Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 4 - Can You Identify The Edibles?

We can do all the prepping we want, but even the best of the best with the biggest pocketbooks and stockpiles of foods will eventually run out unless there's an additional source of foods coming in. Gardening is a great way to make your food storage stretch, but knowing what edibles are growing in the wild around you is another important food source. I've gathered a few links to sites that will help you identify things you can find in your back yard, along a roadside, or in the wild. Please take a minute to look through them. Some of these links will have the same plants on them from the other links, but if you go through them all you'll be able to pluck the info for each individual one out and print the picture to put in your prepper notebook for future reference.


Wild Food Guide: How To Identify The Best Wild Edible Foods (by Outdoor Life Survival)


Surviving In The Wild: 19 Common Edible Plants (by The Art Of Manliness)


Foraging: 52 Wild Plants You Can Eat (by RealFarmacy)


Identifying Wild Mushrooms (by Jeannine Tidwell, on the Twin Eagles Wilderness School Site)
    
  -  This link shows 4 distinctive mushrooms, known as the Foolproof Four, that are edible. Some edible mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes, but these 4 are pretty self set in their appearance.


Discover Wild Edible Plants (Again by Jeannine Tidwell, on the Twin Eagles Wilderness School Site)

 - This link has a good list of edibles, you may want to look further into pictures for each one.


15 Edible Plants To Forage In Your Own Back Yard (by And Here We Are)


When SHTF, Know What Plants You Can Eat...and Shouldn't (by RECOIL)





(Please note that I do not take any responsibility for harm, incidents, or accidents that are caused from eating any plants or mushrooms in the wild. Make sure you are absolutely positive that you have correctly identified these plants/mushrooms before eating them, and make sure you have prepared them correctly. I also suggest taking a course on edible that can be found in the wild. This will give you a hands on experience which will leave less or no room for mistakes.)

Water Storage 101

I wrote a previous post about Water Filtration & Purification, but today I'm going to talk about water storage. I'm going to go through this in an easy to follow listing for each thing you should know about long-term water storage.


How Much Water To Store:

- A good rule to go by is that each person will need one gallon of drinking water per day.

- Pregnant women, children, the elderly, those who are ill, and people living in extreme climates (either really hot, or really cold) should plan for 2 gallons per day.

- This gallon of water per day is the amount needed for drinking only. Store an additional gallon of water per person, per day to cover water that will be needed for cooking and hygiene use.

- If you have pets, remember to put water back for them too. If you have a medium to large dog, 1 gallon of water should be stored for them per day. Smaller dogs and cats will need 1/2 a gallon per day.

- Pets that live in extreme climates, like people, will need that amount doubled.


Best Way To Store Water:

- Choose a place that has little or no light, and try to find a location that is not too cold.

- Choose jugs or containers that are BPA free.

- If buying gallons or containers of water from a store, choose ones labeled 'drinking water' and NOT 'distilled water.' Distilled water tends to absorb the taste of the container. Also, distilled water is nothing more than processed tap water that has been condensed back into liquid form. This process removes fluoride and electrolytes. Lack of fluoride could heighten chances of dental problems, and your body needs electrolytes, such as potassium, chloride, and sodium to stay hydrated. 


Shelf Life Of Store Bought Water:

- Store bought drinking water comes with an expiration date on it, usually a year or 2, but according to the FDA it has an indefinite shelf life. (see 4th paragraph under 'FAQ's about Bottled Water')



How To Prepare Your Own Water Containers For Storage:

- Be sure that each container has a tight fitting lid. That is very important.

- Clean the food grade BPA free plastic or glass container(s) by washing the inside, outside, and the lid(s) with hot soapy water.

- Sanitize the inside and outside of container(s) and lid(s) using a solution of 1 teaspoon non-scented household bleach per quart of water.

- Be sure and thoroughly rinse the container(s) and lid(s) with clean water.


How To Prepare (Non-Store Bought) Water For Storage:

Before I get into treating your tap water, I want to say that once you treated your water you should only consider it pure for 6 months. Since you shouldn't add more bleach to water that was previously treated with bleach, please just sanitize the containers and fill them with straight tap water before storing them.

Date the containers and keep them in a dark place in the coolest area of your home or wherever your storage is located. This water will be safe as is for up to 6 months without any further treatment as long as you filled them during a time that you didn't have a boil order or anything going on.

If you plan to store water in larger tanks for future drinking, be sure that you save smaller containers that are of quart, gallon, or 5 gallon sizes so you can treat smaller amounts of water at a time. I can't express how important it is to remember to store back bleach, droppers, and measuring spoons.

If your stored tap water has been sitting for over 6 months from the date you filled them, you'll need to treat the water before drinking it or using it for cooking. This water and bleach mixture will need to sit at least 30 minutes before drinking it to ensure that it has been properly purified. After sitting for the 30 minute period, there should be a slight chlorine scent to it.

- use 2 drops of bleach for 1 quart of clear water
- use 4 drops of bleach for 1 quart of water if it looks cloudy

- use 8 drops of bleach for 1 gallon of clear water
- use 16 drops of bleach for 1 gallon of water that looks cloudy

- use 1/2 teaspoon of bleach for 5 gallons of clear water
- use 1 teaspoon of bleach for 5 gallons of water that looks cloudy

After the water has been treated, be sure and date the container again. This water is only good for 6 months after the treatment date.


Alternative Boiling Water Treatment:

In the event that you have ran out of bleach to treat your water, or if you're allergic to bleach, you should use a boiling method to purify your water.

- Bring water to a rolling boil and let it stay at the rolling boil for a minimum of 1 minute.

- Let the water cool before drinking it or storing it.

- If you choose to store water once you have boiled it, remember to date it. It is only safe for 6 months after boiled. It should be boiled again if not used within the 6 month time period.


Alternative Iodine Tablet Purification:

- I'm not familiar with using iodine tablets. If you choose to stock these back and use them, you should follow the manufacturers instructions that come with them.

- Long-term safety after using iodine tablets isn't clear, so this should be an alternative for water that will be used as soon as the manufacturer's instructions state it is safe to use it. Water treated with this should not be set back in storage for any length of time.

- If you haven't used iodine tablets before and haven't been exposed to iodine in general, be cautious because some people are allergic to it.

Protection For Children, Especially Our Daughters, During Chaotic Times.

In this post I'm going to briefly talk about protecting your children in chaotic times, or even better, enabling them to protect themselves. Of course I would fight to the death trying to keep my children safe, and I'm sure you would too, but it's important that they also know ways to protect themselves. I hope it doesn't come down to it, but the possibility of being ran in on by unprepared, looting idiots who intend to do nothing more than hurt or kill whoever is in their way so they can take over whatever food or supplies they want is a very real possibility. Another sad truth that I daily pray my daughters and I will never have to face is the possibility of disgusting lunatics who will go around foraging for women and young females that they can rape simply for their own pleasure.

You need to prepare yourself and your children, especially your daughters, for circumstances like this. The first step would be to sit down and have a heart to heart discussion about these situations. These may be hard topics to talk about with your children because they're terrifying, but they're also going to be hard for their younger minds to fathom. I can't express the importance of these discussions though, these are very real possibilities that could one day turn into real life problems. I feel like the best physical preparation for all of this is through self defense classes, and depending on their age, shooting classes. I'm going to share some links below that will help you locate a great defense class and shooting courses near you. In the meantime, stock up on pepper spray, and look into getting a stun gun, or even a stun baton... don't forget to stock up on additional batteries.

