Wild Edible Plants, Part 1

There are many Temperate edible plants in addition to those illustrated, including wild forms of cultivated plants such as currents and gooseberries. In The Next few Post I will be covering as many edible plants that I can find, I will add pictures of each plant so that you may easily identify them.

I hope that you are able to try at least a few of the plants that I go over here, some are extremely tasteful and fun to try.

Please REMEMBER that although one part of a plant may be edible another part could be poisonous. Test leaves, stems, roots and fruits separately. And get as much information as possible before going out and just eating whatever you find.

So, lets start with some of the basic edible plants that may be pretty well known.

FRUITS


Wild Blackberries

Wild Raspberries

Evergreen Huckleberries

Wild Dewberries

Wild purple grapes

Red Huckleberries

It's always important to be certain of what you're gathering before you eat it, but this is especially true when it comes to wild berries. Some, like wild blackberries, are readily identified and hard to mistake for anything but equally-delicious wild raspberries and dewberries. Huckleberries and Blueberries are also pretty easy to identify.  Others, like wild grapes and rose hips, can be tricky to identify correctly and have toxic lookalikes.





Black Huckleberries

Rose Hips

Wild Strawberries

Wild strawberries are hard to spot but easy to identify. The plants grow in widespread patches low on the ground and have small white flowers. The berries themselves look like miniaturized versions of supermarket strawberries, but are far sweeter and more flavorful. You may not find more than a handful, but they are well worth the time spent.
If you are ever in the UK, Currents and Gooseberries found in woods, scrubs, and waste places are medium sized (about 4.9 foot tall) and are usually bushy shrubs, with toothed leaves


Black Currents

Red Currents

resembling those of a maple, small greenish-white to purple five-petal flowers and red, purplish black or yellow berries. Ripe currents are edible raw, cook gooseberries. Currents where outlawed here in the US in the 20th century. But you may find some still lingering around in different areas.


Red Gooseberries

Gooseberry bush



wild yellow Chickasaw plum

wild red plum

Plums exist in many varieties in scrub and woodland in virtually all temperate areas. Small shrubs or trees, similar to wild cherries, their fruits are larger, downy, blackish-purple, red or yellow; some are too tart to be edible raw.






ROOTS, LEAVES AND STEMS

Horseradish

Horseradish grow to 20 inches in a damp waste place with large, long stalked, wavy-edged oval leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers. Chop up the hot tasting root and add it to stews, the young leaves are edible when boiled.

Common Evening primrose

Common Evening Primrose is a tall plant of drier open areas, leafy, hairy, with spear shaped, crinkly-margin leaves and sometimes reddish flower-stalks topped with large yellow, four petal flowers. The roots are edible boiled, changing the water to ease their pungency. Peel young leaves and treat likewise. The plants overwinter as rosettes.

Lime or Basswood

Limes or Basswoods are tall trees, up to 85 foot high, which like damp woods, with large, heart shaped, toothed leaves and clusters of scented yellow flowers. Young leaves and unopened leaf buds are edible raw, the flowers can be used in tea.



Hops

Hops are climbing plants of woody and scrubby places that have long twisted stems, toothed leaves, deeply cut into three lobes, and green, cone shaped female flowers. Peel, slice and boil the young shoots, brew up the flowers.

Thistle

Thistles have spiny, often ridged stems, oblong or spear-shaped, prickly, deep-cut leaves and large bush like heads of purplish flowers. Remove prickles and boil young leaves. Peel tender shoots and eat raw or boiled. Roots of younger, stemless plants can be cooked and the base of each flower head contains a nutritious nut which can be eaten raw.

Saxifrages grow to 3 foot, usually much less, often liking open,

Saxifrages

rocky country, up into mountains. Most have rounded tapering or long-stalked leaves arcing from the base, often reddish stems and clusters of five petal flowers, usually white. Leaves are edible raw or cooked.

Great Burnet

Great Burnet reaches 2 foot, found in damper, grassy places, with toothed, spade shaped leaflets in opposite pairs and oblong heads of tiny, deep red flowers. Eat the tasty young leaves raw or boiled.

Redleg or Lady's Thumb reaches 2 foot. With reddish mature

Lady's Thumb

stems, narrow, spear shaped, usually dark-spotted leaves and spikes of tiny pink flowers. Often common on waste ground. Young leaves are edible raw or cooked like spinach.

Wild Rhubarb

Wild Rhubarb found in open grassy places and margins from southern Europe to China, resembles cultivated rhubarb, but its leaves are more ragged and dissected. The large flower stalks are edible boiled, other parts are NOT EDIBLE, ONLY EAT THE STALKS.



Bladder Campion

Bladder Campion grows to 18 inches in grassy places, is gray green, with pointed oval stalkless leaves, cluster of white flowers with a swollen balloon like base. Boil the young leaves for 10 minutes.

Field Pennycress

Field Pennycress grows to 18 inches in open grassy places, with broad, toothed, spear shaped clasping the stem, a head of tiny white flowers and distinctive, notched, coin like seed pods. Leaves are edible raw or boiled.

Red Clover



plain clover

Clovers are abundant in grassy areas, recognized by theirdistinctive trefoil leaflets and
dense rounded heads of small
flowers, ranging from white to greenish cream to even shades of red. Leaves are edible raw but better boiled. (everyone should know what a clover looks like)

Stork's Bill

Stork's Bill reaching 1 foot, found in open grassy areas is hairy, often pungent, with fern like, twice cut leaves and heads of tiny, five petal pinkish to white flowers whose fruits form a long, twisting "bill'' Eat leaves raw or boiled.



