I live in a Northern climate in a home without a fireplace.  The heat in my home is totally dependent on the grid.  Since the weather is cold here at least 8 months out of the year, much of my prepping attention is focused on keeping the family warm.

In years gone by, most Northern homes had either a fireplace or a woodstove for heat.  Our society has become so certain that the grid is permanent that many homes built over the past 50-60 years have been designed without those vital elements.

The first and best choice for alternative heating is wood.  If you don’t have that option, don’t despair – there are many other ways to stay warm if the grid goes down.

1.)    Propane Heaters:  There are several propane heaters on the market that do not require electricity.  I own a Little Buddy heater.  These small portable heaters are considered safe for indoor use in 49 states.  They attach to a small propane canister and use 2 oz. of fuel per hour to make 250 square feet extremely warm and toasty.  A battery operated carbon monoxide detector provides an extra measure of safety when using these heaters indoors.

2.)    Kerosene/Oil Heaters:  Kerosene heaters burn a wick for heat, fuelled by the addition of heating oil.  An antique “Perfection” oil heater can be a charming addition to your decor that can be called into service during a grid-down situation.  Click here to read more information about the different types of kerosene heaters that are available.

Of course, the above options require fuel that may not be available after an extended disaster.  Use a combination of these keep-warm strategies to extend your fuel provisions.

• Seal off a smaller area to heat.  When our furnace went out one winter, we huddled into a small room with just one window.  We closed the door to the bedroom and used a folded quilt at the bottom to better insulate the room.  You can also hang heavy quilts in the doorways of rooms with a heat source to block them off from the rest of the house.
• Insulate your windows.  You can use a plastic shower curtain and duct tape, topped by a heavy quilt to keep the wind from whistling through your windows.  This has the added benefit of keeping the windows dark if you are concerned about OPSEC.
• Light some candles.  Burning candles can add some much needed warmth to a small area.
• Use heavy sleeping bags.  Zipping into a sleeping bag will conserve your body’s warmth more than simply getting under the covers.
• Pitch a tent.  This works especially well when you have children because it adds an element of fun to an otherwise stressful situation.  Inside a tent, you can combine your body heat to stay much warmer.
• Heat some rocks.  If you have a place outdoors for a cooking fire, you can add large rocks to the fire.  Rocks retain heat for a very long time.  When you are ready to go to bed, move the rocks into a cast iron Dutch oven.  VERY CAREFULLY take this into the room that you are heating.  The stones will emit heat for several hours.  This is an excellent way to passively heat your room when you’re sleeping.  With this method, you don’t have to be concerned about the potential of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning during the night.
• Dress warmly from head to toe.  Most body heat is lost through the top of the head, so always start with a warm knit hat.  Layer your clothing, making sure your chest and neck are covered with a scarf.  Lightweight gloves will also help you maintain your warmth.  Wear heavy socks and shoes to protect your feet from cold floors.
• Cook!  If your cooking method does not require electricity, use it to generate heat as well as a hot nourishing meal.  The addition of steam also makes the house warmer – add a kettle of water to the top of your stove.
• Drink warm beverages – hot cocoa, coffee or tea can increase your body temperature.
• Snuggle!  Combine your body heat to stay warmer
• Use a hot water bottle.  This can provide additional moist radiant heat in your tent or closed-off room.

In your search for warmth make certain that you also maintain safety.  Keep fire extinguishers handy and invest in a battery operated carbon monoxide detector.  Keep children and pets away from items that could burn them or that could tip over, causing a fire.  Be sure to store all flammable materials (such as propane and kerosene) according to manufacturer’s instructions.