R.A.D. Programs (Rape, Aggression, Defense System) - Locate a class near you!

radKIDS (Rape, Aggression, Defense System for children) - Locate a class near you!

NRA Training - Find a location near you that offers adult and youth firearm care and self defense courses.

What About Food Poisoning After SHTF?

Am I the only one who feels like a post disaster/SHTF situation may result in more cases of food poisoning? Unless you are running on solar energy or have some sort of generator set up, refrigeration probably isn't going to be something that you have access too. While there are make-shift fridges like the clay pot ones mentioned in a past post, they still won't work as well as the ones we have today. With foods being a precious necessity, I can only think that some people will have a hard time throwing things out if they think it's just starting to go bad, so maybe the foods that are a bit iffy will still be consumed with fingers crossed that no one gets sick. But what if you do? Food poisoning is nothing to play around with. I've asked a little over a handful of people what their take on this was, and even though I consider everyone that I asked to be better seasoned preppers than myself, they all said they hadn't even thought about it. I know that abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting aren't something we like to sit around and think about, but since those are the symptoms of food poisoning I think they're pretty important to at least bring to your attention once. So let me tell you my take on it, and then let me share some natural remedies that could just help you get through it, especially during a time when hospitals aren't accessible.

I've had food poisoning twice. I went to the hospital the first time, I thought I had caught some disease and was a goner. The hospital ran a small series of tests, then gave me an IV to make sure I didn't get anymore dehydrated than I already was when I arrived, kept me over night, and I was given antibiotics.  The second time I got food poisoning, some 4 years later, I didn't go anywhere. It hit me so fast and so hard that I couldn't drive myself to the hospital, my mind and vision both seemed too blurry to function enough to even remember where my cell phone was at, my body hurt so bad that it felt like it was shutting down, and every movement resulted in vomiting or 'other' toilet uses. I had somehow managed to pull a pillow and blanket onto the bathroom floor, and couldn't do anything but wait for the person I was living with to get off work... it seemed like he'd never make it home. I thought for sure I was living the last hours of my life right there on that bathroom floor, just inches from the toilet.

When he did make it home and found me in the bathroom, I remember mumbling to him that I knew I had food poisoning, but couldn't get up to even go to the car. After who knows how long, he returned and told me he called him Mom (in Mexico), and she told him what to give me. Without asking anything, I assumed she had told him of some magic cure and I gathered enough strength to sit up. I drank the first cup he handed me, which instantly resulted in the worst and longest session of vomiting that I went through since I had gotten sick that day. The vomiting eventually turned to a few dry heaves, then it stopped. My headache and dizziness seemed to immediately ease up and I was able to sit up against the bathtub. I still felt horrible though. He handed me a raw clove of garlic, told me to chew it just enough to make it small enough to swallow, and then swallow it with the liquid in the second cup. The thought alone made me think I would get sick, but I did as he said. I waited a second thinking for sure I'd throw up again, but I didn't. After a couple minutes I felt remarkably better and was able to stand up, wash my hands and face, I drank a bottle of water and was able to keep it down, and I went to bed where I slept solid the rest of the night.

When I woke up the next morning I felt perfectly fine, aside from barely noticeable sore stomach muscles. He had already left for work by the time I woke up, so I decided to call his Mom and ask what all he had given me. Since her seemingly magical remedies helped me almost instantly, I thought it was well worth taking note of incase they were ever needed in the future. The first cup was nothing more than some sort of homemade Alka-Seltzer which contained the following ingredients:

1 cup of carbonated water

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 fresh lime squeezed into the cup

 



I'm not sure what it was in this Alka-Seltzer type concoction that made me throw up the way it did, but I'm guessing it worked because it got out whatever bit of spoiled food that was left in my stomach at the time I drank it. The thing he gave me after that was the garlic clove and the second cup. I asked her the story behind the garlic and she told me that it's used in some of the poor areas of Mexico as a natural antibiotic, and it helps strengthen the immune system. She said the second cup that he gave me to drink with the garlic was a tea that contained the following:

5 fresh basil leaves

tablespoon dried chamomile

2 cups of water

 

The tea was made by bringing the basil and chamomile to a boil in the water, letting it boil down to about half its original volume, straining the basil and chamomile out of the water, and drinking it without any sugar, honey, or other sweetener. The basil worked as a natural pain reliever, and the chamomile helped with digestion and cramps.

 

She said she had heard of these remedies used by numerous people in the past, was given them herself when she got food poisoning once, and that she had even used them on her children a couple times. She swore by these little concoctions and said she never had, and never would, turn to the hospitals or doctors for food poisoning when it can be so cheaply, simply, and quickly dealt with right at home.

 

Here's my comparison on it from my own experiences. When I went to the hospital with my first case of food poisoning, I remember feeling like it was a long process. I was sick for a few days, getting a bit better as each day passed. Even though I was fine after it all, going through the testing, the prick of the IV when my whole body already hurt, having to stay overnight in the hospital, and having to take antibiotics until they were gone wasn't pleasing. It only seemed to make me more uncomfortable. If I were to ever get food poisoning again, which I pray I don't since it's so horrible, I will definitely just go with the natural remedies that I was given on my second spell of it. The recovery time seemed almost immediate after I had taken the little remedies that were given to me, and I didn't feel any of the leftover type of weakness the next day like I did from the hospital's 'cure.' I can't tell you not to go to the hospital if you have, or think you have, food poisoning, I just want to acknowledge you of these natural remedies. If S really does HTF in the future like so many of us are preparing for, this is just another remedy to add to your list of things in the event that you can't get to a hospital.

Could You Live Off A Menu From Great Depression Inspired Meals?

I ran across this earlier and thought I'd share it. I didn't write it, but it's interesting nonetheless. Some of these foods listed are things I ate during the summers when I visited my Granny and Gramps who lived through the Great Depression. Some of the things I've never tried, and to this day I'm not sure if I'd eat some of them unless it was really a life or death from starvation choice. What do you think? Check out the list by clicking the link below.


Could You Stomach These Great Depression Meals?


Look the list over and tell me what you think in the comments below. Have you eaten any of these? Would you try them all just to see what they taste like, or would it be more of a life or death situation on some of them? I'm just curious...

Collecting Rainwater - Resource, Money, and Life Saver

Next to oxygen, water is the most invaluable natural resource in the world. Without it, humans, animals, plants, and every other living thing would cease to exist. So whether you're paying for city water, have your own well, or you're pulling water from a spring, creek, or river near your home, there really isn't any room for waste. Buying or building your own rainwater catchment system, along with re-using gray water (we'll talk about gray water in a future post), is a great way to reserve water. Setting up a way to collect and harvest rainwater now will not only lower your water bill or help you use less water from your well or private water source, but it's also one of the few life saving ways to provide water in a post-disaster situation.

