Book Description

Learn everything about preparing for disasters

When disasters happen, are you the type that can survive them?
Look around your home – could you survive thirty days on the water,
medical supplies, and fuel you already have?
Do you have the necessary supplies to keep you and your family
safe if you are forced to hunker down in your home for a month
without leaving?
Being a good prepper means being prepared to survive any
scenario, from keeping your family going when you've lost your job,
keeping them safe when law and order have ceased to exist, and
looters are breaking in to steal whatever they can find, and also
surviving off the grid if you're forced to leave your home behind.
They lack the foresight to stockpile enough food and water to
survive. They lack the equipment needed to preserve food and
water. They lack the methods to protect their families and defend
their homes. They lack the skills necessary out in the wild.
In this book, you will:
Understanding how finances can help you
Learn about what prepping is truly all about
Learn how to get started in prepping
Learn how to can food
Understand how much water you need to stockpile
Understand what a bug bag is
Learn how to live off the grid
Learn how to cook food without electricity
Learn how to defend your home in good times and in bad times

This book is the ideal starting point in teaching you the mindset and
lessons required to be a great prepper. You may not be able to
escape the disasters you will inevitably face, but the lessons in these
pages will aid you in avoiding mistakes and giving you the best
chance of survival.
 Your Free Gift

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Inside the book, you will discover:

● On site solutions
● Protection, security, and safety
● Land and water
If you want to learn these great tips, make sure to grab the free
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 The Prepper’s Survival Bible
The Ultimate Guide to Survive a War,
Epidemic, Pandemic, and Natural
Disaster. Learn Life-Saving Strategies,
Stockpiling, Canning, Home Defense,
and Sustain Yourself Living Off-Grid
© Copyright 2022 - All rights reserved.
The contents of this book may not be reproduced, duplicated, or transmitted
without direct written permission from the author.
Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the
publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information
herein, either directly or indirectly.
Legal Notice:
You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part or the
content within this book without the consent of the author.
Disclaimer Notice:
Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and
entertainment purposes only. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied.
Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal,
financial, medical, or professional advice. Please consult a licensed professional
before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.
By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances are the
author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, which are incurred as a result
of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited
to, —errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One: Why You Should Be Organized
You Need to Be Prepared
Preppers Are Not Crazy
You Can't Predict What Is Going to Happen
Steady Declines and Sudden Disasters
Regional Emergencies Compared to National Disasters
Climate Change and Natural Disasters
Have Fun Learning New Skills and Being Prepared
It's an Insurance You Need
Are You Ready?
Chapter Two: Store What You Use, Use What You Store
Storing Your Items
Chapter Three: Money Management Is the Key to Good
Prepping
Creating an Emergency Fund
It's Time to Start
Looking at Your Expenses
Establish a Sensible Budget
Chapter Four: Getting Your Home Prepared
How Much Do You Need?
Survival Foods for Short Term Disasters
Survival Foods for Long Term Disasters
Best Foods for a Bug-Out Bag
Mistakes Preppers Make When Stockpiling
Chapter Five: How to Cook When You Don't Have Electricity
Cooking Indoor without Any Electricity
 Cooking Outdoors without Any Electricity
Chapter Six: Canning
Differences between Pressure Canning and Water Canning
How to Can Step by Step
Easy Recipes You Can Use
Unsafe Canning Methods
What Equipment Do You Not Need?
Chapter Seven: Home Defense
A Good Defense Strategy Is Essential
Gaining Entry: How Intruders Do It
How to Defend Your Home as a Prepper
Home Defense Tactics in Bad Times
Other Ways to Defend Your Home and Family
Building Shelters in the Wild
Six Mistakes You Should Avoid
Chapter Eight: Living Off-Grid
How to Prepare to Make the Transition
The Plans for Your New Off-Grid Home
Growing Food on Your Property to Sustain Your Family
Ensuring That This Is What You Really Want
Problems You May Run into Living Off the Grid
Closing on the Deal
Conclusion
Resources
Introduction
In an emergency, the only one you can depend on is yourself.
Everyone will face an emergency at some point in their lives. It could
be an earthquake, another natural disaster, pandemic, or even war. If
life teaches us anything, it is that we should always be prepared for
the worse.
If you are unsure where to start preparing for any kind of disaster or
emergency, this book will help you ensure that you're well prepared.
You will be taken through everything, from mentally and emotionally
preparing yourself to stockpiling, canning, off-grid living, and much
more. However, unlike other resources, you will be given the best
advice from people who actually know what they're doing and teach
you how to do it for yourself.
It doesn't matter if you're preparing for a natural disaster, a car
accident, being unemployed, a pandemic, or even the long-term
decline of the economy or society. If you wait until you're ready, it's
far too late. It's time to get started now.
But don't think you are on your own in this. All around the world,
sane and rational citizens are preparing for the worst to happen. This
number continues to grow daily as they realize they can't rely on the
government or other people. In a crisis, the only person you and your
family can rely on is yourself.
However, as you prep, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and confused.
What makes things even worse is that many people out there take
this to new levels, go to the extreme, crazy with conspiracy theories,
or just spout dangerous information that has no benefits for you.
Prepping for the worst is simply to help you in the event of something
terrible going wrong in your life and aid your recovery from these
events when they occur. That's it. Do not believe that prepping has
anything to do with stockpiling weapons in some underground
bunker in the middle of nowhere.
You mustn't just read the checklist and ignore the rest of the book.
Within these pages is valuable information that will save you a lot of
wasted time, energy, and funds. Also, you can help friends and
family avoid making mistakes. The best part of prepping for the worst
is ensuring you're doing it right, having the right information, and
ensuring those around you are doing the same.
Fundamental steps to prepping include:
Ensuring you have a solid financial and health foundation to
build upon.
Have your home prepared for two weeks without being forced
to leave it.
Being able to leave the house in seconds, fully prepared
Being prepared for any kind of emergency that occurs away
from the home
Practicing the essential skills, you will need
Share your knowledge and help others as you continue to learn
and grow from your current skill level.
Everything that you read within these pages is tailored toward those
who want reliable, rational, and helpful advice in simple-to-read
terms. The information you find will apply to everyone, regardless of
location, budget, or scenario.
It doesn't matter if you're concerned with the state of politics, a
natural disaster, the failing economy, or running away from an
abusive ex. It doesn't matter if you've already been through one or
even more disasters or emergencies.
You are not alone.
You are one of the intelligent people who understand the concept of
being ready and prepared.
Most people don't broadcast what they're doing to others. It's not
strange, it's not weird, and certainly, nothing to be ashamed of.
Some people don't tell their partners, children, or parents; they
simply learn what they need to know and implement these skills
without them knowing.
No one can predict the future. It's a fact of life that terrible things
happen along with the good. Enjoying the good while it happens and
preparing for the worst is important. As you start prepping, you must
be diligent and discover anything that could set you back.
Be realistic in your approach to prepping. If you only have a little
space in your home, don't plan to stock up with crates and crates of
canned food and toilet paper. Stay focused on simple things, and
certainly don't think you're preparing for a zombie apocalypse.
Whatever steps you follow, do not allow it to overwhelm you and
make you throw in the towel. Don't walk down a path full of Rambo
or doomsday fantasies. Don't waste your money on purchasing ten
years' worth of supplies. Prepping can be done in fun and enjoyable
ways.
Definitely ignore the doomsday-sayers that you see on the internet.
These are extremists who shout and yell from the sidelines.
Unfortunately, many are now spreading through YouTube, TikTok,
Facebook, and many forums. If you see them, ignore them, or try
another place where the madness isn't trying to take over.
Prepping is much more enjoyable and successful when you're doing
it with people with the same mindset. Several online groups,
websites, and in-person clubs are full of great and practical
information.
Another good thing to watch out for is doubling up on the items and
gear you have. Keep your gear in the correct place to ensure it
doesn't get lost, and you buy another item. For those on a budget,
purchase high-quality goods that you know aren't going to break
after using them a few times.
Prepping is not buying a few pieces of gear, throwing them into a
bag and dumping it in a cupboard under your stairs, and thinking
you're ready for anything. Preparing means having the right items, a
solid plan, and practicing with those things.
A bug-out bag is not just for taking on a location you already have
set out on a map or in your head. A bug-out bag is the one bag you
automatically get as soon as you need to depart your home. A bug-
out bag is what you need when your plans go to hell.
Organization Based on Your Threats
It is normal for people to ask, "What are you preparing for?" when
you ask for help. Don't discard this question, as it can help you
obtain the right information for your specific plans and events. It also
helps you remain practical and keeps your feet on the ground before
all the doomsday conspiracists start luring you to their sides.
However, one downside to this question is that you will get the
information for that one specific event. Why is this a downside?
Because you will get information that leaves you less prepared for all
disasters rather than just one specific event. Or you may get the
impression that you must prepare for all events in certain ways.
The great thing about the information in this book is that it will apply
to about ninety-eight percent of everyone and the various scenarios
you could prepare for.
Once you have sorted out the key things that can be trickier to start
with, such as growing plants inside a building instead of an outside
garden, the rest tends to fall into place. You will need to add and
modify things on top of these essentials, depending on your location
and risks. For example, do you live in a location prone to flooding or
cyclones? However, the key information will be the same for
everyone.
Chapter One: Why You Should Be Organized
As the old saying goes, be prepared, and prevent.
Everyone, regardless of how old they are, where they live, their
background, religious or political beliefs, or how much money they
have, should be prepared for whatever emergency life throws their
way.
Your family needs to be prepared. This includes your spouse,
children, siblings, parents, friends, colleagues, and neighbors; you
need to be prepared.
It doesn't matter if you're eighteen and going off to university for the
first time or if you're a forty-year-old mother with three kids. You need
to be prepared.
Preparing for what life hands out to you is not bad. It's not a crazy
thing to do. It is not what only insane doomsday conspiracy theorists
do in their underground bunkers. Most prep people are sane,
rational, and practical and come from all ethnic, religious, and socio-
political backgrounds.
In recent years, a high proportion of those prepping for the worst
move operate in the high circles that influence how things operate in
our world. They know the outcomes based on the evidence they've
seen and are preparing for the day when the worst will hit them.
For most people, the world is a great place. Most of us have good
access to healthcare, healthy foods, and clean drinking water. But as
we have seen in recent years, the comforts that we take for granted
can be taken from us in the blink of an eye, and history shows us
that after a period of good times, the bad times inevitably follow.
However, the world is nowhere near as stable as we imagine it is.
And unfortunately, the instability and unpredictability are steadily
declining. Our honeymoon period is over. Earth is changing, and
more and more disasters are occurring due to these changes. The
key factors in the world's economies affect how we live and work,
which then changes our experiences.
Let's face it, governments worldwide are not addressing the problem.
Likely, those who do won't actually do anything about it. As humans,
we are well-known for our ability to adapt to the circumstances
thrown our way, but there is no way that it will be a painless process.
Prepping for the worst is therefore essential. However, many people
do enjoy doing it. For some, they take great pride in ensuring the
well-being of their families; others feel selfless in helping their
communities that require aid, while for others, it gives them the
sense of being free.
It can also be enjoyable and satisfying. It allows you to be out in the
fresh air, surrounded by nature. It gives you the chance to learn new
things about your environment, learn new skillsets, and even
challenge your mind to come up with new scenarios to prepare
yourself and your family for.
Whatever the case, you will find deep peace in the knowledge that
you are prepared and won't be a mindless victim of circumstance. If
anything should go wrong, having a few essential supplies could
mean the difference between survival and death.
You Need to Be Prepared
Your mind could come up with hundreds of scenarios – the loss of a
job, an abusive ex after you and the kids, an earthquake, a global
pandemic. Out of them all, you are most likely to go through at least
once in your lifetime. Most likely several.
A high number of the world's most intelligent and sensible experts
have come to the same outcome – over the next century, things will
only worsen. The evidence is strong and fearful. You must start
imagining what the worst could be and how to prepare for it.
Preppers Are Not Crazy
It's an outdated and harmful stereotype. The majority of those who
prep are not hermits living out in the wilderness with stockpiles of
canned goods, guns, and ammo, shooting at anyone who gets near
them because the government is inserting microchips in the backs of
their necks to maintain their Big Brother grip on the population.
When preppers were first introduced in the media, they were shown
as extremists on the alt-right side of politics and lived in the most
isolated parts of the country. Most were extremists in many ways,
especially in how they prepared.
When you first step into the prepping world, you must remember that
social media tends to use extremists (no matter the subject or what
side of the spectrum they fall upon) to get views. This isn't to say that
what the media puts out is fake, just that the more extreme, the more
views (and more money in many cases).
However, these days, prepping is much more common than you may
think, and the stereotypes of preppers are not applicable.
You Can't Predict What Is Going to Happen
It is normal to think about the future and plan for it. It could be buying
your first home, saving for a rainy day fund, or even saving up to
send your child to university. And, as much as we don't like to admit
it, we are not quite as good at it as we wish.
For example, we know it is a good idea to write a will to ensure what
we leave behind goes to the right people. However, many of us still
haven't written one out yet. We know that most of us will retire at
some point, but how many of us have started a retirement fund? We
know that we should look after our bodies, but how many of us will
order takeaway or put off going to the doctor or dentist?
There are a variety of reasons why we don't do this. Sometimes we
procrastinate. Sometimes it seems such a far-off time until it
happens, so we don't need to do it today. Sometimes it takes too
long for what we want. Sometimes the payout doesn't seem worth it
right now. Sometimes we bury our heads in the sand.
The reasons why we put things off or don't do them at all even
though we know we shouldn’t really matter in the end. As humans,
we are imperfect, and the systems that we find ourselves in are just
as imperfect. Still, disasters can and do occur, and we must prepare
for them.
Modern history might be a freak period of luck.
Humans have been on this earth for around 250,000 years. During
that time, life has been nothing but hard. Access to reasonably good
healthcare and shelter has only been around for the last two
centuries, and good quality of life has only been around for the last
75 years or so. How the richest one percent lived a hundred years
ago is how the average middle-class person enjoys life today.
The last twenty to thirty years of history have been a freak period of
good luck.
When we look at history, it's easy to see a pattern of improved living
which is quickly followed by a period of decline. For example, Roman
Britain saw a period of high culture and standard of healthcare only
to be followed by the Dark Ages, where culture and healthcare were
substantially worse.
We must look to the past to determine what the future may hold for
us. Just because we are alive in a period of good luck, where the
healthcare and hygiene are good, doesn't mean bad times are not
coming.
Because they are, do not be one of the ignorant masses that
believes that nothing can get worse. No one believed that a virus
from overseas could bring the world to a standstill, but in 2019,
Covid-19 did just that.
Humans are good at surviving. Throughout history, we have survived
floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, global diseases, wars, famines,
droughts, and the falls of entire civilizations. However, we have
survived it.
But just because things are fine right now doesn't mean they always
will. After all, the Romans believed that their civilization could never
fall. Rome fell hard, impacting three continents when it did.
All the experts – scientists, politicians, historians, economists, and
many others – all state the same thing. How we are living right now
is not sustainable. You can compare it to having a mortgage on a
property you cannot afford the payments on. The bank will eventually
foreclose on your property and take it away.
We are the ones living in that house right now, and the banks are
knocking on the door.
Some debt is a good thing. We take out debt to get an education, get
a good job, pay back the money we borrowed, and then use the rest
to set us up in a home we love and pay for the things we need. This
is good in an economy that is growing, but when you realize that the
economy isn't growing and there is too much debt, it is important to
understand its implications.
We are running on borrowed time. We've outsourced much of our
goods production and labor services to much cheaper countries.
However, these countries are realizing the consequences and are
now focusing on long-term sustainability rather than short-term
objectives.
Do you really believe – right down in your gut – that the world will be
better for your children's generation the way things are going?
Statistics show that thirty-seven percent of Americans believe they
will. Only twenty percent of millennials believe they will have a better
quality of life than the Baby Boomers, who are at sixty-seven
percent.
If the world and our quality of life improved, those percentages would
be higher.
There is something terribly wrong with the way things are going.
Steady Declines and Sudden Disasters
Freak storms, a sudden flood, war – all these disasters have one
thing in common – they can occur and destroy your current life as
you know it in a very short time. These are the events that are easier
to prep for. You need to get your emergency bag out, grab your plan
and supplies, and then you're ready to go.
Slower declines are harder to prepare for. However, you must think
and plan ahead for these scenarios because if history has shown us
anything, they can, and do, occur more frequently than we would like
to admit.
One example. China and your country attacks. To increase your
chances of survival, you decide to get off the grid. However, if
inflation and energy costs rise thirty percent each year, or there are
numerous blackouts, the same prep for China attacking will benefit
you all the same.
Research has shown that the average individual's chances of slow
declines in their systems (such as electricity, water, and food) are
around the same as the chances of a sudden disaster or a long
period of unemployment.
There are times when things such as floods are both slow and
abrupt. The coastline is gradually eroding steadily each year,
increasing the risks of sudden floods. At the same time, it also
reduces the home prices of properties on the coastline and therefore
impacts the economy and displacement of those who live there.
Over the last few decades, politicians have been sweeping the
effects and costs of such things under the rug, so to speak, which
leaves the majority of the population to think that life has never been
so good or that things will get better and better. However, experts
know the truth all too well. And it doesn't look good for any of us.
Let us take a look at a few examples.
Weather. We are currently going through a period of climate change.
Worldwide, we see more storms, floods, rising temperatures, and
less rain. These impact our food production, clean water distribution,
and the destruction of homes and the environment.

