DON’T MISS: STAYING READY FOR A CRISIS

HONE YOUR
SHOTGUN SKILLS
WITH THESE DRILLS

IN THIS ISSUE: APRIL 2019

SKILLS YOU NEED STARTING

TO SURVIVE THIS YEAR’S
AFTER THE SHTF SEEDLING CROP

SMART WAYS FOR FRUGAL PREPPING

BETTER RAINWATER WITHOUT
COLLECTION INVESTING A DIME

RIGHT PLACE DON’T MAKE

TO SET UP THESE MISTAKES
YOUR CAMP IN THE WILD

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

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Contents
: : A

HOW TO ENSURE YOU STAY READY FOR A CRISIS

FEATURED When I look around and see the lack of care the general population has about their future, it's
rather disconcerting. Far too many people are living in the present, enjoying the day to day…

HONE YOUR SHOTGUN SKILLS WITH THESE DRILLS

page 4 There's nothing quite like the sound of racking another round into a shotgun. That telltale
double click lets anyone in your home know you're now locked and loaded. But there's more…

HOW TO START THIS YEAR'S SEEDLINGS

page 5 With the days warming up its quickly becoming my favorite time of year. Spring. Not only does
it mean it'll soon be warm enough to actually enjoy the days outside, I can start working on…

FRUGAL PREPPING WITHOUT INVESTING A DIME

page 6 I don't know about you, but I've invested quite a bit of money into my survival planning and
preparation over the years. From tins of food and a stockpile of gear that will keep my…

DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES IN THE WILD

page 8 Sitting on the couch watching another episode of Naked and Afraid, or Man vs Wild, and it's
easy to judge. Seeing their mistakes in the comfort of your home, while giving a running…

THE RIGHT PLACE TO SET UP YOUR CAMP

page 9 If you're in the wild and you don't have shelter, you're setting yourself up for disaster. On a mild
summer's evening, it'll probably be fine. But should the weather be anything less than perfect…

SMART TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR RAINWATER COLLECTION

page 10 Water is an essential element for any successful homesteader, asnd collecting rainwater is an
economical and environmentally friendly alternative, that will save you money on your water…

SKILLS YOU NEED TO SURVIVE AFTER THE SHTF

page 11 A recent medical problem shone a spotlight on a problem we have in our homestead. Nothing
too serious, but I did have a small operation which put me out of action for 8 weeks. Under…

PICK UP THE BOW AND LEARN TO SHOOT

page 13 God forbid I ever run out of ammunition, but in a crisis event you never really know what could
happen. It was about 2 years ago I started picking up bowhunting. Initially I was drawn…

1
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
HOW TO ENSURE YOU STAY READY FOR A CRISIS
When I look around and see the lack of
care the general population has about
their future, it's rather disconcerting.
Far too many people are living in the
present, enjoying the day to day,
without a though of what could
happen tomorrow.
Of course, I'd love if a SHTF event
never happens.
But I've seen the writing on the walls
and I know it's not a matter of "if" but
"when" it's all going to go down. If you
don't take steps to prepare now, you'll
be at a significant disadvantage.
And not only that, you'll feel better
about yourself, knowing you've got a
plan in place, just in case.
But reality is far from easy.
Life has a way of getting in the way of
even the best laid plans, and you may
find yourself falling behind. Unable to
commit the time and resources towards
maximum preparedness.
There's always a big project you're
wanting to do, but I'd recommend
taking a step back before you start
stressing out over what's "not" done.
You can get most of the way there
following a simple belief.
Being ready… Minutes that are quite literally, the
difference between life and death.
Ready for a grid down event.
Escaping a particular location before a
Ready to ensure my family is provided lockdown or congestion hits, or the
for, no matter what. streets become too dangerous to be out
on.
Ready to adapt, overcome, and thrive,
in whatever situation we face. BE FOCUSED ON YOUR
P H Y S I C A L A N D M E N TA L
The trick, is to use systems, plans and FITNESS
procedures to ensure you never fall
behind. Staying in shape is not only good for
your health, in a crisis it means you'll be
BECOME A MASTER able to keep going that much longer.
ORGANIZER
In absolute chaos, those who are
organized will thrive. There's a reason
the military run drills, practice and hone
their skills with hours and hours or
“Life has a
training. It's their way of staying
organized. way of
For you, of course practice is key, you
need to ensure every member of your
getting in
family understands the evacuation
plans, and knows precisely what to do the way of
in a SHTF event.
even the
But not only yourself, you need to keep
your gear, supplies and stores in order. best laid
You may only have a few minutes to
grab your go-bag and evacuate your plans…”
home, and being packed in advance
could save you precious minutes.
2
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

cont.

I'm not a big running fan, but I make a

point to get to my boxing classes (it's
far more fun for me) and we are
regularly out hiking on the weekends.

I've seen massive jumps in my stamina,

even when weighted down with my kit,
and I have a good understanding now
of what it'll actually take to "bug out"
into the wild.

Which leads me to the next part of this,

mental toughness.

You need to have an iron will to

survive, and I've found the best fuel for
this is practice.

Knowing you can actually "do"

something, whether it's to hunt your
own game, start a fire from nothing, or
last a night in the wild.

All will help to fortify your resolve

when times get tough. Oh, and don't
forget the importance of friends and
family in keeping you sane. They should
be part of your plans too.

