Knowledge Weighs Nothing

5 Native American Skills That We Should All Be Learning

Native American Skills

Native American culture is one of sophistication, community spirit and respect for the land, its animals and the environment as a whole, and it’s definitely something we can all learn something from. There’s a reason that their culture and tradition has lasted so long against all odds. Below are 5 Native American skills and traditions that are useful and relevant now more than ever.

1. Nature Provides Everything We Need

One of the most important lessons we can learn from Native American culture is to appreciate what we have.

Right-back before the first white man set foot in America, the Natives were surviving and thriving wholly off the land and what it provided. They found food in the animals and plants, weapons to hunt from the trees and rock and clothing and shelter from animal hides.

Additionally, medicines were created over the generations from the plants and tree – using their anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling, cure headaches and toothaches and to settle digestive issues over a period of trial and error.

What Can We Do?

Although we live in a more modern era surrounded by technology and simple, immediate solutions, we still have access to the raw materials that the Native Americans used all those years ago. Instead of using them, we choose to take them for granted.

Learning about foraging for food and using herbal remedies for minor ailments can save you money and give you extra knowledge in the event of an emergency. All of our modern medication was originally created using natural elements and can often be better for you than more modern chemical medicines.

2. Live in Harmony with Nature

It was the Native Americans that originally taught settlers not only to live off the land but to respect it. They understood how to interpret nature, pick up the signs in changing seasons and cultivate the ground to make it suitable to grow food.

They weren’t greedy and only took what they needed from nature, believing that this behaviour would ensure more fruitful living, as nature would respect them in the same way.

What’s Changed?

Today’s society is quite different. We’re powered by money and fight for possessions for pleasure, not necessity.

But imagine what would happen if we were taken back to basics. How would we survive?

We must learn to only take what we need and respect the animals, plants and the environment around us. Without them, we wouldn’t have the food we put on our table today. Caring for animals and plants can help you give as much back to nature as you’re taking – keeping natural harmony and balance.

3. Learn to Minimize Waste

The modern world is wasteful and it’s the same across the globe. We fill our landfills with waste food, old clothes, and items that we just got bored of.

Native Americans would use every piece of what they had. It was their responsibility to catch their own meat, to grow their own vegetables and to make and fix their own clothes. It’s a vastly different lifestyle if you don’t know when your next meal is coming.

They were great recyclers:

  • Eating the Whole Animal – melting down the fat and bone marrow to make soup and preserving any meat they didn’t eat for a time when food was scarce.
  • Tanning Hides – Preserving the hides of the animals they killed for food allowed them to make clothes and create shelter.
  • Fixing Old Clothing – They learnt to repair clothes because hide tanning took a long time, the next outfit might have taken weeks to be ready to wear and in cold winters, layers were key.

Not only did this benefit their way of living, but it also showed the respect they had for nature around them, making sure every kill had a sure purpose. This is a respect that many of us have sadly lost in today’s world.

How Could This Benefit Us? 

There’s no reason we can’t follow their example though. Removing waste is easier than you think:

  • Use the seeds and pits in fruit and vegetables to grow your own.
  • Use leftover meat cutlets to make soup or stew.
  • Preserve fruits and vegetables to eat out of season.
  • Dry out your meat and store it for winter. The Native Americans dried their meat by hand – removing the fat and letting it dry in the summer sun. Although we have modern appliances to make our jerky – their old method still works, so give it a go.
  • You can even use the bones to make a broth mixed with vegetables which is really good for you.
  • YouTube is full of videos on how to repurpose old clothes with holes too. So, don’t be so quick to throw things away.

Upcycling furniture and appliances is also a massive trend these days – sure, it’s fashionable, but think of all the money you’re saving and all the skills you’re developing in maintaining your own lifestyle for longer.

4. Develop a Community

The sense of community that we strive to feel in modern living isn’t actually a new concept. Native American tribes such as the well-known Apache or Mohican tribes focused on a culture of support, exchange, and shared knowledge. This made their tribes thrive, allowing them to swap wisdom between like-minded people to create an education system and ultimately, aid survival.

What Can We Change?

In today’s world, we tend to shut ourselves off. It’s a world of competition – survival of the fittest. Unfortunately, this always means that there has to be someone at the bottom of the pile. There’s always a loser. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Connecting within your community, sharing wisdom on common interests, and going out of our way to help and support the people around us will ultimately make us more successful. People are stronger together than they are alone. In the event of a disaster or survival situation, it’s always the groups that make it through, not the lone wolves, so reach out and create a support network.

5. Pass Down Wisdom 

It was, and still is, a parent’s responsibility to pass down knowledge to their children to allow them to be successful. Many of the stories that we tell our children today originate from Native American and early pioneering tales which were formulated with a moral to educate their children.

This wisdom was then passed down from generation to generation – developing over time until we became who we are today.

How Can We Change?

Don’t rely on the internet or television to educate your children. No wisdom stays with children as deeply as wisdom imparted by a parent. It’s not based on the unrealistic expectations of the media – but instead, is focused on true fact and experience.

Take some of the new skills that you’ve learnt – growing vegetables, foraging, creating a community, using plants as home remedies/medicines and caring for the local environment. Impart that knowledge on your children. They will take this forward to future generations, ensuring their success and maintaining our history.

 

 

Little-Known Government Auction Website (You’ve Got To Check This Out!)

