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30 Survival Tips From Les Stroud
13Thursday Mar 2014
Posted by 444ProphecyNews in survival
≈ 15 Comments
Tags Les Stroud, Survival
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30 Survival Tips From Les Stroud
01* In cold or freezing conditions, the worst thing you can do is let yourself get sweaty. He constantly mentions that if you get sweaty, you should let the sweat dry (he mentions this tip in almost every episode).
02* Use a lens from a camcorder to start a fire (as if it is a Magnifying Glass)
03* Always carry a good multitool (eg. Leatherman Wave or Swiss Army Explorer Plus).
04* Break wood between two trees to keep from hurting yourself.
05* Cut water-vine in swamps and jungles and place a cup at the opening to collect water.
06* Wipe mud over your skin to protect against mosquitoes.
07* If you catch lean food eat as much of the animal as possible, except the entrails. Certain wild animals have extremely low levels of body fat, which may lead to death by rabbit starvation.
08* To start a fire with a lighter that has no fluid, use a piece of tissue formed into a cone at one end with a ball of sock lint stuffed into the cone to catch the spark that comes off the lighter. This only works if the socks are manufactured from 100% cotton. He refers to this as a prison match (and tells viewers not to ask him why he knows how to make it).
09* Use a snowmobile seat cover to melt snow in the sunlight.
10* Don’t play the harmonica when polar bears are possibly around because they are attracted to strange noises.
11* Use corn chips to hold a flame in a manner similar to a candle wick.
12* Boil water by placing heated rocks in it. This is done when a water container cannot be held directly over a fire.
13* Heat rocks over fire and place them around the body as heating packs while sleeping or resting.
14* Use an emptied coconut shell filled with coconut fibers to carry a smoldering coal. This prevents the need to light another fire from scratch.
15* Use cow dung to keep a fire smoldering while away. This prevents the need to light another fire from scratch.
16* Use the elastic strap from a pair of boxers as a slingshot to fire a fishing spear.
17* Soak the foam cushion of a broken snowmobile in gasoline to use as fire fuel in the Canadian Arctic.
18* Determine the time until sunset by measuring the distance between the sun and horizon, wherein each width of your hand equals one hour.
19* Use moss from the north side of a tree to gain bearings without a compass (though he added that this method, though accurate in his case, is often unreliable).
20* When opening a conch shell, crack the point on the back and scrape out the meat inside.
21* To get fresh water on an island build a solar still by finding a box (or something similar) and put seawater and plants inside, along with a smaller container in the direct center, and cover it tightly with a plastic sheet. Then put a rock in the center of the plastic. The plants will sweat fresh water which will evaporate, condense onto the plastic and drip into the container.
22* Too much coconut milk causes diarrhea.
23* The Five “W’s” of Survival: o Weather: Temperature of the area, know what kind of shelter you need. o Wood: How much wood is around for both fire and shelter. o Wigglies: spiders, scorpions, snakes, anything that can bite you or poison you. o Widowmakers: rocks, trees, large animals, anything that can fall on you or attack you. o Water: Where will you get water, how will you obtain it.
24* Use a potato peeler on thin branches to create very curly wood shavings. These are great for getting very small flames turned into big ones.
25* Always check your boots for “Wigglies.”
26* Use large rock pieces and twigs to setup trap for small animals by placing an edible bait to the supporting twig (Les caught a squirrel in the Utah canyonlands once, he cooked it over fire for a long time to burn off parasites before eating)
27* Set up a trap in the swamp or river bank by sticking wood sticks in a pattern that looks like a square with the top side slightly open in a v-shape , place a bait inside to wait for a turtle or other animals.
28* To create smoke signal, burn damp wood chips over fire. 29* Before sleep pee so your body isn’t trying to keep the water inside you warm.
30* Eat Something before you sleep helps insides get warmer.
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Source: http://peaceandloveism.com/forums/in...showtopic=1568
30 Survival Tips From Les Stroud | Prepare4Survival
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Essential survival skills: The importance of water treatment methods for survival
06/30/2025 // Evangelyn Rodriguez // 200 Views
Tags: boiling, bug out, clean water, Collapse, disaster, disinfectant, emergency water, filtration, homesteading, off grid, preparedness, prepper, prepping, purification, SHTF, survival, survival skills, tips, water supply
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- Stored water is unreliable — municipal systems can fail, and stored water has shelf-life and maintenance limitations.
- Urban scavenging options include draining water heaters, using rain barrels or accessing external faucets with a sillcock key—but supplies are limited.
- Retention ponds are risky — they often contain pollutants (oil, pesticides ands ewage) requiring rigorous purification (boiling alone isn’t enough).
- Water treatment methods preppers can employ include boiling, filtration and purification, but layered methods are often necessary.
- Skills outweigh storage — long-term survival hinges on knowing how to purify water from any source, not just stockpiling.
Most people assume clean water will always flow from their faucets. Yet time and time again, disasters have proven this is not true. Municipal systems are vulnerable to power outages, pipe ruptures or pollution. Even stored water has limits: plastic bottles degrade and water tanks require maintenance.
For survival experts, the message is clear: Relying solely on stored water is insufficient. The ability to locate, purify and conserve water is a fundamental skill that could determine survival in an emergency.
Here's what you can do when you run out of stored water and the tap has run dry. (h/t to ReadyYourFuture.com)
Urban water scavenging
For city dwellers, options shrink fast. You can drain water heaters or toilet tanks, but that will only last you days. Rain barrels can help, but water collection mainly depends on weather. A "sillcock key" can help you access outside faucets around commercial buildings like schools and churches, but these sources are finite.
In extreme situations, you might have to turn to suburban retention ponds. These are permanent constructions meant to hold water flow for a limited duration. But suburban retention ponds are often contaminated with oil, pesticides and sewage, so water from this source demands rigorous purification to be useable. You’re not just going to be filtering bacteria, you'll also be battling chemicals and heavy metals. Boiling alone won't cut it.
The key to solving this problem is understanding water treatment methods:
- Boiling – easiest method for killing microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, in water; does not get rid of chemical contaminants.
- Filtration – removes visible contaminants (dirt, bacteria) via physical barriers like microporous filters or makeshift sand layers.
- Purification – kills viruses and neutralizes chemicals through boiling, distillation or UV treatment.
While water filtration removes larger impurities like sediment, purification goes further by eliminating or neutralizing microscopic pathogens. But multiple treatment methods, such as pre-filtering, distilling and chemical treatment, may be necessary to make water truly safe for drinking.