BE READY FOR THE

DISASTERS THAT WILL COME

Following the news and latest political

situations can lead you down the rabbit
hole, but it's important you've got your
finger on the pulse of your community,
as well as what's happening around the
world.
Look through the "spin" placed on
every story in the media, and dig out
the facts.
What happened.
What was the result.
Then consider how you would act to
deter the threat, and what adjustments
may be needed in your plan.
The trick is to stay updated, without
wasting time.
I like to flick through the latest
headlines on sites like the Associated
Press and BBC, and I'll always take the
time to watch my local channels during
dinner.
That way I've got a good handle on
what's going on, as you never know
where a danger may be coming from,
whether it's mother nature, or man-
made. So I can take the proper
precautions with my family.
BE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL
If you're trying to get everything done
in a few weeks, you're going to be in for
an unpleasant surprise. There's just too
much to be done.
My advice, is to be in it for the long
haul, with a schedule that means every,
single week, you're making forward
progress. That will help keep you
motivated, as you see yourself
becoming just a little more prepared,
every month of the year.
Of course, you should immediately
prioritize key elements of your plan
that are missing, like having at least 30
days food and water stockpiled, a
means of defending your home, and a
backup for every fundamental system in
your home (water, electricity, gas,
sewage).
Then just keep at it, and you'll be
surprised just how quickly you will
progress.
BE A LIFELONG LEARNER
The final, and arguably the most
important element, is to always strive to
improve.
You can't ever get complacent.
If you're on a self-reliant homestead
like me, there is always one more skill
to learn, one more survival technique to
practice, one more project to undertake
that will greatly increase our chances of
survival.
Be a lifelong learner, taking the courses
you need to improve, the local
community center classes that will teach
you self-defense and wilderness skills,
and don't be afraid of reaching out to
the survival groups in your area to form
a connection with other survivalists like
yourself.
The more you learn, the better your
own chances of survival.
Ultimately, the key to being ready for a
crisis is to move. You need to start
acting now, preparing your plans, your
body and mind, and getting all of your
chickens lined up, so you know that
when the SHTF, your family will do just
fine. It's so easy to spend your nights
on the couch in front of the television,
but with a little effort you can get a step
ahead of every other family out there.
That's how you can stay prepared for
whatever will come.

