Backpacking On A Budget

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

If you’re like me, and love to get outdoors, you have probably considered hiking. Just to be clear, when I say hiking, I don’t mean going on a walk through the woods. I am talking about multiple days with everything you need strapped to your back as you explore God’s creation. That is the kind of hiking I like to do, but there was a time that I didn’t think I could afford to get into it. I, being a researcher by nature, gathered as much information as I could on gear, the trails around me, and the skills I needed to get the most out of my experiences. I found the cost a little “off putting” to say the least.

I was, however, determined to get out on the trails, so I weighed my options and found the cheapest way to get into the action while compromising quality and comfort as little as possible. Speaking of comfort, I also learned an important rule during this process. It is that there are all kinds of comfort, and all kinds of discomfort. When choosing your gear, keep this in mind. You will often find that there are items that make you more comfortable while on the trail, and items that make you more comfortable at camp. Usually, if an item does both of these things, they will be financially uncomfortable. So, I have compiled a list of items that are both affordable, and will help make your hike more enjoyable.

Some decent budget backpacks

First thing you are going to need is a backpack. Amazon has some great options for backpacks, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention Facebook marketplace. You can usually find some good deals on hiking packs from people who have replaced their old gear with the latest and greatest. I really like Kelty brand backpacks, and have several of them. I have yet to pay full price for one. The cheapest I have paid for one is $5 at a yard sale. It has been a good pack, but has been “reassigned” as my get home bag. My current hiking pack is a 90s era Jansport external frame pack. It was a steal on FB marketplace at $40.

If it is a new backpack you want, you have some good choices online that won’t break the bank. I have 3 options for you that I wouldn’t mind buying, but the decision ultimately comes down to what you want. I am biased toward external frames because I believe they distribute, and support the weight of my gear better than internal framed packs while allowing air to pass between my body and the pack. Internal frames have their advantages because they are easier to store and transport.

Teton 65L Internal frame backpack

Teton 25L daypack

Maelstrom 50L

Affordable tents

Moving on from backpacks, you need a good tent. This is your home on the trail, and it needs to be good in 3 different areas in order for it to be worth buying. It needs to keep water out. It is inevitable that you will get rained on if you make a habit of hiking. When it does rain, you want a dry place to hide and sleep. It also needs to fit you and your gear. Look for a tent with a vestibule, or a good sized 2 person tent. Lastly, it needs to be a reasonable weight. A general hiking rule is, ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal fatigue. Don’t try carrying a 6 person tent. When I go hiking without my wife, a carry a 2.5 lb. tent. Its just big enough for me and my backpack.

Unlike your backpack, you will not want to buy a used tent. Cheap tents don’t last long, and most people use their good expensive tents until they are worn out and leaky. You might find a good deal on one somewhere, but don’t be surprised if your sleeping bag becomes a waterbed. There are plenty of options available to you from around $20 up to well into the hundreds of dollars. Here are some tents I wouldn’t be afraid to at least try out.

Ultralight trekking pole tent if you plan to buy trekking poles as well.

2 person backpacking tent May need additional waterproofing

2 Person tent with vestibule I actually added this one to my wish list.

Trekking poles

Trekking poles are great. They help to keep a steady pace while walking, and can even relieve some weight from your legs while going up hills. The available options are all pretty good, but the best option, in my opinion, is to make your own from a sapling. I like to use one pole instead of two, and I have had mine for over 6 years. It is made from an American hawthorn sapling, and is between 60 and 66 inches long. It is heavier than commercial trekking poles, but it supports a lot of weight that I would not trust to a telescoping pole. The best thing about it was that it was free!

Trekking poles if you are going to get the trekking pole tent.

Cooking on the trail

You’re going to need to eat. There are all kinds of options for ways to cook while hiking, but I will save you the guess work and money with one option. Get a cheap Chinese backpacking stove.

This is all you need and will last you for years. I have one that I bought in 2017 and it is still going strong. I like it so much, I bought another one for when my whole family hits the trail. You don’t need a Jetboil or whatever the new hotness happens to be. But please don’t try to carry a Coleman stove.          

Packable Sleeping solutions you won’t lose sleep over

Sleeping bags can be hit or miss. You don’t really want to buy a used one because, let’s be honest, that’s a health gamble. You don’t want to end up with scabies, or some other ailment that penicillin wont clear up. Instead, you should be looking for a decent new bag that is affordable and does two things. It should meet the temperature minimums you will encounter on your hike, but preferably will go just a little lower. It should also pack down small enough to fit inside of your backpack. Weight is not really a concern as much as size here. As the saying goes, “pack light, freeze at night”.

Teton 20 degree mummy bag

MalloMe 40 degree

Naturehike warm weather sleeping bag

Sleeping pads will help keep you off the ground. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you won’t lose body heat to the cold ground. This is completely optional, but you should definitely consider buying one.

Inflatable sleeping pad

Don’t forget chairs

There is much debate as to whether or not chairs are a necessary hiking item. For me, they are non-negotiable. Sure, you can sit on logs or rocks, or the cold hard ground, but if you find the right chair, it’s only a couple of extra pounds, and the relief it can bring you on breaks or at the camp site vastly outweighs the fatigue caused by the additional load. I have tried a few different options from regular folding camp chairs to my current choice, a lightweight three legged folding stool. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The camp chairs are more comfortable. You can lean back in them, and most have a cup holder and arm rests. However, they are heavy. The backpacking chairs have a little back to them, so they offer some support in that way. They are also light, but they sit so low to the ground that getting out of them with sore legs and back is not enjoyable. The three legged folding stools are regular seat height, and actually quite comfy. The only drawback is that they don’t have a backrest.

Marchway ultralight chair

iClimb Ultralight chair

Redcamp portable stool

Gear you can’t cheap out on

The previous items were great examples of areas to save some money, but there are some things you should really consider spending a little extra on, such as knives. I’m not saying to go out and spend over $100 on a knife, but you should make sure your blade is going to hold up to hard use. Gerber usually has reasonably priced knives with good steel in the blades. You are going to use your knife more than you might think, so be sure to get a good one. There are too many options to list them all, so I will show you what I use, and you can go from there.