Burdocks

Burdocks, medium to large, bushy plans of open waste areas, have floppy oval leaves, often arching stems and many purplish thistle like flower heads that develop into clinging burs. Eat leaves and peeled stalks raw or boiled. Boil pitch of peeled root. Change the water a few times to remove bitterness.

Violets are small flowers found in many areas, including damp and

Wild purple Violets

wooded ones. Veined, crinkly, often heart shaped leaves rise on long stalks  with flowers in
shades of blue-violet, yellow or white, made up of five unequal petals. Cook young leaves. Violets are rich in vitamins A and C.

Wild White and Purple Violets



Corn Salad or Lambs Lettuce

Corn Salad or Lamb's Lettuce grows to 4-8 inches in bare rocky and grassy places. Well-branched, with oblong, stalkless leaves and clusters of tiny lilac bluish flowers; its leaves are edible raw or cooked like spinach. A particularly useful plant to know because it grows from late winter on towards summer.

Ox-Eyed Daisy

Ox-eye daisies often common in open areas, average about 3 foot tall, with narrow dark green, lobed leaves, the lower ones rounded, and large white and yellow daisy like flowers. Overwinters as a rosette. Eat young leaves, the lighter green ones, raw.

Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock  Found mostly in the UK, and grows on a damp ground up to

Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower

20 inches, with many small leaflets in opposite pairs, roundish on the basal ones which form a rosette, and clusters of lilac or white, four petal flowers. Young leaves are tasty raw, older leaves are a little peppery.

Brooklime

     






Brooklime    grows in shallow water and swamps. Its creeping to upright stems carry pairs of thick, oval, toothed leaves, from the stalk bases of which spring 3-10 inches spikes of four petal blue flowers with two prominent stamens. Eat young shoots before flowering and leaves after. Slightly bitter, eat like a watercress.





Thanks for Reading, Please bookmark this blog/page for future reference, We will be posting more about Wild Edibles over the next week or so. There is a lot of things that we still have to talk about and show, so stay tuned. And don't forget to visit my YouTube Channel for other great tips and videos, http://www.youtube.com/user/ruffsurvival. Thanks again, please feel free to leave any questions or comments below!!

Eric from Ruff Survival

Suriving The Jungle and other Tropical Regions

EVERYTHING THRIVES IN THE JUNGLE...

The jungle is crawling with all forms of life... Including disease. Germs and Parasites bread at an alarming rate. Causing the slightest cut to become infected if not token care of properly.  At night the jungle floor literally moves, with crawling insects, snakes, rodents, and other creatures. That is why it is so important when building a shelter in the jungle to build it OFF the ground. If not, you will have all kinds of creatures biting you through out the night, such as spiders, scorpions, ants, snakes, and lizards. Nature provides water, food, and materials for making shelters. Which makes it possible to survive for long periods of time in a jungle. There are so many different kinds of things to eat. Things that help cure infection and cuts. You can even collect water from certain vines in the jungle.  Indigenous peoples have lived for thousands of years from hunting and gathering, but for the outsider it can take some time getting used to the conditions and the ever moving activity.

Native people wear little, except as ornament, but an outsider,  unaccustomed to insects and leeches and unfamiliar to moving through dense jungle growth, needs to keep as covered as possible. Clothing may become saturated by perspiration but it's better than being stung, scratched and bitten all over. Do not remove wet clothing until you stop. And with humidity at 80-90 percent, there is no point in hanging them up to dry, unless you can put them directly in the sun, or by the fire. Clothes saturated regularly by sweating profusely will rot in time. Moving through the jungle is almost like putting on a sauna suit and then sitting in a sauna and exercising vigorously.
  Except at high altitudes, both equatorial and subtropical regions are characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and oppressive humidity. At low altitudes, temperature variation is seldom more than around 50 degree's Fahrenheit and is often around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. At altitudes over 5,000 feet ice will often form at night. The rain has a slightly cooling effect, but, when it stops, the temperature soars.
 
Rainfall is heavy, often with thunder and lightening. Sudden rain beats on the tree canopy, turning trickles into raging torrents and rivers rise a an alarming rate, but just as suddenly as it started, it is gone. Violent storms may occur, usually towards the end of the summer months. Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons develop over the sea and rush inland causing tidal waves and devastation. In choosing camp sites, make sure you are above any potential flooding. Prevailing winds create variation between winter and summer with the dry season, which is rain once an day, and the monsoon season, which is continuous rain. In southeast Asia, winds from the Indian Ocean bring Monsoon, but it is dry when the winds blows from the landmass of China.
  Tropical Day and Night are of equal length, darkness falls quickly and daybreak is equally sudden.

EQUATORIAL RAIN FORESTS
The climate varies little in these forests, spread across the equator in the amazon and Congo basins, parts of Indonesia and several Pacific islands. Rain of 60-138 inches is distributed evenly throughout the year.  Temperatures range from 86-68 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
  Where untouched by man, jungle trees rise from buttress roots to 200 feet, bursting into a mushroom of leaves. Below hem, smaller trees produce a canopy so thick that little light reaches the jungle floor. Seedlings struggle beneath them to reach light masses of vines and Laina's twine up to the sun. Ferns, mosses and herbaceous plants push through a thick carpet of leaves and a great variety of fungi grow on leaves and fallen trunks.
   It's fairly cool in this PRIMARY JUNGLE, with little undergrowth to hamper movement, but visibility is limited to about 170 feet. It's easy to lose a sense of direction and also difficult to spot anyone from the air.