The obvious use for rainwater would be for gardening and watering your lawn, but when it really comes down to it, anything that you can do with tap water, you can also do with rainwater: showering and hygiene, washing laundry and cleaning, for cooking and drinking (make sure you read my post about water filtration and purification), watering meat animals and pets, and so on. I catch rainwater using nothing more than some buckets that I put out near the corners of my home and in a few spots in my yard before it rains so I have extra water for my gardening, but there's a lot of different ways to go about this. Depending on whether you want to collect just a bit of rainwater like I do or if you want to do it on a larger scale, there are a lot of options to choose from. Check into your current local laws before doing anything, and then think about if you'd rather create your own rainwater catchment system or if you'd like to purchase one that is pre-built.

Here are a few links to articles and videos to help you decide if making one yourself is right for you:

 

 Build A Rainwater Collection System - Mother Earth News

 

Build A 3 Drum Rain Collection System Better - Instuctables

 

How To Harvest Rainwater - Garden Gate Magazine

 

Creating A Simple And Inexpensive Rain Water Collection System - Old World Garden Farms

 

220-Gallon Rainwater Collection System at The Sugar Shack - video by Mark Scott Lavin

 

DIY 1.100 Gallon Rainwater Harvesting & Collection System - video by LDSPrepper

 

 

 

If you decide to buy a rainwater catchment system instead, here are my suggestions:

 

50 Gallon Ceramic Rain Harvesting Catchment - on Ebay $137.99 with Free Shipping

 

62 Gallon Sand Stone Rainwater Harvesting Wall at Home Depot - $119.99

 

65 Gallon Rainwater Collection and Storage System - on Amazon for $179.00 + shipping 

 

 

 

Like I mentioned, collecting and harvesting rainwater is illegal in some places. Before doing anything, you should go to USA.gov to be on the safe side and check the current laws and regulations for your location. I know in some places people are encouraged to collect rainwater, but in others you could get fined or receive jail time.

 

For more ideas on being self sufficient before disasters strike, be sure to check back in and click the 'Pre-disaster Sufficiency' label on the side of the page. There are a lot of things you can do now to provide day to day things in a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way. If you currently collect rainwater or have in the past, please share some details about what type of system you use, how long you've been doing it, and what you use your harvested rainwater for. I'd love to hear about your experiences with this.

 

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Are You Familiar With Natural Remedies Yet? You Should Be.

This post isn't intended to persuade you to completely cut ties with all over the counter (OTC) and prescribed medicines, but more to encourage you to familiarize yourself with, and maybe even try your thumb at growing your own, remedial herbs and plants. There may come a day when doctors, hospitals, stores, and pharmacies aren't so widely available like they are today, so this is much more rewarding than just having something nice to look at in your yard, greenhouse, or window sill. Instead of adding more confusion to your life and trying to figure all this out at the last second, make yourself familiar now with which plants and herbs are medicinal and what they may help with.

I thought about all the natural remedies that I've heard about or used based on other people's suggestions, and wanted to make a decent list to start you off with. This surely isn't every single one, but it's a start. There are many uses for most of these, so this list will just touch on some of their healing properties. I'll conduct further research and come back in future posts with the specifics on the identification, growing, remedial uses and health benefits, and the applications (preparation) for each one in this list, along others that I learn about along the way.


Aloe Vera - cuts, burns, achy, joints/arthritis

Basil - helps with nausea, lack of appetite, and gas, also as a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory

Calendula (Pot Marigold) - antifungal, antiseptic, wound healing

Cat's Claw - boosts immune system

Cayenne - prevents blood clotting, relieves migraines, tooth pain, and joint soreness, can be used on snake bites, wounds, and sores, and can bring relief from flu symptoms

Chamomile (German Chamomile) - calms colic in children, also helps upset stomach, calms nerves, and can be used as a sedative

Cilantro (Coriander) - digestion, also cleanses body of metals and toxins

Cinnamon - since about 99% of bacteria and viruses can't live in the presence of it, this would be good for an antibacterial/antiviral

Dandelion - increases ovarian hormones, calms PMS, and helps with menopause

Eucalyptus - reduces swelling

Fennel - eases stomach muscles, aiding in digestion

Feverfew - lowers fever (thus the name), headache and migraine relief, and can relieve the symptoms of arthritis

Foxglove - wound healing (topical use only, could be fatal if ingested)

Garlic - body detoxification, immunity enhancer, lowers fats in blood, fights infections, helps yeast infections, helps with asthma, sinusitis, circulatory problems, heart conditions, and possibly even cancer

Ginger - anti-inflammatory, nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, and circulatory problems

Lavender - helps with insomnia, alleviates stress, may also help heal cuts, wounds, and sores

Lemon Balm - can reduce stress and anxiety, helps fight off the herpes simplex virus and others that are similar to it, calms stomach spasms, and can be used to soothe and heal bites and stings

Mullein - soothes cough, helps heal bronchial/respiratory infections

Oregano - can prevent inflammation, also has anti-oxidants that could prevent chronic diseases like cancer

Parsley - can fight kidney and bladder infections, used as an iron supplement, can boost energy and circulation, and can be used as a diuretic

Peppermint - relieves vomiting and indigestion, also soothes sore muscles

Rosemary - helps the brain receive more oxygen, giving energy and sharpening the memory, also used for muscle pain relief and digestive problems

Sage - astringent and antibacterial properties that can heal mouth, gum, and throat inflammation, may also be able to stop bleeding

Sorrel - helps jaundice, can be applied to ringworm, sore throat relief, and lower fever

Spearmint - energy booster

Thyme - relieves mild diarrhea, has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can prevent colds and flu

Turmeric - may slow rheumatoid arthritis


Just like OTC and prescribed medicines, natural remedies have guidelines too. Not only do you need to be 100% sure that you can properly identify the plants and herbs you're about to use, but you need to know which parts are needed. Some things are great for topical remedies, but could be fatal if ingested, so knowing the application guidelines is crucial. Natural remedies can also have some side effects depending on the user. If you're allergic or sensitive to any specific herbs or plants in their natural state, you clearly shouldn't attempt to alter any part of them into a medicinal application. Like every other OTC and prescribed medicine, you need to be familiar with dosages and what they can and can't be paired with. Some aren't intended for children or the elderly, and just like every other medicine, pregnant women need to take extra caution.




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For more guidance on remedial herbs and plants, their identifications, applications, possible side effects, and so on, be sure to check back in and click the 'Natural Remedies' label on the side of the page to find future updated information. If you have any experience using any natural remedies, please share some details in the comments below. I'm sure there's loads more to add to this list and not only will it help anyone else who's interested in this, but every bit of information that I can learn from you is much appreciated. If you haven't subscribed yet, please consider doing so, leave a comment if you have one, and share this with others who may find it useful. I'm still interested in finding similar blogs and sites too, so please share yours or your favorites in the comments below.

What To Include In Your Initial Stock

Did you look at the posts with cheap foods and supplies to buy? If you're anything like I was when I started prepping, you're probably thinking things like 'that'll take too long to get everything' or 'what if SHTF when I'm only 3 weeks into the list and I have to try to survive with just 24 cans of beans?'... While those lists are good ones to buy from on a regular basis, I can understand the pressure to get an initial stock of food and supplies started. I thought about the first splurge of things I bought, and decided to make a list of the top things that would give you a great start if you have the money to spare.


Food, Drink Mixes, and Water:

20lbs of rice - Keep in mind that white rice has a longer shelf life than brown rice.

20lbs of dry beans - If you're worried about a means of cooking, then you could go for all canned beans, but it's going to cost quite a bit more. Also keep in mind that 1 pound of dried beans can make at least 10 servings, while one can will only provide about 3.

