Brrrr.....Prepare for the COLD!

We live in the Midwest, and the weather here has been unusually warm for the past 2 winters. I would venture to say that last year was more like an extended fall. Today Old Man Winter has arrived, we have 2 inches of ice on the highways and side roads. The wind is fierce and there are TORNADO warnings! This has of course gotten me thinking of winter preparations, specifically of emergency winter preparations, our house is poorly arranged for living with out power, even temporarily we would be in a serious lurch. Our heat is propane, but without electricity we would not have ANY heat. We have a unusually TALL roof line, that has made putting in a wood stove improbable due to finances, so what is the back up plan in a power outage in freezing temps?? Our Bug out bus for sure! Our bus is equipped with a wood stove! I can see us now, all 9 of us piled into the bus, with blankets, pillows and GAMES playing as a family in a toasty warm bus, the family dining table is directly across from the Wood stove. One road trip as we were coming home from Goblin Valley, we hit an actual blizzard and the roads near Aspen Colorado were barricaded and closed. So we pulled into a parking lot, stoked the fire, and had a warm and cozy night of sleep. We could hear the semi's idling nearby on the highway, as they could not move, but we didn't have a care in the world. When we awoke the next morning, the snow was around 14 inches all around us but we simply drove right out of that parking lot, onto the newly plowed highway and trudged on home. I am grateful for the wisdom of my husband who INSISTED on installing a wood stove in our Bug out Bus. (there may, or may not have been ongoing battles about the appearance of pipes coming out of the roof....I may or may not have mentioned the Griswold's)

Humble Pie

I made a statement about the state of families and individuals during a crisis, something to the effect that there is no reason for them to NOT be prepared, especially knowing in advance that the storm was coming. It has been pointed out that some folks are without the means to escape a situation like this. And I do agree, the senior citizens and the children are without the strength, money or resources to take care of their needs. I do hope that by seeing what others have gone through WE ALL can learn how to be better prepared, Even if you are on a budget, there are ways to prepare for a rainy day. You WILL have to choose between your new iPhone, and buying a water purification system, or decide if your going to dinner and a movie vs. buying a wheat grinder. Make the decision, it is much better to sacrifice a little now, to be moderately comfortable during the Next greater Depression. What is on YOUR list to prepare for Tomorrow?

Yummy Food

I have to admit, I love food. In all it's forms and many of its dialects (can ethnic food have its own dialect? I think so...I am going with it)

A few of my friends have been using the Shelf Reliance products for some time now...and I must admit I am a food snob, I refuse to consume foods full of preservatives and sugar. It is something I get a little bit fanatic about...

So here I was reading about my friend Erin G's experience with Shelf Reliance (She had recently singed up as a consultant) So I decided late one night to check out the ingredient labels and nutrition content of their foods.

Freeze Dried Peaches :Ingredients: Peaches Freeze Dried Apricots: Ingredients: Apricots Strawberries, Apples, Broccoli, Corn, Peas, Green Beans, the list went on until I had an ah-ha moment.... These foods were unadulterated, even more so than the canned foods you can buy in the store, and even more so than the foods I can preserve on my own. (I have attempted fruits without sugar, and it is an expensive and fruitless experience.) I was sold, I then spent time on their handy "Q" system, where it allows you to input the number in your household (9) and the amounts of food each person will need for your allotted time expanse (1 year) It then calculates how much of each of the food groups that you will need to keep your family well-fed. Here is the coolest part....you then get to decide on a budget amount, and their system automatically puts food items on drop-ship delivery each month. If you have ZERO food stored up, they suggest a 'smart-start pack' this gives you all the basics for a family, grains, leavening, Salt, Protein, etc... Depending on your family size and budget the Q then automatically sends your food! For my family we have a year supply already of grains, and legumes, we are sorely lacking in fruits and vegetables, so this is where the bulk of OUR purchases will be. We will have Mangoes, Pineapples, Peaches, Pears, beans, Peas, Corn, Broccoli, Spinach, ALL at our fingertips! This is mega-exciting for me! Fruits and vegetables regardless of the season and availability! Check them out, and ask any question you may have ...do the research and I challenge you to get serious about your food supplies, i honestly do not care where you get your food, I pray that you simply make the steps to get a supply of safe and nutritious foods in your stores...for there are times coming, where you will wish you had!