RESCUE SIGNALS
Smoke is diffused by the tree canopy and may not be seen, especially if there is mist about as well. Set signals in a clearing more often found near river bends, or better out on rafts on the river itself.


SECONDARY JUNGLE
Growth is abundant where sunlight does penetrate to the jungle floor, mainly along river banks, on jungle fringes and where primary jungle has been cleared by man for slash and burn farming. When abandoned, this is reclaimed by a tangled mass of vegetation, look out for cultivated food plants which may survive among the others.
   Grasses, ferns, shrubs, and vines of secondary jungle reach heights of 7-10 feet in a single year. Moving is slow, often hacking away with a machete or parang, hot work, with visibility of only a few yards. Jungle vegetation seems to be covered with thorns and spikes and bamboo thickets can be impenetrable barriers
   In Some area's of the world, jungle trees are low. Light is able to  reach the fertile ground, producing abundant undergrowth even in primary jungle.

SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Places such as Central and South America, Madagascar, western India, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Burma, and the Philippines, have seasonal reduced rainfall and drought in their forests. The Rain comes down in cycles, like monsoons. There are more deciduous trees because of the marked seasons, making it where more sunlight reaches the forest floor making undergrowth dense.

Montane  Forests
When altitude becomes higher, the climate becomes cooler, this is because of lower air pressure. Like the Ruwenzori Mountains in Africa, known as the "Mountains of the Moon" the characteristic of Flora and Fauna in the mountain changes because of the elevation in climate. Montane Forest occur between the Sub alpine and Submontane zones. The higher altitude of the Montane forest is typically known have a much harder terrain, with sharply contoured slopes making a crater like landscape covered in moss between ice-capped peaks. In the lower elevation of the Montane Forest Plant growth is known to have sparse trees and distorted, Their branches are low, and are difficult to walk under. Nights are cold and day temperatures are high with lost of mist, That is why a Montane Forest is more known as a cloud forest. Survival is difficult in this terrain. Don't stay long, make your way back down the mountainside to the tropical rainforest's where you will have much more opportunities for foraging and gathering food and water, and a much better chance of survival until you can become rescued or self rescue.

SALTWATER SWAMPS
Where coastal areas are subject to tidal flooding, mangrove trees thrive. They can reach heights of 40 feet and their tangled roots are an obstacle both above and below the waterline. Visibility is poor and passage difficult, it may take 12 hours to cover 3,000 feet.  Sometimes channels are wide enough to raft, but generally progress is on foot.
    There are mangrove swamps in West Africa, Madagascar, Malaysia and the Pacific Islands, Central and South America and at the mouth of the Ganges. The swamps at the mouths of Orinoco, Amazon and Rivers of Guyana consist of stinking mud and trees which offer little shade. Tides can rise as much as 40 feet.
   Everything in mangrove swamps seems hostile, from water leeches and insects, to cayman and crocodiles. Avoid them if you can. If forced there by mishap look for a way out. Where there are river channels intersecting the swamp you may be able to make a raft.
    You wont starve among the mangroves. There is plenty of fish and vegetation. At low water crabs, mollusks, catfish and mud fish can be found. Arboreal and aquatic animals include water opossum, otter, tapir, armadillo and on firmer ground, peccaries.
  Inland of the mangroves, nipa palm swamp is common, all of the nipa palm's growing points are edible.
    If forced to stay in a swamp, determine the high-tide level, by the line of salt and debris on tress, and fit up a raised bed above it. Cover yourself for protection against ants and mosquitoes.
    In any swamp a fire will have to be built on a platform. Use standing deadwood for fuel. Decay is rapid in a swamp so choose wood that is not for from decay.

FRESHWATER SWAMPS
    Found in low lying inland areas, their mass of thorny undergrowth, reeds, grasses and occasional short palms makes going difficult and reduces visibility to only a few yards, but wildlife abounds and survival is easy. A freshwater swamp is not such a bad place once you get used to it. It will often be dotted with islands and you are not chest deep in the water ALL the time. There are often navigable channels and raw materials available from which to build a raft.

SHELTER
There are ample materials for building shelter in most tropical regions. Where temperatures are very high and shelters directly exposed to the sun, make roofs in two layers with an airspace in between to aid cooling. Much of the heat will dissipate on striking the upper layer, and with the air passing between this lowers the temperature of the layer beneath. The distance between should be 8-12 inches. Double layers of even permeable cloth will help keep out rain if well angled.

FIRE
   Everything is likely to be damp. Take standing dead wood and shave off the outside. Use that to start your fire. Dry bamboo makes excellent tinder (be sure to store some, it always good to collect items that you could use later along the way), so does a termite's nest.

FOOD
A large variety of fruits, roots and leaves are available. Banana, papaya, mango and figs are easily recognized. (Papaya is one of the few plants with white sap that is edible.) The large, thorny fruit of the Duran, of southeast Asia, smells disgusting, but is good to eat.
    Palms provide an edible growing point and manioc produces massive tubers, though they must be cooked before eating. Taro, wild potato and some kinds of yam must also be prepared to remove poisons before they are eaten. You may also be prepared to remove poisons before they are eaten. You may find the wealth of tropical foods hard to identify, if you're not sure, don't risk eating them.