20 cans of meats. I wouldn't just get Spam either, mix it up a bit with tuna, chicken breast, canned pork, salmon, or whatever else you like.

20 cans of vegetables.

20 cans of fruits.

2 of the biggest Tang drink mixes you can find. I say Tang because it has 100% of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, which is necessary for a healthy immune system. It also has vitamin B which helps nerve function, and vitamin A that enhances eyesight.

2 of the biggest pre-sweetened powder drink mixes you can find. If they're pre-sweetened it'll save you on sugar, and the flavors will dull any odd tastes in water that you may have to filter and purify.

2 large bags of flour. I'll share some easy recipes in a future post for easy things to make with flour.

2 large bags of masa. You know, the stuff to make tortillas...

1 large bag of sugar. Look for the largest you can find and afford.

1 bag of salt. Read the labels, some salts are not meant for human consumption.

1 large bag of rolled oats.

1 gallon of oil. I always just get vegetable oil, but I know some prefer olive oil or other kinds. Your choice.

Water. I can't even put a specific amount, but I'd aim for a couple weeks worth. You could figure it as 1 gallon per person in your family or group, per day. Also take into consideration that you'll need additional water for cooking and hygiene.


Non-Food Items:

Vitamin Supplements with the 100% daily vitamin intake amount (like One-A-Day, but I'd look for off brand). These aren't meant to keep you alive in place of food, but are great to for providing whatever vitamins you may be lacking. You should be able to find these in bulk of like 400ct.

2 ways to purify water. Look into purification filters, chemical treatments, or tablets. Remember solar purification and boiling also works, and remember that I mentioned the condensation and rainwater collection in a previous post.

2 ways to start a fire. Definitely stock up on matches and lighters, but consider things like the battery and steel wool method or even a striking tool.

First Aid Kit. You can buy a pre-made, or make your own. This is what's in mine.

The best LED Flashlight you can afford. It would be ideal to get one per member, but at the very least get 1 good flashlight. Don't forget batteries. try to invest in at least 10 changes worth of batteries.

1 wool blanket. Make sure it's 100% wool, and get one for each person in your family or group. They're fire retardant and will be warm even if wet.

1 case of the commercial size rolls of toilet paper. You can buy a 12 pack of the very big rolls that you find in gas stations online or at local janitorial supply dealers. Just check around for the best prices.

2 tarps

50+ feet of some kind of jute twine, para cord, or strong thinner rope of your choice.

Corded Phone. If you have a regular home phone service and the power goes down, you can usually still use the corded phone without electricity. This won't work with a digital phone service though.

Multi-tool

Survival knife

250 round of ammunition. If you have a primary home defense weapon, this would be a good start.


After you get this initial bit of things purchased and stored away, you'll feel a bit more at ease. You'll have food for a reasonable amount of time with the things in this list alone, depending on how many people are in your family or group, and the basic supplies will cover some main necessities. Of course there are still so many things that would be needed for longer periods of time, but this would be great for natural disasters where you're stuck in your home until things get back to order. You can add to your foods, supplies, and necessities over time as you see fit.




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Can you think of something I left out? I'd love to hear your comments if you have any. I'm interested in checking out other blogs, sites, and YouTube channels that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share yours (or your favorites). Please take a second to subscribe if you haven't and don't forget to share this with others who may find this useful.

How To Open a Can Without A Can Opener Or Tools

 It's been a couple days since I've posted anything, so I thought I would share this video I made a few days ago. I watched a short video of someone else opening a can of tuna on cement, but noticed the timing was edited... made me curious as to just how long it would actually take. I recorded this from start to finish, and it only took a couple minutes. After I got it opened, I wasn't so sure how safe it would be to actually eat. So, thinking that there may be slivers of the can inside I took it in, dumped it onto a plate, and inspected it. I was surprised not to find anything inside, so I went ahead and added this to some chicken soup I made that day.



We probably all have can openers right now, but should some desperate scenario arise in the future and I'm without one, this would be my go-to method... unless I'm in some deep woods bug out scenario where there isn't any cement around, of course.









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Building A Basic First Aid Kit

Let's talk about first aid kits... whether you're able to hunker down in your home, or are driven to evacuate, you're going to need one. First response teams won't be so widely available, hospitals could be overfilled or inaccessible in a natural or man-made disaster, and seeking medical assistance in a hospital during some sort of an outbreak could be more life threatening than your initial need for assistance.

One first aid kit per person in your family or group is ideal, at least I think so. Aside from just building or buying a first aid kit, I encourage you, and anyone else in your group of eligible age, to check into local First Aid, CPR, AED, and Aquatics classes. Contacting you local Red Cross is a great place to start. You should also include a chart or booklet on first aid procedures, along with a pharmaceutical book or drug guide in your kit.


Here are the basic items you should be sure are included in your first aid kit (alphabetically ordered):

Ace Bandages (assorted sizes)

Antibacterial Gel and/or Wipes

Antibiotics (some ethnic stores sell them without a prescription, fish antibiotics are also an option, neither needs a prescription - don't forget that you'll need a pharmaceutical or drug guide to understand doses, warnings, etc. - these are only for desperate situations)

Anti-fungal Cream (helps athletes foot, jock itch, nail fungus)

Anti-fungal Foot Powder

Aspirin (relieves minor aches and pains, especially arthritis)

Aspirin - Bayer (taken at first sign of a heart attack, get the chewable)

Benadryl (relieves allergy symptoms, soar throat and irritation, also for motion sickness)

Bottled Water (at least one 20 oz bottle)

Butterfly Wound Closures

Cold Packs

Duct Tape (you never know)

Feminine Pads & Tampons (obviously for the women, also pads for wound dressings, tampons for packing deep punctures, gunshot wounds, etc.)

Flashlight (extra batteries)

Gel Toe Sleeve (blisters on toes)

Heat Packs

Hydrocortisone Cream (relieves minor skin irritation, poison ivy, insect bites)

Hydrogen Peroxide (topical cleaner, dental cleaner)

Ibuprofen (reduces swelling, reduces fever, pain reliever)

Imodium (anti-diarrhea)

Iodine (topical cleaner)

Isopropyl Alcohol (topical cleaner)

Lighter and Matches (could be used for sanitizing needles, scalpel)

Magnifying Glass

Medical Tape (waterproof)

Metamucil (laxative, dietary fiber)

Multi-Tool/Knife

Muscinex and Muscinex DM (can break up chest congestion before infection sets in)

Nail Clippers (small and large)

Non-stick Band-Aids (package with assorted sizes)

Orthopedic Felt (relieves pressure from foot blisters)

Pepto-Bismol (nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea... you've heard the song)

Petroleum Jelly and/or Zinc Oxide (I'd get both, protects skin- chaffing, diaper rash, etc.)