Government auction websites

Ever wondered where all the items seized from criminal investigations go? Or where the old equipment from the military, police, other emergency services and even schools gets shipped out to? Well, everything that’s reusable, recyclable or sellable is auctioned off to the public on little known auction websites like ‘Gove Deals’.

Through ‘Gov Deals’ you’ll be able to purchase ex-police/military equipment, fire department and medical/hospital equipment, and even old educational apparatus from school facilities, or leftover office kit from governing bodies. Basically, if a government body or state has bought it but doesn’t need it anymore, it is sold off via official government auctions like this. There are storage lockers and compounds across the US filled with items that are in perfectly good condition but are no longer used due to policy and procedure changes.

How Can ‘Gov Deals’ Help? 

Websites such as ‘Gov Deals’ were set up as a sustainable solution to prevent perfectly good equipment from being destroyed. It’s a good move for the environment, reclaims some funds, saves on production costs and also helps recycle resources.

The site supports over 14,000 sellers from different locations, selling off surplus stock, equipment, and vehicles to buyers across the US.

The platform deals with everything from humvees to animal care equipment, office supplies and rare collectables that have been seized in criminal investigations and even ex-school buses and fire engines. You can even find high-value jewellery, watches, designer clothing, sporting goods, SUVs and boats at bargain prices.

You can also put your mind at rest as you can be confident that you’re receiving your goods from a reputable official source. Dealing with rare collectables, vehicles and ex-police/military equipment can make many buyers feel uncertain of the seller’s sources. But ‘Gov Deals’ is a fully licensed organization that provides a transparent and efficient service. Most of the goods can be shipped directly to you, but for larger items, such as vehicles, you’ll be able to pick them up, so you can see exactly where your purchase has come from.

Why Buy Items from an Official Auction Website? 

There are lots of positives to buying ex-police, school or government vehicles or other used equipment at auction.

  • Firstly, you can feel confident that what you’re buying is the best quality. Buying ‘used’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You will know that the product has been tried and tested and can also stand up to the test of time. This is particularly important if you’re buying vehicles. Ex-police cars, vans or school buses are made by the highest quality engineers to ensure complete safety in such important job roles.
  • If you’re looking to start your own business or just have an interest in buying and selling, you have a platform that can source and sell items in bulk at a fair price. Bulk items such as office furniture can be awfully expensive, even for low-quality products. Buying new would undoubtedly be more expensive for what’s essentially the same product.
  • The prices at auction are surprisingly low. You’ll pay a little more depending on the popularity of the item as it is an auctioning site, but usually, the out of use items go for much lower costs than if you bought them new, just because they’re no longer standard issue. But this doesn’t mean that they’re not still useful and in perfectly good condition.

How to Use The Website

One of the biggest benefits of buying surplus items through Govdeals.com is its user-friendly website. The layout includes an alphabetical list of potential categories, so you can browse through interesting items for sale. However, there’s also a handy search feature if you’re looking for something a bit more specific and a zipcode look-up feature, so you can find items in your local area for delivery and collection.

Each item also has multiple images so you can be confident in the condition of your purchase and a description field where the seller is asked to list as much detail as possible about the item that they’re selling. You’re even able to ask questions to the seller which are shown publicly for complete transparency.

Each seller is carefully vetted, and every item listed is added to the website almost as soon as it becomes available, so communities across the US will be able to view the items in real-time and put bids in as soon as possible. Once purchased, your item can be shipped the next day, or you can arrange a collection date that suitable for you.

Once you’ve settled on your next purchase, just click in and make a bid. The highest bidder wins. Simple. So, head over to Govdeals.com now and see if you can pick up a second-hand, quality bargain.

Prepper’s Guide To Generators — Read This First, Before Buying A Generator

Household generator buying guide

For most people, buying a generator to power their household is probably the last thing on their mind. But what happens when there’s a major storm, earthquake or a SHTF disaster/scenario that knocks out the power? Even in the best of conditions, the average household will lose power on 3 occasions per year and these outages might last hours or even days depending on the cause.

Considering this, generators are an essential piece of equipment to consider purchasing. They allow you to cook your food, keep your fridge running and charge/power your electronic devices – something that’s becoming more important given how connected we all are, and especially in the current climate when many of us have converted to homeworking.

If you are considering buying a home generator, read on, as there’s a load of relevant information and advice to help you make your choice.

Household Priorities

There are lots of different types of generator and the one you’ll need will be determined by how many appliances you need to power in the event of an emergency.

You’ll need to aim to cover the basics so your home can function relatively normally during a power outage.

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts
  • Air conditioning: 1000 watts
  • Lighting: 600 watts – depending on the time of year
  • Computers/phone chargers: 300 watts
  • Washing machines – 1000 watts
  • Security system – 400 watts
  • Hairdryer – 1200-1400 watts
  • Oven – up to 5000 watts
  • Toaster – 1100 watts
  • Water heater – 3500 watts

Based on these essential items, you’ll probably need to look at a minimum wattage of 5000 watts.

To help you decide your own specific needs, Amazon has a nice chart detailing the running wattage and surge (startup) wattage for a range of common household appliances – you can download here – household appliance wattage chart.

Selecting the Right Generator for Your Needs

There are 4 main types of generator fit for home use.

Home Standby Generators

— Pros

  • User-friendly – They’ll let you know if they need a service or encounter an error and you can even set this up via email or SMS.
  • It can be fuelled by propane, gasoline, or even natural gases, which make it easier to fill and provide unlimited energy.
  • Covers a wide range of wattage, so you’ll find one suitable for any household.

