Zip ties are awesome, in so many ways. They can secure so many things very securely, and they’re totally adjustable to whatever you need. Not to mention with one easy tug, they’ll get as tight as you need them to be, and literally cannot be loosened. So zip ties are an excellent survival item as … Read more
When SHTF, drug stores will probably be one of the first places to be raided. In natural disasters, they often are. OTC drugs become scarce, and there’s a few essentials that you’d be very wise to hoard now, both for your own use and possibly bartering. OTC drugs are usually pretty light and don’t take … Read more
If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, then you’ve no doubt heard about the recent widespread outbreak of the Zika virus. New outlets all over the US are talking about it, but few seem to have any real information. So what is Zika? What are the signs and symptoms? What are your risks? … Read more
What in heaven’s name is going on to this world? Tsunamis, war, drought, earthquakes, a super volcano under Yellowstone, radiation from Fukushima…it’s starting to sound a lot like the frightening prophesies contained in the book of Revelation. But it doesn’t take a prophet to look at the current state of the world and know something … Read more
Since most of us have at least a modest stash of canned foods for an emergency, it’s really great to know a few different ways they can be used for survival. Metal is very valuable for makeshift tools, and tin cans provide a cheap, relatively easy-to-manipulate supply, not to mention probably a pretty steady one … Read more
It is always a good idea to assemble your own seed vault, as opposed to buying one ready-made. There are several good reasons for this, mostly having to do with the fact that you decide what goes into the seed vault. You can choose the best foods for your needs, your climate, your capacity for … Read more
Every time you get a prescription from your doctor, your medication comes in a new medicine bottle. While it might be tempting to throw those bottles away or recycle them when they’re empty, you might want to think again. Medicine bottles have a lot of interesting uses that can help you survive a disaster situation. … Read more
Bugging out doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are definitely some items you’ll want to invest more money in, like backpacks or tents, or maybe weapons or hunting tools, but there are many items at the dollar store that are not only great to have in a bug-out bag, they’re dirt-cheap … Read more
Do you ever watch action-adventure movies and wonder how people get caught out in deserts and other high-exposure situations without getting sunburned? Of course, in those movies, the exposure isn’t real and the actors are all on sound stages or covered in sunscreen. Scenes like these do make you think, though, about what you’ll do … Read more
Water can be a tricky thing for survivalists. In an emergency or disaster situation, you’re going to need clean, potable water, but you likely won’t be able to carry enough with you or store enough in your home to last more than a few days. As a result, preppers and survivalists are always looking for … Read more
We know we can’t rely on gasoline forever, especially after SHTF. While it is certainly prudent to store whatever gasoline you can for vehicles and generators, it will only last for so long. As grids fail and the infrastructure for large-scale industrial oil drilling is no longer in place, or even if you simply want … Read more
Experts on survival and prepping often focus on the physical things that people need to do to be ready for a disaster. They’ll teach you about stockpiling food, learning survival skills, and filling your bugout bag with all the right gear. What they won’t tell you is how to prepare psychologically for a disaster. Doing … Read more
It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to think about one of the more disturbing threats to a hearty survival stash: less-prepared people. Not everyone has a armored doomsday bunker to stash their food and supplies, so here are a few simple tricks for hiding the things that will be highly sought after-and potentially … Read more
Water is the single most important aspect of survival. You can survive up to three weeks without food, but only three days without water. When it comes to preparedness, planning for a method of water storage as well as water purification should be your first step. Most people think of food and energy right away, … Read more
When disaster hits, disease and infection can often quickly become the primary cause of death. Having food, water, and shelter are crucial-but there are medical considerations as well. Like them or not, antibiotics can be the difference between life and death. This infographic, based on an article from Urban Survival Site contains 10 antibiotics you … Read more
A lot of our modern survival wisdom for SHTF these days actually comes from people who are or have been homeless. The men and women who brave life on the streets or along the highways of America have gained some valuable knowledge for modern survival. We won’t all have 20 acres of private wilderness to … Read more
In the alternative media and among many internet circles, the subject of martial law has been a hot topic for the last few years. And with an upcoming election and the culture wars more heated than ever, it’s important not to get jaded. Remember the boy who cried wolf? No one believed him when the wolf came around, … Read more
It can be overwhelming to pick among the many options for first aid kits and medical stockpiles, especially if you’d prefer natural, holistic remedies over synthetic, pharmaceutical drugs. Here are a few natural products with a multitude of first-aid options that are ideal to add to your first aid stash. Activated Charcoal Every natural medicine … Read more
Every year, on average, one million Americans are victims of violent home invasions. Self-defense starts at home. What can you do to increase your chances of survival? Get a Dog It doesn’t have to be a Pitbull to increase your safety, and a large dog has its drawbacks in some situations. For one, if you … Read more
Bears are common throughout North America, and when camping, hiking, or bugging out, it’s very important to familiarize yourself with basic bear safety tips. Know the difference There are two types of bears in North America: black bears and grizzly, or brown bears. Black bears are obviously often darker, but they also have taller ears, … Read more
