Do You Feel Like Time Is Slipping Away?

Do you feel like time is slipping away? It seems like the bucket list gets shorter as the years go by. There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a person somewhere in their fifties or sixties. The kids are grown. The mortgage is nearly paid off. And somewhere in a drawer, or maybe just in the back of the mind, there is a list. A bucket list. A collection of dreams that were written down in a moment of inspiration and then gently, almost imperceptibly, set aside.

For many of us, that list has gotten shorter over the years. Not because we checked things off. But because time passed anyway. This isn’t a post meant to make you feel guilty. It’s meant to make you feel awake.

We Told Ourselves There Was Always More Time

The most common regret people carry into their later years isn’t something dramatic. It’s not a betrayal or a catastrophe. It’s simply the belief that there would always be more time. More time after the project at work, more time after the kids finished school. Maybe once the debt was paid down. More time when things slowed down a little.

But time doesn’t slow down. It does what it’s always done. And somewhere between the years of working hard and meaning well, a lot of living got quietly postponed.

My Oxygen Story

One day, I was rushed by ambulance to a hospital on 4-12-2024 and have been on oxygen 24/7 from then on and always will be. You may think I can still travel, but it’s not that easy. I tried it for a “Family Reunion.” I dragged my portable oxygen concentrator and another oxygen concentrator in a suitcase. Yes, Mark helped, but it’s not fun. Plus, we had two suitcases. I realized if I lived in California (sea level), I wouldn’t need oxygen. Well, house prices wouldn’t fit our budget there, so after the vacation, we came back to Utah, oxygen in tow. My dream of seeing Niagara Falls is no longer an option. Please, my friends, do what you can now while you have the strength, health, and finances to do so. Just do it.

My Bestie’s Story

She and I have been great friends for well over 15 years. Well, within a month of my oxygen fiasco, my friend ended up on Kidney Dialysis. Not fun. She’s on the kidney transplant list at two hospitals; she kept telling me, “Linda, I don’t know if I can do this.” I learned so much about kidney disease and what she went through to be prepped for Dialysis. I had no idea what it was like to go through the chills, the coldness, and the pain. Now we talk about how we used to go out to lunch and laugh so hard in Southern Utah, and now we both rarely leave our homes in different states. This is the reason I wrote this post today, my sweet friends. Do what you want to do now. Don’t wait.

Did We Work Too Much?

Work is honorable. Providing for a family is one of the most loving things a person can do. But there is a version of hard work that tips into something else, a kind of sacrifice so total that the person doing the sacrificing disappears into it.

Many people look back and realize they were physically present in their homes but mentally somewhere else, thinking about deadlines, budgets, and performance reviews. The family dinner was eaten, but the conversation was distracted. The vacation was taken, but the phone was always nearby.

It’s worth asking honestly: Did work fill the space where life was supposed to go? And if so, was that truly the trade we wanted to make?

Did We Give Too Much to Our Kids?

Parents who sacrifice for their children are doing something beautiful. But sometimes that sacrifice goes so far that the parents forget to live their own lives, and ironically, they may not be doing their children any favors either.

Children who watch their parents deny themselves joy, travel, and adventure to leave a larger inheritance often grow up with a complicated relationship with money and guilt. They may feel burdened by the sacrifice without having asked for it.

What if, instead of leaving behind more money, we left behind more stories? More proof that life, fully and joyfully lived, is available to ordinary people who simply choose to reach for it?

A child who watches a parent book that trip to Portugal, take that painting class, or finally learn to sail learns something no inheritance can teach. They learn that their own dreams are worth chasing, too.

Did We Take Our Health for Granted?

This one is tender to talk about, but it matters. Many of us moved through our younger years with a quiet assumption that our bodies would simply continue to cooperate. We skipped the checkups, and we let the weight creep up. Maybe we said we would start exercising next month, next year, or after the holidays.

Health is not guaranteed. And one of the most painful discoveries a person can make is that the window for certain adventures closed not because of money or time, but because the body is no longer able to do what the heart still wants to do.

This is not meant as a warning dipped in fear. It’s an invitation. Whatever your age and whatever your current health, the best time to begin caring for yourself is right now. Every good choice made today is a gift to your future self.

Do We Live Around Happy People?

Research on human longevity and happiness consistently points to one of the most underappreciated factors in a good life: the people around us.