Hurricane Sandy

We watched in horror as the storm rolled in to the east coast, New Yorkers are pretty tough cookies, But i must ask, and wonder....why did they try to ride out a storm if they were not prepared?

I see on the news today that residents of areas without water or power are fighting and feeling desperate without basic supplies.

http://news.yahoo.com/exasperation-builds-day-3-storm-stricken-nyc-202314418.html

I know the decision to stay is valid, and I am NOT judging them for choosing that, however I pity them, honestly if it were me, I would have packed the Bug out Bus long before the storm rolled in, and took a road trip. Taking along with me all my precious cargo, my food, blankets, and irreplaceable family heirlooms, As we speak, we have the bus ready to roll at a moments notice, with food, blankets, and basic supplies, with 72 hours notice, we could easily pack up all (ALL) our families needs and happily hit the road.

I hope and pray the people affected by this Frankenstorm will find relief, that they will be warm, fed and comfortable.

I am ever so grateful for the Ark, and the comfort I have in knowing my home on wheels is ready to roll, should the need ever arise.

Learning new Skills

We raised butcher chickens for the freezer. Back in March we got our order of 50 Chicks and with the help of our dear friend, Rebecca we had 36 ready to butcher this week.

(YEAH!)

We are pioneers, we are constantly striving for the skills and practice in being self reliant. One of those skills is knowing what it takes to raise, kill and prepare our own food. (whether it be vegetables , or animals)

In the past we have raised chickens for eggs, beef cows, milk cows, goats for milk & meat.

This was our first attempt to raise broiler chickens.

There are certainly things we will do differently next  time, but each experience is growth and knowledge.

So here are some photos of the butchering day. (that turned into more than one day, since it took longer than we hoped!)

Colorado Wild Fires RAGE

You would have to be living in a bunker with zero contact with the outside world to miss the fires burning in Colorado.

What can we learn from the current situation? What can we do to better prepare ourselves and our families so that WHEN something strikes near us, we will not be destitute.

If you had y our bunker buried under ground near these fires, how do you think they would fare? What would you have to replace and repair after the fires are in control?

Our Bus is fully prepared with 15 minutes notice to pull out and hit the road, we have our 72 Kits prepped in bug out bags, and we have our Bug out Bus fully loaded to maintain our current standard of living.

We will not skip a beat, it will feel like vacation when we are forced to evacuate.

Maybe you have family or friends near the fires (we do...Hi Doug & Julia!)

maybe you fear for their comfort and safety.... when you have a Bug out Bus, you can roll right into town and offer relief to your loved ones, they can climb aboard the bus, and maintain a safe, clean and comfortable living while we pray and wait for the rains to come.

What are YOU waiting for?

We offer the solution to instability, we will build to YOUR budget, we have extensive experience with living in our bus, and we have been building since 1990.

Let us help you Draw up the plan, budget, and time line for YOUR very own

"Ark"

Why are YOU here?

We would love to share videos about our bus, so share with us WHAT would YOU like to see?

Maintenance videos for your B.O.V?

More stories on where we have been and what we have done in our B.O.V?

How-To-Videos or posts on sticky or tricky issues when building a B.O.V.?

Menu, Meals and recipes (everyone LOVES to eat....right?)

General survival Issues?

Medicinal solutions for Off Grid living?

What to do if you have to deliver a baby (yours or someone else) while stranded in a Bug Out Situation?

These are some ideas, we have experience and we have stories, but I really don't want to BORE you all to death.