When it comes to long-term preparedness, we need only look back on our ancestors’ knowledge to affirm that their methods for surviving, often considered primitive by modern standards, are effective in their own right and are applicable in the event that our modern day conveniences are disrupted. With respect to alternative light sources, sometimes the earlier ways are more efficient than the modern ones. The most simplistic and archaic type of lamp is the Canaanite lamp and dates back to 1500 BC-600 BC. This type of lamp is made of terra cotta; and although it isn’t the safest type of lamp to walk around with, it would definitely be a good source of light for stationary use. This type of light source demonstrates the simplistic nature of creating a lamp. All that is needed is a vessel, oil or fuel and a wick. When you do not have the normal items on hand to create a lamp, there are many items that can be subsituted to make an alternative source of light.

Alternative Vessles - An expensive lantern is not needed to create an emergency lamp. All you really need is a container that can hold oil and will not catch fire. Some items to consider are:

• Glass bottles
• Glass or porcelin bowls
• Used tuna cans or pet food cans
• Fruit peels with the pulp removed and cut in half (citrus fruits work very well).
• Hollowed out potatoes
• Wide-mouth glass jar or recycled glass jars
• Terra cotta containers

If you find yourself in a bind and happen to have citrus fruits laying around, a makeshift lamp can be made from citrus halves in two easy steps:

Step 1 : Cut an orange in half and scoop out the flesh, leaving the long piece of white pith in the middle.

Step 2 : Fill with olive oil and light the piece of pith. 

Another alternative for a makeshift vessel if using empty canning jars or used food jars. To see how easy this is, click on the instructional video below.

Alternative Fuel – Although having kerosene fuel on hand is a great preparedness item to have to fuel lamps, in a long-term emergency, it is a precious item to that many would want to conserve. Olive oil or other types of cooking oil are great options to use in lieu of fuel to create illumination. A few ounces of oil can burn for several hours, so it is also cost effective. Olive oil is 99% pure renewable fuel and does not produce smoke or odor. However, other cooking oils such as canola or corn oil may have the potential to produce smoke and odor, so use caution. According to Mother Earth News, olive oil is much safer to use compared to using candles or kerosene. Because of the high flash point olive oil has, it is not a very flammable material and will stop burning if spilled or knocked over.

Recycling food oils would be a great way to make use of what you have on hand. Used cooking oils and even oil packed canned goods can be used to create lighting. See the video below.

Alternative Wicks

In a long-term emergency, you will never have enough wicks. Therefore, stock up on this low cost, essential prep items while you still can. Candle making supply stores will have a large assortment of wicks to choose from. Further, some self sufficient stores such as Lehman’s can also help. 

A few tricks that Mother Earth News shared to make your wicks burn longer is to salt it. To salt your wick, take your cotton twine, put it in a bowl with a little water and then cover with table salt. Squeeze it dry and let it dry overnight, or until it is no longer damp.

If you need or want your lamp to emit more light, try using a braided, flat wick (a half inch or narrower), adjusting the way the wire supports this kind of wick by crimping it to accommodate the extra girth. You can make your own wicks out of cotton materials like old towels or even socks. Keep in mind to find alternative wick materials that do not produce any harmful fumes that could cause any health problems. I like to stick with cotton materials when making wicks.

Some alternatives to candle wicks can be:

• Cotton string or twine
•  Paper towel
• Torn pieces of cloth
• Shoe lace (with the plastic coating cut off)
• Old cotton sock (that is clean) torn into strips
• Cotton towel torn into strips

Having a means of light during an emergency situation, (especially a longer-term emergency) can be a great asset to have on hand. By using the basic foundation that our ancestors laid out for us, our homes can still emit light in a non-technological world; we just have to know which tools to use and how to use them.

For more information, turn to these instructional pages:

Instructions on how to make an olive oil lamp

Pocket sized oil lamp

A source said, “Jared did everything right during a long night alone in the woods. Once he realized he didn’t know where he was, he stopped and built a shelter. As night set in, he buried himself in dirt to keep warm. He learned it all from being a Boy Scout.”

 Without these survival skills taught to Jared shortly before his disappearance, he might have faced hypothermia, an injury or he could still be lost. Adults and children can both use the following survival tips in they find themselves lost. The point is to teach yourself and your loved ones about basic survival skills. Without this knowledge, chances of survival diminish if you are exposed to the elements for long periods of time.

