Category: Food

Water Purification Methods for Emergencies: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water When Systems Fail

JM Mason
A man wearing a backpack in crouched down at a stream in a forest. He is putting water into a plastic water bottle.

Clean water is survival’s foundation. While you can survive weeks without food, dehydration kills within days. When municipal water systems fail—whether from contamination, infrastructure damage, or natural disasters—knowing how to purify water becomes a critical skill. Understanding Water Contamination Water can harbor three main threats: Biological contaminants: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites cause immediate illness. These organisms are invisible but widespread in untreated water sources. Chemical contaminants: Pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial pollutants pose long-term health risks. These are harder to remove and require specific filtration methods. Physical contaminants: Sediment, debris,…

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Home Food Storage on a Budget: Building Your Pantry Without Breaking the Bank

JM Mason
There is a pot and an empty canning jar on a counter in a kitchen. There is three jars with vegetables and there is a cutting board with carrots and cucumbers and a set of tongs.

Building a well-stocked pantry doesn’t require a second mortgage or a warehouse. With smart shopping strategies and a systematic approach, you can create a robust food storage system that fits both your budget and your lifestyle. Start With What You Actually Eat The biggest mistake in food storage is buying items you’d never normally consume. Those buckets of wheat berries won’t help if you don’t own a grain mill or know how to use one. Instead, focus on extending your everyday pantry. Look at your family’s regular meal rotation. If…

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Prepper Pantry: Spices

JM Mason
Small jars of various spices sitting on a wooden shelf.

Spices for your Prepper Pantry Having spices in your prepper pantry is important. It’s important because it will allow you to add variety to your meals. You can start with the same basic ingredients but if you change the spices, then it can taste like something completely different. And because spices take up very little space you can greatly expand your meal options without sacrificing too much room in your pantry. Food will play a huge role in our survival if we ever find ourselves in that situation. And not…

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Long Term Seed Storage

JM Mason
There are small green sprouts growing out of dark soil.

When it comes to saving seeds, it’s important to consider the long-term storage of those seeds. Proper storage can help extend the viability of your seeds and ensure that they are ready to use when you are ready to plant them. Here are some tips for storing seeds for the long term. Choose the right storage container: It’s important to choose a container that is airtight and moisture-proof. One common mistake when storing seeds is using containers that are not airtight. Air can cause seeds to dry out, which can…

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Wild Edibles: Cattails

JM Mason
There are cattails in front of a lake and the air is misty.

Cattails, also known as bulrushes, are a type of wetland plant that can be found in marshes, swamps, and along the edges of ponds and lakes. They are a very versatile plant and can be used for a variety of things including shelter, food and fuel. The fluff acts as a good insulation material as well. But most importantly they are actually a delicious and nutritious wild food that can be eaten in a variety of ways. One of the most well-known parts of the cattail plant that is edible…

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How to Render Lard

JM Mason
A feral pig in the forest.

Rendering lard is a process by which the fat from a pig is melted and separated from any bits of meat or tissue, resulting in a pure fat product that can be used for cooking or other purposes. Lard has a high smoke point and a rich, savory flavor, making it a popular choice for frying, baking, and other cooking methods. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to render lard at home: 1. Start by obtaining some raw pig fat, also known as leaf lard. This can often be…

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Winter Wild Edibles (Part 2)

JM Mason
Snow is on the ground and there are buckets hanging on the maple trees to catch the syrup. There is an old wooden wagon wheel leaning against one tree.

Yes there are options for wild edibles even in winter! 8. Maple Sap February is usually the best month to tap trees for their sap. Then boil it down for some delicious maple syrup. 9. Mullein The leaves can be brewed into a tea. 10. Chicory The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked but has a bitter taste. The roots can be roasted and steeped for a coffee tasting drink. Although it will be decaf! 11. Hickory Nuts These nuts are very calorie dense and taste similar to pecans.…

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Winter Wild Edibles (Part 1)

JM Mason
Red berries on stem that are frozen with icicles all over them.

Yes there are options for wild edibles even in winter! 1. Cattails Although the cattail has many edible parts, in the winter, the best part to eat is the starchy roots. You can use it to thicken soups/stews or grind into flour. 2. Persimmons These fruits taste best in late fall through January when they are wrinkled and squishy. You can eat them raw, make them into jam or ferment them into a wonderful wine. 3. Rose Hips The skin and pulp can be eaten raw or you can use…

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How To Dry Onions From The Garden

JM Mason
Big onions are growing in the brown dirt.

When the tops of onions start to turn brown and fall over, they are ready for harvest. You’ll want to carefully dig them up and leave the tops on. The next step is to cure or dry them. You need to lay them in a single layer in a dry, warm, sunny and well ventilated area. Depending on conditions it may take up to two weeks to fully dry. You will need to turn them so that they cure evenly. When the onion tops and necks are completely dry and…

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Eating Bugs In SHTF

JM Mason
There are scorpions on kabob skewers that have been cooked.

If you were in a real survival situation would you eat bugs? Heck yeah I would, I’m gonna fight to survive no matter what. And insects are a good source of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. We all prepare so that we don’t have to do things like this, but as preppers your backup plan needs a backup plan. If you ever find yourself in a survival situation and you are separated from your preps then knowing how to get multiple food sources is the best plan. Do you know…

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