In cases when water is contaminated with biological waste, experts recommend using a disinfectant like iodine or chlorine (or chlorine dioxide) after filtering to kill any remaining viruses and bacteria. Only use fresh, unscented household liquid chlorine bleach that is less than one year old. To disinfect one gallon of water, add six drops of chlorine using a medicine dropper. Two gallons will require 12 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) and so on.
Making water from suburban retention ponds potable is a labor-intensive process, which is why in a true survival situation, someone will have to be on water duty full-time. The water would've to go through pre-filtering multiple times, then boiling or distilling, plus another round of filtering — or possibly more — before it can be used for anything. Having a WAPI (Water Pasteurization Indicator) on hand can make confirming the safety of your treated water much easier.
Mastering water treatment isn't just practical — it's indispensable. Equipping yourself with this knowledge ensures you're prepared when safe water isn't readily available. Whether you're stranded in the wild or facing a disaster, mastering these techniques could mean the difference between life and death. (Related: The golden rule of water conservation in an emergency: Never waste a drop.)
Water storage tips
Federal guidelines recommend storing one gallon of water per person daily — but you'll find that's barely enough for drinking and hygiene when SHTF. A family of four needs 120 gallons for a 30-day supply, a volume rarely stockpiled. Preparedness advocates recommend stocking bottled water, adding collapsible jugs and investing in portable water filters and/or purifiers as extra precautions.
But the ultimate solution is skill-building. While storage delays the inevitable, knowing how to make water safe — no matter the source — can ensure your long-term survival. (Related: Prepping basics: Essential tips on how to prepare for a long-term water supply disruption.)
For more tips on how to ensure sufficient water supply in times of emergencies, visit Survival.news.
Watch the following “how to” video on self-reliance (prepping) with water.
This video is from the Flyover Conservatives channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Survival 101: What to do when your water supply is disrupted.
Back-up plan for your back-up plan: What will you do when your water stockpile runs out?.
Do you have a water contingency plan? What happens when your city runs out of water.
Sources include:
Brighteon.ai
ReadyYourFuture.com
LLU.edu
Brighteon.com
Essential survival skills: The importance of water treatment methods for survival – NaturalNews.com
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Natural remedies for itchy skin: Time-tested solutions for lasting relief
06/30/2025 // Lance D Johnson // 450 Views
Tags: allergy, aloe vera, alternative medicine, antihistamines, apple cider vinegar, benadryl, butterbur, coconut oil, dry skin, essential oils, goodhealth, goodmedicine, health science, hell's itch, herbal medicine, Herbs, honey, natural cures, natural health, natural medicine, nettles, oatmeal, peeling skin, peppermint, psoriasis, quercetin, sunburn relief, vitamin C
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Itchy skin is more than a temporary nuisance — it can disrupt sleep, lower quality of life, and even signal deeper health imbalances. While antihistamines are needed in acute situations requiring instant relief, it's important to find natural alternatives that can help the skin over the long haul. From the anti-inflammatory power of coconut oil and aloe vera gel to the cooling relief of peppermint and oatmeal baths, nature offers solutions that address both the cause and discomfort of itching without harsh side effects. These remedies not only relieve irritation but also nourish the skin, preventing future flare-ups.Key Points:
- Coconut and olive oil provide antibacterial, antifungal, and deeply moisturizing benefits for dry or irritated skin. Their fatty acids repair the skin barrier, reducing sensitivity to environmental triggers.
- Oatmeal baths soothe inflammation, particularly from sunburn or allergic reactions, by calming skin at a cellular level. Colloidal oatmeal forms a protective film, locking in moisture and preventing further irritation.
- Aloe vera and peppermint oil offer immediate cooling relief while promoting long-term healing. Peppermint’s antimicrobial properties also help prevent infections in broken skin.
- Vitamin D and omega-3 deficiencies may contribute to chronic itching; dietary adjustments can restore skin health. Low levels of these nutrients weaken skin resilience, making it more prone to irritation.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes internal balance, using herbs like Perilla leaf to treat itching at its source. TCM practitioners often pair Perilla leaf with acupuncture to enhance detoxification and circulation.
The science behind natural anti-itch remedies
Research published in Dermatologic Therapy (2023) found colloidal oatmeal reduced itch severity by 30% in eczema patients within days. Meanwhile, coconut oil’s lauric acid combats bacterial overgrowth — a common trigger for conditions like atopic dermatitis. Neuroscience studies also confirm peppermint oil’s ability to disrupt itch-signaling pathways by activating the TRPM8 receptor, which tricks the brain into perceiving cold instead of irritation.
“Perilla leaf has been used for centuries to neutralize allergic reactions,” notes TCM practitioner Dr. Li Ke, author of Herbal Solutions for Modern Skin Disorders. “Its flavonoids act as natural antihistamines, making it ideal for food-related itching.” Modern research supports this, showing Perilla extract significantly reduces histamine release in allergic skin conditions.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a highly effective natural remedy for relieving itchy, dry skin due to its antimicrobial and pH-balancing properties. Its acidic nature helps restore the skin’s natural acid mantle, soothing irritation and reducing inflammation. The acetic acid in ACV exfoliates dead skin cells, while its antifungal and antibacterial properties combat underlying infections that may be causing itchiness, such as eczema or fungal conditions. Additionally, by alkalizing the body internally, ACV reduces systemic acidity, further promoting healthier skin. When diluted with water and applied topically, ACV can provide immediate relief from itching while supporting long-term skin hydration and detoxification. This makes it a versatile, chemical-free solution for managing stubborn skin conditions.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is highly effective in relieving itchy skin due to its powerful anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antihistamine-blocking properties. The gel contains active compounds, including magnesium lactate, which work together to soothe irritation and reduce itching. A 1996 study published in Ethnopharmacology confirmed aloe’s ability to combat inflammation, making it a natural remedy for conditions like psoriasis or dry, itchy patches. By breaking a fresh aloe vera stem and applying the gel directly to affected areas several times a day, the skin absorbs its soothing compounds, providing fast relief and promoting healing. Its cooling effect further calms discomfort, making aloe vera a go-to solution for inflamed, itchy skin.
When to use antihistamines, and five lesser-known natural antihistamines
If the itching is caused by histamine reaction, then an over-the counter antihistamine can help tremendously. Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system during allergic reactions. Histamine binds to H1 receptors, causing symptoms like sneezing, itching, and nasal congestion. Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Claritin), competitively inhibit these receptors, preventing histamine from triggering inflammation and allergy symptoms. First-generation antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) cross the blood-brain barrier, often causing drowsiness by affecting central nervous system receptors, while second-generation options (e.g., loratadine, cetirizine) are designed to minimize sedation by staying mostly outside the brain. These medications provide relief by reducing allergic response symptoms but do not cure the underlying allergy. Diphenhydramine is a critical medicine during "hell's itch" which is a strong histamine reaction that occurs in a small percentage of people who have a severe sunburn.