Saline Solution (eye wash, wound care)

Scissors

Space blankets (aka Mylar blanket)

Sterile Gauze Pads (I'd go with a pack of each size you can find, from 2x2 and up to 5x9)

Sterile Gauze Rolls (these come in a variety of sizes and lengths also)

Sterile Gloves (if you can't find some that are individually wrapped, make sure you have a zip lock baggy to put them in after opened)

Super Glue

Thermometer

Triple Antibiotic (treats and prevents infections from minor cuts, scrapes)

Tweezers

Tylenol (relieves pain from headaches, muscle aches, other aches and pains)

Water Bottle with Built-In Filter

White Towels, Hand Towels, Washcloths

Zip Lock Bags (for putting unused items in to keep sterile after opened)


Don't let your first aid kit stop with the list I provided, you'll think of more things to add along the way. The
more things you have quick access to, the better. It's also a good idea to look into pre-built kits for more critical situations and study up on how to use whichever ones you include. There's a great assortment of online video tutorials if you can't find nearby classes to take. Even if you aren't sure you could go through with any of the procedures now, you'll probably be able to muster up the courage if it comes down to it during desperate times... especially if it ends up being your own child or a loved one's life hanging on the line.


A Couple Additional Pre-Built Kits To Consider:

Gunshot Wound Kit

Snake Bite Kit

Surgical Kit

Suture Kit (or needles with waxed thread)

Trauma Kit






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What's in your first aid kit if you already have one made? What else do you think should be added to mine? There are a lot of things to choose from and I'm interested in hearing your ideas. I'm also interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorite if you have one. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

How To Start a Fire With Steel Wool and 9-volt Battery

Since I mentioned starting a fire with steel wool and a battery in part 2 of the Basic Survival Skills Series, I decided to make a video to show you how simple it really is. This is my first video so it isn't the best one you'll find, but with time I'll get better at making them.





Please subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can be notified of new videos as I get them uploaded. Don't forget to leave a comment if you have one, and please share with those who may find it useful.

Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 3 - Water Filtration & Purification

By now I'm sure we all know that we can last weeks without food. Living without water, however, is a completely different story... you probably knew that too. Someone of well health that isn't in an extremely hot or cold environment can last about 3 days without water on average... maybe a couple days longer, but I wouldn't push your luck. No matter how much you already have stored, learning to find, gather, filter, and purify your own water is a crucial survival skill. It's a good idea to check out and add a variety of purification tablets, filtration and purification systems, and even bleach to your supplies, but let's discuss what to do if you're without any of these things. Part 3 of the Basic Survival Skills Series is going to cover some unique ways to gather water, how to make a natural filter to remove sediment, and then the basic boil version and a sun version of purification. Let's get started.



Gathering Water: Being near a natural water source is helpful, but let's discuss some ways to collect water if you aren't. These ways aren't enough to re-hydrate an army, but in a critical situation it could save your life.

Option #1 - You'll need (1) something to dig with, (2) a preferably clear plastic sheeting or tarp, (3) some type of container, (4) a 4 or 5 foot long tube that you can drink from, and (5) a rock about the size of a baseball. The earlier in the day this can get set up, the better. Sunlight is needed to make this work.

* Choose a grassy area that's in sunlight a majority of the day, if grass or weeds are able to grow than more than likely it's somewhat moist under the surface.

*Being careful to save the top layer of non-poisonous grass and/or weeds, dig a hole in the shape of a bowl that's about 2 feet deep and 3 to 3.5 feet wide. In the center of the hole's floor, dig another hole about 4 to 6 inches deeper with a flat base that's just big enough to fit your container in.

*Mash some patches of the grass/weeds you saved along the walls of your hole. Doing this provides more condensation in the hole.

* Place your container in the spot you dug to hold it in place.

* If you're going to use a drinking tube, place one end of it all the way into the container and run the rest of the tube up the side and out the top of the main hole. Let the tube rest on the ground outside the hole.

* Lay your plastic sheeting over the hole and start covering the perimeter with the dirt that was dug out of the ground to weigh the plastic in place (make sure you don't cover the drinking tube if you used one). As you do this, make sure there is enough slack in the plastic so it can sag at least 15 or so inches.

* Place the rock on top of the plastic sheeting right above the container. This will form an inverted dome which guides the condensation to drip into the container.

You can drink directly from the tube if you use one, or you can just open the plastic and remove the container once a day, depending on how long you're at your location. Like I said earlier, this methods won't provide enough water for an army, but this system could provide about a quart a day. The water won't need to be purified, but it'll taste a bit like dirt and the grass or weeds that are covering the hole's walls... better than nothing, right?


Option #2 - You'll need (1) a non-poisonous tree or bush that's in, or almost in, direct sunlight, (2) a plastic baggy, (3) a rock that's about the size of a gold ball, and (4) something to tie with (you could even use a stem from a weed or a braid a few blades of long grass if you don't have any twine). You'll want to set this system up as soon as possible, morning is great so it can gather throughout the day.

* Put the rock inside the bag, then slide the bag over the end of a branch tucking the leaves inside. The rock will work as a weight that provides a lower point that the water can form in.

* Making sure you get the opening of the baggy as close as you can to the branch itself, tie it shut tightly with a piece of jute cord or whatever you can find to tie it with. It's important that you tie it tight, the less air that can move through the opening, the more the heat will build up causing more condensation (even in cold temperatures as long as the sun is out).

* As the sun beats down on the bag, moisture from the leaves will form condensation in the bag, and as it builds it'll turn into water that can be drank without any further purification.

You should set this system up on multiple branches to gather more water. Some suggest poking a small hole in the bottom of the bag for the water to drain into a container, but I wouldn't. I'd worry about it being windy and losing drops of water in the wind as the branches blow around. Every drop counts so it's your call. I set this up in the tree in my yard one night and let it set all night and throughout the next day and was able to almost fill a pint size bottle.


Option #3 - We can't control when it's going to rain, but if the sky looks like it's ready to pour (or even just sprinkle) you'll want to get this set up. Even an inch of rainfall could gather 20+ gallons on an 8x5 foot tarp. All you need is (1) a tarp, (2) a couple trees, (3) some twine, rope, or para-cord, (4) a bucket or container(s), and a rock that will fit inside your bucket or container. You wouldn't want to set this up if there was a nuclear or chemical disaster, but otherwise it would be a great idea for gathering larger amounts of water. Here's what to do...

* Tie two neighboring corners of your tarp with two separate strands of rope, twine, or para-cord. Make sure to use long enough pieces to reach two trees that are near each other.

* You'll want to pull the tarp as tight as you can without ripping the corner rings or anything open. It doesn't matter how far the trees are away from each other as long as you have enough rope to stretch. This should be elevated at least a bit higher than your bucket or container so it guides the rainfall.

* Place your container a couple feet before the untied end of the tarp being sure that that end, along with the loose corners, are able to be tucked into your container. Put your rock in the bottom of the container on top of the tarp and let the rain do the rest.

You may want to let the rain rinse off the tarp and rock (or whatever you use as the weight inside your container) for a minute and then dump the container before setting it back up to collect the water you are going to use, this will get any dust and dirt off the surface of the tarp and rock... you may still want to filter it depending on how windy it is, leaves and stuff may blow in during the rain. Aside from that, rainwater is just fine to drink without purifying.


Filtration: Of course water from any natural source should be purified before drinking it, but since that water will usually be a bit muddy (to say the least), you'll want to filter it first. Pouring the water through a clean sock or shirt would work well, but if you only have the clothes on your back and aren't so sure you want to use something that you may or may not have been stranded somewhere for a few days in, there are other options. You'll just need a few things, I'll explain the options as I list them.