3
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
HONE YOUR
SHOTGUN SKILLS
WITH THESE
DRILLS
There's nothing quite like the sound of
racking another round into a shotgun.
That telltale double click lets anyone in
your home know you're now locked
and loaded. But there's more to
mastering your shotgun than a single
shot, and today I'd like to share some
of my favorite drills to run through the
next time you're on the range.
Because let's face it. Practice is the most
important element to mastering any
skill, especially if you want to ever have
any accuracy whatsoever with a firearm,
and a shotgun is no different. If you
ever want to get comfortable, you need
to do these drills.
SAFELY STORING A SHOTGUN
But before we get into it I want to
touch on safety just briefly, because it's
particularly important with shotguns. I
shouldn't have to tell you about the
dangers of keeping a firearm loaded in
your home, but shotguns present a
unique risk. They aren't drop safe.
If you've a round in the chamber and
the gun propped up beside your bed
happens to fall, it's highly likely it'll go
off. You're much better off keeping the
magazine filled, and only ever chamber
a round when you've got the shotgun in
your hands, and are in full control of
the weapon. Be safe, ok?
DETERMINE YOUR RANGE
The first in the drills is to help you get
an understanding of the effective range
of your shotgun. Set up a target about
5 to 7 yards away, and take your shot.
With a marker circle the outermost
pellet holes, and write down the
distance of your shot.
Take five steps back, and repeat.
Circle the outermost pellet holes, then
do it again. You want to keep moving
back until you start to notice your
pellets begin missing the target, which
is your safe engagement range.
It's usually somewhere between 25 to
35 yards, depending on the particular
shotgun you have and the buckshot
you're using.
QUICK RELOADING DRILL
Because most shotguns have a very low
capacity (some only 6 to 8 rounds), it's
imperative you're practicing reloading
drills. If you're not able to reload
quickly, you're going to be at a distinct
disadvantage using a shotgun in a fight.
Of course, I'd recommend doing this
with dummy rounds only, unless you're
at the firing range. Here's how it goes…
• Fire on your target with 2 or 3
rounds then confirm the hit
• As soon as you've confirmed the
hit, grab a shell and start reloading
• The key is to be deliberate in your
actions, focused on speed
• As soon as it's fully reloaded, take
aim and start firing again
• Repeat as necessary
E M E RG E N C Y R E L OA D I N G
DRILL
Now it's understandable in a real-life
situation, your shotgun is going to run
dry, and you're not always going to be
able to keep the magazine topped off.
So, you need to learn how to do an
emergency reload. Some people call this
a speed reload. This is best done on the
range, with 1 or 2 rounds in the
chamber. Once you hear the "click"
from your empty trigger pull…
• Do a half-pump and grab a shell
• Drop the new shell into the action
• Complete the pump and bring the
shotgun up
• Take aim, and start firing again
• Repeat as necessary
SWAPPING OUT YOUR SLUGS
If you're anything like me, your
shotgun is really only loaded with one
type of shell at any given time, but you
need to remember it's a multipurpose
weapon. And the guy sure as heck isn't
going to wait for you to swap out your
buckshot for slugs. You have a number
of ways to perform this drill, but
probably the easiest is to swap and
discard.
• Ensure you've got your slugs
handy
• Cycle your gun, ejecting the
buckshot shell
• Slip a slug shell into the tube and
chanber it, ejecting the second
buckshot shell
• Then load a second slug into the
tube ready to fire
4
Of course, you will be losing live ammo
throughout this process, but in my
opinion, that's not going to matter if
you're able to load your shotgun and
get your shots off.
IMPROVING YOUR PRECISION
SKILLS
Now there will come a time when
you're trying to hit someone, but you've
not got a clean shot. Perhaps they're
sheltering behind an obstacle, or they
may have even taken a hostage which
you will need to cater for. You've no
time for guesswork, and your precision
here could make all the difference.
I usually setup my targets behind other
obstacles so they are only partially
exposed. Then engage as normal,
taking care to avoid landing a hit on any
of my obstacles. I like to run speed
tests on my accuracy, as well as taking
precise shots on demand when I am in
the middle of another drill.
Personally, I think this is one of the
most valuable drills you can run with
your shotgun, because while it's a rather
unforgiving weapon, in the real world
you need to take care with every shot
you take, and you're not always going to
have a clear target. As you improve,
you'll get a good understanding of what
shots you'll make, the ones you may
perhaps "get away with" and of course,
the hail mary's that you should never
attempt.
Getting good with a shotgun isn't as
easy a task as learning how to shoot
with a pistol or a handgun, but with a
little practice, and the right drills, you
can turn it into a potent weapon in your
home defense. For me, I know that if I
hear something go bump in the night,
it's the shotgun I'll be reaching for.
Even if it's after the SHTF.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
HOW TO START THIS YEAR'S SEEDLINGS
With the days warming up its quickly
becoming my favorite time of year.
Spring. Not only does it mean it'll soon
be warm enough to actually enjoy the
days outside, I can start working on this
year's crops as I get a certain level of
satisfaction seeing my garden flourish
before cashing in on all of the (free)
produce. Here's what I've been doing…
PLAN AHEAD FOR EACH OF
MY CROPS
At the end of every season I like to let
a bunch of my crops go to seed, so I
can restock my heirloom seed supply.
We'll spend an afternoon washing and
drying out tomatoes, peeling the bean
seeds from the pods, with vegetables
that are far too gone to eat. You
actually need to let a lot of these over-
ripen on the plants in order for the
seeds to fully develop, and I'll also buy a
bunch of fresh seeds from my local
plant supplies store as well.
I'll organize all of my potting mix, seed
starter fertilizer (the worm juice from
my composter sends the seedlings
through the roof), and make sure
everything is laid out and ready to
plant. Usually I'll start these in our
smaller greenhouse, as it has heat lamps
installed, but you'll have just as much
success getting your seeds started in a
warm room with plenty of natural light.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW
TO PLANT THEM
One trick I've learnt growing my own
food is that particular plants need
certain conditions to flourish. Don't
hesitate to research the best way to
prepare and plant your seeds for best
results, many seed packs will explain it,
but you may need to resort to Google
if you're harvesting your own seeds. I'd
also pay attention to how long it will
take the seeds to germinate, so you can
re-seed any pots that fail to sprout.
GET YOUR TIMING RIGHT
I made this mistake last year, getting a
little ahead of myself and the seedlings
soon took over the tiny pots I'd started
them in. I wasted a whole afternoon re-
potting all of these so my plants
wouldn't become root bound, which
wasn't a smart move. I should have just
waited a few more weeks so I could
transplant them right into my garden.
Look at the recommended planting
schedule, and the best planting dates
for your crops. It all revolves around
your last spring frost date, and is
calculated out from there, if you're
wanting to figure it out yourself.
INVEST IN THE RIGHT
CONTAINERS
Each year I reuse the same sets of trays
5
for all of my seedlings, they're just a
rugged set of plastic starter trays. If
you're looking for a do-it-yourself
option rows of yoghurt cups with some
holes in the bottom make for a good
option, or you could always go
biodegradable and use cardboard toilet
rolls packed full of potting mix.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT STARTER
SOIL
Whilst "dirt" is what most plants grow
in, if you're wanting to increase your
chances of a good crop of seedlings
you actually need a special soil. Dense,
heavy dirt isn't good for tiny seedlings
to grow. What you want is a growing
mix of a light and fluffy medium like
peat moss, leaf mold, or even compost.
I usually mix up a batch that's about
40% peat moss, 40% shredded dry
leaves, and the remaining 20% the
dense, nutrient-rich dirt from my
compost heap. Oh, and if you want to
give your seeds the best chance of
survival, bake the dirt at 150 degrees
Celsius for 45 minutes. This will
sterilize the dirt and kill any bacteria
inside, which can hurt your seedlings.
TURN ON THE LIGHTS
One of the fundamental things seeds
need to germinate is light. If you're
trying to start these indoors, you may
not have enough light for these seeds to
start. Investing in a set of grow lights
above the plants will make a world of
difference, you need to keep these on
for 12-13 hours a day, and keep them
within a few inches of the grow trays.
DON’T FORGET TO WATER
THEM
Getting into the habit of watering your
plants is an important one, as the seeds
need to remain moist in order to
germinate. Too much water, and they
will rot with mold. Not enough, and the
seeds will remain dormant. You can
better trap the moisture in with a little
plastic wrap, (though be careful of
overdoing it), or better yet, use a plastic
base tray as your watering system. Your
plastic potting trays will soak the water
in through the drainage holes, just pour
out the remaining water from the tray
once the dirt surrounding your
seedlings is damp to the touch.
The time is now to start on this year's
first batch of crops, so make sure
you're doing all you can to maximize
your growing season, and are getting
your seedlings started today.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