Here are some more natural dietary anti-histamines that can help when the issue is not acute:
- Quercetin (found in apples, onions): Blocks histamine release at the cellular level. It also stabilizes mast cells, which are overactive in chronic hives and eczema.
- Vitamin C: Reduces inflammation while strengthening skin barriers. Topical application can also neutralize irritants from insect bites or chemical exposure.
- Nettles (brewed as tea) or ground powder: Contains compounds that inhibit itch-signaling pathways. Nettle’s silica content also promotes collagen repair for damaged skin.
- Butterbur (herbal supplement): Studied for its effectiveness comparable to pharmaceutical antihistamines. Unlike drowsiness-inducing medications, butterbur has no sedative side effects.
- Honey (raw, local): Applied topically, its enzymes reduce histamine-driven swelling. Manuka honey, in particular, has potent antimicrobial effects on infected eczema patches.
When heat strikes: Cooling solutions for sunburn relief
Sunburn transforms skin into an itchy battlefield where water loss and inflammation collide. Peppermint oil’s menthol activates cold-sensitive nerve endings, providing an instant cooling sensation. A 2022 Journal of Ethnopharmacology study showed aloe vera accelerated burn healing by 72 hours compared to untreated skin. Even better, aloe’s polysaccharides stimulate fibroblast activity, encouraging faster tissue repair.
Pro tip: For severe burns, mix aloe gel with a few drops of peppermint oil and refrigerate before application. The combination enhances penetration while preventing freezer burn on delicate skin. Adding a teaspoon of colloidal oatmeal to the mix can further reduce redness and peeling.
Prevention: hydration and beyond
Dry skin accounts for 60% of chronic itching cases, yet most sufferers overlook internal hydration. “Drinking water isn’t enough — essential fatty acids rebuild skin’s lipid layer,” explains nutritional therapist Maria Gonzalez. Omega-3s from wild salmon or flaxseeds reduce inflammatory prostaglandins linked to eczema flare-ups. Boosting hyaluronic acid intake — via bone broth or supplements—also helps skin retain moisture from within.
Winter demands extra vigilance. Vitamin D levels plummet in colder months, correlating with increased itchy dermatitis cases. Safe sun exposure or high-quality supplements — tested regularly — can restore balance without resorting to immunosuppressants. Pairing vitamin D with zinc supports optimal skin regeneration and reduces inflammation-related itching.
Why you should never peel skin forcibly
Damaged skin often forms a dry, peeling layer as part of the healing process — but peeling it prematurely can worsen irritation and invite infection. The dead outer layer acts as a natural bandage, shielding vulnerable new skin underneath. Instead, gently moisturize with coconut oil or aloe vera to soften peeling edges. If flakes are bothersome, exfoliate lightly with a wet oatmeal scrub, letting loose skin come away naturally.
For stubborn peeling — like after sunburn — soak in an oatmeal bath with a tablespoon of honey to dissolve dead cells without abrasion. Resist the urge to pick, as this disrupts healing and can lead to scarring or hyper-pigmentation. Patience ensures healthier, itch-free skin in the long run.
Sources include:
TheEpochTimes.com
Pubmed.gov
Health.ClevelandClinic.org
Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Natural remedies for itchy skin: Time-tested solutions for lasting relief – NaturalNews.com
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Top 10 DIY Projects that Harness the Power of the Sun
Kevin Purdy
July 18, 2009 18 Comments
Cheap, powerful, and available almost everywhere—solar energy is a truly great thing. With these 10 sun-powered projects, you can turn a sunny day off into some brag-worthy, possibly money-saving backyard tech.
Photo by david.nikonvscanon.
10. Engrave wood with a "sun laser"
Leave them alone long enough, and nearly every kid will investigate, or at least hear about, the devastating effects of magnifying glasses and clear, sunny weather on insects. Route that fascination with concentrated sunlight into some wood engraving. Aluminum foil (or, preferably, foil tape), sunglasses, a razor blade, and a magnifying glass are all you need to get creative with an old piece of wood or other dark objects. You'll need to provide supervision, lest bad aim turn into a kindling incident, but it's a great project for kids, as well as a unique way to leave your mark with style. (Original post)
Engrave wood with a sun laserRead More
9. Heat water in your backyard
It's not an efficient way to keep your hot tub filled, but the kind of solar-powered water heater detailed at the Instructables link above can get a big batch of water up to 170F without requiring any work from your water heater, and the kit costs around $5 with the right parts suppliers. Even if you pay a bit more, think about how often the backyard grill, deck, or pool could use a little cleaning with some hot, soapy water. This project gets you a free source of ever-ready cleaning water, and at a pretty neat price. (Original post)
Build a solar water heater for under $5Read More
8. Start a fire with a soda can and chocolate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHRuEIsgrfQ
Chocolate and a can of coke
This little project is the most reliant on a strong bit of sunlight, but totally worth the effort when you pull it off. The chocolate polishes the bottom of a soda can, which better focuses and intensifies sunlight reflections, creating a cone of fire-starting power that leaves your fellow campers impressed—or the other attendees at the park picnic grateful you were there when they forgot the matches. (Original post)
How to make fire with chocolate and CokeRead More
7. Convert a lawnmower to solar power
If you've got a small-ish lawn, a battery-powered mower is much easier on your and your neighbors' ears, and it saves you the hassle and cost of gas refills. Take those eco-benefits to the next level by converting a gas-guzzling push mower to use a solar-charged battery. Appropedia's version is a definite weekend project for an older model, but if you've got a newer battery mower, it's not too hard to simply start charging it with a solar panel instead of your wall socket, and this guide will help get you there. (Original post)
Convert Your Gas Mower to Solar PowerRead More
6. Estimate your home's solar potential
A solar-powered house sounds like a neat idea in abstract, but how would you know if your house's roof could really sustain worthwhile energy? Luckily, a big search company has overhead images of just about every house out there, and mashup tool RoofRay can use that image, plus your location's average sunlight and some roof details, to get a starting estimate on whether you can use the sun to push back on your power meter a bit. (Original post)
RoofRay Determines the Solar Potential of Your RoofRead More
5. Extend Wi-Fi to your backyard
Probably the least practical and most expensive of the projects listed here, the solar-powered Wi-Fi extender is definitely the most rewarding from a geek cred and green power perspective. Popular Science explains in great detail how to solder and network together a semi-standard Linksys Wi-Fi router, range extender, solar panel, battery, and higher-powered antenna, and then set it up to grab Wi-Fi from your household's main network and expand it to the great outdoors—or, at least, the outdoors behind your house. That leaves you with regular web access anywhere around your property, without having to worry about running cables across the lawn. (Original post)
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What do you think so far? Post a comment.
