Tag: Survival Skills

Essential Survival Skills: Knowledge You Can’t Stockpile

JM Mason
A man in the forest with no shirt on is holding a stick over a small fire. There are fallen logs on the ground around him.

You can hoard food, water, and equipment, but when disaster strikes, skills often matter more than stuff. Gear breaks, runs out, or gets left behind. Knowledge stays with you forever. These essential survival skills could save your life—and they cost nothing but time to learn. Fire: Warmth, Water, and Morale Fire provides heat, purifies water, cooks food, signals rescuers, and boosts morale. It’s foundational to survival. Multiple ignition methods: Never rely on a single fire-starting technique. Master at least three: Lighter/matches are obvious but fail when wet or damaged. Store…

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Home Security Basics for Preppers: Protecting Your Sanctuary and Supplies

JM Mason
The front door of a home in the country, the light is fading and the front porch light is on

You’ve invested time and money building food storage, gathering emergency supplies, and preparing for various scenarios. But have you considered that your preparedness efforts might make you a target? A secure home protects both your family and your preparations. The Prepper Security Paradox Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the better prepared you are, the more you have worth protecting. During shortages or emergencies, your stocked pantry becomes valuable. Your generator becomes coveted. Your water reserves become essential. But security isn’t about building a fortress or living in fear. It’s about making…

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Building a Practical First Aid Kit: Beyond the Band-Aids

JM Mason
Two make hikers sitting on rocks in the forest, one is wrapping a bandage around the other man's hand

When seconds count, a well-stocked first aid kit can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major emergency. But walk into any pharmacy, and you’ll find pre-made kits filled with items you’ll never use and missing things you actually need. Let’s build something better. Why Pre-Made Kits Fall Short Those $20 first aid kits in the red nylon bags? They’re designed to check boxes, not handle real emergencies. You’ll get 40 adhesive bandages, a single pair of tweezers, and maybe some alcohol wipes—but nothing to control serious bleeding…

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Emergency Power Solutions for Your Home: Practical Options for Every Budget

JM Mason
There is a portable power machine sitting on a workbench in a garage with a small solar panel. There is a refrigerator in the background.

Power outages are increasing in frequency and duration across the country. Whether from severe weather, aging infrastructure, or grid maintenance, losing electricity is no longer a rare occurrence. Having a backup power plan isn’t paranoid—it’s practical. Assess Your Actual Needs Before buying any equipment, honestly evaluate what you need to power during an outage. You probably don’t need to run your entire home. Most people need: Make a list with wattage requirements for each item. Your refrigerator’s label shows this information, usually between 100-800 watts. Add a safety margin of…

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Managing Stress In SHTF

JM Mason
Tall skyscrapers in a city are burning down and crumbling. There is a lot of smoke in the air.

While most groups and forums deal heavily with a focus on food and gear, there are many other items that you need to understand to be a well prepared prepper. Stress management is one of those items. How well do you handle stress? This is a question you need to answer honestly. You are the only one who will have to hear the answer, so please be honest with yourself. Stress can be a dangerous thing. And knowing how to deal with it can be a life saver. There are…

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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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