Fasting can be a crucial aspect of weight loss and building healthy and adaptive habits. This blog series discusses the relationship between intermittent fasting and survival in a post-collapse environment. In part one, we look at what intermittent fasting is and why it is good for the body. In part two, we look at how intermittent fasting and survival go hand in hand by comparing them to post-collapse scenarios.
]]>We have written before about the necessity of changing your daily habits to support your future survival. Fasting can be a crucial aspect of weight loss and building healthy and adaptive habits. This blog series discusses the relationship between intermittent fasting and survival in a post-collapse environment. In part one, we look at what intermittent fasting is and why it is good for the body. In part two, we look at how intermittent fasting and survival go hand in hand by comparing them to post-collapse scenarios.
This type of fasting is built into many human cultures and religious practices, but it has recently started gaining attention as a beneficial diet in popular culture. Intermittent fasting is intentional and scheduled fasting that has been shown to have significant benefits for the human body, including increased insulin resistance, autophagy, improved brain function, and decreased inflammation.
Fasting has been promoted in pop culture because of its lack of restriction on what you eat and emphasis on how you eat. In fasting, focusing on what you eat is also critical for overall health, especially when preparing for survival. A balanced diet is necessary for overall health and survival in a post-collapse environment.
The general rules for intermittent fasting are to wait at least 1-2 hours after waking up for calorie intake and to stop eating a minimum of 1-3 hours before bed. In a fasted state, you can consume water and caffeine as long as they do not contain any calories, such as milk or sugar. In a restricted calorie zone, opt for low-calorie and high-protein food options such as meat, nuts, fish, and lentils.
As Andrew Huberman notes in his extremely informative podcast, when practicing intermittent fasting, most people are extremely bad a recognizing the eating window they exist in and at knowing the difference between a fasting and non-fasting state. We prepare for post-collapse because it takes time to create new habits and begin to see the benefits of those habits. Starting now can save you later.
One Meal A Day (OMAD):
This intermittent fasting routine involves eating one large meal per day, which constitutes most of your caloric needs. This fasting method is specifically designed for those looking to reap the benefits of a calorie deficit, such as weight loss, while also deriving the benefits of intermittent fasting on the body. This diet involves either eating only one meal and then fasting or eating one meal and then severely limiting the caloric intake for the fasting period. It can be a good fasting style for you if your main concern is white fat loss and you are aware of the potential risks associated with OMAD.
The benefits of OMAD are not different than those of intermittent fasting in general. Finding success depends on finding the right fasting schedule for your body. Most medical professionals will not recommend the OMAD schedule––especially the most strict version of it. The risks associated with OMAD include hypoglycemic symptoms, disordered eating outcomes, constipation, increased production of the hormone ghrelin (an appetite stimulant), and severe nutrient deficiencies. In addition, this may be the hardest restricted eating method to follow and the most potentially dangerous for those with pre-existing medical conditions such as pre-diabetes and diabetes or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
5:2 fasting schedule:
This schedule involves normal eating for 5 days of the week followed by two consecutive days of fasting or extremely restricted calorie intake. The 5:2 method of fasting can map onto a typical 7-day week, and that may help some people stick to the routine. However, a 5:2 diet probably reflects the conditions for post-collapse survival the least out of all the available intermittent fasting schedules so it may be the least interesting to you as a prepper.
If you want to try this style of fasting, it is very important to consult with your doctor––especially if you have any pre-existing conditions such as pre-diabetes, diabetes, heart disease, or hypertension.
Alternate Day Fasting:
This fasting schedule involves very restricted calorie intake (about 20-25% of your regular caloric intake or around 500 calories) or fasting every second day. This version of intermittent fasting can be easier to follow than the 5:2 schedule because it is slightly less restrictive, and you can eat however you like every other day. However, for the most significant benefit, a balanced diet is seriously encouraged for overall health and preparedness skill development.
Time Restricted Feeding:
This method tends to follow a 16:8 ratio, that is, 16 hours of fasting (with an emphasis on sleep-based fasting) and an 8-hour window of eating. The window for eating can be subjective; people find that anywhere from 4-10 hours work best for them and their lifestyle. TRF is the fasting style that might best mimic a realistic survival-based diet with limited calorie intake between long windows of fasting, whether because of food scarcity, rationing, or a nomadic lifestyle.
This intermittent fasting regimen is also one of the easiest to follow and can greatly benefit preppers looking to increase their bodies' efficiency, lose weight, and live well in a more survival-based mindset. It also bears the least likelihood of having any adverse effects as you can acclimatize the body by slowly increasing the fasting increment over time.
Ready to learn more? Part two of our exploration of intermittent fasting looks at how this diet pairs with survival in a post-collapse world.
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This role encompasses a wide range of skills, each of which is critical for long-term survival. Food access is easily one of the most necessary post-collapse issues, so having the ability to secure your own is a must. Having people who are skilled enough to provide for your group will be an essential element of your survival.
Potential dangers such as animal attacks or the flu can be life-threatening without access to a hospital. It is essential to have at least one person capable of administering medical care –– especially those related to post-collapse scenarios like nuclear attacks and environmental disasters. The medical role will need to be filled by someone capable of administering care from birth until death outside of any medical system; this is a critical role for any group’s survival.
Planning is the best way to ensure your survival. From creating a meeting spot with your survival group to choosing stockpile and bug-out locations, these considerations are a fundamental part of your group’s emergency planning.
Take dried seeds, store them in a dry place, and plant them. In many ways, it’s almost that simple, but understanding the art of seed saving is a skill that needs to be learned by trial and error. Diverse seed collections are built over multiple seasons (and sometimes lifetimes) and can range from heirlooms to wild varieties.
When you learn how to seed save adeptly, you can also learn to cross-polinate plants to create hearty versions with preferred characteristics. This can help build robust crops for less-than-ideal, post-collapse growing conditions.
The easiest way to start seed saving is to choose species that are easy for beginners. Annual plant varieties grow and go to seed in the same season. These are the easiest to harvest. In some species, like lettuce, herbs, and edible flowers, you can easily collect seeds when they are dry enough to harvest; other plants, like tomatoes and beans, require you to dry the seeds––so you’ll need to have enough space in your home.
When choosing varieties to plant, open-pollinated seeds should be the first choice. These seeds retain their characteristics when pollinated with an individual of the same variety. They allow you to grow and collect seeds that have definable characteristics, giving you a predictable crop. These crops may require isolation and manual pollination to guarantee they are not cross-pollinated. All heirloom species are open-pollinated, but these plants make up a small percentage of all open-pollinated plants. Heirloom varieties are highly treasured and should be considered for your garden and seed saving.
Plants grown from hybrid seeds may not produce the same plant as you harvested the seeds from. Additionally, these plants can be bred to not produce seeds or viable seeds at all. Open pollination is the seed saver’s ticket to building and stockpiling a seed bank for the future.
For some crops, skills such as distance isolation, pollen barriers, and hand pollination will be necessary, while others require spacing between each other in the garden. Learning about your seeds and the species varieties is an invaluable knowledge base for any seed saver.
There are numerous resources available to help you determine your growing zone. From that point, you can choose and cultivate seeds from species and varieties that will thrive. The growing zone you live in represents the average temperatures, soil types, and growing seasons, so it is a critical piece of information. To harvest seeds, you will need to have the plants go through their full life cycle without interruption––whether they are annual, perennial, or biennial.
With many plants, the size of the crop and crop density can have an effect on seed production as well as influence the overall maturation time. If you are harvesting for both food and seed saving, planting more can ensure you can harvest for both ends efficiently. In addition, smaller seed crops can reduce the genetic diversity of your seeds, resulting in less resilient seeds and crops.
For wet crops like cucumbers and tomatoes, the range during which we consume them is not the mature stage of the plant and, therefore, is not the time to harvest the seeds. This is a reason for crop density, as you will need to leave fruits behind in order for them to mature adequately. For dry crops like grains, beans, and herbs, the seeds are removed when they are dry and hard––whether from a flower or the plant pod.
Once you have harvested your seeds, they need to be cleaned and dried indoors. To do this, you can spread the seeds onto plates, baking sheets, bowls or any open, wide dish and ensure the air can reach the seeds equally. They will need lots of space to dry quickly and naturally, so they are ready for next year.
All seeds should be kept in a cool, dark, dry place. Seeds can be saved for several years in the right conditions. In addition, some seeds are naturally better at keeping; these include crops such as tomatoes and beans. If possible, a refrigerated or frozen area combined with airtight containers can keep seeds even longer.
Always label your seeds with crop type, year harvested, and any useful notes you have as you continue to cultivate and seed save your selected crops.
The knowledge you gain year after year will fortify your knowledge and ability to eat and thrive in a post-collapse world. With a greenhouse and good soil conditions, it will feel like you never needed a grocery store. If you want to learn more about building a passive solar greenhouse, especially for those who live in cold climates, visit our blog.
Making preparedness part of your life is a necessity for living life in a post-apocalyptic world; skill-building is best done one day at a time.
]]>Much of our stress comes from a lack of effective communication about our feelings, worries, or environment. Supportive systems are critical for building the communities we will need to increase our chances of survival after a breakdown of the nation-state and its services.