How to build a solar-powered wifi extender for your backyardRead More
4. Cook with a cardboard box
There's an entire realm of recipes and cookbooks that purport to help you get cooking done in the summer without turning on your oven. Skip the gazpacho and the house-warming heat with an oven built from aluminum foil, construction paper, plastic, and a few other household items, including a firm cardboard box. It's great for saving energy, saving time, and feeling like you really made the most of a warm, sunny day. Want to get a bit more efficient and physics-y with your outdoor oven? Try a parabolic solar cooker. Photo by thescarletmanuka. (Original post)
DIY Cardboard Box Solar OvenRead More
3. Build a greenhouse for $50
If you're lucky enough to live where plants and food grow all year, you already know the power of photosynthesis. For those who could use a little more prep time for their seedlings, a longer growing season, or just a buffer against the occasional plant-punching dry spell, The Door Garden explains how to take some light construction materials—$50 if you happen to have most of it lying around, about $150 purchased new—and build a greenhouse that will withstand most winters and thrive in every other season. Just got a few plants you want to get started with condensed solar power? Try the mini-greenhouse made from a window. (Original post)
Build a Cheaper Backyard GreenhouseRead More
2. Charge an iPhone/iPod with the sun
We're big fans of the MintyBoost DIY USB charger kit, a great project for electronic beginners and pros alike. It was only a matter of time, then, until someone switched the power source from AA batteries in an Altoids case to a lithium-ion battery with solar charging capabilities. Completing the modified kit isn't a great leap more difficult than the original, and once you do, you'll be glad to get a lot more use out of your windowsills, and hand over a lot less money at the grocery store every few weeks. It's not necessarily the most effective method of charging, but it's undeniably cool. (Original post)
DIY battery-powered USB chargerRead More
1. Sun jar garden light
The solar-powered outdoor lights they sell at your local garden/home improvement store can be subtle or original-looking—if you want to pay a premium. Otherwise, you're stuck with painted plastic and models that hold a pretty weak charge. The sun jars constructed by our own Jason, on the other hand, cost only about $11 each—less if you have jars or batteries on hand—and give off a pretty neat glow, powered entirely by solar energy from earlier that day.
What sun-powered projects are in your mental queue for some sunny weekend? What great solar hacks have you pulled off already? Tell us all about them in the comments.
https://lifehacker.com/images/team/Jordan.pngJordan Calhoun
EDITOR IN CHIEF
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Top 10 DIY Projects that Harness the Power of the Sun
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Must Have Gear for Successful Wilderness Survival
The wilderness is Mother Nature’s home. If a situation forces you to end up in the wilderness, you must try to conquer it.
If you can’t take an experienced survivalist with you, take the next thing – his stuff. There are a few things that will ensure successful wilderness survival. Let’s look at them.
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10 Things You Need For Wilderness Survival
These essential items should be able to keep you alive and comfortable. But stuffing everything you need in a small pack can be a daunting task.
However, with the right information and experience, you can make it. Just 10 essential things can allow you to actually survive in the wilderness for close to two months. Amazing right?
Well, here is our survival gear checklist of items you will need to survive in the wilderness.
This list is in no way exhaustive. Feel free to change or replace any item to suit your specific needs. What is sure is that you will know the most vital stuff to pack as you gain more experience. You can then adjust as you deem fit.
1. Survival Knife
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A survival knife or just any knife can prove life-saving in the wilderness. This item has so many applications in everyday camp activities as well as life in general.
The versatility of a knife is why many people (me included) carry a pocket knife on them for everyday use.
When it comes to survival, the ideal type of knife is a fixed blade. They tend to be more resilient and durable than folding knives.
It is because they lack any mechanical parts that move. Besides, they can cut tree branches and other large objects.
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Mossy Oak Survival Knife, 15-inch Fixed Blade Hunting Bowie Knife with Sharpener and Fire Starter, for Camping, Tactical, Outdoor
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Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B 9in High Carbon S.S. Fixed Blade Knife with 4.7in Dual Edge Blade and TPE Handle for Outdoor, Tactical, Survival and EDC
2. Personal Water Filter or Water Purification System
Experts say a physiological human should drink about 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Given that over 70 percent of our body is water, going three days without hydration is a recipe for disaster.
Thus a critical skill to learn for wilderness survival is how to purify water. Along with this skill, you will need a water bottle or a hydration system.
A water bottle is great, but it may carry only limited water. This is not good if you are not sure how long the emergency will last. On the other hand, a personal water filter or purification system will help you make more clean water in the wilderness.
Again, it’s crucial to learn different water purification methods: they will save your life many times over.
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DEERFAMY Water Filter Hiking, Backpacking Water Purifier Emergency Personal Water Filtration Straw Survival System for Camping
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LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking Camping Travel & Emergency Preparedness (Pack of 2)
3. Raincoat or Rain Jacket
Staying dry might be the difference between being safe and being in danger. Rain jackets are light and easy to fit into your survival backpack: no reason to skip this one. Take a look at these raincoats and choose one for each member of the family.
If you want to be even better prepared, this one was designed for NASA and it has some extras: (a reusable waterproof thermal raincoat and 2 reusable extra large size authentic Mylar blankets).
4. Sunscreen or Sunblock
The summer heat can have serious effects on your skin. Thus sunburn is a real risk in the wilderness. Sunblock can be as simple as a lip balm with SPF. For instance, if you do not protect your lips from the scorching summer sun, it will burn and crust.
Pack some sunscreen to protect your body from sunburn in order to protect your skin. Do you know exposure to severe ultraviolet rays from the sun for a long time can cause skin cancer? Stay safe even when in the wilderness.
5. Cordage (Rope)
Rope or cordage is very important when you are in a survival situation.
The best cord, if you were to ask me is 550-parachute cord (paracord). It is one of the strongest cordages a survivor can ever get. Besides, it is very light and made to take the smallest space. You can simply wear it as a bracelet and pack an extra one for survival.
Cordage will help you hoist food to keep it out of reach of wild animals. You can also use it to build an emergency shelter or to make a splint for broken bones. An amazing property of 550- paracord is how it lengthens when wet. The property is great especially if you need a tight hold on a particular thing.
