Urban Survival Gear and Equipment – Product Review on SOG Power Lock Tool

One of the better pieces of Survival Gear or Equipment that we have seen lately is the SOG Power Lock Multi-Tool.

The version we tested is coated in Stainless Steel with a Black Oxide finish and comes with a nylon sheath.

There are several unique things about the SOG Power Lock Multi-Tool: the compound leverage that you gain through two gears at the pivot point allows you to cut through some pretty heavy wire; A crimper tool designed for crimping non-electric blasting caps onto detontation (det) cord but more useful for most people crimping electrical connections onto wire; flip up handle covers allowing for comfortable and safe use; Piano locks to secure tools for use; and many other tools probably the most useful being the robust needle nose pliers and cutting blade.

This tool is similar in size and dimension to other tools, from SOG, Gerber or Leatherman. Having a closed length of 4.6 inches, an open length of 7 inches, and a weight of 9.6 ounces this tool is approximately the same sized as earlier version of multi-tools you have seen.

This is now our Multi-tool of choice. Every Urban, Suburban or remote area Survivalist should have one handy and carry it on their body – not in their Survival Bug Out Bag. Although a second multi-tool in your Survival Bug Out makes sense as well.

Urban Survival Planning – Losing Focus and Fighting Complacency

It is easy to get caught up in your day job and life and lose focus on your Urban Survival Planning.

You’ve got to stay focused my friends. Do not let the talking heads on television or cable news lull you into a false sense of security telling you the economy is getting better, the threat of recession has passed, etc.

The best way to stay focused is to build an Urban Survival Tasks List. Start by writing a list on everything you need to do and all the Survival Gear and Equipment you need to procure. This is going to be a “living” document, as many tasks will be added and some even crossed off. You can prioritize these tasks and the easiest way to do this is to assign a priority number such as 1 – immediate tasks, 2 – near term tasks, 3 – long term tasks. Sometimes the circumstances may allow you to fulfill or complete a long term task before you can get to a near term or immediate task.

These may be simple tasks such as buying Silver rounds or collecting Silver coins for their silver melt value; could be tasks (or re-occuring tasks) such as firearms or tool maintenance; or could be larger tasks requiring a commitment of money such as to procure another firearms or a an expensive item of Survival Gear or Equipment.

Maybe one of your tasks is to read a survival book either a “how to” or a fictionalized account on survival, such as “Patriots” or “Lights Out”. Maybe the only thing you get done that day is to read a Chapter. That’s fine, at least you’re moving forward and rest assured that even if you are just thinking about Urban Survival Planning and Preparation you are still ahead of the vast majority of the American population.

But don't rest here. Just being ahead of the vast majority of the American population is going to be of little solace when a collapse hits and catches you unprepared or less than optimally prepared. Instead, ask yourself each day “what have I done today to get better prepared”? Work your list. Review it each day. Add tasks as necessary. Get Prepared!

Urban Survival Food – Growing an Urban Garden

This post is a companion to the previous post on procuring and storing Vegetable and Crop Seeds for post collapse Survival Food supply. See: Stockpiling Crop Seeds

Procuring the necessary amount of non-hybrid seeds to be prepared to grow your own food source maybe the biggest end of being prepared in this aspect, however we feel that no matter what the current situation is now the potential Urban Survivalist should at least grow a small garden now in order to gain the experience that comes with trial and error.

Some of the biggest factors in an Urban Survival Garden are space and dirt in which to plant and grow. You don’t have to bring in a couple tons of topsoil in order to have a survival garden. Almost any container is suitable for certain types of vegetables.

Larger root vegetables such as potatoes will obvious need a larger container than would smaller root vegetables such as radishes.

Vine vegetables such as squash, cucumbers, watermelons and such will do fine in smaller containers.

There is a very good website for urban gardening and we have run across in past. This site used commercial bags of topsoil bought at a hardware or store such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. These Urban farmers punched drain holes in one side of the bag, then turned the bag over and created a larger window in this side to allow the planting and watering. This technique probably saves a lot of water with the plastic container containing most of it as to allow the roots to take the water in along with nutrients from the soil.

Although planting in topsoil bags is a great idea, it also is a more costly as we checked at Lowe’s recently and these bags of topsoil were selling for over $5.00 each. Most vegetables will do fine in free dirt. Our favorite is a mix of sand and horse manure that we get for free – one we shovel up in the desert or an open lot, and the other we get from a local horse trainer. With sufficient water we grew incredibly large Black Magic Squash last summer.

We use all sorts of containers,…..various sized buckets with drain holes punched in the bottom and a narrow layer of rocks to aid in drainage before we add the soil mix. We keep the soil a few inches below the top of the bucket so that water can be added without it running off the bucket.

Heavy duty trash bags or surplus military sand bags make a good container also, especially for vine vegetables and fruits as the vines will grow out and bear fruit – the container serves only to house the plant’s roots to get minerals, water and nutrients from the soil.

Practically any container that allows for root growth and drainage would work. If you are a true Urban Environment Survivalist,….that is living inside the concrete jungle,…maybe commercial bought, bagged topsoil is your only option,. If so, then maybe you can transplant the top soil to other containers in order to use only what you need for that plant(s) to thrive.

Whatever plants you decide upon planting, there are many free resources to learn how that plants or crop grow best. These sources may be any local or state agricultural extension office, as well as the abundance of on-line resources. Both these resources may not be accessible after the collapse, get the information now that you are going to need to grow crops.

There is no reason that a winter crop cannot be achieved using a green house. After a collapse, of practically any kind, procurement of needed materials such as glass and food to frame up protect the crops while allowing sunlight, may be very hard to do.

Urban Survival Planning – the Survival Food Triangle

This is NOT your USDA Food triangle explaining what we need for our daily nutritional requirements and such. This Food triangle is the 3 ways Urban Survivalists are going to be able to access Food for survival.

The three main food procurement areas are Stored Foods, Harvested Foods and Bartered Foods.

Stored Foods which are you pantry items that you have been stockpiling; any cases of MRE’s, or stored whole foods such as grain and beans in sealed buckets; #10 cans of dehydrated vegetables – powdered milk – fruits, etc. We would consider six months of stored food as a viable objective and necessary asset.

Harvested Foods are plants and animals that which you cultivate or hunt for food. This would include crops that you plant, cultivate, grow and harvest which are mostly vegetables unless you are far sighted enough to procure fruit seeds or plant fruit bearing trees. This also includes livestock and their produce such as goats or milk or meat, chickens for eggs, etc. I would think that practically any animal, other than cats, could serve as meat animals and this includes dogs.

The six month supply of stored food would conceivably get you and your family through a non-growing season and give you time to establish your Survival Garden.

The third leg of the Survival Food triangle is Bartered Food, regardless if this is prepared foods, raw foods, raw meat or living livestock this would be food items you barter for. You would probably perform manual labor or trade Survival Gear or equipment in exchange for these foods items.