We are deeply, biologically social creatures. The moods, habits, attitudes, and outlooks of the people we spend time with seep into us whether we notice it or not. Spending years surrounded by chronic complainers, pessimists, or people who are stuck does something to a person. And spending time with curious, joyful, generous people does something very different.

It’s worth looking around at the social landscape of your daily life. Are the people in your inner circle lifting you up or quietly pulling you down? Are your conversations mostly about problems, grievances, and the past? Or do they sometimes venture into wonder, possibility, and what is still ahead?

Community matters enormously. If yours needs refreshing, that isn’t a failure. It’s simply an opportunity.

Did We Skip Travel to Leave More Behind?

For many families, especially those shaped by the experience of scarcity, there is a powerful pull toward saving, accumulating, and leaving something behind for the next generation. That instinct comes from love.

But travel isn’t an indulgence. It’s an education. It stretches the mind in ways that no book, documentary, or conversation can fully replicate. Maybe it teaches humility, curiosity, adaptability, and gratitude. It shows us that there are a thousand different ways to be human, and most of them are fascinating.

The parents who travel, who experience other cultures, who sit at tables in foreign cities and try to order food in a language they barely speak, come home changed. They have more to offer the people they love. They have more stories, more perspective, more life. And the money spent on those experiences? It wasn’t wasted. It was invested in becoming a fuller, richer, more interesting person.

Travel Bags for Suitcases

Compression Packing Cubes

What Would We Do Differently?

This is the real question, and it deserves a real answer. Most people, when asked this with enough honesty and enough quiet, say some version of the same things. They would have worried less. Not about important things, but about the small everyday anxieties that consumed so much mental energy and came to nothing in the end. They would have said yes more often. Invitations. Adventures. To experiences that felt a little outside the comfort zone.

They would have taken better care of themselves earlier, not out of vanity, but out of a recognition that the body is the vehicle for everything else. They would’ve had more honest conversations with the people they love, said the hard things sooner, and expressed appreciation more freely.

We would have spent more time outside, more time in nature, more time doing things that had no practical outcome but filled the soul. And many, though not all, would have traveled more. They would have seen more of the world and trusted that the money would work itself out, because it usually does.

It’s Not Too Late

Here’s the thing about time slipping away: it only slips away in one direction. What’s behind us is behind us. But what is ahead is still unwritten, and it belongs entirely to the choices being made right now.

The bucket list doesn’t have to keep getting shorter. It can grow again. It can be rewritten with the wisdom that only comes from having lived long enough to know what actually matters.

Whatever age you are reading this, whether you’re forty-five or sixty-five or seventy-five, there are still mornings ahead that belong to you. Still places you haven’t been. Still, conversations you haven’t had. Do you have versions of yourself you haven’t yet become? The question isn’t whether time is slipping away. Of course it is. Time always slips away. The question is what you’re going to do with what remains.

Start Small, Start Today

You don’t have to book a flight anywhere or make any dramatic announcements. You just have to begin. Call the friend you’ve been meaning to call. Look up and register for the class you keep thinking about. Say yes to the thing you’ve been quietly wanting to do. The bucket list isn’t a document of regret. At its best, it’s a compass. It points toward the life that is still possible, the one that’s waiting patiently for you to remember it’s there. Time is slipping away, but some of it is still yours. Use it.

Traveling During a Pandemic: What You Need

Behind Every Front Door, There’s a Story

Final Word

If I could do anything differently, I would have spent less time preparing for life and more time actually living it. We are remarkable creatures when it comes to planning. We plan for retirement, plan for emergencies, plan for the kids, plan for the house, plan for next year, and the year after that. And somewhere in all that careful, responsible planning, the present moment often slips by largely unnoticed.

I would’ve sat longer at the dinner table. Not to finish the meal but to finish the conversation. I would have said I love you more, and I would have meant it in the small everyday ways, not just the grand gestures. A cup of coffee was brought without being asked. A hand held during a forgettable Tuesday. I would have worried less about what other people thought of my choices, because the honest truth is that most people are far too occupied with their own lives to spend much time judging yours.

Almost every time, I would have taken the trip. I would have quit the things that were draining me sooner and invested that energy in the things that were filling me up. I would’ve called my parents more before the calls became impossible to make.

