When I went to the Mother Earth news fair there were hundreds of booths set up where vendors were selling their products. There were many companies selling seeds or plants and even more selling soap and related products. Since I didn't need either of those type things at that time I didn't buy them. Many of the other products were good, some not so good, some I already had and others were not for me. I DID buy a few things that I consider prepper worthy and I want to share them all here in one post.
Of course, they had books and I bought several of them. I bought two on herbs and remedies that I didn't already have. I already had the survival medicine and the Seed to Seed book but wanted to get the newer versions. I didn't see much difference in either of them so if you have the old copy its good enough IMO. I also bought the Goats Produce too and a book written by a guy who lives off grid.
Of course, they had books and I bought several of them. I bought two on herbs and remedies that I didn't already have. I already had the survival medicine and the Seed to Seed book but wanted to get the newer versions. I didn't see much difference in either of them so if you have the old copy its good enough IMO. I also bought the Goats Produce too and a book written by a guy who lives off grid.
Then I bought a pair of small, light bamboo sporks for the bug out bags and as a pattern to make more.
And some rennet tablets for making cheese.
Another item I bought was called Repeat the Heat. It is a reusable heating pad type device that doesn't need electricity to activate. It has a small silver button inside that is clicked to activate it. Clicking it causes a chemical reaction that makes the gel begin to crystallize and heat up. It lasts for a few hours and is great for when you need heat but don't have power. They also said it can be used as a cool pack by placing the gelled pad in the refrigerator before use. I have not tried to use it as a cool pack. Something they DON'T tell you that may have effected my decision to purchase them is that they need to be returned to gel form to reuse them and that is done by boiling the pad on a dish towel in a pot of water. Boiling it does work but if you leave just one crystal in the gel it will automatically begin to turn solid again. So while it is reusable and has a lifetime warranty it isn't entirely true to say it doesn't require power to use it. It requires water and a way to boil it in order to use it over and over like they say you can. Even so, it works and I'm recommending it as a source of emergency heat for injuries or against cold when there is no power. Water can be boiled using wood if necessary. Just be aware of the limitations BEFORE buying.
Finally, I bought one item that is personal and just for ladies. Men will not need it but it may be something the women in their lives will use. Its a rather delicate matter to discuss but I think its a good product so here goes. I bought a "Pstyle" which is a plastic device that allows a woman to pee standing up without removing half her clothes. There are other brands out there but this one seems to be one of the best ones I have seen. I believe that its a good thing for women who go hiking or camping as well as for a bug out bag. It means that no longer does a woman have to bare it all to use the bathroom in an emergency. It offers some privacy and also doesn't require toilet paper but a quick rinse after use is advised. It means not having to wander off searching for a clump of thick bushes when safety is a concern. It also means no chiggers or poison Ivy in the woods or on the trail. It has a tidy little pouch (sold seperately) that can be attached to a backpack, purse or belt loop which keeps it handy. I already have a story to tell about the one I bought.
Y'all know that we went tent camping when we went to the fair. It wasn't primitive but the bathrooms were a good distance from the tent. The first night we both made several quick trips to the bathrooms which isn't fun when its cold out and you REALLY gotta go! Just crawling out of the tent and going nearby wasn't really an option either since the campsite wasn't secluded. There were just too many other campers and lights to feel comfortable baring our butts to pee. So, that first night we made that long trip to the bathroom.
The second night I was armed with my brand new handy dandy Pstyle! When I went to bed I had it in its little pouch in the storage pocket of the tent so I could easily find it in the dark and it would be ready to go but I HOPED I wouldn't need it. Of course, at 3:00 in the morning my eyes popped open and I knew I had to go. I listened as my friend snored on the other side of the tent and decided to sneak out and try the new Pstyle. I unzipped my sleeping bag which was incredibly loud in the dark. I reached out and unzipped the storage pocket of the tent. It was like firecrackers going off. My friend didn't stir. I pulled out the Pstyle in its little pouch and tried to open it quietly. Not happening. It was as bad as opening a candy wrapper in church. Still my friend slept on. So I crawled to the tent door and began to unzip it. Again it was like gravel in a tumbler. To top that off the dang thing got stuck. So I'm mumbling under my breath and fighting the zipper as the tent shakes all around from my efforts AND I really have to pee by now! And my friend snored on. Finally, with one swift pull the zipper aligned itself and glided open allowing the bright moonlight and the breeze to rush into the tent. Surely, I feared THAT would wake up my friend but it didn't. If not for the snore I would have sworn she was dead.