Stress management is not only essential for our health but also a necessity for cohabitating with other people. Chronic stress can lead to irritability, lack of concentration, poor decision-making, and increased error. Obviously, in a survival scenario, there is little room for mistakes. Staying calm and collected is the best way to prolong your life, care for your family, and build a thriving community.
Group cohesion actively contributes to survival. A cohesive group is less stressed and trusts their group to work towards common goals; however, building a cohesive group is only possible with clear and effective communication. Clear communication builds the framework for highly successful communities, which are necessary for human thriving––especially in a post-collapse world where a lack of resources and structure will become a reality.
Clear roles are a necessary component of creating cohesive group structures. Developing a group where each member’s assets are accounted for and utilized towards an overall goal is essential to creating cohesion. Poor communication, redundancy, and a lack of accountability will lead to factions and dissent.
Building societies outside national identity and centralized structures will be a post-collapse reality. You can develop the skills necessary for understanding other people’s perspectives and goals in your current small communities. These skills are critical in a world after disaster.
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I bet you’re probably thinking, “anyone can start a fire, what on earth do I need a fancy firepit for?” That’s a valid question, and we have the answer. Building a fire that depends on your environment is challenging. Whether you dig a Dakota Fire Hole or rely on campground firepits, we primarily depend on messy infrastructure that can give away our location or are subject to neglect. The Firepit+ gives you predictable and consistent fire control with a stainless steel grill that is easy to clean. The Biolite system is perfect for heat and cooking because the system is contained for efficiency and ember management. The system also includes a precision-controlled fan that makes starting your fire easy and allows you to fine-tune your flames via a 51 jet air management system and get the perfect temperature to cook your meals or heat your space. The FirePit+ also collapses for easy packing. The best part? You’re no longer dependent on access to proprietary propane cylinders! Break out your Hultafors Aby Forest Axe to split some of your deadfall or firewood, and you’re off to the races.
You can control the BioLite fan manually or via Bluetooth from your mobile device (no network connection is needed so long as you have the app already installed on your iOs or Android device) so long as you are within signal range of your Firepit+. The fan housing also doubles as a rechargeable powerpack to give you 30 hours of the fan running time on a single charge or to double as a power bank for topping up your phone and other rechargeable devices. You never know when you need to add a little juice to your BioLite rechargeable headlamp! Having a built-in power pack helps reduce the need for extra power sources and ensures you always have one at the ready.
What if you need more than 30 hours of fan run time or use some of your powerpack to charge a mobile device? You can also keep your Biolite Firepit+ powerpack topped up with a little help from the sun itself! The Biolite stove is fully solar panel compatible, so you can pair it with your Powerfilm solar panels for unlimited charging in any situation.
With the Biolite Firepit+ and an accompanying solar accessory to recharge your batteries, you have all the fuel you need without any reliance on proprietary cylinders or propane supplies. No more need to stop at the local camp store for fuel, and no more reliance on public firepits. The bonus of a built-in Rechargeable Powerpack also ensures you have the electricity you need when you need it. If you’re planning to settle in for the long haul, a solar panel system will help you stay fully charged and never depleted. The Biolite Firepit+ is the perfect precision-controlled wood fire at your disposal for cooking at base camp, the local campground or wherever you need to call home.
]]>In the days, years, and months in a post-collapse society, finding and repairing clothing will be a necessary part of your long-term survival. Clothing provides a critical barrier between us and our environment. Further, sewing is essential for maintaining shelter and the materials for hunting and gathering. In this blog, we give you a starting point for developing your sewing arsenal for survival.
Thread is a prehistoric human invention that greatly advanced the quality, durability, and fit of clothing through the centuries. Originally made by breaking down fibrous plants like Flax, Stinging Nettles, Milkweed, Yucca, cotton, reeds, grasses, and more. From straight cordage to fine linen, these plants can make a wide range of durable and sustainable textiles.
While you can also recycle threads from an item of otherwise unwearable clothing or use the threads from essential survival paracord, learning to make fibres is a necessary skill for long-term survival. Many plants contain fibrous material that can be accessed by breaking down the leaf or stalk of the plant with a rock, pestle, or carved thick wooden branch. Once flattened, remove the woody materials. Begin to scrape away the green plant material until the threads are visible. In the past, sharp flint was used to break down and scrape fibres. Leave some green material on the threads and allow them to dry. Soften the dried bundles in your hand or on a wire brush. These threads are then ready to process into cordage (by spinning and braiding together at least two distinct groups of threads) or thread by using a drop spindle.
Whether you are fixing zippers, buttons, or snaps, this is a critical skill for keeping clothes in good condition for as long as possible. Closures are often under significant stress compared to the rest of a garment, so they will frequently need repair first.
When clothing is under duress, the seams are often one of the first areas to wear down. A seam can be repaired by three main hand stitches:
If you have to scavenge for clothing, you may find ill-fitting things. Hemming is the best way to allow clothing to be useful for an extended period; this is especially the case for children as they grow in a world where potential clothing is sparse. To effectively hem a garment, you will need straight pins –– the bonus is that these are abundant and can be incredibly useful in several survival situations. A Slip Stitch or Fell Stitch are both relatively easy and durable ways to hem anything from pants to shirts.
Darning is an age-old practice that extends the life of fabric by repairing large holes. This style of hand-stitched garment repair is typically useful on knits and woven fabric. It can be used to repair anything from blankets, mittens, sweaters, and socks.
Start with a thread similar to the item being repaired –– wool for a wool blanket and light threads for a cotton shirt. Sew a simple in-and-out running stitch in a circle around the hole. Once that is complete, begin to weave through and over the hole. The goal of darning is to repair the hole and reinforce around it so that it does not tear again. A darning egg is particularly useful, but you can also use a round stone, an embroidery hoop, or a similar object.
Patching holes is done similarly to darning but with the addition of spare fabric of a similar weight to fix a particularly large hole. Patching is particularly useful in high-stress areas like the crotch or knees of pants or the elbows and armpits of sweaters and jackets. The key to a successful patch is the create the patch larger than the hole so that it is attached to the intact and healthy fabric and then beginning to stitch inward, ensuring the frayed edges are sewn down to avoid future tears.
If you’re prepping a sewing kit for long-term survival, several supplies will be needed. From stitching a wound to darning a sock, these supplies will be critical to your continued survival in any situation.
Trying to incorporate survival skills into your daily life is the ticket to success after the collapse. Just like strength building or food stockpiling, sewing is a necessary practice that will help you build a sustainable life. From clothing to shelter, you will be protected from the elements long into the future by mastering the art of mending and repair.
Using energy efficiently is a key component of long-term survival, especially in bushcraft. The main benefit of setting up a trap is that you can conserve precious calories while you do other tasks. In addition, setting a trap will have the highest success rate out of all the survival fishing methods –– especially if you have limited tools and resources. Many simple and effective traps can be made from discarded trash or readily-available natural materials, allowing you to catch fish effectively.
2. Fishing Weir
A fishing weir is an effective tool for catching fish. Fishing weirs have been built over the centuries by many different groups of humans. It is a highly effective and simple tool that should be added to your survival arsenal. The principles are the same as the pot trap but on a larger scale. A fishing weir spans a whole or section of a river, bank area, or tidal pool. They can also be used near or on the shore to catch fish as they come into the vegetation in the water. The size of your weir should reflect the body of water and the size of fish you are hunting. The materials used can be wood, rocks, earth, or discarded trash –– whatever materials are available can be made useful.
If you already know how to fish, bait fishing can be a great way to acquire nutrition in a post-collapse scenario. However, if you don’t already have a background in bait fishing, it will not be as effective as trapping –– especially without proper tools.
The Grim Survival Card is a critical addition to your bug-out bag. This handy kit is the size of a credit card but made from durable stainless steel for lifetime strength and durability. Paired with military paracord, these lures and hooks can be utilized for effective bait fishing. You can’t catch fish with just great tools, you also need the know-how to secure dinner.
Fishing with a net can be an effective way to capture dinner. However, it requires more than one pair of hands. Building a post-collapse community is a skill that allows you to divide resources and resource acquisition efficiently. When using a net for fishing, this becomes apparent very quickly. Two people are required to hold the net while at least one more person is required to grab the fish as they are caught.
Once you get the hang of this simple style of weaving, it becomes very easy, and you can adjust the diameter of the knots to suit the material you have and the use of the net. This style of simple weaving can also be used to make a hammock, carry bag, or even clothing.
In a pre-collapse environment, some of the methods of fishing are banned. Always fish ethically by focusing on eating more readily available and often smaller fish rather than larger and less abundant species, practice your fishing skills using catch and release techniques, and be mindful when using highly disruptive fishing styles such as trawling. Even in a desperate scenario, sustainable food acquisition is a key component of long-term survival.
]]>De-escalation is already a term that you might be familiar with––even if it’s more in theory than in practice. Avoiding violence is a necessary part of creating a community that can work together to achieve its mission. In a post-collapse scenario, many of the tethers that connect us in day-to-day life (like the nation-state, habits, and convenience) are going to be unavailable. While humans are inherently communal, that does not mean that building healthy communities is easy.
De-escalation is necessary for any group of survivors to maintain calm and work together productively in a high-stress environment where resource scarcity, conflict, and a lack of stability are common features of everyday life.