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Paracord (50+ Colors)
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Commercial Grade 550lb Type III Nylon Paracord (Orange, 100 feet)
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Survival Gear 550lb Paracord Rope Nylon Cordage
6. Signaling Device
If you go camping and an emergency ensues, a signaling device would be invaluable. This is because establishing contact in the wilderness may prove futile. A cell phone with service is not a survival situation. Thus, you will need alternative signaling equipment.
A good signaling device is a flash from a signaling mirror. Such a signal can be seen from miles away by aircraft and catch the pilot’s attention. You can then get quick help out of danger.
It is better if you know how to flash S.O.S. Other great signaling devices are whistles, matches, and lighters.
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UST See-Me 1.0 Waterproof 28 Lumen Safety Strobe LED Light for Emergency, Camping, Hiking and Outdoor Survival
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Michael Josh 2PCS Outdoor Loudest Emergency Survival Whistles with Carabiner and Lanyard for Camping Hiking Sports Dog Training (Black)
7. Shelter-Building Equipment and Materials
Shelter-building equipment can be as simple as a large garbage bag or a tarp. In a survival situation, you must get a safe place to shelter your body from the elements. Only then can you stay warmer and drier.
A simple way to build a shelter is to use a rope (or cordage), some tree branches, and a tarp. It will take you a very short time to build such a shelter.
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FREE SOLDIER Waterproof Portable Tarp Multifunctional Outdoor Camping Traveling Awning Backpacking Tarp Shelter Rain Tarp (Brown)
8. First Aid Kit
Injuries such as minor to moderate cuts can heal much faster with the help of a First Aid Kit. Any dangling skin or gushing blood can complicate things.
For instance, an open wound left for long can attract pathogenic agents. Such agents can cause nasty infections. A continuous gush of blood can lead to anemia due to blood loss.
However, you do not have to go for big, fully equipped first aid kits. Smaller first aid kits are available for survivalists.
At the very least, a good kit should have bandages, gauze, hand gloves, alcohol cleaning wipes, and OTC antibiotics. You can even improvise one to cut costs.
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Survival Kit – 100 Piece – First Aid Kit for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, Travel, Outdoor – Stocked with Emergency Supplies & Survival Tools
9. Change of Clothing
At least one change of clothing is necessary for any survival situation. If the one you wear gets wet due to a downpour, it is important that it dries.
Severe moisture pulls a lot of heat from your body. This is because your body needs to focus the energy reserves on creating excess heat. Such heat is necessary to compensate for lost energy reserves.
As a result, you will experience fatigue and loss of brain performance. In other words, it makes you dopey and prone to mistakes that can cost you dearly in a survival scenario.
Wet socks and shoes will predispose you to fungal infections of the toes and nails. Besides, your feet will tend to slide around. The result is a painful blister.
You cannot beat around the bush to gather supplies. These are good reasons for you to include extra socks. Also, remember to buy only synthetic clothing. Cotton will maintain moisture for too long.
10. Camping Pack
Where will you carry the essential items for your wilderness survival if not a good camping pack? Or you intend to cram them in your pocket? Obviously, that’s not possible because doing so will impede the movement of your legs.
A camping pack can take more than the above 9 things you need to survive in the wilderness. It will allow you to carry other extras to make your survival more comfortable. Be careful not to pack too much as to impede your movement. Include those things you cannot do without first and other necessary items later.
Conclusion
I could make the list of wilderness survival gear longer, by adding two things that can save your life. The first is a friend. The second thing is your brain. They are not strictly items but they are vital if you were to make it out of a survival situation.
It is not possible to overemphasize the importance of an extra person. This way, you can keep each other from a hams way. Try to look for someone responsible and agile.
For instance, how would you survive with a broken leg if no one is near enough to help you out? Your own brain is important because you may need to make smart decisions in a split second.
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By Author SHTFPreparedness
Posted on Last updated: May 23, 2024
Categories Survival
Must Have Gear for Successful Wilderness Survival - SHTFPreparedness
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How to Start a Survival Garden: A Complete Guide
Jump To:
If you want to start growing your own food and have a backyard that can be put to use, then you should start right away.
With the current situation of the economy, it wouldn’t hurt to become self-sufficient. We know that it is hard to grow your own food, but you will be thankful for it when the system collapses.
Use this guide to learn how to start a survival garden that will feed your family even when disaster strikes.
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Once you’ve grown your own food and have it in abundance, you’ll want to learn how you can store it to create an emergency food supply for your family.
A traditional garden requires prepping the soil every year and then planting the seeds, watering them, and weeding out the garden at least twice a week. You have to keep the pests from ruining the plants and take care of them.
After the economy collapses there will be a shortage of resources and gardeners will find it a challenge to garden since soil, fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides are going to become scarce.
Survival Gardening Books
These days, you can find a lot of gardening information online. But it’s always a good idea to have a book or two written by people who’ve been there, done that!
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Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening
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The Encyclopedia of Country Living: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself
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The Bug Out Gardening Guide: Growing Survival Food When It Absolutely Matters
Managing Natural Nutrients for Your Survival Garden
No matter what you want to grow in your backyard, whether it’s in a container or a greenhouse, you have to supply the plant with the necessary nutrients. Plants need the right conditions to grow and there are certain minerals that they require.
Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and other photosynthesis-derived products are a few examples of the nutrition that plants require.
There are other minerals that are required by a plant that gardeners should provide. Every nutrient is essential to the plant’s health, regardless of the quantity it requires.
If a plant is not provided with proper nutrition, it will not grow to be a healthy plant. A good environment for the plant includes a combination of nutrients.
Once disaster strikes, do not expect to be able to run to the nearest DIY store and buy a bag of soil nutrients.
If you want to manage a prepper garden in a post-apocalyptic world, then you have to learn how to provide the right nutrients yourself.
Composting, vermicomposting and free-range poultry are three fantastic ways to provide the necessary nutrients needed to start your survival garden.
Composting
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Once the entire system collapses, gardening will not only be your hobby, but it will also be your survival mechanism. You should be able to rely on your prepper garden to feed your family. It could mean the difference between a life-or-death situation.
To ensure your plants are healthy, make sure to always have a compost pile ready.
You can add organic material to the garden soil using compost. It increases the ability of the soil to hold moisture, battle diseases, and fight off pests. This will also help the plants survive through cold spells and droughts since it increases their immunity.
Traditionally, composting is the collection of carbon (brown material) and nitrogen (green material) in a bin that is two square feet. The carbon-containing materials that can be added include:
- newspaper
- paper towels
- dried corn stalks
- cardboard
- old leaves
- hay and straw
- some people even add the dead plants to their compost bins at the end of the spring season (just make sure you don’t add diseased plants to your compost pile).