The following are 10 survival tips that you should follow if you find yourself lost in woods:

1. Don’t panic. Panic is more dangerous than almost anything else, because it interferes with the operation of your single best, most useful and versatile survival tool: your mind. The moment you realize that you are lost, before you do anything else, stop. Take a deep breath and stay calm.

2. Stand still and look around carefully! Wherever you are will become your “point zero.” Find a way to mark it using a spare piece of clothing, a pile of rocks, a sheet of paper, or anything else easily visible from a distance.

3. Stay in one place, and you not only increase your chances of being found, you also increase your ability to survive by reducing the energy your body expends and the amount of water and food you will need. Hunker down and stay put. Chances are that someone will be looking for you, especially if you let someone know your plans, (see above).

4. Signal your location to maximize the odds that someone finds you. Make noise by whistling, shouting, singing, or banging rocks together. If you can, mark your location in such a way that it’s visible from the air. If you’re in a mountain meadow, make three piles of dark leaves or branches in a triangle. In sandy areas, make a large triangle in the sand. In a forest, you might want to prepare three small fires ready to ignite at a moment’s notice, with heaps of wet leaves nearby in order to make smoke. Three of anything in the wilderness is a standard distress signal.

5. Start scouting your area, carefully keeping track of your location. Be sure you can always find your way back to your “point zero” as you search for water, shelter, or your way home.

6. Find or create shelter. Without adequate shelter, you will be fully exposed to the elements and will risk hypothermia or heatstroke, depending on the weather. If you are not properly dressed for the conditions, finding shelter is all the more important. Luckily, the woods are filled with tools and resources to make both shelters and fires (for warmth, safety, and signaling purposes). Here are some things you can use:

• Look for a fallen or leaning tree. You can build a lean-to by stacking branches alongside a fallen tree, then over the branches with brush, palm fronds, or other plants.
• Use brush or green branches (boughs) from trees to repel water, block wind, keep out snow, or create shade. Close in your shelter on as many sides as possible.
• Caves can be great, but be sure the cave is not already occupied by bears, large cats, snakes or other unfriendly animals; they know caves are good too, and they’ve been looking for good shelter for longer than you have. Also make sure it’s not going to collapse on you- this reduces your chances of survival considerably.

7. Find a good source of water. In a survival situation, you can last up to three days without water, but by the end of the second day you’re not going to be in very good shape; find water before then.

• The best source of water is a spring, but the chances of finding one are slim.
• A running stream is your next best bet; the movement of the water reduces sediment. Be advised that drinking water from streams can lead to some sicknesses, but when you’re in a life-or-death situation, the risk of illness is a secondary consideration.
• Or use jacket sleeves to tie around your ankles when it’s morning, and walk in the grass to get dew on the sleeves, then suck the moisture out of the fabric.8Purify your water. A crude method of water purification is to take your handy pot and heat the water. For this to effectively kill bacteria, it must be at a rolling boil for at least three minutes.

8. Build a fire. Build a good sized fire, one with sufficient coals to stay hot for many hours, and make sure that you have plenty of extra dry wood.

• A good rule of thumb is to gather wood until you have enough to last the night, then gather three more piles of the same size, and you might have enough to get through the night.
• In the wilderness you should have access to dry wood in the understory of the forest. You can also use bark or dried dung. If you build a fire that is hot enough, you can also burn green wood, brush, or tree boughs to make a signaling fire (one that makes a lot of smoke).
• The best wood for maintaining a fire is dead wood that you pull off a standing tree. Regardless of what type of woods you are in, there will certainly be some dry wood available. Remember that a small fire is easier to keep burning than a big fire, though, because it requires less fuel. Once you have sufficient embers, keep the fire to a manageable size so you don’t spend too much time looking for fuel.