And perhaps most of all, I would have understood earlier that a life well lived isn’t measured in what you accumulate or what you leave behind. It’s measured in the depth of the moments you were actually present for. The good news is that most of us still have some runway left. The question isn’t what we would have done differently. The question is: what are we willing to do differently starting right now? That’s the only answer that still matters. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Clocks on Wall AdobeStock_497397083 By New Africa, Pink Clock Sleep Hygiene AdobeStock_327813929 By Victor Moussa

The post Do You Feel Like Time Is Slipping Away? appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms

Keeping Ducks as Pets: What You Need to Know

Ducks are once again becoming popular as livestock, especially on the small scale for homesteaders, but we’re also starting to see a lot of interest in them as pets. It might seem strange, but they have a lot to offer: ducks are intelligent, friendly, playful, and tend to be quite healthy. You’ll see plenty of ... Read more

Keeping Ducks as Pets: What You Need to Know can be read in full at New Life On A Homestead- Be sure to check it out!

from New Life On A Homestead

Can’t Grow Potatoes? Buy Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated

Can’t grow potatoes? Buy freeze-dried or dehydrated. If you’ve ever wanted to stock your pantry with one of the most versatile and nutritious foods on the planet but simply don’t have the space, time, or growing conditions to raise your own, you’re not alone. Millions of families find themselves in exactly the same situation. The good news is that you don’t need a garden, a farm, or even a backyard to enjoy the incredible benefits of potatoes. Freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes make it possible for anyone to keep this powerhouse food on hand for everyday cooking and long-term emergency storage. Potato Peelers

Why Potatoes Belong in Every Kitchen

Before we talk about the best ways to store potatoes without growing them, it helps to understand just how valuable this humble vegetable really is. Potatoes have been feeding families around the world for thousands of years, and for good reason.

A single medium potato contains a remarkable collection of nutrients. You get a solid dose of vitamin C, which supports your immune system and helps your body absorb iron. Potatoes are also rich in potassium, a mineral that most Americans don’t get enough of and that plays a key role in heart health and healthy blood pressure. They provide vitamin B6, which supports brain development and helps your body make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine. They even contain folate, magnesium, and a range of antioxidants.

Potatoes are also one of the most satisfying foods you can eat. They contain a type of fiber called resistant starch, especially when cooked and cooled, that feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut and helps you feel full longer. For families trying to stretch a food budget without sacrificing nutrition, potatoes are one of the best tools available. They’re naturally gluten-free, making them a safe staple for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.

Perhaps most importantly, potatoes are endlessly adaptable. Soups, stews, casseroles, side dishes, breakfast hashes, and even some baked goods all welcome potatoes with open arms. When you have potatoes in the pantry, you always have the foundation for a satisfying meal. How To Make Donuts.

The Challenge of Growing Your Own Potatoes

Growing potatoes sounds straightforward enough. You plant seed potatoes, water them, and eventually you dig up a harvest. In practice, though, it isn’t always that simple.

Potatoes need well-draining, loose soil that is free from diseases like blight and scab. They require a consistent water supply, plenty of sunlight, and enough space for the plants to spread out underground. They’re also susceptible to a long list of pests, from Colorado potato beetles to wireworms, that can devastate a crop. For gardeners dealing with clay-heavy soil, limited outdoor space, drought, or short growing seasons, producing enough potatoes to meet your meal prep needs can feel like an uphill battle.

If you live in an apartment, a townhouse, or a home without usable garden space, growing potatoes may simply not be an option at all. And even for those who do garden, potatoes take up a lot of real estate relative to other vegetables and require specific storage conditions after harvest to keep them from sprouting or rotting.

The encouraging truth is that not growing your own potatoes doesn’t mean you have to go without them. The freeze-dried and dehydrated food industry has made it easier than ever to keep a substantial supply of potatoes on hand without ever touching a shovel.

What Are Freeze-Dried Potatoes?

Freeze-drying is a preservation process that removes nearly all the moisture from food while keeping the cellular structure largely intact. The food is first frozen solid, then placed in a vacuum chamber, where the ice sublimates directly to vapor without passing through the liquid phase. The result is a lightweight product that retains an impressive amount of its original nutrition, flavor, and texture.

Freeze-dried potatoes can be stored for an exceptionally long time, often 25 years or more, when kept in proper conditions, meaning a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. When you’re ready to use them, simply add water and let them rehydrate. Many freeze-dried potato products rehydrate so well that they’re nearly indistinguishable from freshly cooked potatoes in dishes like mashed potatoes, soups, and stews.