Proximity can often trigger increased violence and aggression. Try to remain at a safe distance from the aggravated party and allow them the option to exit the situation. Anyone who feels trapped will respond aggressively, the option to flee easily needs to be viewed as available –– even if it is an illusion.
When managing aggression, it is critical to create a space where the person can think, reflect, and make decisions without a time constraint. Not only does this allow people a space to calm down, but it also reinforces their autonomy and reminds them that their reaction does not suit the environment. When angry, our body perceives the environment as a direct threat. Allowing people to determine there is no threat is a key part of de-activating their nervous system.
Even in distress or anger, people will try to communicate what they need from you. Try to focus on why they are angry or upset instead of the reactive thoughts they are likely to use in their elevated state––such as insults and over-reactions. Understanding is a skill that is built rather than inherent. You can practice active listening by:
If possible, it is valuable to move the person away from the source of conflict or to an area where it is easier to get control of the situation. Try to take people away from the people or person they are in conflict with or away from a public area. A quiet space is less stimulating and therefore easier to manage.
Anger overrides the cerebral cortex (which is responsible for logic) and allows the body’s limbic system to take over. This triggers the flight or fight response and, while useful in surviving an active threat, is not healthy or useful in negotiating with others.
In a post-collapse community, the tolerance for otherwise mundane events decreases significantly. The stress levels are considerably higher and can create an environment rife with aggressive interactions. Learning to understand, manage, and mitigate aggression is a necessary skill for good decision-making and healthy societies.
If you’ve seen any movie about the looming apocalypse, you know that inter-group dynamics and personalities are a major source of conflict. In an environment where you need to make fast decisions that can affect the entire group, there is less tolerance for errors in judgement.
The fact is that when you are in a reactive mindset, you cannot formulate good decisions based on sound strategy.
When you practice good conflict mitigation, you create an environment where survival is that much more likely and achievable. Living together creates an environment that can allow you to thrive, but learning how to negotiate is an essential part of maintaining good relationships with fellow survivors.
]]>We have covered the first seconds, minutes, and hours of an emergency, but what happens after that? If you haven’t read part one, start there. This blog is your comprehensive guide to the days, weeks, and months following a collapse.
How to survive the first 3 days after society collapses.
In the days after a disaster, it is difficult to know how to prioritize your time, effort, and movement to secure your long-term survival. In a post-collapse world, every moment counts. After you’ve secured a good shelter, your task is to fulfill your following most immediate needs––water, sleep, and medical care. As a prepper, you should ensure you have an accessible 72-hour emergency kit that you can utilize in an emergency. These kits are an essential piece of your emergency preparedness plan.
Human bodies require water to survive. A single human needs a minimum of 16oz of water per day, but ideally, at least 3-4 Litres per day is required for long-term survival. The catch-22? Water-borne pathogens are a deadly killer in survival scenarios where medical care and antibiotics are scarce.
It is critical to know the common signs of dehydration so you can act fast before it becomes an emergency. If you have vomiting or nausea, it is critical to try to re-hydrate as these quickly drain the body and lead to extreme dehydration.
In children and babies, the common symptoms to look out for include:
In adults, dehydration presents as:
In addition to treating dehydration, medical care and first aid should be a top priority once you are in a safe shelter. Nearly two out of three deaths are caused by infections when medical care is inaccessible. Most people will not survive past the first three days without medication or treatment of an open wound or severe injury. A smart prepper will already have a store of medicines that they can draw on to help mitigate the symptoms of a fever, infection, or illness and sufficient first aid supplies to treat any wounds or injuries. We recommend having the Survival Guide to medicine on hand to treat a wide range of medical events, including pregnancy, broken bones, water-borne illnesses and the effects of nuclear radiation.
Most medications will be viable for long after their stated best before date. A study revealed that many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen and antihistamines, were still effective more than 10 years past their expiry date when stored in a cool, dry place. For stockpiling medication, reach for powdered forms first as they will significantly outlast gels and liquids, which deteriorate faster.
Learn more about post-collapse first aid in our blog.
There are three fundamental ways of securing food after an apocalyptic scenario. As preppers, we should be able to do all three if we want to maximize our capacity for survival. In order to thrive in a grid-down scenario, where there is no imported food and no help, mastering these three skills will be necessary.
One key factor for long-term survival is maintaining your health and body. As humans, we require a fairly complicated set of macronutrients to sustain a healthy body––especially at a high-performance level. A significant part of long-term survival is being able to meet your nutritional needs under more demanding conditions than pre-collapse. From chopping wood, building structures, carrying hunted game, and searching out food to self-defence and extensive on-foot travel, you will need to replenish those lost carbs and nutrients as quickly and efficiently as possible.
In a world beyond the initial disaster, power, community, and permanent structures are needed to thrive. Our “After The Collapse” series provides essential information to help you prepare for and thrive in an unknown world.
Seconds count in a disaster. Your number one priority is protecting yourself from harm when things start to deteriorate. This is why we advocate for having your bugout materials easily accessible at all times, in your vehicle, at your job, and even your gray man bug-out bag to carry with essential supplies. In addition, a pre-practiced emergency plan is an essential tool for your family.
In the first few minutes following a disaster, the primary concern will be air and securing shelter. The first minutes are essential for enacting your disaster plan and preparing for the next steps in the coming hours.
In the coming hours after a disaster or societal collapse, your priorities will begin to shift towards long-term solutions. By this point, you will have been able to collect your bug-out items and move to safety. Perhaps you are awaiting your family and friends to meet at your designated emergency area ready to take the next step in your emergency response plan. Now is the time to collect yourself and calmly determine your next steps.
In the hours following a serious event, it is very likely that power grids will be down, water will be unavailable, and access to emergency services will be limited or unavailable. Your priority is to secure appropriate clothing, bedding, and shelter for the long term. The number one killer of people in survival situations is exposure. Both hypothermia and sunstroke are serious concerns, especially if you are trapped outdoors with limited supplies.
Learn more about how to survive in Canadian winters on our Youtube channel.
The #1 Killer in SHTF: Winter and Thermogenesis
Warm, durable, and efficient clothing
This is especially critical in Canada, where temperatures can reach as low as -50℃ in the long winter months. Even in the summer, warm and efficient clothing is a necessity.
In the heat, clothing should be lightweight and breathable. While darker colours attract more heat, they may be more inconspicuous, so you will need to assess your situation at the time to determine whether light or dark clothing is appropriate. A large hat and loose-fitting clothing in natural or performance-based fabrics will help to keep you cool in the heat and humidity.
In the winter, layers are critical. Wicking merino wool underlayers, warm and durable mid-layers, and a durable jacket, boots, and ski pants will be necessary for almost the entire country. If you fail to keep your body temperature above 37℃ or 98.6℉ you will become hypothermic. Learn more about how to dress for the cold in our blog.
Cooking and heat
In a survival situation, you can’t just turn on the stove or the furnace. Fire is an essential component of your survival, necessary for both cooking and keeping you warm. In addition, fire can be used as a signal device if you need rescue. There are a number of ways you can cook and keep warm including:
Starting your emergency planning is your key to survival in apocalyptic level times. Stay tuned for part two of this series to learn more about how to stay alive in the days, weeks, months, and years after the collapse.
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In our latest Youtube video, Dr. Joe Alton gives us his practical advice for navigating radiation, care, and outcomes in the event of a nuclear disaster. The best way to prepare for nuclear fallout is to understand the risks and symptoms of radiation and how to minimize their impact.
In the event of a nuclear attack, your shelter should contain these five items. Not only will you need local emergency information, but it will be critical that you have the capacity to stay in one location for at least two weeks.
There are several different terms used for describing the kinds of radiation and how they operate. These are particular units of measurement for every way that radiation can affect the environment and people. They are all key metrics for understanding risk and potential illness. It can be confusing to understand, so we’re going to break it down.
In a nuclear attack, the most dangerous period of time is the immediate days after the explosion. This is when the radiation is highest and exposure is most detrimental. Every medic should operate on the principle of as low as reasonably achievable––which means, avoiding exposure as much as possible.
At an absorbed radiation level of 300rd/3gy mortality rates begin to dramatically increase, more extreme ends of symptoms will be visible whether immediately or within weeks, months, or years of exposure. Many people within proximity of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, didn’t experience as many immediate symptoms but years later developed cancers directly tied to radiation exposure. This is why the focus on safety is so reliant on minimizing exposure and minimizing the side effects of exposure as they present.
According to Dr. Joe Alton, the treatment goals for radiation sickness are to prevent further radioactive contamination, treat life-threatening injuries like burns and trauma, reduce symptoms, and manage pain.
Mastering homesteading techniques is a critical part of your bug-out plan; not only do homesteading techniques like canning, farming, and preserving food help you thrive, they are also crucial for survival in extreme climates. In the northern hemisphere, the winter is long and dangerous; food is sparse and the conditions are extremely difficult. When planning your bug-out location, many survivalists begin learning how to survive off the available resources in order to be ready for post-collapse. This can include many strategies, such as:
For those of us with short growing seasons, having a way to grow through the seasons while remaining off-grid is a goal. In this blog, we’re going to talk about how to build a four-season greenhouse using only passive solar heating.
