Interview with Steve of UVPaqlite
Equip To Endure‘s Adam Francis interviewed the creator of the UVPaqlite at Mesquite’s Self-Reliance Expo last weekend. This product is truly amazing! Enjoy the video:
Self-Reliance Expo: The School of Natural Healing
The director of The School of Natural Healing, David W. Christopher, along with his team will be attending the Self-Reliance Expo in Mesquite, Texas this weekend in booths 306-308. He will be lecturing on “Self-Reliant Health” at 4 PM on Friday, and also 3 PM on Saturday.
Having been raised in the simple ways of natural health, David’s interests grew beyond his university study and in 1974 he focused on the discipline of Herbology. In 1979 he became a Master Herbalist and the director of The School of Natural Healing.Today, thousands safely apply the Christopher methodology thanks to his directorship.
David is an international lecturer and was instrumental in establishing England’s College of Herbs and Natural Healing. He is the author of An Herbal Legacy of Courage and various articles on herbs and nutrition have been published in many magazines. David and his wife Fawn host a weekly radio program, “A Healthier You“.
The School of Natural Healing has five college which offer courses:
- College of Aromatherapy
- College of Herbal Medicine
- College of Homeopathy
- College of Iridology
- College of Reflexology
David W. Christopher is pictured in the blue polo on the right.
Self-Reliance Expo: Dallas Chicken Coops
We are pleased to announce that DallasChickenCoops.com will be attending the Self-Reliance Expo this weekend in Mesquite, Texas! They will be in booths 510-512 and will be glad to answer your questions regarding building your own chicken coops, chicken coop plans & blueprints, valuable resources available to raising poultry, and many more topics related to the subject.
From their website:
Our main focus is chicken coops. There are several challenges when trying to find the right chicken coop. There are usually not that many designs available locally. So, many chicken owners are faced with building a chicken house themselves or paying to have one shipped to them. Shipping these chicken coops is not cheap!
We offer a different solution! We will bring the chicken coop to you in the Dallas area. We can build the coop on site. You can choose from any of the designs we have available or we can do custom work to suit your needs. We can build custom chickens coops in your backyard. Tell us what you want and we will get you a free quote.
Please be sure to pay them a visit and get their advice on chicken coops.

