Prepping is the act of staying well prepared in the event of war or an emergency.  That being said, preppers are a fickle bunch.  We run the gambit from veggie growing gardeners who want to provide for their family to full-out “I’m ready to fight during the end of days” warriors. Tactical gear is important for all but the most hippy, peace-loving among us preppers.  Whether it’s just a firearm to protect your home and loved ones or a full-up kit to survival a worst case scenario, I’ll help you determine what you need to feel comfortable and secure

Tactical Gear For Preppers?

Tactical gear is designed to accompany you in some situations, give you a quick and easy access to your tools/ammo and also give you a perfect chance of coming out of a dangerous situation alive.

Why do preppers need tactical gear?  First and foremost, it’s good to understand that this gear is used by military as well as law enforcement personnel. The reason why tactical gear is ideal for a prepper is because they help stay alert and defend your position in case of a disaster.

The reason why preppers prefer tactical gear over more commercial gear is because of its high-performance features. Preppers understand the many functions and tasks this gear is capable of performing without getting damaged.  The fact that military and law enforcement personnel rely on it proves its rugged and durable nature.

What Is The Best Tactical Gear?

Although there is a wide range of tactical gear available, not all are necessary in the life of a prepper. There is special gear you’ll need to consider for combat and there are those pieces of gear you can live without. I don’t actually mean the real thing (military personnel going on a mission) when I talk about combat. I’m referring to potential riots, clashes or even misunderstanding in a government where a state of emergency is issued. With those situations in mind, I can quickly highlight some of the tactical gear that may benefit preppers. These include:

• Tactical Plate Carriers
• Assault Packs
• Tactical Helmets
• A Side Arm
• Tactical Boots
• A Knife
• Hand / Eye Protection
• IFAK
• Camouflage Suits

Tactical gear is much better than commercial gear due to its tougher fabrics, versatility and diversified features.  All of these items help to keep you protected and armed in case of a bad scenario.

Tactical Plate Carriers

A tactical plate carrier is an essential piece tactical gear that protects you against lethal gunshots. Plate carriers have a variety of uses such as paintball and law enforcement uses. Tactical plate carriers are categorized into four major sets which include premium plate carriers, camouflage vests, modular chest rigs and law enforcement vests.

Assault Packs

Assault packs are perfect for prepping activities. These units come in a variety of different sizes and are widely used in tactical missions, technical jobs, and other law enforcement activities. Always check on the quality, durability, weight, and comfort when purchasing an assault pack. Other factors you need to consider is whether your assault pack has multiple compartments and its ability to offer comprehensive storage in a wide range of settings.

Tactical Helmets

Helmets help to protect your head from any possible injuries while relocating/searching. Always make sure that it’s tested and designed to offer maximum protection to your head without exposing you to any serious head injuries when choosing a helmet. There are several types of tactical helmets designed to suit a particular mission. Some of these helmets including Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH), Modular Integrated Communications Helmets (MICH) and Airsoft Helmets are available in most military outlet stores at affordable prices.

 Tactical Boots

Tactical boots are used by law enforcement personnel, the military and firefighters to protect their feet against dangerous elements. They are available in a range of different types and designs to perfectly suit your intentions. Common types of boots available in the market include standard issue tactical boots, jump boots, tanker boots, desert boots and jungle boots.

Standard issue boots are made of waterproof leather material and are designed to offer maximum protection to your ankle and toes. These boots are suitable for all-terrain use and are best for combat and high altitude training.

Jump boots are designed for airborne forces and paratroopers. Introduced during WWII, these tactical boots have extended lacing and rigid toe caps to protect your ankle and toes against any injuries in case of a rough landing.

Tanker boots are made of fireproof hard leather that makes them resistant to high temperatures and unable to allow dangerous chemicals and spills reach your feet. Designed with straps instead of laces, these boots are perfect for heavy use due to their tough characteristics.

Hand / Eye Protection

Your hands and eyes are the essential weapons you own. It’s therefore important to keep them safe and in good working condition when using your tactical tools. Tactical gloves are made of high-quality materials such as nylon and leather.  They are traditionally used by firefighters, medical and military personnel. The various types of tactical gloves include all-weather shooting gloves, Condor Tactician gloves, KTS100 HWI Gear mechanical gloves and Blackhawk gloves.

Choosing the best ballistic glasses is another important aspect you need to consider as a prepper. Depending upon the environment, tactical goggles can offer a wide range of protection from sand and dust particles to small bomb fragments which can cause total or partial blindness to one’s eyes. Some of the best tactical goggles to consider include Pyramex I-Force Safety Goggles, ESS Profile TurboFan Goggles, ESS Fight Deck Military Goggles and Bolle X1000 Tactical Safety Goggles.  

Final Thoughts

There is a lot of other tactical gear which preppers can use to their advantage. Before making your purchase, however, it’s important that you figure out which loadouts are perfect for your intended purpose. Since these pieces of gear are relatively expensive, always look for loadouts which will suit your body type and needs. If you are interested in this kind of topic, then head over to solidgear.net for more information. 

The ability to grow plants and raise fish organically without the use of pesticides or fertilizers is accomplished through a method called aquaponics. This system of growing plants and raising fish without the use of soil was discovered by researchers from the University of Virgin Islands while looking for ways through which you can grow plants organically.  And, with just a little sweat equity and a few dollars, you too can have a backyard aquaponics system working for you!

How Does It Work?