Nitrogen can be obtained from:
- fresh lawn clippings
- manure droppings
- kitchen waste
Coffee filters contain magnesium and calcium, while eggshells have calcium. And banana are a source of potassium that is necessary for plant growth.
Tips for Compost Management:
- If the compost bin starts to smell, that means you have added too much green material or water to it
- If the compost is not getting hot enough, then there are too many brown materials in it
- Water should only be added once the compost gets hot or if it is too dry
- Animal manure can also be added to the compost
- The composting process can be sped up by flipping the heap with a shovel or pitchfork
Vermicomposting
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Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to convert the organic compost waste into nutrient-rich black earth that is necessary for plant growth.
The process is also called worm castings, vermicast, worm humus, or worm manure. Research shows that the average U.S. household wastes almost a third of the food they purchase.
An eight-inch-deep and two-foot-square box can be used for vermicomposting. The box can be kept under the kitchen sink or even outside in the garden.
Once the worm bin is ready, bedding is required, which can be made using leaves, manure, newspaper, or unwaxed cardboard.
Once this step has been completed, you can add worms and then empty the kitchen waste in it every week to allow the worms to do the composting.
Tips for Vermicomposting:
- There are many different types of worm bins that can be constructed, depending on the requirements
- You should use wood to construct the bin
- Red earthworms are the best for composting since they reproduce quickly and can convert a large amount of organic waste into compost.
- The worm beds should not be kept in direct sunlight or they will dry out and harden.
- Worms can convert up to half their body weight into compost. New food should be added once the old one have been used up. Once the worms have settled in, they can convert their body weight in kitchen waste to compost every day.
- To prevent small rodents and insects from ruining the compost, use a closed bed and do not include meat scraps in the waste.
You can start the survival garden you need in a post-apocalyptic world with the help of the nutrient-rich soil that vermicomposting produces. It helps provide an essential mix of nutrients to the soil.
Free-Range Poultry
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Poultry such as guinea fowl and chickens can be used to help garden and manage the soil. The bird droppings are great for developing the earth and providing the necessary nutrients.
Chickens usually go back to their coops at night and roam around the gardens during the daytime, which is why they are easy to manage.
Chickens also scratch the ground with their claws and get rid of any insects and pests that can be ruining your garden. You can let birds loose in the backyard and they will clean up the leftovers and also prepare the ground for planting.
A guinea fowl is a great way to keep the ticks under control and they can also alert the owners of any intruders on the property.
How to Start a Survival Garden—Methods of Gardening
As a survivalist, you must always be prepared for the time when things go south and you and your family will need to bug out.
In order to do that, many survival experts suggest tips for setting up a perfect bug out location.
And even if you decide on a great bug out site, you will still need to start a survival garden right alongside it. The presence of a steady food supply is necessary.
Your garden should not only house edible plants but also essential herbs. There are several aspects to consider when starting your own prepper garden.
The first question that arises when you start up a survival garden is: what method of gardening should you adopt? This greatly depends on the kind of land that you will use for your garden.
For example, if there is fertile, nutrient-filled soil present, you may not need to make any special arrangements for the garden.
However, if the soil is damaged permanently due to its chemical nature, climate, or any other reason, you must consider some alternatives.
Hydroponics
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A good substitute for natural soil is hydroponics. In this method, you do not need soil for growing plants.
Instead, you can stir up a mixture of water and certain chemicals. This gives you a nutrient-rich solution in which your plants can grow. This completely eliminates the need for soil.
Another advantage of this system of gardening is that you can easily control and monitor the type and quantity of nutrients that your survival garden plants receive.
This kind of environment is strictly man-made. It has been observed that plants that are grown hydroponically exhibit a higher rate of development than those grown in natural soil.
If you manage the nutrient levels in the water efficiently, the amount of waste produced can also be kept to a minimum. This will help you lessen the amount of pollution that is usually associated with hydroponic gardening.
The best part is that the water that enters the system once can often be reused. There is no need to replace it with fresh water very frequently.
Aquaponics
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VIVOSUN Aquaponic Fish Tank Hydroponic Cleaning Tank Fish Feeds Plants and Plants Clean Tank
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Aquaponics for Beginners: How to Build your own Aquaponic Garden that will Grow Organic Vegetables
Aquaponics is an even better option than hydroponics. It involves the use of cheaper nutrients that are obtained from fish feed instead of industrially manufactured chemicals.
The issue of toxicity of water is also eliminated. Also, the amount of nitrogen is balanced naturally. Aquaponic systems are also easier to maintain and monitor. They only require weekly or monthly checkups.
Research has also revealed that aquaponic plants show a better yield and quality than hydroponically-grown plants. The chances of plants getting infected by diseases are also much lower in aquaponic systems.
What to Plant to Start Your Survival Garden
The type of plants that you grow depends on your family’s needs. However, you must also consider what will grow in your climate without any difficulty.
You need to observe the average temperature and rainfall level trends in your area before deciding. Once you have decided on the plants, you need to pick the type of seeds you will sow.
GMO Versus Non-GMO Seeds
The debate of GMO versus non-GMO seeds has been going on since the advent of genetic modification.
Both types of seeds have their own pros and cons. While genetically modified seeds bear better-looking fruit, this should not be your main concern when setting up a prepper garden.
Pretty fruit is of no use when you are dependent on it for your survival. The nutritional value of your plants is a far more important factor. A healthier fruit can be obtained from seeds that have not been genetically modified.
Many experts in the field have also revealed that the produce from genetically modified seeds reduces every year. On the other hand, you can save a higher number of seeds every year from plants that are non-GMO.
Seeds that are obtained from organic plants or plants which have not been exposed to artificial pest control are also highly recommended.
You can easily buy organic seeds from small-scale farmers or people who have their own family gardens. Hybrid seeds are also preferred. These are often thought to be GMO, but they can also be obtained from naturally cross-pollinated plants.
Make sure that you do not choose plants that inhibit each other’s growth. For example, if you pick broccoli and tomato for your garden, make sure you place them far apart since broccoli hinders the growth of tomatoes.
System of Irrigation
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Water is an absolute necessity for plant growth. There is no substitute for it. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have a steady, reliable supply of water near your garden.
It is also recommended to locate your prepper garden near a tap or water source so that you can connect a hosepipe to it if needed.
The method you use for supplying water to your plants is also critical. When using off-grid irrigation methods, there may also be some legal issues that you need to take care of.
The easiest and simplest way to provide water to your plants is by using rainwater. You can easily collect rainwater by placing basins or large containers under the roofs of your house or garden.
Since this water will not be used for human consumption, there is no need to bother with the filtration process. You can supply this water directly to your plants.