For many, an apocalypse scenario involves nomadic living among an urban or rural landscape scavenging for food and living in fear. However, for many, that rogue lifestyle with result in death from exposure and malnourishment. When it routinely gets to -30°C/-22°F staying warm and getting food is an intense challenge that many people fail. However, the sun is our greatest source of energy and can be harnessed to provide warmth and nourishment even in the most extreme conditions.
Passive solar energy relies on certain known principles of energy such as thermal mass, indirect gain, and thermal radiation. These principles were largely harnessed by architects in the early 20th century as ways of heating homes when there were fuel shortages during the world war. Since that time, a lot of work has gone into developing materials and strategies that can store and transfer heat for homes, businesses, and greenhouses.
In a winter greenhouse, some crops will be more appropriate than others. While passive solar heat can make temperatures feel summery, it is prudent to plant cold-hearty crops. Summer crops (such as berries, cucumbers, grains, and herbs) can be preserved to last the winter through canning, freeze-drying, fermenting, and pickling –– which you can learn more about on our blogs, How to preserve your own food for emergency stockpiling and Food Preservation Basics: A Prepper’s Guide.
Winter crops are crops that are resilient and hearty through cooler temperatures. These crops are largely vegetables and leafy greens. When you use passive solar heat, you will be able to also grow crops that are able to grow in shade, such as beans, squash, and herbs.
Ahead of the apocalypse, you can generate income from your greenhouse by selling produce. In addition, you can produce fauna for your local market through plant propagation and flower crops that can easily be converted into food-growing areas when needed.
With excess crops that can’t be eaten right away, freeze-drying is an excellent way to both save food for yourself and generate income for your family. If you’re able to invest in a high-quality freeze-dryer, then you can package those goods for local farmer’s markets.
Building a passive solar greenhouse takes planning, and the crops you can grow in your area and hardiness zone will be an experiment. If you’re a prepper looking to take your skills to the next level, don’t delay. It can take years of experimentation to learn the ins and outs of your greenhouse, gardening, and building the health of your soil.
Homesteading is the key to thriving in a post-apocolyptic setting. Learning how to successfully maintain a symbiotic relationship with your homestead, from livestock to growing seasons is a critical skill that takes time to learn. If you’re interested in building out an off grid-homestead, now is the time to start.
Want to learn more? Watch our interview and greenhouse tour with Dean from Arkopia Freeze-dried foods and subscribe to his youtube channel for all your self-sufficient homestead needs.
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If you live in a climate where extreme winter temperatures are a common fixture, it is imperative that you develop an easy-to-access winter wardrobe and a bug-out kit which includes a sled to carry your gear in a snowy landscape. Your survival depends on having the best and most efficient gear for your needs. In the extreme cold, the smallest error can lead to severe consequences.
In addition to stocking up on winter essentials, learning how to survive in a cold climate requires practice. Acclimating yourself to winter survival before it becomes a necessity can help you better understand the demands that your environment will impose on you. Organize a winter camping trip with friends to test your abilities in a moderated and relatively low-risk environment. Preparedness is about more than having the materials, it is about learning to use them under the duress of extreme conditions.
The ultimate winter bug out bag
Cold weather is a serious topic. In cold climates, after the natural gas and power grid goes down, many people will die of exposure–that’s just reality in this climate. Understanding how the body reacts to extreme temperatures can help you prioritize tasks to keep you safe. Death from exposure is where your body’s capacity to regulate your temperature fails due to prolonged time in extreme environments. Often, death is a combination of factors such as hypothermia and starvation. The key to your survival in extreme cold temperatures is to prioritize heat, shelter, and food as efficiently as possible.
The human body is designed to maintain a stable temperature, however, this process uses a large number of precious energy stores which must be replenished to prevent death. When your body gets cold, it will restrict the blood flow to your extremities in order to preserve your core temperature. This will prevent you from doing articulated tasks, like using a lighter, so it is crucial to prioritize shelter and warmth as soon as possible. Secondary to shelter is obtaining food, which will replenish your body so that it can keep you warm and alive. Understanding thermogenesis is a key part of understanding why you need to conserve energy and move efficiently in an extremely cold environment.
Thermogenesis is the process of regulating your body’s temperature. In both shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, your body is attempting to protect your core organs by reducing the heat loss from your extremities and the surface of your skin. Thermoregulation is your body’s built-in method for keeping your most vital organs alive when faced with extremely cold temperatures. Your body will generate heat to preserve your core temperature by burning brown fat, as well as through friction, where your hypothalamus communicates with your muscles to shiver. When you are cold, your body will restrict blood flow to the extremities in order to conserve as much heat for your core as possible; this is called vasoconstriction.
Thermoregulation uses a lot of precious energy so it is destructive if you cannot warm up or replenish your energy fast enough to compensate for the caloric loss. The process of thermogenesis will lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and death as your body depletes its brown fat in order to maintain a stable temperature. The colder it is, the more dangerous this becomes, as it can be harder to warm up and even harder to locate food to replenish your energy in a winter environment. Conserving and prioritizing your energy is a key way to sustain your body in colder temperatures and survival scenarios.
In low winter temperatures, your body’s blood vessels and arteries start to constrict. This process of vasoconstriction means that blood flow is restricted and there is less oxygen heading to the heart. As your blood pressure rises, your heart must work harder to supply your body with blood and oxygen. Cold weather causes our circulation to slow causing our hands and feet to become cold and numb. As the body draws blood and warmth towards the vital organs and away from the surface of your skin and surface muscles, your extremities are the first to suffer.
You can keep your hands and feet warm by wearing good waterproof mittens that allow for blood flow and boots that allow you to comfortably add an additional wool sock or sheepskin liner for added warmth. If your feet and hand are constricted, this will make you colder faster, so it’s key that you have well-fitting gear.
The process of thermoregulation can cause extreme stress on someone who already has high blood pressure, so it is necessary to maintain your health to control your blood pressure if you are preparing to survive in the extreme cold. To increase your circulation and tolerance for cold weather, you should start to get outdoors in a controlled way; walking, running, or taking up a winter activity like snow-shoeing or cross country skiing (the equipment needed for these will also be handy in a survival situation). You should also focus on maintaining your fitness and prioritizing your water intake––hydration is a key component in the health and function of your body.
With discipline, you can be prepared for any weather and any survival situation. To learn more read our latest blogs, 9 steps you can every day to prepare for the collapse, and our guide to fitness training for preppers.
In an extreme weather survival setting, a human can expend up to 7,000 calories a day. It takes a lot of energy to keep your body warm. In addition, the work needed to survive is racing and intensive––especially when moving through the snow. It would be incredibly dangerous to assume the energy use you need to survive in the backcountry would be similar to when you sit at your computer desk most of the day; underestimating your needed caloric intake is very dangerous.
In order to generate warmth, your body uses your stored energy. Understanding can help you make important decisions for how to use your precious calories; an hour spent collecting firewood is six hours of warmth. This is why knowing about thermogenesis is so critical to your survival.
In order to replenish your energy efficiently, stockpiling food to help you through the lean cold season is a necessity. Your survival plan must include a comprehensive strategy for gathering and storing foods with a long shelf life. Freeze-dried foods, canning, and powered foods can and will keep you alive throughout the long winter. Preparing and storing your own food or purchasing high-quality emergency foods is an essential homesteading skill that will allow you and your family to survive.
Three main factors in dangerous weather dressing are: layers, core protection, and durability.
Fur has been exploited for the sake of fashion, however, being prepared is all about function and necessity. Fur, wool, down, and shearling are all essential ways to preserve heat in extremely cold environments. In our opinion, there is no synthetic garment that is going to keep you alive in sub-arctic temperatures while maintaining dexterity and durability.
You can support sustainable economies by supporting local and indigenous trappers when you are creating a winter arsenal. In addition, gear made from animal fibres that are heirloom quality should last you for a significant period of time. In many cases, animal fibres will outlast you and still continue to be useful.
Shelter is a critical component of bugging out successfully in winter.
The wind chill is a significant risk factor for survivalists, as it greatly increases the rate of heat loss. As your body thermoregulates, it begins to lose heat from the hands, feet, and surface of exposed skin. Building or finding shelter should be one of your top priorities in outdoor survival but this is especially the case in temperatures below freezing. Whether you construct a shelter from your available natural resources (such as snow and branches) or bring a shelter such as a hot tent (which we highly recommend), getting out of the wind is a necessity.
When you prepare for the worst you have a better chance of survival. In intensely cold temperatures, your ability to survive requires practice and discipline. If you live in an area of the world where extreme cold weather is common, we know these tips will help you live.
It can be difficult to find motivation for building new healthy habits and behaviours. It is essential to your overall survival to discipline yourself to engage daily in activities that prolong your life and wellness instead of decreasing them. Discipline is an essential feature of a good prepper and a good bug-out plan. It will increase your overall quality of life and outcomes in a post-collapse world. Don’t forget, the strong survive, but the prepared thrive.
]]>Snow will provide shelter in winter survival scenarios.
When you’re left to the elements, snow can provide needed insulation and protection from the wind, helping you get warm and avoid hypothermia. In many places in the northern hemisphere, snowfall can be abundant for a significant portion of the year.
You can use snow as the main building material or help insulate your shelter from the elements. It seems conter-intuitive, but snow makes an excellent insulation material and can help keep you as warm as possible in an otherwise deadly environment.