FRUGAL PREPPING WITHOUT INVESTING A DIME

I don't know about you, but I've
invested quite a bit of money into my
survival planning and preparation over
the years.
From tins of food and a stockpile of
gear that will keep my homestead
running (without the grid or even a
supermarket trip) for up to a year, most
of my preps have had a price tag.
But it's not all bad, and if you're having
a tough month or want to get started
without dropping hundreds of dollars
on supplies, there are a few frugal ways
you can prep.
WORK OUT YOUR EXISTING
STOCKPILE
Before buying or investing in any gear
or supplies, you need to understand
what's already in your cupboards.
My advice is to categorize everything
across areas like food, equipment and
gear, then start working backwards on
what you'll actually think you'll need.
Consider everything from keeping the
lights on, adequate water sources,
protecting your home, and of course,
the food your family needs.
Once you start tallying the two lists
together, you'll have a better idea of
what's missing, allowing you to
prioritize and make smarter purchase
decisions when you head to the store.
MAP OUT YOUR SURVIVAL
PLANS
Another great step to take is to sit
down and start planning. But we're not
talking about your food needs here or
your stockpile (though they are
• Where you'll meet up if your home
is temporarily unsafe
• Where you'll evacuate to if your
home is no longer fit to stay in
• How you'll actually get to your
designated bug out location
• What to do if you're attacked in
your home
And so on.
Thinking through and mapping out all
of these survival plans is important
because it plants the seeds of the idea
in your head.
“You need

You need to create an itemized list of

everything in your house, so you can
ensure you're spending your hard-
earned cash wisely when you do have a
little to spare.
So, take a notebook, and start listing
out everything you've got.
It's time-consuming yes, but it's a vital
first step because only once you know
what's in your current stockpile, can
you start planning for what's missing.
important considerations to make),
what you should be thinking about at
to create a
this step is what you're going to "do"
when the SHTF. list of
Consider… everything
• How you'll get home if you're at
the office, the mall or wherever in your
• How your family members will
make it back to your home house”
• How you'll communicate if the
entire mobile network goes down

6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

cont.

It also means you'll react much faster

should an emergency develop, as
everyone in your family knows exactly
what to do.

Because the faster you can react, the

better your chances of staying alive.

CREATE A SEPARATE STORAGE

SPACE

Once you consider just how much

space a year's supply of food will take
up, you'll understand the importance of
having a smart storage solution for your
supplies. All of your food and gear
needs to be easily accessible, not tucked
away in the backs of cupboards and
forgotten about.

We use an aisle and shelving system

similar to the supermarkets, that I built
over the course of a few weekends
from old hardwood fence posts I got
free after helping a buddy tear down his
old fence.

Simple enough, but it gave us the ability

to keep everything together in one of
the spare rooms in our home, and it
didn't cost a cent. Just a little elbow
grease. I should also mention that with
all of your stores, consider how you're
going to grab these and run should you
have to evacuate in a hurry.

Of course, having a bug out bag ready

to go is smart, but we've also got a few
large plastic tubs that fit into my truck,
packed and ready to go with enough
food and supplies to last us a month or
two on the road. All we need to do is
grab the tubs and get them in the car.
BUILD YOUR OWN GARDEN
If you're living anywhere with a little
space, it doesn't take much to start your
own garden. Especially once you learn
how to make your own compost from
the scraps in your kitchen.
Your plants will have everything they
need to thrive and start yielding
valuable crops of produce.
We started small, without any money
upfront. Just using seeds or the scraps
collected from the produce we were
already eating (peppers, tomatoes,
garlic, potatoes, onions, and a whole lot
more) to get our seedlings. Most just
need a little water and a sunny spot on
your windowsill, and transplant them
after 5 to 7 days once they've sprouted
roots and new shoots.
With time, they would go on to grow
into healthy plants, yielding crops of
their own.
Each year I push the boundaries of our
garden out a little further, expanding
our usable land so that we now have a
rather large portion of our property
growing food to help us be more
sustainable.
Of course, these days I do invest in
seeds and small saplings (our fruit trees
are growing strong), but you really can
get started without investing anything.
LOOK FOR THE DEALS
One of my favorite places to find deals
is Craigslist, and I'm always checking
the free giveaway listings.
We've picked up everything from a
fold-out sofa that now has a permanent
home in my hunting cabin, to four
rabbits complete with a cage. You'll be
surprised what people will simply give
away these days, especially with all of
the decluttering trends.
Just make sure you exercise due caution
when meeting up with new people, and
don't be too trusting.
I've also made a few friends in our local
community, and we'll often get gifted
large baskets of fresh produce when
the seasons hit, which helps boost our
canned and preserved stores without
needing to make expensive purchases
from the supermarket.
What I love about being prepared is
that it's a lifestyle, you truly get out
multiples of what you put in.
Of course, investing hundreds of
thousands of dollars in the latest gear,
bug out equipment and tactical vehicles
would be amazing, but that's not reality
for most of us.
The good news, is that you too can get
started, without hurting your bank
balance in the slightest.
Are you prepared?