However, in some climates, it does not rain very often or very heavily. Therefore, it would be impossible to rely entirely on rainwater in such climates.
In this case, you can use greywater instead. This includes all the used water that is produced as waste in your house. Toilet water is not a viable option; therefore, it is excluded.
You can collect the water draining out of your house by preventing it from flowing into the gutters. Instead, you can divert the route of the drainage pipes and let the water flow out into a different location.
This can act as your collection point from where you can lead the water to the location of your garden.
Pest Control
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There are many artificial pesticides and insecticides available in the market which can be used to keep your plants safe.
However, when times are difficult, there may be a restricted supply of resources. You must, therefore, rely on natural means of protection for your plants.
One way to do that is companion planting. This is when you place your plants in such a manner that they mutually benefit from each other.
For example, you can grow carrots next to your plant in order to get rid of caterpillars. This will be beneficial because carrots grow flowers that attract wasps.
Wasps are known for hunting down caterpillars. Another natural pest control method is using homemade chemicals.
For example, in order to protect your plants from fungal diseases, you can spray them with a mixture of baking soda and water. This is a very effective form of defense against fungus in plants.
Unique Ways to Start a Survival Garden No Matter Where You Live
If you are growing grass in your garden, then it’s not going to help you in a crisis situation and isn’t going to benefit you in any way.
Whereas, a survival garden is one that is designed to offer enough vegetable crops, to allow you and your family to survive for an indefinite amount of time.
No one is certain about the economic situation in any country and it can deteriorate at any time. Therefore, having a well thought out and planned prepper garden design will save you from chaos.
Sustainable gardening is not just a trend, but a way of life. So, in planning a sustainable prepper garden, there are few rules you should follow.
Forget About the Conventional Way of Gardening
The first thing is to grow plants in garden beds rather than in rows. Growing plants in a garden bed enable better use of limited space. It allows you to separate your garden into smaller portions and do gardening in various places around your land.
Keep the observable food plants away, like behind the barn or hidden in the woods so that people can’t view them from the road. This way, you can make your prepper garden area more productive.
Also, the other benefit is it allows you to plant on several locations instead of a single location. Therefore, if one location gets taken or destroyed, then you and your family members would be able to get your food supply from alternative sources.
Adopt the Camouflage Technique
Your survival garden design needs a camouflage tactic. There are various ways to camouflage your prepper garden to protect it from intruders that may happen upon it.
In any SHTF situation, once other people’s food runs out, they are most certainly going to be looking for yours. Thus, a camouflage method will help you to protect your prepper garden, without being an obvious target for people.
Camouflage Netting
You can use some camouflage netting such as the intermingling of plants in such a way that people will not able to identify that you are growing crops in there. Camouflage netting is used to disguise your food plants as well as the greenhouse from sight.
You can grow many plants of medicinal and nutritional benefits in a natural landscaping manner to shield them from any offender.
Bushes, ferns, hedges, flowers, vines, trees, or ivy all act as a natural physical barrier to your survival garden. You can plant goldenrod around your land or near the road to keep people away due to its ability to cause allergies.
Also, use the deadliest plants or thorny bushes in your survival garden to make it tough for intruders to pick away the food.
You can also use other unpleasant plants like poison ivy or stinging nettles to stop intruders from penetrating into your prepper garden.
Additionally, you can consider defensive plants such as Lisbon-lemon (with large green thorns) or varieties that contain plenty of spine branches such as Gooseberry, Choisya Trifoliate, or Japanese Barberry.
Edible Landscaping
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Bushes, trees, and ground cover all work together to provide edible landscaping. This is also one of the methods to hide your food from the sight of others.
For this purpose, you should consider planting edible perennial herbs around your land. You can incorporate those plants in your survival garden that are not easily detectable as food.
Some examples are:
Prickly Pear
An edible cactus fruit that has many medicinal benefits as well as high in nutritional value.
‘Scarlet Emperor’ Runner Bean
The Scarlet Emperor is known to attract bees and hummingbirds due to their appealing look. But, you need to cook them to eat their pods and beans.
Siberian Pea
You can also consider growing peas when you start your survival garden. Siberian Pea shrubs are known to grow in a wide range of conditions.
And, they are able to fix nitrogen in the soil and thus increase its availability to other plants. They also help bring beneficial insects and are edible too for people as well as livestock.
Day Lillies
Disease-tolerant Day Lilies are very easy to grow. This food crop is not only edible but also tastes so spectacular. Their root tubers and florae are edible in nature.
Garden Sorrel
Garden sorrel or spinach dock, a look-alike to spinach, is a dense form of nutrients. While making soup and stews in your kitchen, you can use this from your survival garden to give your meal a tantalizing flavor.
Berries
You can also consider other kinds of edibles such as Serviceberries, Aronia Berries, Booseberries, and Currants.
Introduce Edible Weeds
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To grow a nutritious weed in your backyard is also a good option. Dandelion, probably the most well-known of all weeds, has been in use to treat literally everything.
This weed can treat many diseases: from kidney disease to heartburn and appendicitis. Every part of this weed is edible from its roots to the blossoms. You can use its leaves while making sandwiches and its roots are good to make an herbal tea.
Your Survival Garden Could Be a “Food Forest”
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Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops
Even though your survival garden is beautiful and helps in maintaining ecology and the whole planet, its main purpose is to sustain you and your family. Growing a food forest doesn’t just limit you to food, but it can be used to create medicines as well.
It’s a style of gardening that mimics a natural forest environment. Requiring many stages, growing a food forest implies selecting and preparing the land, the actual plantation, and constant maintenance
Usually, food forests are centered around one medium or large-sized fruit tree. In temperate climates, it might be an apple or a nut tree. You can use avocado and lime trees as focal trees too.
Around the avocado tree, you need to include a great diversity of different plants that not only help avocado to grow but will also yield you some glorious foods.
The way these plants help avocado (or the focal tree) to grow is by producing organic matter to the soil and by providing a habitat that is beneficial for insects and animals.
It also prevents weeds from growing and maintains the humidity level of the soil. All together, this system works.
Year after year, you will get a successful result in the form of fruits as your reward. You need to re-plant every year for the first few years until the system gets established.
Companion Planting
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Companion Planting: Organic Gardening Tips and Tricks for Healthier, Happier Plants
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The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting: An Easy, Organic Way to Deter Pests, Prevent Disease, Improve Flavor, and Increase Yields in Your Vegetable Garden
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Companion Planting: How to Grow Organic Vegetables at Home Even if You Are a Beginner.
We all know that some plants hurt each other while others help each other. This is historically being called “Companion Planting”.
