want a widdle white wabbit, or a thoft and fuwwy, bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?" She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says, in a tiny quiet voice: "Weally, I don't think my python gives a thit." Prep Talk: "Rapid" Development! Do you like white water rafting? I do! Take a large inflatable raft that holds 8-10 people, a skilled river guide to keep the raft moving on a safe course, a fast moving river with some challenging rapids, and scenery on both sides that takes your breath away ... and you have the recipe for an incredibly wonderful time, or for disaster. What makes the difference? Preparation. This means that you: Write down exactly where you're going and when you expect to arrive so that people know where to find you if you need help. Have a clear plan of how you'll get there plus the right tools and equipment for the journey. Understand and obey the rules of safe travel, wear your life jacket at all times and follow the instructions of your guide. Carry along survival supplies and a first aid kit for emergencies. Have the good sense to stay away from known hazards! Doesn't this sound a lot like life? Let me tell you a story: Several years ago on a white water rafting trip with some friends down the Flathead River in Montana, I experienced the unexpected. We hit what is called a "hole": a short, steep drop-off caused by a large rock underneath the surface. A big hole not seen in time can easily flip a raft. That's exactly what happened. One minute I was rockin' and rollin', having the time of my life. The next I was flailing in the Flathead in water the temperature of just-melted snow. Did I have a moment of close communion with my Creator? You bet I did! It's hard to imagine until we're in situations like this just how powerless we really are against the forces of nature. I was, to say the least, extremely humbled by the experience. Fortunately, because of good preparation, neither I nor anyone else in the group suffered serious injury or loss of life in this mishap. I remember oh so well the final words of instruction we received before starting our journey: "In the very unlikely event that you and the raft should ever become separated, keep your feet pointed downstream so you can push off from the rocks, and go with the flow until you are rescued." Sometimes "going with the flow" of life may mean running a few rapids on your backside. Are you prepared for the ride? Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Scuby-Doo-Too! Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at familypreparednessguide.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: prepperupper @ gmail.com

Stinkin' thinkin'...or gardens of laughter?

A prepper's not a doom-and-gloomer. Time to grow a sense of humor! Ready for a laugh? This one will push your funny button: ...and turn up your speakers! This Week's Sponsor: The Prepper Shaker: A "Growing" Epidemic Will you be one of the "vital few" or the "trivial many?". We've got an epidemic of our own we need to spread, and it has nothing to do with swine flu! Growing a sustainable family garden can and should become as common and important again as the family car. Why? Find out in this compelling and timely article by Master Gardener Jim Kennard: A "Growing" Epidemic From the Funny Farm: Tater Tots When it comes to prepping, some people are like potatoes: Some watch while others do the work. They're the Speck-Taters. Some talk about what others are doing. They're the Common-Taters. Some cause problems and get under your skin. They're the Aggie-Taters. Some make plans and never do anything. They're the Hessie-Taters. Some sit for hours and stare at their food storage. They're the Medi-Taters. And some steal other's work and call it their own. They're the Imi-Taters. Fortunately, some people really DO get prepared, and do everything they can to help others do the same. They're the Facili-Taters. So what kind of 'Tater' are you? Now there's some food for 'Tot."   Prep Talk: Weed 'Em and Reap! I love this little piece by Bruno Gideon:    Even the most casual of gardeners knows that weeds, if unpicked, will eventually destroy a beautiful garden. It’s the same with our thoughts. If we don’t weed out the negative ones, they will choke whatever is beautiful in our lives and trap us in a bitterness from which there is almost no escape. "Give weeds an inch and they’ll take your yard." -- Anonymous "And so it criticized each flower, This supercilious seed; Until it woke one summer hour, And found itself a weed." –- Mildred Howells The trick is to be like a good gardener and weed out negative thoughts before they take control of our health and our charisma. Be on the watch for them each and every day. As soon as you detect one, ask yourself, “Is it really worth letting this take over my life?” and get rid of it as soon as you can. Is a negative thought threatening your garden right now? Pull it out! Best Regards, Sharon Iezzi Your Hoppy-Go-Lucky Editor Parting Shot: Messages From God Keep on...preppin'! * * * * * The Prepper-Upper is published weekly by James Talmage Stevens, Publisher Author of Making the Best of Basics: the all-new and updated 11th edition. Editor: Sharon Iezzi Subscribe to The Prepper-Upper by Email More free info at familypreparednessguide.com * * * * * If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. Your comments are always welcome! © 2010 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. You may NOT copy and distribute any portion of this blog for commercial purposes without written permission. Mail requests to: ready2prepare @ gmail.com