Snow is condensation, but it will take more snow to fill a pot for boiling than you assume. We recommend keeping a 10:1 ratio in mind, ten parts snow for one part water. When you use snow for water, you will still need to clean it. Parasites, debris, and other harmful substances exist, even in snow. At a minimum, you should be boiling, and, if available, you can put it through additional filtration––depending on the source. To learn more about purifying water, you can read our blog on clean water or check out our Youtube channel for more.
Warming the snow into water will help prevent your body from burning unnecessary calories when they are few and far between. In addition, if you’re calorie deficient, you can threaten to enter thermogenesis, a process where your body burns calories in an attempt to keep you warm. Thermogenesis will eventually lead to hypothermia, one of the top killers of people exposed to the elements.
If you know what tracks to look for, you can easily identify species roaming in the area you have chosen for bugging out. When you rely on hunting to help you survive in the bush, finding animal runs and common feeding areas for animals can cut down the effort needed to find food––hunt smarter, not harder.
For survival, set no fewer than two dozen traps. While you might have the right bait and everything set properly, it is still a game of calculated chance. Never rely on one trap to sustain yourself––that’s a great way to starve. Check your traps daily to ensure your catch is fresh and not eaten by another creature first. Never put your bare hands in the snare line once the trap is set, or risk losing skin or a digit.
In the wild, animals are incredibly clever. You can use an enzyme spray to eliminate your scent or utilize your own handmade charcoal powder to ‘clean’ the area and tools. Be conscious that everything you touch will leave a tell-tale scent that will signal danger to your potential lunch.
Know and understand the trapping laws in your local region. While some traps are designed for bushcraft emergency survival only, owning these traps can be seen as a direct violation of the gaming laws in your area.
What you will need:
When tracking larger games, your biggest advantage is understanding which tracks belong to which animal. In the winter, tracking is considerably easier as the footprints are readily available to even an inexperienced eye. When food is scarce, animals that graze will frequent areas where the snow is soft and allows them to break through to the vegetation beneath. This can be an advantage to a hunter. Understanding trails and frequent feeding and drinking locations will cut down on wasted effort and give you a higher chance of finding your lunch.
In the winter, large game can be hauled by a solo hunter with the use of a toboggan. One of the best ways to thrive is to be prepared to use your local environment to your advantage.
If you’re in an area where you need to hide quickly and effectively, snow can come to your advantage. While you may lose body heat more quickly, it is a potentially useful way to hide if you are being tracked or are in danger. However, you cannot effectively hide your footprints, so be sure to be careful and disturb your environment as little as possible.
As a preventative measure, you can surround your shelter or tent with snow to help conceal your location as much as possible. This will also help to keep your tent insulated from the cold as well as prevent your tent from being torn away in a harsh winter storm.
Snow is just really cold water, after all. If you need toilet paper in a pinch, you can make an effective but chilly wipeout of a good snowball. While it’s not going to be comfortable, it will be effective.
In addition, you can use a snowball as an effective but chilly way to clean your body, wash a wound, clean your hands, or treat an injury. However, ensure that you have a warm shelter and fire roaring before you subject yourself directly to a cold snowball. Avoiding thermogenesis and subsequent hypothermia should be your number one goal.
In an emergency, you will have to use what you have. Snow can also numb and freeze an area or wound that you need to suture or drain when you do not have access to pain killers or freezing. Numb the area with clean snow or ice to help offset the pain.
Build up a reflective wall of snow on the opposite side of the fire as your shelter to direct heat in your direction as well as prevent the wind from decimating your fire. To do this, use wood and other deadfall to build a barrier that you can easily cover in snow. Ensure that you pack the snow down so that it isn’t easily blown over by the elements. Build your barrier far enough from the fire that it won't immediately melt and drown your only source of warmth, but close enough that it is an effective barrier from the wind.
When you are familiar with where you live and practice surviving in the elements, you will be more prepared for an emergency or societal collapse. Don’t just read about how to survive; get out and learn to winter camp with your friends and family. We have the right tools to help build your survival repertoire.
Pronounced ‘boh-lyn,’ this knot is the king of all knots. If you need to hoist your foot into a tree to protect from bears or tow someone who has fallen in ice, this non-slip knot can be an extremely useful knot to tie quickly and efficiently. It’s a great anchor if you need to move down a cliff face safely or traverse some tricky terrain, and it can help you anchor objects, like a bed or shelter, to a tree safely and easily. The Bowline can be doubled or tripled depending on the need.
To tie this knot, start by forming a 𝇌 shape at the end of the rope slightly larger than the size of the loop you want to end up with. On the side of the U opposite the end of the rope, form a loop 🜻 facing the end of the rope with the working side of the loop sitting on top. Feed the end of the rope up through the loop, around behind the long end of the rope and back down through the loop. Pull the two ends that come through the loop to tighten.
If you are using this rope to rescue someone, it is critical that you tie a safety knot. The Bowline knot comes easily undone when unloaded (no weight), and you will need to secure it. To secure the Bowline knot, use a stopper knot or double overhand knot, and tie it as close to the knot as possible to prevent slipping. To tie a double overhand, leave an excess of rope from the end of the rope you used to make your loop, wrap it around the rope, as close to the knot as possible, forming an X and loop the end through the X from the bottom and pull tightly to secure.
If you have a trap in the water, a boat or canoe, securing guylines on your tarp or tent, or even securing your pet to a tree or post, a Clove Hitch knot is your go-to. The Clove hitch also allows you to easily adjust tension, making it great for constructing an emergency shelter with some paracord and a little grit. You can secure this knot, if you need it to perform under duress, by adding the Double Overhand knot or by using a stake with a flat top to prevent the knot from slipping off.
To tie the Clove Hitch, think of a pretzel. Form one loop where the rope goes over, and hold while you form a second loop the same way. Crisscross the loops with the second one under the first to form a pretzel, put your stake through the centre loop, and pull to tighten.
The Square knot, also known as a Reef knot by sailors, is a useful knot to know if you’re traversing water with a sail or as a great way to secure your rope to yourself while you bug out. Using a mountaineer’s coil or a butterfly coil, you can transport a lot of rope efficiently.
Some people will use this knot to attach two lengths of rope; we caution against this, especially if they are two different kinds of rope. This knot forms an insecure bend that is liable to come undone. As a rule, you should never trust anything to a Square knot, especially not your life.
To tie this knot, take one end of the rope in your left hand and a length of rope in your right hand. Cross the left over the right, forming an X so that your rope ends are in the opposite hand. Then, put the right over left, forming an X and pull tight.
A Sheet bend is great when you need to securely attach two lengths of rope, even if they are different thicknesses or types. This knot can be used to repair a broken line, haul a large load, carry gear up a cliff or steep embankment, and more. You can also use it to secure a tarp of shelter with rope and a metal grommet.
To tie this knot, form a 𝇌 shape with the thicker rope (if applicable) and hold. The second rope ties into the loop by first forming a loop behind the first loop and then wrapping the longest end of the thinner or second rope over itself, forming an X and pulling it through the loop. The end of the second rope will be left, and you can secure it further by using a Double Sheet Bend or by tying a Double Overhand knot.
A Double Fisherman’s knot is a valuable tool for tying two separate pieces of rope together in a secure manner. Often used in rock climbing and as an essential component of the Prusik Hitch, this knot is safe and extremely useful for any outdoor survivalist.
Take your two ropes and have the ends of the ropes facing each other. Slide the ropes together so they remain parallel to each other until you reach about a forearm length. Take the first rope and loop it twice around the other, forming an X shape. Loop the first rope under the X loops and pull taut. Repeat this with the second rope around the first. Pull the long ends of the rope so that each of the knots pulls tightly together.
In mountainous or glacial terrain, especially where emergency help is far away, or in a post-collapse setting, completely unavailable, the Prusik Hitch can be used to repel into or lift people out of caves, pits, crevices, and other tricky and dangerous terrains.
First, tie a shorter length of rope in a double fisherman’s knot so that you have a closed-loop. Take your loop and the rope you will use for repelling, and lay the loop flat with the knot side running parallel to the second rope. Take the knot end of the loop and wrap it around the second rope and through itself; repeat this two more times; pull on the knot end of the loop to tighten around the second rope as tightly as possible is ideal. You can now use a carabiner on the loop as an adjustable repelling tool to safely assist you or help another.
Having these skills is crucial to your success in surviving any outdoor situation. The more skills that you have in your arsenal, the easier it will be to survive. In addition, your knowledge will prepare you for any emergency and help you keep calm under pressure. Learning how to tie knots for every scenario will help you expend less energy, rescue others, build shelters confidently, and keep your food stores safe from wildlife and humans alike.
Even a rudimentary knowledge of first aid training is better than none. Still, with an abundance of courses available, both official and self-taught, there’s no excuse for having no knowledge. Learning how to treat a variety of emergencies in a cool-headed manner is a key skill when navigating medical emergencies in disasters and the wilderness.
It goes without saying that a lawless society is more dangerous. Several key factors make it much more so. When building knowledge for the collapse of society, it is key to prioritize these key risks and learn to treat them.