 Please share what YOU are interested in. What can we share with you about our expertise and experience!

Survival Meals.

Eating is probably the #1 concern for a Bug out situation.

And our family LOVES to eat. We have a few mouths to feed, (between 11-14 depending on who is home) and often have invited guests to join us. Because of this, we have a budget.



When our family travels, we tend to spend a fortune on meals! With a gaggle of kids in tow, we can easily lay down $150 for one meal out.

The ease of cooking a meal in our bus has been one of our greatest pleasures!

We buy groceries as if we are home, and prepare meals very much like we do every day.

We are a budget minded family, in all we do, we tend to scrutinize our expenses to ensure we have enough to provide for our future needs, as well as the capacity to help others less fortunate than us. Eating on a budget includes eating nothing from a box or package. (i.e. No lean cuisine, nor chef Boyardee) .

Here is a typical weeks menu on the road. Variations when we have the opportunity to try local fare, and or a farmers market blesses us with something unexpected.




BREAKFASTS

Oatmeal with honey, butter and dried fruits.
Whole Wheat pancakes with Real Maple Syrup.
Eggs.

French Toast.
Country potatoes. (or hash browns)
Home made bread
Home made Tortillas

LUNCH

Quesadillas
Home made pizza
Muffins
Pasta (Alfredo, spaghetti)
Sandwiches
Chili
Soups
Salads

DINNER

Taco's
Fajitas
Enchiladas
Lasagna
Dutch Oven Roasts
Whole Baked Chicken
Brown Rice & Beans

Home made Macaroni & Cheese
Bean Burritos
Taco Soup
Leftover Chicken Salad
Hand Pressed Burgers & Steak Cut Fries

As you can see our menu is pretty simple, however we never go hungry! and every meal on our menu can be prepared with ease in the bus.

If you would like a copy of my recipe Please comment and I will post a specific recipe for you all!

Next week I will share with you what we have learned about eating our weeds! (and I am *NOT* referring to cannabis weed)

Survival Meals.

Eating is probably the #1 concern for a Bug out situation.

And our family LOVES to eat. We have a few mouths to feed, and often have invited guests to join us. Because of this, we have a budget.
Eating on a budget includes eating nothing from a box or package. (i.e. No lean cuisine, nor chef Boyardee)

Here is a sampling of our every day fare;

BREAKFASTS

Oatmeal with honey, butter and dried fruits.
Whole Wheat pancakes with Real Maple Syrup.
Eggs.

French Toast.
Country potatoes. (or hash browns)
Home made bread
Home made Tortillas

LUNCH

Quesadillas
Home made pizza
Muffins
Pasta (Alfredo, spaghetti)
Sandwiches
Chili
Soups
Salads

DINNER

Taco's
Fajitas
Enchiladas
Lasagna
Dutch Oven Roasts
Whole Baked Chicken
Brown Rice & Beans

Home made Macaroni & Cheese
Bean Burritos
Taco Soup
Leftover Chicken Salad
Hand Pressed Burgers & Steak Cut Fries

As you can see our menu is pretty simple, however we never go hungry! and every meal on our menu can be prepared with ease in the bus.

If you would like a copy of my recipe Please comment and I will post a specific recipe for you all!

Next week I will share with you what we have learned about eating our weeds! (and I am *NOT* referring to cannabis weed)

Bus Design

Why we chose this design

  

When I set out to design our new bus/RV, I was in need of capacity, because I have a large family, 8 of us then 10 of us now. I needed beds to sleep all of us and seats to sit in while we traveled. Places for kids and parents to have some peace and quiet, and some privacy also. I need storage, with that many people living in the bus we would allot of clothes, shoes, tools, toys, books and FOOD!

 (When I say live, initially, I thought of it as a vacation, then a summer, and then I realized it could be full time.)  It all had to be orderly and neat.