Gerber Strongarm . This is the closest thing I could find to the Gerber Prodigy that I carry

Gerber Paraframe

Gerber MP600 multi tool

A good flashlight does more than just light up the area at which you point it. A good light provides enough light, while conserving battery power. Believe me, you don’t want to run out of battery in the middle of a hike. Your light should also be small in size, and in weight. That is a hard combo to find at an affordable rate, but here are some options.

Olight i3t

Streamlight ProTac

NEBO inspector

You will also need to spend money on good footwear. I am partial to Merrel brand, but there are several others that are good. Pick what ever you like, but do yourself a favor, and don’t skimp out here. If you take care of your feet, they will take care of you.

Gear you don’t need

Hammock

Now that you’re feeling like I just told you to spend lots of money, here are some things you don’t really need to buy, such as hammocks. They are incredibly comfortable, easy to put up, and can come with bug nets. But they add weight, can be hard for some to get in and out of, and you don’t really need one. Will you regret bringing one on your hike? Probably not. Will your hike be unenjoyable without one? Absolutely not.

Electronics

Next is any form of electronic entertainment. Just don’t do this. Unplugging and experiencing God’s creation is part of the hiking experience. It is extra weight, extra battery power, noise and light pollution, and extra money. Also, things get wet, dropped, squished, and banged up against objects while you’re out on the trail. If your goal is to save some money, electronics are the last thing you want to bring with you. Do bring your cellphone, however, in case of emergencies, but if you keep it off, your hike will probably be a lot more enjoyable.

GPS

You are most likely not blazing a new trail to the pacific coast. You are probably not going to wander off the trail at all, so you will most likely not need a GPS. With that being said, if you do plan to wander off the beaten path, make sure you know what to do if you get lost. We can offer you training in wayfinding, and wildness survival in case you do. If you absolutely must have a GPS, don’t waste your money on a cheap one. A good compass and a map would do you as much good if you know how to use it.

Special backpacking clothing

Pants, shirts, a sweatshirt, extra socks, and underwear are all you need to have. Lightweight, moisture wicking, tear resistant fabric is good, and if you can afford it, you should probably try it out. However, it is not needed. I have never taken any kind of special clothes on the trail, and, unless someone gives me some for free, I never will. With that being said, ladies, you should not wear leggings into the woods. They are not designed to hold up to wear and tear. The same goes for Jeggings. You might not have an incident, but you sure don’t want to have one.

Communicating during a service outage part 2

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

I sat down with my wife yesterday evening and asked her if she had specific areas of concern if there were ever an extended crisis. I’m talking no power, no stores, nothing but what you have stocked up on, and the skills you have learned. She gave me a lot of great insights into the things she, as a woman, considers important, and I will be addressing them in future posts. Of the things she mentioned, she never said anything about communication, but I know from previous conversations how important it is to her to remain in contact with friends.

Why is it so important

Most of us men can go months without talking to our friends, and when we finally do, we are able to pick up where we left off with ease. Women are typically more social than we are, and I think that fact is often overlooked in our preparedness plans. If my wife goes a while without talking to a friend, she starts to wonder if the friendship is still healthy, or might begin to worry about them. That is why I suggested to my wife that she learn to use our radio in order to talk to her friends if cell phones are  not an option. By doing so, she will be able to contact her friends, as long as they also have a radio.

In our world, I think we take the distance between us and friends or family for granted. My Mother in law lives about 30 minutes away, but that is if we are driving. If there is ever a reason we couldn’t travel by car, that would be a much harder trip to take. I would imagine that it would take at least two days to get my whole family that far on foot. With a radio at both sites, and a plan to be available at certain times, staying in contact would be a breeze.

The solution

If you’re on the fence about getting into ham radio, or even getting some good GMRS equipment, now is the time. You have to learn how to use it before you need it. There is a lot to know. It does not work like a phone where you can simply key in a frequency and start talking to your friend. However, once you learn how to operate a radio, you will see how truly useful it is. There are networks of people over the whole country that you can join, and if you get a good contact plan set up, you will not have to worry about staying in touch anymore.

We do sell some starter radios that we can pre-program to reach all of the networks in your area as well as some simple frequencies to talk radio to radio. There are certain tones your radio has to be programmed with in order to activate the repeaters, and each repeater has its own required tones. Click here to learn more about our radios, and, as always, check out our contact us page for more information.

Communication During a Service Outage

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

 

Modern conveniences have made us forget what it was like years ago when you either had to be at home, or use a payphone to have a conversation with someone who wasn’t right next to you. If you are old enough, you might remember being able to make “collect calls” from a payphone if you didn’t have any change. Those days are long gone now that everyone is carrying a cell phone. Even landlines are becoming increasingly rare. But what happens when cell service is interrupted?

Early in 2024, there was a cell phone service outage that impacted everyone using AT&T service. While it did not last long, it serves as a reminder that we are far too dependent on our cell phones. During the outage, if you needed help on the side of the road, were trying to check in with friends or family, or had to call 911, you were out of luck. So, what can you do to break away from relying solely on cell service for your communication needs?

Reasons to consider alternative communication options

Cell service can be attacked

Cell service can be shut off during an emergency

Cell service can be over loaded during an emergency

You could be in an area without cell service during an emergency

Cell phones can break or run out of batteries

Cell phones are easily tracked (if you’re concerned about that sort of thing)

What are the options?

There are 5 alternative options I know of that will be useful if cell service goes down. I have ranked these options based on 3 categories. First is usefulness. How far away can you clearly communicate with another person. Second is ease of use. How foolproof is it really. Third is cost. Can the average person reasonably afford to do this.