* Find a container. If you've brought one with you or can find one, a 2-liter plastic bottle or a large (coffee type) can will work great. You could also use a gallon size plastic bag if you have one (you should always bring plastic baggies in your bug out bags). If you're using the plastic bottle, cut the bottom of it off as straight as you can and use the pouring opening as the part your filtered water comes out of. If you're using a can, you'll need to poke some small homes in the bottom, about 10 should do fine.

* If you don't have any of these things, you can make a natural container out of birch bark if you can find some, or even some large green leaves (make sure they aren't poisonous leaves). If you use bark or leaves, you'll need to roll it in a cone shape with a very tiny opening at the bottom and then tie it with twine or some long braided blades of grass to keep it from unfolding.

* Try to find a way to suspend your filter above a clean container that your water will filter into if you can. Tie it to a low hanging branch or even throw together some sort of tripod out of branches. This isn't mandatory, it just makes it easier.

*  Now it's time to build the filter itself. The first layer will need to be something that'll keep the sand from falling out since that's what you'll be using for the majority of the filtration. You could use some sort of cotton material if you have some, otherwise wadded up grass works just fine, just make sure it isn't poisonous.

*On top of the cotton or grass, you'll want to put a couple inches worth of small pebbles or gravel (not any oily gravel).

* I'm not sure how much I trust this step and I've never tried it, but in desperate times you may need to. If you aren't able to purify your water by boiling it or setting it in the sun, you'll need some charcoal. If you've had a fire, crunch up some of the burnt wood into small gravel size pieces (not into dust) and put a couple inches on top of the pebbles.

* The next layer of your filter will need to be sand, it's a great natural filter. Put enough in to fill the container about 2/3 of the way.

*Pour the water you've gathered through your filter and let it drain into a clean container. If the water isn't clear after the first run through, just repeat it as many times as needed.


Purification: After you have filtered the water to your liking, you'll need to purify it. Here are two simple ways of doing so if you don't have any purification tablets or bleach.

Option #1: If you're able to start a fire, which I would hope you can if you've read and practiced the fire starting methods from part 2, you can boil your water to purify it. If you have a pot then you're in luck, but otherwise a tin or aluminum can will do just fine. If you haven't brought one with you, more than likely you can find one that someone else has left as litter. Just rinse it out as best you can. Pour your filtered water into whatever you are using to boil in and bring the water to a boil over your fire. According to the CDC, after your water has came to a boil you need to keep it at a rolling boil for 1 minute (or 3 minutes for altitudes above 6,500 feet). I'd feel safer letting it be at a rolling boil for 3 to 5 minutes though. It's your call. After it boils, remove it from the fire and let it sit until it cools. This will also let any sediment that may not have been filtered settle to the bottom. Then it's safe to drink.


Option #2: If you can't start a fire or don't have something to boil in, you can purify your water in the sun.   Bacteria like scherichia coli, salmonella, vibrio cholera, shigella flexneri, yersinia enterocolitica, and campylobacter jejuni can be taken care of with 6 hours of sun exposure, along with rotovirus and the parasite giardia, with a little longer exposure (10 hours) you can remove the parasite cryptosporidium.

You'll need (1) a clear plastic bottle (not glass) and (2) the sun. It doesn't need to be hot outside for this to work either, UV-A is what does the job, not the heat. Make sure it's a clear Poly Ethylene Terephthalate bottle, with recycle code #1 on it. It'll be stamped like this:

* Very easy purification. Just pour your filtered water into the bottle (a 2-liter soda or soft drink bottle works best, remove any labeling), make sure the lid is screwed on tight, and lay it on it's side in direct sunlight.

* If the sky is clear or has very little clouding, let it sit for at least 6 hours, but you may want to wait 10 hours just to be sure you get everything (as mentioned for the possibility of the cryptosporidium parasite). If there's an overcast of clouds, you'll need to wait up to 2 days if it doesn't clear up to full sun exposure for a solid 6 to 10 hours during that time period. After you've left it for the time period needed, it will be purified and able to be drank.


If you haven't yet, you need to set up a bag for emergency situations (a.k.a. a bug out bag) and keep it in your vehicle or on you at all times. At the very least, items to gather, filter, and purify water should be on the top of the list of things included. Practicing these systems now will familiarize you with setting them up. Don't wait until a situation does take place to try and remember what you just read. Your first attempt at these may not turn out right, causing anything from dehydration to diarrhea, which could very easily lead to death.





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I hope this post has taught you enough to keep yourself from dehydrating in a desperate situation. These are the few methods I'm familiar with, but I'm sure that a little research could provide you with more options. Remember that I'm interested in checking out other prepper and survival blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 2 - How To Start A Fire

Knowing how to start a fire is probably one of the first skills that come to mind when asked about survival, and it should be. Fire is used for light and warmth, heating food, purifying water, and even protection from predator animals depending on where you are. You should probably always carry a lighter or matches with you, but since things can get broken, misplaced, wet, or just eventually run out, it's probably an even better idea to know how to start a fire without them. This post is going to focus on that, along with some tips for preparing an area for your fire, some great options for a tinder nest, and how to put your fire out before you leave that area. The first thing you'll need when trying to start a fire is patience, and lots of it. It's easy to get discouraged when using these methods because they're no where near as quick or easy as starting one with a lighter and matches, but if I can do it, so can you. I'm going to try to explain all of this in simple step-by step instructions, no pictures from Paint like I did with the temporary shelters (I know, you'll miss them).



Step #1: Locate Your Area

Take into consideration where your shelter is set up (if you have one), along with nearby trees, low hanging branches, roots, dry leaves, etc. when choosing an area to burn at. Try to set up at least 10 feet from all flammable areas and objects if possible. If there are lots of leaves or pine needles, you're going to need to try and clear these out of the way as best you can with your foot or something.


Step #2: Prepare Your Area

There are two ways I suggest preparing an area to burn in. If you're not worried about being seen, follow the first option. If you are trying to keep low profile, I suggest following the second.

Option 1 - Above Ground Burning: After you've chosen and cleared your area, gather enough stones to make a ring that's at least 30 inches in diameter. Stones that are at least the size of a softball work great, but you'll just have to see what you can find to work with.  If you can't find any stones, it's ideal to dig a circle about 30 inches in diameter and at least a few inches deep. This stone ring or hole will help keep the fire contained to that specific area. After this, you're ready to start building your fire.

Option 2 - Dakota Fire Pit: You'll need to dig two holes for this fire pit. However large the diameter of these holes are is how far apart the holes need to be from each other too. I'd go with about 9 inch diameter on each hole, and dig them 9 inches apart. This tends to be a good size for warmth and cooking on, you aren't trying to provide light remember, this method is for low profile. Dig each of your holes down about 12 inches deep and then make a tunnel by scooping out the area between them under ground. The top of the two holes should be the only above ground openings. After this, you're ready to build a fire in the bottom of one of the holes. Build it in the side that is farthest away from the direction the wind is blowing so the other hole acts as an air intake to keep the fire going.