Your first aid kit needs to be built for survival. You can stockpile several items, including medication, so that in a grid-down setting, you’re not trying to find a pharmacy but are well on your way to your bug-out location or fortifying your home. Unprepared people will be scrambling to acquire supplies and will be incredibly hostile and dangerous. By being ready, you can avoid unnecessary danger.
Save your family and yourself by gaining knowledge that can keep you alive. In a grid-down apocalypse scenario, your only hope is the work you put in ahead of time. You can thrive in any environment by learning homestead and bushcraft survival techniques, such as first aid.
Each country has different regulations on acquiring firearms for hunting, self-defence, or collecting. The language and regulations will influence the length of time you will wait between initiating the process and utilizing your firearm. A key part of your preparedness planning is ensuring that you are able to hunt as efficiently as possible. Learning how to hunt wild game is a key skill set that you should try to develop before it becomes necessary. If you live in an area where firearms are not permitted, learning to use a crossbow or compound bow will be a critical part of your journey.
If you’re based in Canada, this process can take some time. Initiate the steps to acquiring your Possession and Acquisition Licence by completing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). This course isn’t offered all the time in many provinces; you may have to wait until the next course announces registration, depending on your location and the number of instructors. In Canada, you will need to complete both a written and practical exam in order to get your PAL. For handguns and specialty guns, you will need to complete training for the Restricted Firearms Safety Course and complete an additional restricted written and practical test. In addition, for a restricted license, you must prove that you are a collector or are registered at a handgun shooting range in order to buy restricted guns.
To apply for your permit in Canada there are additional requirements such as a background check, criminal record check, and a 28-day minimum processing period. You will be asked to provide two references who can talk about your mental health, addictions, and domestic abuse history if any. For restricted weapons, you will need to register them with the police before taking them home, so planning ahead is crucial.
In the U.S., there are limited restrictions for owning and purchasing a firearm. While different states will have different additional rules, the federal laws require only an instant background check which may look at your addictions and domestic violence history as well as criminal record and immigration status. Many Americans have acquired firearms without any background check––it is critical to know which rules your state enforces.
Your fitness will matter in the post-grid-down society. Strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health will all play a key role in your ability to survive. In a world of survival, your ability to move quickly and quietly can be the difference between life and death. Learn more about strength training for preppers on our blog.
It is critical to know that all exercises have modifications that make them accessible to all bodies at various stages of comfort and ability. Starting by doing the version of the exercise that fits your level of fitness is key for avoiding injury. Start at your own body weight and slowly add weight as you progress over time. The only bad day to start focusing on your strength and stamina is tomorrow.
Workouts that promote cardiovascular health include running, swimming, jogging, and bike riding. Cardio is a critical part of any exercise plans and is essential for good overall body health and function. These exercises promote lower blood pressure, reduced arthritis pain, an increase of endorphins, and overall stamina.
To avoid injury, incorporate stretching into your exercise routine. A healthy body is limber and able to tackle a wide range of physical activities. While getting jacked is what we all think about when engaging in physical activity, it is far more important to be strong and agile. The body is a complete system that will work together to keep you alive if you treat it well.
Compound exercises are an efficient way to build strength, as they target multiple muscle groups simultaneously. These exercises aren't necessarily about how a particular muscle looks, they are strictly designed to make you stronger.
An everyday carry or (EDC) is a bag that contains all your most basic survival items. This is a gray man survival strategy that is essential for preparedness. In addition to a bug-out bag for your home and vehicle(s), this bug-out pack is one that you can carry with you at all times.
Easily one of the most important parts of becoming prepared for anything is learning how to stockpile food and water. Scarcity will be the leading cause of violence and death in a post-apocalyptic or grid-down world. Even for emergencies such as natural disasters, many families remain completely unprepared. At the very minimum, you should have enough food to feed yourself and your family for two weeks at all times. As you progress in your preparedness, you can strategically stockpile goods and supplies for 30 years or more.
Focus on stockpiling items which will not require precious energy to prepare, as resources will be at a premium. Pre-packaged foods which require only water to make are an easy way to get your required nutrition quickly and efficiently.
Water is and will continue to be a critical resource for survival. In North America, many of us are able to take clean water for granted. In a post-collapse world, no one will be working at the water treatment plant to deliver water to your taps. Learning how to effectively find and sanitize water is necessary for survival.
Having a bug-out plan or evacuation plan is a critical step in your preparedness. Whether you want to build a bunker or not, emergency planning is good practice for everyone, everywhere. No matter how well stocked your home is, there is always a chance that you will have to flee or evacuate at a moment’s notice. This is where a well stocked bug out bag becomes a critical resource.
For a comprehensive breakdown on bug out bag strategies, check out:
Fortifying your home is a critical step in protecting yourself and your family. We think of the home as a comprehensive defence system to deter intruders at every stage.
For further learning check out these resources:
Generating heat and electricity is a key part of your survival plan. One of the ways that preppers are often portrayed is their obsession with off-grid bug-out locations and bunkers. This is for a reason—it’s smart. Having a source of electricity is not only critical for your survival but also a necessity for thriving in a grid-down world. All preppers should start the process of developing off-grid solutions or backup power sources as part of their survival plans.
In colder climates, such as Canada and the upper half of the United States, winter also makes it dangerous to live without a reliable heat source. Fuels such as wood, propane, diesel, kerosene, and gas will all go a long way when they are no longer widely available. In addition, stocking wool blankets, warm clothing, and proper outerwear is a crucial part of your winter preparedness.
An off-grid solution can include generators, solar panels, wind energy, geothermal energy, and wood-burning stoves.
Get to know the place you live and the surrounding area. Being ready for anything also means understanding efficient and discreet ways of moving through the territory around you, whether it’s urban or rural. Understand the back roads, in-roads, and evacuation routes, study and memorize points of strategic interest for scavenging and shelter, and understand the people in the area you live in. Identifying a threat ahead of a disaster will help keep your family safe.
Consider where you live in the world and how easy it will be to defend your home and property, evacuate in a disaster, or bug out in a grid-down scenario. Considerations such as population density, access to water, and discretion should all factor into where you live in the world.
A prepper library will include information on foraging, survival, food growing, maps (topographical, railways, roads, and trails), how to process animals, food growing techniques, first aid, how to build shelters, automotive repair, blacksmithing, and more.
These resources are an incredible tool in your preparedness arsenal. Reading and studying these books will increase your chance of survival as well as teach you invaluable skills for being self-sufficient.
We deep dive into these strategies on our youtube channel as well as our blog. This is a primer for advanced skills and strategies that you can start to develop. Being prepared for anything is how you survive and thrive in any environment. Get out in nature and start to hone your skills today. The only wrong time to start is tomorrow.
]]>Alcohol contains three main ingredients: Yeast, Water, and Sugar. You can make alcohol from pretty much any ingredient, however, starchy and sugary produce such as cereal grains, potatoes, berries, and apples will work best. Humans have been brewing alcohol of various kinds for millennia. Ancient humans brewed alcohol, from beer to whiskey, from the ingredients found in their local region. Whether you are making spirits, beer, cider, mead, wine, or even sake, the basic process is the same––and you can do it from almost anywhere with very few supplies.
As a survivalist, you should be able to identify the edible wild foods in your area, but another important skill is gardening. Growing your own food and medicinal herbs is a key part of your long-term survival. When it comes to brewing alcohol, the most sustainable brewing practice is one that uses the materials grown by your own hands.
Creating a self-sufficient homestead requires careful planning. Knowing all the variables is a key part of a successful harvest, year over year. When brewing your own alcohol, knowing which plants, fruits, and herbs can be turned into a delicious blend requires experience. Knowing your hardiness zone, soil type, and being familiar with your growing season will help you successfully plant your garden every year.
Plan your brewing around your garden so that you are always using the freshest produce. This will ensure flavour, and a high-quality product––all the better to barter with.
Brewing beer can be done with minimal growing and foraging. Hops grow all over North America, and cereal grains are relatively easy to either store or find and process with limited technology. One important way to prep for the post-collapse is to have seeds ready for growing and harvesting your own grains and hops. Ensuring you are able to grow your own food as well as identify edible plants in your region is a necessary component of survival, and beer is no exception. Growing your own supplies is a critical part of self-sufficiency, and easier than you think.
The most complicated part of brewing beer is ensuring that all your tools and supplies are sterilized. There are several powdered sanitizers that you can stock if you plan to continue brewing beer or making wine after a collapse.
Brewing ale is the easiest style of beer to brew. This is because any mistakes can be fixed easily, and they can be salvaged more easily than other styles of beer. For brewing beer, you will need these 4 main ingredients:
There are several styles of beer that can be brewed, and once you get the hang of things, you’ll be able to experiment with several different styles. The basic steps for brewing beer are:
Fruit wines can be made out of just about anything. Foraging in your region can produce delicious results. Learn about the fruits which grow naturally in your region, such as berries, apples, rhubarb, and grapes. This will be one of the easier alcohols to make after the collapse, as long as you have a sturdy place to store your materials and bottles. Wine is similar to beer in that it needs three main components:
In some cases, you will need to add extra sugar in order to have the sugar content high enough for the yeast to convert into alcohol. You can measure the amount of sugar in your wine using a Brix hydrometer. The essential rule to follow: more sugar = higher alcohol wine. The process of adding sugar to your wine is called chaptalization. You can use any sweetener, such as brown sugar, table sugar, honey, molasses, and even raisins or other dehydrated fruit. If you're in the woods, knowing how to process and utilize honey and molasses will be a great skill to have.
