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| the big dog in the little car |
Since I have been talking about the need to be prepared since I resumed posting . . .
And, since I have shown you how we have repurposed (I think that is the current term for using something for something other than it's original purpose) a dog food bag . . .
And, since I have also told you we are taking a trip in a little car with a big dog and are struggling with compacting stuff to make room for all our stuff and . . .
"second empty dog food bag project."
I took another of Milo's empty dog food bags and, using the largest stitch on my sewing machine, sewed two vertical lines creating three sections or "tubes" in the bag.
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| Notice: I didn't stitch all the way to the top or bottom |
And we now have . . .
Yup, this recycled bag now holds 18 sustaining meals (a 72 hour kit for two people).
Each "tube" holds a one day supply of food for two people.
We have packed our doggy bag from the bottom up so breakfast is the top meal in each "tube."
Each meal is contained in its own plastic bag, which then becomes the its own trash receptacle.
Our doggy bug-out bag contains the following:
Breakfasts consist of 2 packets of oatmeal (3 flavors), 2 packets of tang, 4 whole wheat fig bars (2 flavors), with two pint size zip lock bags for mixing, drinking, etc., and two hand wipes.
Lunches consist of one package of Ramen noodles (3 flavors), spam, or tuna salad with 10 melba toast and plastic knife, two zip lock bags and two hand wipes.
Dinners consist of one package of Ramen noodles, 2 packets of jerky, two zip lock bags and two hand wipes.
Snacks include survival bars (recipe below), dried fruit and gum (wrap the entire package tightly so the smell/flavor doesn't permeate everything else!)
Our extra items include scissors, 2 forks and spoons, flashlight, 2 mosquito bracelets, 2 tooth brush kits, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. These items are divided among the tubes at the top so they are available when you first unzip your bag.
Our bag, filled, weights 5 pounds and 6 ounces. and when laid flat is less than 3 inches thick.
You select whatever items you want to include. Based on what you choose to include (i.e. MRE's would need a wider tube) just stitch the columns accordingly. Having sections keep the items spaced rather than falling in a heap to the bottom.
This may not seem like much food, but again, it is enough to sustain you. Reports say it is possible to survive 3 minutes without air, and 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. (and what a miserable three days it would be!!!)
You must have water! We carry ours separately.
I am Simply, Gail and I am having fun discovering simple ways to consolidate things we need for our vacation as well as things we may need in an emergency. Most of our clothes for this trip have been compacted into ZipLock brand resealable vacuum bags, while the clothes we have set aside for our bug out bags are sealed in Food Saver vacuum bags. Vacuumed bags don't change the weight of the items but they sure cut down on the required space.
Homemade (civil defense recipe) survival ration bar
Each bar contains 1000 calories and will provide sufficient food for a one day ration.
2 cups whole grain cereal (oatmeal or wheat flakes)
1 cup white sugar
2-1/2 cups powdered milk
3 T water
3 T honey
1/2 of a 4 ounce package of orange gelatin
Combine first three ingredients and set aside. Combine honey and water and bring to a boil. Add gelatin, stirring until dissolved and then add to the dry ingredients.
Mix well, adding up to 3 more Tablespoons water as needed. Shape into four 1-inch thick bars. Dry in 200 degree oven for two hours. Turn over and dry another 2 hours.
Make sure the bars are completely dry so they will not sweat and mold. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Then wrap again in aluminum foil, and store. They should keep indefinitely. They can be eaten dry or cooked with about 2/3 cups water.
Hope you have a great, and grateful, day!
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