LORA

There is a decent option called LORA which is a digital packet radio system that allows you to send text and data wirelessly. These systems use a frequency band that does not have licensing regulations (as of now) and few restrictions on what you can use it for. Some have claimed to get between 10 and 20 miles of range with these if they are set up properly. The best thing about this system is that they can be linked together in a mesh network, and your range can be extended greatly.

One perk of a mesh network is that if you overlap signal coverage from multiple units, if one goes offline, the others will pick up the slack. One challenge is that you need to be a bit tech savvy to set up a network, and each person in your communication plan needs a device that can use it, and these devices usually have to be built. Another challenge is the cost. Setting up a mesh network will have you sourcing components such as transceivers and power supplies. You have to decide if you are going to run solar (expensive), or battery (needs to be changed more often), or grid power (units won’t work during an outage). Prices could go well into the thousands depending on the network you are building.

Sat Phones

Satellite phones are amazing. They work almost anywhere, and they use the existing phone system making their range potentially limitless. They work by connecting to the nearest satellite which then connects your phone to the nearest land based phone system. However, if there is bad weather, or you are in a location that blocks signal to the satellites, it might not work. Using one is a breeze. You receive instructions on how to use them when you buy one, but it is essentially a telephone, and you dial it like any other. The cost is what lands sat phones so low on this list. Aside from the initial investment, you will need a service plan. This keeps the average person out of the sat phone game, but if you can afford it, it would be a good option.

FRS

FRS, or family radio service, are the blister pack walkie talkies that you can buy off the shelf at sporting goods and grocery stores everywhere. They make bold claims about their range, and I have to admit that I fell for it years ago. I have some walkie talkies that claimed to have up to 60 miles of range. I knew nothing about radios, but I knew that I had been had when they wouldn’t reach from my house to my workplace ¾ of a mile away. They aren’t a good option for long range comms. Realistically, if you have good conditions for signal propagation and a direct line of site between the radios, you might get a few miles of range. More often than not, you will not find yourself in those conditions.

They are the easiest option to use on this list. They have access to 22 channels and some have NOAA weather channels programmed into them. There is little you have to know or do to be able to start talking. You only have to make sure that all units are on the same channel and, if applicable, the same privacy channel.

Most of these radios will be inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere. You can even find them used and get really good deals. Just make sure the battery compartment isn’t corroded if you do buy them used. Also, if the units you get aren’t rechargeable, you need to include the price of frequently replacing batteries when considering your options.

GMRS

GMRS is like the big brother of FRS. There are a few blister pack radios that claim to be GMRS and FRS, but there are big differences between the two. For starters, GMRS radios can transmit at a higher power than FRS radios. You can also get a mobile unit for your vehicle or home, with the right setup. While the handheld units on average are transmitting at 5 watts, the mobile units can put out up to 50 watts. You also get the added bonus of larger antennas that can be mounted higher. As you go higher, your line of sight increases, and so does your range. With a direct line of sight, and good weather conditions, a 5 watt handheld radio can probably make it 10 miles or so. A 50 watt radio will go much further. You also have another added benefit over FRS, with the option the talk over a repeater. This acts as a relay point that receives your signal, and sends it out thus furthering your range. Repeaters are normally set up at high points to maximize their range.

For all this extra range, you are going to have some difficulties. First, in order to transmit on a GMRS radio legally, you need to have a license which cost $35, does not require a test, is good for 10 years, and covers everyone in your household. Second, in order to get the range, you need to know how to set up the radio. Most will come with the channels pre programmed, but if you want to access repeaters, you will need to have the right “tones” programmed into your radio. A quick search of repeaters in your area will show which ones you can access and what settings you need to have in order to do so. You could also set up your own repeater if you wanted to.

Most GMRS radios are affordable, and they are a good option if you have a good network, and your friends or family or using it. A decent handheld can cost as little as $20 and will give you more range than an FRS radio. A mobile unit requires an external antenna and has to be hooked into your vehicle’s power system. This setup will most likely cost around $200 or more depending on which options you choose.

HAM

Ham radio is by far the best option on this list, as you have access to longer range frequencies than you can get on GMRS. Ham radios have an extensive network of repeaters, and people have made contact with radios halfway around the world. In certain conditions, at the right frequencies, you can transmit point to point well over 1000 miles away. There are various laws in affect that limit the power of said transmissions, but it can be done well within those limits. With a little know how, you can also use satellites to relay your transmissions!

You will not get that kind of range, however, by simply plugging in a radio and pushing the button to talk. There is a lot to know about HAM radio before you can even start transmitting, and in fact, in order to legally use Ham frequencies, you need a license from the FCC. Unlike the GMRS license, this one comes with a test. You need to know how radio signals work, and the dangers involved in using them. That’s right, you can seriously injure yourself or someone else with the improper use of a high powered radio signal. That is why there are multiple levels of HAM licenses available. With each level, the knowledge you need to pass the test increases. If you are wanting to talk halfway around the world, you need to know what you are doing, and set your radio up in the right way to do it.

The cost is relative to what you want to get out of it. You can get into HAM for around $60 if you go for a cheap handheld unit and your license. However, you will need to program your radio in order to get the most out of it. If you’re interested, we offer an inexpensive handheld unit that can be preprogrammed for your area. On the other end of the cost spectrum, you can spend tens of thousands of dollars on radio equipment, and transmit up to a whopping 1500 watts! Most people find that they can get by with a good Handheld unit, and a “base” radio.

You need a plan!         

Every plan, no matter how much equipment you throw at it, can fail if you don’t know how to use it. No matter which option you choose for you communication plan, you have to be using it. You need to test its capabilities and limitations. Each person involved needs to be using their equipment with you. You have to do this regularly, and while you have access to much needed information to be able to get the most out of it. Don’t wait until an emergency to turn on your radios just to find out that you have no idea what you are doing.

Finally, to maintain readiness, your plan should include a schedule to have everyone tune their radios to a certain frequency at a certain time in case anyone needs to make contact. A basic rule that is easy to remember is the 3 3 3 rule. You turn your radios on every third hour, on channel 3 (or any frequency you designate), for three minutes, and you listen. Anyone needing to make contact can do so at these set times without the uncertainty of whether anyone is listening or not. This will also help to conserve battery power, and make your signal harder to pinpoint, if that is something you’re concerned about.