 Everything had to have its proper place, and everyone needs their own spot or place or room. The other thing that was a must for me was I had to be able to “walk".

 I cannot stand to have things constantly under my feet. As you can see I was facing a very large challenge and I think our bus has met that challenge, and it has proven to be very comfortable to travel and live in. 

Each item was painstakingly thought of in its design and function, and most things have multiple functions. I also feel that the hand of providence was upon the design and the outcome. Because as the process went on and needs became evident the design of it all allowed the addition to fit perfectly.

 I hope you will enjoy your bus as much as we have enjoyed ours. Your needs can be different than ours, we encourage you to sit down and make a list, be realistic about your needs, then listen to your heart while building your bus, and make changes in design where needed. 

We offer other programs which can assist you in your custom designs. 

Welcome to peace and Safety.  

Wes & Dee Gordon Family

Reasons for a bugging out.

Bugging out means to be able to move away from your current location very quickly, often under fire, because your position has been compromised. This bus gives you the means to be able to do so.

There may be many reasons you may want to "bug out". 


 From life threatening situations such as, war, natural or economic disasters or 
maybe for personal reasons such as a much needed family vacation, or a way to spend time together in a secluded location a w a y from the TV and video games, bonding relationships through precious time spent together.

 This bus allows you to do both, it allows you to flee to Safety, whatever the danger may be, and be comfortable for an indefinite amount of time. 

It is named "THE ARK" for this reason. Being able to safely preserve your family and loved ones, by offering shelter, food and comfort while the world falls to pieces.  

Not quite as big as Noah's ark, but large enough to meet your needs and wants.

Preparing & Designing The Ark

Our awesome blue bird bus named "The Ark"  Services we Offer

This very dependable bus is 39'6" in length. It has a Cummings turbo charged diesel 5.9 engine and an Alison automatic transmission. It averages 10-14 miles per gallon. It has under belly storage, and is built like a tank. It is extremely capable of fulfilling whatever desires you have in an RV/ bug out vehicle. We use implement (tractor) paint with added hardener, which has been holding up great. On this side of the bus you can notice the wood stove pipe, the water heater door painted to match water tank filling point along with a pressurized water hook up point. also the 2 belly cargo boxes, the black and grey water tanks behind them. Behind the rear wheels is a large propane tank, the diesel fueling point and an 50 gal accessory tank for gasoline for the generator with an electric fuel pump which can be used to fill other things such as chain saws and motorcycle's

Master bedroom

A great view of the master bedroom looking forward to the front of the bus. Resting on the comfortable full size queen bed you can notice the shelves on the left for books and folded clothes. The A/C of which half of it blows into the master bedroom all night keeping you nice and cool while you sleep, while the other half blows toward the 4 bunks. The smaller shelves on the right are used for organizing shoes and provide a nice cubby to empty your pockets at night. Next to that there is a large closet for hanging your clothes which will accept full length dresses keeping them clean and wrinkle free. And last but not least don't forget the locking bedroom door for some privacy.

Single seat

This seat sits in front of the wood stove. Before the wood stove was there it used to be another dinette and bed or a sofa. The table top doubled as an counter top to extend the sink counter, great for large piles of dishes. Now this expandable counter top is going to be used as a cutting board also that rest nicely in the sink basin covering the sink making extra counter space there when it is in place. This is my son’s favorite place to ride in his car seat when we travel. All the kitchen seats have seat belts.

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Kitchen dinette which turns into a full size bed, with large storage area underneath the seats

The BIG garage

 

This has been wonderful. Its 6'6" deep and 8' wide and can hold an enormous amount of totes and stuff. My plan is to add another very large fresh water tank inside of this heated area. It has great access from the rear door and from the front of the master bed room through a sliding door

The back door

This is the second exit in the bus. Which is great to have in an emergency? Also it gives you a peek at the large storage bay underneath the bed. another thing I like about this door being right by my bed is I have fast access to combat the "enemies" whatever they may be, outside in the middle of the night. or to just enjoy a shot of cool fresh air while you’re sleeping.