Water. Droughts around the world are impacting millions of lives.

Even in America, in places such as Austin, Texas, and in Flint,
Michigan, hundreds of thousands do not have access to clean water,
and the government refuses to step in and do its jobs to protect
these people.
Food. The entire world can be fed for five years with what we
produce right now. However, millions of people of all ages in every
country worldwide are dying of starvation because of a lack of
distribution. We have seen an upwards trend in producing food
inside buildings, along with organic food production and other
innovative technologies. However, food can run out when
emergencies appear, and people panic buy, or entire batches can be
tainted due to various issues.
Governmental Control. All around the world, we see governments
implementing control over the population through rigged elections,
forced camps, forced sterilization, curfews, etc. How far will your
country's government go to ensure they have control over your life
for their benefit?
Employment. It's a fact of life that just because you work doesn't
mean you can provide for your family. 75 years ago, one person
could go to work and pay the mortgage and rest of the bills while the
other parent stayed at home to raise the children. Nowadays,
parents can work three jobs and still can't afford to buy healthy foods
for their kids. With jobs refusing to pay living wages, we are likely at
the start of a period that will see a rapid incline in unemployment and
even lower wages.
Regional Emergencies Compared to National
Disasters
Some disasters can happen in your immediate location, while others
can be on a national or global scale. A collapse of society will affect
every single person in the country, but some disasters will only affect
your home, your neighborhood, town, or state/province/county.
It is therefore important to prep for big and smaller disasters that will
only affect you and your family. This could be a car crash, your
house burning down, or a long period of unemployment.
A century ago, we knew how to survive with no money and no
permanent shelter. We had the skills to build a shelter without going
to the store or to fish and hunt to feed our families. We had the skills
to survive after a natural disaster, to live off the grid. We could create
a feast with next to nothing, mend, and make our own clothing to
keep warm.
Can any of us say that in this day and age?
Recent surveys conducted in America have shown that eighty
percent of people wouldn't know how to feed themselves or find
clean water in the wild, and fifty-three percent of people wouldn't
have three days’ worth of non-perishable food and drinking water.
Here is a list of emergencies that you could possibly face at some
point:
Getting lost while hiking.
Getting stuck in a lift.
Having no power for more than 12 hours.
Frozen water pipes.
Dangerous animals in your garden.
Your house is burning down
A carjacking.
Your house is robbed.
You are mugged on your way home.
 You experience rape or domestic abuse/violence.
You experience a serious medical problem such as a heart
attack, a stroke, or paralysis.
You get stuck in the snow.
You experience a car crash.
The average driver is likely to be involved in a car crash every
seventeen years. In 2005, over 38,000 people died in a car crash,
while 4.4 million were injured or were disabled.
It is important to be ready for any kind of emergency. Therefore, you
must have a bag containing the things you need to get you home.
Keep it stocked at all times and keep it in your car, at work, or
somewhere accessible outside the home. This way, if something
should happen to you while you're away from home, you have all the
essentials you need to survive.
These aren't bags that will get you home in case a hoard of angry
brain-eating zombies attack you on your way home from the office,
but what you may need if you are involved in a car crash or perhaps
witness one. You can jump in, call for help, and help the injured
instead of sitting on the sidelines, wringing your hands, or TikToking
it for everyone else's enjoyment.
Climate Change and Natural Disasters
Mother Nature is one mean mama at times. She doesn't care when,
how, who, or where. Every year, millions are affected by natural
disasters that tend to overwhelm local and even national systems
such as ambulances, hospitals, police, coastguards, the army, and
many others.
Natural disasters disrupt everyone's day-to-day lives, forcing people
into situations where they are generally helpless. They tend to lack
food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and medical care.
Statistics show that around 85,000 people die annually from natural
disasters, with another 189 million displaced or otherwise affected.
Flooding is the number one most likely natural disaster, making up
forty-three percent of natural disasters and fifty-five percent of those
affected. In the last decade, two and a half billion people have been
affected by floods.
Natural disasters don't only occur in developing countries. In June
2008, eleven million people were killed by one flood. Millions have
died in China. The United States is one of the top countries affected
by natural disasters.
Around forty-four percent of natural disasters occur in developing
countries, with sixty-eight percent of the total deaths. Developing
countries make up thirty-four percent of deaths from natural
disasters and fifty-six percent of worldwide disasters. Over ninety
percent of deaths that occur from heatwaves happen in wealthy
countries.
In the United States, 30 million people live within the fallout zones of
volcanos; 9 million live in high flood areas; 17 million live in zones
with tornados.
Fires destroy forests, land, and homes annually, killing around 3,500
Americans and injuring 16,000 more.
The number of deaths and injuries is steadily rising each year.
Climate change is real. Natural disasters occur. The population is
growing at alarming rates.
Disasters related to heatwaves and climate are doubled compared to
what they were twenty years ago, including wildfires.
Sea levels are rising. The Great Barrier Reef was declared dead, the
world's oldest and largest living organism. It was 25 million years old
and was an important ecosystem supplying us with food. NASA
estimates the ocean will be two to six inches higher in the next
twenty years.
About 170 million Americans live close to the coastline. Within the
next generation, it is estimated that around 670 communities along
the coastline will be wiped out, according to experts. These include
cities such as New York, Oakland, and Miami.
Around a million homes within five hundred feet of the coast will be
destroyed by flooding. Saltwater will pour into the land, making it
unusable for farming.
But flooding and rising water levels are not the only things to watch
out for. Droughts and famines are much more common, as well as
hurricanes, thunderstorms, dust storms, heatwaves, wildfires, and
many others.
Since 1980, there have been significant increases in the number of
wildfires across America. Although new technology has been
produced to help combat it, the number of acres destroyed by fire
has increased by 400%. As the weather becomes drier and the
temperature rises, it is more common than ever to have more
frequent, stronger, and longer fires.
These fires and other natural disasters are also changing the lives of
animals. Much of our diet comprises animal products – meat and
dairy in particular. Some scientists have suggested that seventy-five
percent of animal species right now could die out by the end of the
next generation, making it the sixth mass extinction the world has
known.
It's one thing to survive the initial disaster – such as an earthquake
or wildfire – but have you considered the effects of what comes
after? Such as house prices falling, food prices shooting upwards, or
there's a shortage of food, water, and medicine? What will you do?
Where will you go?
The government is fairly good at treating the symptoms – sending
out the army or medical care, for example – but let's face it; they are
absolutely useless at dealing with the issues. They could raise the
minimum wage, but what's the point of that when the cost of food
has gone up 250%? This has actually happened in several countries
in recent years, including Venezuela.
When there is a shortage of clean water and safe food, other issues,
such as preventable diseases, tend to rise. If you can't afford healthy
food, how would you be able to afford medicine?
You cannot rely on the government for anything. The American
government must provide care for returning soldiers but fails them
every time. They can't even track the whereabouts of several billion
dollars of weapons shipped to Iraq during the war.
Throughout history, people have learned that you cannot rely on the
government, especially during and after a crisis. Even national and
local agencies and organizations are severely limited in what support
they can provide. Even FEMA can't provide support until after
seventy-two hours to put any plans into action due to the
government.
When an earthquake destroyed 250,000 homes and killed 130,000
people in Haiti in 2010, the Red Cross (a non-governmental
organization) received around $500 million from donations to aid
Haiti. The Red Cross spent $125 million on its own expenses and
failed to build the 15,000 homes that it promised. They built SIX.
Have Fun Learning New Skills and Being
Prepared
When you learn a new skill, you inevitably have fun. A lot of prepping
can be enjoyed outside, learning from communities, and trying out
new items.
Research conducted in recent years has shown that people are
having more fun getting out of the house and trying new things rather
than sitting on the sofa and binge-watching a show. Challenges are
great, not just for the body but the mind as well. You get more sense
of purpose when you challenge yourself or do something meaningful.
Studies show that happy and successful people have a great attitude
toward learning new things and growing their skills. And what could
be better than learning how to take care of yourself and your loved
ones?
It's an Insurance You Need
Every year, we spend thousands individually on insurance, such as
home and contents, car and motorcycle insurance, and even
education and retirement accounts. We pay into all these types of
insurance but don't put anything into prepping.
As the old saying goes, you're buying peace of mind. This is
particularly true with prepping. You will fall back and use that
prepping at some point in your life. It's another type of insurance you
will need.
Are You Ready?
If you've managed to get this far into the book, then congratulations,
you've taken the first step into your journey of prepping for the future.
It's OK to be scared, to feel overwhelmed. The majority of those who
prep will admit that they've felt the same way.
Chapter Two: Store What You Use, Use What You
Store
Also known as the First In, First Out mode, the Store What You Use,
Use What You Store model is a fantastic way to start your prep
journey.
It starts with going to the supermarket. Take a look at what you put in
your cart or trolley. If you have a little extra money in your budget,
pick up a few extra non-perishable goods you regularly use and
store them in your home. This is just a tiny adjustment, but it works
wonders, and if you've managed to get those items without spending
anything extra, it's even better. You've not wasted any extra time,
money, or energy on prepping.
The First in, First Out model is right at the heart of prepping and
definitely something you need to understand before going any
further. It is such a normal part of everyday life for most that it's
something you don't really become aware of.
The idea is to create a stockpile of the everyday items that you and
your family use but will last several months without being touched.
These are usually shelf-stable items and foods, along with toiletries,
batteries, and other items.
It is these extra items that become your first layer of emergency
goods. Think of it as a mini supermarket in your home, piled with the
goods you know your family will want and need.
The first step in becoming a good prepper is to have enough items at
home to survive without having to leave for at least two weeks. This
means no outside help (such as from family and friends) or making a
sneaky trip to a shop. Using the First In, First Out method, you can
save for this without any extra money, time, or energy.
Generations ago, our families used to do this daily. Parents would
pick up an extra bag of flour or several cans of food in case
something went wrong. It wasn't strange. It was normal. These days,
all we have to do is go on the internet, fill up a cart online, pay for it,
and the items will arrive at our doors within a day or two. We live
quite a lazy lifestyle these days, and we sometimes forget that just
because we have things easy now, they may not always be so easy
tomorrow.
You may have to use those items due to a variety of situations –
another outbreak of a COVID-19 strain, being fired or made
redundant, an interruption to the food supply (such as Brexit), or
even a natural disaster. Sometimes people just practice this model
simply because they know their lives are just naturally busy, and they
don't have to make more trips to the store than necessary.
Let's take a look at what you may do before you start prepping. We
will use cans of baked beans since they are non-perishable items,
are a great source of protein, and are good items for prepping.
You love baked beans and use three cans each week. You go to the
supermarket once a fortnight and buy six cans until the next time you
go shopping. If an emergency hits, you might have anywhere
between zero and six cans of baked beans at home.
Now, when you are a prepper, you still use three cans of baked
beans every week and still make a trip to the supermarket once
every fortnight. Instead of buying six cans of baked beans, you buy
nine. You leave and put those nine cans of baked beans in the
pantry. You use the six cans of baked beans as you normally would
in those two weeks, and by the time you normally go to the
supermarket again, you still have three cans of baked beans.
However, instead of only buying three cans to add to the three you
have at home, you continue to buy nine cans of baked beans.
Put the new cans of baked beans behind the extra cans you have at
home and use those ones up first. The next time you go shopping,
you put those cans behind the ones you already have. When you
need to cook the baked beans, you use the cans at the front. You
carry on with this cycle by purchasing a few extra items each time
you go shopping. That way, when something happens, and you can't
get to the supermarket, you are safe knowing that you have a good
supply of the items you like.
What makes this work is having a supply of non-perishable items
you normally would buy and use.
It's even better when there is a long gap between the time of
purchase and the time when it expires because it makes things
extremely easy for you. It works best with items with a long shelf life,
such as toilet rolls, deodorant, sanitary items, rice, pasta, and
canned goods.
Some cans of baked beans can last for two years in your pantry. If
you use three cans a week, you can use 576 cans over two years.
Having 50 cans of baked beans will get you through nearly 17 weeks
of self-reliance.
If you follow this model, you should be ready for whatever comes
your way. 95% of people are not prepared for when disaster strikes.
You can be prepared and not spend anything extra on prepping
items since you just spend on things that you normally would
purchase or make any big changes to your habits. You don't even
have to waste time learning how to can or freeze-dry goods.
Life can get busy, especially with work and family. If things get in the
way, such as tight purse strings or your workload keeps you
incredibly busy, you can pause or buy fewer items until the time is
right to start rebuilding your stockpile again.
For example, it’s been a cold winter, and you've had to use the
heating a lot over the months. The bill comes in, and it's much higher
than what you were prepared for. You decide to pay it off, but
because there's less money in your account now, you use the
surplus items in your stockpile instead of going to the grocery store.
You restart building your stockpile when you have more money.
It doesn't really matter if you don't use all the items before they
expire. You can donate them to a food bank or give them to friends
or family. Some items can be used even after a best before date
(there are differences between a best before date and expiry date),
and some are cheap enough to be replaced.
Storing Your Items
Keep a marker beside your pantry to ensure that nothing goes to
waste. Once you purchase an item, write the purchase and expiry
dates in big letters on the front. This way, you can easily see when
that item needs to be used up, making the First In, First Out model
easy to practice. For example, something that needs to be used
before December 2023 should be used before something labeled
December 2024.
You don't have to invest in any kind of fancy storage items, but it can
make things a lot easier for you if you organize your goods so that
you don't have to keep thinking about what needs to be used first. If
you have a large plastic tray, all you need to do is put the items that
need to be used first at the front. When you buy new items, simply
pull them out and place them in the back.
Some fantastic floor-standing organizers allow you to place newly
purchased items on the top for canned items. When you grab a can
from the bottom, the oldest of the items, the next one rolls down.
Chapter Three: Money Management Is the Key to
Good Prepping
Managing your money and getting your finances in order is one of
the core aspects of being a good prepper. It doesn't matter if you
have a lot of money or barely anything. Even an average person can
improve their financial habits to create a solid foundation for their
everyday lives and an emergency.
You don't want to be someone who has a large stockpile of items but
barely has any money to their name, along with high debt and
nothing put aside for retirement or emergencies.
If you want to be a good prepper, you need to start thinking about
lowering your chances of a terrible event occurring and being
prepared for it. Being a reasonable and sensible prepper requires
you to be prepared for the situations you are most at risk of
experiencing.
It can be kind of fun to imagine what would happen should there be a
zombie outbreak, and the only way to survive is by staying inside the
home, but let's face it, it's not likely to happen.
You're much more likely to experience another global pandemic, a
disruption to the food supply, or hardships to your own finances.
It is this last factor that most preppers start prepping.
In America, 51 million households struggle to keep a roof over their
heads and put food on the table. 20% of American children go
hungry every year. 14% of Americans live below the poverty line.
57% of Americans do not have $1,000 in savings. Every year, 25%
of American experience extremely financial hardships. Around 46%
of Americans cannot afford to pay $400 in car repairs without relying
on a credit card. 26% of Americans have nothing in their emergency
savings account.
Average Americans have a debt of $125,000, and those with debts
of $16,000 pay 17% in interest payments. The average student loan
debt for graduates in 2016 was $37,000. More than 25 million
Americans cannot afford medical help or purchase medicine such as
insulin. Soaring medical costs have left 620,000 Americans declaring
bankruptcy.
More than 50% of Americans have no savings for retirement, and
less than 20% say they have saved enough for that time. Millennials
have savings 30% smaller than any other generation. More than
80% of the gains are received by the top one percent of the
wealthiest population. Most average people haven't had any
improvements to the economy in years.
Data and statistics don’t show things improving in the future. In fact,
it shows that things will only get worse for those who are not in the
top five percent. Changes to the demographics and the job losses
combined with automated and machine dependency will only worsen
the situation.
Problems with finances can have a severe and devastating impact
on your life. Your children face more disadvantages, your
performance at work decreases, divorces, depression, stress, mental
health issues, bankruptcy, living paycheck to paycheck, getting
further and further into debt – the list goes on and on, and it's not a
good experience for anyone.
For those looking to prep, you are less likely to be successful if you
suffer from financial problems due to fewer resources and options.
For example, you've got to go to the doctor to treat your back pain,
but your car breaks down and needs significant repairs. You pay for
the car repairs so you can continue to get to work, but now your back
is so painful without treatment that you are forced to stay off work.
You get fired, and then all the bills start piling up, and you are in
considerable debt.
It's perfectly acceptable to start prepping even if your finances are
not as strong as others. You may start working on the fundamentals
of your prepping checklist while trying to lower your debt and create
savings for emergencies. Remember to be practical and, if need be,
seek advice from a professional.
Creating an Emergency Fund