— Cons

  • The most expensive of the 4 types. Depending on the amount of power you need, they can cost between $2000 and $6000.
  • The most difficult to install. You’ll need a professional to work out the best positioning for your home. Factor in extra labor costs for this too.
  • Can’t be moved in the event of harsh weather or flooding so aren’t suitable for all homes.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages.

 

Champion Power Equipment Generator
Champion Power Equipment 100555 4375/3500-Watt Portable Generator — available to buy from Amazon

Portable Generators

— Pros

  • Relatively cheap. You can pick one up for anything from $600-$2500.
  • Obviously, they’re portable. They’re the easiest generator to move around if you plan on taking a trip.

— Cons

  • Not flexible with fuel type and generally require gasoline. This can be difficult to get hold of, especially as the very reason that you’re using a generator might mean you can’t leave your home. Gasoline is also dangerous to store for long periods of time.
  • Most likely to give off carbon monoxide, so it’s recommended to run them from an area at least 20 meters away from your home and never leave it in an enclosed space.
  • You’ll need to ensure it’s always covered as they don’t do well with rain.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages, Occasional power outages, Travel.

Generac GP3500iO Generator
Generac GP3500iO Open Frame RV Ready Inverter Generator — available to buy from Amazon

Inverter Generators

— Pros

  • The quietest generators and are incredibly sophisticated when it comes to fuel economy. They’ll scale down the fuel used when you’re not using as much power and consequently, they’re much quieter – the sound grows as you turn on more appliances.
  • Range from 1500 -6000 watts – one of the most powerful household generators out there.
  • Come in different sizes depending on your needs, so can be light and easy to transport if you don’t need masses of power.

— Cons

  • Similar in power to portable generators but are technically more complex. This means they cost a little more – up to $4000.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages – Large inverter, Occasional power outages – Midsized inverter (a slightly smaller and cheaper model).

Portable Power Stations (Also known as solar generators)

— Pros

  • The quietest generators as there’s no engine to make noise.
  • Don’t use fuels so they can be kept indoors. There’s no risk of carbon monoxide leakage.

— Cons

  • Have a battery that needs to be charged, so you’ll save money on fuel, but unfortunately, you’ll need to remember to keep it charged. Usually, the reason that you’ll need the generator is that your electricity is out – it’s no good needing to charge it at the time.
  • You can switch the generator to charge on solar power, but this relies on you living in a warmer climate, so consider the weather before you decide on this.
  • Costs around $4500-$6000 – purely because they’re the newest to the market.
  • They don’t have a large amount of power in comparison to the other generators, usually around 1200-1500 watts at their maximum.

Recommended for: Travel, Infrequent outages.

Are Household Generators Dangerous?

People often avoid purchasing a household generator because they’ve heard horror stories about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The truth is generators can only cause carbon monoxide issues if you don’t purchase one that’s suitable for your home or if you don’t provide the proper care to keep it in perfect working order.

These days, generators usually have a sensor to let you know that there’s a carbon monoxide issue and may have a Lo-CO engine which is another great feature to protect against carbon monoxide overload.

There are also some standard guidelines that you should follow to ensure that your generator is used safely, whichever model you choose:

  • Keep the generator around 20 meters away from your home in case of a leak
  • Don’t store in an enclosed space
  • Keep away from air conditioning units, windows, and doors
  • Get it serviced yearly
  • Transfer Switches

A transfer switch is a necessary safety feature that you should invest in. It’ll connect your generator to your circuit breaker via a single cable, making the energy transfer much more linear. You’ll just control the power to your home using a single switch. It’s recommended that you have a professional electrician install this for you as it can be a difficult process.

The Red Cross has a useful article about safe generator use at home – check it out here. Here’s an additional generator safety article from energy.gov.

Features to Consider

It might be a bit overwhelming to browse through all the special features of each generator, especially if you’re new to this. Let’s look at the common features and why you might need them.

  • Auto Shut-off – automatically turns off the generator if it detects harmful levels of carbon monoxide
  • Auto Turn-on – If you’re into automation, some generators will automatically switch to back up power as soon as your mains power goes off, meaning you’re never left without electricity
  • Removable Console – Allows you to connect devices remotely without having to trip over extension cables
  • Separate outlets – Spreads the power evenly. This is great for camping or travel
  • Fuel Gauge – Tells you how much fuel is left in the generator so you know when to fill up
  • Electric Start vs Pull Start

Pull start generators generally have more power and always use gasoline or propane.

Electric start generators are great for convenience and much less work as they just have a button to push to turn on the power. However, these generally have a much lower wattage to pull-starts, so think about what you intend to use it for.

Summary

Hopefully, that’s given you some insider info on household generators and their uses. Make sure you always do your research before making a purchase to ensure you’re getting the right wattage for your needs and always get it serviced. Safety first!

The KWN Ultimate Bug Out Bag List UPDATED For 2021

Bug out bag kit list 2021

When disaster strikes there are two things that are immediately essential: getting out of the area and getting out of there quickly. Also known as a BOB, The Bug out Bag is designed to help you do just that and usually comes in the form of a heavy-duty rucksack that contains everything you need in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. So all you’ll need to do is grab and go!

What Should Go In A Bug Out Bag?

Bug Out Bag Contents

Typical Bug Out Bags are designed and put together with a focus upon evacuation, rather than long term survival out in the wilderness and, of course, having the right Bug Out Bag Contents is pretty essential if you’re to have all of the resources that you may otherwise be relying upon for your very survival following some form of disaster.

