Posts Tagged ‘tips’

Survival Bros Goes Clamming in Seaside Oregon – HD Video

Posted: April 28, 2013 in Frugality, Grub, HD Videos, Health & Nutrition, Sports
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

It’s not easy to set the alarm for 5:30 AM. But the prospect of free food was too alluring. My bro and I geared up, and went down to the beach in Seaside OR, right off of Avenue U. There were swarms of foragers looking for clam shows. The dimples in the sand were everywhere. We got our limit of 15 razor clams in about 30 minutes. Mission successful! We will be back soon. I hope my video entertains, and informs. We had fun shooting it. Maybe next time Survival Bros will show you how we cook the squirmy grub. Thanks for visiting this blog. Comments are always appreciated. Happy hunting. Peace and love.

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This is just under the limit for 2 people with licenses.

Burying Survival Caches on the Oregon Coast 2013

Posted: March 17, 2013 in Giving Back, SB Tips, Survival Bros Challenges
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy in Seaside, OR

I produced this video today because  I want you to be safe, and prepared.  Survival Bros encourages you to get ready for disasters you can see happening in the future.  Build your bug out bag, so you always have what you need.  Consider putting together survival caches of different sizes, along your escape route, or near locations you may sleep, like at a relative’s house.  Plan ahead today.  What’s in your emergency cache?  

Powertraveller Solarmonkey Adventurer Review and Stress Test

Posted: March 10, 2013 in Product Reviews
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

You’re off the grid, but you need power. That’s when you wish you invested in a solar panel charger, like the Solarmonkey from Powertraveller that I tested in the HD video above.

If I’m alone in the woods, it’s nice to know my cell phone has power just in case. That’s why the Solarmonkey Adventurer comes with. If I fall off a cliff, having my iPhone handy sure beats a whistle. Powertraveller has created a huge variety of solar chargers, excellent for any job. From small ones that can give your phone a boost, to large solar panels that can keep your laptop running. I like the Solarmonkey Adventurer because it’s a great size for backpacking, and mountain biking.

The powerful internal lithium polymer battery is 2500mAh, and will charge fully in 12 hours or less. Plus, you can charge the battery, and a device at the same time, saving time.  And it can plug into a wall, or DC outlet.  I was shocked at how fast it charges my phone. The system is lightweight too, tipping the scales at only 9.3 ounces.  The dimensions are 6.6 x 3.7 x 0.8 inches.

It comes with many tips to be compatible for your device, and a heavy-duty “Monkeytail” cable made just for Apple products. The neoprene case it comes in is durable also. It will keep the solar panels safe, and secure. A carabiner is included. I use that often so it can just hang off my bag. As I mentioned in the video review, the panels are shock and water-resistant. It outlasted me pouring water on it while charging, and surprisingly worked after I froze it. The Solarmonkey Adventurer from Powertraveller is badass. I can easily recommend it to my friends.  Thanks for visiting Survival Bros.  Come back soon.solarmonkey-adventurer-5

Trading with a Friend for Smaller Goods

Posted: February 25, 2013 in Frugality, SB Tips, Uncategorized
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Today I met up with an old friend interested in trading pocket knifes, for my antique wooden chest. I’ve been packing this cool, big box around for years, but felt like swapping it out for smaller items I can potentially trade or sell later.

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I got this ornate chest in Tigard, OR at a St. Vincent De Pauls for $40 or so. I was going to restore it, but liked the rough, vintage look, and couldn’t bring myself to refinish the wood. I never cleaned the tin exterior either. It made a great shoe box for awhile, but I had my eye on a stash of Swiss Army knives my buddy acquired from an estate sale. We are both hustlers, so I felt like meeting to get some deals going.

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I picked these 18 multitools out of my friend’s collection. I will end up putting a few in small emergency caches to be buried. Some will be gifts, and others I will use for odd jobs. A couple have lights built in too. It felt good to trade for items that won’t be a burden to move. I’m always traveling, so bulk is bad. I will do more deals with this contact, and the possibilities are endless with online networking. Don’t miss out. Be social.

Top Superfoods List By Survival Bros

Posted: January 18, 2013 in Health & Nutrition, Product Reviews, SB Tips
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By Cameron McKirdy

I’m going to keep this simple. These are my favorite foods on the planet. I think they give me tremendous energy, and superior health.