Tourniquets

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

Tourniquets

Over the last couple of decades, the likelihood of someone being involved in an incident that would require them to have life saving knowledge and equipment has increased. We have seen many riots and shootings and even had a large scale terrorist attack. Aside from the everyday dangers that one may encounter, these incidents are becoming more frequent.

For me, a major cause of concern is the sheer number of lives that could be saved if people nearby were trained and willing to administer life saving treatment to the victims of these attacks. Sadly, few people know what to do if someone gets a life threatening wound, like a gunshot. Because the damage from them comes from widespread hydrostatic shock, as well as the hole they make, many GSWs (gunshot wounds) can easily cause arterial bleeding. When they are on an extremity, such as an arm or leg, a tourniquet can be applied to cause “blood occlusion” which basically means the flow of the arteries has been clamped off.

Tourniquets have been in use for somewhere around 2600 years and have seen very little change in their basic function. However, they are now being mass produced, and a great deal of research and development has gone into the various designs. As a result, some great tourniquets have hit the market, and some that aren’t much better than a rope and a stick. Lucky for us laymen, there is a group that tests and approves medical care and equipment as it relates to the type of wound caused by mass casualty events.

The CoTCCC (Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care) examines the data on tourniquets, and either approves them, or doesn’t based on certain criteria. Until recently, there were 2 tourniquets on their list. At this time there are 8, but some of them are older versions that have since been replaced. A quick search will reveal a current list. The list is the deciding factor on what the military, police, and first responders carry in the field.

Wound Care Basics

Make no mistake, a hole in your body will do the same damage at the shopping mall or on the construction site as it does on a battlefield across the world. If you want to be prepared, you need to be able to recognize the types of bleeding, and know how to stop them.

First, there is minor bleeding. This is usually from a scrape or small nick, not even worthy of being called a cut. Slap a bandage on it and you’re going to be fine.

Second is heavy bleeding. This is a real cut. It could be bad enough to need stitches or surgery, but you only need to recognize that there is a lot of blood coming out. The blood will be oozing or dripping, and you will need to apply pressure or even pack the wound with gauze to stop it.

   

The third, arterial bleeding, is the most severe. Arterial bleeding is when blood is squirting, or pouring out. This type of wound will likely require more than just pressure and packing. If it is on a limb, a tourniquet will need to be applied. In the pictures below, you can see a training tourniquet being applied.

 

Someone with a wound like that does not have long to live. In fact, in less than two minutes, they could be gone. That does not leave time for an ambulance to come, so either they are going to have to get their own bleeding stopped, or someone else is. Being ready with a tourniquet, in this case, is the difference between life, or death.

Tourniquets We Trust

CAT Gen 7

The most common type of tourniquet you will find on the market is the CAT Gen 7. This tourniquet, which has been approved by the CoTCCC for a long time, is very simplistic in its design. It has a red tab that makes it easy to know where to pull while you are under stress. Believe me, when you are in a stressful situation, you fumble around, and lose fine motor skills. Having visual cues helps mitigate the confusion and fumbling when seconds become precious.

This is the reason the Army uses the CAT Gen 7 tourniquet. It is not only easy to use, but it deploys very quickly. In combat, soldiers need something quick and effective. The CAT fits the bill in every way. That is why they are so popular in the civilian market as well. The sooner you get blood loss under control, the better chance a victim has of surviving.                        

 
 
 

 
 
SAM XT

Another tourniquet that is approved by the COTCCC is the SAM XT. While it does retain many of the same qualities of the CAT, the SAM stands out with its locking mechanism. With the CAT, you have to back wrap it onto itself so it can engage the hook and loop strips before you tighten it. With the SAM, you pull it tight, and it clicks into place. No additional steps are needed before you start tightening.

 

 

 

Stay Away From Cheap Knock Offs and Gimmicks

Fake CATs

It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. While that may be true, in the case of tourniquets it could be deadly. The phrase, “you get what you pay for” is the last thing you want going through you mind when you are applying a tourniquet, and the windlass snaps in half. The truth is, it is going to be hard enough to apply a tourniquet, so you will want to rest assured that when you do, it will do its job.

There are a number of tourniquets available online that look identical to the CAT. They are not the same thing. CAT tourniquets are made in America, and they are made to meet the needs of military, law enforcement, and first responders. The cheap ones are made to get you to buy them, and they are usually made in China. The materials used are not guaranteed to hold up to the forces applied when a tourniquet is tightened.

If you read the reviews given for them, you will find that the windlass, the stick used to tighten the tourniquet, will often snap. This means that all the time it took to get the tourniquet in place is now wasted, and it may need to be removed before another one can be applied. Take into consideration the time it takes for a person to bleed to death. You don’t want to waste any time.

The truth is, these tourniquets are merely a greedy attempt for someone to tap into a market without having to put the effort into R&D, good materials, or quality manufacturing. They don’t care that their product might fail, and a life will be lost. They got their $10. Don’t bet your life on a knock off. The real thing is only $20 more.

Misleading Labels

Another thing you will see is the term “TCCC” approved on tourniquet’s label. You might think that means the CoTCCC has given their blessing for that model, but you should check the list before you make your purchase. There are tourniquets on the market that use this misleading tag, and they hope to gain your confidence with it. They will also use terms like, “combat proven”. I’m not sure what they mean by that, because the US military uses models that are on the CoTCCC list.

You might also see a doctor’s approval. This does not mean that they are effective. It simply means that a doctor somewhere, for one reason or another, signed off on them. I’m not saying that money was exchanged in order to gain that approval, but it wouldn’t be hard to believe. And even if it is approved by some unknown doctor, it does not prove its effectiveness. The only way to truly have confidence is if the tourniquet is CoTCCC approved.