There are several reasons why it is important to have an emergency

fund set aside to last you for three to six months. These include such
situations:
To bail out a family member
Stockpiling necessary items before a storm
Dealing with an unexpected funeral
A serious medical issue
Parking tickets
A car accident
An outbreak of disease
A series of riots
Loss of employment
Fleeing domestic violence
Having a fund that could tide you over for three to six months can be
incredibly reassuring. It gives you peace of mind knowing that,
should one of these situations happen or something even worse, you
are secure in the knowledge that you can get through it.
Experts said you should always have enough funds for three months
a few years ago. However, these days it has gone up to have funds
to cover you for six months. This is because decent-paying jobs are
harder to find even with degrees, there are fewer social security nets
to fall back onto, and food and housing prices are rising.
You should keep your emergency fund accounts separate from your
savings and retirement funds.
Great preppers are ready at all times. If something should happen,
you should always have your bag ready, and you are good to go.
This is exactly the same for your emergency funds account. You
need to look at it as your bug-out bag. You don't go into it; you don't
even look at it until there is an emergency. You don't dip into it to buy
those designer shoes that are on sale right now or use it for any
other reason, even if you intend to put the funds back in next week.
Most people won't be able to replace the funds, and an emergency
will suddenly occur.
After a while, you can diversify your emergency funds to include
online savings, cash, precious metals, and even bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency can be overwhelming or even confusing to some, but
it can be a good backup plan in an emergency. You should look into
it and do thorough research.
It's Time to Start
It's something that you will read a lot, but it's true. You must start
now.
If you don't start planning now, you are losing out. Compound
interest and rewards that come with investing accumulate each
month. The more time you waste in failing to start saving, the more
funds you are wasting. It's the difference between saving for
retirement age 21 instead of 31.
Your future, and the future of your family, are incredibly important.
Each time you get paid from your job, you pay yourself first. You
place 10% of your paycheck in your emergency funds, another 10%
in your retirement fund, and another 10% into your savings account.
It's highly recommended.
If your funds are tight, try paying yourself 5% for the first year and
then increase it to 10% the following year. It is highly recommended
that you start establishing and cementing the habit rather than
focusing on the actual numbers.
Setting up an automated transfer on the day you get paid is a good
idea. If you know you get paid on the first of each month, create a
standing order or a direct debit so that 10% of your paycheck
automatically goes into your retirement, savings, and emergency
fund. This way, you know exactly what you have left to play with
each month.
Regarding debt, you must prioritize getting it down as low as
possible before you start saving up for anything else.
Looking at Your Expenses
It is believed that if you look at your weight each day, you will make
better choices regarding what you eat for the rest of the day. You
don't have to deal with fad diets, counting calories, or trying to stick
to a program that will make you miserable – all you do is step on the
scales and make sensible decisions.
It is exactly the same regarding your finances. Budgeting is
equivalent to counting calories. Look at your finances regularly and
allow yourself to make responsible choices. Do you only have $100
in your account but need to pay off your credit card bill? Don't go to
Starbucks and spend $15 on some ridiculously sugar-crammed
concoction that doesn't taste like coffee. Make a flask of your favorite
coffee and drink that on the way to work instead.
Maybe you'll see that you're paying for a gym subscription or an app
that you don't bother using. Maybe you're eating fast food far too
much. Some apps or bank features that monitor your spending
habits could come in handy.
Establish a Sensible Budget
Budgets are just like diets. We hate them, and we rarely stick to
them. However, when we stick to them, they are incredibly effective.
A good method is the 50 – 30 – 20 budget. In this, you pay 50% of
your income for your essentials, such as housing and healthcare
costs, 30% for things you desire (such as clothing, shoes, and going
out to eat), and 20% for debts, retirement, and emergency funds.
For example, let's say you earn $6000 a month. You pay $3000 for
your rent/mortgage, utilities, travel gas, car payment, groceries, etc.
You then pay $1800 for fun things (such as eating out, buying new
clothes, etc., Netflix, games), and the final $1200 you put in your
retirement fund or towards paying off debt. You do not go over your
set budget for anything else.
This allows you to save money, stops you from overspending on
things you don't need, and helps you plan for the future by putting
aside some extra money for prepping. This could be through learning
new skills or buying extra items to be used in your stockpile.
Chapter Four: Getting Your Home Prepared
Should the worst happen, and you are warned to, you should
evacuate your home ASAP. Having a home prepared should never
stop you from evacuating, especially if there is a danger of death.
Staying at home is what preppers refer to as hunkering down.
However, there are several occasions where evacuation is not an
option. These include:
Unable to leave due to small children, sick or elderly relatives
Power outages
Can't get safely out of the danger area in a short time

When it comes to situations like these, and hunkering down is the

only option you have, you must have a good supply of items that you
will need, such as toilet roll, matches, candles, batteries, and
drinking water, and food.
How Much Do You Need?
According to the Red Cross and FEMA, it is highly recommended
that you have emergency supplies to last you at least 14 days.
However, many preppers are much more comfortable having at least
a month's worth of supplies at hand.
For example, when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana on the 29th of
August 2005, large-scale supplies did not arrive until the 2nd of
September – several days after the hurricane hit land. Hurricane
Katrina was a devastating natural disaster, but it only affected a
relatively small area compared to the rest of the country. As a result
of blundering politicians, it took several days for supplies to reach
New Orleans, even though millions of people worldwide sent aid to
be distributed by convoys and helicopters. The world discovered that
the government did not act fast enough.
Hurricane Katrina was a localized disaster, and the people of New
Orleans realized that the government could not be depended on to
help immediately. What would have happened if the Katrina
devastated area was much larger, or worse, the entire country?
In those scenarios, it is possible that help in the way of medical aid,
food, and clean drinking water, may not reach you for several weeks,
possibly even months. After the 2010 earthquake that destroyed
much of Haiti's infrastructure, the country still hasn't recovered, and
the people went several months before any help reached them.
Humans can only last three days before they die of thirst. Before that
time, you may experience hallucinations, sickness, and many other
symptoms. Having clean and safe drinking water should always be
on the top of your prep list.
You should aim for one gallon of water for each individual per day.
However, if you're used to using a lot of water, you'd ideally want to
stockpile at least three gallons instead of one gallon per person.
The best way of storing water is in barrels or jugs. You can store
them in large plastic containers, but because they tend to leak after a
while, you need to rotate them.
Also, you'll have to find a way to purify the water, such as with
purification tablets or using filters. Another important factor to
consider is that both these methods will not treat all issues. Although
boiling water kills bacteria, it won't treat chemicals. You'll need to
know how to treat various kinds of water threats.
Although humans can go up to thirty days without food, having a
source of nourishment is extremely important, although it is not the
most important aspect you'll have to consider (having a heat source,
particularly in winter, is much more important). However, having a
good stockpile of food is a great cause of comfort in an emergency
and something easy to deal with. Just cooking a hot meal can calm
even the most frayed of nerves.
However, establishing a good stockpile of food can be difficult if you
don't know what you're doing. You'll need to think about such things
as how many calories you need to consume each day, whether they
meet your nutritional needs, how to cook them, how long they will
last, when they will expire, and what will survive better in a disaster,
and where you will store them.
Gathering a good stockpile of food can be easy enough, depending
on your needs and goals. If you want to make things easy on
yourself, you must go to the supermarket and buy a certain number
of days' worth of non-perishable food and goods. If you have the
funds, there are pre-made emergency survival kits with 30 days'
worth of food in them; some of these kits have been designed for
those on a special diet or who have allergies.
One of the biggest mistakes some people make is not thinking about
how they will cook meals after a disaster hits. You may stockpile
thirty bags of dried beans. They can last for years, but if you have no
access to a cooker, how will you cook them when they take hours to
prepare? How do you cook these beans or anything else for that
matter?
Many people find that as they start out on their prepping journey,
they create their own bags of emergency food. Most of the time that
means placing non-perishable food within sealed bags, some with
oxygen absorbers. It takes some time to learn how to do this
successfully, but this type of method gives you the chance to decide
what food you should stockpile and gives you more choices.
When we talk about survival food, it can sound a little vague. What is
it exactly? Is it meant to get you through a snowstorm or being
forced out into the wilderness for several days? Each scenario you
come up with will require a different type of food to survive.
Survival Foods for Short Term Disasters
The most common type of disaster you are most likely to deal with,
these situations tend to include storms or power outages, but you
are trapped within your home. If your power goes out, you can use
the items within your freezer before they go off. The rest of your food
intake will be from what you regularly have in your pantry. However,
there are some essentials you will need.
Water is absolutely necessary. Should a blizzard, severe storm, or
tornado hit, it isn't uncommon for the water to be turned off in your
home. You should ideally have one to three gallons of water per
person daily. This will get you through cooking, cleaning, drinking,
and maintaining your hygiene levels.
When it comes to foods, you should keep a stockpile of dried fruits,
lentils, cous cous, instant mashed potatoes, jellies/jams/ peanut
butter, crackers, cereals, oatmeal/porridge, baked beans, canned
vegetables, canned fruits, canned fish, dried fish, etc.
Some foods you'll notice are not featured on the list, such as rice,
pasta, and dried beans. This is because it takes a lot of time to cook
these foods, especially the dried beans, despite soaking them for
several hours before cooking. The pasta takes the least amount of
time to cook, but it's still too long.
If an emergency hits, you shouldn't count on having a power source
to cook foods. You could use several methods to cook without an
electric or gas-powered cooker, but they take a lot of energy to cook
rice, beans, and pasta, and you will go through it fast.
Also, you should remember that just because you can make a fire
doesn't mean that it's safe to do so after an emergency. Gas leaks
can occur after certain natural disasters, such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, flooding, and earthquakes. If you think you may have a
gas leak, stay away from lighting any fires, despite how tempting it
is.
Instead, stick to the types of foods that you do not have to cook.
Canned items such as baked beans, tuna, and fruits are preferred
because they tend to survive many disasters.
You will need to meet all your nutritional needs to ensure you are as
healthy as possible. Instant mashed potatoes are a food source of
carbs and can be made using dried milk or even water if nothing else
is available. Cous cous is also good as it can be cooked within a few
minutes. If you pre-soak red lentils, they also have a short cooking
time.
Survival Foods for Long Term Disasters
Hopefully, you will never have to experience a long-term disaster, but
if you do, then you will want to be ready for them. In the case of a
severe pandemic, a nuclear disaster, or an electromagnetic pulse
disaster, you may find yourself hunkering down in your home for at
least a month.
When these events happen, you will need to adjust your dietary
requirements. You will require foods that:
Can easily be stored within your home
Won't get smashed or broken (such as glass jars)
Can be cooked easily with minimum water and fuels
Give you the nutrition you need and still be varied enough so
that you and your family don't get bored with what you're eating
Leaves a small amount of waste, so rubbish/junk doesn't pile
up around your home.
In the case of long-term foods, you will want to be able to freeze-dry
as much of it as possible since they retain much of their taste and
their nutrition. Canned goods are also ideal, as most can last for two
years before expiring. Some organizations sell various specialty
goods and kits, although they can be on the pricy side.
Other items you should store water, as you will need it to clean,
cook, prepare food, drink, and maintain a healthy environment.
Canned goods are easy to store and have a variety of foods inside,
but they do contain high levels of sugar and salts, so they shouldn't
be relied on as a healthy diet.
Freeze-dried fruits will be a lifesaver for those dealing with long-term
disasters. You will need the various vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants
to maintain a healthy body. Plus, they don't take up as much space
as you think. Invest in a quality freeze dryer machine and start
preparing.
Freeze-dried vegetables are tastier than canned and don't take as
much room to store. Like freeze-dried fruits, you can eat them as is
or use a little water to rehydrate them. They contain vitamins, fiber,
and many other nutrients a healthy body needs.
Seaweed has long been known for its nutritious values, although its
name tends to put people off. However, you can freeze, dry, and
cook it in various ways. Plus, it contains a lot of salt, which can be
used as a flavoring in many dishes.
Powdered milk, particularly in cans, is a great way of getting your
daily dose of dairy and calcium. You can use it in many ways, such
as drinks or cereals.
Honey is one of those foods that can last for eternity without going
off. We know that it has fantastic benefits, such as being high in
antioxidants, antibacterial and antifungal properties, helps with
digestive issues, soothes sore throats and coughs, and can clean
wounds, along with many other benefits. It can also be used to
sweeten food if you don't want to use sugar.
You should always keep a supply of olive oils, vegetable oils, or lard.
These contain the most calories in any type of food and will not only
flavor your food but also give you lots of energy and stop your food
from sticking to your saucepans.
You can also dry and freeze dry meat. When they are prepared and
stored properly, you can safely eat them for more than a year.
Canned tuna in oil is another source of Omega 3 in addition to
protein. Canned tuna can also be turned into a stove to cook on or
even a candle!
Carbs will be necessary, and there's no easier way to consume them
than ramen noodles. They are cheap to purchase, don't take up a lot
of storage space, come in various flavors, and don't take more than
a few minutes to cook. However, you should also consider storing
the following dried foods:
Rice – avoid brown rice as the oils it contains make the food go
rancid very quickly
Pasta – particularly couscous and angel hair pasta as they are
faster to cook than many other types
Plain popcorn – this can also be ground down into corn meal
and will last longer than buying bags of cornmeal, provided you
store it correctly
 Rolled oats – these cook faster than any other type of oats
Pickles and preserves are another great food source. You can pickle
various foods such as fruits, vegetables, and even eggs. Remember
not to store them in glass jars as they easily break in earthquakes.
Keep a good supply of granola and protein bars. Not only are they
tasty, but they don't take up a lot of room, last a long time, come in
different flavors, and are easily portable if you need to leave the
house.