Cast Iron Collection Contest, Inspired by Backwoods Home Magazine Article: Cast Iron Loaf Pans from Breakfast to Dessert
The following article from Backwoods Home Magazine has inspired a contest over this next week. We are looking for pictures of your cast iron cookware. Please post your pictures to the Self-Reliance Expo Facebook Fanpage. The winner will receive a FREE year subscription to Backwoods Home Magazine. The article is available online and in the print edition, and was written by Matt & Linda Morehouse.
“Cast iron loaf pans are not just for bread. Nearly as versatile as the cast iron 10-inch (#8) covered skillet, the venerable cast iron loaf pan will truly see you from breakfast to dessert — and all points in between.
“Want proof? Here are four recipes ideal for cast iron loaf pans. One is for breakfast, one for anytime bread, one for a dinner entrée, and one for dessert.
(Click on the images to visit the original article at Backwoods Home Magazine)
Pantry Paratus Wondermill Electric Grain Mill Give-Away
With the Dallas Texas’ Self-Reliance Expo almost 1 week away, it’s time you know that our good friends from Pantry Paratus™ will be hosting a FREE Give-Away of a Wondermill Electric Grain Mill. The drawing will take place on Saturday, February 11 at their booth #100-101.
Wilson & Chaya will both be conducting educational classes at the Expo:
Wilson- will teach the Basics of Dehydrating Food…using an Excalibur Food Dehydrator (although he’ll share principles of dehydrating)
Chaya- will teach Milling Flour at Home
How to sign-up for the drawing:
- Buy your tickets for Mesquite, Texas’ Self-Reliance Expo (February 10 & 11) HERE.
- Visit Pantry Paratus’ booth #100-101 and write your valid email to sign up for their newsletter
- Make arrangements to be there on Saturday when they will draw the lucky winner’s name & email…and cross your fingers!
For details of the drawing, please visit PantryParatus.com and send them an email or call them.
We wish you good luck!
Self-Reliance Expo’sed Radio Show, Friday, January 28, 2012
Join Colorado Ron & Bubba Davinci on their show tonight 8 pm Central on the Preparedness Radio Network. (Click the image for the link or click HERE.)
This week 1/27/2012, on Self-Reliance Expozed, the official Self-Reliance Expo radio show, your hosts Colorado Ron and Bubba DaVinci will be introducing themselves and discussing what the future brings for both the Self-Reliance Expo and Self Reliance Expo’zed.
Tonight they’ll have a special guest who is a long time supporter of the Self-Reliance movement and creator of one of the best solar back-up power units on the market The Humless Sentinel. We will also be introducing a segment called “Radiation Watch”.
BHM Radio and Self Reliance Exposed will alternate weeks in this time slot, Friday at 8pm Central. Please join us again next week for our BHM Radio Show!
Featured Product: The Doom and Bloom™ Survival Medicine Handbook
I, for one, am super-excited to pick up Dr. Bones & Nurse Amy’s new book: 
Check out the trailer for the new book:
We look forward to reviewing this book & posting that review here…Stay Tuned!
-David SafeWater
Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo: WIN FREE Tickets!!!
With the Dallas’ Self-Reliance Expo right around the corner February 10-11, we want to give individuals and families the opportunities to win FREE tickets to the Self-Reliance Expo! (It’s actually gonna happen in Mesquite, just east of Dallas). What we are looking for:
- Entertaining videos which highlight/demonstrate your most innovative Self-Reliance Creations, Contraptions, or Inventions (this can include modifications to products that you use or a tool that you created to fit your needs)
- A brief & entertaining instructional video that teaches a Self-Reliance Skill or Short-Cut
- A 2-3 minute silent video on anything Self-Reliance themed:
- Comedy/Parody
- Educational
- Entertaining/Creative
- Product Review
- A humorous video that features a song you write & perform on:
- Self-Reliance
- the Benefits/Joys of being a Prepper
- Buggin’ Out
- Things Preppers Say
- Life on the Homestead
We have plenty of tickets to give away for the most creative, fun, and entertaining submissions, so have fun & be SAFE! Only selected submissions will win tickets to the event. Winners will be selected by judges from the Self-Reliance Expo, based on creativity & entertainment. We look forward to seeing your content!
It almost goes without saying, but please remember that the content should be appropriate for families to share & we will be featuring the winners on the Self-Reliance Facebook fanpage, an interview, and will likely be featured on other websites online. By submitting the content, you are allowing the Self-Reliance Expo to use that content in a promotional manner, with the opportunity to win a prize of tickets for admission to the Self-Reliance Expo referenced above. You must be the original producer of the content that you submit. Any prizes awarded for selected & featured content do not hold cash value, void where prohibited, winner must confirm contact, blah, blah, blah…
Several Ways to Submit Content:
- Upload your content to your YouTube account & Email the link to david[at]selfrelianceexpo[dot]com, or
- Upload your content to your Facebook account & share it on the Self-Reliance Expo Facebook Fanpage, or
- Send an Email to: david[at]selfrelianceexpo[dot]com with a link to your content outside of Youtube & Facebook
Winning submissions will be notified via email and announced here & on the Self-Reliance Facebook Fanpage. Content will be accepted until February 6, 2012, with the earliest announcement of Ticket winners beginning this Saturday, January 28, 2012. We are accepting submissions from anywhere and everywhere. Remember: be safe, have fun, and be creative!
I’m thinking that if we get enough submissions…we can open it up for a grand prize winner to be announced at the February’s Self-Reliance Expo…the Grand Prize will be awarded to the winner there. The Grand Prize is yet to be determined….but it’s gonna be GOOD!
-David SafeWater
Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo: G & R Foods, Red Feather Butter & Cheese, & Bega Cheddar Cheese
Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Laurie Gawronski of G & R Foods, Incorporated. Laurie heads the sales of Ballantyne Butter and Bega canned cheddar cheese. Although G & R is based in Wisconsin, they are the largest domestic wholesaler of New Zealand’s Ballantyne butter brand and the nation’s exclusive importer of Australia’s Bega cheddar cheese.
Laurie confirmed that not only will samples of the butter & cheese be available at the Expo, but there will also be an incentive for group purchases of the products. According to her, group buys of the product are popular because of their established and well-known quality. In fact, I also learned that G & R will also have a newer product available at the show. I will let you know more about that product within the next couple of weeks before the Expo, running February 10-11, 2012 in Mesquite, Texas.

