Tag: Survival Tips

Sanitation When the Grid Goes Down: The Unglamorous Essential

JM Mason
An old weathered outhouse in the woods.

Nobody wants to talk about it. It doesn’t photograph well for Instagram. There are no cool gadgets or tactical gear involved. But when the water stops flowing and the toilets stop flushing, sanitation becomes the difference between uncomfortable inconvenience and life-threatening disease. History teaches this lesson brutally. During disasters, cholera, dysentery, and other sanitation-related diseases often kill more people than the initial catastrophe. The 2010 Haiti earthquake’s death toll was horrific—but the subsequent cholera outbreak killed thousands more. Poor sanitation breeds disease. Disease spreads fast in disaster conditions. People die.…

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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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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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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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Prepper Tip: Test Your Gear

JM Mason
A person wearing a backpack is standing on the edge of a mountain looking into a valley. The air is foggy.

Sometimes we end up with gear, tools, food or other things that we bought but never tested out. It got thrown in the back of the pantry or into the bottom of your bug out bag with the intention of trying it out “soon.” And then you forgot about it. You don’t want to find yourself in a stressful situation and forced to use something for the first time. Maybe it will be fine, maybe it’ll lead to a knock-down, drag-out screaming bloody hell temper tantrum because a small gear…

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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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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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