The main trade-off with freeze-dried potatoes is cost. The process is energy-intensive and requires specialized equipment, so freeze-dried products tend to be more expensive than dehydrated alternatives. However, given their extraordinary shelf life and the convenience they offer, many families find the investment worthwhile, particularly when building a long-term food storage supply. Check out the ingredients before you buy any long-term food storage. It’s sad Thrive Life has closed; they had the best food on the market.

What Are Dehydrated Potatoes?

Dehydrated potatoes are made through a different process. Heat and airflow are used to draw moisture out of the potato over several hours. You have almost certainly encountered dehydrated potatoes without realizing it. Instant mashed potato flakes and slices found in grocery stores across the country are forms of dehydrated potatoes.

Dehydrated potatoes are more affordable than freeze-dried potatoes and still offer a respectable shelf life, typically 5 to 10 years when stored properly in sealed containers. They’re widely available and come in a variety of forms, including slices, dices, shreds, and flakes. Each form lends itself to different kinds of cooking. Augason Farms cans say 25 years under favorable conditions. I personally question the 25 years, but I have about 20 cans on my shelves and will use them before the 15-year mark. Augason Farm Dehydrated Sliced Potatoes. This product is potato slices with freshness preserved using sodium bisulfite.

Potato flakes, for example, are perfect for quick mashed potatoes and can also be used as a thickener in soups, a coating for meats, or an ingredient in bread and rolls. Slices and dices work well in casseroles and soups. Shreds are ideal for hash browns, potato pancakes, and breakfast dishes.

The nutritional profile of dehydrated potatoes remains solid, though some heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C, are reduced during processing compared with fresh or freeze-dried potatoes. They remain a good source of potassium, B vitamins, and fiber.

Freeze-Dried vs. Dehydrated: How to Choose

Both options have a real and important place in a well-rounded food storage plan. Here’s a simple way to think about the difference.

If your priority is maximum shelf life and the closest thing to fresh-tasting results, freeze-dried potatoes are worth the higher price. They are particularly valuable for long-term emergency preparedness, camping trips, and situations where access to fresh produce may be limited for extended periods.

If you’re focused on everyday use, building up a practical pantry on a budget, or getting started with food storage for the first time, dehydrated potatoes offer excellent value. Many families keep both on hand, using dehydrated products regularly in weekly cooking and reserving freeze-dried supplies for longer-term storage.

When shopping, look for products from reputable brands that use quality potatoes and minimal additives. Check sodium content, particularly on products that come pre-seasoned. Reading labels carefully ensures that what you’re buying aligns with your family’s nutritional needs. Emergency Essentials® Freeze-Dried Hash Browns (the can says “dehydrated” on Amazon, just giving you a heads-up).

Trusted Brands to Look For

Several well-known companies specialize in freeze-dried and dehydrated foods and have built strong reputations for quality and reliability. Augason Farms, Mountain House, and Wise Company are among the most widely recognized names in the long-term food storage space. Many of these brands offer potato products in bulk quantities, which can significantly reduce the per-serving cost. You can find their products online, at warehouse stores, and at emergency preparedness retailers.

For everyday dehydrated potato options, mainstream grocery brands and bulk food suppliers like Bob’s Red Mill also carry quality products that work well in your daily cooking.

How to Use Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Potatoes in Everyday Cooking

One of the most common misconceptions about freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes is that they’re only useful in emergencies. In reality, they’re a genuinely practical ingredient for busy families who cook regularly.

Potato flakes can be whipped up in minutes for a weeknight side dish. A handful stirred into soup adds body and thickness without any extra effort. Dehydrated potato slices can go straight into a slow cooker with broth and seasonings for a hearty meal that practically makes itself. Freeze-dried potato dices rehydrate quickly and can be added to scrambled eggs, frittatas, and breakfast burritos.

Keeping a well-stocked supply of these products means you always have the ingredients for a satisfying, nutritious meal, even when your refrigerator is running low on other food items, or a trip to the grocery store isn’t in the cards. Cheesy Potatoes aka Funeral Potatoes

Storing Your Potato Supply

Getting the most out of freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes comes down to proper storage. Both products do best in cool, dry, dark conditions. Avoid storing them near heat sources such as ovens or water heaters, or in areas that experience significant temperature swings, such as garages or attics.