You will also need to think about storing all these types of foods. For
example, a bag of sugar can last forever, but if a flood gets the bag
wet, it won't be safe to use it. This is the same for a lot of items.
Apart from canned items, the ideal way of packaging food for long-
term survival is by placing them within vacuum-sealed bags and then
placed within buckets.
Best Foods for a Bug-Out Bag
You may be forced into a situation where you may need to escape
your home and 'bug-out' in the wilds. If this is a situation you find
yourself in, you definitely don't want to carry a backpack of heavy
canned goods.
When it comes to situations like these, you need to prioritize calorie
intake over anything else. Think carefully about the amount and
types of food you bring. The most important item you're going to
need is water. After all, you can only survive three days without
water but thirty days without food. Also, bring a water filter and a
water collection device for when you find water in the wilderness.
That said, you should ensure you have sufficient food for the length
of time you will be “bugging out.” That means two meals plus snacks
per day for each person, plus an extra day or two in case things
don’t go according to plan. Keeping your bag as light as possible
requires careful food selection, and some of the best options are
freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. These tend to be light to carry
but full of nutrition and high in calories.
Foods to consider are:
Instant oatmeal – all these require a little hot water, and you
have a filling meal. Plus, they don’t take much space, weigh
little, and come in plenty of flavors.
Dry pasta – these weigh little and also only require boiling
water and a little salt
Dehydrated food – any that requires only water will work well
but keep in mind how much extra water you will need to carry
Peanut butter – peanut butter is packed with protein, and a
little goes a long way; opt for the single-serve packets as jars
weigh too much.
Meat pouches – such as chicken, tuna, even spam. These
provide much-needed protein and are light to carry.
Rice – while small bags of rice are not heavy, a better option is
to buy boil-in-the-bag rice; simply add water and a little salt, boil
 it up, and add some pouched meat for a nutritious and filling
meal.
Dried fruit and nuts – excellent for snacking but will not last
long in high temperatures.
Instant coffee – in some places, you can buy single-serve
sachets that include creamer and sugar – again, just add hot
water for a tasty change from water.
Don’t forget that “bugging out” means getting from one point to the
next as quickly as possible. That means choosing foods that require
the minimum preparation and cooking so you don’t need to carry
heavy cooking equipment. Choose foods that require the minimum
amount of prep, preferably those you can eat raw or just add hot
water to.
Mistakes Preppers Make When Stockpiling
Disasters can happen at any time, any place. They do not care about
where you are, what you're doing, or how you feel. Most people are
not prepared at all.
But you don't have to be caught unprepared. You can take the
necessary steps to ensure that you and your loved ones can and will
survive whatever life throws. One of these things is stockpiling food
for you to survive on.
However, you are bound to make some mistakes along the way.
Don't despair; you're not the first to make a mistake. Read on and
discover some of the top mistakes first-time preppers make.
You Don't Stockpile Enough
Most people do not have enough food in the house to last them more
than a few days, and most grocery stores are the same. When the
COVID-19 pandemic happened, British supermarkets were sold out
of their stocks within three days. Hundreds of thousands of British
households couldn't purchase the goods they would normally buy for
their families.
Three days of food may be enough to see you through a minor snow
blizzard, but if something else happens and the stores do not have
enough food in, you will struggle to survive. Ideally, you should have
enough food in your house to see you and your family through a
minimum of thirty days without going to a store.
This may seem hard to do if your property doesn't have a lot of room
for you to stockpile. However, you can easily counteract this by
storing a few large sacks of rice and canned goods.
Keeping It All in the Same Place
If your home is destroyed, taken over by intruders, or there is a
disaster when you're not at home, you may find yourself hunkering
down somewhere else for a month or two.
Because of this, you should keep a supply of food and other items
somewhere other than your home. This could be in the trunk or back
of your car or at your place of work. It's doubtful that you would be
able to get 30 days of food in these places, but every little helps.
Another ideal place would be a family member's home where you
could get to in cases of emergency.
You Don't Rotate Your Stockpile
Dry and canned foods can last for many years, but this doesn't mean
you should allow them to get old in the pantry. Adopt the First In,
First Out method. You should use the items you first purchased and
place the newer items at the back. Don't leave them to gather dust –
use them and replace them.
You Don't Store Them Properly
You should store your stockpile in a safe, clean, dry, and cool place
in your home. Mold can ruin foods if they contaminate them,
especially rice, cereals, and pasta. Always ensure that your food is
sealed so that they don't get ruined by insects and bacteria.
Storing Drinking Water in Dirty Bottles
You will need between 30 and 90 gallons of clean water for thirty
days. That is a lot of water! You need it not only to drink but to cook
and prepare food and clean yourself and your surroundings.
Therefore, you must store your water properly. You can use the
gallon milk jugs, but first, you will need to clean and sanitize them
before putting water in them. This way, they will not allow bacteria
and mold to grow within them.
Also, because plastic bottles are biodegradable, you will need to get
rid of them every six to 12 months as they start leaking.
Don't Forget about Any Medical or Nutritional Issues
Just because there is a serious disaster doesn't mean that you
should neglect your health or any nutritional needs you may have. It
doesn't matter if you're not picking out scraps from a dumpster or
trying to wrestle with a raccoon for a piece of fruit you found; you still
have to look after your body if you want it to keep going.
Your body is a machine, and like all others, it needs certain things to
go into it: vitamins, proteins, carbs, sugar, fiber, etc. Therefore, when
you create your stockpile, you are storing a wide variety of items,
including dried fruits and vegetables, along with a good selection of
proteins and carbs, to keep your energy levels going.
You can purchase a food dehydrator to create various dried fruits
and vegetables.

If you have dietary needs such as food allergies or are diabetic, then
you will need to customize your stockpile so that you have
everything you may need.
You Only Stockpile Food and Not Equipment
Congratulations, you have a room full of dried fruits, vegetables, rice,
pasta, and meat – but how will you cook anything?
Unless you have magical abilities, you will need to have a way to
cook everything in your stockpile and other equipment, such as pots,
pans, knives, can openers, etc. Have at least two ways of cooking
food and enough fuel to last you several months.
You Tell Others
A huge stockpile can be something to be proud of, but you should
not tell anyone about it. If a disaster strikes and everyone knows you
have a massive stockpile of food and fuel, they will immediately go to
your house. Desperate people do desperate things in desperate
times. Be careful who you tell.
You Don't Keep Insects Away
Imagine it. You're stuck in your house for over a month, no grocery
stores are open, or they have very few supplies to purchase. So, you
open your flour bag, scoop out some of it to make a pie, and
suddenly you see little bugs in it! Disgusting!
This is what could happen if you do not store your food correctly.
Bugs and other pests are notorious for finding sneaky ways into
bags and sacks and gorging on the food we need. Therefore, as you
create your stockpile of food, you must ensure that it is safely stored
so that flies, mothers, cockroaches, mice, rats, and other annoying
pests can't get inside.
You Rely Only on Your Stockpile
Your stockpile was created to get you through the worse of a
disaster. Fingers crossed that when you do run into a disaster, it
won't be longer than the thirty days you have stockpiled for, and you
can return to normal life and head back to the supermarket. But what
happens if the situation lasts longer than what your supplies are?
You must consider all the worst-case scenarios. Don't think of it as
paranoia – after all, some grocery stores had nothing to sell for
several weeks after the breakout of COVID-19, while others were
looted.
You should start learning new skills such as how to forage in the wild
for food, hunt, and grow your own food.
Chapter Five: How to Cook When You Don't Have
Electricity
If disaster strikes, you may have no traditional gas or electric cooker
to rely on. This can be quite daunting for some, especially for
parents with young children who depend on them.
However, you don't have to worry. There are dozens of ways you can
cook food without any electricity. Some of these are quite primitive,
while others are much more technologically advanced.
You must have an emergency stove prepared before the power goes
out. That way, you are prepared and more confident when looking at
your unopened supply of beans, rice, and pasta.
Some of the following cooking methods with no electricity are only
practiced outside. It is also a good idea to have at least two ways of
cooking without electricity if something happens, and you can't use
that other method. Another good idea is to have one method for
inside the home, such as a camping stove, and one for outside, such
as a wood stove, when you have no more propane for the camping
stove.
Cooking Indoor without Any Electricity
Another factor you need to consider is that all these methods use
fuel. When fuel burns, it releases carbon monoxide into the air.
Unless you have good ventilation, especially in the winter, you risk
carbon monoxide poisoning. You should always keep a fire
extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm in the home.
A. Gas Camping Stoves uses canisters of fuel such as isobutene,
propane, and butane. Some can even use unleaded gasoline or
multiple varieties of fuel. In long-term situations, you will need a
camping stove connected to larger propane tanks since the
small canisters are depleted quite quickly, especially if you're
boiling water for drinking or cooking rice on them.

B. Alcohol stoves use alcohol as fuel. There are pros and cons to
using alcohol; it burns cleanly, but it can be harder to control
the temperature of the flames, especially if you haven't had a
lot of experience using it. However, many prefer them to gas
stoves.
You can use alcohol, pure methanol alcohol, and denatured
alcohol. Some fuel-lined antifreeze is created with methanol
alcohol, making them safe to use. Isopropanol, or rubbing
 alcohol, works, but it must only be used outside since it doesn't
burn quite as cleanly as the others.
C. Canned heat is when you transform alcohol into a jelly-like
substance that you can then burn as fuel. It's also called gelled
fuel and can be difficult to maintain and control the heat level
and flames. Canned heat is generally cheap to maintain and
doesn't evaporate like alcohol, making it easy to keep storing in
the long run.
D. The tuna can method surprises many people, but it is a great
heat and light source in an emergency. Open your can of tuna
in oil and place three pieces of tissue over it. The oil will get
absorbed into the paper, creating an air-tight seal. Light the
paper – it should burn for around 25 minutes which you can
then cook food on, although you will need a pot stand to place
the food in since it will otherwise smother the flames. The
flames will also cook the tuna within the can.
E. The buddy burner is comparable to the tuna can method. With
this, you take an empty tuna can and place strips of cardboard
just thinner than the tuna can's height. Roll them up and place
them inside. Melt wax using a double boiler, such as candles or
crayons (some people have used butter), and once melted,
pour it within the tuna can. Leave a little of the cardboard
sticking out at the top to act as a wick. When the wax is
completely hard, then you can light it. Place a pot stand over it,
cook your food over the flames, or simply use it as a light
source.
F. The hay box oven is a method of trapping heat. First, cook your
pot of food on fire (either inside or outside), then place it within
an insulated box, close it, and then insulate it with hay. It will
take eight to twelve hours for your food to cook, which is great
for items such as beans, rice, and stews and leaves you free to
do other things.
G. A tea light oven, better known as the HERC, or Home
Emergency Radiant Cooking oven, is a great way of cooking
 inside the home. One tea light by itself won't cook anything or
boil water, but you place an enclosed pot on several tea lights,
which allows the pot to trap heat inside and gradually cook the
food within.
It does take a long time to cook this way (you're looking at a
minimum of eight hours), but it can be done if you don't have
anything else to hand. Make sure you have something placed
around the tea lights to direct the heat towards the pot's base.
H. Wood fireplaces have been used for thousands of years and
are a great way of cooking food. All you will need is a fireplace,
something metal to put the food on like a spit or trivet, and a
dripping pan if you're roasting foods directly over the fire. If you
do, you'll notice a rancid smell due to the burning fat.
Do not cook over gas fireplaces due to the increased risk of
carbon monoxide poisoning.
I. A combination gas and electric stove is the perfect choice if you
are planning on gas or electricity shortages. These run on gas
and electricity, so if the electricity is shut off, you can still use
the gas part of the cooker. They are more popular in certain
Eastern European countries but still can be found worldwide.
J. A wood stove allows you to not only cook food but will heat
your home as well if the power goes out. However, you will
need to have a working flue attached to it, ensure it is cleaned
regularly, and keep your wood pile fully stocked.
The great thing about wood stoves is that when you use them,
you get a lovely scent from the burning of the wood – certain
woods give off different scents. A plus to them is that you will
get in shape from chopping wood for it!
Ensure that your flue is working and is cleaned and that you
have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
K. Portable power stations are a great way of cooking indoors. All
you have to do is plug the device into a socket and turn it on.
Some are charged through solar panels. They are, however, a
little on the pricey side and won't be able to power things such
as electric hotplates for long. If you live in an area prone to
power outages or have the money to invest, then a solar-
powered power station could be the way to go.
Cooking Outdoors without Any Electricity
If you need to cook outdoors, there are various ways you can do this
safely and effectively without relying on electricity.
A. A BBQ grill is a fantastic and easy way of cooking outside. Most
people do this every summer, usually with a group of friends
and several drinks while music blares through the
neighborhood. Do not use a BBQ grill inside the house since
charcoal, in particular, emits large quantities of carbon
monoxide. Only use them outside.