As there is a focus upon evacuation, many Bug out Bag guides and blog posts (and their associated Bug Out Bag Lists) tend to focus upon the equipment needed to survive over a 72 hour period.

However, quantifying any length of time when preparing for an unforeseen event is a dangerous game, after all, if it was possible to foresee a disaster, you’d be highly likely relocate to another location entirely for as long as necessary. So, with this in mind, we’ve put together an ultimate Bug Out Bag List that goes that little bit beyond most other guides, and that specifically plans for an undefined period of time out in the wilderness, factoring in the equipment you might need for self-sufficiency (particularly in terms of hunting renewable food sources).

The Bug out Bag and the end goal for the survivalist

With all of the above said, and with items within this list that consider a longer than 72 hour period, here’s one thing to bear in mind…

If the worst does happen and you find yourself in the wilderness for whatever reason, living free from developed civilization is achievable with the right preparation. However, being off the grid for an extended period of time and setting up within wild terrain is challenging and often too harsh or dangerous for many people to consider. Instead, following a disaster seeking safe shelter within civilization is usually the primary aim, and this is the goal that any Bug Out Bag List aims to facilitate.

Why no Bug Out Bag List is ever complete

Whilst we’ve endeavoured to put together a comprehensive list of all the things that would be essential within a Bug Out Bag, it’s prudent to point out that no Bug Out Bag List could really ever be complete. Each and every person is different and may require different items within their bag; to this end, this list is very much open-ended and open to interpretation, serving as a starting point upon which to build, customize, chop and change.

Why Should I Have A Bug Out Bag?

A Bug Out Bag is essential in the event that you need to evacuate quickly. It ensures that, should the worst happen, you can focus on the situation in hand rather than compiling a list of items you need to take with you. And it doesn’t just serve as an essential item to have in the face of a particularly severe disaster, it can also include all the resources required when facing circumstances that are less than world ending.

And in a world of uncertainty, preparation is everything.

Bugging Out – Opting over and above Hunkering Down

This Bug out Bag List will stand you in good stead when you have nothing but your wits, knowledge and a well-packed Bug out Bag upon which to rely. That said, however, and whilst a seasoned survivalist will know the importance of always having a ready to go Bug Out Bag to hand, it’s no substitute for hunkering down when appropriate. After all, Bug Out Bags are designed specifically with temporary survival in mind, whereas hunkering down can see you taking to your basement where protection is increased, with the benefits of knowing exactly where you are and with all of your home resources but a floor away.

Bug Out Bag List

The Bug Out Bag Itself!

5.11 Rush 72 Bug Out Bag5.11 3 Day Rush Backpack

No bug out bag list would be complete without the actual bag itself! The very first item to choose is the right Bug Out Bag and, whilst there are many competing opinions on what may be best, it really comes down to two points:

  1. You should choose a bag that’s most suitable to you and your specialist items.
  2. You should choose your bag only after you’ve put together all of your items.

Of course, it should go without saying that any Bug Out Bag should be robust, made from hardwearing material, and constructed with plenty of pockets and compartments for splitting up your items.

Water – Something to drink and something essential for survival

Water is essential for your very survival, without it you may perish within just 3 days (this compares to our ability to go without food for up to 3 weeks). What’s more, as we become more and more dehydrated, we become more lethargic, meaning that even seeking water after two days may be an impossible task (not to mention maintaining your alertness and survival instincts).

So, as a starting point, a water (filled) container is essential. Beyond this, you’ll also need a method of boiling water (to cook and sanitise) and items for water purification (such as treatment tablets and compact water filters) for treating questionable water after your original water runs dry.

Shelter – To provide protection from the elements

MSR E-Wing ShelterMSR E-Wing Shelter Tent

Of course, for the experienced and educated survivalist, the following items may appear disproportionate, however, shelter is not only essential to protect yourself physically from the elements but moreover becomes ever more important for the rest periods that allow for mental and physical well-being (which are both equally as essential when facing unknown circumstances in the wild).

Fire – To keep you warm

Fire serves as a heat source which can warm, cook and attract attention if necessary, with the items listed here making for essential items for lighting a fire.

Most importantly, however, you should ensure that you have more than one method of ignition, with at least two and advisably even three if you have room.

Food – Something to eat

Typically, Bug Out Bag guides tend to recommend dry foodstuffs, with particular favourites being relatively non-perishable, dried foods. However, we’d also say that foods with water content are also important (as you never known just how scarce water sources will be).

To this end, you’re ideally aiming for foods that are lightweight and high in calories and nutrition, as well as a good base of foodstuffs which come with water content, packing enough to last 3-4 days. Also include the more traditional items, such as rice, oatmeal, beef jerky, tinned sardines, nuts, chocolate, and high-calorie sports bars, in addition to Freeze-dried foods and MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).

Sleeping – Something to sleep in and on

For the seasoned survivalist who prepares for the very worst of eventualities, super comfortable bedding consisting of a mattress, matt, foil blanket and sleeping bag may seem over the top and the very lap of luxury. However, rest very much equates to being on form to deal with any unknown and potentially dangerous challenges.

Cooking – For eating and boiling water

GSI HaluliteGSI Halulite Microdualist Cookset

Unbreakable cups, mini pots, and containers are each as essential as the last, and methods of cooking your food, whether caught or pre-packed, may also serve as a vital way of raising your body’s temperature by what can be a lifesaving degree or two.