9. Find safe food. Know that most healthy adults can survive up to three weeks without food unless it’s cold. It’s better to be hungry and healthy than ill. Make sure that you know food is safe before eating it. If there is anything that will lessen your ability to survive, it is being both lost and deathly ill. Starvation won’t be a big problem.

10. Don’t be afraid to eat insects and other bugs. While it may be disgusting to eat a few grasshoppers, they do provide useful nutrition. All insects should be cooked as they can harbor parasites that can kill you. Do not eat any caterpillars, brightly colored insects, or any insect that can bite or sting you. Remove the legs, head and wings of any insect before eating.

• If you are near water, fish are a good choice. Minnows can be eaten whole.
• Color test: There is no color test for berry edibility with one exception: Almost all white berries are toxic. As for other colors consider them poisonous unless you personally know the berry to be safe.
• Aggregate berries: There is the mistaken belief that aggregate berries are always safe. That is far from true with several aggregate berries being highly toxic if not fatal. The only safe berry is a berry you know personally to be safe.

 Source

No doubt that many of you have heard that Texas is on the verge of rolling black outs due to the immense amount of energy being used to keep cool homes. According to an article, one megawatt powers about 200 homes in Texas during hot weather when air conditioners are running for long periods. With the entire country going through a heat wave, it’s no wonder that the energy levels are out of control. Although I am hoping these blackouts will come to pass, I feel we need to prepare ourselves for this possibility and do what we can to decrease our energy usage, as uncomfortable as that may be. Preparation, after all, provides us with the peace of mind to hope for the best.

Prepare for the Problem

• To be proactive, begin using perishable foods in the freezer and refrigerator to minimize food spoilage. Also, to keep items as cool as possible during rolling black, limit the amount of times the refrigerator or freezer door is opened. If you are concerned that the meat may spoil, preserve it beforehand, by either the canning method or the dehydration method.
• Freeze soda bottles filled with water and when the rolling blackouts occur, place the frozen soda bottles in the refrigerator to maintain the optimum temperature. 
• Stay indoors and try and keep your body temperature as cool as possible. See tips below.
• Close window blinds and curtains to keep the heat out.
• If the home is too hot to stay in, try and beat the heat and head to the local pool.

Stay Cool

After exposure to extreme heat for extended periods, the body loses its ability to cool down naturally through sweating and evaporative cooling. Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk.  Remember to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. If you exhibit any of the symptoms listed below, be sure get to a cool location, and if symptoms persist, seek medical attention.

• Dizziness
• Severe headache
• Nausea
• Hot, dry skin without sweat
• High pulse rate
• High body temperature
• Unconsciousness
• Fatigue
• Slurred speech or hallucinations

Typically, the duration of the black outs may only be for an hour or so. During that time, follow these tips to stay cool:

• Wet your hair. Just like you lose the most heat from your head during winter, you can apply the same principle in the heat. Wet all your hair, or just all along the hairline in a pinch. The evaporation of the water will cool your head.
• Take a cool bath. Taking a cool bath will lower your body temperature and relax you at the same time. When the air hits the wet skin, it will create a cooling sensation.
• Wear a bandana. A water-soaked bandanna or cool cloth tied around your neck or placed on your head will help lower your body temperature. Another option is to wear a wet terrycloth headband on your forehead.
• Keep a spritz bottle filled with water in the refrigerator. When you’re feeling hot, mist your face and neck a few times with the cold water for instant relief. If you have a battery operated fan, you can use this to cool off further. As you mist and fan yourself, the water is evaporated on you skin and cools you off instantly.
• Stay in the lowest part of your home. Downstairs is the coolest part of the home. If you have a multiple story home, limit your time upstairs.

Learn From the Experience

If we can use these brief interruptions from our modern day conveniences as a rehearsal for short and long-term emergencies, then we can use it as a learning experience towards being better prepared for hot weather during emergencies. As uncomfortable as this energy conservation method may be, using the above stated tips and staying as healthy as possible during the black outs will make this a short-lived minor inconvenience.