ANIMAL FOODS
   Deer, pigs, monkeys and wide range of animals can be hunted and trapped according to location.
In primary jungle, birds spend most of their time in the tree canopy among the fruit and berries. Place traps in clearings and lure birds with fruit. Some, Such as the Asian Horn bill, also feed on lizards and snakes. Near rivers, traps can be baited with fish or offal for Fish Eagles and similar species which patrol rivers for prey.
   Parrots and the relatives around in the tropics, their mad screeching makes their presence known from early morning. They are cunning, get them used to asking bait before setting the trap.
   Snakes are easier to catch, go for the non poisonous constrictors, and very tasty. Catch them by using a forked stick.

FOOD FROM RIVERS
  Rivers support all kinds of life: Fish, plants, animals and insects. If you have no fishing tackle small pools can be dammed and then emptied with a bucket or container, fish and turtles in surprising numbers can be found in the mud. Try constructing traps or crushing certain roots and vines to stupefy or poison the fish. (I will explain in a later post)
   Fish are easily digested and have good protein content. Many jungle people depend on them for nourishment, but in the tropics they spoil quickly. Clean thoroughly, discard entrails and eat as soon as possible, o not preserve them by smoking or drying. Fish from slow moving water are more likely to be infested with parasites. If you suspect  any at all, boil the fish for 20 minutes. In areas where locals use the water as their sanitation system, fish may carry tapeworms and other human parasites and the water itself could be infected with amoebas which cause dysentery. Always boil water before drinking it.
  Rivers can bring dangers too. Piranha may be found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay river systems of South America. A similar fish is found in Burma. Electric Eels are slow moving and not aggressive, but they can grow very large and discharge 500 volts or more. Stingrays also occur in some tropical South American and West African rivers. Look out for crocodiles or alligators and water snakes and take care in handling catfish, which have sharp dorsal fins and spines on their gill covers, the Electric catfish can also deliver a powerful shock.

DANGERS

COVER YOUR FEET!!!!
Good footwear and protection for the legs are essential, they are most exposed to leeches, chigger, and centipedes. Wrap bark or cloth around the legs and tie it to make gaiters or shin guards.

INSECT ATTACK!!
Slashing your way though jungle you may disturb bees, wasps, or hornets nests. They may attack, especially hornets, whose stings can be especially painful. Anywhere left bare, including your face, is vulnerable to attack. Run!! Sunglasses would help protect your eyes.
   Perspiration is a problem, insects desperate for salt will fly to wettest parts of your body, However, they will also sting. Protect armpits and between the legs. (If you are a lady, protect under the breast and in other private areas, same with men, keep your private area protected)

BEWARE OF INVADERS
   Keep clothing and footwear off the ground, then scorpions, snakes, and other creatures are less likely to invade them. Always shake out clothing and check boots/shoes before putting them on and be wary when putting hands in pockets. On waking, take care. Centipedes tend to curl for warmth in some of the more private body regions.

BEWARE CATERPILLARS TOO!!!
  If mosquitoes and leeches sucking you blood, painful bites from centipedes and the risk or scorpion and snake bites are not enough look out for hairy caterpillars. Be careful to brush them off in the direction they are travelling or small irritant hairs may stay in your skin and cause you an itchy rash, which may fester in the heat.

MOSQUITO PROTECTION
Wear a net over your head, or tie a tee-shirt or a bandanna of it, especially at dawn or dusk. Better, take a strip of cloth long enough to tie around your head and about 18 inches deep and cut it to make a fringe of vertical strips hanging from a band that will hang around your face an over your neck and saturate your clothes and bags, and anything else that you have with repellent.
   At night keep covered, including your hands. Use bamboo or a sapling to support a little tent of clothing plus large leaves, rigged over your upper half. Oil, fat or even mud spread on hands and face may help to repel mosquitoes. In camp a smoky fire will help keep insects at bay. If you are bitten make sure you don't scratch (which is almost impossible because it itches so bad) as this may let infection in.

LEECHES
Leeches lie on the ground or on vegetation, especially in damp places, waiting to attach themselves to an animal (or person) to take a meal or blood.  Their bite is not painful but they secrete a natural anti-coagulant that makes it messy. Left alone, they drop off when they have had their fill, but if you are covered in them you must do something!! Do NOT pull them off, There is a risk the head will come off leaving the jaws in the bite, which would turn septic. Remove with a dab of salt, citric acid from fruit, alcohol, or an ember from a coal, or a flame. They will then back themselves out like a tick would.

BEWARE THE CANDIRU!!!
     This tiny Amazonian catfish, about 1 inch long, very slender and almost transparent, sucks blood from the gills of other fish. It is reported to be able to swim up the urethra of a person urinating in the water. It then gets stuck by its dorsal spine. The chance of this happening is remote but the consequences could be dire!!! Cover your genitals and DON'T ever urinate in the water or even above it. They are even known to swim up the urine when just you could be standing on the river bank, not even in the water and get up in your urethra. So don't do it. Just don't. That would be one of the most painful, awful, and embarrassing things to happen. And there is no telling what they would have to do to have it removed...