Ballantyne's Red Feather Creamery Butter
Ballantyne Butter
Ballantyne is the world’s largest producer of canned butter. Sealed airtight for maximum freshness, this canned butter delivers convenience in the form of extended shelf-life and easy distribution without the need for refrigeration. Take it anywhere. It’s ideal for camping, boating and remote areas where refrigeration is not available. There is no defined expiration date because its shelf-life is primarily dependent upon storage conditions (temperature, humidity, altitude, sunlight/shade, etc.) G& R Foods, Inc., does guarantee the shelf life for two years however, the actual shelf life of the butter will ultimately depend on the storage conditions (temperature being the main factor) and the seal of the can remaining intact. Protection from exposure to oxygen & extreme temperatures will make the butter last for a very long time. Oh, and there are no artificial colors or preservatives. Ballantyne butter is a product of New Zealand.

Bega Cheddar Cheese
Bega Cheese
Bega has been making cheese since 1899 and has found a way to put great tasting cheddar cheese in a can. This product has a natural cream color with medium cheddar flavor and a pleasing texture. The cheese is easy to cut, grate or slice. It’s great melted on a burger, on hashbrowns or just straight out of the can. There is no expiration date on the cans, only the date of production. These cans are guaranteed for 730 days, but if stored properly, will last much longer. This cheese is also hormone free. There are no artificial colors or flavors.
Win a FREE 1-Year Subscription to Backwoods Home Magazine, TONIGHT January 20, 2012

January/February 2012 Issue
Announcing: Have you wanted to add Backwoods Home Magazine (BHM) to your Red Shed of Self-Reliance Tools? Have you read one of the great educational articles available in their publication? Well, now is your chance to win a FREE 1-year subscription to the PRINT edition of BHM!
BHM has partnered with Red Shed Media Group and the Self-Reliance Expo to air their internet radio show on the Preparedness Radio Network. BHM Radio will air every other Friday at 8 PM Central Standard Time. The BHM Radio show strengthens the magazine’s commitment providing others with practical ideas for self-reliant living.
Tune-in to BHM Radio tonight (Click Here to go to BHM Radio) at 8 PM CST. Here is tonight’s show description:
Tonight 1/20/2012, on BHM Radio , the official Backwoods Home Magazine radio show, your hosts Colorado Ron and Bubba Davinci will be introducing themselves and discussing what the future brings for both BHM Radio and Self Reliance Exposed.
Tonight we have two guests who are long time writers for BHM, Jackie Clay, who specializes in homesteading, and Massad Ayoob, a guns and weaponary specialist.
Follow these steps for your chance to win a FREE 1-year subscription. (In order to win, you MUST create a Username with Blogtalkradio) Follow these instructions to create your username with Blogtalkradio:
- Click the Show Link to go to Blogtalkradio, or CLICK HERE.
- In the upper right corner of the screen click CREATE MY TALK SHOW

- Select Choice #1 & Enter a Username, your Email, and a password. Confirm your password before moving on.

- Deselect “Email me occasional updates” if desired.

- To finish registering, click the link “Click here”

- You will then need to check your email for a confirmation link.

- Once you have your confirmation, simply follow the link to the LIVE radio show and join the chat!
Colorado Ron & Scott will ask a question about Backwoods Home Magazine during the show. The first listener who is logged in to chat NOT AS A GUEST but with a registered screen and who answers the question correctly in the chatroom will win the 1-year subscription to Backwoods Home Magazine! If that happens to be you, Ron & Scott will need to follow up with you to claim your prize.
Be sure to Like Us on Facebook!:
Enjoy the show & Good luck!
Shelf Reliance Consultants @ Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo, Feb. 10-11, 2012

Texas Shelf Reliance®
For those of you out there who enjoy the free samples given out at Costco, Farmer’s Markets, or In-Home Presentations, you’re in for a treat at the upcoming Self-Reliance Expo just outside of Mesquite, Texas in three weeks. A team of select Independent Consultants from Shelf-Reliance® & Thrive™ Foods will be there, coordinated by John & Diane Runnells. The Runnells are based out of North Richland Hills, Texas and are excited to share their experience and knowledge of their products.
Shelf Reliance® Consultants will include (click on any one of the links to visit their independent sites):
- John & Diane Runnells, serving North Richland Hills, Texas area
- Vicki & Emmett Koen, serving the Canton, Texas area
- Krystal Windham, also serving the Canton, Texas area
- Carrie & Michale Folsom, serving the Forney, Texas area
John & company will have fresh samples available as well as a display of their practical shelving options for storing & rotating home food storage cans. They look forward to answering your questions & arranging free consultations for individuals as well as families. Having tasted tons samples of the Thrive™ Foods, I can vouch for their quality and goodness!
Please be sure to visit their websites where there are many valuable tools available to guide your food storage. Some of the free online tools available through Shelf Reliance® include:
- Their online store of course!
- Food Calculator- calculate your family’s food storage needs
- Shelf Reliance® University- learn about food storage & becoming better prepared
- Recipes- get tastefully creative with your food storage!
- How to host a Food Storage Party in your Home
- The Thrive™ Q- develop your own personalized food storage solutions
- & Many more…
We look forward to seeing you all in Dallas! Please visit www.SelfRelianceExpo.com for details. To order discounted tickets, please visit the Self Reliance Expo Fanpage on Facebook & be sure to Like it.
-David SafeWater
Tech for the homestead…or maybe not?