Yeast is the next important component of making wine. Until you are very familiar with the process of making alcohol, it is highly recommended that you use specialty yeasts that are sold specifically for use in making alcohol. You can stockpile these, to some degree, if you keep them from moisture, air, and damage. Make sure you keep a detailed record of expiration dates to help you brew before your materials go to waste.
Crushing the fruits and saving the juice is the most important part of the process. You can choose to leave the skins on during fermentation, as this will increase both the colour and flavour of your wine. There are a number of ways of doing this, but finding a fruit press will be the best long-term solution, especially for apples and other hard fruits that can be difficult to extract juice from.
Take your juice and add yeast. Allow this mixture to ferment. This process takes a few days, after which you will be able to move the mixture into your secondary container. When you siphon your fermented juice from one container to the other, ensure you get as much liquid as possible without picking up any of the sediment (also known as lees) from the bottom. This will ensure your final product is clear, and that your flavours are uncompromised.
You can make Kilju, the Finnish name for sugar wine, from table sugar, water, and yeast. If you push the process, kilju can be ready in as little as a week. Many people who make this sugar wine add citrus or herbs to mask the slightly off-putting flavours. You can add fresh fruit, or even frozen juice concentrate to offset the flavour. Once you know how to make sugar wine, it is easy to develop a recipe that reflects what you have locally available.
In a survival situation, Kilju can be made inside of a sanitized pop bottle, so it is a good thing to know how to make it. In addition, kilju can be distilled, making neutral alcohol perfect for sanitizing or bartering. You can make kilju from naturally occurring sugars like honey or molasses instead of table sugar, so making it in the middle of the woods is completely viable.
Disclaimer: In many places, making homemade moonshine and hard alcohol is illegal. Please be aware of your local bylaws.
The necessary part of making any alcohol comes down to the copper still. You can convert your fruit wine into brandy, a mash of grains into whiskey, and your garden potatoes into vodka, but you will need a high-quality copper still. The process of turning your fermented wort into alcohol is called distillation.
As above, making alcohol requires three main ingredients: sugar, yeast, and water. You can get fancy about what you use as a mash, from grains to potatoes or even foraged berries, but the main components stay the same.
Methyl alcohol, or methanol, is incredibly dangerous. As little as 10ml can be extremely dangerous, and 30ml is enough to kill a person. When you begin to learn how to make moonshine, it is incredibly important to know about methyl alcohol. Methanol is a by-product of producing alcohol, however, it is often diluted in such large quantities of liquid that it isn’t a threat. When you distill grain wort or fruit alcohols into moonshine, you are removing all the liquid that previously diluted the methanol, making a toxic reduction.
Whether you are trying to build a self-sustained homestead or are looking to accumulate items to barter with in the post-collapse, brewing alcohol is a necessary skill to develop. Alcohol has many functions and has been brewed and used by humans since the creation of societies.
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When you pursue something new, it is critical to jump in. However, many can’t afford to immediately invest in higher-priced items. This bag is intended as a starter bag that can be used to save your life. Our budget bag specifically uses items that are durable, but widely available, to save you money while you build your advanced preparedness gear over time.
While this budget bag is effective, if you’re ready to upgrade your kit, check out our three-season checklist for a comprehensive list of everything we recommend for your pack. We go through our advanced preparedness bug-out bag in detail as well as detail our strategy for packing well.
Backpack
Find one at a thrift store, Walmart, or in your house already. Avoid ones that have all the extra molle webbing and plastic clips, as you’re often not getting the quality you might expect. Some tips for finding the right pack?Be prepared for an emergency, even on a small budget.
Even with a small budget, you can begin to build your bug-out arsenal. Many of these items can be found in your home, or are widely available, and you just need to put them together so that you can access them in an emergency. Preparedness is about more than planning for an apocalypse, having an emergency kit is critical for your family in the event of a natural disaster or grid-down. Being prepared isn’t difficult, it’s necessary.
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There’s no washing machine, and there’s definitely no dryer. Your hygiene is crucial in your survival. From attracting bugs and vermin with your smell to being detectable when you wish to remain hidden––your smell can put you in danger. In addition, harmful bacteria and mud can lead to contact dermatitis, eczema, infection, and more.
You can dry your clothes using the wind efficiently with only pins and a rope (we recommend having a paracord in your bug-out bag). Clothespins can be used in other applications, like building shelters or keeping open bags of food closed, so they are useful to have on hand.
Traditional wood tools can help you produce everything from full-fledged furniture, arrows, traps for killing game, and more. Even if you have a generator that can power your power tools, having a backup is the best way to ensure your survival. In addition, manual woodworking tools are lighter to carry if you need to bug-out light and help you efficiently build a stable shelter.
Many wood tools, like chisels, can even be an emergency weapon if necessary.
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From rats, wasps, mosquitoes, black flies, and more. We recommend a comprehensive set of pest control options.
Safety pins are cheap and often come in bulk, so they are easy to stock. These are useful for clothing repair, first aid, fish hooks, alternative tweezers, as a firestarter, and even as emergency medical tools––gruesome, but could save your life. We highly recommend researching emergency medical care and proper techniques for sanitizing medical tools and wounds.
Office supplies might not have been on the top of your list of bug-out necessities, but they have many applied uses.
7. Spray Paint
Useful for signage and camouflaging (many cans are labelled to be camouflage specific) certain items. Spray paint can also be used to mark your path, to communicate messages, as warnings for others, and more.
Home defence is an important part of your survival planning, but there are some items that many preppers neglect.
Even if you don’t currently wear glasses, as you age, your eyes will require corrective lenses––sorry, it’s a fact. Adjustable glasses can be adjusted to multiple powers, both near and far-sighted, so that you can use them for a long time. They can also be a lifesaver if someone in your survival crew breaks or loses their eyewear. They’re not fashionable, but they are incredibly functional.
Knowing what you have and what you can add is the best way to be prepared for anything. From grid-down to natural disasters, having a plan is the best way to survive. Continually evaluating your bug-out bag, food stores, and other emergency gear to ensure that it is in good order and that you haven’t overlooked anything will prevent unnecessary struggle. Review your supply often to ensure it is in good order, keep it organized and well stored to avoid damage or spoilage, and take precautionary measures to ensure it is safe from environmental factors such as vermin, water, and heat.
Check out these other blogs for more information on how and what to prepare:
A fire is a dead giveaway of your location, but it’s also a necessity for survival. Making a covert fire is a survival skill that will be a necessity when being hidden is critical. A Dakota fire hole is the best method for keeping your site hidden.
In addition to building a fire, you can follow these tips to increase how discreet you are both day and night:
When choosing a location to lay your head, it would be a waste of time to choose a location that is right off the road or trail that is easily accessible and easily found. Keeping away from easy-to-access locations is a great way to stave off any unwanted company. In addition, you can utilize these methods to further hide your camp:
Any trash or food prep items left behind can give away your position, especially if someone is looking to find you. A clean site is critical both as a matter of respect to the environment and your safety. For low detection nourishment, you can utilize these tips:
In addition to maintaining a low profile, protect yourself and your food from wildlife by suspending it from a tree or rockface (having a paracord in your bug-out bag is incredibly important for this). Ensure your food is also stored away from your sleeping area to prevent unwanted attention from bears and other predators.
Learning how to navigate without the assistance of GPS devices is a critical skill after grid-down, but it can also help you avoid detection if there hasn’t been a grid failure. Signals from your GPS device can allow you to be located and can additionally provide a trajectory and search area for anyone trying to find you. You can read our blog on manual navigation to build your skills and learn how to orient in the wild. In addition, always remember:
Learning how to move in the wild to avoid detection requires strategic and methodical thinking. Developing these skills ahead of necessity is the best way to ensure you are prepared for anything. If you want to learn more about how to prepare to bug out and what to pack, we have checklists that can help you choose the right items for your needs.
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The best way to store your powdered or dehydrated foods is with vacuum-sealed mylar bags with silica gel packs and an oxygen absorber. The silica gel will ensure that no moisture can spoil your foods, and the oxygen absorber will ensure that oxygen doesn’t oxidize your hard-earned spoils. In addition to mylar bags, you can store multiple bags in large plastic containers to eliminate pest damage and make storage easier by stacking containers. Preventing spoilage is the primary concern when thinking about long-term food storage, so it is critical to do it properly. The last thing you want in an emergency is to discover that your food supply has been compromised in any way.
With proper storage, powdered foods will last a very long time, making them an invaluable addition to your emergency food stores. In addition to more obvious things like flour, sugar, and salt, we hope you could get an idea of the range of foods that you can stockpile now.
We have several videos that cover emergency food preparation and storage.
Drying foods is one of the most ancient ways of preserving food. In every case, ensure that your produce is fresh, washed, pitted, and ripe to maintain the best flavour for many years to come. No matter which method you choose, dehydrating your own food is a process, so it pays to do a lot at once.
Dehydrating food allows you to preserve food for longer while maintaining the flavour. By reducing the moisture content below 20%, you are preventing decay. Mould needs moisture to survive, which is why you can store everything from meat to berries without refrigeration by dehydrating them. Dehydration is an ancient process that maximizes your harvest, allowing you to feed yourself and your family in any situation.
