Blountstown Pioneer Settlement plans Survival Expo to build self-reliance

BLOUNTSTOWN - The back-to-back challenges faced by Florida Panhandle residents from Hurricane Michael and the COVID-19 pandemic gave us all a stark reminder that there are times we need to solve our problems ourselves.

When the power’s out and phone signals fade, you can’t Google “how to repair a generator.” Limited deliveries coupled with panic buying may leave grocery store shelves empty.  A crowded emergency room means your sick child may have a long wait.

The folks at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement are putting together a one-day “Keeper of the Old Ways" Survival Expo to help families deal with the challenges we face when hurricanes knock us off the grid and pandemics isolate us from our friends and families.

The program will be held on Saturday, July 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT on the grounds of the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement, at 17869 NW Pioneer Settlement Road, Sam Atkins Park in  Blountstown.

There is an $8 admission fee at the gate. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free.  You can save a couple of dollars by getting your tickets early and register for classes on EventBright.com. There will be additional charges with some of the classes for materials used that day. 

Expo will teach 'pioneer skills'

“The goal is to teach people how to live a more self-sustainable life through classes and demonstrations,” said Jessica Bracewell, who is a member of the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement Board of Directors. “This expo will teach old pioneer skills like prepping, preserving and raising your own food.”

She said they have people from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia coming to teach.  “This event is kind of like Willard’s (Settlement founder Willard Smith) dream in the making of trying to teach the younger generation the pioneer skills before it’s too late,” she said. 

Classes will also be held on how to keep your property safe during troubled times, with programs on Homestead Security and Off-Grid Security scheduled.

Through the years the Settlement has offered numerous classes on blacksmithing, quilting and cooking in an effort to keep those traditions alive. After what the Panhandle has been through the past two-and-a-half years, Bracewell said the board realized “we need to step up our game.”

As important as it is to preserve our past traditions, it’s critical today that families can take care of themselves as well — particularly in Florida, where an active hurricane season creates a lot of uncertainty.

Communicating off the grid

The initial response from presenters as well as vendors has been encouraging, Bracewell said. They are especially pleased that Lehman’s — an Ohio-based business patterned after an old-fashioned mercantile with housewares, emergency supplies as well as farm and garden tools —  is sending a representative to teach a “No Power, No Problem” class.  

Local ham radio enthusiast Junior Lolley of Bristol will share his knowledge of communicating off the grid with students who would like to know how to get a message out when their phone service is down. A Wewa beekeeper, a Marianna herbalist and soap maker from Monticello will also be sharing their unique skills.

Many classes will be offered in the settlement buildings while a few classes will be held via Zoom in the settlement’s office, located in a trailer at the front gate. “We keep adding to the class list each day,” Bracewell said, hinting that they may even have a celebrity or two from the “prepper” world.

Beekeeping and solar cookers 

As of July 18, in-person classes will be held on the following topics:

• Survival Skills
• Using wood gas - the other solar energy
• How to butcher a chicken
• A Cheese Making class will be given by the Liberty County Extension Office.  ($20 fee)  
• Dori Ruiz of Marianna will teach Herbs 101 and Introduction to Homeschooling
• Jolynn Helton of Blountstown will show how to use natural medicines with essential oils and explain the dangers of secret toxins in your commercial cleaning products. The class will be offered in the morning and afternoon. ($5 fee)
• Juanita Benedict of Monticello will hold a soap making class.  ($10 fee)
• Ham radio instruction with Junior Lolley of Bristol
• Mark Strickland will teach you how to protect your property in a class on homestead security and off-grid security 
• Local YouTuber Gail Mount of Chipley ( Pemberley Farms Homestead) will teach campfire cooking ( $20 fee for the breakfast and $20 for the lunch class) 
• Learn all about beekeeping with James Risch of Wewa
• Foraging for wild edibles
• Candle making 
• Lehman’s “No Power, No Problem” class
• David Baker of Fountain will be demonstrating horse and mule plowing.

These free Zoom classes are scheduled and others may be added:

• Rick Austin of Garden 4 Life will be teaching “Growing a Self-Sustainable Food Forest”  Rick has been featured on National Geographic Channel’s Doomsday Preppers, the film Beyond Off-Grid, in American Survival Guide and in the Mother Earth News magazine.
• Solar Cookers International out of California will be teaching sun oven cooking
• The Seed Savers Exchange will be teaching about seed saving and heirloom seeds.
• Self-Sustainable Food Forest 
• There will be entertainment by North Florida Wild West Shows out of Fountain. 

Survivalist Chris Weatherman visiting

Also on hand will be Chris Weatherman, also known as Angery (yes, that’s how he spells it) American, (angeryamerican.tv) who is the author of a survivalist series of books including “Going Home.” He also appeared in season one of History Channel’s “Alone” series.

Chris has been involved in prepping since the '90s and practices primitive skills as well as modern survival that focuses on being prepared with the proper equipment.

He travels the country appearing at expos and prepper focused events to meet with readers, sign books and occasionally speak. In addition to these events his travels also allow him to meet and train with people all over the country.

This event is being sponsored by McMurray Hatchery, Lodge Cast Iron, Sunflair Solar Ovens and Blountstown Drugs.  

For more information about the Expo, or if you would like to register as a vendor or present a program, contact Jessica at 850-674-2777 or jbracewell83@gmail.com.

If you go

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