Oxygen and moisture are the main enemies of long-term food storage. Most high-quality freeze-dried and dehydrated products come in sealed cans or Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers already included to address oxygen exposure. Once opened, transfer any unused portions to airtight containers, use them within a few months for the best quality, and reduce the risk of oxygen and moisture issues.

Labeling your containers with the purchase date and the “best by” date makes rotation simple. The goal is always to use the oldest products first, so nothing goes to waste.

A Practical and Empowering Choice

Not being able to grow your own potatoes isn’t a gap in your preparedness or a shortfall in your family’s food security. It’s simply a reality that calls for a practical solution, and freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes are exactly that. They give you access to one of the world’s most important foods in a form that is shelf-stable, convenient, affordable over time, and genuinely useful in everyday cooking.

Whether you’re building a three-month food supply, stocking a cabin pantry, or simply trying to make sure your family always has the foundation for a good meal, freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes deserve a place in your home. They’re proof that you don’t have to grow your food to be prepared, nourished, and ready for whatever comes your way. As you know, I’m always promoting the idea that families should try to grow some of their own food. It teaches kids where the food products we eat come from, and they learn that with some planning and work, you can have fun and grow what we enjoy eating every day. But, for some families, that isn’t an option, for several reasons.

Final Word

You don’t need a garden to feed your family well. Freeze-dried and dehydrated potatoes put one of the most nutritious and versatile foods in the world right on your pantry shelf, ready whenever you need it. Whether you’re building a long-term food supply or simply making sure a good meal is always within reach, this is one of the smartest and most practical investments a family can make. May God bless this world, Linda

The post Can’t Grow Potatoes? Buy Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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100 Non-Food Items You Should Stockpile

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

You’ve probably read quite a few articles over the past year that list how much water and food you should have in your emergency pantry. Now it’s time to think about the other items that are essential to survival.

Of course, the type of emergency, where you live, and the time of year will factor into the supplies you need. But we’ve put together a list of non-food items you should consider gathering as part of your emergency preparations.

1. Air Pump – You can use a hand-held pump to pump up your vehicle’s tires, rafts, or flotation devices.

2. Ax – In the right hands, a quality ax or hatchet can do much more than just chop wood. (If you don’t believe me, read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.)

3. B.B. Gun, Pellet Gun, Slingshot – These weapons are useful for hunting small game and for self-defense.

4. Baby Supplies – Plan for baby’s needs both for now and down the road.

5. Baking Soda – You can use baking soda as toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo, and to treat irritated skin. And that’s just the start of a long list.

6. Bandanas – These inexpensive items can serve as facemasks, compresses, cool-down cloths, and other things.

7. Batteries – Make sure you have spare batteries for things like radios and flashlights.

8. Bike – You may need a bike for transportation, and the more rugged terrain it can handle, the better.

9. Binoculars – You can use binoculars like these to watch the sky for weather changes, to look for rescuers, or to help find people or animals that are lost.

10. Blade Sharpener – Keep your knives and other tools in shape with a blade sharpener.

11. Blankets – Keep extra warm blankets at home and in your car.

12. Bolt Cutters – Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and bolt cutters might become a necessity. .

13. Buckets and Lids – Five-gallon buckets are useful for storing and carrying food, water, and other supplies.

14. Cash – During a grid failure, debit and credit cards may not work. Keep a supply of cash on hand for emergencies.

15. Cast-Iron Pan – You can use a cast iron pan on the stove, in the oven, or over a campfire. This one is even pre-seasoned.

16. Charcoal and Lighter Fluid – You can start an outdoor cooking fire easily with these items.

17. Chlorine Bleach – Unscented bleach can help you sanitize dishes and cooking gear with minimal water.

18. Compass – Your phone’s navigation tools won’t help in some emergency situations, but a compass will always be fully charged and ready to go.

19. Contact Information – A written list of phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information of friends and family members is handy if your phone won’t work.

20. Crowbar – A good old-fashioned crowbar and some elbow grease can get you out of a lot of jams.

21. Dental Floss – Small and easy to carry, floss can be used for fishing lines, thread, traps, snares, and many other survival purposes.

22. Duct Tape – You can read entire articles on the many survival uses for duct tape. It’s inexpensive, versatile, and long-lasting.

23. Dust Mask – All the face masks we were wearing during the pandemic could be useful in another emergency.

24. Eating and Cooking Utensils – Portable, reusable utensils — like the infamous spork — are important to a survival toolkit. This one even has a bottle opener.