Unproven Designs

There are a couple of types of tourniquets that fit into that description, and while there is a chance they will work, it is not worth the risk to use them. One model uses bungee cord material and requires the use of a knot that the user must tie to lock the tourniquet in place. When you lose fine motor skills, the last thing you want to do is try to tie a knot. Add slippery, blood covered hands to that and you have a recipe for failure.

Rubber hoses and tie-off bands

Another thing you will see is a flat rubber tie off band being passed as a tourniquet. While you can stop small veins from bleeding, you will not stop an artery. These bands are used to tie off an arm before an injection and are not useful in an emergency.

Likewise, rubber hose or surgical tubing can be called a tourniquet in some first aid kits. While there has been some success using them in a pinch, they have to be applied just right and held in place by a pair of hemostatic pliers. Even when applied correctly, they can shift position and need to be re-applied. Once again, please buy the real thing and get it right the first time.

 

Pro Tips:

GET TRAINED

Once you buy a tourniquet, you need to get trained in how to use it. There is a wrong way to use them, and you will want to make sure you get quality training. We offer classes on this, and many more life saving techniques. Contact us to learn more.

PRACTICE

Once you learn how to use one, you need to practice. Run Drills to see how fast you can get a tourniquet on your arm or your leg. Try it in different positions, and in different levels of light. If you train often, it will be second nature to you if you ever need to use one for real.

CARRY ONE

Carry one with you. If you go hiking, or are playing a sport, put one somewhere that is easily accessible in case you need it. Put one in your home first aide kit or carry an IFAK. We offer a couple of IFAK options that both include a CAT Gen 7 tourniquet, as well as other items to help stop heavy and arterial bleeding. Everything we put in them is top quality. I carry one in my backpack that goes with me everywhere.

Spring Forward

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

In the day to day struggle to stay on top of our tasks, we often put off the little things that aren’t currently vying for our attention. The days go by and turn into weeks, and weeks into months. We soon forget about them, or something reminds us and we make a mental note, starting the procrastination timer afresh. A simple tip to help avoid this is to mark a small, but important task on your calendar on an already important day. Such as Daylight savings time.

If your like me, you don’t really want to drag a chair across the house, climb up to your smoke detectors, and open the dusty lid to change the battery. To say it’s easy to put off until a later date is an understatement. This year, start a new routine! Go right now and change your batteries on all of your smoke detectors, and CO2 detectors. It might also be a good time to change the battery in your thermostat. Little things like this will help keep your home safe and running smoothly.

Gauze Pads

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

One thing I’ve learned over the years when treating large cuts:  You can never have enough gauze.  Whether you have a stack of 4″ x 4″ gauze pads, rolled gauze, z-fold compressed gauze, Israeli bandages, ABD pads, or all of the above, keep all of your medical kits well stocked with more gauze than you think you’re going to need.

And while we’re on the topic of treating wounds, here are your basic rules of thumb:

  1. Always apply pressure.  Pressure is your best friend when you’re trying to stop blood in its tracks.  If it’s a superficial wound, cover it with gauze and keep adding more gauze until the bleeding stops.
  2. If pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding, or if blood is squirting or spraying out of the wound, you’ll need to apply pressure and, if the wound is on an arm or leg, also apply a tourniquet.  Find a Stop the Bleed class where you can learn how to properly apply tourniquets and even practice putting one on!
  3. Once the bleeding has stopped, you can use an Ace wrap, medical tape, or an Israeli bandage to keep the gauze in place until you can get to more advanced medical services.

If you are interested in taking a Stop the Bleed class, reach out to us via our Classes and Training Page and we’ll figure out how to make it happen.  In our class, we will teach you the basics around stopping bleeding, and show you how to use all the various gauzes and tools mentioned in this article.

Stay prepared!

Chickens

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

 

Chickens

We live on a small hobby farm. There is a decent barn and a few small out buildings. When we moved in, we discussed the possibility of raising animals. There was already a fenced in pasture, so we decided to raise cows. We quickly found that they were a huge hassle and not at all cheap to raise, at least not in small numbers. In a very odd turn of events, we lost one of our two cows after it escaped and fell through a hatch in the top of our barn. We were unable to save any of the meat, so we took a big loss.

At the same time, we had some chickens (they came with the house). I have never really cared for chickens, but my children wanted to keep them. We decided to free range them, which turned out to be a mistake. More on this later. My daughter then received some fertilized eggs from a friend of hers, and our chicken raising adventures truly began.

Chickens are cost effective

From the eggs, we ended up with 8 birds, 4 of which were roosters. All of the chickens were handled since they hatched, and were actually quite cuddly. However, once they started to mature, the roosters became aggressive toward the children. It didn’t take long for us to take them down the road to the Amish. Our 4 hens remained quite calm and before long, started to produce eggs.

We feed them a variety of foods, but more often than not, we get the cheap pellets from TSC. We also supplement them with vegetable scraps. This combination has kept them healthy and happy, and they produce eggs like crazy. When we tallied up our costs, we found that we were spending slightly less money than we were on grocery store eggs. On top of that, they were much better in quality. Additionally, when we compared the cost to the cows we raised, we found we were spending drastically less.

Chickens take less space then other animals

They also take up less space than cattle or other traditional farm animals. Our pasture is about 4 acres, and the lower part of our barn where the animal pens are is about 1200 square feet. That is a lot of space that we could use to raise a maximum of about 10 cows. However, our family does not need that many. The chickens, on the other hand, take up about 200 square feet including their coop and chicken run. At the time of writing this article, we have 15 birds in that space and we could probably have more if we wanted to clean the coop more often.

Chickens make good pets

My children don’t really mind taking care of the coop, because chickens actually make great pets! I wasn’t raised on a farm, so I always thought of chickens as indifferent and even antisocial creatures. I was very wrong. As I said earlier, our chicken have been handled from the time they were hatched, and love to be held, or carried around. Each one has a name, and though I couldn’t tell some of them apart, my daughter knows which one is which. She keeps track of how many eggs they lay can even tell by looking at them when they are about to lay.