Seeds – hemp, chia, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame
Nuts – almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts
Berries – gogi, blueberries, acai, raspberries
Kombucha Tea (raw and organic)
Yerba Mate
Fresh Spring Water from the source
Coconut water
Raw juice – organic fruits and vegetables (add spinach/kale)
Protein Powder – raw whey, hemp, rice
Eggs – farm fresh
Supplements – bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, maca root, turmeric, dandelion, milk thistle, calcium/magnesium/zinc, fish oil, marine phytoplankton
Raw honey (lasts forever)
Barlean’s Greens (drink powder)
Cordyceps (and other mushrooms)
Organic soy milk (vanilla)
Aloe Vera juice (with wheat grass)
Avocado
Fresh salmon (try teriyaki salmon jerky)
Sea Vegetables – kelp, chlorella
Raw Chocolate (cacao)
Spirulina and Blue-Green Algae

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Saving Money One Bite At A Time

Posted: January 5, 2013 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

Times are tough, for many people this isn’t the first time they’ve struggled to make ends meet. I’d like to humbly share a time in my life my frugality took a dark but interesting turn. It was 2008 and I was a student at the University of Oregon. My major was international studies and so, in a way I was honing my skills for a life of financial hardship. I was “in between jobs” as they say, and while I had saved enough money to still afford rent, my savings were diminishing fast. Food was expensive. I had contributed to society, paid my taxes for long enough for me to feel less guilty about what I was scheming. I looked to the homeless for inspiration and I found none. “They are doing it all wrong” I said to myself.
 
I had long been a fan of free food so I started brainstorming of all the past places food was a plenty. Buffets. Breakfast buffets. Continental breakfasts. The Holiday Inn Express was closest to my house, so that’s where I first walked in as confidently as possible, to a hotel I’ve never been in before. Oatmeal. Apples. Oranges. Muffins. It was a beautiful display of food not meant for me, which made it even more exciting. I had my backpack on me because my Spanish class was in a half an hour. I ate what I could, and opened my bag to shove a bundle of bananas in. I took an extra muffin for my friend because he was broke like me, and as it turns out I’m very generous with other people’s food. This went on for a while. So long that I started to rank the hotels. Phoenix Inn had apple juice and hot chocolate so I gave it a B+. But breakfast was only one meal out of the suggested 3 a day. I had started noticing official University of Oregon food golf carts zipping around campus. I was lucky enough to have experienced this before at catered public events and so I knew they had the goods. One day in between classes I saw a green cart zip right in front of me and if it were possible I would have jumped right on the back and followed it to wherever it was going, but I had to be more inconspicuous. So, I ran. Calmly. Like I was late for a class across campus. Finally the cart stopped in front of the law building. Taking from future lawyers was alright by me. I wasn’t stealing. I was taking something being offered just not to me. Oh was it delicious. The pasta was seasoned and covered in feta cheese and oil. I was in heaven. The breakfasts and occasional catered meal kept me for only so long. I did some grocery shopping rather often to buy my bulk items of hummus, rice, beans and oats. Cheap nutritious foods. I was at Whole Foods when I noticed a bread man checking the dates of each loaf and then collecting the ones that were about to expire. I striked up a  conversation and he told me that he could give me some just not in the store. He told me to meet him out back. A couple of minutes later he was noticeably more casual with me. He didn’t care about the bread. So I took all that I could. Six loaves of organic whole wheat bread. It only lasted me a few days. 
 
Turns out he gave the rest to the Eugene food pantry, but they always had plenty of bread from other donations besides his company. I looked into the pantry and I qualified. I rode my bike to the pantry, and again only had my backpack. They told me to go outside and they would bring me my food allowance. They rolled out a two level push cart full of canned foods, cold milk and other dairy products including a very cheap pint of chocolate ice cream. I could only carry about a quarter of what I was alloted. I wouldn’t have eaten most of the other stuff any way because it was full of MSG, salt and I knew it would taste awful. 

Eventually I was able to get a job and save up some money so I didn’t have to go to all the trouble, but I had a good run. Without all the ways I found to get free food I am sure I would have started charging groceries on a credit card. I hope I don’t have to do it again, but it is nice to know that sometimes beggars can be choosers if you’re smart enough. I am very thankful for each and every free bite to this day. 

Andrew McKirdy

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

Save Money – Don’t Pay Full Retail Prices

Posted: December 28, 2012 in Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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By Cameron McKirdy

Survival Bros shows you all the stuff that is half off in the back of a Safeway grocery store.