B. Open fires are fun for all ages, especially when you're cooking
food on one. However, if you're not used to this cooking
method, it can be hard to do. The wind can blow the flames in
all directions, either catching foliage on fire, blowing the flames
on you, or even blowing the flames out. Flames are notoriously
hard to control, and it's not unusual for the bottom of the rice
pot to be blackened and burnt. The easiest way of cooking on
an open flame is by placing a BBQ grill rack over the flames or
by creating a stand where you can hang a pot over the flames.
C. An easy way of cooking outside is through ember roasting. All
you have to do is create a fire and allow it to burn down to
embers. Place the food you want to cook in some aluminum or
tin foil, and then bury it within the embers. The best types of
food to cook this way are potatoes and corn. It takes a while for
the food to cook this way, but it's well worth the wait.
D. Solar cooking is where you trap heat from the sun. You can
purchase a solar cooker or make one yourself, but it's similar to
that of frying an egg in your car in hot places such as Arizona
or Texas.
E. Portable wood stoves are popular with campers and those who
like to live off the grid. They trap heat within and create lots of
flames without using much wood. Most have pot stands within
them for people to cook on.
F. Hobo stoves are primitive and easy stoves fashioned with tin
cans and use twigs and small sticks for fuel. They were
designed by homeless people who desperately needed a way
to cook and keep themselves warm. They aren't the best way
to cook food, but if you're in a pinch, then these basic designs
could mean the difference between surviving and not.
G. A Dutch Oven is a thick-walled cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid
and is extremely heavy. All you have to do is place one on top
of a fire or cover them with burning coals. They are particularly
great for when you are cooking stews. They are also referred to
as French ovens.
H. Earth ovens are essentially a pit with a burning fire within,
although there are various methods for constructing them. For
example, Native Americans would create a large hole, place
hot stones in the center, and then use branches as a covering.
Meat and vegetables would be placed on these branches,
followed by a moist covering to produce steam. Lastly, a thick
layer of dirt would be placed on top to keep the heat in.
I. Reflector ovens are essentially a box with a metal interior and a
shelf in the center to support food placed on top of it. The food
 is cooked inside the box that is placed on a campfire through
radiant energy. Reflector ovens require a lot of heat and
energy, so you'll require large fires with consistent flames.
J. Wick stoves are made up of a tank where you can hold some
kind of fuel such as lamp oil, diesel, or kerosene, which is then
drawn up by a wick to a platform that holds a food container
such as a pot or saucepan. Many people commonly use them
in developing or rural areas and can also be found in antique
shops. Unfortunately, the only problem with wick stoves is that
they require dirt fuels. It is highly recommended that wick
stoves aren't used inside the home due to the severe risk of CO
poisoning.
K. Hexamine tablets, also called Esbit, are small tablets of solid
fuel that emit a lot of energy without leaving any smoke or ash
behind. They were invented in 1936 in Germany, and each
tablet can be burned for 15 minutes at a time. Although they
are believed to be non-toxic, it is highly recommended that you
only use them outside as it's still unclear what toxic chemicals
are being released.
Chapter Six: Canning
Any good, prepared prepper knows that they must learn how to can
foods to ensure that you're getting the most of the things you have.
Many non-canners believe only gardeners do canning, but almost
anything you find at the supermarket may be canned, including
jams/jellies, meats, vegetables, fruits, sauces, soups, etc. If you
really want to be prepared for any kind of disaster, then you definitely
want to ensure you know how to can.
Dehydrating foods can be easier if you don't know what you're doing
or if you don't have a lot of free time outside of work or family
commitments. However, should the worst happen, your family will
appreciate having a wide variety of foods to consume if you can't get
to the supermarket – or if there isn't a supermarket. The thought of
canning can be more daunting, but once you know what you are
doing, it is incredibly easy, making you wonder why you were even
scared of it in the first place.
Differences between Pressure Canning and Water
Canning
The two main canning methods in your home are water and pressure
canning. Different foods require different preservation methods, so
you must learn how to do both, so you will always know what to do,
especially when you don't want to waste food or can't afford food.
The water canning method tends to be easier and better for those
who have never done it before since it doesn't require you to go out
and buy special equipment. However, you should have a fully
stocked water canning kit before getting started since the equipment
that comes with them makes the entire process much quicker and
smoother than without.
Pressure canning, however, tends to be more daunting for first-time
users since it requires more specialized equipment. In fact, pressure
canning equipment looks similar to that of a pressure cooker,
although the two shouldn't be confused.
Do not feel scared if you feel overwhelmed by these methods or the
required equipment. Both are pretty simple methods but are also
effective ways of ensuring the health and survival of your family.
You will need to can foods with low levels of acids within a pressure
canning, while water canning is ideal for most fruits and pickled
items. Pressure canning permits you to get to high temperatures,
which gives you a much larger range of items you can preserve in
cans. On the other hand, in water canning, you will need to ensure
you are using high acidic foods to preserve them at low
temperatures.
For example, suppose you're preserving corn with vinegar brine. In
that case, the acidic pH levels of the vinegar allow you to preserve
the corn at a lower temperature instead of using the pressure
canning method.
However, if you wish to use water instead of vinegar, you require a
pressure canner.
Pressure canners are ideal for sauces, stocks, stews, soups, and
most other items.
How to Can Step by Step
Both water and pressure canning have remarkably similar steps for
preparing and preserving. They tend to come with a wide range of
recipes that can be used. Continue reading to learn the similar steps
that both methods use.
Step One. Choose the recipe that you want to use. It could be
preserving vegetables, jams/jellies, or pickling eggs – it doesn't really
matter as long as you and your family will enjoy it. There is a wide
range of cookbooks and websites with hundreds of thousands of
recipes you can use.
Step Two. Now is the time to start preparing your jars and the
canning pot. Even if you have just brought your jars, you must
ensure they're thoroughly cleaned and dried before using them. After
this, position your rack at the bottom of your canning pot. Your jars
will need to be set on top of this rack. Add water to your jars and the
pot – you will need to use a lot of water for this step because the
water will need to boil and sterilize the jars, keeping them at the
optimal temperatures to can. Complete the other steps as you wait
for the water to boil.
Step Three. The lids of your jars – but not the rings – should be
warm enough to create the best seals. Place the lids in a saucepan,
fill them with water, and then set them on the stove at a low
temperature. Keep them in here until it is time to use them.
Step Four. Start preparing the foods you want to use. Once
completed, take the jars out of the boiling water within the pot and
then slowly pour the water back inside the pot. Pour the food into the
jar, making sure you leave enough room between the food and the
top – the exact amount will vary depending on the recipes you use,
but most of the time, it's about a quarter of an inch to an inch. This is
vital because the jar needs to have enough space to get a secure
seal. Twist the lid on, wipe it clean, and then place the lid's ring on it.
After this, put the jar back into the pot, where the water continues to
boil.
Step Five. Now you need to cook the food jar in the pot for however
long the recipe requires. After the specified amount of time has
finished, carefully remove the jars from the boiling water. Place the
jars on a protected surface. If the process has been successful, you
will hear a pinging sound from the jar's lids as soon as you take them
away from the heat source. This indicates that the vacuuming seal
has been successful.
Step Six. Even if you did hear the pinging sound, you should always
check. After all, there is nothing worse than being stuck in a house
you can't leave, and when you open a jar of food, the process hasn't
been successful, and now you have moldy food. Once the jars are
cool enough to touch, you can untwist the lid rings to ensure that the
seals are locked.
Step Seven. After your jars are cooled and inspected, you should
wash them to ensure no residue is left on them. You can then store
the jars anywhere in a cool, clean space where they will be safe to
eat for up to a year, sometimes even longer.
If any cans did not seal properly, don't waste them. Place them in a
fridge where they will be safe to eat for a few days.
Easy Recipes You Can Use
With millions of recipes printed in books and magazines and floating
about on the internet, there should be at least a dozen you could find
in ten minutes that you want to use. The following three are simple,
tasty, and incredibly popular with all the family.
Get creative and make your own recipes as well!
Apple Jam
Cut, peel, and dice enough apples to fill up six cups. Place them in a
large saucepan with the juice of one lemon and two cups of apple
juice. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the apples soften. After
this, take the saucepan off the stove and add three tablespoons of
pectin, one teaspoon of ground cinnamon, one teaspoon of nutmeg,
and half a cup of raisins. Stir the mixture well, then place the
saucepan on the stove. Bring to a boil for five minutes before moving
from the heat. Stir in one to one and a half cups of sugar. Pour the
apple jam into a jar. You will need to leave a quarter of an inch space
between the food and the lid of the jar. Position the jar within a
boiling water canner for ten minutes. After this, take the jar out and
leave it to cool.
Pickled Green Beans
Place three pounds of yellow or green wax beans in six jars. Crush
six garlic cloves, chop up six dill sprigs, and evenly distribute them
between the jars. Mix three and three-quarters cups of vinegar, three
and three-quarters cups of water, and one-third of a cup of pickling
salt together and pour it into the jars, ensuring you cover all the
beans but leave the same amount of space between the liquid and
the jar lid. Ensure there are no air bubbles on the beans. After the lid
has been sealed, place it within a water bath canner for ten minutes.
Afterward, remove the jars and allow them to cool to room
temperature.
Beef Stock
Pour eight cups of water into a saucepan with four pounds of beef
bones and a little meat. Using high heat, bring them to a boil before
reducing them to medium-low heat. Add chopped vegetables such
as an onion, a few sliced carrots, a celery stick, salt, three cloves of
garlic, and a bay leaf. You can add any vegetables or seasonings
you want. Allow the mixture to boil for three hours and seasoning to
taste as you go.
Take the bones out of the saucepan and pour the stock through a
sieve into another pan. The stock should be allowed to cool. When a
layer of fat covers the surface, scoop the fat out. Before placing the
stock into your canning jars, you should heat it up again first. Pour
the stock into your jars, ensuring there is a one-inch gap between it
and the lid of the jar. After sealing the lid, put the jar into your
pressure canner. If you're using quart jars, you will need to use ten
pounds of pressure for twenty-five minutes or ten minutes for pint
jars. Afterward, take the jars out and allow them to cool.
Unsafe Canning Methods
You may hear a variety of things other people or their grandmothers
used that are not safe. Some claim that a fifty-year-old steam canner
their grandparents used is more effective than a modern-day water
or pressure canner.
Many people do not understand what issues arise when using a
water canner to preserve corn and beans, using an oven or
dishwasher to seal jars, or even trying to cook meat and other foods
in the microwave before sealing in jars.
Understanding and stressing this one thing is important – these are
all UNSAFE methods. It doesn't matter if no one has died in your
family from eating foods sealed in a dishwasher; it is still unsafe.
After all, we know that cigarettes cause lung cancer, but some
smokers live well into their eighties and nineties, dying from other
causes. Just because your child hasn't been killed by a car while
playing in the middle of the road doesn't mean it's safe to play there.
When it comes to food, you need to ensure what you're consuming
is safe. Not only for you but your family. There are universities and
governments all around the world who claim the same thing – food
poisoning kills.
Also known as inversion canning, open kettle canning is the process
of putting hot foods directly in a jar and then not using any heat to
seal them. In your grandparent's days, this was how so many
grannies would keep pickles and hot fruits, usually in jars that hadn't
been sterilized first either. After placing it in the jars, they twist the
ring on and place it upside down. As the jar cooled, it would seal the
ring. However, because the food had been exposed to oxygen, it
was exposed to bacteria before it was sealed. There was not enough
heat to destroy any bacteria in the food or when airborne bacteria hit
the exposed jar. Then the game of 'Who Will Get Sick First?' began.
Some would get sick; some wouldn't. This is not a game you want to
play with your health or your family's health, especially if you have
young children or members with low immune levels. You need high
levels of heat to ensure that any bacteria in your food is destroyed.
The open kettle canning method is an outdated and unsafe method
that uses no processing techniques.
Steam canners, also known as atmosphere steam canners, are not
recommended for low acid or acid-type foods. This method uses
steam to process food without using pressure. It was said that this
method saved you energy and time and used less water than water
bath methods. It was designed to preserve jellies/jams, pickled
items, and most foods.
Steam canners are often said to resemble a water canner turned
upside down. A rack is placed on a base resembling a shallow pan
and is then covered with a lid with a huge dome. Jars are positioned
on the rack, and then a certain amount of water is poured into the
base. The water is boiled, filling the dome with steam which heats
the food and seals the lids.
However, it should be noted that the process of cooking food in
steam canners is very different from that of water bath canners.
Clostridium botulinum bacteria can survive in low acid food products
even when placed in steam canners and then poison the food, thus
creating botulism outbreaks. Acidic foods are left unprocessed,
resulting in the possibility of spoilage.
Recent studies have shown that steam canners do not produce high
temperatures at the beginning and end of the procedure compared
to other methods such as pressure and water canning, thus resulting
in the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria and poisoning.
Micro-Dome Food Preservers were once a popular food preservation
method in North America. However, in 1987, there was a massive
recall of the products due to significant health and safety concerns. It
is highly recommended that you do not consume food that has been
processed using a micro-dome food preserver.
Solar canning is where heat is trapped in a metal-lined box to
process acid food such as a fruit. While many people swear that this
is safe (after all, their grannies used to do it this way back in the
olden days), it is highly recommended that you do not use solar
canning for any foods, including fruit. This is because the method
isn't reliable enough to process any foods.
Using ovens to canned food items is definitely not recommended
due to the extreme dangers of doing so. It consists of sealing jars
within the oven and heating them. However, there are several
dangers you need to be aware of. First, you can't heat any food to
the point of boiling temperature, so it does not kill all the bacteria
within the food, including clostridium botulinum. As a result, the food
spoils when stored and can be poisonous if consumed. Also, the
cans or jars aren't suitable for the oven since the heat is dry and
strong and can even cause the containers to explode inside. The
temperature isn't enough to seal modern-day canning lids, thus
allowing airborne bacteria to get inside and spoil the food.
If an oven isn't enough to be a safe method of canning, then a
microwave certainly isn't. You should never use a microwave to can
food items. Although food can reach a temperature of 212 degrees
Fahrenheit, the temperature isn't the same throughout the food itself.
Just like the oven method, you run the likely danger of having your
can or jar exploding either as you're heating it or as soon as you take
it out of the microwave. Not exactly something you want to deal with.
The Dishwasher method is an extremely dangerous method of
canning food. People assume that the dishwasher's heat when it is
on a cycle is sufficient to heat the food and seal the lids. However,
this couldn't be further from the truth. The temperatures never rise
high enough to kill off any of the bacteria inside the food, leaving you
with potentially dangerous and under-processed food to consume
later. It is perfectly fine to sanitize and clean your empty jars in the
dishwasher, just not to process the contents of the jars.
Salicylic acid or aspirin powders should never be used to preserve
food. Some people use them as preservation powders and fail to
heat the food sufficiently. About fifty years ago, it was common for
people to place corn or other items into a jar full of boiling water, then
add Salicylic acid or aspirin powers purchased from the chemist, and
finally seal the lids with no additional process. Studies at universities
such as the University of Illinois do not recommend these for any
canning method since they cannot raise the acidity in foods high
enough to be safely canned. In water bath canning methods, you
must add vinegar, lemon juice, or something with high acid levels to
safely process. In fact, some studies show that Salicylic acid or
aspirin powers are dangerous to your health when used to preserve
foods.
Around fifty years ago, it was a common technique to use wax or
paraffin to seal jars containing jellies, preserves, and jams. However,
studies have shown that wax and paraffin are unsafe since they are
havens for mold. The University of Minnesota does not recommend
wax of any kind to seal the lids of jars for anything sweet like jams
and jellies due to the risk of mold and other contamination that could
seriously affect your health.
What Equipment Do You Not Need?
It can be very easy to simply go on a website and add a dozen or
more items to your basket. However, several items are just as
dangerous or unsafe as the previously mentioned methods.
Although jars or storage containers with glass caps or bails made
from wire look extremely pretty, they are not safe for canning food.
They are perfectly fine for storing dry foods such as dried lentils,
pasta, rice, cereals, and others.
Years ago, porcelain-lined caps with zinc were popular but are now
not recommended for canning use. Zinc and rubber rings are not
reliable methods of sealing.
Any item that you use in microwave canning should not be used
since the heat does not destroy all the bacteria on the items
themselves or within the food since the heat isn't consistent.
Do not use a pressure saucepan since they do not heat the food
thoroughly as they aren't consistent in maintaining an even
temperature throughout.
Chapter Seven: Home Defense
Insurance is a necessity of life. Why would you buy something as
important as a home without taking care of it? Insurance is a way of
showing your care and devotion for your home, a preventative
measure in case anything should ever damage it.
But we often do more than simply take an insurance policy out on a
home. We invest in security, such as good locks, alarm systems, and
even security cameras that are connected to our smartphones via an
app in case of intruders.
Measures such as these are incredibly popular these days and are
just a few ways that people worldwide look after their homes, their
families, and the contents within in case thieves break into their
homes.
Security systems, alarms, locks … these are great ways to protect
your home in case the worst should ever happen, in addition to
helping the police catch the thief. For the majority of cases, this is all
you will ever need. Most thieves will not bother trying to break into
your home if they see a security camera. They know that the risk
isn't worth the potential outcome. They don't want to risk being
arrested or hurt by the owner.
However, when things in society start to break down after a major
crisis, can you trust them not to take the risk?
It has happened throughout the years. A disaster strikes. People
panic, and in desperation, they loot stores, taking food, water,
medicine, and other supplies. Law and order, the fundamentals of
most civilized people, break down and fades like dust on the wind.
When people are confronted by something they fear, particularly
losing control or being hungry and thirsty, they start to change.
Quickly.
When the looters take what they want, the rest of us are left with the
meager scraps. What do people do when only a few things are left
on the shelves? They panic and grab whatever is there, even if they
wouldn't normally buy them. It has happened throughout history, over
and over again. It will happen again.
When law and order disappear, every house is a target for hungry,
desperate looters who know they will need to risk everything. How
long it takes from the moment when disaster hits to when they strike
your home, nobody can say. But it is a very real possibility.
This is why you need to defend your home. Good home defense is
important in any prepper’s arsenal. Your stockpile is what is going to
get you and your family through whatever disaster strikes. It is
important to defend it, your home, and your family before it is too
late.
Don't give them any opportunities to get inside your home!
Don't Just Stockpile Food; Stockpile Legal Weapons as Well!
When disaster strikes, the public starts to panic. People will become
unpredictable when there is a food shortage at a supermarket. That
is when people become dangerous. In most places around the world,
access to guns is limited, especially in the United Kingdom and other
European countries. In North American countries, it is a different
matter. Guns are much easier to get hold of. If an armed looter
breaks into your home, you must be ready to stop them.
Please remember that you are not trying to kill anyone. Just stop
them from breaking and entering your home, from hurting your family
by stealing your belongings. You're looking to repel, not kill.
Start looking into building up your supply of legal weapons now.
These are the weapons your government permits you to have to
defend your home. There is a wide variety of weaponry you are
allowed to own. However, you will require a firearms certificate or the
equivalent in your country.
These weapons will help you stop intruders from breaking into your
home. Owning a hockey bat that you keep beside your bed isn't
going to be much help. What weapons you choose will need to stop
a looter from a distance and stop them from even thinking of coming
anywhere near your home.
You should also remember that acts of great kindness and
compassion come in times of great struggle. People are always
willing to help you and share your struggles when things go wrong.
We see examples of it every time there is a disaster – people rally
around to help with clothing, food, shelter, and medicine. Even a
friendly shoulder to sit and cry on if needed. Not everyone will be out
to steal from you.
However, in desperate times comes desperate measures. Hunger
will make even the sanest person go crazy and do things they
wouldn't normally do, especially if they have a family to feed.
You need to be aware of the people who come near your home. If
you've created a fantastic stockpile of food, water, medicine, and
equipment over time, do you really think it's a good idea to let
someone you know simply walk in with a weapon and take them
from you?
No, you wouldn't.
Just think about it. Disaster has struck. The supermarket shelves lay
empty. You've got a family at home, surviving on the stockpile and
the skills you have amassed over the years. You suddenly hear a
noise from outside. You go to the door and find an armed man ready
to do whatever he needs to obtain your supplies.
Are you going to let him? No, you're not.
You will need to stop him, make him realize his mistake of thinking
you're unprepared, and force him to scurry away.
A Good Defense Strategy Is Essential
It is a horrible feeling, feeling as though you are vulnerable.
However, things feel much better when you know you are prepared.
Preparing your home can be a great way of adding to that feeling of
preparedness. You should always have a good defense strategy, not
just for the good times but the bad ones.
You first need to make a good defense strategy for each period – the
good and bad times.
When it is a good period (a time without any major disasters going
on around you), then an intruder will search for weak areas of your
home, usually when the time is at its quietest, and it is easy to gain
access. They could pretend to be cleaners, repairmen, lawyers,
electricians, or even dog walkers. They could be male or female.
However, when things are going crazy, and law and order are just a
distant memory, you can expect to see intruders working in small
groups. They will have weapons, have tempers, be arrogant, and are
also determined to do anything and everything to get what they want.
None of these make for a good combination.
So, what can you do when the going gets tough? Well, if you can't
afford an underground bunker, there are several ways you can
defend your home and your items and keep your family safe. You
don't need to rely on guns and ammo – you need to use your brain
and learn how to use the three P's - prevent, pause, and protect.
There are some fantastic resources on YouTube with veteran
Marines, cops, and former military personnel teaching you how to
protect your home, family, and contents from various scenarios. You
can learn how to look at your home as a criminal would discover all
its weakest points and how to strengthen them regardless of if you
have a gun or not. After all, a gun will not protect you in every
scenario.
Gaining Entry: How Intruders Do It
Statistically, your home is much more likely to be broken into during
July and August. This is because many of us go on holiday or
vacation during this time. After all, it's usually when kids are not at
school, and the weather is good. Criminals are well aware of this and
will use it to their advantage. The least likely time to experience a
burglary is in February – most of us are still recovering from winter
bills and paying for Christmas, the children are attending school, and
we have used up all our holiday time at work.
Criminals know the signs that you've gone away. They include not
answering when they ring the doorbell, no lights are coming on in the
home, the curtains are not drawn at night (or are drawn during the
day and night), vehicles missing from the driveway, the mailbox filled
with mail, and newspapers piling up on the doorstep.
So, what can you do? First, don't tell everyone that you're going to
be away on holiday or a business trip. Tell a neighbor that you'll be
out of town for that time, but only if you trust them or need them to
feed your cat/fish or water the plants. You should also keep your car
in your driveway or the front of your home. If you can't, ask a friend
or neighbor to park there to make it seem you are home. Have a
friend or neighbor collect your mail and pick up any newspapers from
your doorstep. If you have a pet, arrange for a pet sitter to come in
and stay to look after them. If you have trustworthy neighbors, tell
them that you're going away and could they keep an eye out for any
trouble.
The home's weakest point tends to be the garage, even if it's locked.
When you start to feel comfortable, you start becoming lazy. It
happens to the best of us – you drive home after a long day of being
at work, you park in the garage, and you forget to put the door down,
or you put it down, but you forget to lock it behind you. However,
criminals know that garage doors are usually unlocked, or the locks
are easy enough to break. The best thing to do in scenarios like
these is to install a dummy security camera. A good dummy camera
looks extremely similar to that of a real one and is exceptionally good
at deterring criminals and thieves from entering your garages or
storage facilities. In addition, they're extremely easy to install.
Unlocked and locked windows are easy to get into. If your window is
unlocked, it only takes a small push to get them open. Even if they
are locked, they can still use a weapon, a bat, or brick to smash
them open. The best defensive thing you can do in this situation is to
use clear safety film for your windows.
Another easy entry point for criminals is your front door. It doesn't
matter if it's locked or not; it only takes a small thin piece of plastic
like a credit card to get the average door open. If your criminal has a
set of lockpicks, it can take them only seconds to gain access.
Failing that, a short, sharp, hard kick can also do the job.
Most criminals will access your home using the back door since most
police will come to your front door. Sliding doors, also known as
French doors, are great for criminals since most people forget to lock
them at night or when they go out. In addition, they are usually
incredibly quiet things. You can stop criminals by putting wooden
rods at the sliders. French doors tend to be weak, and criminals will
break the glass if they believe the risks are worth the rewards.
When disaster strikes and criminals are taking risks, they will most
likely gain entry to your home via the kitchen – after all, this is where
the food and weapons (kitchen knives) are to be found. However, in
good times criminals will most likely use the master bedroom to enter
the home. There are a variety of barricades you can you to prevent
this.
How to Defend Your Home as a Prepper
Your home is your castle. You must defend it. However, those who
prep knows how to fortify their castle. You can implement a variety of
techniques, including the ones listed below, to ensure enemies never
breach your castle.
First, you need to put up a security sign. It doesn't matter if you have
an alarm system installed or not; it will deter many criminals.
However, it won't do much in bad periods to keep out those more
desperate than others. Saying that, though, quarantine or bio-hazard
signs are pretty good when pandemics are going on. You can also
use Guard Dog signs or Beware of the Dog signs. Some signs say,
"Nothing Worth Dying For Inside." This gives criminals a crystal-clear
message and is useful if things go to court. A 'No Trespassing' sign
is also good, especially if intruders enter your home and are
arrested.
Another thing you should do is pretend that you have a large dog on
your property. The best way of doing this is putting a 'Beware of the
Dog' sign on your gate or a sign saying, 'Guard Dog.' You don't have
to have a dog for this to work since many intruders will likely be put
off trying to enter your property. Place large bowls of water or a bone
close to your doors. Remember to move them from time to time as a
deterrent to looters trying to pick an easy home to break into.
However, if there is a lack of food in a particularly bad time, you may
find that they could try hunting the poor dog you don't have.
You should place your no trespassing signs on the right side of your
gate. This is because research shows people are more likely to look
at their dominant side, which is usually the right.
If you have the money to do it, then you should definitely look into
installing bullet-proof glass for your windows and any glass in your
front door. A cheaper version of this is securing your windows and
glass with tempered glass or window film. This requires you to caulk
the edges properly and needs to be installed on the interior part of
the window.
Door jams can be an effective way of giving you extra time to
prepare should intruders try to break into your home. Many different
jammers can be purchased on the internet. You can also ask your
local police station for recommendations (many police stations can
actually provide you with a security setting if you have been a victim
of violence in the past, especially domestic violence).
Security strike plates are an essential aspect of basic home security.
They look similar to door hinges but are placed on the doors after
installing your door jammer first. This gives the door jammer much
more strength and can make it much harder for intruders to open the
door.
Several door jammers do not need installation. Some go between
the gaps of the door lock, while others are fitted at the base of the
door. However, they both do the same thing – they make it hard for
intruders to get the door open. Best of all, you can easily remove
them in seconds. Although they won't prevent every intruder, they
are fantastic deterrents for many seeking easy homes to break into,
or at least slow them down enough for you to get your loved ones to
safety.
Anti-climb spikes may not be legal in your location, so you must look
into the rules and regulations where you live. However, if you are
permitted to install them, they can be a great way of protecting your
home. They consist of long metal strips with spikes on top. You then
place them along your fences to deter would-be intruders from
gaining access to your property.
Home Defense Tactics in Bad Times
All the methods previously mentioned are great ideas for protecting
your home during good, safe times. However, when disaster strikes
and law and order have been forgotten, you will need to be
prepared. Without rules, people do whatever they want, however
they want. And if they're desperate enough, they will break into
homes and take what they want.
A good prepper will prepare their home for the good and bad
periods. It is up to you to prevent intruders from gaining access to
your home using various means. Just remember, you're not looking
to kill anyone; just stop them from taking what is yours or destroying
your chances of survival. You can do this by setting up various
obstacles that make it harder for them to come near your home. You
can use signs, chicken or barbed wire, sandbags, nail beds, and
many others.
Weapons. You're going to need weapons. Rifles, guns, it doesn't
matter. In certain countries, it is illegal to own one without going on a
shooting course, participating in gun safety courses, and obtaining a
license or certificate – you will need to check your local laws on this.
In times of great distress and disaster, guns can be a fantastic way
of deterring and stopping any criminals from getting onto your
property. You may not even have to shoo anyone; just pointing a gun
at them is enough for most criminals. After all, they want your stuff,
not for you to kill them.
When disaster strikes and chaos rules the land, people feel more
secure when they're part of a community. Gangs are small
communities of people who know they need to stay together to
survive. You can prevent people from breaking into your home by
showing evidence of it being a gang hangout. Pain gang signs on
your home to make it resemble a gang territory, or scatter rubbish or
junk out the front to make it appear it has been searched already.
As in the good times, place a 'Guard Dog' sign on your property. Add
a bowl of water and the biggest rawhide bone to deter potential
intruders. Big dogs are intimidating especially certain breeds such as
German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Dobermans, and
Cane Corso dogs. Smaller dogs could be considered good for
hunting and eating if food is scarce.
When danger is all around you, you have to protect your home. Tire
spikes or nail beds are a good way of stopping an intruder. Drive
nails into a plank of wood and set them out in places where intruders
may try to gain entry. Those who are looking for easy targets will
quickly move on.
Thumbtacks can be a handy little apparatus in your arsenal. You can
make beds of nails a handy weapon to throw at intruders if they can
get past all your other obstacles. It won't do any serious damage, but
it could buy you a few minutes to get to other weapons.

