If you’re too young to remember the war in Bosnia, you should definitely learn more. Although it is a very depressing piece of modern history, it is also full of very important lessons on survival and enduring great hardship. This real life account of life during the brutal war in Bosnia stands as a very … Read more
When you are fighting for your survival, water is your number one priority. You may have heard the “rule of threes” of survival: you can only go three hours without shelter, three weeks without food, and three days without water. Water is essential for survival, but unfortunately, finding water can pose a big challenge in … Read more
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, you can benefit from the wisdom of companion planting. It is a common concept in organic gardening that involves planting certain herbs or vegetables with others, their “companions”, because they’ve been known to help each other out as they grow. What makes plants good companions is based on … Read more
Fitness for survival is an incredibly important topic. We’ve spoken about it quite a bit on this blog, because we believe that the single most important tool you have for survival is your body, and you need to maintain and prepare your body if you want to survive. Literally any scenario in which you will … Read more
Zip ties are a frightening way to be restrained. Not only are they a common choice of restraint for police officers these days, but also, unfortunately, criminals. They are notoriously impossible to loosen, and a person can exhaust a lot of energy and cause themselves great psychological distress if they even try. While it’s not … Read more
If you are ever stranded in the wilderness, or deliberately trying to survive on whatever you can forage, hunt, or catch, then you’ll have to know a few basics about catching wild animals. While there are many methods for hunting that span back to the beginning of known time, your options might be pretty limited, … Read more
I was thrilled to recently discover that the operators of one of my favorite survival YouTube channels, Full Spectrum Survival, also have a separate off-grid/homesteading channel called Off Grid With Brad and Kelly. A few days ago, they shared this great video on preparing for off-grid weekends. I think this is a really fantastic idea, and … Read more
If you are interested in survivalism and prepping, you’ve probably considered growing your own survival garden. This is a very prudent idea, and spring is a perfect time! If this is your first time gardening, you might feel confused and lost, or, possibly even worse, over-confident! Gardening is an inexact science, and there’s a lot … Read more
It’s like 2014 all over again. The World Health Organization declared an ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend, shortly before confirming two more suspected cases in the region. There are reportedly 11 cases, out of 19 suspected cases, and 3 deaths, in Congo’s northern Bas-Uele Province. The WHO confirmed that a … Read more
Yellowed leaves can be a distressing garden issue, especially if you don’t know how to identify and remedy the cause. I used to think yellowed leaves were simply caused by malnutrition, but it turns out there are a few different possibilities for what could be behind this problem. This beautifully illustrated infographic is more than … Read more
Over the last few weeks, I’ve shared several articles on the details of a number of different likely bioterrorism agents. Today, I will finally begin to address how to protect yourself against bioterrorism, as well as any pandemic or widespread chemical threat, by securing your home. This will be a series as well, and to start … Read more
If you’ve never heard of edible ferns, you should definitely educate yourself. Ferns are a great source of nutrients in the while, and it’s not hard to learn how to identify and eat them. This is a great intro video into finding and eating fiddlehead ferns, and is a must for any survivalist! Enjoy: Survival … Read more
As a survivalist and a prepper, you need to know how to use different types of tools and weapons if you want to survive. You never want to be just “okay” using different tools. You want to be as good as you possibly can be, as this will help to increase your chance of survival. … Read more
The worlds of survival, preparedness, self-reliance, and homesteading often overlap. There’s a big movement in our country right now of people who realize the precariousness of our global grid systems, and yearn to be free from the dependence on, and shackle to, modern life. Of course, these interests do not always collide. There are some … Read more
There’s been a lot of flooding in the US recently, so I thought it might be important to think about some flood preparedness. Floods are serious business. A lot of people ignore evacuation warnings and get trapped in their homes when heavy flooding hits, which was one of the biggest causes of death and the … Read more
In a press conference following a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Tuesday, Lavrov maintained that there is no evidence to indicate there was any interference on the part of the Russian government in to the 2016 election. Appearing irritated at the constant stream of questions regarding the allegations, he … Read more
One of the most commonly recommended survival items is a great fire starter. And fortunately, you have plenty of options! There’s fire starters you can salvage or save easily, some you can make yourself, some that are available cheaply at big box or dollar stores. The sky’s the limit! Here is a great and very … Read more
Earthquakes are a terrifying reality of life on earth. They can cause so much destruction and devastation, in such a short period of time. In a way, there’s no way to truly prepare for the threat they pose, as they come out of nowhere and a high enough magnitude will thwart almost any protective measures. … Read more
This is a video with a very important message. These days, if you’re at all interested in shooting or regularly visiting gun shops and shooting ranges, you’re probably being enticed by all the products available on the market that claim to help you shoot better. However, Reid Henrichs explains that you don’t need to spend … Read more
If you’ve spent any amount of time on YouTube lately, you’re probably aware of how many riotous conflicts there have been of late that ultimately end in brawls and tear gas. A group known as Antifa has been showing up at conservative rallies and events, deliberately causing chaos and conflict. These brawls in the streets are far … Read more