7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
DON'T MAKE THESE
MISTAKES IN THE WILD
Sitting on the couch watching another
episode of Naked and Afraid, or Man
vs Wild, and it's easy to judge. Seeing
their mistakes in the comfort of your
h o m e, w h i l e g iv i n g a r u n n i n g
commentary of everything they're
doing wrong. Survival is tough.
Even for an experienced woodsman, it
only takes a handful of mistakes for a
situation to turn from bad to deadly.
The trick is to know the fundamentals,
and of course, practice as much as you
can. Don’t make any of these mistakes
when you're in the woods.
DON’T GET WET
Now I understand this isn't always
possible, from a freak downpour to
taking a tumble and ending up waist
deep in that stream you simply had to
cross. The trick is to not only have the
right protective gear to keep your core
dry, but you've got a plan should you
get wet anyway.
In my bug out kit I've got a spare
change of underwear (always a good
idea), so in an absolute worst-case
scenario I can throw up a quick tarp
shelter, start a fire, and sit around in dry
briefs while the rest of my clothes dry
out. Getting wet, especially in cold
weather, can be a death sentence if
you're not prepared.
DON’T DRINK THE WATER
It can be particularly tempting to take a
cup straight out of the stream, but
that's a major survival risk.
Your eye cannot see the microscopic
parasites and bacteria that could be
lurking in the water, and once you drink
it you'll be in big trouble. Vomiting and
diarrhea will kill any of your plans,
unless you're wanting to suffer for
24-48 hours in place.
Always, always, boil your water before
you drink it, and at the very least use a
water filter. This will mean that you
have both a canteen capable of boiling
water, and a fire source, which comes
down to smart packing before you head
off into the wild.
DON’T FORGET A FIRE
STARTING KIT
Helping you cook your food, purify
water, warm you up and even signal for
help or keep predators at bay during the
night, being able to start a fire in any
conditions is critical.
I'd go so far as saying it's one of the
most important elements you need to
master if you're planning to survive in
the wild. Because the conditions will
make a difference. Starting a fire on a
dry autumn afternoon is far easier than
battling a wet and windy winter's day.
Pack a fire-starting kit with enough dry
kindling to get even damp tinder to
burn, and don't be afraid to get out in
your yard while it's raining and practice.
Your first time starting a fire in the rain
shouldn't be when you're stranded and
your life depends on it.
DON’T GET LOST
It used to be that whenever we
ventured out we'd have a compass and
a map, but far too many people rely on
their smartphone these days. Trouble is,
without a battery, if you're stranded for
more than a day or two your precious
phone isn't going to do you any good.
Learn the basics of navigation, how to
read a compass or take a bearing from
the sun, and ensure you're able to orient
yourself no matter how far in the
woods you go. A lot of this comes with
practice, so make it a habit to get out
of the comfort of your living room and
go for a hike every now and then.
These skills are important to learn.
8
DON’T EAT THE BERRIES
Or anything that you're unsure of to be
honest. If you're not completely
confident that what you're planning on
putting in your mouth is edible, don't
eat it. The risks are just far too high,
and if you do happen to poison
yourself in the middle of nowhere, it's
a situation that will turn deadly fast, as
you may not make it back out to safety.
I've been practicing my ability to
recognize the common plants in my
area, and actually took a course last
summer with a guide who could
demonstrate first-hand what was
actually safe to eat.
DON’T FORGET THE
WEATHER
It’s critical to consider the weather
you'll be facing when you're outdoors.
It can be easy to forget just how cold it
gets on the mountain when you're
sitting in a nice, centrally heated
bedroom. You need to pack the right
gear for the conditions you face. Warm
and insulated winter gear is perfect for
the cold, while shade and adequate
water becomes vital during summer.
Pack for the conditions, so you're
always prepared. I tend to be a little
overkill in what I bring in my kit, but
I'd rather take my jacket off when the
day warms up, instead of shivering at
night because I didn't bring it at all.
Survival in the woods isn't for the faint-
hearted, and there's much more to it
than what you're used to seeing on
television. I just want you to realize this
before you find yourself stranded,
unprepared in a situation that can
quickly become life-or-death.
Ultimately, the key is to be prepared,
and to learn from these mistakes. I
don't want you to make any of them
the next time you're in the woods. I
want you to be a survivor.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
THE RIGHT PLACE TO SET UP YOUR CAMP
If you're in the wild and you don't have
shelter, you're setting yourself up for
disaster. On a mild summer's evening,
it'll probably be fine. But should the
weather be anything less than perfect,
it's important you have a means to stay
warm, dry and comfortable against the
wrath of mother nature.
Choose the wrong location and your
life could be at risk, and there's a few
things to consider before building a
lean to or stringing your tent up.
LOOK AT WHAT’S ABOVE YOU
Before setting up camp its critical to
look up. In a storm it can be tempting
to find refuge under the biggest tree
you can find, but this presents a risk.
Large branches can fall under high
winds, and even the heat and smoke
from your campfire can be enough to
dislodge snow drifts that have collected.
They're called "widow makers" for a
reason, you don't want a few hundred
pounds falling on you in the night.
Your best bet is to find a solid roof, like
a cave or an overhang, or build your
shelter in a clearing where you're not at
risk of anything falling. Use your
common sense, if you're at the base of
a cliff and you're surrounded by loose
rocks that have fallen, you may not
want to be right underneath.
CONSIDER WHAT’S AROUND
The banks of a river often seem an
ideal place for a campsite, as they are
flat, relatively clear of trees, and gives
you easy access to a water and food
source, should you have had the
foresight to pack your fishing gear. And
who doesn't like to sit around camp
cooking up a fresh feed of fish?
Be careful camping on floodways or an
easement. If a dam breaks during heavy
rainfall (or is opened) upstream, in a
matter of minutes your camp will be
underwater. Flash floods are fast and
furious, so pay attention. If you're in a
valley or a depression, you may be at a
risk if there's a heavy downpour, or if
the snow melt suddenly gives way.
DON’T FORGET THE TINY
CRITTERS
I seem to become a magnet for
mosquitoes whenever I'm in the wild.
Still, stagnant pools of water should be
avoided, as these are breeding grounds
for mosquitoes and other insects. I'd
also recommend finding a way to get up
off the ground. Especially in the
tropics, sand flies, ants and other
critters will find you if you're laying
directly on the ground, and at a bare
minimum make sure you've got a
groundsheet down to give you some
protection.
9
BE WARY ABOUT HEAT LOSS
This point is especially important if
you're camping in bad weather, as the
cold ground will literally leech the
warmth from your body if you're not