When I take my children camping, I use my survival gear as much as I can to see what items are good and what I need to stock up.  While on a camping trip this weekend, my child spilled a drink on his sleeping bag right before he went to sleep.  Although the night time temperatures were going to be in the lower 50′s, he would have had a hard time sleeping.  So I did what every mother would do, I gave up my sleeping bag.  I was not overly concerned about hypothermia with the temperatures being what they were, but I did try to conserve as much body heat as possible by layering my clothing.  I also had some light blankets that I used to try to maintain my body heat, but there were gaps in the blankets and cold air kept getting through. I finally grabbed for my thermo-lite bivvy.  After sealing up the bivvy, I immediately started conserving my body heat and stayed warm all night.

This essential prep can be used as an emergency shelter, sleeping bag or can be an extra layer added to your existing sleeping bag if you are expecting a cold night.  The thermo-lite bivvy reflects 80% of your body heat and the fabric used to make this product is both waterproof and windproof.  It is made of vacuum-metalized polyethylene, and is surprisingly durable.  It is also lightweight and is reasonably priced.  To be true to my review of this product, the only complaint that I had was that it made some noise when you moved.  However, my main priority at the time was to stay warm, and this bivvy sack was outstanding in that department.

This prep is considered  ultralight at 6.9 ounces, and is a great back up that could also be added to your 72 hour kits or your vehicle-72 hour supplies.  Other product reviews have complained of a build up of condensation when users tried them.  I did notice I had some light moisture when I got out of the bivvy, but it was not extreme condensation that made me overly cold.  If I did not have this bivvy sac on hand, I would have had a long, miserable and cold night.

As preppers, we want to have back ups for our back ups so that all of our needs are met.  And having a back up for your sleeping bag is essential.  I highly recommend this product and hope that you all invest in some sort of an emergency sleeping bag for your reserve supplies.  Because you never know when you or a family member will need an emergency sleeping bag.

Maintaining ideal body heat during the colder months of the year is a vital priority if a person is exposed to freezing temperatures.  Survival experts agree that hypthermia begins to occur when the body temperatures begins to drop below 96 degrees F.    In spite of the proper layering techniques with winter clothing, those who are out doors for a given period of time may find themselves battling over exposure to cold weather elements.  This is mainly due to gaps in clothing that allow air in, or sweating underneath clothing layers, or not being properly dressed for the outdoors.

Disposable hand and feet warmers are a great way to keep the cold at bay.  This reasonable preparedness item can be purchased ahead of time to prepare for snow ins from snow storms, placed in a vehicle 72 hour kit, as well as a personal 72 hour kit.  These nifty disposable heat packs generate heat for up to 8 – 12 hours, and can give a person the additional heat needed to maintain proper body temperature to combat hypothermia and frostbite.  The maximum temperature for the hand and feet warmers average to about 126 degrees F to 144 Degrees F (52 C – 62 C). 

Direct exposure to these warmers may be too hot to place directly on the skin.  Therefore, making a fabric covering to place the warmers into may be more comfortable.  These fabric coverings for the warmers are relatively inexpensive, will hold the heat longer, and are extremely easy to make.  In fact, a sewing novice can easily make these without a sewing machine.

Pocket Warmer Directions

Items You Will Need:

• Ruler
• Scissors
• Fabric
• Thread
• Sewing pins/safety pins

Directions:
1. Gather the material:  Wool, corduroy, cashmere, or pleather.
2. Fold material with wrong side of material on outside.
3. Using a ruler and water soluble marking pencil, measure 5 inch lines horizontally and vertically, making 5×5 inch squares.
4. Place two safety pins or sewing pins on each square of material you intend to cut off.  Place a couple of pins on the adjacent side in order to anchor the material. {See Figure 1}

Figure 1

5. Cut the 5×5 inch squares of material.
6. On one side, measure 3.25 inches and place a mark.  Do the same for the opposite side. {See Figure 2}
 