Thanks for Reading, Please leave any questions or comments below. I tried to cover as much as I could about Tropical Regions as I could. I will go over more about different subjects in future blog post. Don't forget to Plus one, share (on facebook, twitter, digg, and where ever else)
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Eric From Ruff Survival





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Seashores and the survivor

SEASHORES 

 

Lets talk about the Seashore... Most seashores offer abundant sources of food and excellent prospects for survival. Even where they appear bleak and barren, there is food to be had. Coastal waters are the home of many life forms-- Seaweeds, fish, birds, molluscs and the plankton that support the marine animals. Inland lakes and water ways of all kinds will also team with life, with the exception of the Dead Sea and other areas of extreme salination, and those heavily polluted by man.

     Coasts can range from sheer cliffs to long and gently sloping beaches. From the sea a towering cliff offers no opportunity to escape the water. Even a stretch of beach at its foot is likely to be cut off by high tide in tidal waters, though it could offer a few hours of respite before swimming off to find another landing place. All kinds of shore, however, offer resources to exploit and there are few better places to be stranded.

Sandy Beaches...  Sandy Shores tend to be gentle and sloping. The tide goes out a long way, revealing large areas which are the habitat of burrowing species, let below the exposed sand. They include many worms and molluscs and they also attract feeding birds. Look for signs of buried mullucs. It is usually easier to spot the marks left by the syphons of buried bivalve under the shallow water at the sea's edge.

   Where the sand is not inundated by the tide and is blown into dunes, it may be possible to find fresh water and it is here that plants will grow.

  Sand is easily blown by the wind and gets into everything. Dunes also tend to be full of aggravating insects, so don't choose them for making camp or building shelter, if you can move beyond.

Muddy shores and estuaries....  Where a slow moving river joins the sea it deposits sediment, rich in nutrients, forming large mud flats. These can support many species of worms and mulluscs and provide a rich feeding ground for birds and animals.

Rocky Shores....  Rocky shores, if their cliffs are not too sheer, trap pools of water when the tide recedes. These pools may team with life. Rocks form a strata to which the many univalve shells can cling, and anchor for weed and sea urchins and crevices where octopus and other cephalopods can live.

   Soft rocks, such as chalk, marl and limestone, erode quickly and their surfaces are smooth, but hard rocks fracture in chunks and provide good nesting sites for birds.

 

Pebble Beaches...   Stretches of pebble beach, often found between sandy and rocky sections of the shore, sustain least life. The continual movement of pebbles makes a difficult habitat for most plants and animals.

 

Tides....   Tides vary considerably according to both location and time of year for they are caused by the counter-gravities of the sun and moon. In enclosed seas, such as the Mediterranean, they range over only a few meters. The Bay of Fundy, Between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has a difference of 52 feet between low and high tide.

   A line of debreis along the beach; a change in appearance and texture from the long dry sand to that which is daily inundated; weed, shells, and color changes on vertical rock faces, all these will help to indicate the level to which the water is likely to rise.

    Always check access to and from a beach or rocky shore. Keep an eye on the rising water level so that you do not run the risk of being cut off. Tides not only scour the beach but throw up valuable flotsam and jetsam, often providing fuel for fires and may leave large fish stranded in rock pools along with their inhabitants.

 

          That's all for today....

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Methods of Distillation

Distillation

Distillation kits are part of the equipment of life rafts, but they can be improvised. To distill liquid you need to make something to do the job of a laboratory retort. Pass a tube into the top of a water filled covered container, placed over a fire, and the other end into a sealed collecting tin which, preferably, is set inside another container providing a jacket of cold water to the vapor as it passes out of the tube. You can improvise the equipment from any tubing (pack frames for instance). To avoid wasting water vapor, seal around the joins with mud or wet sand.
    An easier method is a variation on the desert still. It takes a little longer for the water to condense but may be easier to set up.

 Instructions: Take a tube from a covered vessel in which polluted/saltwater, or even urine is to a boil. Set the other end under a solar still. A sheet of metal or bark, perhaps weighted down, will cover the vessel. Even a cone of leaf over the water pot will help direct the steam into the tube.

Water From Ice or Snow... Melt ice rather than snow, it produces a greater volume faster for less heat, Twice as much for half the heat. If forced to heat snow, place a little in the pot and melt that first, gradually adding more to it. If you put a lot of snow into the pot, the lower lever will melt and then be soaked up into the absorbent snow above it, leaving a hollow beneath which will make the pot burn. Lower layers of snow are more granular than on the surface and will yield more water.

Water From Sea Ice...  Sea ice is salt (not good for drinking) until it has aged. The ore recently frozen, the saltier it will be. New sea ice is rough in contour and milky-white in color. Old ice is bluish and has rounded edges, caused by weathering.
         Good water can be obtained from blue ice, the bluer and smoother the better. But beware of even old ice that has been exposed to salt spray.

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Eric From Ruff Survival

How to Make a Solar Still

Solar Still

Dig a hole in the ground approximately 36inches across and 18inches deep. Place a collecting can in the center, then cover the hole with a sheet of plastic formed into a cone. The sun's heat raises the temperature of the air and soil below and vapor is produced. As the air becomes saturated, water condenses on the underside of the plastic, running down into the container. This is especially effective in desert regions and elsewhere when it is hot during the day and cold at night. The Plastic cools more quickly than the air, causing heavy condensation. This kind of still should collect at least 1 pint over a 24 hour period.
  The still may also double as a trap. Insects and small snakes are attracted by the plastic. They may slide down into the cone or wriggle underneath it and drop into the hole and then cannot climb out. A solar still can be used to distill pure water from poisonous or contaminated liquids.