Chicken wire or barbed wire is cheap and easy to use. Not only is it
good for keeping foxes and other animals away from your chickens,
but you can also use it to mark out the perimeter of your property. It
can create various obstacles, especially when placed in areas where
it could stop intruders, particularly along fences or on walls. If an
intruder cuts themselves on your barbed wire, they are most likely to
leave since they know you are prepared and don't want to risk
getting hurt anymore. You can use chicken wire across your windows
to stop intruders from gaining entry by smashing the windows with a
rock or a bottle.
Criminals break into homes intending to steal items they can use or
can sell. However, they're not going to waste their precious time and
energy on homes where it looks as though there's nothing worth
going in for. You can make it look like you don't have any power by
creating blackout curtains made from plastic garbage or trash bags.
Use duct tape to secure it to the doors and windows and block out
any light.
Sandbags are a great way to secure doors and gates from being
opened, stopping or slowing down intruders. You don't have to fill
them with sand – you can use dirt, gravel, or even large stones.
Also, if your intruder has a gun, it can act as a shield from a bullet.
Geese. That's right. The fluffy-looking, screechy bird that was once
the most popular meat of choice for British Christmas tables.
Although it seems like a weird way of deterring an intruder, geese
are well-known for being excellent guards, particularly males. They
are noisy, aggressive, and very territorial. In addition to providing you
with eggs, a flock of geese can be a great alarm system.
Every second is precious regarding intruders and the potential safety
of your home and family. Especially if an intruder gets too close to
you, spraying a good amount of mace at your intruder's face can
give you those precious seconds to get away and grab your gun. It's
also a good alternative to a firearm or a good weapon for children.
You should learn how mace works and how to use it safely and
effectively. If you are giving it to your children, it is essential that you
all know the risks and train them properly.
Learn how to create and use the weapons you make. If you don't like
guns or have access to one, you can let your imagination go wild
and create an arsenal of improvised weaponry. Or you can use
everyday objects, such as hockey sticks, baseball bats, axes, etc., in
ways that can stop or slow down intruders.
Other Ways to Defend Your Home and Family
A good prepper has a variety of tricks up his sleeve. When it comes
to the safety of your home and family, you should employ every last
one of these. Have a few decoys and techniques ready.
First, if someone comes through all your defenses and only finds a
few tins of peaches or soup, they'll take those and leave. Have only
a few tins or jars in a likely space. The intruder will think you've
fought to save them all this time. When they take them, they most
likely won't return since they believe you have nothing else. Make
sure your main stockpile is kept well out of sight for this to work.
Another good tactic is hiding. If a group of armed intruders makes
their way into your home, have a safe place where you can hide.
Most people who prep for such events ensure they have safe hiding
places such as a panic room or a bunker underground. Underground
bunkers can cost a lot of money to build, but safe rooms are less
expensive. It doesn't cost much money to help build a secret
passage to a room where you know you'll be safe, like a closet, an
attic, or even a space between the walls. If you hide, you don't have
to confront an armed group of intruders from which you may be
unable to protect yourself or your family. Just make sure you conceal
the entrance using furniture, mirrors, or artwork.
Secret tunnels are just as good as passageways. You can create
them to lead into another part of your home or the rest of the
property. It gives you that peace of mind knowing you have an
escape route away from the intruders.
You should create a safe place to keep all your food, water, and
equipment. Most people will have safes to store their guns and
personal effects, but most fail to hide their food. Keep caches of food
and water in several safe places that can be secured with a key.
Another good way is hiding! Try going in disguise as a homeless
person to deter criminals from trying to rob you. After all, who will rob
you if they think you don't have anything worth stealing!
In the possible scenario that law and order have been forgotten and
unrest is the new norm, your best bet is to employ various strategies
that are confusing and distracting to intruders and looters. To do this,
throw junk, rubbish, or broken furniture out the front of your house to
make it look as if someone has already looted it. Having shards of
broken glass placed strategically around the property is also a good
deterrent to stop them from going any further while you and your
family get to your safe room.
You can also purchase various safeguarding items such as
bulletproof vests, bear spray, or wasp spray.
Building Shelters in the Wild
If you cannot stay in your home when disaster strikes, then you will
need to be prepared to find or make shelter no matter where you
are. This means that you can make a secure place to be safe from
the weather. This is the most important aspect of being prepared for
anything.
There is a rule of three when it comes to surviving:
You must survive three weeks without food, three days without water,
and three weeks without air. However, this saying sometimes
includes a new rule – surviving three hours in bad weather without
shelter.
A good prepper will have a bug-out bag ready in case something
terrible occurs, and you cannot stay in your home. It's a ready
package for when the flight or fight instinct kicks in and the flight part
is stronger. You either bug out or hunker in, as preppers say.
Numerous resources on the internet show you how to build various
shelters when you're out in the wild. They range from basic, primitive
forms to much bigger and stronger designs for several people and
vary depending on weather, geography, and other factors.
Six Mistakes You Should Avoid
It is very easy to make mistakes, especially when you are creating
your defense strategies. It doesn't matter if you're looking to find
ways to defend your home, your food and water stockpile, or defend
yourself; you need to find the best ways of doing so. After all, it is the
foundation of what prepping is all about – being able to survive in all
situations. It's the one part of being a good prepper that you cannot
afford to make mistakes.
When it comes to being a good prepper, you have to learn how to do
things to survive. Not only thing, but you must learn the things you
should avoid.
Do Not Boast about Your Stockpile
Keep your tongue-tied when it comes to your stockpile. It is the first
rule you must remember regarding prepping for any scenario. You
need to keep what you are doing limited to yourself and trust
members of your family. Only they should have access and
knowledge of what items are within your stockpile, what weapons
and defenses you have, the location of your stockpile, and the
information on how it is accessible. This can be incredibly hard to do.
You've spent time, energy, and money on it. Many preppers refer to
their stockpiles as their babies – you want to tell the world, show it
off. But this is an extremely dangerous thing to do. You need to make
sure it is going to be safe if a disaster occurs. When resources are
limited, it is the key to you and your family's survival. Even trusted
family, friends, and colleagues can get desperate enough to take
what they want when things go south. You don't want to be
vulnerable to desperate people.
Being Reliant on a Single Method of Home Defense
A few people think if they have possession of a firearm and a few
boxes of ammo, then they have all the home defense they need.
Others think that knowing martial arts will be enough to protect their
home and family. Both couldn't be further away from the truth.
Knowing Kung Fu isn't going to be helpful if someone is shooting at
you from ten feet away. Having a rifle is about as much use as a wet
potato if someone grabs you from behind.
A good prepper knows that variety is the best form of defense. You
must have several means of defending your home, including
preventing and delaying. If you are legally allowed to possess guns,
you should definitely pursue the correct (and legal way) of owning
one. Also, take professional shooting lessons where you can try out
various guns before settling on any old make and model. Also, take
up martial arts or take a self-defense lesson. As the old saying goes,
every little helps.
Being Reliant on Guns
Guns can be an effective method of protecting not only your family
but your home. Some preppers think that if they own twenty-plus
guns and have a room full of ammo, they will be protected until the
end of time. However, this idea is completely wrong. Having guns
and ammo is fine; it will definitely stop anyone coming into your
home should you have a clear shot, but you should not be looking to
kill anyone. There are numerous methods of stopping intruders
without having to use lethal methods of defense. You should look
into the various ways of deterring criminals and preventing them
from coming inside. Look into tasers, mace, and other sprays as you
can use these from a distance and can be easily stockpiled and
bartered if the need arises.
You Don't Consider Bugging Out
You can have all the home security methods implemented and think
that you're prepared for any situation that comes your way. However,
you should always be prepared to leave your home if needed. Even
the best-secured home isn't impenetrable, and you, like everyone
else, should be ready if that time comes up. Each person in your
family should have a bug-out bag prepared and in an easy-to-access
location. Multiple online stores have bug-out bags already packed for
most scenarios – all you have to do is click 'add to cart' and
complete the payment process. However, you can create ones for
yourself. Nonetheless, ensure you have enough supplies to last for
seventy-two hours after disaster strikes.
You Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
If someone is on your property or you feel threatened in some way, it
is incredibly tempting to shoot first and ask questions later at times.
However, you need to think rationally. If disaster strikes, people may
be just looking for a little help, not stealing or hurting you. Not
everyone is out to get you and your stockpile; most people will not
even know if you have things scurried away in a dark corner. The
fact is, for every bad person, there are many good people. Having
another good person or several good people can greatly benefit you.
There are plenty of non-lethal ways of stopping people from coming
any closer to your home, some of which have already been
mentioned. They can keep you safe while keeping strangers away.
Another thing to think about is whether they have a weapon
themselves. If you shoot, will they fire at you back? When that
happens, it always ends up with someone either seriously hurt or
dead. Also, it makes you a target for other potential intruders who
now know you are there and are most likely protecting something
that could be beneficial to them. While shooting at someone may
keep most potential intruders away, it could have the opposite effect
– they come back better prepared with more firepower and more
people and take your weapons and supplies.
You Fail to Defend Your Home Properly
In most scenarios, people will prefer to stay in their residences
where they have easy access to their stockpiles and ensure the
safety of their families. After all, who wants to be away from their
homes without any supplies or access to the things they love?
This is why it is so essential that you defend your home properly, not
just in the good times but in the bad ones when law and order are
just a distant memory away. It's one thing to install a home security
alarm, but you must also look into other methods. Consider things
such as seeing your entire property – like security camera systems
or having a high point where you can see everything.
If the power suddenly goes down and you can't get it back up, you
can no longer rely on any electrically powered alarms or systems.
You need to think about installing door jammers, barbed and chicken
wire, safes, panic rooms, and even hidden rooms where you can
stash away your stockpile without intruders seeing. However, if you
have enough obstacles and defenses for looters to deal with before
they even reach your home, they may just give up. This is the best
defense system you could have.
There are numerous ways you can make mistakes when prepping
your home for any scenario. However, when things go wrong, and
you can't rely on the government to keep your family or home safe
from looters and criminals, then it is down to you – and you alone –
to ensure that your home is defended properly.
Chapter Eight: Living Off-Grid