careful. I always build an elevated
sleeping platform when I'm camping, it
acts as a buffer to stay warmer in
winter, but allows the air to circulate
and keep me cooler in summer.
It's also important to think about the
overall flow of your shelter. If it's
particularly bad I'll set up a small
retaining wall behind my fire to better
reflect the heat back to me, and I've
even had nights where I built a roof
over my fire to stop the rain from
killing it completely. You can't be too
careful, especially when the weather has
taken a turn for the worse.
CHECK YOU’RE NOT AN
UNINVITED GUEST
Because of just how well a cave or
natural overhang works as a shelter, you
may find you're not the first visitor to
want to call it home. Be very careful as
you explore these, paying attention to
any recent tracks, strong animal scents,
and scan every inch of your new home
before you let your guard down. Do not
rush in, you risk surprising a wild
animal, who will not hesitate to fight
back with their full fury if you've
backed them into a corner.
If you're in the clear, great, but
remember that just because they're not
home now, they could very well walk
right back in once the sun sets, or the
rain starts. And the last thing you want
to do is battle a bear or a mountain lion
on their turf. It goes without saying you
will need a means to protect yourself,
and I'd also make sure you've got a way
out, and a big fire roaring. There's
nothing better than fire to keep
uninvited guests at bay.
Though, you may want to tone it down
a notch if you're in bug out mode and
trying to run a stealth camp. In this case
I'd perhaps only go with a small fire,
but drag in some logs and other
fortifications to ensure any animals that
come your way are unable to get
through.
Finding the right place to set up camp
isn't rocket science, but there are a few
best practices to follow to ensure you're
not going to end up a disaster halfway
through the night. Find somewhere
safe, sheltered, and secure, so you can
sleep soundly and get the rest you need.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
SMART TIPS TO
IMPROVE YOUR
RAINWATER
COLLECTION
Water is an essential element for any
successful homesteader, asnd collecting
rainwater is an economical and
environmentally friendly alternative,
that will save you money on your water
bill, and makes you a little less reliant
on the grid. But if you want to do it
smarter, let me explain how.
DON’T BREAK THE LAW
Generally, collecting a modest amount
of rainwater to use on your property is
fine, though in some states a permit is
needed, depending on how much you
plan to collect. Just make sure that
whatever you're planning, you double-
check it against the specific regulations
in your state, as there are particular uses
and limits that you will need to abide by
in certain states. You don't want to get
fined for not following the rules.
BUY THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
Setting up a rainwater tank is easy, you
can use barrels to collect the harvested
water, just make sure it's clean, and
hasn't ever been used to house toxic
materials that may leech into your water
(and make you sick). My advice would
be to invest in the right equipment, and
buy a rainwater barrel (or tank) that's
been specifically designed and set up to
store water. That way you'll also get all
of the adaptors you need and won't
have to fiddle around with makeshift
covers or screens.
“make sure
you are
regularly
cleaning
out your
gutters…”
FIND A SYSTEM THAT WORKS
On our first property our rainwater
tanks were just a series of barrels,
connected so that once the first filled
the overflow went into the next, and so
on. All up, we could store almost 500
gallons of water in our 9 big barrels.
Once they filled, an overflow valve and
hose gave us the ability to divert the
excess water to our garden that was
down the hill (purposefully done so we
didn't ever need to pump the water).
We did however need to setup a small
pressure tank to use this rainwater
effectively in our home, which we could
simply divert between the mains and
town water as we needed.
CHECK YOUR ROOF IS CLEAN
Depending on what your roof has been
constructed from, it may not be
suitable to drink the collected rainwater
without filtering it. If you've a newer
roof you're probably fine, metal and
shingles are typically OK, so long as
you're not in a 100-year-old farm house
with an asphalt roof. There's toxins that
will leech out as the water collects, and
if this is the case, it may be better to
use one of the other buildings on your
property to collect the rain.
Oh, and make sure you are regularly
cleaning out your gutters. The leaves
and other debris that builds up can rot,
especially in summer, and you don't
want your rainwater tank becoming a
teapot for all of that.
SEAL OFF ALL YOUR TANKS
If you're not already aware, this is going
to shock you. Still, standing water is a
haven for bugs and other creepy
crawlies. Particularly mosquitoes. You
don't want your water supply to get
infected with all of their larvae, and I'll
bet you also don't want to be breeding
swarms of the blood-sucking monsters
right outside your window.
The trick, is to seal off as many entry
points to your rainwater tanks as
possible. And if it can't seal (because
it's an overflow valve for example), at
least add a mesh screen so the bugs
cannot get in. My system connects
straight into the gutters, so there's no
entry points for any bugs unless they
want to follow the drain all the way
down from my roof. I've also got a one-
way valve installed to limit any backflow
(the overflow valve on the tanks is
open, but covered in mesh so nothing
gets through except for the water.
10
BE SMART WITH YOUR WATER
It goes without saying that any
collected water you are storing is
filtered and purified before you drink it.
We've got filters installed right into our
kitchen faucet that purifies our water as
it comes out of the taps, but don't
bother with this additional filtration if
it's being used to just do a load of
laundry or have a shower. You just need
to be smart, as the only thing you can
truly take control of is what you're
putting in your body, don't risk
contaminating it and getting sick
because you didn't filter your water.
WHAT ABOUT ACID RAIN?
This is a common concern that people
ask me when they discover we harvest
the vast majority of water on our
homestead, and I can honestly say it's
never been a problem.
Acid rain forms when large amounts of
sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides enter
the atmosphere (like the emissions
from a coal or natural gas processing
plant), which is collected as the
condensation forms into rain, and falls
back to the ground. Of course, you
don't need to be near a big factory to
be affected (winds can send these
pollutants hundreds of miles before
they fall). If you're concerned, you can
buy a pH test kit, or special calcium
carbonate filters to counteract the
acidity of the water and bring it back
up closer to 7 (pH of pure water).
Personally, I believe investing in a rain
catchment system to be one of the
smartest moves you can make on your
homestead. Not only does it pay for
itself over time (you're saving money
with every drop of water you're not
paying for), it reduces your reliance on
the grid, so you'll still be able to
function should a major crisis hit. Water
is a must-have for survival.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