Figure 2

7. Starting at the 3.25 inch mark, sew along the sides and bottom, stopping at the 3.25 inch mark on the opposite side. Trim the bottom corners. {See Figure 3}

Figure 3

8. Remove pins. Fold one side of top flap down at the 3.25 inch mark, secure with pins and sew between the edge of fabric and the previously sewed side. {See Figure 4}

Figure 4

9. Remove pins. Flip the material inside out. {See Fig 5}

Figure 5

10. Fold top flap approx. 0.5 inches down and secure with pins.  Sew bottom edge down. {See Fig 6}

Figure 6 

11. Fold flap down, line up side edge, and sew inside material side edge. Do not sew the top or bottom material {See Fig 7}.

Figure 7

12. For use, follow directions of instant hand warmer for heat, place inside pouch and enjoy.

Option 1: Blanket-stitch sides and bottom down with embroidery floss {See Fig 9 Below}

Option 2: Instead of an instant hand warmer, fill with ceramic pie weights, which hold heat well and are microwave-safe. Make 3×5 inch squares instead.  Sew all around the edges, leaving an opening; cut off corners.  Turn bag right side out; fill with ½ cup pie weights.  Sew gap closed.  Blanket-stitch above in Option 1.  To warm them, microwave pouch on high for approx. 5 minutes. (Do not microwave longer and do not heat in a conventional oven.)

Riots, hurricanes, earthquakes, even severe power outages have all occurred in different cities across the country and have all left their mark upon citizens who dealt with the aftermath.  Many urban inhabitants do not realize how quickly “the system” can deteriorate.  Along those same lines, after  a disaster, the usual civil nature of  those occupying a city devolves into an unorganized mess of chaos. 

For instance, many remember the L.A. riots that occurred in 1992 because of civilian frustration at the local government level.  When the civilians were angered about the verdict of a trial of officers, within two hours there were riots, looting, fires and chaos that broke out. Over 50 murders occurred during the L.A. Riots.

These breakdowns of the system eventually lead to waves of crime.  Typically those that are creating the chaos are ill equipped and unprepared to survive in such surroundings.  Desperation will be a reason to legitimize aggressive force to steal, loot or kill if need be.  The assistance of government agencies could be delayed as they are dealing with the influx of crime and other city related  matters.  Depending on the circumstance, citizens may realize they are on their own and left to fend for themselves.  And those that choose to bug out or stay in place may have a major survival situation on their hands. 

The most important asset to have in a situation such as this is to have the capable skills and know-how of getting out of harms way.   The best advice in surviving the aftermath of a urban disaster would be to stay away from the crowd, keep your head down and immediately seek safety.

If a person must stay in place, having the following disaster items and equipment will make the situation more bearable:

• Have a emergency plan in place.
• Stock up on a basic short term food and water supply.  Having a stockpile of food will eliminate the need to go out and brave the crowds.  In addition having alternative cooking sources would be beneficial in that electricity could be cut off (i.e. fuel camping stoves, hot plates, compressed trioxane, etc).  In the event of food shortages that are expected, the skills and equipment to cook without alerting others is a life saving skill to have.
• Buy emergency items now – This is basically any item that would be of benefit in a survival situation (tent, bug out bags, flashlights, candles, lanterns, etc.)
• Keep your fuel in your vehicles filled up in case you decide to flee.
• Prepare to protect your family with different security layers.  Any type of self defense would be beneficial in a situation such as this.  In addition, the family owns firearms, then making sure they are clean and loaded may help ward off unwelcome guests.