Overhead cabinets in master bedroom

This picture shows the large cabinets over the bed in the master bedroom. they were built to be as large as they can without you hitting your head at night while lying down and sitting up. They will hold a large amount of essential items you will need while living or bugging out in the bus. And like everything else on the bus they have been made bomb proof out of solid hickory and Baltic birch plywood. Also it provided a great spot for 2 reading lights.

Storage bays

These bays are tough and large; they come with a rubber floor and 2 heavy duty doors with locks. The red 7 drawer tool chest is permanently mounted and will not fall out or slide around and provides quick and easy access to your tools. A 5 gallon bucket fits perfectly in side and 2 of them fit nicely behind the tool box utilizing all available space. A great place for the sewage hose with built in divider. I am able to keep allot of firewood on hand and it can be piled 2 stacks deep once again utilizing all available space. As you can see the uses for these boxes are endless. There is a matching pair on the other side of the bus. The boxes have rubber gaskets to keep out dirt and dust while traveling.

Master bed and the nursery

Roomy enough here for a full size queen mattress and a toddler size mattress also, with space in between them. If you did not need the nursery this area could be used for a dresser drawers or storage or you could flip the mattress sideways to have extra room in the front of the bed room for something else. Also you could have made the closet that much bigger. But we enjoy the cross breeze provided by the opposing windows

Bunk beds and master bedroom door

These bunk beds are full length at 6'3" the will sleep adults, or in our experience 2 or 3 happy kids and a dog. They also are built out of solid hickory and Baltic birch plywood and will easily hold even the largest of men. They have a lovely book shelf at the head which you will NOT hit your head on, with a reading light. And a larger shelf at the foot which will hold a weeks’ worth of folded clothes and shoes for the occupant. The shelves all have a 2 inch lip on them so things like iPods won’t fall off. Speaking of iPods, each bunk has its own 110a/c and 12 volt power supply, to keep the kids charged up. There is a rail along the top of each bunk that is for a track to hold a privacy curtain, which we are debating to install, on our bus. Underneath the 2 bottom bunks is storage, which we use for food, blankets and the power inverter. It’s hard to see in the picture but the foot shelf can be used for a ladder to get to the top bunk, and has been designed for and tested by a 250 lb man.

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bunk beds with a shot of the forward sliding door to the garage

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Washing machine

This spot is ready to receive the full size front loading washing machine. After which an upper cabinet will be built in place hiding the back wall and providing more storage. There is a pedestal built to raise the machine and also house the heater core and 2 powerful fans which heats the rear of the bus while driving.

The fridge is a 7cuft deep freezer converted to a refrigerator. It uses very little electricity because of the efficient design of the chest you do not lose your cold air when you open the door. This is very important when living of grid, on solar power your fridge will be cold indefinitely long after everyone else has run out of propane. We built dividers to help organize it.

Looking from inside the bathroom  

The bathroom is 36x60 

The Pantry. If you’re going to live in a bus in a bug out situation or boon docking for long periods of time, you are going to need to store and have access to allot of food. This pantry will help in that area and it will make accessing the food easy. As you can see there is plenty of room in there and it’s built strong so go ahead and load it up. In the future there is going to be a spice rack on the inside of the door, which will hold a large amount of spices. After some quick math it looks like you can hold 162 cans of food on the middle shelf alone! And don't forget you still have all those cabinets up front, under the bunk beds, the 3 dinette seats, 10 large full extension drawers, and the large garage. That should last you awhile

 Super strong drawers with full extension drawer glides. Ready to hold allot of weight, or be used as a ladder for little boys

Here is the link for the stove we installed.

It works awesome heating the entire bus with ease, so far the coldest night was 9 degrees . There is also plans for a coil of copper mounted on the tile wall to be used as a way to heat water. 

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