Retail is for suckers. Don’t pay full price for anything, ever again. Store owners get everything wholesale, and you can too.

I often start my shopping trip by going to the back of the supermarket. That’s where you can always find items 50% off, because they are discontinued, damaged, or close to their expiration date. You’d think these products are no good, but I’ve found the sale goods are usually organic, and simply not well known, so they go unsold. Don’t be too good to save money. People pass on these deals because they are too proud, and must feel like the product is inferior to what’s on the regular shelves. It’s silly.

Think about getting a membership at a wholesaler like Costco. It will save you cash, and probably pay for the card on the first trip. Be on he lookout for an asterisk on the price sign at Costco. An * means the item is being discontinued, and it’s not coming back, so the price is usually reduced. Buy more then if needed. Not that I support big box stores, but it’s worth going just for the free food samples. I will have to produce a video on that. And my friends that work there seem to be happy.

You can also compare prices online. Additionally, I like to practice patience, and use eBay auctions to save money. Plus, check out smart phone apps like ShopSavvy that get you the best deal possible. The only time I pay jacked up full retail prices is when I’m buying local. Even then I will haggle. Prices are made up. Things are worth what you pay for them.

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The clearance rack at Safeway in the back

Using Alternative Modes Of Transportation – From Hitchhiking To Busing

Posted: December 13, 2012 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, SB Tips
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A few years ago I gave up my Cadillac. It was a waste of money to operate, and I love being active anyways. This blog is about my use of alternative transportation, while surviving on the Oregon Coast.

Riding my mountain bike has been option #1. It’s way cheaper to use than a car. I’ve had to repair my Mongoose several times, but at least I can do some of the work. It’s not like a computerized vehicle, where I have no chance of fixing it. I’ve saved thousands of dollars by not driving, and haven’t had to get a real job. It’s allowed me to do things like run this blog, and avoid the rat race entirely.

I also love walking. I have rain gear and an umbrella, so I don’t have an excuse to not get outside. If course Oregonians don’t actually use umbrellas, but I know how to. The key for me is being comfortable moving around outdoors. I have a variety of shoes for the job, including boots for mud, sandals for the beach, and light running kicks too. Plus, I make sure to have rain gear on hand, or at least an emergency rain poncho just in case. I walk many miles each week. It keeps me loose, and strong.

This summer I also made a point to hitchhike. I walked along Highway 101 for a few hours before someone finally swooped me. The trick is to find a place where drivers can pull off the road, and staying in that open area. The gentleman that picked me up told me about his days thumbing on the road. He told me to bring toilet paper or I’d be sorry. Hitchhiking isn’t a viable option really. You can’t rely on others like that, especially if your in a hurry. But it was fun trying, and I will get around that way again for the hell if it.

I’ve been riding the bus at least once a week too. It’s great because in December you can donate a can of grub to the food bank for a free pass. Most riders have been taking advantage of that offer, unless they already have a monthly bus pass. You meet all sorts of people on the bus. Some want to borrow my phone, while others feel like talking the entire trip while I listen to music. Still, I like riding the bus. It’s a giant carpool, and less damaging to the environment than if everyone drove a car.

I have said cars are for lazy people. I think that’s true, especially if you never use your own power to get around town. We sit so much as it is anyways. I will own a vehicle again, but there’s no hurry. I’m more free without one. Less is more. Good luck getting to your destination over the holidays. Remember there’s more than one way to get there. I have Rollerblades too. Lol. Peace.
– Cameron McKirdy

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Pet First Aid Kit List – Owners Guide To Caring For Animals

Posted: November 27, 2012 in Adventures, Pets/Animals, SB Tips
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Pets love trails. We run, jump, and play in the mud, and our puppy does the same. Here at Survival Bros, we care about our animals, so we take good care of them, and prepare for their survival needs. This is a short list of items to have in a pet first aid kit. Some of these things you may already have on hand. All items can fit in a large Ziploc bag, which we like so everything is easy to see. Any portable waterproof container would be wise. Or you can even make a tactical dog vest, so they can carry their own gear. The point is, make one that works for you and your furry friend too.