Light – So you can see

Another case in point, where more than one source is essential in case the primary, or even the backup, fails, is lighting. So opt for a mix of natural light sources (such as a candle) along with electric items (such as LED lights or lamps) and finally also be sure to include all-weather performing light (such as Light glow sticks) which can cover any and every eventuality.

Tools – To get things done

Gerber LMF II - Excellent bug out bag knifeGerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade

Tools: Essential within the wilderness and often the difference between life and death when charged with overcoming unknown situations. They can help you cook, hunt, prepare shelter and get you out of tight fixes. As such, there are a plethora of must include tools for the ultimate Bug Out Bag.

However, tools are a hotly debated topic within the world of Bug Out Bags, where everyone has an opinion and no two experts seem to favour the same brand, let alone the same itinerary for the ultimate tool list.

The following list includes our favourites (based upon our own experience, as well as plenty of research from expert reviews). As a bare minimum, you’ll want a decent knife and a multi-tool. Experts argue over which you should pack. We say take both!

First Aid – To patch you up

The ability to act as your own first aider is vital when you don’t know when you’ll have access to official medical care again. Specially designed to cater for expeditions, this compact yet extensive first aid pack features 205 pieces:

15 – Antiseptic Towelettes

5 – Antibiotic Ointments Packets

5 – Sting Relief Wipes

40 – Bandages 1×3

50 – Small Bandages

24 – Spot Bandages

5 – Fingertip Bandages

5 – Knuckle Bandages

1 – 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 Yards Adhesive Tape

10 – Gauze Pads 2″x2″

30 – Butterfly Bandages

1 – Tweezer

4 – Finger Splints

5 – 1″ safety pins

1 – Razor Blade

2 – 1 pair gloves latex-free (nitrile)

1 – Instant Cold Pack

1 – Semi-hard case

  • Coleman Expedition First Aid Kit

Communication – To get the news

Eton Microlink Radio - a great choice for your bug out bag!Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger

Ensuring that you can stay in the loop, even when you may be decidedly away from civilization and all its creature comforts, is vital for knowing what’s happening and where potential help may be sought (as well as being aware of impending danger). Once more, this is another item where a backup comes in handy, and you should also consider a self-powered form of communication to avoid a situation where battery power runs out.

In addition to your radio, you’ll also need a method of communicating from afar and attracting the attention of others, for which a signalling mirror is essential.

Clothing – You’re the most basic form of shelter

As the most basic form of shelter, your clothing serves as your first protection from the elements, with your footwear literally being the difference between travelling with a firm footing, and potentially slipping, tripping or being unable to scour certain terrains.

Clothing is, however, incredibly personalised and a Bug Out Bag itinerary for clothing items will differ drastically from person to person, taking into account varying body types, tolerances levels, fitness levels and preferences. As a generic starting consideration, however, you must take into account your climate, location and surrounding terrains, being sure to evaluate your clothing contents every six months as the seasons change.

  • Spare pair of socks/underwear.
  • Waterproof jacket, trousers and gloves.
  • Also make sure you are wearing good quality appropriate boots and clothing to begin with if possible.

Hunting/Fishing – Sourcing renewable food

As mentioned at the start of this guide, whilst the focus of the average Bug Out Bag is upon survival in the immediate 72-hour window of a disaster aftermath, it’s prudent to pack for as many situations as possible.

With this in mind, including the following items within your Bug out Bag can help you to seek your own food from the wilderness (in addition to making considered choices for your weaponry, which can allow you to hunt successfully on land).

Navigation – Know where you are going

In addition to basic survival knowledge, without the aid of tools (such as naturally being able to figure north from south, telling the time and seeking out water sources) you should also pack for navigating the terrains that you find yourself in, safely and successfully. However, this really needn’t be any more extensive than a couple of well-chosen maps and a compass.

Binoculars – See them before they see you

Seeking out food, water or shelter sources, and the ability to see potential dangers, are all made easy from afar and from a safe area with the right Binoculars. Here are some suggested brands, with each providing for 8x magnification within the compact and robust casing, but with the former taking up the traditional duel view and with the latter being a mono view.

Firearms – To keep you safe and to potentially hunt with

Everyone has an opinion on what is best and if, indeed a firearm is necessary. We’ll let you make your own mind up. If you do decide to pack a firearm, it is vital that you learn how to actually use your firearm of choice. Get some professional tuition, and of course, only pack include a firearm in your Bug Out Bag if is legal and you meet all the restrictions and regulations in your state.

Books – So that you know what you are doing

SAS survival guideSAS Survival Guide 2E (Collins Gem): Perfect size for a bug out bag!

A good survivalist knows that, no matter how much they know, no matter how many blogs, guides and books that they read, they can never know enough.

With this in mind, here are two books that provide a high-level overview of surviving upon nothing but your own wits and a well-packed Bug out Bag.

You will not regret taking one of these books with you. They provide invaluable information and advice, even for the seasoned survivalist…

The Other (but no less important stuff) – Doesn’t fit into any of the categories above

Goal Zero Guide 10 Adventure KitGoal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Small Adventure Kit

To finish off our Bug out Bag List, here are the items that make for equipment that doesn’t quite fit under any of the other titles (although they’re in many cases no less important… so certainly don’t overlook them!)