photo credit: SiGNa Chemistry
Well, many of us are into our technology as well as our basic self-reliance skills…and we know that CES is still going on right now in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s happening at the Las Vegas Convention Center/The Venetian through Friday, January 13. With so many exciting consumer gadgets, and James Bond-like contraptions, there is a lot of buzz about nifty products Inspector Gadget would be proud to own!
Here’s one of the craziest things I’ve read in the last 24 hours via SFGate:
[SiGNa Chemistry] is ready to sell [the PowerTrekk™ Fuel Cell Charger] that can put the juice back in your cell phone, iPod or GPS device just by adding a little water.
And if there’s no water available, it works with urine.
That’s right, they are promoting their product’s pee-power-production-for-phones! Now, I am not terribly anxious to unzip to recharge, but the idea is pretty cool…if you get stuck in the boonies and are able-to-get-cell-coverage-to-make-an-emergency-call-but-need-to-charge-your-phone-first. Seriously, this product sounds like more of a novelty item for several reasons:
- The retail price point is too high (for my taste) for a product that is more of a convenience gadget than a necessity. I’d rather put $200 toward splitting a cow, or getting a new Sun Oven™ , or tons of Sport Berkey® bottles, or toward a Humless Power System!
- If I find myself stranded in the wilderness outside of cell range, one of the last priorities I have is to power my electronic gadget…water, food, & shelter are first on my list…and this device will tax the precious blue-gold you are trying to conserve…or at least its golden by-product.
- Again, how inconvenienced must I be in order to spend $12 for the chance to charge my phone 6 times ($2 per phone charge)? Perhaps this is best suited for business people who rely on their cell phones while traveling internationally…

...like this guy
I like the ingenuity & commitment it takes to produce a product such as this cell charger, but we’ll see how many REIers use this on the homestead.
Can you think of a creative/funny scenario where you would want to use this product? If so, write us an email and we’ll post the funniest/most creative response we get! Send responses to david[at]thomesteadbasics[dot]com.
Win A Country Living Grain Mill
Open to the public! Here is your chance to win a Country Living Grain Mill!
Only at the Self Reliance Expo
April 8-9, 2011
National Western Complex
Denver CO
View a demo below:
Colorado Aquaponics
Colorado Aquaponics is one of our newest exhibitors of our upcoming Self Reliance Expo. They offered us a tour of their facility. Here is a brief video showing their setup. Check them out! I am seriously close to pulling the trigger on setting up my own aquaponics setup.
School of Natural Healing
Below is a great presentation given by David Christopher at the Self Reliance Expo. David’s father is the one who started The School of Natural Healing. He offers some great advice about how to heal yourself naturally where there is no medicine.
Self Reliance Expo-Kids Are FREE!
On a previous post, I stated I would get back to everyone on this. Sorry for slow reply, but yes, Kids get in free!! This should help make this a great family oriented event. For those who didnt catch the previous announcement, the Self Reliance Expo will be held November 5-6 in SLC, UT.
Go HERE to get a free coupon for $2 off!
Self Reliance Expo-November 5-6,2010
Its Official! We are proud to announce the Self Reliance Expo! It will be held at the South Towne Expo facility on November 5-6.
Spread the word! This is going to be very exciting!
We are also proud to announce that we are the Official Sponsor Blog for this event! So any event news or updates will come from here!
Important subjects that will be covered at the event are:
* Gardening
* Canning
* Food Storage
* Solar Power
* Financial Planning
* CPR and First Aid Training
* Precious Metals Advisor
* Tractors and equipment
* Alternative Building Methods
* Homesteading Land For Sale
* Hydroponics/Aquaponics
* And MUCH MORE!!!
Dont forget to swing by and have a look at the “wall of knowledge” with hundreds of self reliance tips from experts in the field.
Go ahead and print out your Discount Coupon HERE!





The owner, Michael Launi, is a well known numismatist and is a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), Texas Numismatic Association (TNA), Oklahoma Numismatic Association (ONA) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).