 

 

 

 

Excess eggs can be sold or bartered

With 15 hens, it happens a lot. Even in the colder months, we get around one dozen per day. This leaves us with a surplus that we can sell to help cover the cost of the feed, but my children get to claim most of it as a reward for their hard work. If they didn’t, the cost of raising our chickens would be reduced to nearly nothing. And if grocery stores were ever to close their doors due to economic troubles, or a global pandemic, we would have some pretty valuable bartering stock.

 

 

 

 

Free range vs pen raised

For that reason, we make sure our birds are protected in a coop and a completely closed off chicken run. We want them safe from all of the different animals that want to steal the eggs, or the chickens. I mentioned that we free ranged some birds when we first bought our home. Everything was actually going quite well, aside from occasionally having to discover where they were hiding their eggs. One day a hawk found out that there was an easy meal, and we lost all 4 chickens in just a few days’ time.

When my daughter finally hatched the eggs she got from her friend, we decided it would be best if they were in a coop. Our birds have been kept safe from neighbors’ dogs, hawks, racoons, weasels, and skunks. All of which will kill chickens and/or steal eggs. We have also found them to be more friendly when kept in the coop. I do not suggest free ranging your chickens, unless you don’t mind losing your investments in them.

 

 

Pro Tip: Unwashed eggs do not have to be refrigerated due to their natural protective coating, but once its gone, they will need to be used right away or put in the fridge. You do NOT want to crack a rotten egg inside of your home. 

EDC Essentials

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

 

EDC Essentials

Every day when I wake up, I go to the kitchen where my wife usually has coffee waiting for me. The house is still dark and the kids are in bed. We move to the couch where we sit and talk about the day to come or reminisce about days gone, but eventually I have to start my day. I get dressed, grab my cell phone, my wallet, and my EDC gear, and head out to wherever it is I need to go. What I take with me greatly depends on where I’m going, and what I’ll be doing when I get there. 

EDC, for those who don’t already know, stands for “every day carry”. EDC items are, as the name suggests, things you carry every day on your person. It could be anything from knives and flashlights to a full tool kit that can fit in an Altoids tin. If you were to do a search, it could be overwhelming to wade though the results. 

Beware Of Gear Envy

What do you really need in your EDC? Do you often find yourself wishing you had a titanium beard comb that doubles as spatula? There are a lot of gimmicky things offered as EDC items, and it seems that for every ridiculous EDC gadget, there are 200 people telling you why you need it. The reason is mostly because they are getting paid to do so, but some of the options do seem really cool. I often find myself considering buying some odd gadget and have to ask myself if I really need it.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking you need to have every little trinket they offer. The reality is you will almost never use some of those EDC items, and there are most likely cheaper and more practical options available. I added up the cost of one Youtuber’s kit and the sum was well over $500! Granted, the items listed were probably very high quality, but they just didn’t seem worth it. For everything that could be done with that kit, he could have spent under $100 and used the rest of the money for something worthwhile.

I have a short list of things I consider essential for every day. This is by no means all I carry, but could be considered the bare minimum, and is usually all I have on my person. Here are the most important things I think everyone should have as part of their EDC, and why I chose them.

A Good Knife

A pocket knife is usually number one on everybody’s list, and my list is no different. I have never once uttered the words, “I wish I didn’t have a knife”. I use one multiple times throughout any given day, and have found one thing to be true. No matter the specific brand, or size, or material its made from, they are all essentially a pointy sharp stick. People have been using pointy sharp things for as far back as we know. Find a knife in your price range and don’t buy into the hype about which brand or locking mechanism is best.

I have owned knives of varying costs and quality, and I have come to the conclusion that they are pretty much all the same. I had an automatic Benchmade that was an incredible knife. It cost over $300 at the time, and it was no better than the $30 Gerber I bought to replace it when it broke. The knives were similar in size and weight. They both cut things, and neither one made a good prybar. However, the cheaper you go, the more likely you are to find poorly constructed knives. With that being said, I still have a $5 knife that I bought nearly 20 years ago, and used it while I worked construction. It is worn, and banged up, but is sturdy and holds an edge. Use good judgement when picking one out, and you wont be let down.

Here are a few good knife options:

Gerber Paraframe

Gerber Remix

Kershaw Shuffle 2

A Flashlight

Having a readily available light source is very important to me. Most of us have a cell phone with us at all times, and you can use that as your light. But sometimes its not enough, or maybe your phone is out of battery. I carry a flashlight because there have been times when I was looking at something under the hood of a car, or in other tight spots where a cell phone was just too bulky. I also don’t want to bang my phone up against something and break the screen. A small flashlight solves the problem and and a good one will come with a pocket clip so you don’t have to fish for it every time you need it.

If you’re like me, and find yourself needing a stand alone flashlight, you may have already looked into the options. There are a lot of good lights that are very affordable. My personal light is a Streamlight Stylus Pro that is rechargeable. It sells for around $50, but the Olight I3T is only $20. While I think the Streamlight is a better light, the Olight gets some good reviews and puts out 200 lumens. That is more light than most people need. There are some lights that look really cool, put out a lot of lumens, and sell for $100 or more, but , if you’re being honest with yourself, all you need is light. Buy the cheaper option. Use the $80 you saved to buy seeds for your garden, or some ammo.

Some good flashlight options:

Streamlight Micro Stream

Olight I3t

Fire Starting

Next on the list is fire starting. Things can really start to get gimmicky here. I have seen necklaces with tiny ferro rods on them, and while you can start a fire with it, it is not as easy, or nearly as useful as a classic Bic lighter. On top of that, they cost around $30. A Bic usually costs around $1. That is a %3,000 difference, and you’ll end up with a less useful item if you buy the necklace. That being said, I’m not against ferro rods in general, just tiny ones. I carry one from time to time, like when I’m going hiking or camping, but for every day carry, the Bic wins.