Living off the grid essentially means living and surviving without
relying on a utility for power, such as a gas or electricity company.
Living off the grid is not really a difficult thing to do, but there are a
few things that you need to truly consider before you do anything
drastic. These are practical things that you may have simply
discarded but should be considered before starting the process. This
chapter is dedicated to helping you not only live off-grid but to thrive
and enjoy it.
How to Prepare to Make the Transition
Your first three steps are the ones you start right at this precise
moment. Transitioning to moving off-grid means careful foresight,
preparation, and the individual growth you must undergo for this
venture to succeed.
The first step is to think about your finances. There are several ways
to make the transition without paying for anything, but having a little
bit of money before you do can make the entire process happen
faster and smoother. You start by taking a good hard look at your
finances and considering how much money you need to be debt-
free. Start looking at ways to cut your costs and save the funds. The
best way of doing this is to actually downsize if you can.
As you are doing this on your own property, you should start setting
aside time each week to learn the essential skills you're going to
need but lack right now. Various resources, such as YouTube videos,
are not only excellent but also free.
You can learn how to build a home from scratch, prepare foods
found in the wild or grown on your own property, and how to store
them safely. Also, you will learn how to identify safe foods in the wild
and which ones to avoid, along with the skill of hunting.
After this, you will need to start searching for land. Discovering the
perfect land to be used for an off-grid living can be somewhat
troublesome, but some fantastic opportunities are provided you do
your research and hunt around. You'll find that your local estate
agent won't have what you are looking for.
The Plans for Your New Off-Grid Home
Once you have settled and purchased the land you wish to live on,
now is the time to get things moving. This is a vital part of living off
the grid since mistakes that could easily be avoided are actually
made. However, suppose you don't actually do any kind of planning.
In that case, that is considered to be the silliest and most crucial
mistake of all and will inevitably lead to more difficulties in the future.
Water is going to be the biggest issue you face. When you start
thinking about where you want to build a home on your new land,
then you must consider your water source. Installing a decent water
source can be extremely expensive, but if you are importing water
onto your land, that can be just as expensive and even more
annoying. Therefore, it is important that you do your research and
what option is going to be the best for you.
The shelter is going to be your next biggest concern. A perfect home
will be essential for a successful life off the grid. You can choose
numerous options – an RV (recreational vehicle), caravan, cabin, a
tiny home, a home you build yourself, a yurt, or even a cob home are
just a few of the options you have. You need to think about what you
need, how much space, and whether it will be just for you or if you
envision others living with you.
One thing to note – you must ensure that you are staying within the
law with the type of home you want to build. In some places, you will
need to obtain permission from a council or relevant administrative
body.
We have to take out what we put into our bodies eventually. Or
partly, at least. You will need to think about how you manage your
waste. Septic tank systems are not cheap and are even less
enjoyable to install and manage. There are alternatives to these,
though. For example, human waste makes great compost, and grey
water systems can transform water into food products. You should
thoroughly explore all the different options you have.
To keep your costs down and stay off the grid as much as possible,
you should exploit all the natural resources you have to heat and
cool your home. Wooden stoves are a fantastic choice since they
both heat your home and can be cooked on. Wood is an easy and
cheap source of building supplies and heat your home, and there are
several ways of using the earth to cool your home during the warmer
months.
Thankfully, we live in a period where there are numerous cheap and
plentiful ways of powering any machines, even when you're living off
the grid. You should carefully explore all the various options,
including solar panels. Many times, the most efficient designs, even
if they are a little on the more expensive side initially, are worth their
weight in gold over several years.
Growing Food on Your Property to Sustain Your
Family
Once you have sorted out your land and installed all the essential
systems, and your utilities are in place, now is the time to start
thinking and planning how you will sustain your family and install a
facility to store all your lovely harvests.
First, consider how you want to sustain your family. Do you want to
create a food forest? Do you want to have fields to grow crops such
as wheat or grain? Or do you want a garden farm, where you can
grow tomatoes, potatoes, salad plants, etc.? Or perhaps you want to
do something else? Or maybe a little of everything to ensure you
have variety?
Whatever the case may be, look at how much land you have around
you and consider where you want everything to do. You'll also need
to consider how you will irrigate it all. After this, you can start
planning when things need to be planted, how long they will take to
grow, and what issues can arise. You need to be careful in how you
plan to organize your food sources since they will need to support
you for as long as possible and have enough food to last throughout
the winter months.
Once you have planned where everything needs to go and when the
next step is considering what livestock you want to add. Having
animals on your property is daunting since it is a big commitment –
they are, after all, living creatures that need looking after – but they
can make a world of difference to you living off the grid. They can
provide you with meat, milk, eggs, materials for clothing and
household objects (feathers for pillows, wool for clothes, leather for
many things), but also contribute to the running of your home. This
includes things such as working the land and cleaning it, animal
waste is well-known as fertilizer, and are good at managing pests.
After this, you will want to consider how you will store all the food
you have grown and produced. The best way to store your food is by
implementing various techniques such as dry storage in a root cellar,
fermenting, drying, smoking, and canning. You'll need to build
facilities such as barns and pantries to place them all in, along with
space where you can put all your equipment when you're not using
them.
As you spend more time on your new property, you will want to scale
up your food production process. Try focusing on one method or
crop first, and once you are confident in that skill, you then move on
to a different process. As your pantries increase, so do your skills.
Ensuring That This Is What You Really Want
Living off the grid means living a life completely free. It means being
who you want to be and not who society tells you to be. Your core
goal is to ensure that this is what you really want out of your life,
being free and able to grow into the person you truly want while
being surrounded by nature.
Therefore, you should definitely think about whether this is the
lifestyle that you want. If it is, make sure you're surrounded by
friends and family who support your goals, and remember to enjoy it.
Taking the First Step – Working Out All Your Finances
We live in an age where most of us have some debt – a credit card,
an overdraft facility on your bank account, car repayments, etc. If
you want to be free, you need to get rid of all that nasty debt. Before
you go off the grid, you should focus on paying off any outstanding
loans or debts and start saving as much money as possible to make
an easier transition to off-grid living.
The most crucial step you need to take is to take a serious look at
your expenses. Write down your income, what you spend each
month, and how much savings you have. You will need to have good
organizational skills, especially with money, if you want to live off the
grid. You are already failing if you can't be honest about your
finances.
You don't have to make any kind of fancy spreadsheet. Just a simple
total of how much you earn and then sort out your expenses into
different categories such as transportation, food, bills, housing,
medical, etc.
Once you have done this, you can see whether you're spending too
much money each month, whether it stays the same, or varies at
different times of the year. This is great for when you're going onto
the next step – budgeting.
Developing a budget is a way of committing to your goals and hopes.
You begin by writing down your income and set aside a certain
amount as a salary for yourself. This money goes towards paying off
debts, buying things you need, or investing in equipment and skills to
achieve your goal – living off the grid.
You take the remaining money and divide it to put towards other
things. If you don't have enough to cover everything, then you need
to start making some hard decisions. Could you get a cheaper
place? Could you cut down on the number of times you eat out? Are
you buying more food than you need? Do you really need to put the
thermostat up instead of putting on a sweater or wrapping yourself
up in a blanket?
What you should be taking from this step is how to live within your
means and ensure that you save rather than spend money on things
you don't need. You need to pay yourself first because that is your
investment for the future.
Cutting Out the Amount of Money You Spend by Downsizing
The most important thing about changing your life is having to accept
a little humility and discovering ways to cut down on the amount of
money you spend to save to live off the grid. Rent or mortgages tend
to be what you spend the most money on each month. Why not
move to a smaller property that costs less and put that extra money
aside? Cut down on your forms of entertainment. Share a car
instead of owning two. Learn to love the simple things at home. If
you have too expensive, cut it out of your life. It can really be as
simple as that.
Saving Funds
Keep an eye on what is going in and out of your bank accounts. Set
yourself a goal – you can go off the grid when you have a certain
amount (which you determine). That is your bottom line.
When you save, you're not just talking about money. It also includes
the material and equipment you will be using and the skills to use
them. Find a list of things you'll need and search for them through
garage sales, eBay, Craigslist, etc. You could even try your hand at
making them. The more creative you are in sourcing the low-cost
items you need, the quicker you'll be able to live the life you want.
Taking the Second Step – Amassing Handy Skills
As you prepare the land and/or work out your budget, you can take
the next step – learning new skills. You're going to need a variety of
skills to help you through the good times and the bad times. Some of
the skills recommended include hunting, foraging, woodcutting,
mechanical and electrical skills, farming, gardening, cooking, and
canning.
There is a wealth of information dedicated to each of these and
more. Classes are taught in colleges, universities, schools, and other
places that anyone can turn up and enjoy. Also, YouTube and the
internet are full of handy videos and online tutorials that not only help
you learn these new skills but can actually be motivating and
intriguing. It's surprising how many resources there are out there.
Even if you haven't made that transition to off-grid living, you need to
start practicing these new skills as much as possible. The best place
to start is learning to can, which can benefit your family immediately.
If you buy in bulk, particularly from local food producers, it is
incredibly cheap compared to getting them at the supermarket.
Why not hire a local field guide for a few hours and have them guide
you through your local woods? They can show you how to identify
foods that are safe for eating and which ones could possibly make
you sick. There are books you can buy for cheap or rented from your
local library if you want to try them yourself. Take what you find back
home and share it with your family and friends.
Taking the Third Step – Finding the Right Land
One of the biggest hurdles you will face is finding the right land for
off-grid living. First, you need to determine how much land you can
afford or how much of a deposit you can put down. You need to
consider the budget you have made previously and see how long it
will take for you to save up. What funds you have available will
determine what is available.
Another thing to consider is whether you will continue to work your
normal job as you transition off the grid. There are various programs
and loans to purchase land for the express purpose of living off the
grid. You should look into those before signing on any dotted line.
Lastly, where do you want to live? Think about your current location
– is that the town you still want to stay in? Would you consider
moving hundreds or even thousands of miles away? Moving to
another state or province is a big step, but if the land is cheaper, will
it be worth it?
Problems You May Run into Living off the Grid
As with anything you do in life, you're bound to make some
mistakes. After all, you're only human. However, before you
purchase anything, you should try to learn about the various
mistakes others have made so that you don't do the same.
Road Access in the Colder Months
During the winter, the weather can drastically affect your life. Flash
floods, mudslides, snow blizzards, and many others can block your
road access, which means you won't be able to get in and out. You
should thoroughly research the weather conditions in the area in the
winter to see what kind of problems you could face.
Accessing Water
You should also find out if there are any rights to water on the
property you are considering buying or if you can get any water
rights. Many times, owners have purchased a piece of land with
water on it only to discover they legally cannot use it. (This is quite
common in Mississippi, USA).
If you are planning to construct one or more wells, then you should
take the time to do the necessary research with local builders. How
long will it take, and how much will it cost? How deep does it have to
go? Since this can be expensive, you will need to ensure it doesn't
exceed your budget.
Zoning Restrictions
Just because you have land doesn't necessarily mean you have the
right to do what you intended to buy it for. It's actually more common
than you think. Ensure that you are legally allowed to build a home
or farm on the property, or you may find your dreams over before
they've even begun.
The Land Slopes to the South
Land tends to be cheaper to purchase if the property sits on a south-
facing slope. This is because it makes it harder to install solar panels
and create productive gardens. West and east-facing slopes also
cause severe limitations. Do your research and make sure you won't
run into these issues.
Vulnerable to Natural Disasters
So, you have found the perfect plot of land and desperately want to
sign on the dotted line. However, before you do, you should ask
whether the property is susceptible to natural disasters. Is there a
history of flash floods, forest fires, landslides, hurricanes, tornados,
or even tsunamis in that area? You cannot stop Mother Nature, but
you can ensure that you are prepared for whatever she may throw
your way.
Is It Vulnerable to Urban Development?
It is a fact of life that cities are expanding more and more into the
countryside. Greedy developers purchase cheap land to build new
properties and other buildings to fuel their need for more money.
Many people who have purchased land to live off the grid have found
that new housing estates surround them. This forces restrictions on
your land.
Before you purchase, search county records, and look up the
development plans of what the city is planning. This gives you an
idea of what you could expect in the future.
You Don't Look for Cheaper Land
Much of the cheapest land won't actually be found on the market or
advertised with your local real estate agency. There are websites
dedicated to land purchase only; if you've located a place where you
want to be, there are locals who will know the right connections.
Closing on the Deal
Once you have located the land you want, the next step is to make
your offer. Most of the time, this can easily be done with an estate
agent who will handle all the paperwork for you. However, make sure
you have an experienced and qualified lawyer to ensure that the
contract for the property is sound.
Taking the Fourth Step – Developing Your Source of Water
After you have purchased your land and it's legally yours, the next
step is to ensure you have a reliable and safe water source. Without
water, you won't be very successful living off the grid, especially
considering importing water can be extremely expensive.
You can choose from various options for the long term, but have a
reliable semi-permanent water source ready as soon as you move in
to make the transition simpler and enjoyable.
Think about how much water you plan to use. This doesn't just mean
how much water you drink, but what you need for cooking, bathing,
and for toilets, cleaning, and irrigation water.
Place each of these in separate columns and see if you can recycle
water from one column to another or even use a different source. For
example, you could supplement rainwater collected in barrels to
irrigate your garden and fields but use water from a well for drinking
and cooking.
Another thing to consider is how you will purify your water and how
much of it you will need. You may need to increase how much you
use if your family increases, your livestock increases, etc.
Identify the types of water sources found on your land. This could be
wells, springs, ponds, etc., and find out with local officials to
determine what you're permitted to use and how much. This can
help you determine what additional water sources you may need to
implement.
Your next step is to start developing your water transport system.
Think about where your water is located. Where do you want it to be
diverted to? Your water needs could be influential in how you design
your home. In addition, you will need to figure out the changes to
elevation on the land. For example, if the location of where you need
the water to get to is lower than your actual water source, you could
decide to use a gravity feed system where you don't need a pump.
These are popular for agricultural needs when living off the grid.
However, if you need to transport your water up a slope, then you
will need to install pumps. Additional choices you could make include
carrying it by hand or creating irrigation ditches.
Another thing to consider is how the seasons affect your water
transportation. Every part of the world has a rainy season, where the
rivers, streams, and creeks can swell and burst. Make certain that
your water source is available throughout all seasons.
You will need to find alternatives if your water source is only
accessible at certain times of the year. You could use cisterns or
water tanks that can be purchased cheaply online or create your own
water storage systems.
When you're deciding on how much water you will need, you should
ask yourself one question - how much water do you think you really