25. Emergency Candles – You often can find inexpensive emergency candles at yard sales and thrift stores.

26. Extra Socks – Clean, warm, dry socks are critical for health and comfort.

27. Family Photos – These treasured keepsakes can keep you focused on what’s important.

28. Ferro Rod – You can use these to light a fire in just about any condition.

29. Fire Extinguisher – It’s a good idea to have several fire extinguishers at home and one in each of your vehicles.

30. Fire Laces – These reusable flint and steel shoelaces will help you start a fire.

31. First Aid Kit – Keep a well-stocked kit at home and in your car. Here’s a list from the Red Cross.

32. Fishing Line and Tackle – Fish is a valuable food source. Make sure you have the supplies you need ready.

33. Fixed-Blade Knife – In addition to a multitool's blade, you’ll want one or more quality fixed blade knives.

34. Flares – If you need help at home or on the road, flares can be a lifesaver.

35. Flashlights and Batteries – Everyone in your family should have their own flashlight, and make sure you have plenty of batteries for them as well.

36. Games, Puzzles – You’ll want to save your phone battery power for communication and news updates, so think old-school when to comes to entertainment.

37. Gasoline – Gas stations are likely to be closed in a disaster. Keep your gas tanks full and store an extra supply for emergencies.

38. Goggles – Goggles can offer eye protection when there is debris in the air.

39. Hand Warmer Packets – These single-use packs will warm hands and feet when you are cold.

40. Hand-Cranked Can Opener – You’ve got a lot of canned food in that pantry. Don’t rely on an electric opener, or you could be out of luck in a power outage.

41. Hand-Cranked Radio – With one of these devices, you can get news and weather updates even when the power and internet are down.

42. Hats, Gloves – We don’t know when an emergency will strike, so be sure you have winter gear ready.

43. Headlamps – If you need to travel by foot after dark or just need hands-free lighting to perform a task, headlamps do the job.

44. Heat Source – If you don’t have a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll want to invest in a portable propane or kerosene heater as a heat source. This Mr. Heater is suitable for indoor use.

45. Hygiene Products – Don’t forget oral care when you stock up on health items.

46. Jumper Cables – If you’re using your car to stay warm or run electronics, you may end up with a dead battery. Make sure you have jumper cables to jump your vehicle or someone else’s.

47. Lighters, Waterproof Matches – Starting a fire without these items can be done. However, why waste your time and energy if you don’t have to?

48. Machete – If you have to find your way in the wilderness, this tool is excellent for cutting branches and vines.

49. Maps – Google Maps is great, but what about when the power is out and your phone is low on charge? Paper maps of your area can come to the rescue.

50. Medications – Stock up on standard over-the-counter medicines as well as your prescriptions.

51. Multitool – A quality multi-tool is a must-have. We like this powerhouse tool from Leatherman.

52. Oil – Motor oil is useful for your vehicles and machinery, and you can use it to start a fire if need be.

53. Paper and Pens – You’ll need these for lists, messages, diaries, and doodles.

54. Paracord – You’ll find lots of uses for this emergency staple.

55. Pepper Spray or Bear Spray – You can use these portable self-defense sprays to ward off animal or human predators.

56. Personal Identification Papers – Keep copies of essential records and documents on hand in a safe, waterproof, and fireproof place.

57. Pet Food and Supplies – Think about how you will feed and transport your pets, if necessary.

58. Phone Chargers – Have you seen these emergency phone chargers that come in three-packs?

59. Playing Cards – There’s a good chance you’ll have time on your hands during an emergency. A deck of cards can keep your mind occupied.

60. Portable Camping Stove – We like this classic Coleman suitcase stove.

61. Propane – Many camping stoves use propane, so make sure you have a supply of this fuel safely stored.

62. Radios – A ham, shortwave, or C.B. radio can provide a vital communication link when other methods fail.

63. Rain Barrel – Collect rainwater to keep your water supply up.

64. Rain Gear – It’s a good idea to stock up on inexpensive ponchos for every member of your family.

65. Rechargeable Batteries – You’ll need these for your electronics, radios, and lanterns.

66. Rubbing Alcohol – This inexpensive staple works well as a wound disinfectant.

67. Saw – Storms that cause emergencies tend to bring down trees and tree limbs. You’ll find many uses for a quality saw in a disaster.