Step #3: Tinder Nest

If you haven't carried something with you, like paper (shredded), dryer lint, sanitizing wipes of at least 70% alcohol, cotton balls coated in Vaseline, or a jute cord or rope that you can fray (there are lots of options), you'll need to find something in your surroundings. People also suggest charred linen, but I've honestly never tried using it. Never made it, never tried to find it somewhere to buy or anything. You can check into that yourself. Some great natural tinder materials are dry grass and leaves, dry cattail leaves or fluff, dry pine needles, shaved bark, or anything else that you can locate that's dry and catches fire easily if a spark hits it. Once you've found these things you need to carefully mold them into a bird nest shape, very carefully. Don't pack them together tight because it'll make it harder for oxygen to move through it and it won't light as well. Just set it to the side in a dry place once you have it ready. Put some extra tinder nest materials to the side too, you'll want to thread them into your kindling tee-pee later.


Step #4: Fuel From Fallen Branches

You're going to need to gather kindling and firewood in a few different sizes to build your fire and keep it going. Really aim for the driest fallen branches you can find. There may be plenty on the ground, but you can also look up into the trees for dead branches that have gotten hung up in living branches. If you have an ax or hatchet you could even split bigger logs into smaller sizes. As far as sizes needed, find twigs that are a quarter of an inch in diameter or less, some that are around an inch thick, and you'll also need some that are a couple inches (and up to wrist size) in diameter. Separate the kindling and firewood into three groups according to their thickness and set them near your fire pit so you can grab them to add to you fire as needed.


Step #5: Set Up The Kindling

Now that you've prepared your area, made a tinder nest, and gathered kindling and firewood, you're ready to start your fire. Using some of the thinnest twigs you gathered and some more of the tinder nest type materials, make a tee-pee shape in your fire pit. Be sure that the base of it has an opening big enough to stick your original tinder nest into, you'll start the kindling on fire by sticking the tinder nest inside the base.


Step #6: Start Your Fire

I'm going to cover a couple methods here, so I will just title them and get on with the process.

Flint and Steel Spark Method: (If you haven't bought the sparking tools)

Flint: You can find this almost anywhere in the world, but some of the most common places to find flint is on land that used to be under water, or near river and lake shores where there are a lot of rocks laying around. Some of the best types of rocks to use are quartz, chert, agate, jade, and carnelian. Don't worry about trying to learn which is which if you don't already know. If you find a rock, just strike it a few times with your striker and if sparks fly, it'll work. Since the sparks come from slivers of burning steel, you'll want to break the rock down a bit, the sharper you can get one edge of your flint, the better the spark.

Steel: You can use high carbon steel, alloyed steal, or even iron pyrite to create a spark, just make sure it's not stainless steel. A closed pocket knife works well, so do old files. If you're out in the middle of no where and don't have something to use as a striker, some rocks can be struck together and create a spark. You'll have to test strike some until you find them, but they are there.

How It's Done: Have you ever bent a wire hanger back and forth kind of fast and then touched the part that was bent? It gets Hot! It's kind of the same sense here... when the flint strikes the steel, the energy of the friction converts to heat and that's what makes the steel shaving hot.
More simply, I hold the steel in one hand and strike the flint (rock) in a downward acute angle against it aiming the sparks towards my tinder nest. You could hold the rock and strike the steel against it if you want, but it doesn't seem to aim the sparks in the right direction for me. You'll just have to see which is right for you, just make sure the spark is directed to your tinder nest (or char cloth if you are using one). Once your tinder nest starts smoking a bit from the burning embers (sparks), you'll want to blow on it to turn it to a flame. Once you've done that, set it under your kindling tee-pee and continue blowing until you catch the kindling on fire. Continue adding kindling, small sticks, and bigger pieces as needed in a small to large order to build your fire stronger. I can usually get a decent fire going with this spark method in 2 minutes or less. Practice can make you much faster, but 2 minutes is still pretty quick.


Battery and Steel Wool Method:

Easy one, if you happen to have them with you. (If you do carry these, don't keep them in the same area... especially not your pocket, you don't want to burst into flames anywhere near your crotch area.)

Battery: I'm told that any battery will work for this, but I've only tried with a 9 volt battery and it works super fast.

Steel Wool: The key is to find the finest steel wool you can.

How It's Done: I'd put the tinder nest under your kindling tee-pee first because this will go quickly. Touch both battery terminals to the steel wool and run it back and forth across the surface. The steel wool will catch the batteries 'electricity' and start turning red, blowing on it a bit will help the heat spread. This can be done in just a couple seconds, then stick it with your tinder nest. Blow on it until it catches a flame and then build your fire up like explained earlier.


Magnifying Glass Method: (or even a pair of reading glasses works in the same concept). All you need is the magnifying glass and your tinder nest... and the sun, this only works in the day time.

How It's Done: Simply hold the magnifying glass at an angle so the sun will shine through creating a bright dot on your tinder nest. Adjust the angle and distance your magnifying glass is away from the tinder nest, the smaller the dot you can create, the quicker it'll burn. As soon as it starts to smoke, try blowing on it a bit to help it turn to flame and make it spread. Then build your fire up like explained earlier.


There are also friction methods that can be used to start a fire. I find these very time consuming, but in a desperate situation you may need to try them anyway.

Bow Drill Method:

Rather than trying to write these instructions out for making a bow drill, because it's hard to follow without a visual, watch this video on making a bow drill. (I don't own this video)

Once you've made this bow drill, started using it, and have created the embers, you'll need to dump them off onto your tinder nest, blow on them until you can get a flame to start, and then stick it under your kindling tee-pee. Then you build your fire up from there.


Hand Drill Method:

Another friction method similar to the bow drill, is a hand drill. Exact same concept as the bow drill except you don't need a bow or the handhold. This may be the hardest method, I've still never been able to start a fire like this and I've tried countless times. Maybe you can do it.

According to those who have succeeded at this, all you do is copy the base board that you would for a bow drill, and use a (dry) stick that's about a half inch in diameter. You press the one end of the stick against the base board and quickly spin it back and forth between your palms/hands until it heats, makes an ember, and then you dump it out on your tinder nest and so on like the bow drill method. If you try this and succeed, please do come back and let me know.


Step #7: Putting Out Your Fire

Two easy ways. (1) Pour some water over it if you have access to some, of course, or (2) cover it with dirt and smother it out. Yep, those are self explanatory.


Before I go, I want to share one more thing. How to waterproof matches, because it's ridiculous paying so much for the ones in the stores. I don't know if there are different ways to do this, but here is the simple step-by-step to the way I do it.

Step #1: Melt down a small amount of candle wax in a can. Not a big green bean can or anything, something like a tuna or Vienna Weenies can.

Step #2: Dip a wooden match about half way into the wax (the striking side of course). Just dip it in and pull it out, it don't need to sit in there or anything.

Step #3: As soon as you pull it out of the wax start blowing on it... Quick! That way it cools the wax before it has a chance to soak into the head and ruin it.

Step #4: After you have waterproofed and cooled them, stick them into some kind of container. I use an Altoids can.

That's all it takes, I don't even dip the other end in wax. When you go to use these matches, you'll need to peel a bit of the wax away from the side of the match head that you are going to strike. You'll enjoy being able to light a fire even after everything else may have been rained on or gotten soggy from wading through a creek bed.





