ORANGE, Texas — Preparations and survival training were the focus of the 13th Annual Crisis Preparedness Expo in Orange on Friday.
Preppers got the chance to talk about sustainable living, through foraging, pressure canning food and more.
Finding food, water and shelter were some of the key takeaways preppers learned at the expo.
"We don't know how to garden, we don't know how to feed ourselves if we were in a crisis situation could we grow anything? Where would we get our water?," said Little Cypress Baptist Church Pastor David Turner.
Turner and his congregation asked themselves these questions years ago and created the crisis expo as a result.
Orange native Jobie Hill went to the expo for the 2nd year to take the pressure canning class again. This year she also learned how to process fresh meat.
"I think it's a great way to be self sufficient, even in a time where, things are uncertain. And the area that we live in the nation with weather and hurricanes. It's nice to know that you can do it yourself," Hill said.
"Well the good thing about it is, it doesn't have to be refrigerated. It's good for a year. So it's shelf stable and it's ready to go. So you can eat it straight out of the jar. So that's a great possibility of it when you're in a crisis," said Instructor Fallon White.
Participants in the hands on soap making class learned the health benefits of making your own batch of soap.
"Just like when you grow your own food, you know exactly what goes into your food, same thing as what goes onto your body," said Instructor and Owner of Chosen Weeds Farm Stephanie Harren.
Vendors ranged from knife sharpening, edible plants, fire starter kits and edible plants.
"This burns at 560 degrees. You light it with a spark. After you make shavings. This is the fero rod, it creates the spark," said Owner of Purefire Tactical Fire Starters Bobby Lynn.
A famous Texas forager, Merriwether will teach an apocalypse landscaping for food class.
"Our thing is not to try to make people uncomfortable. it's to try to give people skill and wisdom and understanding," Turner said.
Classes will continue Saturday at 8 a.m. There will be classes on growing your own food and medicine.