* Roughen underside of sheet with a stone to ensure droplets run down it. Use stones or weights to secure edges and keep cone shape. Fix can so that trapped creatures cannot tip it over.
    If feasible use a syphon to a lower level to draw off water without disturbing the still.

Warning about Urine and Sea Water
Never drink either... NEVER!!! But both can produce drinking water if distilled, and sea water will provide you with a residue of salt.

Getting water from Condensation

Condensation

Tree and plant roots draw moisture from the ground, but a tree may take it from a water table 50ft or more below, too deep to dig down to reach. Don't try, let the tree pump it up for you by tying a plastic bag around a leafy branch. Evaporation from the leaves will produce condensation in the bag.
 *Choose healthy vegetation and bushy branches. On trees keep the mouth of the bag at the top with a corner hanging low to collect condensed evaporation.
Placing a polythene tent over any vegetation will collect moisture by evaporation which will condense on the plastic as it cools. Suspend the tent from the apex or support with a padded stick. Avoid foliage touching the sides of the trap or it will divert water droplets which should collect in plastic lined channels at the bottom.
    Even cut vegetation will produce some condensation as it warms up when placed in a large plastic bag. Keep the foliage off the bottom with stones so that water collects below it, and keep the foliage from touching the plastic. Use Stones to keep the bag taut. Support the top on a padded stick . Arrange the bag on  a slight slope to encourage condensation to run down to the collecting point. When no longer productive carefully replace with fresh foliage.

Thanks for reading, Please check bag regularly for more from Ruff Survival
Thanks Eric from Ruff Survival

How to Find WATER in a Survival Situation

Finding Water....

The first place to look is in valley bottoms where water naturally drains. If there is no obvious stream or pool, look for patches of green vegetation and try digging there. There may be water just below the surface which will build up in the hole. Even digging in gullies and dry steam beds may reveal a spring beneath the surface, especially in gravelly areas. In the mountains look for water trapped in crevices.
   On the coast digging above the high water line, especially where there are sand dunes, has a good chance of producing about  2 inches of fresh water that filters down and floats on the heavier salt water. It may be brackish but is still drinkable. Where cliffs fall into the sea look for lush growth of vegetation, even ferns and mosses, in a fault in the rock formation and you may find a soak or spring. If no freshwater can be found, Saltwater can be distilled.

     *Be suspicious of any pool with no green vegetation growing around it, or animal bones present. It is likely to be polluted by chemicals in the ground close to the surface. Check the edge for minrtals which might indicate alkaline conditions. ALWAYS  BOIL WATER FROM  POOLS. In desert there are lakes with no outlets, these become salt lakes. Their water MUST be distilled before drinking.

DEW AND RAIN COLLECTION.... Despite the acid rain produced by industrialized countries, which can cause build up of pollution in the soil, rainwater everywhere is drinkable and only needs collecting. Use as big a catchment area as possible, running the water off into containers of every kind. A hold dug in the ground and lined with clay will hold water efficiently, but keep it covered. If you have no impermeable sheeting, metal sheets or bark can be used to catch water in. If you have any doubt about the water you have collected, boil it.
    In Climates where it is very hot during the day and cold at night, heavy dew can be expected. When it condenses on metal objects it can be sponged or licked off.
    You can use clothing to soak up water and then wring it out. One way is to tie clean cloths around the legs and ankles and walk through wet vegetation. These can be sucked or wrung out.

All Animals Lead To water...

Mammals... Most animals require water regularly. Grazing animals are usually never far from water, though some kinds travel thousands of miles to avoid the dry season, as they need to drink at dawn and dusk. Converging game trails often lead to water, follow them downhill. carnivores (meat eaters) can go for a long period between watering. They get moisture from the animals on which they prey so are not a positive indication of local water.

Birds... Grain eaters, such as finches and pigeons, are never far from water. They drink at dawn and dusk. When they fly straight and low they are heading for water. When returning from water they are loaded with it and fly from tree to tree, resting frequently. Plot their direction and water can be found.
     Water birds can travel long distances without stopping to feed or drink so do not necessarily indicate water nearby. Hawks, eagles and other birds of prey also get liquids from their victims so cannot be taken as a sign of local water.

Reptiles... Not an indicator of water. They collect dew and get moisture from prey, so can go a long time without it.

Insects... Good indicators, especially bees... They fly at most 4 miles from their nests or hives, but have no regular water times. Ants are dependent on water. A column of ants marching up a tree is a going to a small reservoir of trapped water. Such reservoirs are found even in arid areas. Most flies keep within 100 yards of water.

Human Tracks....  Human tracks will usually lead to a well , bore hole or soak. It may be covered over with scrub or rocks to reduce evaporation. Be sure to Replace the cover out of the respect for the owner.

REMEMBER: RATION YOUR SWEAT NOT YOUR WATER!!
If you have to ration water, take it in sips. After going a long time without water, don't guzzle it when you find it. Take only sips at first. Large gulps will make a dehydrated person vomit, losing even more valuable liquid.

