SwampEx-iPlant for an iGator
Foraging exercises - physically & spiritually
SwampSession 04-17-24 - SwampEx-iPlant for an iGator
A practical exercise in methods to survive through fitness - physically, mentally & spiritually
Get the iPlant app from Brigitte Mars.
Task: Get FIT (physically, mentally & spiritually) to build resiliency to withstand any disaster.
Situation: Disasters come in all forms (i.e., hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, train accidents, chemical spills, nuclear, pandemics, wildfires, terrorism, violence, mass shootings, etc). Do not limit preparation. An unhealthy iGator (individual) will not be as well prepared to handle the stress of a traumatic event, especially long-duration events.
SHAPE REAL PLANS: The “H” in the mnemonic SHAPE stands for the following:
• Head of Household (HH6) - Estimate: Assesses the current situation, gaps needed to fill in KSA’s and visions of how you and your SGU should react to a specific scenario.
The Army knew (knows) the importance of the broader Army family and how personal fitness could enhance overall Soldier effectiveness. But for a concept to become truly viable and make a difference, it needs to be a living, working program. Develop your physical, mental, and spiritual improvement plan and “Do it now! Do it for yourself!”
Standards: Prior to a disaster occurring, GET FIT NOW.
• Improve your diet, eliminate deficiencies, and eat properly to start a survival situation in a positive health status.
Remember Nutrition to Nurture Survival in Nature: As a quick vignette to ensure an ever-consistent state of well-being should enhance your capacity to endure any disaster situation:
• The incidence of illness in the various regions can lead to a range of issues. Illnesses from heat injuries and diseases in deserts are higher than in temperate climates.
• Fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting, for example, cause loss of water and salt, which can culminate in heat illnesses.
• Cold weather injuries can also occur during a desert winter.
• Feed your body (physically), mind (mentally), and soul (spiritually) to build resilience.
• Be a good mentor and leader teaching the KSA’s needed to enable your SGU’s best chance for survival.
Assess Your Physical Condition: Once you have reached or secured safety/location check for any injuries and administer first-aid and the following:
• Conduct a check and evaluation of those around you.
• Determine if emergency services are needed and immediately call 911 or rescue operations as applicable.
• Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration in any climate. Most importantly, if you start out a survival situation dehydrated, you will already be behind the curve.
• If you are in a cold or wet climate, put on additional clothing to prevent hypothermia and protect yourself from rain or getting wet and cold. Prepare and care for equipment; waterproof to ensure dry clothing and limit exposure to extreme temps.
iPlant from Brigitte Mars: iPlant “is an amazing application…it is programmed to provide accurate information on various wild plant varieties found in North America.”
When I forage, my biggest problem experienced is the ability to manage information to help verify plants I find. I need a balance between dependable access to information that is not difficult to handle.
I have developed several Gator FERPS Workbooks (GFWB1 to 3) and Handbooks (GFHB 1 to 5) + the Gator FERPS Tactical Standard Operation Procedures (GFTACSOP 1 & 2).
GFWB2 has a section about foraging to help study, take notes, add other sources, and get best prepared prior to a disaster in Phase I (deliberate planning stage).
GFHB2 is a field manual style book to help conduct predeployment training with your SGU prior to contact with a disaster.
GFHB4 is a condensed version if one chooses not to acquire the GFWB2 and GFHB2 (note these are also available in low-cost digital versions if you prefer only to purchase the GFHB4 & GFHB5 and/or the GFTACSOP1 & GFTACSOP2.
These are useful hands-on workbooks with room to make critical notes that you can use in parallel with the other publications. I am not and will never be an expert in foraging, not to the extent of many other sources such as the following:
https://www.brigittemars.com/
https://www.thelostskillsacademy.com/
https://www.permacrafters.com/
My end-state objective for me is to have researched, tested, and verified plants in the wild until I become an “expert” – or at least a “Jack of many trades.”
Before the grid goes down or even something as simple as being stranded in a remote part of the Boundary Waters of Minnesota with no communication signal, I must memorize and verify enough knowledge to sustain myself independently from totally wild sources.