need? The answer is to estimate how much water you would need to
get you through the dry months when your normal water source is
not accessible. Now add an extra twenty percent to be on the safe
side.
Taking the Fifth Step – Constructing the Home You Want to Live
in
Once you have everything else sorted, it is time to turn your attention
to where you want to live. To survive off the grid, your home must be
safe, well-designed, and efficient, as it will need to last you for the
rest of your life. Therefore, it is essential to take the time to get the
design and layout perfect so you don't make any mistakes that could
set you back.
First, work out what your budget is for your home. Unfortunately,
money is going to be a big influence on your home. Work out how
much you want to pay but also add a little extra for something that is
affordable if it is your dream property, but you can't go over it for any
reason. Many things could take you over your budget – construction
can be very expensive, even if you're doing it yourself; therefore,
always add an extra twenty percent to your budget if something
unanticipated crops up.
You can use your own skills and labor to cut labor costs. Identify your
skills – such as carpentry, electrical works, etc. – and work on your
home with professionals. You'll keep your costs down considerably.
However, if you don't have much experience in construction and
can't afford to hire a builder, then there are various easier choices.
These include constructing a tiny home (which can be sold in DIY
kits) or cob homes. Yurts are also popular as they are quite simple to
put up.
However, suppose you lack the time or have any kind of physical
limitations to oversee or participate in the construction process. In
that case, you will need to think realistically about what you need.
Finding someone to build a natural home is quite tricky, whereas
brick home constructions are much easier to find.
Once you've decided what kind of home you want to build, your next
step is to think about where you will stay as it's being constructed.
Building a home not only takes money and materials but time. You
should establish a nice, comfortable, and safe temporary residence
to stay in as your home is being built. Your options include a camper
van, a caravan, an RV, a quick-build wooden structure, a yurt, a tent,
and many others.
The best home is placed in the best spot. For example, if you're
installing solar panels, you should position the front of the property to
the south or southeast. Have some shady plants or trees that can
cool your home in the summer but allow enough sunlight during
autumn and winter. You don't want to put your new home in a place
that will be affected by runoffs during seasonal changes.
Last but not least, you should position your home close to the places
where you will need to spend a lot of time, such as gardens or where
your animals will be living. If you intend to be working on your land a
lot of time, then you don't want your home to be set somewhere far
away.
If you're looking to keep construction costs down, then definitely take
the time to see what materials you can buy cheaply or get for free.
There are places where you can find them; all you need to do is a
little bit of research.
Request help from family and friends, especially if they have any
experience or skills that could benefit you. Also, local professionals
are a great source of information and could offer help and advice
before you start. Consult them as quickly as possible if you're hiring
a team since you can draw on their skills and experience.
The last step in this section is to apply for the correct authorization.
When constructing any kind of structure on your land, you must
ensure you have permission to do so. You may need official permits
before you get started. When hiring builders, check to see if they can
do this for you.
Taking the Sixth Step – Sorting Out Your Waste Management
When you are living off the grid, you must plan on how you are going
to manage your waste. Water waste and sewage could be
incorporated within your home's design, and most renewable
systems will need some incorporation into the property and the rest
of the land.
If you are constructing your own home, you should decide on the
method of getting rid of waste before building work starts. Think
about the following questions: will there just be you in the house?
Will you be living with a partner, kids, or a group of strangers? How
many people will need to go to the toilet? Do you want an indoor
toilet or an outdoor one?
These questions and many more will help you decide on what your
plumping needs truly are. You may need to file permits for septic
tanks before anything being installed.
How many people you will have living on your property will affect
how much capacity you require, and what type of people (partner,
children, workers, strangers) will affect how much it could potentially
handle. You may decide to have a compost toilet for your needs and
a flush toilet for those who come to visit.
Outside toilets tend to be cheaper but are quite inconvenient. Some
people have opted to go hybrid – indoor toilets for urine and outdoor
toilets for excrement. These factors will all determine your choice.
When you are ready to start building your waste management, you
can choose from simple designs to something bigger and more
intricate. It all comes down to your needs, what they could be in the
future, and what your budget is.
Maintenance is another factor to consider. As you use your waste
management system, it wears. Over time, it will need maintenance to
ensure it doesn't suddenly give up. Septic systems need to be
plumbed every three to five years and checked yearly to avoid any
issues. Compost toilets may need to be cleaned each week, subject
to how much they are used.
It is important, then, that you make a note of the date when your
waste system should next be inspected. Unexpected problems tend
to be messy and expensive otherwise.
Taking the Seventh Step – Planning How to Heat and Cool Your
Home
One of the biggest energy uses in your home is how you heat and
cool it. Because of this, you must pay attention and look into free or
cheap ways to get this.
Popular choices of energy sources when you live off the grid include
geothermal, micro-hydroelectricity, wood (masonry ovens, wood
stoves, etc.), propane fridges, solar power heaters, air conditioners,
ice houses, swamp coolers, earth or root cellars, compost, manure,
etc.
With a variety of heating, cooling, and cooking energy options, you
will need to work out what is going to be the best option for you and
your family.
The best options are, of course, natural. These include solar panels,
but there are simple options you can do to your home, known as
passive solar designs. You could allow for windows and eaves to
flood the property with light in the winter but block it during the
summer and use thermal mass to keep the temperature consistent
during the day.
Root or earth cellars are a fantastic way of using the earth as an
energy source. A root cellar is an underground space where you
store food. The earth preserves the food because the soil maintains
the space above the freezing temperature, yet the moisture in the air
stops fruits and vegetables from decaying as quickly as they would
above ground. Other methods such as cob and earth bags are also
extremely popular. In fact, many modern homes are now being
designed underground, or at least partially underground, to assist in
keeping the home's temperature cool. Greenhouses are also good
for heating a home during the colder months.
Insulation is an inexpensive but practical way of cooling and
passively heating your home. Insulation is placed in the walls and
roof of most homes, but if you double the amount that goes in, it
saves you a lot of money and energy to heat and cool it.
It can be difficult to determine precisely how much wood and other
materials you will require to keep your off-the-grid home running
comfortably without making some mistakes. You should double the
amount of fuel, wood, or other energy sources you think you may
need for the first winter and see how much you use. Keep a record
of what you do use for the following year.
After you've decided on how much fuel it could take to get you
through winter, now is the time to build a storage place to keep it in.
For most people, this consists of a wooden structure or a shed
where you can keep your wood or fuel. Remember to keep your
wood dry as it lasts longer and is more efficient. Any wooden shed
you have should have two sides open for the wind to dry the wood
out even further.
Taking the Eighth Step – Utilizing Natural Sources of Power
You don't need electricity to survive off the grid, although it definitely
helps raise its quality. After all, it is good to be able to switch on a
lamp at night or power a fridge to keep your milk cold.
You can install solar panels, wind turbines, or even micro-
hydroelectricity to help power all your essentials. To calculate how
much you require, you need to figure out your usage. There are
various calculators online that can help you work this out.
To determine what resources you should use, look at the property
location. If you're in a place with strong winds, go with a wind
turbine. If you have sunshine-filled winters, then choose solar
panels. Hydropower could be the best option if you have slopes with
water. Or, if you are lucky enough, you could combine two or more
options.
After this comes designing a reliable energy system that your
property can use all year round. Various resources online can take
you through the process, step by step. After you've designed it, start
building it!
Once the energy system has been completed, you will then need to
figure out a plan to check and maintain it. Solar panels can last
between ten and twenty years before they have to be replaced.
Other methods require an annual check and balance. Will you be
responsible for unclogging your hydro water system, or will you have
someone else do it? You will need to plan this all.
Taking the Ninth Step – Establishing Your Food Source
Once you have all your utilities sorted, now is the time to think about
growing food. This includes deciding what you want to grow,
establishing good infrastructure, and where you want to put
everything.
How much food do you need to grow? How much food do you eat
each week? It's normal for your tastes to change weekly, as does
how much you consume. If you don't eat a lot of produce already, try
eating more of it for a few weeks to calculate how much you get
through. You can then calculate how much food in pounds you eat
and then times it by fifty-two.
Planning a garden farm is a fantastic way of sustaining yourself and
your family throughout the year. What you can grow is down to you,
but you must factor in climate and soil types.
If your soil hasn't been cultivated before starting your garden, you
must make it productive. You can add cut grass, leaves, biochar,
compost, and other items.
After deciding where everything will go, you need to start composting
the earth and make it as healthy as possible. Healthy soil is
productive soil!
Establish beds and fences around your garden to keep pests out.
After all, you don't want to put in hours of hard work only to create a
feast for birds, rodents, and other creatures.
The majority of gardens require irrigation. This could be from water
gardens, where water flows through the garden naturally, or by
watering it directly. There are several ways you can create a garden
that doesn't require irrigation.
The last part is to decide where to plant certain crops and what time
of the year they need to be planted. This varies depending on what
types of foods you want to eat.
Taking the Tenth Step – Bringing Home the Animals
Having livestock can make all the difference in the success of living
off the grid. Animals are good food sources, providing you with
protein, dairy, and fats, along with useful materials, methods of food
production, manure for composting, and getting rid of pests.
What animals do you want to keep? Most people recommend only
bringing in only one type of animal each year. This allows you to
adapt to the new changes and modify your time, energy, and another
system without finding it overwhelming.
All animals have their pros. Chickens, for example, not only provide
eggs and meat but eat bugs and scraps from the kitchen but also
scratch the earth, thus raising its fertility (feathers can be used for
stuffing pillows). Cows increase the health of pastureland, eat grass,
and provide milk and meat (cow skin can be turned into leather).
Goats can eat brush and large clear patches of land and give you
milk and meat (goat fur can be spun into wool). Pigs root to clear
land, eat scraps from the kitchen, and give you meat.
Once you've decided on your animals, you will need to figure out
where their home will be. You can create traditional fencing, barns,
and coops for them. Also, how will they get from where they sleep to
where they eat?
You will probably need a variety of other items to look after your
animals, such as portable fencing and portable coops and cages.
You'll need a place to store these and all the feed. You should have
enough feed to last your animals over winter.
Animals, like crops, will need to be harvested. You will need to
decide when you will do this and how. Will you do it yourself, or have
a butcher come in and do it for you, or use a slaughterhouse?
The final step is to bring your animals home.
Taking the Eleventh Step – Stockpiling Food for Winter
You've planted your crops; your animals are settled into their new
home. Now it's time to start stockpiling for the colder months when
the earth is resting.
You will then need to consider how much you need to eat, what you
are growing, and when it needs to be harvested. You will use your
winter reserves if you are not harvesting anything over the winter
months. You may need to bring in extra food from outside to keep
you and your family going over the winter.
When you know how much food you're going to need, then you can
decide on how and where you are going to store it. This could be an
outside shed, a basement, pantries, or even a root or earth cellar.
Root cellars are extremely popular. The temperature remains around
50 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year due to the soil, and
moisture in the air keeps vegetables from drying out. As a result,
they are great for keeping your fruits and veggies for much longer.
You can also keep all your canned and dried foods in there.
You'll need a variety of equipment to help you can and preserve your
produce. Have everything organized and good to go before you
harvest, making things a lot easier. You'll need things such as
crocks, knives, cans, jars, lids and seals, water bath canners,
pressure canners, tables, cooking pots, grinders, apple cores, and
wooden crates for storage, and all the foods you want to preserve.
You may want to stockpile the items that you can't produce. These
could be things like salt, sugar, seasonings, rice, etc., but they can
make life a lot easier and tastier off the grid. You can buy these
things in bulk, including ten and fifty-pound bags, which makes them
a lot cheaper in the long run. Having a decent stockpile of these
items can be great for emergencies.
Taking the Twelfth Step – Becoming Part of a Community
To ensure that you transition successfully into life off the grid,
consider what would happen when a disaster, natural or man-made,
befalls you. This could include forest fires, flooding, landslides, a
hurricane, tornado, or maybe even a break-in. When this happens,
who will you turn to?
You should always have a plan for emergencies. Bug-out bags or
emergency equipment can be true life savers if something terrible
should happen and you are forced to flee your home.
You will also have to consider friends, family, and neighbors. You
could knock on your nearest neighbor's door, introduce yourself, and
ask what people do in the community in case of a fire or flood. You
could even establish safety procedures or plans in case something
does happen and establish yourself as part of the community.
Also, a big part of living off the grid is not only about being free but
having fun doing it. Make sure that it's not all work, work, work. Go
out into your community and interact with others. Send out invitations
to neighbors and the community to get to know each other. You
could teach others about your lifestyle and perhaps get them
involved, or maybe help your community by donating any extra food
you've grown to those who may be experiencing hard times.
It is important to be proud of what you've achieved – after all, it takes
hard work, patience, and dedication to live off the grid. Giving back
to the community is a great part of doing this. This could be in the
way of hosting lessons on growing, mentoring kids and adults,
providing cuttings of plants or seeds for them to grow their own food,
stopping greedy developers from grabbing the land, providing safe
habitats for wildlife, and even helping restore natural habitat.
Conclusion
Living off the grid isn't for everyone, but prepping surely is. Being
prepared is essential in this day and age. After all, we live in a time
where things have been good for so long that we are now
experiencing the wheel's turn.
Disasters affect everyone. We all live in areas where there are
natural disasters. These could be tsunamis, flooding, forest fires,
mudslides, avalanches, tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, blizzards,
thunderstorms, droughts, earthquakes, volcano eruptions … and
many more. This doesn't include man-made disasters: relationship
breakdowns, car breakdowns, wars, famine, pandemics, and waves
of crime. These are just a few of the many things that can and do
happen.
Everyone experiences disasters. Some are big and affect millions,
even billions, of people worldwide. Some are smaller, affecting only a
city, a neighborhood, or just a single household. You will likely
experience at least one of these during your life, just like everyone
will. The only difference between you and others is that you can be
prepared.
Being prepared is not just a state of mind. It is being ready to survive
anything that comes your way. A good prepper is ready in the event
of a car breakdown, a pandemic, a blizzard, or when law and order
have ceased functioning.
A good prepper knows that when a blizzard traps them inside their
homes for a week, they will have enough food to last them that time,
water, toilet paper, and energy sources to cook and heat their homes
with.
A good prepper knows that when there is no found to be found in the
supermarkets, and hungry people are desperate enough to break
into other homes, they have enough defenses to stop them or delay
them so they can get to safety.
A good prepper has a bug-out bag not just in their home but in their
car, a family member's home, and another location away from home.
With this, they can spend several days surviving in the wild no matter
what the conditions they may face.
When it comes to being a prepper, it can almost be overwhelming.
However, with time, patience, and understanding, you can survive
anything the world throws your way.
Thank you for buying and reading/listening to our book. If you found
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Resources
Nester, T. (2013). When the Grid Goes Down: Disaster Preparations and Survival
Gear For Making Your Home Self-Reliant Paperback – January 9, 2013. Diamond
Creek Publishing.
The Prepper. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Prepper website: https://theprepared.com/
Snyder, M. (n.d.). The Economic Collapse Blog. The Economic Collapse Blog
website: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com