Thanks for reading, Be sure to come back and visit often for more great post.
Please feel free to leave questions or comments below.
Eric from Ruff Survival

The Importance of Water in Survival

Water is essential to all life. A person can survive for 3 weeks without food but only 3 days without water, therefore its discovery and conservation should be prioritized over food. Don't wait until you have run out of water before you look for it. Conserve what you have and seek a source as soon as possible, preferably fresh running water, though all water can be sterilized by boiling or by using chemical purifiers. In  a survival situation a 1 liter jug can be made to last 3 days. This is achieved by dividing the last 1/4 liter into three, then drinking half of the day's ration at midday, and the balance at night for 3 days.
   Water is the coolant that keeps the body at an even temperature, it is needed to keep the kidneys functioning to eliminate wastes, is required for breathing, and for digestion. But the fluids contained in the body are limited. Lost water must be replaced or health and efficiency will suffer. The average human requires the minimum of 1/4 liter of water per day to survive.

WATER LOSS... The average person loses 2-3 liters of water each day, even someone resting in shade loses about 1 liter. Just breathing loses fluids, and loss through respiration and perspiration increases with work rate and temperature.  Vomiting and diarrhea increase further loss. This must all be replaced to preserve the critical water balance, either by actual water or water contained in food.

HOW TO RETAIN FLUIDS

• Avoid exertion
• Just rest
• Don't smoke
• Keep cool
• Stay in Shade... If there is none erect a cover to provide it
• Do not lie on hot ground or heated surfaces
• Don't eat, or eat as little as possible. (if there is no water available fluid will be taken from the vital organs to digest food, further increasing dehydration. Fat is the hardest to digest and takes a lot of fluid to break down)
• Never drink alcohol
• Don't talk
• Breath through your nose, not your mouth

Thanks for reading, Don't forget to follow our blog, bookmark it or add it to your favorites. We post on a regular basis and have much more to talk about. Stay safe out there and always be prepared!!
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Please leave any questions or comments below.
Thanks again... Eric from Ruff Survival

Basic needs of Surviving

To reiterate, the main elements required for survival are FOOD, FIRE, SHELTER, and WATER. Use  PLAN (Protection, Location, Acquisition, and Navigation) to help you prioritise your survival needs. If you don't have shelter in the desert, having 2 liters of water is of little use to you in the longer term.
  It takes a healthy person quite a long time to die of starvation, for the body can use up its stored resources, but exposure to wind, rain and cold can be fatal even in temperate climates and death comes in only minutes in the icy waters of the poles. Food is rarely the first priority. Even in those places where it is difficult to find there are usually other problems to face first. Shelter will often be the prime necessity in extremes of climate or temperature. Not just in the frozen polar regions  or the baking deserts, but for walkers trapped by mist on a hillside. The need for fire is closely linked.
    Water is something that most people in the modern world take for granted. They are so used to turning on a tap that until an extreme drought causes water rationing they scarcely think about it.  Yet the survivor at sea, or after a flood, thought surrounded by water, may be desperate for drinkable water. And thee are many places where, unless it rains, no obvious water is available. The other survival necessities are dealt with later in my blog post, But water is universally important.

JUST HOW LONG CAN THE HUMAN BODY GO WITHOUT THE ESSENTIALS??
In general the human body can survive for 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. There are always exceptions to this and there are examples of people pushing these boundaries and surviving for longer periods. It is amazing what the human body can endure but such a survivor's health can suffer in the long term due to such trauma. For example a person surviving for more than 9 days without water will undoubtedly suffer kidney damage or failure.

Lets Talk About Knives

A knife is a invaluable asset in a survival situation. As I have stated several times in many of my other blog post that having a knife is one of the most valuable things that you can carry. If you ask just about any survival expert they will tell you that If there Is one tool that they could pick when going out into the wild they will always pick the knife.

Choosing the Knife that's right for you...
A multi-bladed folding knife is a useful tool, but, if you carry only one knife, you need something stronger, a general purpose blade that will do all likely tasks efficiently and comfortably, from cutting trees to skinning animals and preparing vegetables. Some have a compass built into the handle or have the handle hollowed out so that you can carry survival kit inside it. However, these features will be offset by the possibility of  a hollow  handle breaking and a compass may soon lose its accuracy after the knife has been used on a hardwood tree. If you lose this kind of knife then you also lose your survival kit. So its much better to keep the kit in a separate pouch on you belt or on the sheath.

REMEMBER... YOU ARE ONLY AS SHARP AS YOUR KNIFE. Your knife is such an important piece of survival equipment, that you must keep it sharp and ready for use. Don't misuse your knife. Never throw it into trees or onto the ground. Keep it clean, and if you don't intend to use it for a while, oiled and in its sheath.
When walking though close, or difficult terrain, get in the habit of checking your knife This should become an automatic reflex especially after negotiating difficult terrain. A check of all pockets and possessions should be second nature.

Folding Knives.... A folding knife that has a serrated edge, and which can be opened one handed is valuable, provided it has a good locked position. Always carry one. A blade in a wooden handle is usually more comfortable. It will not slip in a sweaty hand and, if the handle is made from a single piece of wood, is less likely to cause blisters.

Sharpening a knife... Any sandstone will sharpen tools. A grey, clayey sandstone being best. Quartz though more rarely found, is good and granite can also be used. Rub two pieces together to make them smooth. A double faced stone with a rough and a smooth surface is ideal and should be carried in the sheath pocket. Use the rough surface first to remove burrs, then the smooth one to get a fine edge. The object is to get an edge that will last and not chip.