A Multitool

A lot of people in the EDC crowd are suggesting pliers. There are a number of small pliers you can buy and one brand everyone seems to be suggesting that I wont mention here. Don’t buy into it. If you need pliers, buy a multitool. You get so much in a small package, and a decent one will run about the same price as a decent pocket knife. The Gerber Dime comes to mind. I have one and have used it for many things over the years. There are many very good options, all of which are around $30, and can even serve as your main knife.

Some good multitool options

Gerber Dime

Gerber Suspension

SOG Powerpint

Totaling everything up, my essential EDC, consisting of A good knife or multi tool, a good flashlight, and a Bic lighter is under $100. You can even go cheaper if your budget demands it. The important thing is that you carry what you need, and need what you carry.

Pro tip: The most important tool you carry every day is your brain. Get trained and develop the skills you need to help you stay ready for what life throws at you. Contact us for classes and training in CPR, First Aide and more.

Gardening; Getting Started

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

Starting seeds

Your garden is supposed to work for you. It needs to provide you with fresh produce while saving you money. You want it to be full and lush, but there is work to be done first. Like most things in life, you need to start from a firm foundation if you want to build something successful. When it comes to gardening, “starts” are that foundation.

Your starts could come from a green house, or you could grow them yourself. I intend to arm you with enough knowledge to get your own garden starts from seeds. I am assuming that you have already decided what you want to grow and have a garden space all planned out. If that is not the case, be sure to read the garden planning article from earlier this month. If you’re ready to take the next step, you need to know how long it will be until your plants mature.

Maturity rates

Different plants will mature at different rates, even if they are different species in the same kind of plant. For example, one type of watermelon might take 80 days to become fully mature, while another might take 110 days. That is one month difference. You will want to time your starts based on this information which should be on the seed packets.

If you want to harvest watermelon in July, you will need to plant 80-110 days in advance depending on the variety you have chosen. Also, you can consider staggering your starts, planting the same variety in one week intervals. This will help to ensure that you have a longer harvest, keeping you from getting too much of one thing at a time. It is especially helpful with plants that have a short harvest window, such as sweet corn.

Plant more than you need

Something to consider is that your starts are not guaranteed to survive. Plants, like any other living thing, can die early for a number of reasons. I have learned the hard way to plant more than I think I need for my garden in case of a catastrophe. Over-watering, under-watering, disease, fungus, bad soil, and spills can take your starts from vibrant and healthy to staggering disappointment very quickly. If your starts all happen to survive, you will have extra to plant, or you could give some away to your friends and neighbors.

Seed starting kits

Jiffy Seed Starting Greenhouse (Amazon)

Seeds can be started in just about anything, but there are some good kits that can be purchased online that will help ensure successful results. These act as little greenhouses and also help protect your plants from pests that might get into hour home, or your pets. They also serve as a tray to keep the water on your plants and not your floor.

Warm up the soil

Seedling Warming Pads (Amazon)

If you plan to have your plants in the sunlight that beams through your windows, the soil will likely get warm enough to cause the seeds to germinate. However, not everyone has that much sun coming in, but there is a solution. Warming pads that you can put under your seed trays will provide enough heat to help start the germination process. Some seeds, such as Carolina Reaper, need the extra boost provided by heating pads. I had a very low success rate getting these plants to germinate without the extra heat.  In fact, most hot peppers and tomatoes appreciate the extra warmth.

Plenty of light

Seedling Grow Lights (Amazon)

When you plant your seeds, they don’t see any kind of light until they emerge from the soil. At that point, they start to seek out any light they can find and will compete with nearby plants for it. You can make sure they are getting enough with a good grow light. A grow light differs from regular fluorescent or LED lights by producing a wider spectrum of light. They are designed to give your plants all the light they need to thrive. Your light will need to be closer to the plants than you might think, so don’t be afraid to put it as close as a half inch away. Be prepared to adjust it as your plants grow.

Proper watering

Watering in a tray is easy. You have to pour the water in the tray part, not over the plants, and the soil will absorb it all. Be careful not to overwater your plants, as they will suffer root rot, or start growing harmful mold. Once watered, the tray’s lid will act as a greenhouse and retain much of the moisture that the plants shed. Without a lid, the plants are open to the air circulating in your house, which will dry them out faster.

Building a seed starting rack

Metal Rack for Seeds (Amazon)

If you don’t already have something in mind to keep your starts on, you could consider building a starting rack. Take some wire shelving, your grow lights, your warming pads, and seed trays, and put them all together. Get wire shelving that will fit your seed trays, and place your heating pads down. set your trays on top of the pads, and hang your lights from the shelf above, and run all of your cords to a power strip. The rack you end up with will give you a place to hang your grow lights from as well as provide a neat and tidy look to your operation. Remember, you have to look at it for a couple of months.

 

Pro tips:

Be sure to label or otherwise catalog what seeds you planted, and where they are. That way you don’t get mixed up when they start to germinate.

Make sure you use good fresh seeds. Old seeds often will not germinate, or the plant will not produce well.

Garden Planning

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

 

Planning Phase

Garden planning is a vital component of having a fruitful garden harvest. There are many options depending on location, soil, and available space.

Each year, my wife and I sit down and discuss our plans for the garden. We pour over gardening catalogs and check our inventory of seeds we saved from the previous year. We discuss the things we did well, and areas where we could use some improvement. If we put away stock of a certain fruit or vegetable, we talk about how our family used it over the winter and make decisions concerning the amount we are going to plant, or whether to forgo planting it again this year. To get the most out of gardening, the planning phase is crucial.

As is the case with most who garden, we have limited space dedicated for this purpose. While planning for each year’s garden, we discuss whether to till some more land, keep our current amount of space, or let the lawn take over some space for the year. As our children grow, they start to consume more food. We will obviously need to till some more space in the near future so we can keep up with their ever-growing needs.

