Prepping and Practical Minimalism- Making Them Coexist- Part 2, by FLSnappyTurtle

In part 1, I stated the I believed prepping and practical minimalism can coexist. It seems a bit of an oxymoron to have both the words “prepping” and “minimalism” in the same phrase, but I believe it makes sense. We are renters, and recently I stepped back for a moment to take a good look at our way of living and our stuff. We had too much of it. Facing another cross-country move, I started taking inventory of everything we own and made some tough decisions about what to do away with. I’ve developed a new attitude of what I …




Prepping and Practical Minimalism- Making Them Coexist- Part 1, by FLSnappyTurtle

My family has been prepping at a slower-than-desired rate for the past eight years. Like many survivalists, we add to our gear, food, and water supply as money and time permit. We are renters and tote our items from place to place when a move is required. Practical Minimalism Recently, I stepped back for a moment to take a good look at our way of living and our stuff. We had too much of it. Facing another cross-country move, I started taking inventory of everything we own and made some tough decisions about what to do away with. I’ve developed …







Dietary Change To Fit A Post Collapse World- Part 2, By J.L. Augusta

In part 1 of this article, we took a look at the carb-based diet logistics in a post collapse world and outlined some of the health and practical concerns. Additionally, I introduced the Keto diet. The Keto diet focuses on consuming 75-80% or more of your calorie needs from fat sources, 15-20% of you caloric needs from protein, and 5% of your caloric needs from carbohydrates. The human body uses two types of consumable (food) energy. Sugars/carbohydrates turn into glucose and fats, which turn into ketones. Since most individuals have never really been on a Ketogenic diet (except when they …




Dietary Change To Fit A Post Collapse World- Part 1, By JLA

In most first-world nations, the diet most individuals partake in consists of a high carbohydrate, moderate to low protein, and low fat regimen. This diet type is inefficient for a post-collapse world. Tribal groups who have had to live in a more limited and primitive manner had a diet that consisted of a high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrate regimen, also known today as a Ketogenic diet or Paleo diet. This article will go into the negative aspects of continuing a high carbohydrate diet and the positive aspects of transitioning into a high fat diet before the collapse occurs. …




Book Review: Alas, Babylon, by G.P.

In 1957, the Soviets orbited the first Sputnik, bringing a new dimension to the Cold War; and a British engineer and author living in Australia published a popular novel that brought up a new fascination and dread about the nuclear threat. The author was Nevil Shute Norway, writing under his first two names, and the novel was On The Beach. The book was absolutely grim, describing the destruction of the world by nuclear war. Shute’s Novel – Nuclear Exchange and Extinction of Human Race A conflict between Albania and Italy (nothing ages faster than world politics) leads to a general …




Recipe of the Week: Mac and Cheese, by B.I.

This is one of the kids favorites (Including the big kids over 40) Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups rotelle pasta 4 tbs butter 1/4 cup flour 3 cups whole milk 1 tsp mustard 3/4 tsp salt 3 tsp Tabasco sauce 1 cup smooth melting shredded cheese (We like pepper jack) 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup croutons 2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp ground pepper




Small Things Can Be Biggest Problems, by S.F.

Several years ago, I used to be a regular contributor on SurvivalBlog. Then in 2011, I bought my dream property and began prepping in earnest. It is completely off grid with spring-fed water, solar panels and propane generator for power, wood stove for heat, composting toilets, and satellite for Internet and phone. In that time I found that it was the small things that were the biggest problems. Tick Season During tick season, I’d have five ticks on me just from a moment in the garden. One bite got infected. My whole arm swelled up. If it were not for …




Letter Re: The New Urban Fortress, by M.H.

The author of the “Urban Fortress – Part 1 & 2” wanted feedback: Septic Residential septic tanks are available in 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 gallon sizes. Builders routinely install a 1,000-gallon tank. Two 2,000 gallon tanks are better: one connected only to toilets for sanitary material, and the other connected to everything else for “gray water,” each with independent leach fields, each leach field having 50-100% greater capacity than required for the projected load. (Research “septic system distribution boxes”.) Building plumbing should be designed to allow sanitary-only piping to be easily reconnected to the gray water piping in the event …




Survival Notes from Canada – September 22, 2018:

Hi, folks. Clint Ekert here, your trusty reporter from Canada, reporting on the nations hot topics. Hot Topics First off on our hot topics list is Quebec CAQ is poised to win the Quebec election. One of the laws they plan on putting in place is that newly arrived immigrants must pass a test to pass basic knowledge within a period of three years or be deported to their home country. Our prime minister, a former drama school teacher, has recently commissioned a “study” to ban handguns and assault weapons ahead of the election. As Clint sits here, I need …




Making A Living As A Reseller- Part 4, by BIF

For those of you wanting to make the move towards self-sufficiency in a career, or for those who are just looking for extra income, I am writing about buying and selling as a source of income. I think with a little practice, anyone can learn to make money by reselling things. This is the final part of the article series where I have gone over my experience with various resources and techniques for reselling. Let’s continue with a few more steps in my sample. Another Tag Sale It’s another tag sale. This time it was a bank foreclosure on a …




Making A Living As A Reseller- Part 3, by BIF

For those of you wanting to make the move towards self-sufficiency in a career, or for those who are just looking for extra income, I am writing about buying and selling as a source of income. I think with a little practice, anyone can learn to make money by reselling things. So far, I’ve provided some background information and given some insight into pawn shops as well as ways to acquire inventory with no money or very little. Stihl Concrete Saw and Wheeled Carriage (continued) Let’s continue to look at an example of one ways I made money reselling through …




Making A Living As A Reseller- Part 2, by BIF

For those of you wanting to make the move towards self-sufficiency in a career, or for those who are just looking for extra income, I am writing about buying and selling as a source of income. I think with a little practice, anyone can learn to make money by reselling things. So far, I’ve provided some background on reselling from a theory perspective and information on my experience reselling, too. Now let’s get started with details. Let’s compare your efforts buying and selling to that traditional institution, the pawn shop. The Pawn Shop Over the years, I have spent a …




Making a Living as a Reseller- Part 1, by BIF

JWR is a proponent, with good reason, of living at your retreat and living your preps. He has also pointed out from time to time that it can be a challenge to obtain a job in the American Redoubt. They are available, but sometimes a job require special skills or a willingness to take a step down in your salary or career path. One thing he suggests is finding a way to make a living that is compatible with your lifestyle and available at your retreat location, whether it is in the American Redoubt or not. Buying and Selling As …




Recipe of the Week: Sam’s Potato Cassarol

Ingredients: 3 cups of thinly sliced potatoes (leave the peel on) 1 lb ground hamburger meat 1 (10.75 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup 1/2 onion, chopped 3/4 cup milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Salt and Pepper to taste Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then drain the fat. In a mixing bowl, combine the condensed mushroom soup, onion, milk, salt and pepper. In a 11×7” baking dish, alternately layer the potatoes, soup mixture and meat. Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Top with cheddar …