  • Sewing kit, duct tape, head net, 50 feet of 550 paracord, whistle, sunglasses
  • A small bottle of hand sanitizer
  • Some zip-ties
  • Maxi Pads – they can be used for wound dressing and the inner material can be used for tinder
  • Repel 100 Insect Repellent
  • Goal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Small Adventure Kit

How To Buy Ex-Military & Government Equipment & Vehicles At Very Low Prices

Are you interested in some ex-government and ex-military vehicles and equipment? If so, you’ve come to the right place, as below, I will tell you how you can get hold of some high-quality ex-government and military equipment and vehicles. Firstly though, I should state that there are no ex-military weapons available for sale here. There is pretty much everything else though, including trucks, jeeps, boats, parts, medical supplies, audio/visual and computer equipment, plus ALL the usual military surplus gear, so stick around…

Weapons apart, the two websites below equal a prepper’s paradise! You can literally purchase everything needed to bug-in, or bug-out. You can purchase the entire contents for a bug out bag (including the bag itself), or your mobile base camp – tents, sleeping bags, cold/warm weather clothing and boots. These websites are also a goldmine for folks interested in hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and a whole load more.

The first website is – GovPlanet.  GovPlanet is an auction website selling ex-government and military equipment and vehicles. Besides ex-military vehicles, they also sell a whole range of technical gear (audio/visual/computers etc) and field gear and other military equipment. As it’s an auction website, the range of items for sale varies. For example, sometimes there will be a lot of military jeeps for sale, other times, not so much. Just like eBay, you really need to check regularly, if you are on the lookout for something specific. Bookmark GovePlanet and check back regularly.

One of the downsides of GovPlanet is that they sell some smaller military surplus items in bulk, in job-lots. This is where the second website Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet shines. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet is more of a traditional military surplus website selling individual items. It is not an auction. What they have listed on the website, they have in stock, at a set price. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet has the widest range of military surplus gear and equipment you will find anywhere.

Sidenote: many people forget to look on Amazon for military gear and equipment. The fact is lots of army surplus retail stores now sell via Amazon at great prices. If you find something on Uncle Sam’s or another store, it’s well worth just checking if the item is available on Amazon at a better price.

I highly recommend you check out and bookmark both of the above websites. To summarise – Gov Liquidation is great for vehicles, larger items and job-lots. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet is the place to go for the surplus kit and gear and individual items.

Some Equipment and Vehicles Sold on CovPlanet

Head over to CovPlanet and check out what they have available now. If nothing else, it’s fun to browse what you could buy!

Truck
2001 Stewart & Stevenson M1079A1 LMTV 4×4 Van Truck
Humvee
2002 AM General M1045A2 HMMWV 4 Door Hard Top w/Slant Back
Shipping container
40′ Storage Container w/4 Side Doors
Humvee Truck
2003 AM General M1123 HMMWV 2 Door Soft Top w/Truck Body
Generator trailer
2010 Fermont MEP-803A 10kW Generator Set
Mule Truck
2014 Kawasaki Mule 4000 Utility Vehicle

How To Get Used/Working Solar Panels For FREE

SOLAR PANELS For FREE

That’s right, there is a way you can get solar panels for free! I know someone who did it and so can you. Here’s how it’s done…

Solar panels are used everywhere these days. They are often used by construction crews and traffic systems (signs, cameras & emergency signal lighting etc) and these are where we are going to focus because they quite often have contracts with the solar panel providers. Whenever a solar panel becomes cracked or damaged, they are replaced under contract, even when they are still serviceable.

The solar panel provider ends up with a whole load of damaged but working solar panels. They can’t sell them so they usually have to pay to have them disposed of. What you need to do is find the contact details for the solar panel providers and give them a call to see if they have any damaged but functioning solar panels you can take off their hands.

The person I know who did this got around $800 of working solar panels for free, just for a bit of detective work. He saw a solar panel on a road sign and noticed the sign had a sticker with a phone number on it to report a problem. He simply phoned the number and asked for the solar panel provider’s details and gave them a call. A few phone calls later and a trip to their facility and he had a load of free solar panels.

UPDATE: We have several solar farms locally, that generate and sell electricity as a business. I reached out to two of them. Both had old, in some cases slightly damaged solar panels, which still functioned. Both said I could have some of these panels for zero cost. In fact, one of the solar farms offered to deliver some for a small fee.

I enquired about the efficiency of these panels. It was explained that these old or slightly damaged panels were not as efficient as new solar panels (hence why they were replaced). With a solar farm, everything is about efficiency at generating electricity. They are a business. That said, for home use (and at zero cost) these panels have years of life left in them. Additionally, if you have space you can simply have more panels, to make up for any lower efficiency with these older solar panels. 

I guess you could also try researching and directly contacting solar panel manufacturers too. They must get loads of panels that are damaged or defective that still work but can’t be sold. Even solar panel stores must get loads of damaged but working solar panels returned, or have panels that get damaged in storage etc. No one wants to pay to have to dispose of damaged goods.  Take advantage of this and you could get free or heavily discounted stuff that works just fine.

Just a little thinking outside the box can save you a huge amount of money. Give it a try, all you have to waste is a little time and a phone call.

How To Stay Warm: 25 Tips For Saving Money & Keeping Warm (UPDATED 2020)

Tips for keeping warm

In the quest of saving money without sacrificing your comfort, many homeowners and renters alike are searching for ways to stay warm this winter without turning on, or turning up the heating at home. If you’ve been searching for how to keep warm on a tight budget, save on your energy bills this winter whilst remaining warm and cozy with these 25 effective ways of staying warm sans your heating unit.

If you heat your home via a wood fire or wood-burning stove, be sure to check out our post: How to get totally free firewood to heat your home. I can honestly say that we have more than enough firewood to get us all the way through the winter, and it didn’t cost a penny. Combine free firewood with the ways to stay warm below, and you’ll be warm and cosy in even the worst weather.

