It’s always a good idea to carry some cash on you, and failing to do so can cause some headaches. Don’t count on in-store ATMs, which may be short on cash or out of order. Even people who use debit and credit cards should keep cash on hand for when registers can’t process card transactions, or for urgent usages like late-night gas runs. Keeping some cash on when isn’t just a luxury for preppers, … [Read more...]

Gathering wild plants, or wildcrafting, is a skill that not everyone has the opportunity to implement in their daily life. However, if you are fortunate enough to live next to a forested region with lots of greenery, it would behoove you to learn some of the skills required to wildcraft. After all, many plants are useful for humans, adding elements of health and nutrition to their diet. But, not … [Read more...]

A basic tenet of prepping is conserving food, which includes high pressure canning of food stuffs. Done carefully, the result should be edible food for a long period of time. But, even with care it is possible to have a can not take well to the process. It's important to examine your cans, because if bacteria has entered it can prove deadly. Botulism, in particular kills those that ingest it. … [Read more...]

Storage is always an issue in apartments, and that goes double for emergency supplies. Making the most of your storage space often means thinking vertically or finding storage containers that can double as tables, ottomans, or other furniture. Making the most of the spaces under furniture, using luggage and your freezer, and keeping emergency supplies in your car can all be useful as well. There … [Read more...]

Mold can potentially be very dangerous, producing potent mycotoxins and often digging tendrils deep down well past what is visible on the surface. Soft or moist foods that have any visible mold should be considered completely unsafe, as invisible roots can sink deep into them even if none are visible. However, some hard, dry foods can be salvaged if you cut off the moldy part, leaving a margin of … [Read more...]

Less than five years ago, Allstate discovered that over 90% of American citizens had survived some form of natural disaster. Nonetheless, most of those same people have not gone the extra step of getting prepared for the next possible emergency event in their lives. Home fires are a preeminent possibility in this country. Yet less than 50% of polled home-owners own a fire extinguisher. This gets … [Read more...]

Many of the “weeds” that grow in untreated fields are actually useful plants that society has forgotten about in the quest for picture perfect lawns. Mullein, for example, is a powerful expectorant and bronchodilator that can be invaluable for respiratory problems. Lamb’s Ear and Yarrow can both be useful first aid tools for controlling bleeding and infection of minor injuries. Elderflower is … [Read more...]

Providing a security system for a home-away-from-home that isn’t reliant on the power grid can pose its own challenges. A home that includes its own power infrastructure based on wind, solar or other forms of power may be able to spare enough extra energy for a security system. However, whether or not to pay a mainstream security company to protect your place is another question altogether, as it … [Read more...]

Companion planting isn't an exact science, more of a gardening art, but when it works it proves the old adage "stronger together" can refer to gardening team-mates and not just human ones. The concept is simple, different types of plants have different capabilities, besides that of producing yummy vegetables, or beautiful blossoms. Some plants are naturally capable of deterring various pests, or … [Read more...]