Prepping doesn't refer to any one specific act. Some buy and stockpile. Some elect to grow things. Creating a crop, whether for cash or use, builds pride in independence and skill. Even those with limited space can produce a worthwhile harvest. A loofah gourd, for example, is easily grown and harvested, even in a relatively small area. All of us are used to thinking of a loofah as a vanity … [Read more...]

Prepping is far more than a hobby to those that espouse it. It is a way of life, a commitment to a perceived inevitable future, in fact, and a lifestyle choice that has the earmarks of potentially overriding other legitimate life concerns and thereby becoming an obsession. There are ways to catch yourself and signs to watch for that can help you see if your prepping is in fact overreaching into … [Read more...]

There is a movement out there of people that are preparing for some pretty big emergencies. They might have been born that way or see how the world is going and have decided to prepare by being self reliant. One of the mistakes they are making is being quiet about it. Tell your neighbors to encourage them to be prepared as well, and perhaps instead of standing alone you will have partners. People … [Read more...]

It’s important to understand the distinct — but not always completely separate — concepts of a disaster vs. a survival situation vs a bug-out situation. Disasters are events either natural (earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) or man made that can be dangerous. A survival situation is life threatening and results when a disaster gets particularly hazardous. A bug-out situation is one in which … [Read more...]

In an effort to save money there are some foods that you should not be throwing away. Stale chips and pretzels can go in the over to crisp them back up. Parmesan cheese can be kept in the freezer and will never get molding again. Blocks of cheese are covered in mold during the cheese making process and they cut it off and sell it to the consumer. You can cut the mold off your cheese too. Canned … [Read more...]

You can help to reduce the emotional impact of disasters in your children by allowing them to take an active role in preparing for them, including by helping to prepare their own bug out bag. When preparing a bug out bag for a kid, comfort items will be of higher importance, and the bag should ideally be discreet in its appearance. Kids of all ages should bring laminated emergency contact cards, … [Read more...]

The ancient art of fermentation refers to the practice of submerging food in brine so that the lactobacillus found in all fruits and vegetables can transform sugar into alcohol while killing off the bacteria that would otherwise cause spoilage. Since much of your immune system’s crucial work takes place in your digestive tract, eating fermented foods has a lot of benefits because of the boost of … [Read more...]

Even in the wildwild, without a watch, you can still estimate the time with reasonable accuracy, by gauging your position vis-a-vis the sun. For example, create a clock by extending your arm to place your index finger below the sun. Each finger should equal roughly a quarter hour, while each hand width represents an hour. If that seems complicated a simple awareness that the sun rises in the East … [Read more...]

Mushrooms are very nutritious and reputedly excellent brain food. That said, they can be a bit pricey at the grocery store. Wildcrafting, though an excellent mushroom gathering option, is fraught with peril for the less than thoroughly skilled and apt to be a time-consuming and labor-intensive occupation besides. Therefore, the other wise choice is to grow your own. Should you elect to go the … [Read more...]

In the event of a city-wide collapse, having an off the grid property already in place to evacuate to could prove life-saving. Besides being a place to hopefully live safely off the land, it can also be a rally point designated ahead of time for members of your clan to converge upon. Even if circumstances force you to move on, it can be a safe way station on your journey forward. As far as … [Read more...]