   * To Sharpen the blade, hold the handle in the right hand. Use a clockwise circular motion and apply a steady pressure on the blade with the fingertips of the left hand a you push away. Keep the angle constant and make sure you push the knife into stone so that the edge is sharpened rather than rounded. Keep the stone wet. Rock particles on the blade will show the angle you are obtaining. Don't drag the blade towards you under pressure. This will produce burrs. Reduce the pressure for a finer edge. Work counter clockwise on the other side.

Thanks for reading and come back for more valuable information. Don't forget to bookmark this page or add it to your favorites as I will be posting more each day. Also check out my You Tube Channel by visiting http://www.youtube.com/user/ruffsurvival.

All comments are welcome and encouraged. We appreciate your support!! Thanks Again...
Eric From Ruff Survival.

Survival Medical Kit

When getting  a medical kit together it depends on your own skills when packing it and using it. Pack medications in airtight containers with cotton wool to prevent rattling, and it can be used to start a fire if needed. Here are a few essential items to carry that will cover most ailments...

Analgesic... A pain reliever for mild and moderate pain. Codeine phosphate is ideal for tooth, ear, and headaches, Ibuprofen or Advil is also very good for these types of ailments especially sense you have to have a prescription to get Codeine. One tablet of the Codeine phosphate every six hours as needed but can cause constipation as a side effect, so it can also help if you are having loose bowel movements. Now you can't give this to children So that is why its good to Carry Tylenol or ibuprofen, these can be given to children and don't cause constipation. Although they may not be as strong as Codeine they do work for mild pain.

Intestinal sedative... For treating acute and chronic diarrhoea. Imodium is usually favoured. DOSE: 2 capsules initially, then once each time a loose stool is passed.

Antibiotic... For general infections. Tetracycline can be used even by people hypersensitive to penicillin. DOSE: one 250mg tablet, four times daily repeated for five to seven days. Or there is Omoxocylin that is also a great antibiotic that can be used by people that are hypersensitive to penicillin, That is what I usually keep on hand, I myself am allergic to penicillin and it works great. DOSE: one 500mg tablet 2 times a day for 5-7 days. Be sure to carry enough for a full course. If taking either of these antibiotics be sure to steer clear of milk product, calcium and iron preparations or other drugs containing aluminium hydroxide.

Antihistamine... For allergies, insect bites and strings ( may also help in Case of a bad reaction to a drug). Piriton is recommended in Britain, Benadryl (which I highly recommend) in the USA, Sleepiness is a side effect of both, so both can be useful as a mild sleeping pill. Do not exceed the recommended dosage, or take with alcohol.

Water Sterilizing Tablets... For use where water is suspect and you can not boil. Iodine is also a great way to sterilize water, just for safety precautions I carry both. Be sure to do a little homework to see how much is needed.

Anti-Malaria Tablets... This is only a necessity if you will be traveling where malaria is present. There are types which require only one tablet taken monthly. Check around, do research on which is the best to get.

Potassium Permanganate... add to water and mix until water becomes bright pink to sterilize it, deeper pink to make an antiseptic and to a full red to treat fungal diseases such as athlete's foot. It can also be used in combination with glycerin to cause a chemical reaction and make a fire.

Surgical blades... At least 2 scalpel blades of different sizes. A handle can be made from wood when required. Now this is not usually a necessity, but if you have room, bring them.

Butterfly sutures.... Use to hold the edges of wounds together. works a lot like stitches but without the needle and thread.

Bandages.... Assorted sizes, preferably waterproof, for minor abrasions and keeping cuts clean. They  can be cut and used as butterfly sutures.

Condom... A rather unlikely source, but very usable in a survival situation. Condoms believe it or not make a great water bag, holding up to 1 litre of water. It is easiest to fill from a source that has an abundance of water and a degree of water pressure, like a waterfall.

Carrying a Mobile Phone

The mobile or Cell phone is one of the great inventions of the twentieth century. In an emergency situation it can be a real life saver. Some phones are better than others, so it's worth doing some homework to see what kind gives you the best coverage. Its also very important to check out network coverage. As most people know, and this is my opinion, but Verizon Wireless always seems to have better signal than T-Mobile or AT&T. Even where I live, In the Smoky Mountains of NC, I didn't get signal with my T-Mobile phone so I switch over to Verizon. It's always good to keep a "throw a way" phone in your car at all times. You never know when something bad is going to happen, So go to Wal-Mart or any other store and get a Verizon flip phone to keep in your car at all times, you can buy one at Wal-Mart for $15 bucks, also get a car charger for both, Your regular cell phone and your "throw a way" phone. That way you always have a way of charging your phone. Keep your phones charged as often as you can. It can be the difference between life and death.
Charging your phone can be a problem in the wild, so you should always use your phone wisely, and that is why I cant say it enough, Always keep your phone charged. YOU never know what is going to happen, life is unpredictable.
Now days you can buy solar powered devices that will charge phones and other electronic devices when your camping or hiking. They also have hand held manual chargers, so look into getting one of these items, especially if you are one of those people who love going on long camping trips or hiking trips.
If you happen to be in any kind of survival or emergency situation, be sure to keep your phone as dry as possible, Remember water and moister is the enemy to your phone, so keep it dry. Also, Make short phone calls on the hour, Someone could be picking up your signal so don't give up. Once you receive confirmation that the rescue is under way, keep the phone on and listen for any incoming calls. It could be your rescue party. And If your phone has a tracking device in it, it can help rescue find you even faster.

That's all for today, Please leave any comments below, and be sure to G+ .
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