  • Blunt tipped scissors to cut away clumped hair, or tangled sticks without poking your pet.
  • Bottle of eye wash solution is a great sterile way to flush any debris from your pets eye.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide works well for cleaning small wounds.
  • Triple antibiotic ointment for dressing wounds after they have been properly cleaned.
  • Sterile nonstick pads are best as adhesive strips don’t really stick to puppy fur (Vet Wrap).
  • Nail trimmers, tweezers, and comb.
  • A leash in case it’s not your animal your treating, you still need to be able to control them if they are able to walk.
  • A big clean towel to dry them off, warm them up, or if needed, stop bleeding by applying pressure.
  • A muzzle that fits your animal is good to have in your kit in case they are scared, or hurt bad enough. You love them, they love you, but in a fear moment while you’re trying to help them, they might bite you. Also consider putting a plastic cone around their head to prevent further injury.
  • Rain coat or poncho with hood.
  • Harnesses are helpful.
  • Also, make sure to have your animal’s tags on them in case they get lost. You can also have a microchip implanted in your pet for security reasons, and tracking. It’s a little 1984, but it could come in handy if a collar breaks.
  • Instant Cold Pack for swelling.
  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine) for insect bites and bee stings.
  • Rectal thermometer.
  • Gloves.
  • Extra pet food and water.

Basic first aid is applicable to animals and humans. Knowing how to properly clean and dress a wound is survival basics. Being able to do it on yourself, someone else, or a pet means you can potentially safe the life of a loved one. In an emergency, remember to keep calm, think rationally, and address one issue at a time. Be extreme out there people, and take your pets outside with you! And please visit Survival Bros again soon. Peace.

My Every Day Carry (EDC) – By Survival Bros

Posted: October 31, 2012 in Product Reviews, SB Tips
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An Every Day Carry EDC Example

The following was submitted by Kelvin.  This is what he never leaves home without, and why.  

Love your site. I check it often, wanted to show you my EDC, or Every Day Carry.

Droid 3, rooted and running custom rom, allows me better 1080p video, better HDR photos, and instant flashlight access using my power button. The BodyGlove case is a must in my life, the tight fit keeps it from eating all the space in my pocket, but the synthetic leather feel matches perfect with my black leather car.  Pro tip: Keep $20 between the phone and the case.  This is an excellent cash stash in a pinch.

Off Brand Knife, it has been my EDC for over 2 years now, and I still can’t kill it. Spring assisted so it flicks open FAST! The emergency glass smasher and the seatbelt cutter keep me safe in an emergency, as well as a tactical defense device. For only $10 I plan on buying another one as soon I can I find one.

Nebo CSI LUMA, using a single AA battery it can outlast itself before the battery dies. Seriously, it’s as reliable as gravity and just as cheap to use. I picked this up because its roll resistant, sturdy as all hell, has a glow in the dark bottom click button, and I liked the font teeth on the lens. Perfect for opening beer bottles, lighting your way, or smashing someone’s face with it.

Bic Lighter, I prefer the brown ones as they are less common, and there for harder to get stolen. IE, Bic’ed by someone who has the same color as you. You have to remove the child proof lock on it or else it doesn’t belong in your pocket. Fire, bottle opener, floatation device for a fishing lure… the list goes on. Carry a bic people. Anything less is useless.

Chapstick, beeswax is better than paraffin and usually lasts longer on your lips. In a pinch you can burn it, or use it to dress a small abrasion, or scrape. Nothing involving blood though as it’s not a clotting agent.

Wallet, I didn’t break it down to much, because that’s almost a thing in itself as far as how much cash and coin to carry, so I’ll keep it to a simple break down.  It’s a Fossil leather wrapped canvas bi-fold that has seen much abuse and only gets better with time.

  • Rubber Band, I get money, and I like to keep it banded together. Could be used for any number of other uses.
  • Bobby pin, Used again to separate money for whatever reason, used to stir the tobacco in my pipe, and in a pinch the spring steel can be used to jimmy open a lock.
  • Multi-function Credit Card Survival Tool, is a plate of high grade stainless steel in a case that should only be used in EMERGENCYS. It has a knife edge, a can opener, a small saw, a flathead/Philips screw driver, a nail file, a ruler going to 3”, a bottle opener, has a hole for it to be used as a signaling mirror, a staggering sized multi wrench, has a V grooved rope cutter, plus a North delineation on it to be used in conjunction with its straight edge to aide in map reading, I’m sure I could list more, but I won’t. Spending less than $3 on this was worth it!
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