Some forms of technology will never be fully obsolete. These three primitive cooking methods are still great options for low-tech cooking. But what distinguishes these three methods of cooking is they can be done out in the wild, using nothing more than sticks, leaves, rocks and fire. Pit cooking Traditional in Hawaii and elsewhere in … Read more
Coffee filters have a multitude of uses for survival and around the house. Here is a list of ten for specifically survival situations. Coffee filters are cheap, easy to find and transport, and, as you’ll see below, an excellent all-purpose survival item. Rags: a very simple use for coffee filters is as rags to clean up … Read more
It can be overwhelming trying to memorize the name and appearance of the dozens of edible plants that can be found in North America. Here’s a short list of a few that you probably already know of that are incredibly common Blackberries What else needs to be said? Almost everyone knows what a blackberry is … Read more
Pemmican is a dehydrated survival superfood that is nutritionally complete and incredibly long-lasting. It is made with nothing else but lean meat, tallow, and berries. It was invented by the North American Plains Indians, as a way to store the meat through the winter. It quickly caught on with early Frontiersmen and even British explorers … Read more
If you’re preparing to survive in an emergency or disaster situation, you’re likely starting to think about what kinds of foods you should be stockpiling. After all, you need foods that will: • Fit in your pantry. • Not go bad after a few weeks or months. • Give you the nutrients you need to … Read more
Dehydrators are very common among survivalists, and for good reason: you can use them to make your own dehydrated food at a fraction of the cost of regular dehydrated food. But it can be a bit intimidating getting started and choosing which foods to dehydrate and how to use it in the most cost-effective way possible. … Read more
Prepping with children, especially small children, can be very intimidating. It’s hard enough getting them to clean their room or eat their vegetables, how can we expect them to respond in a life-threatening situation? Well, here are a few simple tips for prepping your kids to make it easier-and more fun-for both of you. 1. … Read more
As you start stockpiling food and gear for a survival situation, just looking at a lot of the items that you might need can be a pain in your wallet. Fortunately, though, not everything has to be specialized or expensive. In fact, you might be surprised at just how many incredibly useful and cheap survival … Read more
Heat exhaustion is more than just fatigue. It’s a serious condition that could very easily lead to heat stroke. Fortunately, if you know what to look for, you can identify heat exhaustion before it becomes a heat stroke. If you know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, you will likely be able to take … Read more
We all know to keep items like knives, radios, flash lights, first aid kits, emergency blankets etc. in our bug-out bag. But for the frugal prepper, there are number of simple household items that have great survival applications. Odds are you have them sitting around your house already. Check them out: Baking soda: Baking soda is … Read more
When it comes to preparing for a disaster, a lot of people forget about man’s best friend. They focus so much on what they’ll do for themselves and their family in the case of a survival situation that they forget to make any preparations for their pets. Fortunately, it really doesn’t take much to prepare … Read more
From the zombie apocalypse to a simple backpacking trip, fitness can make or break your survival experience. Literally, in some cases. Your body is your most important survival tool, and training for strength and endurance might possibly be the most sensible way to prep for any survival situation. Here are some recommendations for the best kinds … Read more
Dutch ovens are a great addition to any survival pantry. Quite possibly the only cooking utensil you will need for SHTF, it is also fantastic for day-to-day use, from gourmet cooking to a simple camp food. Here are four great reasons to invest in one right away: Versatility: You can use a Dutch oven on … Read more
In our fast-paced technologically-centered modern world, many adults have never learned some of the basic skills need for self-sufficiency or survival. We’ve complied a list of some of the crucial skills everyone should know, for day-to-day life, homesteading, or SHTF. How to change a tire: seems basic, but many people, especially women, don’t know how to do this. … Read more
Good situational awareness can save your life in a number of ways. It could mean being aware of where you place your feet as you walk through the woods, avoiding stepping on or near a venomous snake. It could also mean recognizing the signs that someone intends to do you harm and reacting before they … Read more
I really liked this top 10 list I came across about the top survival considerations. It is a concise list that focuses on the key elements of being prepared… A mantra in the prepping community on survival is the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water, and three … Read more
Growing your own garden is a key part of making your home more self-sustaining. One of the biggest mistakes that first-time gardeners make is not labeling their plants with garden markers. While some plants are easy to identify, others, especially herbs, or plants that grow underground, can be slightly difficult to identify right away. If … Read more
Stockpiling an emergency pantry is a process that many homesteaders and self-reliant homeowners consider an essential part of providing for their families. There are many reasons why an emergency pantry might be necessary, even beyond being prepared for worst-case scenarios. But one of the downfalls of having a stock of emergency staples is that the … Read more
I wanted to highlight these bug out bag packing techniques from gray wolf survival. They do a good job of coving things that would otherwise be looked over. Let us know what you think in the comments below. 1 Don’t pack more than what you’ll need. When you’ve made your list of what you need, … Read more
Survival gardening is the process of creating a garden that could if it needed to, become your main source of food. In some cases, homesteaders have created gardens that could be their only source of food for at least a season, if not longer. This kind of self-sufficient gardening takes a lot of careful planning … Read more