Once all resources have been depleted in the city, the remaining occupants will flee the city and survival will become even more arduous.  Evacuating the urban areas to safety will be a journey in itself.  Here are some tips to staying safe if bugging out of an urban area:

• Know your evacuation route and plan before you leave.  Having a clear and concise plan will keep you as organized and efficient as possible.  In addition, plan for an alternate route.  Let’s be honest, in an emergency situation nothing ever goes as planned.  Have maps, GPS or compass to assist in guiding you to safety.  Try and stay off the major roads as much as possible.  This is where many crimes will take place. 
• Have a planned shelter to go to.  Whether it be a family member’s home, a friend or an out of town relative, make plans beforehand.
• Efficiently pack a 72 hour kit  and if you are evacuating in a vehicle, prepare a vehicle 72 hour kit. 
• Have extra fuel stored and ready to go.  Try to anticipate reasons that you would need to stop the car and prepare for them.  Stopping the car makes you vulnerable to the outside and groups that may be around.
• Expect the unexpected and mentally prepare.  Survival is 90% psychology.  Mentally preparing oneself, as well as staying flexible to the situation will help a person stay focused on surviving.

Surviving the urban jungle is not for the weak hearted.  The reality of the situation is whether you bug out or bug in, there are risks.  Those that are looting, stealing and being destructive will more than likely travel in large gangs and be heavily armed.  Therefore, setting up a perimeter and combining forces with others would be advantageous on your part to fight this horde off.  Morals, ethics, religion all are forgotten when a person cannot have basic needs met.  Preparing oneself for the possibility of a urban survival situation will increase your survival chances exponentially.

Location and land characteristics are crucial factors when a person is considering purchasing land for a survival retreat.  According to James Rawles, author of How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It, the decision to have a survival retreat should be “well-prepared and defensible redoubt with well-planned logistics.”

Location is usually contingent upon where a person is employed at.  However, many people are finding that working from home has given them the freedom to be more flexible in their property selection.

Preppers are looking into a survival homestead for many reasons. Some want to make the necessary investment in order to feel more secure about being in a short or long term disaster scenario, and some have decided to make a lifestyle change and feel that a survival homestead is the natural progression to achieve this.  Although, the economy has made it difficult for some families to purchase additional land, many are making an effort to scrimp and save in order to have their dreams come to fruition.  In Rawles’ book, he lists key characteristics to use as a guide when looking for survival property.

Ideally, a survival retreat is located in a region with most or all of the following characteristics:

• A long growing season
• Geographic isolation form major population centers
• Sufficient year-round precipitation and surface water
• Rich topsoil
• A diverse economy and agriculture
• Away from interstate freeways and other channelized areas
• Low taxes
• Non-intrusive scale of government
• Favorable zoning and inexpensive building permits
• Minimal gun laws
• No major earthquake, hurricane, or tornado risks
• No flooding risk
• No tidal-wave (at least two hundred feet above sea level)
• Minimal forest-fire risk
• A lifestyle geared toward self-sufficiency
• Plentiful local sources of wood or coal
• No restrictions on keeping livestock
• Defendable terrain
• Not near a prison or large mental institution
• Inexpensive insurance rates (home, auto, health)
• Upwind from major nuclear-weapons targets 

These key characteristics are to be used as a guide to find the right land that suits you and your family.  Ideally, wherever the personal retreat is located, the most important aspect of a retreat is sustainability.  The land must be able to support you and your family on a permanent basis (if necessary). 

Additional Information on Survival Retreats

A great podcast by Jack Spirko on the Perfect Survivalist Homestead Retreat

Criteria For Choosing a Retreat

Plan everything that the homestead will need to have to work.   Think about how much land will be needed so the homestead thrives.  Consider your main priorities for the homestead and how you will achieve them.  In a homestead environment, everything must be used and reused.  Think about how much money will be needed to begin this life change and how much money will be needed to keep it going.  Make sure the homestead has adequate resources that will be needed to live off of, and is defensible if it has to be.

2.  Heat Source

If you live up North or in the East, and winter time is unbearable, make sure the homestead has a heating source.  Having heat to warm the body is a very important aspect of survival.  Keep this in mind when you are looking for a homestead.