68. Scissors – You probably have a pair, but are they in good repair, and are they sharp?

69. Seeds – After your food supply starts to dwindle, what then? You can grow your own fruits and vegetables if you have a selection of seeds stored. (Be sure to rotate seeds for freshness.)

70. Self-Defense Weapon and Ammo – You also can add martial arts and self-defense tactics to this item.

71. Sewing Kit – Whether it’s fixing a backpack strap, hemming a torn cuff, or sewing a deep cut in an emergency, needle and thread can come in very handy.

72. Shovel – You’ll need one to dig a firepit, free a stuck vehicle, break up ice, and plant a garden.

73. Signal Mirror – You can use a mirror to reflect sunlight to alert potential rescuers who are on the ground or in the sky.

74. Sillcock Key – This tool allows you to open water valves that don’t have standard handles.

75. Sleeping Bag – Store one for each person in the family. Choose the best temperature rating for your climate zone.

76. Sleeping Mask and Earplugs – When things get tough, sleeping gets tougher. These items can help you block out the lights and noise to get the rest you need.

77. Solar Battery Lantern – Lanterns like this one are good for 360-degree lighting when the power is out, or you are in a tent.

78. Solar Chargers – When the grid is down, you can harness the sun’s power with solar chargers like this portable one.

79. Space Blanket – Lightweight and packable, these mylar blankets help you maintain 90% of your body heat.

80. Sturdy Boots – Having the proper footwear may be one of the most under-rated aspects of survival gear.

81. Sunscreen – You’ll also need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays.

82. Survival Backpack – We’ve often written about what to pack in a bug-out bag. You also need a quality backpack in which to place your on-the-go supplies.

83. Survival Books – Pocket guides and full reference books can help you handle the unexpected. This article gives tips and suggestions for building a survival library.

84. Survival Hammock – You may think of a hammock as something to relax in, but sleeping off the ground is much more comfortable.

85. Survival Mask – Check out this selection of survival gas masks.

86. TACT Bivvy – Here’s an emergency kit that comes with a lightweight sleeping bag, carabiner, survival whistle, and paracord tinder.

87. Tarp – Plastic and fabric tarps are useful as ground cover, for building an emergency shelter, and many other things.

88. Tent – A quality tent provides emergency shelter in the wilderness.

89. Tinder – Store tinder for building fires during an emergency. (Hint: dryer lint is a good one!)

90. Tire Repair Kit – Can you fix a flat fast if you have to? Make sure your spare tires are in good shape, and stock up on Fix-A-Flat.

91. Toilet Paper and Toilet Paper Tablets – Yes, store some actual toilet paper, but you don’t need to clear the store shelves. These tablets are another idea.

92. Traps and Snares – Here is a design that’s easy to set up and catches small birds.

93. Trash Bags – Large trash bags are suitable for their intended purpose, but they also work well as ground covers, tarps, makeshift ponchos, and other things.

94. Walkie-Talkies – Use these two-way radios to stay in touch with friends and family who are up to 16 miles away.

95. Water Filter and Purification Tablets – The personal-sized Lifestraw can filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water. These tablets disinfect water, making it more suitable for drinking and cooking.

96. Whistle – A survival whistle is small and lightweight, but it can be a powerful way to alert others of your location when you need help.

97. Wipes and Hand Sanitizer – These items are helpful for on-the-go clean-ups and whenever water is scarce.

98. Written Plan – Think and plan ahead and talk with your family about what you will do and where you will go if disaster strikes. Make sure everyone knows where your supplies are located and how to use them.

99. Zip Ties – Makeshift handles and fastening gear into your backpack are just two of the ways zip ties come in handy.

100. Zippered Plastic Bags – You can use them to hold and protect kindling, nails, snacks, you name it. Make sure you have some in several sizes.

There's one more thing you'll need in a disaster: common sense. The past year has shown us in dramatic ways that none of us is immune to disaster.

The good news is that planning ahead can offer you valuable peace of mind that you are doing your best to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.

Originally published on Urban Survival Site.

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Why You Should Store Dry Pasta in PVC Pipes, Not Mylar Bags

If you’ve been prepping food for long-term storage, you’ve probably seen mylar bags recommended everywhere. They’re the default answer on forums, YouTube channels, and prepper blogs. And for a lot of foods, they work fine. But when it comes to dry pasta specifically, there’s a better option that most people overlook. This isn’t about being […]

The post Why You Should Store Dry Pasta in PVC Pipes, Not Mylar Bags appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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