SKILLS YOU NEED TO SURVIVE AFTER THE SHTF

A recent medical problem shone a
spotlight on a problem we have in our
homestead.
Nothing too serious, but I did have a
small operation which put me out of
action for 8 weeks. Under the doctors'
orders I was in no shape to do any
heavy lifting, and definitely none of the
"work" I usually do around the farm.
With a frustrated sigh, I agreed.
But, this got me thinking.
But as the weeks passed I realized there
was a particular knowledge gap in our
house. Being the more technically
minded, I usually take charge when it
comes to building things.
Like our wind turbine, or even simply
starting up the tractor. I'd been doing
the work, but I'd failed in my role as a
teacher, because no one else could step
in and replace me.
So as my family picked up the slack, I
also learned the skills I'd been missing.
Far too many people rely on home-
delivered pizza, or microwave dinners.
It's actually pretty easy to throw
something together.
I'd recommend starting small, learning
how to make a curry, or a pot of stew.
Throwing some burgers on the grill,
and building from there.

After a few years living on our off-the-

grid homestead, my family and I have
fallen into a particular rhythm.
There's certain tasks I'll do, and certain
things that my wife and kids do. It's all
about delegating responsibility, so that
we each play a role in helping the
family, but you also need to ensure this
isn't creating any knowledge gaps.
Of course, pulling weeds from the
garden isn't rocket science.
You see, while I was out with my
tractor or fixing something in the
“I’d failed
garage, my wife was doing an incredible
number of things around the house. in my role
Here's a few I'd recommend everyone
aspiring to live off the grid. as a
BASIC COOKING SKILLS teacher”
Now I'm certainly no master chef in
the kitchen, but knowing how to throw
together a couple of meals is a smart
thing to learn.

11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

THE REST OF MY FAMILY NOW HAS A MUCH GREATER IDEA ON…

• How to start and drive the "big" tractor (even backing up the trailer).
• How to monitor the power levels in our home's battery bank
• How to clean and change the oil on both our car and motorbikes
• When to start planting different crops, and when they're due for harvest
• The pesticides to use and the bugs to watch out for in the fields
• How to operate our pump house when the water tanks need to be refilled
• How to start the chainsaw and the right way to fell a tree
• How to jumpstart the cars when the battery dies
And I'm sure a ton of other things they've learnt.

Then comes the self-sustainable bit.
We trap and kill much of our meat, so
basics like knowing how to clean and
fillet a fish, butcher small game like
rabbits or a pig, or even dress
something larger, like a deer.
Could you go out the back right now,
dispatch a chicken and have it ready to
cook and eat for dinner? It's something
you must learn on the homestead.
BASIC MENDING SKILLS
We put most of our clothes through
the ringer when it comes to heavy-duty
use, and there's always something that
needs to be fixed. After sitting around
all day, I figured I might as well do
something productive with my time, so
I started mending.
Putting buttons back on jackets.
Sewing up a split seam.
And while I was out of order I actually
wanted to make something for my son,
so I followed a couple of YouTube
videos and learnt how to make him a
beanie in his favorite colors (Go
Cowboys!).
If I had more time I would have liked
to learn how to make use of the sewing
machine my wife has tucked away, as
clothing is one vital item you'll never
have enough of.
Clothing simply wears out. But it's not
just clothing. Think about your shoes
and belts, and make sure you've got the
supplies on hand and the experience
needed to mend your clothes.
BASIC FOOD STORAGE
TECHNIQUES
I've never really been into preserves,
but without my wife working away we'd
have less than half of the stockpile of
food we've currently got.
You need to learn how to can, pickle
and preserve the produce while it's in
season, so you've got supplies during
winter.
The same goes for smoking and curing
your meat.
On a homestead nothing can go to
waste, so it's imperative you've got a
working knowledge of smoking,
canning and drying different meats, so
they will last for months on end.
And not only that, you need to also
invest in the cans, the smoker, and all
the drying racks you need to do this
effectively.
Now, this works both ways, and you
should also be teaching your partner
what it is you're working on every day.
We've taken the last few weeks to bring
the entire family up to speed on the
different tasks, the easiest way is simply
getting them to help, and talking
through it all as you're fixing whatever
it is you're working on. We call it
"shadowing" (my kids have a thing for
ninja's at the moment), but the idea is
that you should never keep all of the
information to yourself.
Take every teachable moment on your
property, and ensure your family could
get through it without you.
Because if the worst happens, and your
family does have to go it alone, you're
doing them a disservice not teaching
them everything they need to know to
keep your homestead r unning
effectively.
Invest your time now, and know they'll
have the skills they need to survive.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019

