When we consider our forebears’ traditional harvest resources, we see that common trees are a cornucopia of good food that’s free for the taking. Trees have always supplied essential good things to eat, from fruits to nuts, but the tree itself can supply wholesome—and tasty—sustenance to more than beavers. Few people chew on tree parts
People today are farther removed from being able to—or needing to—survive on their own more so than at any other time in history. Restaurants and grocery stores bring food and water easily within reach. Law enforcement and military personnel protect us from those who would harm us. Advanced weather instruments allow us to see approaching
A man stranded for three days on a snowy mountain road in Montana attributed his survival to God, a rationed supply of beef jerky, and the game that he played on his cellphone to keep his wits. David Heatherly stated that his sports-utility vehicle became stuck Sunday afternoon on a back road in the National
I have previously written about living off the grid, looking at the high-end permanent home/cabin situation (OFF THE GRID FULL TIME: Self-Sufficiency Without Tears, May 2012 S.W.A.T.). That was the ideal situation, but beyond the reach or desires of many. Now we’ll take a look at what the average person can do with a limited
Cache (Kash), noun 1. A hidden store of provisions, weapons, treasure, etc. 2. The place where such a store is hidden. In my 26 years of public service, I’ve noticed that most “victims” had little clue they were going to be involved in a life-changing event. Whether an automobile accident, natural disaster, or violent crime,
Teddy Roosevelt advised, “Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are.” Excellent advice when foraging food in a survival situation, because the real life hunter-gatherer has always been more of a gatherer-hunter—it’s just that the hunting and fishing part is more fun. Some aboriginal Americans raised corn, squash and beans, but
I started storing food, fuel and water in 1981. When I transferred into Fairbanks, Alaska from the “bush,” one of my first stops was the grocery store. I was amazed to find the shelves were bare. There was a trucker strike, and no goods were being delivered. It was a real eye-opener. Lots of folks
“Occupy Movement To Turn Violent” “Mexican Cartels Crossing The Border” “Violent Weather Predicted” “Infrastructure Crumbling, More Brownouts Ahead” “Power Goes Out For Three Days County-Wide” Take your pick—there are lots of reasons to be prepared. You have your gear: guns, ammo, food, first aid, medications, and hard-wear clothing. Your bug-out bag is packed and ready.
When I look at new gear for evaluation, I always think of multi-use options. For those thinking “outside the box,” there are many creative ways to use the Ranger Rick Paracord Survival Kit.
The milspec green anodized aluminum capsule measures one inch in diameter and is 4.25 inches long. The unit weighs 2.5 ounces, which is a little heavier than most fire starters, but has the added advantage of a waterproof tinder container.