3.  Water Source

A good survival homestead will have it’s own (if not multiple) water sources.  Speaking strictly survival talk, water is the most important aspect of surviving.  Without water, you cannot feed your crops, feed your animals, reheat any type of food (including the extra stash of Mountain House dehydrated foods and survival food staple items).  Water is a top priority, and when searching for a home stead, this should be kept in mind.  Water sources such as ponds and rivers can also provide other food sources.

4.  Tools

It is suggested that people purchase tools and equipment that can operate in a non-technological environment.  These tools and equipment should be of the “traditional sense.”   Tools such as gardening tools, mechanic tools, tools and equipment for canning and farming equipment.

5.  Survival Garden

The survival garden is a major undertaking.  In order to live off of the food that is grown, lots food must be grown and stored away in the form of canned jars, or dried goods.  Food must be grown for any livestock that a person would be caring for as well.  Caring for a garden on a homestead is a more labor intensive effort than if one was gardening as a hobby.  Furthermore, reading and acquiring knowledge on gardening zones, rotation crops, and companion plants will help to keep the garden thriving.

6.  Fruit and Nuts

Some fruit trees such as orange trees, grape vines, apples and some nut trees can take years before they mature enough to grow their fruit. Do proper research on the fruit that you intend to have on the survival homestead, as well as setting money aside to purchase these plants will help to ensure that one has plenty of food to live off of.  Location is everything to a fruit tree.  If you plant the wrong fruit tree or in the wrong direction, it will more than likely not bear fruit and take a long time before that mistake goes away.

7.  Medicine

Medicinal herbs and plants must be used to provide support when illness or injuries are present.  If a person has a pre-existing condition, research and find certain herbs, roots or medicinal plants that may be able to alleviate the symptoms. 

8.  Livestock

 Raising animals is a large aspect of having a homestead.  Not only are they used for their meat, but also for their fur, feathers, eggs, manure, etc.  Animals, such as dogs can also be used for hunting and protecting the homestead. Small livestock such as goats, angora rabbits, or pigeons are good choices of homestead livestock.  If the homestead is a smaller acreage, then micro livestock is a good choice as they will not take up as much space or consume as much food compared to larger livestock such as cows.

9.  Develop a Variety of Homesteading Skills

Before you move to a homestead, develop skills that will be needed to maintain the type of life you want as well as being able to keep up with the survival homestead.   Engaging in tasks that will bring about necessary homestead skills development is the key to being more self sufficient.  Start trying to fix things yourself  before calling a plumber or an electrician, or create a substantial garden to develope advanced gardening skill, and to see how much work it will be.  Practicing also will give you an idea of how much food will be needed to live off of.  Try organic gardening to sync up with the homesteading conditions.  Take any extra vegetables and can them to preserve for the winter months.  Or, try your hand at soap making.   

10.  Be Confident In Your Abilities

Without a firm dedication to learning the necessary skills, a homestead will fail.  Believing in your abilities and having the determination to see this through will drive you further to achieve your goals.

• Pasta
• Canned Soups
• Canned Vegetables
• Water
• Coffee/Tea
• Drink Mixes
• Powdered Milk
• Bean
• Infant Needs – Diapers, Formula
• Flour
• Sugar
• Food For Pets

 Staying warm in the winter also means having a ready supply of fire wood, warm clothing, and extra blankets.  Going out in the cold means bundling up to maintain proper body heat.  A large majority of body heat is lost at the back of the neck and at the top of the head, so make sure that you have a warm hat to go a long with the heavy winter coat and mittens.  When dressing for winter weather, use the layering principle. 

Winter car accidents are sometimes hard to avoid due to the dangers of blizzards, snow flurries, skidding off the road, “black ice,” and other weather related accidents.  Being prepared for these accidents and having the necessary supplies in the car can save your life.  Having a preparedness kit for your vehicle in the instance that you are stranded in your car is a great way to prepare for cold weather mishaps. 

As the cold weather brings unexpected scenarios, be as prepared for them as possible whether you are in your home or in your car.