How To Stay Warm This Winter: 25 Tips And Tricks

1.) Wear Multiple Layers of Clothes – now is not the time to strut around in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Dress in multiple layers to keep your core temperature comfortably warm.

2.) Don’t Forget Your Socks – according to the University of San Diego, if you have cold feet, you’re going to be cold. Keep warm by wearing thick wool socks

3.) Keep Your Oven Door Open – after baking, keep your oven door open to let its heat circulate throughout your kitchen. The smaller your home, the better this technique works.

4.) Eat Hot Soups – raise your core temperature by consuming hot soup on cold winter days.

5.) Don’t Skip the Coffee or Tea – along with the caffeine boost, hot coffee or tea keeps you warm from the inside. Want to avoid stimulants? Drink decaffeinated coffee or tea.

6.) Open Your Window Curtains or Blinds – during the day, open curtains or blinds to let warm sunlight naturally heat your home.

7.) Treat Windows to Capture and Safeguard Heat – install special window treatments to capture and retain heat within your home. Improperly treated windows can let a vast amount of heat escape into the cold winter nights.
homemade thermal curtains
8.) Close Window Curtains and Blinds at Night – prevent Father Winter from stealing your heat by closing window blinds and curtains at night when temperatures drop. Making some thermal curtains from an old comforter is one of the best low-cost ways to keep warm and stop heat from escaping from doors and windows.

Sure it’s a very simple solution, but often the simple things are worth talking about and focusing on. Sometimes things like making some DIY thermal curtains are so simple they are often overlooked, but if you have a cold, draughty house, some thick thermal curtains will make a huge difference if you hang some over your doors and windows. This is a good project to get working on now before it starts to get really cold.

Making your own DIY thermal curtains doesn’t really get much easier than this – an old comforter, a bit of sewing and a few hooks and you are all but done. You can pick up old comforters from Craigslist and thrift stores etc, you can probably even get them for free if you ask around… Check out a tutorial here: Cheap DIY Energy-Saving Thermal Curtains

9.) Stay Active – clean your home or exercise whenever you feel the sting of coldness. By staying active, you’ll naturally increase your core temperature.

10.) Increase Humidity in Your Home – humidity increases the temperature within your home. Therefore, skip your space heater and turn on an energy-efficient humidifier

11.) Reverse Ceiling Fan Circulation – instead of keeping your ceiling fan turned off, reverse its circulation to push warm air down into your living space. This is effective after you’ve run your heater for a little while.

12.) Buffer Hard Floors With Blankets – while rugs are best if your budget doesn’t allow for this purchase, place blankets on bare floors to keep them warm.

13.) Keep Bathroom Doors Open When Showering – let the warm, humid air seep out into the rest of your home while showering by keeping your bathroom door open.

14.) Don’t Run Bathroom Ventilation Fans – while ventilation fans draw out unpleasant smells after using the bathroom, it also sucks out warm air. Light a candle to eliminate smells to keep your bathroom warm throughout winter months.

15.) Use Towels to Block Chilly Air – roll up a towel and place along the bottom of a door to stop drafts and heat leaks. Alternatively, you could make some homemade door snakes/draft stoppers.
DIY door snake

Here is an excellent tutorial showing how to make your own door snakes/draft stoppers. These door snakes are an excellent way to reduce the draft and cold which can come in through the gap at the bottom of your doors. These draft stoppers are cheap and easy to make, so now’s a great time to get making and sort out those drafty doors.

Full tutorial here: How To Make A DIY Door Snake (Draft Stopper)

(Photo from: 17 Apart)

16.) Keep the Fireplace Flue Shut – prevent winter drafts by keeping your fireplace flue tightly shut.

17.) Enhance Your Bedding – change out your sheets for flannel and use a down comforter to stay warm during frosty winter nights.

18.) Warm a Bag of Beans – heat up a bag of beans in the microwave and place in your bed or against you while lounging on the couch. This is one of my favourite ways to keep warm and snug on a cold evening.

Another similar old school alternative is to use a soapstone to warm things up

Soapstone is an incredibly dense stone that is great for absorbing, storing and radiating heat back. It can be warmed up in the fire/oven and unlike a hot water bottle etc, it will radiate heat back and keep you warm for most of the night.

Unlike many rocks that hold moisture that can be dangerous to heat up, soap is so dense that it doesn’t absorb water, so it is perfectly safe to heat up, as demonstrated in the video above. If you don’t have heating, or you are lucky enough to have a cabin somewhere remote, this is a great way to warm your bed up and keep warm. Get some soapstone and give it a try!

(Image from: engineer775 Practical Preppers)

19.) Cover Your Head – much like your feet, heat escapes through your head. Wear a wool hat or beanie to keep your body toasty. It might seem strange to wear a hat indoors, but so much of your heat is lost through your head, so wearing a hat indoors is an excellent way to keep warm and retain your body temperature.

20.) Keep Door Shut – keep all the doors in your home shut. The smaller space, the easier it is to keep warm.

21.) Stay Away From Windows – move furniture away from large windows to keep warm. Even treated windows emit cooler temperatures during the peak of winter.

21.) Stay Cozy – when lounging on your couch, cover with a warm blanket or sleeping bag.

22.) Wear Slippers – in addition to wearing wool socks, keep your feet extra toasty when doing chores by wearing slippers.