Not only does dehydrated food last for a long time when well stored, but it is also superior to other methods of food preservation like canning. Canning foods can compromise the quality of the food over time both through the use of heat to seal the jars and through oxidation––so you must store canned foods in a dark, cool environment.
Dehydrated foods are packed with nutrients, and by volume, are an even higher source of nutrients than fresh produce; for example, dried fruits have over three times the fibre of their fresh counterparts by weight. Since you can dehydrate and store anything from milk to mushrooms, this is easily the most efficient way to stockpile food for any emergency.
Freeze-drying relies on the process of sublimation. Sublimation is the process of evaporation without a liquid stage. In nature, this occurs where the combination of air, light, and temperature create perfect conditions for evaporation––this is how snow covered mountains produce moisture despite remaining frozen. It can be difficult to fully freeze-dry foods without investing in a vacuum sealed unit, or having access to dry ice and the materials for proper handling, but it is worth the investment. Freeze-drying foods allows you to retain the shape and colour of foods, as well as remove the most moisture for easy powdering. It’s also incredibly versatile, and can allow you to preserve anything from a plate of ravioli to a carton of eggs.
Dehydrating relies on several factors to remove the water from foods, sun, time, and airflow. Whether in nature or via a dehydrator, the key elements remain the same. As a result, you are able to retain the nutrients and fibre or your fruits, vegetables, and even meat without the spoilage that claims fresh produce all too quickly. Dehydrating can shrink and slightly discolour food, think banana chips or raisins, but the process ensures long-lasting and delicious treats.
Powdered food is food that has been dehydrated and then processed into a powder. There are different dehydration methods, but freeze-drying is required for powdered foods, as it removes the most moisture content. Storing your food in this way allows you to store the most nutrients and calories into the smallest possible volume so that you can store more with less room required. There are several reasons to powder foods, as:
Many foods are easier to store and use as a powder, such as eggs, meat, milk, and more. Freeze-dried foods are quickly turned into powder with a food processor, especially if you invest in a vacuum freeze dryer––which is the most efficient way to freeze-dry foods.
There are several tools and materials that are needed to dehydrate foods at home. Have all your materials on hand, the food prepared, and storage bags ready.
There are many ways to dehydrate food, and while we prefer freeze-drying to remove moisture effectively, you can make use of any technology you have available. Here are some of the most common ways to dehydrate food.
To speed up the process, you can purchase an indirect solar dryer, which is more effective and takes less time than the old-fashioned way. In addition, it is less susceptible to the elements as it is better covered.
To use a vacuum seal freezer:
How to properly store dehydrated foods.
Food storage is a critical part of preparedness planning. Long-term food stocking requires careful storage free from moisture, pests, heat, and oxygen. To store your powdered or dehydrated foods, follow these steps.
Long-term food storage is a critical part of your emergency plan. Learning to dehydrate and store your own food can save you money while preserving your hard-grown produce. When well-stored, dehydrated foods have a significant shelf life. In addition, it is one of the best ways to preserve the original nutrients of the food, whereas canning and other forms of preservation can destroy some nutrients, such as vitamin C, through heating.
Check out our youtube channel, where we discuss our food pantry strategy and food items to stockpile now.
If you want to learn more, check out our Youtube channel where we do comprehensive gear reviews, survival skill development, and more. This blog is Part 2/2, and you can check out our blog on packing strategy here.
Which backpack should I use for my bug-out bag?
Choose a bag that is 40-60 litres depending on your strength and needs. Ensure your back has quality stitching, durable fabric, allows for customization, fits your body well, and is ergonomic. We have a large selection of bags to choose from, whether you are opting for a Greyman or tactical style bag. The best way to find a bag that works for you is to use it––take it on your next backcountry camping trip, and learn what it feels like to hike with it fully packed.
Category 1: Shelter
Category 2: Safety
Category 3: Utility
Category 4: Sustenance & Hygiene
We have tested a lot of bags on our Youtube Gear Reviews, and we’ve found the bags that perform best are both customizable and comfortable. Our current choice is the Markhor 45- Vanquest. Your packed bag will range from 40-75lbs, depending on what you choose to carry, so your choice of bag will need to be able to handle the weight.
Can you carry this much weight over a long distance in rugged terrain? If you want to learn more about fitness training that can help you develop your strength, we have a blog that can help to train multiple muscle groups; good core strength is an essential facet of preparedness planning. Being prepared is about more than a bomb shelter, it is preparing your mind and body, and having the right food and gear to survive.
There are several items that will benefit you by being easily accessible while you are wearing your pack. In addition, we always store a wool blanket or sleeping bag on the outside of the bag, as it takes up too much precious room inside.
We break down what goes inside and outside our bag by ensuring need-to-access items are stored outside and are easily accessible and non-essential items like spare clothes or cooking gear are on the inside. This breakdown can also help you prioritize items that you will need for your pack overall by organizing items by available space and necessity of use.
To us, there are two overarching considerations when preparing to head out into the wilderness or preparing to bug-out.
When you have a good understanding of what you need to survive, you can choose items that will help you thrive––without burdening yourself with too much extra weight. Thriving is knowing the difference between unnecessary gear and an object that will assist you in multiple bushcraft tasks is a huge part of learning how to build your survival bag. By packing smart, you can live well in any environment.
If you are going to be moving in the dark, having a flashlight or a headlamp can prevent unnecessary injury and danger. You can choose one with multiple light options including an emergency flash if you need to be seen.
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A minimum level of preparedness can go a long way. At the very least, your family should be ready to get through a minimum of three days without access to food, water, or electricity. Keeping supplies readily accessible can help you through any emergency, such as flash flooding, fire, grid-down, or tornado.
If disaster strikes, you cannot rely on public services, grocery stores, or emergency services. That is why it is so critical to be prepared. Whether you have to evacuate or shelter-in-place with no power or running water, a 72-hour kit can keep you and your family safe.
While the world can feel complicated and intricate, at the end of the day, to survive all we need is food, shelter, water, and warmth. These are the basic tenets you should start your kit with.
Keep all your supplies in an easy to access location, preferably in a waterproof container or up high to avoid spoilage and damage. Check on your emergency kit yearly to ensure everything continues to be usable, edible, and in good condition. The last thing you want is to think you’re prepared and open your kit to find ruin.
This checklist can help you and your family be prepared for the worst. This is our most basic checklist for anyone who wants to be prepared for a short-term emergency. If you want to learn more about preparing for longer periods of time, read more of our blogs or check out our Youtube channel.
Regardless of where you live in the world, several factors can bring down power. From ice storms to flooding to civil unrest, having a consistent source of energy is a critical consideration. Having access to power can allow you to cook, charge electronics, conserve food resources, and keep warm while sheltering in place. This is especially true in an urban setting where you have less access to natural resources or places to utilize fire.
Technology is developing at a rapid pace, which is allowing for superior options for survival planning. The Inergy Flex 1500 solar generator has a modular system that allows for increased flexibility in use, where other lithium-ion battery-based generators have a unibody design. The Flux solar generator allows you to exchange the output heads if they become outdated and attach extra batteries for simultaneous charging. The modular design is an innovation we are glad to see, as it allows you to maximize the life of the lithium-ion batteries that power the unit––well past the relevance of its outputs.
While it is not a whole-home solution, it is an indispensable tool. The Inergy Flux’s 1500 watts continuous energy output will power most electronics and appliances in your home––including a refrigerator. The modular design allows you to connect and charge multiple batteries at a time, allowing you to always have a backup. This modular design allows you to use multiple batteries when powering large appliances, like a fridge or freezer, and pack only one battery for a camping trip where you’re charging devices or lights. This design improves its overall functionality compared to a unibody model by making it more versatile for multiple applications.
The Flux generator is good for emergencies, but it is also an excellent investment for your bug-out vehicle or even to power an off-grid tiny home. You can power several types of electronics with the generator’s multiple outputs, and you can power the batteries faster by connecting multiple solar panels. In addition, the compact design is perfect for smaller spaces.
Compound exercises, as opposed to isolated ones, work muscle groups. These exercises benefit you in several ways, such as:
These are great examples of compound exercises that can build your strength and improve your fitness. Always remember to start where you are at––don’t go from no exercise to trying to deadlift 200lbs. Begin lower than you assume you are and build from there. This approach allows you to grow and excel without injury. Remember, all things take time and practice, so be patient with the process.
Becoming more fit can be daunting, even if you’re preparing for grid-down. Finding an activity that you enjoy can be a great way to start adding more fitness into your daily routine. Building a new habit takes work and drive. So start with something you can get into.
In our latest Youtube poll, many of you voted that preparedness fitness was one of your top priorities. We hope these techniques will improve your preparedness plans, and get you one step closer to being ready.
]]>Foraging is an essential bushcraft skill for every prepper.
We keep talking about it, like in our blog about Navigation Basics, but knowing your region should be your number one priority when preparing for emergencies and SHTF scenarios. When you are planning Where to Bug Out, you will need to collect all the relevant data for your area, such as declination coordinates, local flora and fauna, and locations of freshwater sources. Read our gear list below to make sure you have the tools to be ready for anything!
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