I escaped the tent with flip flops on. I had the Pstyle firmly grasped in one hand and my flashlight (turned off) in the other hand. I had to go desperately but it was so light outside. Too many campsites close by and I hadn't realized just how many lights were in the campground. Added to that was the moon shining bright overhead. But I had to go and I had my new equipment so I figured if I went over by the truck nobody would see me well enough to know what I was doing. It was parked just behind the tent and I quietly walked over there.
Just as I was going to try out the new purchase my friend sat up and beat on the side of the tent. She yelled out "who's out there?" and "what are you doing" as she was loudly whacking the tent wall. I just KNEW every eyelid in the camp clicked open. It was almost audible as all those eyelids slammed open. People had to hear the ruckus. I loudly whispered that it was just me and to PLEASE shut up because she was waking the whole camp! Then I dived back into the tent as she turned on her light and told her in no uncertain terms that I was TRYING to use
the bathroom under cover of darkness and now everybody in camp surely knew about it.
She on the other hand thought some mad camper was on the loose raping and pillaging with his pet bear in tow. Geez. A girl can't even pee in peace and quiet. After, she calmed down and I got over my own shock we had a good laugh. I'm sure the other campers didn't get the joke. One good thing came of it though. I no longer needed to use the bathroom and despite the fact that I didn't get to break in the new purchase I also didn't have to walk the long trail to and from the bathrooms.
So, even though I didn't get to use my new Pstyle while I was camping, I'm still recommending it (and my other purchases at the fair). I'm sure there will be a time when I will need to use it and nobody will be sounding the alarm to notify everyone else of my intentions.
Southern Wood Elf
The second night I was armed with my brand new handy dandy Pstyle! When I went to bed I had it in its little pouch in the storage pocket of the tent so I could easily find it in the dark and it would be ready to go but I HOPED I wouldn't need it. Of course, at 3:00 in the morning my eyes popped open and I knew I had to go. I listened as my friend snored on the other side of the tent and decided to sneak out and try the new Pstyle. I unzipped my sleeping bag which was incredibly loud in the dark. I reached out and unzipped the storage pocket of the tent. It was like firecrackers going off. My friend didn't stir. I pulled out the Pstyle in its little pouch and tried to open it quietly. Not happening. It was as bad as opening a candy wrapper in church. Still my friend slept on. So I crawled to the tent door and began to unzip it. Again it was like gravel in a tumbler. To top that off the dang thing got stuck. So I'm mumbling under my breath and fighting the zipper as the tent shakes all around from my efforts AND I really have to pee by now! And my friend snored on. Finally, with one swift pull the zipper aligned itself and glided open allowing the bright moonlight and the breeze to rush into the tent. Surely, I feared THAT would wake up my friend but it didn't. If not for the snore I would have sworn she was dead.
I escaped the tent with flip flops on. I had the Pstyle firmly grasped in one hand and my flashlight (turned off) in the other hand. I had to go desperately but it was so light outside. Too many campsites close by and I hadn't realized just how many lights were in the campground. Added to that was the moon shining bright overhead. But I had to go and I had my new equipment so I figured if I went over by the truck nobody would see me well enough to know what I was doing. It was parked just behind the tent and I quietly walked over there.
Just as I was going to try out the new purchase my friend sat up and beat on the side of the tent. She yelled out "who's out there?" and "what are you doing" as she was loudly whacking the tent wall. I just KNEW every eyelid in the camp clicked open. It was almost audible as all those eyelids slammed open. People had to hear the ruckus. I loudly whispered that it was just me and to PLEASE shut up because she was waking the whole camp! Then I dived back into the tent as she turned on her light and told her in no uncertain terms that I was TRYING to use
the bathroom under cover of darkness and now everybody in camp surely knew about it.
She on the other hand thought some mad camper was on the loose raping and pillaging with his pet bear in tow. Geez. A girl can't even pee in peace and quiet. After, she calmed down and I got over my own shock we had a good laugh. I'm sure the other campers didn't get the joke. One good thing came of it though. I no longer needed to use the bathroom and despite the fact that I didn't get to break in the new purchase I also didn't have to walk the long trail to and from the bathrooms.
So, even though I didn't get to use my new Pstyle while I was camping, I'm still recommending it (and my other purchases at the fair). I'm sure there will be a time when I will need to use it and nobody will be sounding the alarm to notify everyone else of my intentions.
Southern Wood Elf