Some examples of plants that chemically alter their environment are legumes. Lupines, peas, beans, etc. take nitrogen from the air and then put it into the soil.
They act as fertilizer for other green plants. So, for beans and peas, the companion planting would be green varieties such as kale, lettuce, and spinach.
Allium family is a family of plants that includes onions and garlic. These types of plants are great because they repel or distract many pests including rabbits and mice, from chewing the bark and damaging the trees.
You can leverage this by doing inter-cropping. So, avoid planting all the same variety in one place, and instead plant in companion groups.
In Conclusion
We live in a very fragile society and we need to be prepared in case of any disruption. Bottom line, we need to be more self-reliant. There is surely a need to grow your own food for yourself and your family.
Being a prepper and starting a survival garden means you are preparing yourself for any kind of crisis that could occur. Survival gardening is all about sensible preparation for food in the event of a collapse of the global food supply.
You will hopefully have all the information you need to start a survival garden. Once you have made your choice wisely, your garden will be ready to grow, thrive, and provide you with the fruit of your labor.
Make sure you monitor your garden carefully and regularly if you want to reap long-term benefits from it.
Since food is a valuable asset in bad times, it may attract unwanted attention or even put your life in danger. That is why it is also important to keep your garden secure, secret, and, above all, hidden.
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The Survival Garden You Need to Start Today
What if I told you about a garden that needs no digging, no watering, and no weeding AND it can grow in the most extreme places on earth?
This type of “food forest” grows on auto-pilot with minimal energy because it mimics how nature works. No one is watering the woods, yet every plant has managed to survive for thousands of years there.
Start your very own survival garden that’s 100% concealed from prying eyes and stay well-fed in case of any kind of long-term disaster.
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By Author SHTFPreparedness
Posted on Last updated: August 9, 2024
Categories Gardening
How to Start a Survival Garden: A Complete Guide
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How to Make a Forge and Start Hammering Metal
If SHTF and the world went to pot, having skills will definitely help you out in the world of barter and survival.
Blacksmithing is one of the oldest still used skill s there is and it’s sad to say that not many of us actually know how to do it.
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Photo by Russ Hendricks
All you need is a forge, a hammer, and something flat and heavy to hammer your metal. This tutorial over at popular-mechanics shows you how to build a forge from items you may have lying around or could easily find on Craigslist for cheap.
They also show you how to fire the coal and have some basic metal skills you will need to know like bending, twisting, upsetting, flattening, and choosing the right steel.
Remember this will be a very valuable skill to know for a barter trade world. With blacksmithing knowledge, you could make weapons and fix metal for people that may have food and water.
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Photo by Russ Hendricks
By Author SHTFPreparedness
Posted on Last updated: May 21, 2024
Categories How To
How to Make a Forge and Start Hammering Metal - SHTFPreparedness
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Prepared Living »
DIY Flower Pot Heater
by Melissa Burnell | 41 Comments This post may contain affiliate links, see Disclosure. March 15, 2022
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Power go out unexpectedly in your area? Here’s a very simple, dirt-cheap homemade heater made out of flower pots and tea lights that you can put together in under 5 minutes flat- and here’s the kicker, it actually works.
COMMON SENSE DISCLAIMER: This mini heater can easily reach 300F in a very short period of time, like ANY emergency heat source, it is inadvisable to leave it unattended in a room with children or pets.
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Now that we got the common sense disclaimer out of the way, check this out! This simple heat source would work fantastic in a small greenhouse to keep the chill off plants overnight! Follow the directions carefully, do not substitute items, do not use LARGER candles or votive candles.
Do not use a glass loaf pan or an aluminum foil loaf pan.
DIY Flower Pot Heater
You’ll Need:
2 Un-Glazed Terra Cotta (Clay) Flowerpots
a metal loaf pan
4 tealight candles– unscented, 4 hour burn time
a cooling rack (like you use when you bake cookies, seriously)
a couple of basic landscaping bricks (optional, but HIGHLY recommended, and btw- these are not fire bricks.)
a nickel or a small piece of tinfoil
When I first met a fellow who made one of these, he made me nervous. He balanced the clay pots on the loaf pan, which seriously made me wonder how he dared to leave it in his house at all. So, I’ve revamped the directions I’ve seen to make this topple proof.
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First, place the tea lights in the loaf pan and light them. Place a brick on either side of the loaf pan.
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Set the cooling rack on top of the bricks. This is to provide stability so the pots won’t tip over
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Place the Smaller Clay pot upside down on the cooling rack, directly over the lit candles in the loaf pan.
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Place a Nickel over the hole on the bottom of the plant pot to completely cover it. Failure to do so will result in very little heat. Alternatively, you could use a piece of aluminum foil to cover the hole.
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Place the Large plant pot Over the small plant pot, creating a Heat Hut.
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Here’s what the temperature looked like in 3 minutes:
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at 5 Minutes:
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at 10 minutes:
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after 35 minutes: it has reached full heat. At this point, you should NOT attempt to touch the plant pots with your bare hands as you will get badly burned.
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Depending on the brand of your candles, they should continue to burn for about 3 hours.
To replace the candles simply slide out the loaf pan, replace the spent tealight with a new Lit tealight and return it to the spot beneath the pots.
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Some Notes: While this does generate quite a bit of heat, this is obviously NOT going to heat a 2500 square foot house. You can, however, use 2 of these setups to keep a 10×12 room fairly comfortable if you light it as soon as the power goes out and avoid opening and closing doors, etc.
Common Sense- Shouldn’t have to say it but we will:
- DO NOT Use Larger Candles, the tea lights are more than sufficient. Use of larger candles COULD result in the pot overheating and cracking
- Do not use more than 4 candles at a time (see above)
- Do not “Balance” the Pots on the Loaf Pan – use a cooling rack for stability
- Do Not Use Scented Candles- Seriously, you’ll just get a massive headache from them.
- Make sure the Terra Cotta pot is UNGLAZED – otherwise it will give off fumes (imagine that!)
Categories Do It Yourself, Prepared Living
Tags emergency heat, emergency heater, flower pot heaterhttps://www.budget101.com/wp-content...come-intro.png👩*🍳 About the Author
Melissa “Liss” Burnell is the founder of Budget101.com, a trusted frugal living resource online since 2001. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in meal planning, debt reduction, and DIY homemaking, she’s helped millions of families live well for less.
A mother of two, Liss first made waves by cutting her family’s grocery bill to under $200/month—then teaching others how to do the same. She is the author of two bestselling ebooks on feeding a family on a tight budget, available on Amazon.
📚 Learn more on the About page, or connect with Liss on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.
DIY Flower Pot Heater | Emergency Heater | Homemade Heater