You may find yourself in a similar situation, or you may be planting a garden for the first time. What ever the case, there are some things you need to consider first:

  1. Plants need sun. If you are surrounded by large objects such as trees or buildings, look for the area of your property that gets the most sun. That is where you are going to put your garden. Alternatively, you could trim or remove trees to give your plants more access to the light. Just make sure they are your trees, or that you have permission to cut them.
  2. Now that you have identified your garden space, you need to make a few decisions. What do you want to grow? How much of each type of plant are you going to plant? Each plant type will have spacing requirements, and your seed packets should give that information. If not, information is abundant online. Then, determine the size of your garden and start breaking ground.
  3. You need to pay attention to what zone you are in. There is such a thing as Hardiness zones and individual plants species will either thrive in certain zones, or not. Most of Michigan is in zone 5, but some areas are zone 4,or 6. Maps are available online if you are unsure which zone you are in. Some plant species, such as most figs, will simply not survive in Michigan but there are cold hardy varieties available. If you are unsure if your desired crop will survive, or the information is not available where you are ordering seeds, research the specific strain online to make sure it will do well.

Intensive Gardening 

If your space is smaller than you would like, you could consider a gardening method known as intensive gardening. We have done this in the past, and it has proven to be effective in maximizing our efficiency. There are plants that “play well” together, such as beans planted in corn rows with squash as a ground cover, or peppers and radishes in the same rows. Do some research on which plants to put together, because there are some that could either cross breed, or one will choke the other out.

Also, you can consider “planting up” to save space. Planting up will require you to build or buy structures for plants to “climb”.  Tomato plants do well in cages, and melons do well on trellises. You can make either one easily out of some heavy gage wire fencing. Left alone, these plants will spread along the ground, and take up a lot of space. 

Survival Gardening 

Something you will want to consider is the reason you want to garden. While it can be therapeutic to get outdoors and put your hands in the dirt, your reason might be that you want to store food in case you need it later. Or you might just want fresh veggies for the year. For my wife and me, it is a combination of all of it. However, if I had to put together a list of plants I would grow to survive off my garden it would look like this:

  1. Corn – A very versatile crop, especially if you grow a variety that is commonly ground into flour, or cornmeal. 
  2. Pole beans – These are nutrient and calorie dense and will climb up your corn stalks without bothering the corn at all.
  3. Squash – I really would rather not add this one, but they are so easy to grow, and store over winter in cool places such as a basement, or root cellar. Plant with your corn and beans. This will keep the soil in the shade, helping to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
  4. Potatoes – These grow in fields everywhere near me, and I have had some luck with them in my small garden. Potatoes got Ireland through some tough times and they will for you as well. You can live on nothing but potatoes for quite some time. However, the greens, and the potatoes themselves, exposed to sunlight are not safe to eat.
  5. Turnips – Easy to grow, and the whole plant is edible. The greens have a high vitamin A content.
  6. Kale – Yet another plant I wouldn’t choose unless I had to. It doesn’t provide a lot of calories but is absolutely packed with nutrients.
  7. Cabbage – It does well in colder climates, and can be harvested early in the season.
  8. Sweet potatoes – I know I already said potatoes, but sweets potatoes are very different. For instance, unlike potatoes, you can eat every part of a sweet potato plant.
  9. Herbs – Everyone has their preferences as far as seasonings go, but you would be hard pressed to find someone who likes to eat all of their food without any. Check your zone to see which herbs will grow well for you.
  10. Fruit trees – You will need to get started on this right away. It takes years for fruit trees to mature to a point where they produce well. Once established, they will provide some much needed sugar. Fruit can be dried or canned for long term storage.
  11. Wheat – It is literally a type of grass. It grows like crazy, and you can store wheat berries for decades if you prepare them properly. If you plan on making flour with it, invest in a mill, or learn how to make one. Otherwise, wheat berries can be soaked and eaten like rice.
  12. Hot peppers – I like my food spicy, and cayenne peppers grow well in my garden. They also dry and store well.

 

Container Gardening 

Another option is container gardening. This is a great option for those who have multiple small spaces of sunlight, or don’t have a means of tilling soil. Containers let you place plants wherever you need them, and some options can be moved if they aren’t getting enough light. There are many reasons to consider container gardening, and there are many ways to do it. However, there are also some challenges to be aware of.

Containers need to be chosen that will suit the needs of whatever you plant in them. Too many plants can end up fighting for nutrients, and you won’t get as much produce. An unstable container can blow over if your plant gets too tall, or too bushy. Another common problem is that over/under watering is more likely in a container. And finally, they usually aren’t very attractive. On the other hand, weeds are easier to control in containers, you don’t have to worry about tilling soil, and you can easily move plants inside if frost is likely to form over the night.

There are many types of containers to choose from. There are some you can build, and some you can buy. You can also use old buckets, coffee cans, or just about anything that holds dirt. Just keep in mind that the plant needs to have space to grow out its root structure. I have tried a few different types, and had some measure of success, and plenty of failures. In my experience, it all comes down to how much you pay attention to your plants.

As I mentioned, watering is an issue with container gardening. In a conventional garden, the ground holds moisture very efficiently. This is not true for containers. They are exposed to wind, and absorb more heat, both of which contribute to evaporation. If you don’t stay on top of watering, it will show. Conversely, if you don’t have adequate drainage, and the elements don’t dry out your soil, you could drown your plants and kill them. This is usually a problem with buckets, as they were designed to hold water.

Some plants do well in containers, and others don’t. If you’re like me, and you like hot peppers, try growing some in containers, the additional heat helps with germination, and root growth in the early stages of development. Potatoes actually do well in containers, and harvesting is a breeze. Just make sure your container is big enough. There are also a few dwarf varieties of fruit trees that do well in containers, such as citrus trees, and figs.

Conclusion

There is no method or reason for gardening that is universally perfect. Consider your situation, and your capabilities, and go from there. The important thing is that you start as soon as you are able. If you do, check back with us in late summer/early fall for some tips on storing your hard earned produce.

Pro tip: Get your canning supplies now before the fall rush to ensure you will have them when you need them. In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, wide mouth jar lids were hard to find. I don’t think it will be any different this year.