I literally have over 20 books about foraging. Each has such great assets, strengths and weaknesses. You have to commit to knowing what you want based on your situation.
I like to be mobile taking walks in the woods close to God’s Creation. Learning about foraging is not just about survival. It is a fitness (mental, physical, and spiritual) decision. While hiking, camping, or disaster reacting – I want the ability to resupply myself from nature.
The Gator pubs are field tactical type books. No one book can carry it all. The images and information may be limited, but that is the objective – get to a FOC – Full Operational Capability. Meaning, in my interim state I must study, take pictures, research, test, learn, evaluate, etc. until I can master identification of a good number of plants. And my objective is to learn about common plants in a region I will most probably experience an austere survival situation.
Use mobile and digital technologies using Digital Version (DV) of eBooks, access to apps such as the iPlant from Bridgett Mars, and enroll in a foraging academy. Study them in garrison before the grid fails. Record notes in your physical GFTACSOP or GFHB, affix pictures or drawings of plants you have found and identified in your area.
Hoping this advice will help you consider getting fit prior to a disaster hit.
Remember the quote from Army survival doctrine in FM21-76:
“It takes much more than the knowledge and skills to build shelters, get food, make fires, and travel without the aid of standard navigational devices to live successfully through a survival situation. Some people with little or no survival training have managed to survive life-threatening circumstances. Some people with survival training have not used their skills and died. A key ingredient in any survival situation is the mental attitude of the individual(s) involved. Having survival skills is important; having the will to survive is essential. Without a desk to survive, acquired skills serve little purpose and invaluable knowledge goes to waste.”
This guide is provided free for the teaching and research on methods for emergency management, survival, and disaster preparedness.
Below: Some examples of exercises in foraging (don’t forget to forage God’s WORD).
Source: https://g3cacademy.com/courses/basic-survival-training/
Gator Family Emergency Planning & Survival (FERPS) Lulu.com books link
Straight from the Swamp: Gator Family Emergency Response Planning & Survival Tactical Standard Operating Procedures (GFTACSOP1 & GFTACSOP2). Two book equating to over 1,200 pages of compacted data for almost anything you need in the field – if not they come w/note space to annotate continuous learning. All Gator publications support total-life learning & continuous notetaking. The workbooks help plan in garrison; the handbooks provide field manuals for training & the TACSOPS provide Tactical Standard Operating Procedures for action in the field - below is a general overview:
• GFWB1: Program Overview to the FER PS Process & General Disaster Planning Guide
• GFWB2: Basic Survival Training Preparation & Planning
• GFWB3: Camping Orientation Basics & Equipment Preparation
• GFHB1: Swamp Sustainment (i.e., Water, Food, Tool Task & Purpose, etc).
• GFHB2: Swamp Expediency (i.e., Shelter, Fire, Safety, Indigenous KSA's, Knots, Ropes & Cordage, First-Aid, Commo, Land Navigation & Map Reading).
• GFHB3: Swamp Deployment Planning & Execution & Camping & Survival Readiness.
• GFHB4 & GFHB5: Lower cost consolidated materials from all of the Workbooks & Handbooks.
• Optimal Purchase Options: You have the choice of purchasing GFHB1 to 3 or GFHB4 to GFHB5 to help in field training. The Gator TACSOP's help in real-world action for quick ready access.
Uganda Kagona Orphanage Foundation Donation Drive
Please consider a donation to a very worthy cause.
We would like to send blessing and ask for support the Uganda Kagona Foundation Orphanage Please donate at https://gofund.me/c8a133fc
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward [is] with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:12-13, KJV).
God bless in the Name of His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ.
Check out this great video from the AoC Network.
GET READY! Time is short. The BIG ONE is coming.
JLTW!
The fair use of a copyrighted works cited for purposes such as comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. This forum may contain content not endorsed or authorized for use by its owner. The use of the material falls under the guidelines of fair use to provide comment. Link to Section 107 of the Copyright Act https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107
Thanks for the additional information.
Looks like I have some more studying to do !!!