PICK UP THE BOW AND LEARN TO SHOOT

God forbid I ever r un out of
ammunition, but in a crisis event you
never really know what could happen.
It was about 2 years ago I started
picking up bowhunting.
Initially I was drawn to it by the need to
up my stalking and hunting game,
you've got to get far closer to your prey
to be effective, but it's not only that.
Mastering the bow gives you an almost
silent weapon to use when the SHTF,
ideal if you want to hunt without
drawing anyone to your location, while
also being able to reuse your arrows
again and again.
Plus, it's a whole lot of fun.
You can successfully bring home meat
for your family, without the sound of a
rifle giving away your position.
2. It's a cost-effective survival item,
allowing you to recover and reuse any
spent arrows that failed to hit the
target.
Worse-case you can even fashion your
own arrows, which is far easier than
trying to make your own ammunition.
3. It's not subject to the same strict laws
as gun ownership.
Of course, you're not able to go
wandering around on the streets with
an arrow knocked and ready to go, but
you can buy a decent bow from any
BASIC STEPS WHEN
SHOOTING A BOW
Of course, if you're a beginner it may
pay you to take a few lessons down at
your local archery club.
That's where I started, and it helped me
to improve far quicker in the first few
weeks than if I was trying to figure it all
out on my own.
You can skip the learning curve a little,
and you'll know exactly how to practice
once you get home.

I'll wind down most evenings on our

homestead with even just 5-10 minutes
of practice, and I'm getting more and
more accurate as the months pass.
For me, I'm a big fan of these dual-
purpose hobbies. It's fun, but it's also
training you on a key survival skill you
can utilize when the SHTF.
sports or outdoors store, on the spot.
“It’s fun,
Now, there is a wide variety of different
types of bows, from the longbows you
see in all the historic movies to the
but it’s also
futuristic compound bows most
commonly used in hunting.
training you
Personally, I prefer recurve bows, on a key
because I can break these down and

WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN TO

SHOOT A BOW
1. It gives you a stealthy way to hunt,
whether you're after fish in a pond or
deer, rabbits and other game.
store them easier in my pack, giving me
an added level of security as it helps me
survival
to blend in.
skill…”
You can bet people will notice you if
you've got a giant bow over your
shoulder. You don't want that.

13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2019
cont.
TAKE YOUR STANCE
Your feet play a vital role when
shooting a bow, as they become your
anchor which allows you to adequately
draw the bow string.
Position yourself so you are facing
sideways to your intended target, with
your legs shoulder-width apart and feet
perpendicular to the target.
Take a breath and bring your chest up,
relaxing your shoulders before you start
to try and draw.
NOCK YOUR ARROW
The nock at the back of the arrow is
what helps it to sit on the bowstring,
locking it in place so you can draw and
shoot.
As you do this pay attention to the odd
colored feather on the arrow, if you're
using a recurve bow like me this feather
needs to be facing away from your bow.
On a compound bow you should
position it either up or down.
HOLD YOUR BOW
For all the right-handers like me, grip
the bow in your left hand, wrapping
your fingers around the grip without
being too tight.
You want a firm, not a tight grip.
Once you start pulling the drawstring
the bow will lock into place.
Position your hand so your thumb is
pointing towards the target, and
remember to relax your fingers.
DRAW THE BOWSTRING
Grip the bowstring with the fingers of
your right hand, with the nock of the
arrow sitting between your index and
middle finger.
Tuck your pinky away, you can use your
thumb to hold it down and out of the
way.
With a straight left elbow, draw the
bowstring back until your right hands
fingers reach your mouth.
You should feel the pull in your
shoulders and upper back, which is
normal.
You'll get stronger quick.
TAKE AIM QUICKLY
Now that your bowstring is drawn, look
down and towards your target.
I don't have a sight so I have to aim a
little higher (you'll get used to this after
a few shots), but the key really is to be
efficient.
14
Your arms will tire holding your bow at
full draw, and once they start to shake
your accuracy will fall.
You want it to be a quick breath, draw,
aim and release.
WAIT FOR THE STRIKE
Once you've released the bowstring,
stay as still as possible.
It can be tempting to try and follow the
flight, or look up to see where it lands,
but if you do this too quickly it can
affect the angle of your shot, throwing
it off course.
I try to remain still while I listen for the
sound of the impact after each shot,
before I look up to check my shot.
Learning to shoot with a bow is a
fundamental skill for survival.
It gives you another way to hunt your
food, and potentially even defend your
home, should a rifle or another firearm
not be available.
The key to being a good survivor is not
only being adaptable, but having
contingency plans in place that ensure
you will always thrive, no matter how
bad things get.