23.) Install Clear Shower Curtains Over Windows – allow your home to absorb heat, and keep it in, by installing clear shower curtains over windows that receive direct sunlight.

24.) Add Insulation in Your Attic – keep heat from leaking out of your home by adding insulation to your attic or crawl space. Your house loses heat through the attic in a similar way in a similar way to how people lose heat through their head. If you can afford it, insulating your attic is one of the best investments with regards to staying warm this winter, you can make.

25.) Light by Candles – along with saving on energy costs by keeping your light off, candles also produce a decent amount of heat. While not as warm as a fireplace, these small heaters can keep your immediate area warm. Candles can be especially good for warming hands.

If You Can’t Buy Hand Sanitizer? You Can Make Your Own…

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

If you haven’t already stocked up on hand sanitizer, you are likely too late. People have been panic buying hand sanitizer ever since coronavirus started making headlines. Most stores sold out ages ago. Some stores that still have hand sanitizer in stock are selling at 10x the list price.

Not to worry, though. It is cheap and easy to make your own hand sanitizer at home. Any hand sanitizer with a total alcohol content of 60% or above is considered effective. See here for CDC advice on handwashing and hand sanitizers.

Note — If you CAN buy regular hand sanitizer, it is probably best to buy and use this in the first instance as it is made for the purpose and it does what it’s supposed to. Homemade hand sanitizer may not be as effective due to human error measuring ingredients etc.

If you are looking for regular soap/hand wash, but it’s also sold out in the shops, check out our dish soap DIY foaming hand wash post. Also, be sure to check out our – how to make homemade germ and virus-killing disinfectant spray and homemade disinfectant wipe posts.

You only require two ingredients to make an effective hand sanitizer – rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel. At the time of writing, you can still purchase both rubbing alcohol and aloe vera on Amazon

Basic DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe

  • 2/3 cup Rubbing Alcohol (90-99% alcohol)
  • 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel

Many homemade hand sanitizer recipes suggest a ratio of 2/3 cup t0 1/3 cup ratio alcohol to aloe vera. Using 90% rubbing alcohol and this ratio would result in a hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol.  To be extra safe I suggest 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol to 1/4 cup of aloe vera to ensure a higher alcohol content.

Add the rubbing alcohol and aloe vera to a bowl and mix them together. Be sure the mixture is thoroughly mixed. Once mixed, decant into some small plastic bottles that you can carry with you.

Use liberally and keep rubbing the sanitizer around your hands until it has entirely dried.

The hand sanitizer we buy often has added emollients and moisturisers to counteract the drying effect of the alcohol. This basic recipe does not. With this in mind, I highly recommend using a hand moisturising cream daily when using this DIY hand sanitizer.

Watch the video below for more advice. It also shows how to make this simple hand sanitizer.

How To Modify A Generator To Run Almost Silently With A Muffler

Silent Generator Using A Muffler

A backup generator is a great investment so you can keep the lights on when the power’s off.  Also in many remote locations, a generator is the only means of electricity. The problem is no matter whether you use your generator for emergency preparedness or to power your remote cabin etc, they are noisy as hell. They’ll annoy you, and annoy your neighbours! Also in a bug-out retreat, a noisy generator could give away your location…

Why oh why, are generators so noisy? Why don’t generators come fitted as standard with some kind of muffler like vehicles do? Or even if you could purchase an official muffler for your generator, that would at least be something… Unfortunately,  manufacturers just don’t seem concerned with the level of noise their generators produce…

Luckily though, you can relatively easily adapt and fit a DIY muffler to your generator, and dramatically reduce the noise it generates. The video tutorial below explains exactly how to do it.

Check out this link and you will find another tutorial which shows how to adapt a thrush muffler and fit it to your generator. The result should be a silent or near-silent generator. I am sure there will still be some very low-level noise from the motor etc, but there is no way your neighbours will hear it, and it should be a good option for a bug-out location as well.

Homemade Bushcraft/Frontier Knife Made From A File/Rasp — No Forge Required – Simple Tools Only

Homemade Knife

Mora Knives aside, it can be difficult to find an affordable, quality bushcraft type survival knife. Mora knives are very cheap and very highly regarded, but they are not full-tang knives, which means the blade steel does not travel through to the end of the handle. A full-tang knife is always preferable as it is much stronger, and even if the handle breaks, the remaining steel shaft can be wound with paracord or replaced. If the knife is not full-tang and the handle breaks, the knife is all but useless.

So what’s the answer? Well, you can try your luck with cheap full-tang knives, or you can easily make your own bespoke full-tang bushcraft knife from a metal file. The excellent video tutorial below from Outdoor Boys YouTube channel (I highly recommend subscribing! They put out some amazing video tutorials) shows how to make a homemade full-tang, high-quality knife from an old file/rasp. The best thing about this knife making tutorial is the minimum tools/equipment required — literally all you need is a bench vice, a hand grinder, a drill, and a belt-sander. You can even do away with the belt-sander if you don’t have one! There are a couple of clamps used to fit the handle, but at a push, you could easily just use the bench vice for this.

Tools aside, the other great thing about this knife/tutorial is that you do not need a forge to make this knife! That’s right, no forge, you heard me right. If you do a bit of DIY, you likely have everything you need already! This would make an awesome weekend project, check out the tutorial below. The tutorial also covers making the sheath.

One thing that came to mind when watching this tutorial – you could easily skip making the beautiful, but the time-consuming wood handle. Instead, you could make a simple paracord-wrap handle. This would save time and also allow you to always carry a length of paracord with you.