Basically, aquaponics works in a win-win situation. What happens is that it combines the traditional aquaculture with hydroponics. In aquaponics, plants feed on the effluents released by aquatic animals.  Those plants, in turn, purify water to keep the fish more comfortable.

Between 2006 and 2007, this technique was widely adopted and is now commercially used on many farms to grow plants organically. According to some farmers, aquaponics grows plants 50%-100% faster as compared to inorganic farming. With just a small amount of space, you’re able to deliver ten times more as compared to older methods.

What Is Aquaponics?

Aquaponics is essentially the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants). This process takes advantage of the aquatic affluent (fish waste) deposited in water to provide essential nutrients to your plants. When the water is affluent rich, it becomes toxic to the aquatic animals. During this stage, plants absorb and use the nutrients eliminating the high water toxicity for your fish to survive.

There are so many benefits you’ll enjoy when you make a backyard aquaponic system. Unlike a fish pond where you’ll have to exchange water every now and then, an aquaponic system relies on the relationship between plants and aquatic animals. Freshwater fish release ammonia which is converted to nitrite by a nitrifying bacterium called Nitrosomonas. Another nitrifying bacterium called Nitrobacter converts the nitrite to nitrate which is used by the plants to freshen the water for the fish. This process of converting ammonia to nitrite then to nitrate is referred to as “the nitrogen cycle.”

Types of Aquaponic Systems

There are three major types of Aquaponic systems:

Media Filled Beds

This method is the simplest and is commonly used in most backyard aquaponics systems. It involves filling containers with medium and small clay pebbles then planting seedlings directly into the media.

Fish tank water is then pumped over the media to allow the plants to feed on the excess nutrients. The medium clay pebbles act as biological filters where they help to eliminate toxins giving your fish fresh and clean water in the long run.

There are two major ways which this Aquaponics system can be operated:  continuous water flow method and the flood and drain (also known as ebb and flow) method.

Nutrient Film Technique

This method involves pumping nutrient-rich fish water through PVC pipes. Plants are grown inside cups with small holes at the bottom to allow the roots to reach the water in the PVC gutters.

It’s important to understand that this method is only suitable for leafy green plants with small root systems and not larger plants with bigger, invasive roots.

Deep Water Culture

This method is commonly used in both commercial and backyard aquaponics systems because it’s relatively cheaper to setup and operate. This method uses a foam “raft” which floats on top of the water. Plants are held in holes made in the raft in a way that the roots dangle into the water. For perfect results, fish water can either be pumped on the floating racks or the racks can be placed directly on the fish water.

Benefits of a Backyard Aquaponics System

Setting up a backyard aquaponics system in your garden comes with lots of benefits such as environmental improvement, better health, and higher quality nutrition. This section will review some of the essential benefits which farmers can expect to enjoy.

Saves Space

Unlike other gardening methods, aquaponics system allows you to plant your seedlings close together thus saving on space. Since this method involves submerging plant roots in nutrient-rich water, there is less overcrowding which helps you save on space as compared to other gardening techniques.

No Weeding

Another benefit of backyard aquaponics system is that you don’t have to weed anymore. This method doesn’t encourage the growth of weeds since there is no soil involved. Farmers are able to enjoy the freedom of growing plants at home without weeding.

No Soil Pests

Since Aquaponics doesn’t rely on soil, farmers are relieved the burden of using pesticides to eliminate soil pests. Pesticides destroy the plant slowly over time due to toxins absorbed by the plant.

Plants Grow Faster

Backyard aquaponics system allows plants to access nutrients for 24 hours each day making them grow faster. According to research, vegetables such as lettuce have been proven to grow twice as fast as compared to when planted normally on the soil.

Making Your Own Backyard Aquaponics System

There are many ways through which you can make your own backyard aquaponics system. Regardless of the method you choose, always ensure that your system is able to grow plants in a way that confers most of the environmental benefits such as low environmental impacts and water efficiency.

Without wasting time, we will go through a step by step program on how to make a Flood and Drain system.

Flood and drain system

Necessary Equipment and Material

• ~50-gal Fish Tank
• Tank Cover
• Gravel / Grow Bed Fill
• Pipes & Fittings (as required)
• Timer
• A Grow Bed (roughly 6 – 8-ft³ and 12-in deep)
• Water Pump
• Plants
• Fish

Build Process

1. Place your fish tank on a flat surface away from direct sun to reduce algae growth.
2. Place the pump and feed pipe in the fish tank.
3. Place the grow bed near the fish tank. Fill it with gravel and make sure it’s close to the fill pipe.  Also, make sure the drain pipe from the grow bed feeds directly into the fish tank.
4. Install the timer on the pump and set it to cycle for 15min on, 45 min off.
5. Join the pipes and the pump together to connect the fish tank with the grow bed. Also, remember to connect the overflow drain in the grow bed to remove water.
6. Plant your seedlings into the grow bed and place your fish inside the fish tank.
7. Test your fish water to determine the level of Ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate. If you notice that the pH level is high or low, you can adjust it accordingly to keep the water neutral.
8. Turn on the pump to start the cycling process. This involves circulating nutrient-rich water from the fish tank to the grow bed then back to the tank again. After a few days, you’ll notice that your seedlings are growing; a milestone which reveals that your aquaponics system was successfully established.

Conclusion

In summary, there are tons of benefits which farmers enjoy once they set up a backyard aquaponics system. The system is cost efficient and makes backyard gardening more productive and economical. According to research, aquaponic systems use about 1/10th the amount of water used when farming on the ground. This technique helps you produce a tremendous amount of fish and vegetables within a short time in a small area.