While most of the known outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers, such as Ebola and Hantavirus, have seemingly happened organically, they could be incredibly dangerous if weaponized. Typically communicated zoonotically, or from humans to animals, viral hemorrhagic fevers have high mortality rates and are highly contagious. One of the factors that is worrisome about viral hemorrhagic … Read more
Ah, duct tape, the tape of seemingly infinite uses. Duct tape has so many uses around a house or shop, you probably make sure to always keep a roll on hand. I don’t know about you, but in my house, when we run out of duct tape, it’s considered a dire emergency. We always know … Read more
Net making is one of the most ancient artisan skills, and it’s still highly relevant today. Net fishing is an important skill to know and could be highly useful in a great number of survival scenarios. This video shows a very simple and reliable method for making fishing nets. It’s definitely something you should try … Read more
If you have a family, especially if you have small children, you probably want to be prepared for their sake. It is a parent’s instinct to make sure they are always clothed, fed, and housed, and that will become even more pertinent when disaster strikes. There is so much more to survival than simply stocking … Read more
All the food, medical supplies, and ammo stocked up in your home will do nothing for you if you’re not prepared for what to do when a disaster strikes. There are many scenarios you should be preparing for with your family, so I’ll try to cover the most important ones in the coming weeks. To start, let’s … Read more
Coconuts are an incredibly vital source of nutrients and calories, but they can be a huge pain to crack open. Most people use machetes or even specially made presses to open them, since their thick husks are so stubborn. In this video, a woman opens a coconut with no tools at all, and virtually with … Read more
I like to post infographics from time to time on this site, especially when I find a really good and useful one. This might be one of the coolest and most useful infographics I’ve come across yet, however. What is the one thing that most modern humans will have on their person when stranded in … Read more
In their first conversation since the recent airstrikes in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed a possible cease-fire agreement in the war-torn country of Syria. President Trump rocked the international community three weeks ago by authorizing a surprise airstrike on an airfield in Syria, after a horrific chemical attack took … Read more
We are continuing on with our series on bioterrorism today, discussing the threat of smallpox. It has long been suspected that smallpox, a mostly eradicated disease in the West, could be used by terrorists. Of all the biological agents that could be used as weapons, it is considered that anthrax and smallpox would be the most … Read more
In self-defense, a bigger weapon is of no use to you unless you can use it smartly. In this video, a would-be robber with a handgun tries to hold up a liquor store, manned by a woman who seemed barely phased by his attempt. She smartly utilizes her own defense and thwarts his attempt before … Read more
Many people who consider themselves preppers and survivors know what to do in many emergency situations. They know how and when to bug out. They can start a fire, catch a rabbit, and make shelter even in harsh conditions. However, when they are in the comfort of a normal day, they often take their safety … Read more
While many preppers like to make sure they can create a stockpile of important OTC medications and antibiotics, having a knowledge of natural herbs and remedies is indispensable. Herbs are considerably cheaper than pharmaceutical medications, and can often alleviate a problem before you ever need to use the less natural option. Don’t get me wrong, … Read more
It is crucially important to take care of your feet, and your boots, when you are camping, hiking, backpacking, or in a survival situation. Any good soldier knows that taking care of your feet is a life-or-death situation. One of the important aspects of taking care of your feet is to tie your boots properly. … Read more
I recently posted a quick guide to understanding biohazard and chemical threats, and I wanted to dig a little deeper into bioterrorism agents. Wikipedia defines “bioterrorism” as follows: Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or … Read more
If you’re a committed survivalist, you’ve probably considered some ways you can prepare your family long-term, for self-sufficiency. Whether you’re preparing for a post-disaster scenario or simply trying to go off-grid, one great way to be more self-reliant is to raise livestock. One of the most common livestock animals is a cow. We are so … Read more
When you think of terrorism or war, you probably think of explosives, nuclear detonation, or conventional ground troops threatening your life and your home. But there is another very real aspect of terrorism and war: the threat of chemical and biohazard weapons or disasters. So what are these threats? Chemical Hazardous chemicals are a simple … Read more
If you are going to prep for any disaster, it should be weather related. This is the #1 most pertinent kind of survival prep, because it is the least predictable. The possibility of war may come and go, terrorist attacks are growing more likely every day but still aren’t widespread, martial law is practically just … Read more
You’ve probably run plenty of drills and scenarios in your mind. Financial collapse, natural disaster, civil unrest, or martial law set in–how can you keep your family safe? Hopefully, you have your plan-of-action and supplies ready, but do you know how you’ll maintain your situation in post-disaster chaos? Specifically, what do you do when folks … Read more
Ideally, you’ve already got your bug-out bag (BOB), your every day carry (EDC), and “I’m Not Coming Home” (INCH) gear all packed and squared away. Have overlooked another equally crucial survival kit? The blackout kit (BOK) has its own unique components and is indispensable in certain scenarios. Why do I need a blackout kit? Imagine … Read more
Getting news and information when disaster strikes is critical. Evacuation instructions, status updates, and emergency notifications will likely be shared on the air during a SHTF scenario, and without a non-electronic communication device, you’ll be left in the dark. Your cable or satellite TV will eventually go out, if they survived the disaster at all. … Read more