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OK, those are the few methods I am familiar with (and one I've repeatedly failed at). Since I did buy a camera the other day, I will be making some tutorial videos to upload soon, I hope you'll come back to check them out. Do you know any other ways to start a fire without matches or a lighter and have succeeded at them? If so, please comment below and share your experience and tips. Remember that I'm interested in checking out other prepper blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 1 - Temporary Shelter

Before I begin Part 1 of this Basic Survival Skills Series, I want to tell you that no matter how many skills you have in a time of complete chaos, not a single one will help you out if you don't take a deep breath, pull your head together, and keep your thoughts straight. Knowledge, practice, and confidence will get you through almost any ordeal, it's just a mater of getting it before you have to use it. This series is intended to provide you with the knowledge you need to practice and master (sounds cheesy) skills that will be most important for your survival. Then when the time does come to put them to use, you'll have the confidence to do so because you were already prepared. Now that that's out of the way, let's get started.

Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 1 - Temporary Shelter

It's probably a good idea to have a semi-permanent alternative shelter set up in case you have to leave your home for any worst case scenario, but there's still a possibility of not being able to reach it in events like natural or man-made disasters... or if some group of crazies take it over before you get there and you just don't know if you can fight them off (some may try, I probably wouldn't, I have kids). Anyway, knowing how to build a temporary shelter is vital if you're on the move until you can get back home, or if you're on foot seeking out your next semi-permanent/permanent shelter in a time of extreme crisis or collapse. There are a lot of temporary shelters to chose from, but instead of trying to make myself familiar with all of them or trying to load more weight into a backpack that I can already barely carry, I've watched probably hundreds of  tutorials and practiced building quite a few different kinds. Of all the different shelters I've tried out, there were two that were so simple and quick to construct, I just started focusing on them. One uses a few man-made materials, but none that weight much or take up a lot of room, and the other is constructed with natural materials, you probably won't even need a hatchet or anything. I've practiced building these numerous times and can construct either type in 30 minutes or less (although some suggest these take a couple hours to make). I'm hoping to be able to make a video tutorial of both of these temporary shelters in the near future, but for now these are just drawn out step-by-step.



Temporary Shelter #1: Tarp Tent

I guess this is the name for this shelter, this seems reasonable enough since it is just what I called it, a tent made out of a tarp.


What you'll need:

Terrain - of course you need an area, but try to scope out one that is relatively elevated and as flat as possible, also try to pick an area that has some sort of additional trees or boulders around to help block wind.

2 Trees - try to locate two trees that have branches low enough to tie onto, taking into consideration that these will need to be far enough apart to ensure your tarp fits in between them, but close enough together to be able to tie your rope/cord from one tree to the other.

Tarp - the size depends on you and how many people are with you, these aren't meant to be some luxurious and large shelter, remember it's just temporary.

Rope or Cord - again, this is somewhat your preference. I feel like having 100+ feet of whichever type you chose is way more than enough to set up with.

4 Stakes - there are lots of sizes, weights, and price ranges to chose from, just make sure they're strong enough to hold your tarp in place if it's windy.

A Rock - I'd hunt out a rock about as big as my hand to use to pound the stakes into the ground because I don't want to carry more than I have to, you could do the same or bring something to hammer the stakes in with, your choice.

Now that you know what you'll need, here's how to do it. (Get your giggles out now, I made these pictures on Paint... I really need a camera.)


Step 1:

Find the area you plan to set up in and clear the grounds in between the trees you plan to use.


Step 2:

Tie your rope/cord from one sturdy lower branch to the other tree's branch. You're going to have to know how to tie a good knot. This isn't my video, but you should still check out how to tie these three easy knots.


Step 3:

Drape your tarp over your rope/cord. I like to try and pull both flaps so they touch all the way to the ground, but sometimes the branches are too high. If this is the case, pull the side that blocks the most wind to the ground and then pull the other as far as it will go.


Step 4:

After you have your stakes out, you need to get the tarp tied up...

You'll need to tie the longest wall of your tarp to two of the stakes (one at each corner) and use something to hammer them into the ground. Tie the other wall's corners to the last two stakes and hammer them into the ground as well. Lay your bedding out inside if you have any and that's it for the tarp tent. let's move on to the next temporary shelter.



Temporary Shelter #2: Debris Hut

I've seen a couple different versions of a debris hut, but the one I'm going to lay out for you is my favorite and seems sturdier than the others. No man-made materials are needed for this, but you may or may not need a hatchet, I usually don't. It depends on what kind of debris is laying around.


What you'll need:

Terrain - again, try to find something relatively flat and as elevated as possible.

A tree - find one with a lower hanging branch, similar to the ones used for a tarp tent.

A Spine - a long branch, not connected to a tree of course, the longer the better and aim for one that's about 5+ inches thick.

Ribs (Loose branches) - you'll need a variety of sizes and lots of them, they'll need to be able to rest against your spine branch and ones that have twigs and leaves on them are ideal so you have some sort of texture to make covering it easier.

Leaves and Twigs - as many as you can scrounge up, these will be used for the outer walls and you may even try to find some kind of moss or something that you can use for better insulation too.


After you gather your materials, here's what to do.


Step 1:

Find a tree similar to the ones used for a tarp tent and clear the grounds around it.


Step 2:

Find a long branch that is at least 5 inches thick to use as the spine of your hut. The longer this branch is, the better. Rest one end in the V of a lower (sturdy) branch, giving about 8 to 12 inches of overhang if possible and then position the other end of the branch as far out onto the ground as it will reach.


Step 3:

Starting with longer branches first, rest one branch as close to the V as you can with at least 5 or 6 inches extending past the spine branch, branches with twigging are ideal because it gives texture and makes covering the walls easier. (Again, I wish I had a way to make a video but since I don't and am using Paint to do this, the branches will be odd colors so you can see the overlapping pattern you need to make).


Step 4:

On the other side of the spine branch, butt another long branch as close to the V as you can. Again with at least 5 of 6 inches overhang, and preferably with twigging branches for texture.


Step 5:

Continue to cover the entire spine branch, rotating sides, using shorter branches as you go, until you have completely walled both sides.

Step 6:

Starting with the tallest end of your hut (the entrance), begin laying small branches, loose leaves, twigs, weeds (make sure it isn't poison ivy), and dead grass over the rib branches (we'll call them ribs, I'm just making names up as I go).


Step 7:

Finish covering the outer walls of the hut. The more debris you put on, the better insulated it'll be. Your entrance will be at the tallest side of your hut, right under the V of the tree branch. If you choose to leave that entrance opened, I would so heat and light from a small nearby fire can come in, you'll be finished at this point. Otherwise, you can use additional branches, leaves, etc to close it in the entrance more using the same steps you did to create and cover the walls. All that's left now would be to throw your bedding in if you have any and your debris hut is ready to go.

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Although these step-by-steps look a little silly because they were done with the poor Paint program, I hope they are descriptive enough to understand how these two shelters are constructed. I'm hoping to get a camera soon so I can start making tutorial videos, but until then I suggest looking up tutorials on how to make these two shelters on YouTube or something. There's a good variety of preppers and survivalists who have excellent videos. Take some time to go out and practice building these, the more you practice the quicker you'll get. You'll also build your confidence enabling you to keep a calmness to you if 'S' really does ever 'HTF'...




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Please be sure and return for the next two posts in the Basic Survival Skills Series where we will be covering ways to start a fire and then options for making water drinkable. I really hope you'll find them all useful. Skills are much easier to lug around with you, rather than trying to carry a heavy backpack or bug out bag. Remember that I'm interested in checking out other prepper blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.